Rev Me Up!

The sleeve is such a big change, I can see how it would affect a relationship. My ex was a big guy - former rugby player that added weight after he stopped playing. If I was still married to him, it would be tough for me to find him attractive or live with his eating habits. We were divorced 2 years before my sleeve, so it isn't an issue, but I am trying to be honest about the reaction I might have had. My current partner is a tri-athlete and in great shape. We got into a relationship when I was heavy and he has been very supportive. Eating-wise, his habits are not so good. He eats a lot because he exercises a lot. The sleeve has not had any affect on our relationship at all. He likes me any way he can get me :-) I feel the same about him. I guess, re-reading my post, my real opinion is that if you have a solid relationship it wll probably not be affected. If you are with a heavier partner because you were settling - it does not bode well for the future. UNfortunately, sometimes people don't realize they are with someone for the wrong reasons until it is too late. The weight is only one part of the change. I know I felt empowered with my first WLS and that changed the way I thought. More confidence will change your behavior too. Good luck--

Yep, because of the complicatd nature of the sizing, you can't predict what you will be. I waited a long time before buying a smaller bra. I am 4 months out and in my second set of bras. Was a 40DD, went to 38DD, now in 36DD and it is a little snug. I only buy 2 bras so I can wash / wear them. I will not invest any more money knowing that the size will most likely change again in a month or 2. I shop at Kohls during power hour. Good bras, good prices. I HATE BRA SHOPPING!!!!!! Good luck- Lara

I think that the first few weeks we are more prone to worrying about all the details. I was terrified about my stomach ripping open - that was my personal phobia. I reviewed my "what to eat"lists several times a day, just to make sure I was doing the right thing. After the initial 8 weeks of healing and food transition, I started to calm down. You will find that the no drinking while eating thing is a habit. Once you have it in your head, it wil become part of your routine. There is no promise that we will not regain the weight we lose. Luckily, this procedure removes the stretchy part of your stomach so it is unlikely to expand past a certain point. That said, you could eat ice cream 4 times a day and gain weight. Take advantage of this time in the first 6 months to really take your new habits to heart. You will have a new taste for healthier foods - that will save you in the long run. As your capacity increases a little, you will be more likely to fill yourself with healthy foods. At 4 months, I still don't like sweets and can't drink alcohol. I tolerate chicken better than beef, so that's what I eat :-) I don't count cals or carbs, but my stomach seems to be happiest when I feed it healthy stuff. Right now, just worry about staying hydrated and eating your Protein. Good luck--

Sorry, trying to get over the Milli Vanilli shorts image... I think people have different degrees of this type of thinking. You get into a habit of picking up, buying and wearing bigger clothes - your mind can't always keep up with the smaller sizes. I still look at my jeans before I put them on and I prepare myself to be disappointed that they don't fit, but they do. On the other hand, this guy sounds like he needs some body image counseling. It can get dangerous because he doesn't want to develop an eating disorder because he still thinks he is fat. This is a tough journey and everyone handles it differently. He should allow himself to feel some joy after being such a success. Unfortunately, the surgery operates on our stomachs, not our minds.

Let me throw Jonah Hill into the ring here. Just read this article about his amazing weight loss. He says when he eat unhealthy stuff he doesn't feel good. Sounds like WLS to me :-) Check it out for yourself... http://uk.omg.yahoo.com/gossip/the-juice/woah-jonah-hill-lost-shed-load-weight-163317829.html I'm not judging because I keep my WLS a secret too. But I am torn because I think the stigma would go away if we all opened up about it. Double edged sword, eh?

THis is a tough one. My daughter says the strangest things :-) The bottom line is that no one is perfect. Everyone has flaws when they are naked, not just fat people or WLS patients. My mom's stomach is a bit of a mess, but that is from being pregnant 30 years ago. She is not fat, she's a mom. My stomach is a mess too because I'm a mom and I have lost a lot of weight. Everyone has flaws. Unfortunately, kids just blurt out whatever they are thinking. You are doing so well - dont let that get you down. Give your daughter the feedback and then let it go. I have done the same with my little girl and I can see in her eyes when she wants to say something about my weight or how I look and she is wondering how to say it so I won't get mad at her. We just have to let it go. You are doing fabulously well!!!!

Yay for you!!!!!!!! It is weird to walk into a regular store and buy clothes, but it feels fantastic. I still pick up my jeans and think that they look way too small, but then I slip them on and zip them up - its a miracle!!! Congratuations!!!!!!

Hello and welcome! I got my band in 2007 too. You will see a lot of support here for this process. The sleeve is everything that the lap-band promised to be, without the pain and suffering. I am very happy with my choice and I am finally losing the weight :-) Do your research, ask us lots of questions, and make the best decision for yourself. Good luck--

I guess it depends on the nature of your trip. I couldn't peel myself off the couch for almost 3 weeks after surgery. No way could I take a trip to Orlando - NO WAY! Also, you will not be eating anything resembling normal food for a few weeks - this could make travelling pretty tough. In my opinion, there is no way you will be ready to travel and be active 3 days after surgery. Good luck--

It costs more for a revision, though. Call his office to see if there is a special price.

First - don't panic. Sipping clear liquid is much easier than eating real food - It is impossible to stretch the pouch in the first week. Some people have an easier time with liquids than others in the first couple of weeks. If you are in pain, make sure to take your gas-x and walk. Take some tylenol if you need it for non-gas pain. Otherwise, watch out for complication symptoms: nausea, not keeping Water down, extreme pain, fever. If you don't have those symptoms, you are probably doing just fine. Try to relax and get through the first few weeks of liquids and then re-assess your intake when you get to real food. You will find that you can't eat much real food at all. Take care of yourself--

Between the food and the waiting an hour to drink Water, it seemed like all I did was plan food / water intake over the first month. I settled into a routine of eating 6 times a day for the first 2-3 months. You should be able to eat about 1/4 cup or 2 ounces in the first several weeks. Mushies may get in a little more because they pass through the stomach better. Once you get to solid food, you will hit a wall after 1/4 cup. Don't push yourself past 2 oz right now! It looks like you are doing great. Stay hydrated, eat your Protein, and you will find that your capacity will increase on its own after the 8th week or so. I am 4 months out and I would be lucky to get in more than 4 oz in one sitting. 1/2 a cup of solid protein is really impossible. Hang in there--

You may want to keep an eye out for Protein Powder - maybe you can buy some on-line? If you can't find any, drink milk, liquid yogurt, and kefir to get Protein and calories in. You can make a smoothie with some yogurt that might help you out - as long as it is completely smooth. Ask your doctor if there are any supplements locally that he can recommend. Good luck--

I am so sorry to hear about your hair loss. I haven't had that problem, but I can't imagine how upset I would be be if my hair thinned out. Besides the treatments, have you thought about cutting your hair short? It will help the appearance of your hair - make it look thicker. I cut my hair about 8 weeks after surgery because I was too exhausted to deal with it and I am extremely happy with the result. By all accounts, the hair loss is temporary, although that may be of little comfort to you today. I hope you see some regrowth very soon. Take care---

I think we are all dealing with changes in how we interact with the world. Bottom line: do not let anyone treat you like a piece of meat!!! Ever!!!! I don't care if you are a size 6 and the prettiest girl in the world, no one should ever treat you like that. Being attractive is not an open door to lewd behavior. You teach people how to treat you. Shut this guy down and then don't talk to him ever again. Also, warn your cousin that he is a dog. once you stand up for yourself, people get the message and they will not try to take advantage of you any more. Sorry if that comes off harsh, but I was really moved by what you said. As far as your mom's opinion, I think it is old fashioned. Yes, there are men who will not look twice at a heavy girl. That is true. No point in arguing about it. However, there are millions of heavy girls in relationships - why would that be if no one finds them attractive? I met my partner when I was at my heaviest. I couldn't believe that he was really attracted to me because he is so athletic. But, we developed a real relationship. Now I am losing weight and he is happy for me, but he doesn't care how much I weigh. Don't let that guy bother you anymore. Seriously - he is WAY out of line doing that. You have to let him know to stop immediately and stick to your guns so he knows you are serious. You are not a victim!!! You are a human being and deserve to be treated with respect - at any weight!! Take care--

Yeah, once you transition to solid food, you will get full in a completely different way. You will get the warning signs that you have had enough (a gurgle or small bubble burp or hiccup - some people sneeze) and if you take another bite your stomach will feel like its going to burst. You will be uncomfortably full. Also, this sensation changed for me every few weeks while I was in the healing phase. You are better off strictly measuring 1/4 of food and only eating that until you get used to your new signals. It wil definitely change when you are eating regular food. Good luck!

Hello! Such a good post. It is wonderful to see you are feeling succesful with your sleeve! It really is a complete change from the band :-) Best wishes for continued success!!!!!!

The sleeve will address your physical desire for food, but your mind may not play along :-) At 4 months out, I still have some emotional desire for food. I will occassionally feel sorry for myself that I can't eat something I want. But that is part of the process. I can't overeat - I just can't. It hasn't killed my desire for good food - in fact, I am more interested in good quality food because I only get a few bites of whatever I eat. I am still a foodie, but with so much more control over my intake. Stay in touch with the boards, this place is a great support tool when you are going through the process.

I also had my band with Dr Ortiz in 2007. I went to Dr Aceves in March for my revision and I couldn't be happier. His facility is a hospital, not just a clinic like Dr Ortiz. Don't get me wrong, I was happy with my experience with Dr Ortiz, but Dr Aceves is THE MAN. Especially when it comes to a revision. I trusted him, and I would go back and do it again in a hearbeat. Mexicali is also a lot more low key than TJ. You'll be very happy with that choice. Good luck!

There are also pedialyte popsicles that might help. I know I found popsicles much easier to eat in my early days. When will you be clear for mushies? You might benefit from eating a little yogurt or mushed up cottage cheese. It packs more of a caloric punch. Also, drink a glass of milk - anything you can think of to get some calories and Protein in. Good luck and I hope you feel better soon--

I'm in a new size every 4 weeks ro so. The top is shrinking faster than the bottom :-) I mostly shop at Sears for clothes - lots of stuff on sale and their slacks fit me really well. I get 2 pairs of slacks for work and I try to buy them snug becuase they will last an extra week that way. I buy bras at Kohls because they have a good selection of large-cup size bras and they are CHEAP compared to other stores. I buy my underwear at the Gap. Surprisingly, their cotton underwear is the best. I try to get everything on sale and pick up as much as I can. I even buy one size smaller if I find a great sale because I know I will be wearing it soon and I want to make the best use of my money. Whatever you do, don't spend a lot of money on clothes right now - you will be throwing them away after a few weeks. It seemed like it took a long time for me to shrink out of my clothes in the beginning, but once it started it has been insane. Insane in a good way :-)

Let me start by saying: call your doctor. My doc said I could take it after 3 months, as long as I was still taking my acid reducer. I did find that Tylenol worked OK for me in the interim. I will confess that I took advil once for cramps in the second month because I was really suffering. Doc said I could double up on the acid reducer (one at night and one in the morning) while I was taking the advil to try and prevent problems. That said, it is not a good idea to take ibuprofen right now. Try the tylenol and talk to your doctor about what you can do to get through the pain / inflamation

Regular, full fat butter. Although I only use it when I scramble an egg or when I make crunchy wheat toast. Otherwise, I really don't have much use for butter. I, personally, don't want to use anything but real cream butter. I try to eat minimally processed foods. Good luck!

My story is similar to everyone else - I didn't cook for a couple of weeks. I was exhausted after surgery. Beyond that, I had no idea what food smells would be OK or which ones would make my stomach turn. I only cooked a couple of times a week for the first month or so. The family got by on pizza and frozen food. There were many times I would go in my room and close the door during dinner time because the smell just didn't sit right with me. After that point, I cooked like normal, ensuring there was a good Protein portion for me. Overall, I started buying and cooking much healthier stuff because that is what I was eating. I would sometimes get so hungry while I was cooking that I would eat a few bites of cottage cheese or chicken and then I was too full to eat with the family!!! I actually enjoy cooking, so I didn't mind cooking for my family - even though I might not eat what they were eating. I eat almost nothing so my desires for dinner are not as important. A bit of protein and I am happy! Good luck!

Early on, I just ate what I measured out for myself. Different foods will affect you differently. Until you know what will be "too much" I wouldn't push it. Right now, I get a full feeling that coincides with an air bubble that comes up (kind of like a tiny burp). I know I literally can eat one more bite or else I will be a very UNCOMFORTABLE. I have never thrown up, but I have had severl episodes of extreme discomfort. Measure your 1/4 cup of food and leave it at that until you are a little further out. Good luck!