Cari Dickenson

This is about you .. your health. It seems like they are trying to make it about them. You are doing this for your health. your future... never mind what they think or have to say.. the doctors don't do this surgery for the heck of it... they do it because you NEED it.this surgery works if you do what needs to be done.. You can take back power over your body and lose the weight and be healthy. Don't let them derail you off this path you decided on... and you did it because you knew this was your chance to get healthy. You can do this without them.. because in the end this is one thing you are doing for you. and you deserve this. it works long term... it changes your life. God Girl let me tell you I bought a home in march and had to rehab it... and before the surgery I could not have done it but I did I painted the inside... I painted the cabinets... I painted two porches not all at once but before the surgery I would not have been able to do half of what I did....Stay strong... those fad diets never work... I have tried so many of them to lose a few pounds here and there and when it became to expensive or I was tired of it the weight plus came back.... this works.

i'm not sure but as you eat past what you should it is pushed into your intestines.... Now it sounds like something is not quite right and I would go to my surgeon right away and let him know and ask him what why how etc. The sleeve can grow they said anywhere from 6 to ten ounces from what I read but 20 ounces is way over that. Go to your surgeon or another one have the tests done and find out what is going on as that would freak me out....it might not be anything wrong per se... I find weighing my food makes it impossible for me to eat too much and the one time I didnt chew enough it made me hurl... so it sounds like something is off.... To the doc with you. let me know what they say... cos I would hate to think they could mess up that bad..... I can't blame you for being upset... and concerned... I hope it goes well..

Thank you Kristen, I was hoping :/ I didn't have much to begin with but the recent losses are kinda having me freaked out....

I want to throw out a question of my own. I get my Protein daily as well as my liquids. I am still struggling with hair loss. I didn't have much to begin with.. But I don't want to lose anymore either. is there anyone who has found a way to keep hair from falling out as much? Any good things I can put in it to help? I already use all the good shampoo's and conditoners as well as a matrix leave in... But It's still coming out quite a bit.

have no thyroid and have had to stay on top of the blood work for my medicine. as My meds have gone down down down... and I am sure as my weight goes down the med will go down further OP Thyroid issues is keeping a good endo and having the right meds. Have you tried Armour thyroid? I was on Synthroid for several yrs and it just didn't do it for me. I had to fight for Armour but it has all the t's in it t 1 t 2 t 3 etc. the issue with Synthroid it doesn't have the other t's in it that your body might need. I would at least give it a try as it made a lot of difference in how I felt. Also on Facebook there is a group called Hypothyroid mom.. I have found a lot of good info there. That's how I found out about the Armour... and am I ever glad I did.

Don't be scared the sleeve works... I weigh my food... I have noticed the goal weights of many people here and quite a large amount of them are below that.. You can get to where you want. The sleeve helps a lot, But you have to work with it as well. You can get to any weight you want. The sleeve will only get you to a certain percent the rest is you getting you to where you want to be

Im a lil over 6 months out now... and am still having energy issues. So don't be so hard on yourself... When your body is healed and ready it will let you know... you will be able to do more....it heals lsts faster on the outside then the inside so go at a pace that you can handle. its not an overnight journey... its a lifetime one... so take your time... let yourself heal.... and its a physical and mental one... so do you...

I hit a stall about a month back onto the regular diet.... ( after the liquid soft stages) This is what I found as I have gone through it... the stall will pass the more you stress over it the worse off your gonna feel about it. They happen and you can't stop them. Eat three meals a day no matter what. I noticed when I didn't eat the weight stopped coming off. If you can have a healthy snack to. Make sure you get your Protein. And its better from food then the Protein drinks. weigh your food....and trust that it really does work. I remember when my first stall hit I thought ohh its not gonna work for me nothing ever does etc etc... all the same stuff I use to think when I tried a new diet. It will work for you... it works and very well... just eat the ounces the doc said you can through your stall... For me I can have four ounces so I eat four ounces a meal... and all protein no carbs.... That's what has worked for me and per my docs instructions. And don't forget your Vitamins and Fiber chews or colace.... you want it or you won't like having to go to the bathroom. You can do this... Beck IF I can anyone can.. You got this believe in you I do!

I am just laughing here...

I have lost 147 pounds so far and it is still coming off... about a half a pound to a pound a day give or take. I have had a few stalls.. Which freaked me out a little. But it has been worth it. was a little rough in the beginning. and a little scary. But the results have been nothing short of amazing to me.

That's interesting Lipstick lady. I went to Oxnard High.

I was told not to ( eat veggies and limit fruit) for about a year. And I can't say if they are right or wrong. However My weight loss has been huge in a short period of time. I was told especially in the first yr by the surgeon to concentrate on my Protein and that's it...So I have and it seems to be working well for me. It might be that was just my diet plan and well I went from a 5 x to a juniors size 15/17 in about 6 months. So I am not gonna say they were wrong. and if you look at the lost totals... It seems to be working well for me... As for the taco salad... That was one of my favorite things before... I hope to eat it again someday. with a lil hot sauce as i can tolerate spicy things...I am allowed avocado, meat, Beans, cheese, eggs etc. that's my main foods... I am just glad i stopped craving potatoes... instead i now crave watermelon which is interesting since Before surgery I didn't care for it much. It's hard for me to say my surgeon was wrong when I watch the numbers on the scale drop. I lose a pound a day or every other day. it depends really... bout that's my average loss rate. When I told the docs office that She says that's pretty average... I wonder if things have changed been discovered that something different works from when others had their surgeries? Possible? I can't say it's wrong as I have watched it work...

You know I had those questions about skin as well. And it's not as bad as I expected. I thought it would be worse.. and they said give it a yr or two and let the skin go back... I was a few days after my 40th bday. I have some skin.. its not half as horrible as I thought it would be...I went from a 5 x.... now I can fit a jrs 15/17( and I'm not done yet) and it feels very good my journey is far from over... and at first yeah its a lil scary.... but all surgery is a lil scary. and remember you can also decide when your journey is to a weight you are happy with to have the skin removed as well..you have options...

My parents supported me. I was one of the lucky ones it seems. My weight had gotten out of control after losing my thyroid... and you can tell your mom you tried losing it on your own and it didn't work. I went to the gym for nine months worked my butt off was sore and went 4 days a week and ate... bird food and lost barely 30 pounds.... it wasn't gonna happen for me on my own...as long as you know this is right for you in the end that's what count's. you are doing this for you to be healthy. this is your journey and you need to make this... about you and only you. if she doesn't support you let that be her problem...having the surgery is not anyone's first choice... but for many of us it was the only and best choice. Most of us have tried to do it on our own before we considered the surgery... which is not a quick fix like some people think. its work and you have to work at it. But the surgery makes it possible makes it easier... gives us a chance to get the weight off. I will be the first to say it's hard at first.. I think about food now more then I did before... weigh my food make careful choices based on Protein needs... and I can still take my kids out to eat. I bring my scale with me... You just make good choices... eat steak or chicken... I can usually eat several meals off of what I buy for myself..my food bill has gone down... along with my weight. I am happier healthier... My energy levels are not yet where I want them to be but physically I feel better...I talked with my doc and its normal to be tired for a lil while... of course My journey so far is only 6 months in.... he said after a year or so I should feel much better. I can tell you my knees are not hurting nearly as bad as they did my back is getting better... my hips haven't hurt at all which is amazing. You keep doing what you need to do for you... your health and don't worry much about what anyone else thinks.. Maybe they are jealous... cos there not as thin as they want to be... you just never know what and why they are thinking or acting this way....

yeah I was told I can't have them until a year out.. seriously... I was told to be light with fruit as well... I dunno... just following my diet. I do see a new nut here in Idaho where I moved to a few months ago... but i admit to missing them. Because I am so new out of wls I was told to pretty much make sure I get in the protein and that's it...

I am lucky my family was supportive including my 5 kids. although my oldest son says I look funny after losing so much. You are doing this for you... not them and in the end what you think is what truly maters. you can do this... and we will support you here as well as their are usually support groups you can join and go to for additional support. it's a hard decision to make but in the end you do what you need to do to be healthy.... maybe mom just doesn't understand for some losing weight on your own is so very difficult. and if she has never been overweight.... well she couldn't possibly understand... Good luck on your journey you can do this

No My weight has come off really well... And the insulin resistance is gone because of the surgery it was the best thing I have ever gifted myself

I had the surgery because I coudl not lsoe the weight without it. I had pre diabeties and insulin resistance and my doc said it makes it hard to lose weight. So I set out to prove him wrong gym 4 days a week for nine months ate healthy stuff only... lost ohh about 30 ish pounds. I was so disappointed. The surgery is not the 100 % fix it all. But it helps. A LOT! ... You still have to be very careful about what you eat.... I weigh all my food before eating...I think about food a lot more now then I did before the surgery. I think its worth it all the way. It has made a huge difference in my life... and what I can now do as to what I couldn't do before I had it. I don't think 200 lbs is terribly overweight....But in the end what matters is how you feel and your health...I don't know for everyone but for me... I am allowed so many carbs not sure how many but I eat no carbs... at all. If you want this to work for you follow the diets.... it has worked for me better then I ever expected. at first it came off really slow and I thought ohh no its not gonna work for me etc...Then it just kind of took off. I did hear the less you need to lose the slower it comes off... but remember its a journey, nothing is instant... and having weight loss surgery is the same. you still have to work for it... but it makes it a bit easier when a small amount of food makes you feel full... and your not starving hungry... you do have to remember eat your 3 small meals... I notice when I moved I had skipped a few meals busy moving and rehabbing the place I bought... that my weight loss stopped. as soon as I got back on track of my 3 small meals and a snack ( usually a fruit one specific I have craved watermelon since my surgery... before surgery I didn't like watermelon) the weight started coming off again. I think it works regardless of how much you need to lose... The excess skin is not exactly wonderful but the healthy... feeling good more than make up for it. remember to research and think long and hard as it's forever. in my opinion it is worth it!. I would do it again.... if I had to... good luck with your journey.

You can still have your beans... No lard no oils I cook mine with 4 slices of bacon.... ( for the entire family...) I use green chili sauce to make green chili pork... I dont eat any tortillas or rice but there are still lots of good hispanic food dishes you can have... asada... careful with the veggies after as I was told not to eat to much of them as it will be hard for the sleeve to process them... but you can make posole... lots of good things.... it's not as bad as you think it is... at first its hard... But I can eat spicy foods and they don't bother me at all... everyone is a little different so when you get back on the regular diet.. you experiment with what foods your body can handle and which ones it can't... sadly no more tamales for me either and I adore them but let me tell you its worth it.... . you can do this!

I love seeing all the different ways, The changes make themselves known.And it feels amazing I love seeing all the good things..... I think about a couple of weeks ago... I noticed I have neck, collar bones... I haven't seen those since I had my first child ....

Do what fits you. I read that the sleeve can grow on it's own... Nothing to do with stretching because of soda etc.... if you follow all the other advice protein no carbs... and have a sip of soda or two hear and there I don't think it's gonna be the end of it for anyone..... I do think you outta be careful cos it doesn't work out well for some... I heard it can be painful and make you feel like you want to die for a couple hours...I don't think A bite of cake or a small treat as long as it is rare is going to ruin it either..... you just use caution.... and keep track of what is going in.... whatever you do decide to do... make sure you are sure and ready for the possible pain it could cause..... waiting 4 5 months out is likely the best idea.... give yourself time to heal.... and you might find you don't want it at all afterwards. I no longer crave sweets...I use to crave potatoes... now crave watermelon... go figure....

You can make your own fruit slushies... add no sugar but what is in the fruit itself... a bit of ice... and a bit of Water so its not to thick..... I find freezing the fruit then I only have to add a bit of water to it and no ice... but either way it gets the slushy need fulfilled without all the sugar in it... natural sugar and can likely add some Protein mix... in it ... ( Peanut Butter maybe?) I don't use banana's as the doc said no... but watermelon strawberries peaches.... you are only limited to the fruit you can get...

http://www.obesitycoverage.com/gastric-sleeve-reference-manual/ CAN IT BE STRETCHED?You can stretch your stomach after gastric sleeve surgery. The inside of your stomach is lined with rugae. These are folds of tissue that expand and contract in relation to the amount of food that enters your stomach. When they expand, your stomach sends a signal to your brain that you are full. When they contract, they push the food into your intestines for further processing. Once the stomach is empty, a hormone called ghrelin is released that triggers hunger again. These signals can get skewed when your stomach is constantly stretched from too much food. This article details how this happens and why it’s important to get back on track quickly after binging. Below are a few tips to reduce the risk of stretching your stomach. Drink Water an hour before and an hour after you eat. This gives your body time to digest the food and make room for fluids and vice versa. Don’t eat and drink at the same time. Don’t drink carbonated beverages. The carbonation can put unneeded pressure on your stomach. Eat small, healthy Snacks if you get hungry in-between meals. Plan your meals. Focus on small portions of nutrient dense foods. Nutrient dense foods keep you full longer and give you the nutrients that you need. Remember, if you overeat once, you haven’t ruined your new stomach. Get back on track as quickly as possible.

I hope you can find a nutritionist that you can mesh with... I am meeting my first one here in Idaho and will let you know how it goes... ( I been here just a bit over two months now. because in all honesty that nut is gonna be the one you need to mesh with as he/she will be helping you plan what to eat how much etc. not the actual surgeon.So I am hoping crappy surgeon... ( no connect) you can find that nut that is the bomb and will give you what you need.**************************."You're popular when you have as many haters as you do fans." --- I'm pretty sure I'm well on my way with this thread." .. LOL I might well be to since I came off as rude. mean without intention.Yippee. Not really *chuckles* ahh well it's what it is ehh...

I'm actually not against anyone having soda... I just think to be careful with it... and I wasn't a smoker until my ex punched me in the face and hit my 12 yr old son until then I had done well.. not smoking and the smell of it made me sick for 4 months after.... I just want her to be careful.. I have no idea of carbonation can make it expand or not... maybe for some maybe not for others... But I am fairly certain it can grow... From the looks of it it's a natural thing... from what I could find on it.... now it could be that is why they changed the part of stomach they used for the "pouch" and that one doesn't grow.... stretch as well as the older area used...