Wheetsin

I try to appeal to logic, so I would probably say something like, "Have you ever tried living off a half a hamburger?" If anyone can answer yes, they're lying or they're 4 years old.

Or I would say, "I WILL be doing just that." (I get the point, but I think I'd remain willfully ignorant, to make my own point.)

I have heard this from numerous people when I tell them I am having a vertical sleeve gastrectomy.

"So if you know you will only be able to eat half a hamburger for the rest of your life, why don't you do just that?"

How do you respond to this question????

Just re-read that she's never met your husband. But they're FB "friends" right? To some people, that's virtually the same as being RL friends. So she may also feel like she knows him more than she actually does, because of whatever connection/communication they have through FB. I've had friends' spouses send me FB requests as though they know me (which they sometimes don't), and then chat it up like we actually know each other. It's one of the weird things about social media.

ETA: I should also add that mentally & in terms of relationships, I'm much more guy than girl.

I don't easily get jealous or assume ulterior motives unless something is just plain off. But most of women I know, do. Almost rabidly. I think in your situation a lot of women would jump to the conclusion that "she's after my man." Whereas I would tend to think - she's not comfortable talking to you for whatever reason, she's trying to form a friendship with him and maybe you're the neutral territory, she thinks they're closer friends than he does, etc.

Is your friendship currently in good standing? Do you think she thinks it is? My first thought is that she is truly curious about how you are doing, but for some reason feels uncomfortable approaching you directly. If it's generically how you're doing - my first guess would be that she thinks something is askew in your relationship. If it's specific to something like weightloss - maybe she's not sure YOU are comfortable talking about it. Just guesses though.

You seem suspicious of her motives. IMO there's nothing wrong with what she has done. Putting myself in your shoes (at least what little I know of them from what you shared) I don't think I would be threatened or weirded out. I mean -- she's FB "friends" with your husband (I assume, since she can send him messages) so they must know each other at least a little, right? It's not like they have no idea who the other is, and this is coming out of the blue. She's asking about you, not about him or them or anything that seems fishy.

If you feel you have a good friendship with her, ask her about it. If you don't feel that your friendship is strong enough for that, maybe she doesn't either, and that's why she's asking him. *shrug* I really don't know. Just trying to share what it seems like from my ignorant perspective.

I don't think we can get over it, so to speak. I know that even after losing almost 200 lbs, I sure didn't. Lots & lots of reasons why a lot of us tend to have a hard time accepting compliments -- at least ones that deal with our physical appearance -- and especially physical appearance related to body. E.g. at my highest weight, if someone complimented my hair - fine. I didn't relish it, but I was ok with it. Someone complimented an outfit - totally uncomfortable. Someone complimented something odd (I once had someone tell me I had nice toes) - awkward, but not in an uncomfortable way, more in a "weirdo..." kind of way.

I shared once that people are noticing something is different about me, but maybe they can't quite place it. So I'm getting scrutinized a bit. And I'm really not comfortable with the attention. I hate people looking at me. I really do. I do everything I can to avoid any kind of spotlight.

That's my personality. It's part just who I am, and part what I learned after years & years of being MO. We are the sum of our experiences, so everything we've dealth with as O/MO folks has helped mould who we are.

I mean - if someone is complimenting me, it's probably a joke, or mean-spirited. At least that's what got in my head. Or maybe they felt sorry for me. Or wanted their good deed of the day. There's no way they could actually be sincere.

If people are complimenting your weightloss, it's really noticeable. Normally if people think maybe, or she seems a little... they don't say anything, because how awkward would it be if they were wrong? Most people only feel comfortable saying anything once it's pretty much undeniable. So in that sense, it's a good thing.

A smile, and a "Thanks, that's really sweet of you to say" or "Thanks, I've been trying hard so I'm glad you noticed" (sincere or not) is all it takes. Just practice it, and it will become pretty automatic.

I have foods that don't really feel all that good, but I've never thrown them up. Non-crunchy breads feel heavy. Peanut Butter takes me a long time to eat a very small amount. If my sleeve puked, these are probably what it would puke on. But since it doesn't, I'm guessing the "heavy" foods are my versions of things I can't tolerate (even though I can tolerate them... bah).

A few BTWs...

popcorn is terrible for your digestive system. If you tell any GI doc you don't eat popcorn, they will automatically love you at least a little bit. And microwave popcorn is the worst. Look up the recent cancer studies, or cancer rates of employees who worked in the factories. It's not the popcorn itself, or the microwave, it's the crap inside the baggies.

If you haven't heard of "pink slime" you tube the tern and Jamie Oliver. I grind my own "beef" for my family, and the whole "pink slime" thing being brought out in a public light was a really nice affirmation. After watching some of these food documentaries - no way, no how I'm buying store bought ground meat unless it's a butcher and I can see him grind it. But I don't mind, and you can get much better flavors when you mix the cuts vs. buying scrap (try making a burger out of a combination of fresh ground sirloin, chuck and brisket... on a charcoal grill with a chunk of alder & cherry wood thrown in the coals... you will have 'em eating out of your hand).

I'll second the syrups, and spices. I get the fat free "honey" yogurt (Oikos organic) and add the smallest pinch of Vietnamese cinnamon, and some Splenda. Tastes reasonably like cinnamon cheesecake. Salted Caramel SF Syrup also goes well in plain Greek yogurt.

Just like Protein, you can doctor this stuff up to taste reasonably like - anything. PB2 and Splenda whizzed into it will make something not completely different from the filling of a PB cookie.

Greek yogurt plain is gross, so I am not sure if that is why you are saying that you do not like it. I always sweeten it with sugar free syrups (torani) and splenda. Then it is thick and creamy and yummy! You can also use it to make shakes, just add a little milk, strawberries or whatever fruit you like, and splenda to sweeten.

You may just be in a stall. It can happen immediately post-op. I was about 3 weeks post-op when mine struck, and it lasted about 11 weeks. You'll know my now that not everyone has the same weight loss, and you'll also know that bnad-sleeve experiences are different. It seems like a lot of revisions have much slower loss the 2nd time around. I know I do.

I'll put more in blue below. I just wanted to point out that being fairly recelty post-op doesn't mean you aren't subject to stalls.

my surgery was may/2012 pre op diet I lost 12 pounds, surgery day weight was 155 and current weight is 153......very frustrating, I follow my diet plan, eat my Protein, exercise and I am not loosing......not gaining either tho thankfully. Sounds like you're only tracking weight. You might want to track measurements too. A lot of people who "stall" in pounds continue losing inches. This is the product of our body's Fluid levels. My stall was a "true" stall in that I lost neither inches nor pounds, so it can happen, and it can last a long time. I am hungry all the time, and have alot of heartburn which I never had before. What kind of Protein do you eat? That makes a BIG difference inhunger levels. Are you taking a PPI? How often, and what dose? WHen do you experience the heartburn? (e.g. time of day, after meals, when laying down, etc.) That's one of the known side effects to this procedure, but it should be managed. I too did all the blood work and physical with my primary care physician and there is nothing wrong with any of my levels including thyroid panel. I still follow the phases of my diet but see no results. Sounds like a stall to me. I still wear the same size clothing and my measurements havent changed. There can be a lot of things going on with this and they're almost too many to get in to. Our bodies work in weird ways. I think I had to lose about 40% of my excess weight before my sizes changed (with the band). Probably a combination of my clothes having been stretched out, and the fact that initial large losses just aren't fat losses, and fat is the thing that's going to change the fit of our clothes. My surgery was in Mexico too and I dont have insurance to do studies or follow up procedures........right now I feel as if I went through alot of pain and lost alot of money and hope because my sleeve isnt working at all I still haven't read anything that indicates to me that your sleeve isn't working. But here's the best way to tell. Post your menu for the past 3 days, including portions. Then we'll know if your sleeve is working.

That's a bit of a misnomer. There really isn't any "work" for it to do or not do. It's just smaller. So by "work" I mean you are satiated with smaller quantities of food. Smaller will vary depending on your sleeve's capacity - we're all different there, too.

So share your menus, and we can help you from there. Include workout details. If you have it, also share the calorie/carb/protein/fat breakouts. We can fogure them for you if you don't have them, it's just a little quicker if you happen to.

I've been fat for a long time, I had to take steroids for 4 months once, and my mom is Greek. That pretty much makes me an unofficial expert on female facial hair. (note I did not say removal).

Susan - the little do-hickey you posted - never heard of it, but it looks like it's just a personal trimmer with an LED light. Personal trimmers do ok. They tend to heat up quite a bit - enough to get uncomfortable. Generally speaking they do not last long. Is it something more than that? Because if it's marketed as a photo removal tool (works with light) an LED isn't going to do a thing to hair other than illuminate it.

NoNo! - My mom ordered this. It was crap. She was so excited about it, too. It smelled like burnt hair and didn't seem to do much to the hair. Some was gone, some was not. It grew back just like anything else. It streaked her a bit, too.

Tweezers - fine for the occasional hair or two. I tweeze my brows between salon visits. Unfortunately "a hair or two" is not my problem. Rest your chin on your hands, like you would if you were bored. Everywhere your hands are touching = problem area for me. I don't have hours & hours to spend tweezing.

Epilady type products - OMFG just say no.

Waxing - ok, but I have sensitive skin. Very sensitive skin. Waxing pretty much feels like the skin is being pulled off. I get my brows waxed and for about 20 hours I look like I've been maced. I've tried both salon waxing and home waxing. Home waxing sucks (IMO). Salon waxing works but it's agony on the chinnigans.

Laser - I would do this in a heartbeat except for two things. I've been told you need to have dark hair for it to be very effective, and I don't. I have a dark red hair, and I've been told (my the people who do this) that red counts as a light color, regardless of shade. It has something to do with how the light pulses travel down the hair into the follicle. Dark hairs are better travel agents, I guess. Ok, so that was the first thing. The second thing as, and I'm quoting multiple people when I say this, "It's like getting sliced continuously with exact-o blades." I don't know if that's true, but almost everyone I've asked makes that exact same comparison. That's a lot of pain for something that might work to varying degrees. Slather me up with some EMLA cream or something and we'll talk.

Threading - I've had my brows threaded. It basically felt just like an epilady. It also made me bleed. Not just a pinpoint like a tweezing might do, nor did I need sutures, but the blood had to be wiped away. And that was just my eyebrows, which are the least sensitive part of my face. I can't imagine getting the chinnagins threaded. Though I would get my eyebrows threaded again. They looked really good!

Electrolysis - OMFG no.

Vaniqa - About 4 years ago my Dr phoned mein a RX. I picked it up for $160. I used the entire tube and it did nothing other than cost me $160.

Chemical hair removers (e.g. Nair): Of everything, these are probably my favorite. They do last longer than shaving, they don't hurt. The right ones are fine for even my horribly sensitive skin, and they smell a lot better than they used to (as a kid, before I was allowed to shave with a razor, I was only allowed to use Nair and it STUNK). I can wear it while I do other things. It's kinda gross wiping off all that hair, but who cares.

Sandpaper - that's right, sandpaper. Very, very fine grain sandpaper is sold as "hair buffers". You'll see them on endcaps near the beauty sreas in most mega marts. Little white pads. It will say you can just "rub your hair away". It's not magic, it's sandpaper. They work. They don't irritate skin too much. They also don't last long at all (maybe 1 or 2 times, and only on a small area). they're so so. I used to keep one in my purse for "emergencies".

Razor - sadly, this is what I do most of the time during my morning shower. It's so quick and easy. Or elec razor (I've "borrowed" DH's $$$$ ""gold cadillac" razor after he's gone downstairs). This sucks. It feels like about the least feminine thing one could possibly do, but really - see any good alternatives above?

Just curious if you told them your weight. I go for first meeting with surgeon next week...(finished with all preliminaries, after appt they submit to insurance). Anyway, while ago i received a computerized message confirming my appt, and it said ," remember to bring your support person". Huh? First i've heard of that!! And of course the ofc is closed now so i can't call them. I suppose my "support person" is my husband, and i'm quietly hyperventilating at the idea of him walking back there with me and seeing the number on the scale!!!! Eeeeeek!

First - support people are optional, not mandatory. What if you had just moved here and were single? Second - your weight should be taken discreetly. It will not be projected onto a wall or anything. A "support person" is not someone who has access to your medical information unless you have signed a release listing that person my name as someone authroized to receive medical information about you. HIPAA is very clear on these things. Nothing should be shared with them that you do not OK. So you have several options, and this is no where near all of them...

• Assume it will be done privately, before your DH joins you. It should be.
  
• Call and ask how it is done, and tell them you want to be weighed before he joins you.
  
• Ask him to avert his eyes when you're weighed.
  
• Have DH taken to the consultation room first, then get weighed and join him.
  
• Tell the office that you want your weight kept private, even during meetings. Have them note it in your folder. Remind the surgeon during your meeting that you'd prefer your weight not be shared.
  

Just a few that you can start with.

To answer your question - my husband knows what I weigh. And I know what he weighs. It's not a big deal to me. He also knows things like how tall I am and what color my eyes are. There are much, much more "intimate" things he knows about me than my weight. A coupla numbers is the last thing I'm going to feel embarassed or ashamed about.

Sorry for the questions, I'm just intrigued. I have a small medical background and am a bit compelled to understand these things It still doesn't make sense, but I won't pester you for answers you don't have. I'll just have to go find something to get my mind out of "solve" mode.

Red meat - allowed IIRC at 8 weeks. Maybe 10. I choose not to eat it, though lately I have been using beef Jerky for Protein. I've easily eaten less than 1 pound of fresh red meat since 2006.

Caffeine - I drink tea, which does not have much caffeine at all (contrary to popular belief). That's it. I was able to start tea around 6 weeks. NUT said "never" in my info session, but everyone else (including other NUTs) are fine with it. Once your staple line is healed the irrtants aren't a big factor, and otherwise it's just general health/avoid caffeine -- not something critical to weight loss.

Nuts - I think these were allowed around 10 weeks as well. I frequently eat a few almonds for a snack, and fresh ground nut butters (peanut, almond, cashew). I'm also currently digging Trader Joe's creamy Valencia Peanut Butter with sea salt.

Corn - don't like it so I don't eat much. I think it was OK around the 3 month mark. The only corn I've eaten was one time I got the corn/jalapeno salsa in my Chipotle bol.

popcorn - IIRC this was 3 mos as well. I don't really like it so I haven't had any yet.

I went into this with some safe assumptions - that I would vomit frequently, that I would have horrible heartburn, and that there would be some things that I would just never be able to eat again. Of all those assumptions, the only one close to true is the heartburn, but only if I don't manage my PPI schedule, and it's only occasionally bad enough to cause me real discomfort.

This year will be my 15th wedding anniversary and DH and I were together for 3 years before we got married so I haven't dated in a LOOOOONG time butif I were dating now with my sleeve, I would not bring it up on the first date unless it was specifically questioned (i.e. You didn't eat much, did it taste ok?) and even then I wouldn't share that I'd had sleeve surgery. I'd probably answer roundabout.

There are some things I think people need to be up front about. There are some things they do not. Private medical past is one of those. You don't need to tell him you've had VSG surgery any more than he needs to tell you whether or not he has his appendix. It's just not relevant to what's going on, and if anything would probably make for an awkward time (chances are, though not necessarily).

Anyway, how have you ladies handled going out on dates (eating-wise) with your sleeve? Do you explain that you've had the surgery right off the bat.. or should I just continue saying 'I've changed my lifestyle, started seeing a nutritionist..' that I have been telling everyone else in my life? Only my immediate family know of my surgery.. do I tell a guy right when I meet him? Does it make everything easier to be up front?

So many questions! If you have any tips on how to reel a guy in-- I'd appreciate those too! hahaha

Thanks for your help

Removing a lapband doesn't require staples in your stomach. Why did they staple you?

i have been to 3 doctor for different opions. the first one told me No Way..he wouldn't do it. he said id have too much scar tissue and id be a mess inside. He opted for me to have a bypass which i don't want. then the other two doctors said they were fine with it. they did tell me that i have a staple line in my stomach from when my previous lap band was removed back in 2009! this concerns me a little because of leaks. the dr told me if he goes in and doesn't think he could do successfully then he won't. I've been back and forth trying to figure out if i want to do this and I'm still unsure. I'm so afraid because of the issues i have while i was banded. i just want to be a success and have no complications if i did have it. id never forgive myself if something bad happened from having it done.

I went just over 2 weeks without pooping and it was not fun. No discomfort, but the body just needs to move a bit, you know? Soluble Fiber supplement (I just use the Target brand generic) and Miralax.

You will need to up your liquid if you take Fiber - it works through bulking and if you bulk without liquid, you create dry bulk. No good. Miralax is an osmotic laxative. It works by pulling fluids from other areas into your intestines. So the combination of fiber + Miralax needs even more fluids. But it works. May take a few days.

My go-to food to up my Protein is sashimi. tuna or salmon. 6 - 9 gm of Protein per ounce, depending on the cut.

I also rely on hard or semihard cheeses. Gruyere and Irish cheddar are my current favs.

Not a guy, but don't have to be to know these things.

1. Count on your initial weightloss (the first 2 weeks or so) to be at least 60% Water. More if you're also dehydrated at all. So figure at least 75% if Water intake is restricted. Just your liver, just for transporting glycogen, can use 8 - 12 lbs of water. And that's just one function of one organ. Just your soft tissues, just for environmental changes, can use 6 - 15 lbs. Look at female Fluid retention during PMS. It's nuts.

2. Guys tend to burn through weighloss, esp. with WLS. Most of the loss rates you're going to see here will be female. It's a fairly safe bet that your rate will surpass the average (female) rate here.

How the heck are you managing 800 calories 2 weeks post-op? This is something most people struggle with, so please share a day or two worth of menus. I think it'll be more helpful than you realize. Your Protein will account for 320 calories. Where are you getting the other ~500?

How many revisions has your surgeon done? (AGB -> VSG?) Do you know? If not that's ok, but I'm curious. I'm not a surgeon, but I would question this when you next speak. Usually time just allows more scar tissue to form, so would he try and repair adhesions/scar tissue at the time of removal, and trust that you'll stay cleaned up until 12 months later?

I'm definitely ana dvocate of having a waiting period between procedures, but waiting a year because you have a lot of scar tissue just doesn't make sense. I'd definitely ask some clarifying questions if it were me.

Lianne, dr told me when he is removing the band he is going to see if I have too much scar tissue. If so I have to wait 1 year.... I'm hope that I don't have to because I already applied for short term disability and have a month off work.

Below in blue.

I'm having my band removed on aug 7th, my dr said if I have too much scar tissue, I have to wait 1 year before I can get my sleeve. I had the band placed in 2007. Did anyone have this problem? I have/had gobs of scar tissue (band in, GB out, slipped band, band out...) and was never told this. My sleeve was "tricky" because of the scar tissue, and I may always have tighter-than-average restriction because of it, but there was never a question about whether or not I'd be able to have it. I don't know how long you had your band, but mine was about 6 years, and about 4 of those it was slipped. I didn't have an erosion or anything, but I'd have tot hink that for intact anatomy, my scarring was probably pretty high up there. I'm super bummed because I had all the Fluid removed from the band 1 month ago and already gained 25 pounds... I mostly maintained (gained about 4 lbs) with my unfill, but as soon as my band was removed - holy balls. I gained about 60 lbs in 7 mos.

How does the Dr know that you have too much scar tissue? Can you get a second opinion?

I had my band removed, and the sleeve done at the same time. Why risk two surgeries when it can be done all at the same time. Each surgeon has their own preference, but most true revision surgeons require down time between the procedures. Waiting about 2 months decreases the complication rates something like 30% (it's been about a year since I've seen the statitics so this is as best as I can remember).

I'm so sorry for you. I spent a month unfilled and gained 15 lbs before my revision.

Youi really just have to wait it out. Supplements/treatments/etc. seem to do nothing for the majority of the people who take them. I've not seen any actual research indicating they help - though I have seen some research indicating they do nothing. The positives seem almost exclusively anecdotal. But if it makes you feel better, take them. (Iron, not Biotin or anything else, is most directly linked to hairloss.) And as always, be careful when you supplement something that you're not known to be deficient in.

Remember that not all "hair loss" is created equal. If something can "help" (can't call it a cure, that would require FDA approval & actual research to back it up) with hairloss, you need to do what you can to find out what kind. The reasons we lose hair at any point vary so much. You're always losing some hair. If it's genetics vs. environmental vs. systemic (as ours is) vs. etc.

Unfortunately, there is little evidence that early Hair loss is preventable because it is most likely caused by surgery and rapid weight loss. Later hair loss, however, can be indicative of a nutritional problem, especially Iron deficiency, and may be a clinically useful sign. Educating patients about the potential for hair loss and possible underlying causes can help them to make informed choices and avoid wasting money on gimmicks that may have little real value.

Sounds like you were being overfilled. Why did they keep giving you fills if you weren't keeping things down? Were your fills done under fluoroscopy or blind? How long have you been unfilled? There's something really odd going on with your aftercare. It sounds like whomever is doing your stuff is being borderline negligent.

There's a forum here specifically for band to sleeve revisions. You might want to check it out. I had a lapband for 6 years and am about 4 months out from my sleeve surgery.

The sleeve will only affect your fertility in a good way (weightloss, generically, tends to help increase fertility). There is nothing about the sleeve that keeps you from getting pregnant, though as others have mentioned, a fairly strict waiting period is usually enforced. I know of sone surgeons who actually require a written contract., though who knowns how defensible it is.

There's lots of insight to be had here, we just need a little more info on what you're seeking, so that we can gice you the right info.

Hello my name is Emily

I had lapband done in August 2010 I'm a young patient I was in a study for this lapband. I lost a total of 80lbs by April 2011 I felt great when I needed fills I would get so sick after the surgeon filled me each time this would happen one day I had to go to ER I was totally closed up and very dehydrated they had to empty my band ! I gained all my weight back ! My surgeon and doctors think the band isn't for me! I have been thinking about the sleeve ?? Some doctors say you can't get pregnant some say you can ? Any insight would be very appreciated thank you !! * emme

Glad it could help.

Call your family Dr or PCP. The strep test can be done in office and you get almost instant results. Strep is not fun, and there's no need to live with it any longer than needed if that's what you have.

When I had my lapband removed I woke up with a sore throat that hurt worse than strep, believe it or not. They must not've been too gentle with some of the things they shoved down there. But if it was related to that, it would be an immediate thing - you'd have woken up with it or noticed it very soon after. It wouldn't surface two weeks later.

"All things in moderation" was someting I adapted to when I had my lapband. The eating archetypes, for lack of a better phrase, allplied to that procedure as well. If I had wanted to never eat sugar again, I'd have thought harder about RNY, but I knew I wanted the freedom to where - if I want a scoop of ice cream, I can have a scoop of ice cream. I don't mind having to augment with a little bit of my own will power.

That philosophy really sunk in about 2 years after having my band, and honestly - it was bitter-sweet. There were some things I was glad I could still enjoy. And there were some things I wished I had never tried, because now that I knew I could have them, it was hard to turn them down. Though it's a little different with the band. There are entire levels of the food pyramid that are "sliders" with the band. And anything that can clear that stoma is free game for your (still very stretchable) stomach.

I tend to take that approach now, though I'm trying to straight up avoid "trigger" foods for me. I still have 100 lbs to lose and don't feel like I have much business eating certain things that I know I do not moderate well (like Reese's) until I'm a little closer to goal, or at least out of my honeymoon phase. I find healthier substitutes to manage cravings (like organic catural Peanut Butter minus the chocolate).

My formal goal weight is a hybrid of a weight I know I'm comfortable at (around 185) and what my BMI considers normal (about 170). I'm using 170 on most things like tickers because, why settle for less? Realistically, if I get to 199 and never lose another pound, I'd be happy - anything under 200 is my mantra, seeing as how I spent a LOT of years at 350+.

I am built large. I am not muscular, but I have a large frame. I'm just a hair over 5'10 and even when I was "skinny" I was never skinny. When your body type doffers from the core average, you have to take things like BMI with a grain of salt.