MacMadame

Hey, the one season I watched was the one right after my surgery! When you read interviews with former contestants, they often complain that much of what goes on behind the scenes is unhealthy and that they weren't given much advice on how to cook and eat healthy. It seems like what we see on the show is not the tip of the iceberg, but the actual iceberg. What really bugs me though is that these guys are being set up for failure. We know that diet and exercise alone doesn't work for the MO in the long run. But the show really reinforces society's view that the obese are that way because they have no willpower and are lazy and all you have to do is try harder and you will lose weight. When we hear about contestants who have gained back all their weight (which studies and personal experience show us is inevitable for most of them), you get quotes from the trainers how "Eric clearly didn't learn anything from being on the show". It's a bunch of hooey and it makes me mad.

That patient had a blood clot and did not return to LapSF for treatment. Anyone can get a blood clot at any time (I had one in the Fall of '80), but having surgery really ups your chances and you need to be vigilant about the symptoms. Plus, it's not unusual for the ER to dismiss your concerns. The symptoms can be nebulous and similar to other, less serious, problems. For example, there was a gal on OH who had a blood clot and went to the ER and they just hooked her up to an IV because she was dehydrated and sent her home. She was worse the next day, so her husband drove her back to the ER but she died on the way there. So all you pre-ops and recent post-ops: do your walking immediately after surgery like they tell you, stay hydrated, and, if you aren't getting better every day, make your surgeon/PCP/the ER take your symptoms seriously!!

A lot of WLS people get food intolerances early out, but over time they lessen or go away. The theory is that surgery irritates your tummy and makes it more sensitive. That said, I feel like my lactose intolerance is getting worse, not better. I guess we'll see what happens long term.

I'm still losing a bit... I suspect I'm getting new growth though as my hair is now a bit wavy, which it wasn't before. Everyone I know whose had surgery ahead of me has had their hair come back. There really isn't any reason it wouldn't. It falls out mostly because of the shock of surgery followed by rapid weight loss and maybe the hormones that are swirling around as you lose fat. All that stuff eventually goes away so then the hair starts growing again.

I hate to vomit too. But sleeve vomiting isn't that bad. And you can avoid it by not eating fast and chewing really well.

I have an iPhone and I love it! I bought it when my phone, iPod and Palm were all either failing or about to and I haven't looked back.

I watched for a while one season but I just hated how they don't really teach the contestants a healthy sustainable way to lose weight and set up the challenges to make them look ridiculous much of the time so I stopped.

Danskos actually GAVE me plantar fasciitis! Well, that and going barefoot in between. I think if you like the shoes that's fine, but there is no way they actually make you burn more calories like Sketcher's claims.

LapSF uses stents to fix leaks. Or they did back when they had a few. (They haven't had any in a while with the sleeve.)

In one study I read, no patients had complications past the 3 month mark. The staple line is pretty much healed by 2 weeks out though it doesn't really heal 100% until somewhere in the 6 weeks to 3 month timeframe. Once you get past the first 2 weeks to a month, all the biggies are pretty much a non-issue -- blood clot, leaks, etc. Certain complications, like kidney stones or osteoporosis can happen to anyone at any time, surgery or not, and so are always an issue. Hernias as a result of surgery also seem to be a complication that is more likely to happen later on, at least from what I've seen on other boards.

If you have emotional eating issues, I recommend The Food and Feelings book. It's a workbook and it's like being in therapy only much cheaper. :biggrin:

I was going to get a band too until I hung out on LBT for a while.

Dr. Feng is a very nice man and an excellent surgeon. I didn't go with him because his office person wouldn't answer any questions in my email and wanted me to go to their seminar instead. I had already been to another seminar where I wasted 2 hours of my life and found out info that, if I'd known it beforehand, I never even would have gone. So I was not willing to do that. Plus, she kind of made fun of my questionnaire, which pissed me off. I figured that it wouldn't be a good fit between us because I like to ask a LOT of questions and need a practice that is okay with that. Nicole at LapSF answered *every single one of my questions* in my 3 page questionnaire. I figured that was a good sign and I was happy with most of the answers so I went to the seminar and knew almost immediately that Dr. C was the surgeon for me. If I hadn't felt that way, I would have continued to look and would have reconsidered Dr. Feng because he really has a great reputation. Since then I've met him and I like him, and think he knows his stuff, but I think Dr. C is a much better fit for me. Dr. Feng is the sort that will tell you it's okay that you've regained or haven't got a normal BMI. Some people like that, but I wanted someone who was willing to be a straight-shooter and have high standards rather than make me feel good. Anyway, Dr. Feng is going to be the head of the bariatric department at Palo Alto Medical Foundation, which is the medical group I use. I think they are lucky to have him and that it's a good fit for him. I don't think he has the personality to be a sole practitioner -- it requires a lot of salesmanship and not everyone is good at that. Plus, now PAMF will do more than RnY -- so I won't be my PCP's only sleeve patient -- and I will have another place to go to for help and support and maybe even their protocols will match LapSF's better. So I'm happy about it. :biggrin:

It was someone else.... I found the thread... so it was my senior moment.

Well my hair has always been thin. So I believe other people can't notice. Heck, I *told* my hairdresser I was losing my hair and she just noticed for herself the other day. :confused1:

It's on the Forum start page... I was an Admininstrator but when I asked to be removed as a mod at LBT, I got removed here. That's okay, as I probably would have asked to be removed here eventually once the thing that bugged me at LBT happened here too.

It sounds like the symptoms of a stricture. Definitely call your doctor so they can get you in to see what's up.

Hey, I had my surgery on the 24th last year!

These conferences end up being a combination of people who are well-known and respected, people who want to come and people who want to promote themselves. So the list isn't absolute IMO. However, my own definition of a pioneer is not just someone who does something first, but someone who adds to the common knowledge and also brings their own twist to things. So LapSF has done a lot of publishing of their results and made a lot of refinements to the sleeve surgery. That makes them pioneers, in my book. Elariny, OTOH, who is on that list, doesn't even do the sleeve much any more as he refuses to make the sleeve smaller than a 48f and therefore his patients don't have that much success. So he's on the list, but I wouldn't call him a leading sleeve surgeon. He may have been an early pioneer, but he's dropped out at this point. OTOH, there is not one Mexican doctor on that list. There were none presenting at the 2nd summit either. This supports my contention that the Mexican surgeons were not the pioneers of this particular surgery and are not ahead of the curve compared to other countries. They were with the band, but not the sleeve. That doesn't mean there aren't a some MX surgeon with more experience than some US surgeons. But the country as a whole isn't more experienced on average.

Personally, I wouldn't do it, if it's not required. The liquid pre-op diet can be tough and then you have to do liquids post-op for at least two weeks. If you want to lose weight, a low carb diet with real food will shrink your liver just as well as a liquid low carb diet.

Collegan is not a complete Protein. It has to combine with other Proteins in your body to make a complete protein. That's one reason that they also throw in some whey and casein -- to give you some other protein to combine with. Whey protein isolate is the most bio-available protein so, if you are only getting in a little, it's a good one to consume. But to some extent, it's more important to get protein, any protein, than to worry over what kind. People get a bit crazy about the protein supplements IMO. After all, the protein in eggs is more bioavailable than the protein chicken but no one suggests you should never eat chicken and only eat eggs. For one thing, the difference just isn't that great and, for another, the more variety you have in your diet, the better off you are.

I've heard LOTS of negative stuff about UK food. Mostly that it's bland and overcooked and starchy and fatty. But trail mix isn't granola. Granola is baked. Trail mix is just nuts and dried fruit and (sometimes) some chocolate chips or M&Ms mixed in. Sometimes people put seeds in it too. You can buy it pre-mixed or mix it yourself in a plastic bag and take it hiking. That's how it got its name. But obviously, you can just eat it and not go hiking. :smile: I take it on my bike. Do these pictures help: http://grainoflight.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/trailmix.jpg http://iwasmkidsclub.webs.com/trail%20mix.jpg Planters - Trail Mix

You need your Vitamin D and PTH checked, too. Also, I don't see Iron on there. Here's the complete list my surgeon has us do annually: http://www.lapsf.com/Annual%20Lab%20Orders%202008a.pdf They don't do them at 3 months out because most patients don't see problems until at about 2 years out... they are working off their stored nutrients until then. But I had some done at 3 months because I was in the ER at 7 weeks with a kidney stone and I wanted to see if the stuff that was low then had improved.

If you hate to exercise, you are doing the wrong kind. That's my philosophy of exercise. Exercise doesn't have to be going to the gym. If you hate the gym, join a sports league (softball, volleyball, soccer, etc.) or a class like ballroom dancing or line dancing (where you don't need a partner) or figure skating or even yoga or pilates.. anything that has you moving your body. And definitely start small. I started going to the gym 1-2x a week at first. Then I went 2-3x. Then 3-4x. Now I workout about 8-10 times a week. You don't have to go that nuts. You can also do stuff outside like running, walking, biking, roller blading, etc. No gym involved there. If you think you'll just hate everything, then try something short that you can just grit your teeth and get through. I do Cross-fit workouts and they are around 20 min. at a time. 20 min. that make you want to DIE but it's only 20 min. and then it's over. They have them at gyms but my coach has drop-in groups that meet outside in the park.

Well I was getting in 80 g of Protein a day and I still lost my hair. :party4: You want to get the protein so you don't lose muscle mass and so you have a lot of energy, though. But the first two weeks or so, it can be hard. What helped me was: -Protein hot chocolate from Nashua Nutrition/Healthwise -Clear fruity Protein drinks -Isopure RTD (40 g protein, 20 oz. liquids) -Adding protein to everything - South Beach Tide Me Over in my Water, unflavored Protein powder in the broths and Soups, etc. -Make the shakes with ice cubes in a blender so they have the consistency of a smoothie and go down better. -If you try whey protein powder and don't like them, try soy protein powder. Don't the soy? Try whey? Heck, Jay Robb has some made from egg protein. Just keep trying samples until you find one you like. -Using greek yogurt instead of regular yogurt (less carbs, more protein) -Using "bariatric" foods such protein soups, protein sloppy joes, protein oatmeal, etc. (Popular companies: WonderSlim, Nashua Nutrition, Focus28, ProtiDiet, Healthwise/Healthsmart, SmartForme)