Berry78

So funny!! I can see it now.. "Have you lost weight?" "No" ... ... I have GOT to try that too!

Much like a certain part of the male anatomy, stomachs vary in both length and width. The bougie only controls the width of the sleeve, there is no way to diminish the length. What you are experiencing is the natural consequence of having a long stomach/sleeve. But, whether you start out with a sleeve with a higher capacity, or you develop more capacity over time, the end result is the same. Calories count, so you have to either restrict portion sizes of calorically-dense foods, or you have to eat foods that are not calorie dense (or a combination of the two). So, for me, it means I measure my fats and carbs, and don't have to measure my non-starchy veggies.

Bypass is strictly no nsaids. Sleeve is more flexible, but like someone said above, ok for acute issues, but for chronic ones, an alternative should be found.

At 6 months postop I had 1 glass of wine. Wobbly legs! Had to hold onto my hubby it was so bad! "Few drinks"? Asking to pass out, if you ask me!

Congrats on making goal! Personal question.. what size jeans are you in? I'm trying to figure out my scale-goal... and want to wear a size 6 or 8.

208. Didn't quite make goal, but got close! I'm happy

If they are talking about an internal hernia (Petersen's defect), then yes. Basically a loop of the intestines can move out of place and get trapped (pinched off) by the other intestines. If it is pinched, food has trouble moving through, and if it is tight enough, that loop of intestine can lose its blood supply. (If that were currently happening, you'd likely be laying on the floor screaming in pain). They may be talking about something else, but it's all similar. Intestines are like a squishy hose, and if the hose gets a kink in it, problems happen.

My MIL had drains stay in for 6 weeks because the output wouldn't decrease. Eventually they had to come out, regardless. She didn't form a seroma either, and I personally think it's because the drain itself was causing the fluid after a while. Take out the drain, and the body stops producing so much. The problem is there is no real way to prove that theory, so you pull them and keep your fingers crossed. Sounds like you are doing great!

I did a bit of research, and I found out some interesting stuff. Ok, so reasons you could have trouble urinating: Dehydration... not enough going in results in decreased out-put. Main sign to watch out for is small quantities of concentrated urine (we should all be on vitamins and our urine can be bright yellow from that). Kidney stone.. severe pain under a rib, blood in the urine, possible fever, needing to pee frequently and small amounts. Constipation: Yep! Hard stool in the intestine can pinch off the urethra, making it hard to pee! For women (particularly ones that have had children): weak pelvic floor muscles that allow the uterus or rectum to move out of their normal position, possibly putting pressure on the urethra. (This is likely my problem.. I've had 4 kids). UTI: infection in the bladder or kidneys. Blood in the urine, urgency, pain, frequency, decreased output, possible fever Stricture in urethra: more often seen in men. scar tissue can form because of swelling, injury, or infection in the past. Kidney disease: doc can determine with blood tests

Lovelies.. let me put your minds at ease. The average loss for the first month is about 15-20lbs. Sure, there are some that lose 40, and some lose 5 or 10.. but the majority of us lose between 15 and 20. The second month is usually less. Averages 10-15. I am 7 months postop (tomorrow!) and have lost almost 100lbs. I started out 150lbs overweight, so I'm 2/3 to goal. My first month I lost 17lbs, second month 13lbs.. for a total of 30lbs (not including preop losses). This is a very average amount. Surgery is great, but it really doesn't make us lose weight any faster than we could have before surgery on a very restricted diet. If you went on a 800 calorie diet preop, your losses would be the same as 800 calories postop. The difference is how possible it is to eat only 800 calories for an extended period of time. Most of us take a year or more to make goal weight. Could you have eaten 800 calories a day for a year without surgery? Didn't think so... (I'm eating 1100 give or take, and have been for most of the time.. so 800 wasn't even in the cards for me postop! Lol!).

Thank you. I had some treatment on them 18 years ago, but my surgeon died 2 days after doing the surgery, so I got no aftercare. When I was evaluated again a few years ago they wanted me to wear compression pantyhose. I've lost almost 100lbs now so it's getting closer! Just have to find a doc I trust. (Last one said he thought my case would be a challenge. No thanks!).

Have you considered Mexico? I went with Dr. Illan, and had a good experience. You probably have the same chances of complications wherever you go, but if Mexico is cheaper then you have that buffer. (I live in Maryland).

Congrats, Bella, on escaping from your food demons. Good for you May we all be as successful.

Has there been any discussion of tube feeding or tpn? Definitely ask the doctor that is treating her now. Has she had any mris, ct scans, barium swallows.. anything other than the endoscopy? Edited to add.. Bariatric docs may be hard to come by, but a GI doc should take her insurance. Switch types of doctors.

Lol. This wasn't my experience. Isopure or death.. give me death! (But not death by isopure! Please NOOOO!) But, as with everything, your mileage may vary, and so it's worth a shot..

Ok so you said the surgeon has done all tests. What tests, specifically, have been performed? Does your Mom have her gallbladder still? Problems with a gallbladder can create these symptoms. What sort of hospital have you been using? Is it a little community one or a big, renowned, teaching one? Bigger hospitals may have more knowledge/resources. If her surgeon isn't actively helping, then it may be time to take her to the nearest hospital that has a big bariatric program. Get some fresh eyes on the case. There is a different kind of nutrition that she should be on. TPN.. it goes into the vein. Or they could try her on tube feeding. If you tell us what state you live in, we may be able to point you to a good hospital.

Probably on average every 3 hours. It was never set in stone, and I regained hunger pretty early, so my belly would usually remind me to eat. I would drink all the way up until a few minutes before eating, but couldn't drink for an hour or two after. So I'd eat, wait a couple hours, drink 8oz, then eat again. First thing in the morning I never felt like eating, so I'd just drink until about noon. Coffee, milk, coconut water, maybe a spinach smoothie. Maybe water with a squirt of lemon. Occasionally it would be 6pm and I'd only eaten my cottage cheese. Oops! Squeeze in what I could and call it a day. Try harder next time.

Have you tried just a regular cup of milk? Fruit tends to be really acidic. Milk is a buffer and can be soothing. If milk works, then stay in the dairy isle... yogurt, cottage cheese, soft cheeses.. work your way up that ladder. If dairy doesn't work, then try beans. Soy milk, thin refried beans, split pea soup, lentil soup, tofu.. The meat ladder: homemade broth, gently poached white fish, tuna with mayo, chicken thigh. Just keep on trying.. start with more liquidy foods and work your way up. Fruit doesn't have protein, and if you can't stand protein shakes then you need to find food with protein that you can tolerate.

I came across an interesting article. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/science/science-news/11385044/Fast-running-is-as-deadly-as-sitting-on-couch-scientists-find.html Y'all are right! Slower is better!

The chart doesn't actually have you running the whole 5k in 20 minutes. The last month has the speed up, and then working for distance.. ends up being 26.5 minutes at 7mph or 28min for 6.5mph.. So Jess broke 30 minutes in 6 months and this plan has you break it in 7 months. Sounds ok to me.

It is a lot of food.. but even if you only eat half portions now and add a protein shake.. it gives you a framework to work with that will grow with you.. (I thought that I made that clear, but maybe not...) These choices are not random. Each item has protein, variety keeps the day interesting, and there is a wider range of nutrients (than, say, chicken, chicken, chicken). They are all pretty soft, and for the most part there is minimal cooking. Eggs need to be cooked each day or hardboiled a couple times a week. Tuna and beans.. just open a can. Other meats prepared as desired. The only way to meet your goals for the day is to eat very frequently. I made my goals early on by eating this quantity of food.. split up into 6 or 7 meals. I never could do protein shakes, so that was how I met my goals.

Yeah.. the 10% increases really seem to ratchet up the speed very quickly. 3 months getting up to 4mph, and only another 3 getting it up to 7. I dunno. I'll try it out myself since I'm out of shape but otherwise healthy, and am only about 50lbs from goal. So I'll give it a shot and see what happens... seeya in 7 months.. lol!

I'm 7 months out and have eaten that menu the entire time. I've added fruits and veggies as I gain room. I add my milk to tea and coffee through the day.

Ok, here's my plan: Meal 1: 4oz cottage cheese (13g prot.) Meal 2: 3.5 oz black beans and 1 egg (14g) Meal 3: 4oz tuna with a little mayo (25g) probably have to "finish later" Meal 4: 1oz nuts or seeds (7g) Meal 5: 1.5 cups milk (12g) Since milk isn't really a meal, and the nuts are a snack... it all works. You can switch out the fish for other meat and change up the type of beans. If you can't fit in this much food, make it a goal and drink a protein shake.

I picked 7mph because 6mph is jogging (and I thought we were talking about running), and an Army PT test (for a 45 year old soldier) has him running 2 miles at 6.5mph. I just rounded up. But sure.. jogging 4mph is awesome too My heart rate is around 80ish and walking 3mph gets me almost breathless.. so.. yeah....