Tiffykins

Welcome Will, and many congrats on getting things in order for your sleeve ! ! ! It really is wonderful, and if you have any questions that you can 't find an answer to here, post away. If we don't know the answers, we'll find someone that does. Keep us posted on your progress.

You aren't the only one, and a lot of different emotions will come and go as your date approaches. But, you'll be okay. Just follow doctor's orders and you'll do great. The sleeve is fabulous, and we'll all scoot over on the loser's bench for you.

That's really awesome chickee ! ! ! You can do it, and you'll get your surgery date.

I'm just grateful that I'm not fat anymore. He may be short and dumpy, but that little b**stard can haul ass over our gigantic backyard and the bunny couldn't find his hole he had dug under the fence. I think Hank was taunting me as well. He must have thought it was "cute" that momma was trekking around the backyard screaming and trying to catch him and/or the bunny. I love him too, but last night I was ready to string him up by his short, crooked legs. Here he is just to show him off LOL Here he is with my beloved Harley that passed away on Feb 23rd. That's why the husband brought home the German shepherd. I told him to not get me a cat so he gets me a horse LOL. Mischievous much? I was outside on the porch and came into this, he's not allowed on furniture.

Give a quick call to your doc. I was able to take meds without restriction post op, but your doc may have different recommendations. I ended having to go on Ambien to get good sleep. I didn't use the control released version, and had zero negative side effects with usage. I only used it every other, every 2-3 nights sometimes. But, when I did use it, those nights were the best nights of sleep I ever had in my life.

No bathing or swimming was allowed for me until all my incisions healed, scabbed over and closed completely. I showered because it was easier than trying to lug my big butt out of the tub and risk pulling something internally. Remember, they cut through your insides as well so take it slow and easy.

I don't take Iron outside of my multi-Vitamin. I take a sublingual b12 everyday again just because it keeps me on track for my Vitamins. I did make the mistake of switching my multi once, and the new one didn't have iron. I felt weak, lethargic and just blah. I switched back, and within a couple of days felt so much better. Are you able to get all your Protein in as well? That always made me feel better when I could get at least 60gr in per day. Before adding Iron, I would check with your doctor. You do not want to take it if it's not needed.

It was originally started for RNY patients that got off track, and needed to get rid of the carb monster. I've known several sleevesters that have had to use it to get off carbs again and to start losing again. Surgical Weight Loss 5 Day Pouch Test

I got booted out of the chat with my craptastic internet connection last night. I promise Jerry you didn't offend me, or upset me. No harm no foul, I'm sorry I didn't come back in and sign out as normal. I was fighting with my modem, my crazy basset hound was chasing a bunny in my 1 acre largebackyard, and the 82lb German shep (he's fun trying to contain considering I only weigh 40lbs more than he does, and he can literally drag me down our hallway when we play tug o war) was trying to get out so he could play with Thumper as well. I was losing my mind LOL. There's another thread on here about NSAIDs where I posted some research links and other info about NSAIDs that you may find interesting. I adore you Jerry, and I promise you could never offend me.:001_smile:

I agree. While I enjoy watching the show to an extent, I honestly feel like they are just exploiting fat people, and pushing their products. I feel the same way about Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig. It's all about marketing and their products. I was highly disgusted when they made this year's contestants weigh-in in front of their peers, family, friends, and even perfect strangers that just wanted a chance to get on TV. It sickened me. I just kept thinking to myself "great not only have these people been fat most of their lives, and had to live with the shame of obesity, now you want them to get up in front of their family, friends, and millions of TV viewers topless or with a little sports bra and spandex on and step on a scale, way to go BL producers". I read somewhere last year that about 60% of the contestants gain back their weight plus some. Even the guys had on some sort of bodyshaper. You could see it under their shirts at just the right angle. It is unrealistic, and while some of them may be able to keep it off, and make a true lifestyle change. The true statistics behind their methods are not in the contestant's favor. I already told myself I'm not watching the new show that Jillian has coming soon. I really dislike her. I hate how she berates the contestants then attempts to be miss nice counselor when she sees them breaking down, and tries to soothe their emotional woes. Her little speeches on self-worth and self-love make me want to hurl. I did watch her on the day time show The Doctors a couple days a go, and I wanted to strangle her. And, her "products" are not that fabulous, and in my opinion no different that Metabolife, and other faddy type crap that she's whoring out to America's obese. Sorry, I really, really dislike her LOL. She's also admitted that she refuses to get pregnant because she's not willing to screw up her figure? Now, I haven't confirmed that yet, my husband was telling me he read an article about it and had her quoted. It could have come from US Weekly for all I know, but she just makes my skin crawl. I don't care that she doesn't want babies, but to say "it's about my looks" what does that tell Americans and especially teenage girls that look up to her. End Rant.

You're in the 3 week stall, and it's very common. If I were you, I would trade in those crackers for some cheese, or a higher Fiber carby food such as Beans or edamame. The veggies will give you more fiber, and probably help you feel better in general. If you cook the veggies, try steaming(microwave or stovetop method) or roasting them in the oven. I'm not sure if you can have veggies yet, just check with your nutritionist or surgeon. Also, take your measurement right now, tonight. Measure around your waist, hips, thighs, and chest at least. If the scale doesn't move the next week remeasure and see if you're losing inches. The scale will move, I promise. Your body just dropped 20lbs in 2weeks, been through major surgery, and your feeding it about 1/3 of the calories you ate pre-op. It's kind of pissed off at you for everything you've done to it. Sip more water, try to hit that 60+ mark, that will help keep you from retaining water. Don't stress, your body will hold on to more weight. Put the scale away and don't weigh until Saturday or Monday.

I meant absolutely no offense when it comes to your program, and agree that you need to follow what you think is best for your success. For me, eating mashed potatoes didn't get me fat. Eating 4 cups of mashed potatoes got me fat. So, while I agree that there are habits, and choices that we have to make to ensure success and long term results no 2 people's food issues are identical. What works for me probably won't work for some, but it works for me, and luckily I do not have the same triggers that others suffer with on a daily basis when it comes to their food issues. I just think it's unrealistic to tell people that you have to avoid certain foods for the rest of your life to be successful. If I had a food addiction, or compulsive tendencies I could see where that would work as in your example of drug using. But, I still do not believe that I am or was a food addict. I've dealt with personal addiction, and still do as I still smoke cigarettes. So, I'm familiar with addiction. I respect everyone's individual program, but obviously, we are all different and I really hate being thrown into a cookie cutter world of obesity. To me, it's like saying all fat people are lazy, and can't stop eating. We all know that is far from the truth. For me, and me alone, I am grateful that our program is set up to teach better food choices, healthy options, and how to deal with triggers to avoid the "cheating our surgeries" that we see all too often. If you take a true PPI, I would almost bet you would not be hungry. I am not a doctor or your doctor so check with him/her. But, the symptoms you are describing sounds like the false hunger that acid causes. Prilosec, Prevacid, Protonix or Nexium are true PPIs. Pepcid, and Zantac are H2 blockers. PPIs prevent the acid, H2 blockers stop it once it's started. Also, you need to take the Prilosec a minimum of 30 minutes before eating. I wait an entire hour after taking my Prilosec20mg. I know with Nexium it is recommended to wait a minimum of 30 minutes before eating. I am not familiar with Prevacid dosing instructions. It can take 7-14 days for the Prilosec to kick in. If you get it OTC don't be discouraged the first couple of days, it does take time to work. I'm not sure about Prevacid and Nexium if they take a few days to start working.

Congrats Elly ! ! !

Me too ! ! ! I deprivation dieted all the way up to 270lbs. Those 3tsp of mashed potatoes haven't caused me any regain. I'm so grateful that my nutritionist and surgeon both agree that food should not be forbidden.

Are you tracking your calories, carbs, and Protein? This really helps put things into perspective for us. Are you working out/exercising? Maybe you need more calories? About your hunger, are you taking an acid reducer like Nexium, Prilosec, Prevacid? Hang in there, you can lose with the sleeve. You just have to evaluate what you are doing, and change things accordingly. Do you have access to a nutritionist? If so, maybe they can help you get a good meal plan that will help you get the scale moving. Did you have guidelines that you should be following during your losing stage? If you have them, are you able to stick to them? If you didn't get any, there are a lot of guidelines out there that may help you. Honestly, I would not have wanted to deal with the massive Vitamin regimen that DS patients have to take or suffer serious consequences.

I just wanted to add that once you get down to the 14, 12, 10 size range, you could skip sizes even with minimal loss on the scale when you lose inches. I skipped sizes, and while I loved it, I was mad that I bought clothes as "goal pants". When I went to try them on, they were too big with the tags on them. Thank goodness for me keeping receipts and store credit LOL. I'm 123lbs at 5'2", and I wear anywhere between a 4 and 6 in pants, 5-7 in junior sizes, and small tops (typically size 2 or 4). Dressy dresses are weird for me, I can squeeze into some 6s, but mainly 7s or 8s. Sun dresses, and casual wear dresses are typically a size 3 or 5. If I remember correctly, at 5'2" (I carried all my weight in my stomach, boobs and some in my hips, no butt at all) and weighing 148ishlbs I think I was in a 10 most of the time. I skipped 12s if I remember correctly, straight from 14s to 10s. I have this craptastic belly fat roll that I can't lose. It is quite a bit of skin, but fat is still filling it out. If I lost that part of me, I'm fairly sure I'd be a size 2 or smaller.

I had manly eating tendencies. There was nothing more that I loved was college football Saturdays with friends, nachos, queso, chicken wings, you name it we had it, and of course different alcoholic beverages. I carried most of my fat like a man as well. I was all gut. If it's any consolation, I can eat 1 slider from Chili's with cheese. I do have to eat it slow, but it does kind of fill that want for a hamburger like meal.

Champ, this is wonderful news ! ! !

At least, we're losing all our estrogen stores when they release from our fat cells :thumbup: ! ! ! I've noticed the same trends. Even in the studies that I've read, the women participants usually outnumber the men by a large percentage. Several of the studies show 200ish women with 40ish men. I really suck at math so I'm not even going to attempt to figure up ratios LOL. I have seen VSG gain popularity with men over RNY or the BAND in the last year or so.

I ran across this article today, and found it quite interesting. America's Best & Worst "Health" drinks on Yahoo! Health

Hi Diann, and welcome to VST. The sleeve is really fabulous. My biggest piece of advice to pre-ops is to prepare yourself mentally for the big changes that come with the post-op life during the first couple of months. Research, research, read and when you think you've read enough, read some more. Information is power, and the more knowledge you have of this surgery the better you'll do. Little changes in habits will help you through the post-op diet phase. 1) Don't drink with your meals and wait 10-15 minutes after eating to resume drinking. I don't even take a beverage to the table with me at home. I do order a drink when out, but I stop drinking once I take the first bite. Post-sleeve, most surgeons tell us to not drink for 30 minutes after eating. 2) Sit your eating utensil down in between bites. This will help you slow down on your meals which is so important with the sleeve. 3) Stretch your meal to at least 20 minutes. This will help you recognize a full signal or a sensation of satiety with your meals. Try eating your protein (meat) first, then veggies and last carbs. This helps prepare you for eating with the sleeve. It's a lot of trading in the bad habits for better habits. I've been very blessed with a fabulous post-op life, and many good wishes for you on your journey.

Chemical peels are horrific. Did it once, big mistake. I went to a super reputable dermatologist, but I had to take a week of vacation to recover. I plan having all my "stuff" fixed LOL. TT, boobs, and I may reconsider a lower body lift. If I can't get my butt to fill out, and tighten up some of the wrinkly skin that has recently showed up on the side of my butt cheek, I will be seriously looking at a LBL. I want the face work done first. My neck isn't too bad, and is toning up. But, these damn wrinkles on my forehead and eyes are really starting to bother me. The TT and boobs are having to be postponed due to plans for a baby in our near future, God willing.

Have you tried tracking on one of the many sites that tells you have many calories/carbs/protein/fat to maintain or lose weight? I use myfitnesspal.com It's not going to be exact because it tells me for me to maintain I need to eat around 3100 calories per day, but I can't get more than about 1500-1800 per day and I've been able to maintain for the most part. If you are burning way more calories than you are consuming then you may need to increase by 100-200 calories per day. I know the more Protein I consumed, the more fat I burned, and pounds I lost. I get in almost 80-90gr of protein per day now, and I balance it with healthy carb options and some not so sleeve friendly carbs. I don't know if you are watching carbs, but the suggestion that I always give is to cut carbs and increase calories for a week or two to get the scale moving again.

Totally off-topic, but have you had Botox anywhere else? I'm seriously considering it for my deep-set forehead and crowfeet wrinkles. I'm so vain, I know, but I feel 20 and get carded for booze and cigarettes, but I see the wrinkles and they're bothering me?