Tiffykins

I never liked chocolate before surgery. I would occasionally, and I mean maybe 3-4 times per year, I'd have a Snickers or Reese's cups. But, now chocolate is a true weakness for me. Since I'm further out, I indulge in Snicker's fun size here and there. I carry them in my purse in the event I get stuck out somewhere and haven't eaten in awhile. I remember when I was around 6 weeks out I really wanted something sweet. I sucked on a Hershey's kiss until it was nothing. It didn't hurt me. I like the suggestion from Laura on maybe some SF chocolate pudding or a SF fudge popsicle.

Well, no need to test I started today.

Nanna, that is so very awesome on all accounts ! ! !

I'll admit my adult ADD kicked in halfway through the article, but from what I gathered that guy just talked in circles.

Congrats on your revision, and I agree with the other 2 replies, increase water, cut carbs, and introduce more activity.

None of the surgeries are permanent successes if the patient doesn't change their eating habits, and lifestyle. Even with duodenal switch, patients gain back weight. The sleeve portion of the stomach that is left is mainly muscle as long as the fundus is fully-dissected. Sleeve stretching is minimal, but you can cheat and eat around it. You can still eat 1/2 quart of ice cream if you choose just like you could with RNY or the band. The pouch/stoma of the RNY can and does stretch causing regain and lack of restriction. Only 30% of RNY dump on sugary foods so there is no guarantee that a patient will suffer those consequences if they choose to eat the "wrong foods". Malbasorption only lasts 18-24 months for calories, and fat, but a RNY patient will never absorb their vitamins/micronutrients. The sleeve has lower regain stats vs. RNY for patients 5 years out. If my stomach stretches out to where I can hold another ounce of two of food that isn't going to sabotage my results. I would accept 1-2 ounces more capacity. My surgeon advised me that the sleeve shouldn't stretch out more than 8 ounces. If you surgeons are saying that people eat more often and gain weight, well that makes sense. That is not related to the surgery, that's the individual patients eating habits, and choices. Here are some long term sleeve patient's personal stories from obesityhelp.com Also at the bottom are some research link available for your review. Diligence-is-always-required Stalls-Happen Update-from-a-2-Year-Post-Op-VSGer 2-year-surgiversary-and-feeling Two-and-one-half-years-post-op TWO-YEARS-YALL Just-Passed-My-2-Year-Surgiversary questions-for-post-ops-2-years-out-or-more 2-years-out-food-amount-info anyone-2-years-out Happy-2-year-anniversary-to-me 2-years-post-op-TODAY 2-5-Years-After-a-VSG Everday-life-at-2-5-years-out 2-1-2-year-update Has-it-really-been-2-years 2-1-2-year-update Two-Year-Surgiversary 2-year-update-portrait-of-a-heavyweight-a-bit-late Two-year-surgiversary 2-and-1-2-years-later 2-years-since-my-surgery-any-advice-on-face-lift 2-year-post-op-pics Two-Years-Before-amp-After-Pic 2-year-update-portrait-of-a-heavyweight-a-bit-late Thought-you-might-enjoy-an-update-with-a-few-pics Busybusymom-is-back-2-years-post-op TWO-YEARS-BABY Any-old-timers-still-lurking-the-boards Long-term Sleeve Experiences - 3 Years on June 8, 2009 10:43 pm Three years out Three and a half years after Vertical Gastrectomy My Story A quick 2 year and 3 year VSG update Third Year Surgiversay Not always easy but always worth it Very Discouraged 3 years out Links for researching the VSG on March 15, 2009 11:18 pm Here are some links I've collected when I was researching the sleeve. ASMBS position paper on sleeve - includes reports of early studies LapSF Educational presentation to FACS - includes some 2 year results LapSF Two Year Study LapSF Five Year Study - abstract only LapSF Five Year Study - presentation (requires Windows to play) Literature review on the sleeve - requires $$ to get the full text unfortunately Sleeve best for over 50 crowd Video of a sleeve with lots of education discussion Video of a sleeve that is more about the operation Ghrelin levels after RnY and sleeve Ghrelin levels after band and sleeve Diabetes resolution in RnY vs. Sleeve Comparison of band to sleeve - literature review )

He didn't run a blood HCG. I thought he did, but I just read my copy of the lab order. I'm technically 5 days late at this point so being pregnant is quite possible. I fell asleep last night at 9:30 p.m., and just woke up at 8:00 a.m. I'm not having any other symptoms of pregnancy except fatigue. No sore boobies, no increased urination, I am wanting to eat more junk food which is definitely not normal. If I don't start by Tuesday or Wednesday, I'll test again at home, and ask for a blood HCG test to be pulled on Thursday at my follow up.

My biggest "shock" was once I got to mushies at how little it honestly took for me to be satisfied. The other one that I didn't mentally prepare for was for food to taste, smell, look horrible. I knew my tastebuds would change, but to be totally turned off of food, that was a big mindtwist for me. It still is to this day. My eyes are literally bigger than my stomach, and I still find myself wanting to load up my plate. But, then I realize, "ummm, you can't eat 1/3 of that, don't do it." I'm a pretty logical person, and for the most part had my head screwed on straight, but there were little things here and there that still left me scratching my head in disbelief.

So, I'm hanging out at the house, surfing the net, sipping coffee in my pj's. Doorbell rings: It's the HOT UPS man. My new Joe Boxer panties have arrived, YAY YAY! ! ! The box is destroyed, tape missing, opened. He request that I open the box, inspect contents to ensure there is no damage or missing items. Reluctantly, I tear into the box, and say "please don't be embarrassed, it's a new panty order." He just giggles at me, literally giggles. I open it up, pull out the adorable undies, and say " they're all here, no damage". His reply, " well at least they're cute panties, and not granny panties" I laughed out loud, I couldn't help it.

Great list What does the post-op follow up consist of, labs, access to nut and psych? Post-op diet recommendations? Goal weight expectations?

You're so very close ! ! ! I was more excited because I knew that I getting rid of the horrid band/port pain. I always tell people go in thinking positive, come out with positive results. Asking for a little valium before they wheel me back always helps with that mantra LOL. You're gonna do fabulous, and I will be out of state, and probably won't have access to the net until I return home, but you'll be in my thoughts, and I'll come back looking for an update from you.

Glad to hear everything went smoothly, and you are getting settled in nicely. Take care, rest, sip, walk ! ! !

My heart honestly just broke reading that. I am so very sorry that he is being borderline abusive. Insulting, and being so negative towards you is the only way he can feel better about himself. If you ever need someone to talk, I'll send you my cell phone number and you can text or call me anytime. I'm on central standard time as well. This is an emotional and physical journey, the last thing you need is your husband being so insensitive and truly destructive. Please know we're here for you. Don't ever feel like you can't come to us openly or privately through the private message system.

Thanks for the information. I have a rare idiopathic clotting disorderd that is similar to von Willebrands disease. If I had a bleed, my CBC would reflect it somewhere, but my hemoglobin, hematocrit and RBC counts were all normal. My PCP did palpate my abdomen as well, no pain, no bruising. I haven't drank since mid January, and even then it was just a glass of wine. I haven't taken the Wellbutrin since before my gb surgery. The only meds I was taking was Mucinex, and Nyquil liqui caps generally at night before bed to help with the chest cold. I saw my surgeon on the 22nd, he's the one that told me to f/u with my PCP for further diagnostics as he doesn't believe it's related to either of the surgeries. It could be that my body is trying to adjust to my normal weight, but we want to rule out any other abnormalities.

Congrats on getting your consult out of the way, and good luck on the insurance. As for posting pics, if you are trying to post them here, in the little box, on the top row there's a bunch of icons, the one that looks like a little box with a mountain or 2 triangles in it is for a link from a picture. You can upload pics from your PC to Image hosting, free photo sharing & video sharing at Photobucket and then copy the "DIRECT LINK" come back here, click on that little box, another box will pop up, paste that direct link into that box and hit OK. It will insert the pic into your blog, or post on the forum. If you're trying to upload pics to an album on the main forum, click on the top toolbar where it says PHOTOS, make an album, and you can upload pics directly from your PC. Just hit Browse, find the pics you want to use, then UPLOAD. If you need anything else, let us know.

Woohoo glad you are home, and recovering ! ! !

I don't have any info on your surgeon choice, but there are several patient posts on OH about their experiences with her. As for the working out/walking, all I could do for the first 3.5 months was light walking. I could only walk up and down my driveway. I didn't get released to work out, or walk vigorously until mid-September.

Thanks for the update. I'm glad you're doing what is best for your overall health. My mom fought for her ovaries when she had to have a partial hysterectomy.

Me to ha ha ha ! ! !:scared0:

Viola, welcome to VST, we're glad to have you with us. Congrats on getting your date, and keep us posted as things progress for you.

You can tell your husband that not all of us that lost hair had it grow in like "clown hair". My new growth is stick straight, and is growing back with a vengeance. It really sounds like he is just not educated enough on how this all works, and is trying to beat you down with a few negatives instead of rationalizing all the positives. I honestly can't understand how a spouse could be so unsupportive. It makes me really thankful for my husband, but my heart hurts for y'all. Honestly, their own insecurities are causing this from what y'all have shared, and sadly they need to work out those issues. Nothing is going to change until they are willing to accept the problem lies within themselves and not y'all. Congrats on getting your pre-op done. Stay strong, you deserve the very best life has to offer.

Ohhhhhhhhhh how absolutely fabulous ! ! ! We did a quick "wedding" as well. We'd only been engaged for 6 weeks, but the lovely Air Force decided to move us. We had already started stressing over the details, how to get sets of both families and friends together since we're all so spread out from each other. We opted to fly to WV, have his uncle marry us in a private ceremony, and save all the "wedding budget" for a 5-10 year anniversary trip to Ireland. Best decision we could have ever made. My family was livid, but they got over it. We literally flew to WV, spent the night with his family, got up the next morning to severe rain/wind (we were gonna do it outside), instead got married in his parent's living room, had a small cake, his mom had ordered me a bouquet the day before, we went got our marriage license, went back home said our vows, drove back down to the courthouse, got a bunch of copies of our certificate, and then flew home to MA the next morning. I wouldn't trade it for all the muss and fuss of trying to plan out a wedding. Best wishes, take lots of pics, and cherish those moments.

I love Grapevine mills, and the Gaylord ! ! ! I lived in Bedford for most of my adult life, and frequented Grapevine mills. There are some really great places to eat around that area. I think they even have the Rainforest Cafe in there. Great ideas, and let's hope others chime in.

I just wanted to post a topic to open it up for discussion. We'll be traveling to Texas on March 29th through April 4th. I've talked with several of the ladies in the D/FW area and we decided to get together on April 3rd for lunch, socializing, and maybe shopping. None of the specific details have been hammered out yet. I would like to find a place that will accommodate all of our pre/post-op diet needs regardless of which stage in the pre/post-op diet all of us may be at during this time. I am extremely open, and can pretty much eat anything. I would prefer it not be a strict seafood place, but if they have chicken I can handle that. Also, I wondered about what general area around Dallas would be convenient for everyone. I am not going to be anywhere close to D/FW about 45 minutes west of Fort Worth, but I'm willing to make the drive. So, with that in mind, and the fact that I haven't lived in Texas for almost 3 years, I need some suggestions, and input on where we all can meet up that is a good location with good places to eat, and maybe some shopping. Everyone, and I mean everyone is welcome to join us, and I believe the more the merrier. So, post away your suggestions, and let's see if we can't get some details panned out before the date creeps up us and we have to fly by the seat of our pants. Thanks and I honestly can not wait to see y'all ! ! !