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African American Sleevers



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I appreciate this thread being started as I also had questions related to the VSG and hair loss (on chemically relaxed hair). I also wondered about scarring since most of us that have a darker complexions tend to have darker scars (my poor belly is going to look like a battle ground) :blink:

Thank you, everyone, for sharing!

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I appreciate this thread being started as I also had questions related to the VSG and hair loss (on chemically relaxed hair). I also wondered about scarring since most of us that have a darker complexions tend to have darker scars (my poor belly is going to look like a battle ground) :blink:

Thank you, everyone, for sharing!

Marks are hardly noticeable, I am 5 months out and have had no Hair loss but I have locks. Its the bat wings on my arm that are ugly! LOL But i Love my sleeve!!!

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Hello all,

I was sleeved on July 12,so this is my 4th day. I can honestly say I have no comments yet about my sleeve, because I had great amounts of nausea, gas and dehydration so severe they attempted to find a vein in my arms, hands, feet and lastly my neck. This took place during my hospital stay and after being sleeved. During my 1 week pre op diet, I lost 16 lbs, however I ended up gaining all back due to my IV..so it was nothing but Water weight. I started off desiring the lap band, but I heard about all of the complications, and switched to the gastric sleeve. My doctor informed me, that he made it very small..and I believe it. just drinking 1 oz of Water , feels like I went to a buffet and pigged out. I hope it gets better because I don't want to be dehydrated again. I know my weight loss will be a guarantee with this type of restriction, and I have noooo hunger nor desire for food since Tuesday ..4 days ago. Today I will attempt a Protein drink, and see what happens. I do notice a change with my stomach, crystal light pink lemonade gives me alot of gas pain, but it wasn't like that before and my drink can't be icy cold but luke warm. Cold drinks give me stomach spasms...but not painful. I'm still painfree yayyyyyy...so far since my sleeve date ...I have lost 10 lbs in 4 days.

So I am excited about my new beginnings once my healing process is over. Does anyone have the same problem or did before and what did you use for gas. My pepcid does ok, gas x ok..???

Sheri

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Hi Sheri. I'm sorry that you had a rough time while in the hospital but it sounds like things are getting better for you. From what I've read on this forum, each day things get better. Wishing you a speedy recovery. Keep us posted on your progress.

Hello all,

I was sleeved on July 12,so this is my 4th day. I can honestly say I have no comments yet about my sleeve, because I had great amounts of nausea, gas and dehydration so severe they attempted to find a vein in my arms, hands, feet and lastly my neck. This took place during my hospital stay and after being sleeved. During my 1 week pre op diet, I lost 16 lbs, however I ended up gaining all back due to my IV..so it was nothing but Water weight. I started off desiring the lap band, but I heard about all of the complications, and switched to the gastric sleeve. My doctor informed me, that he made it very small..and I believe it. just drinking 1 oz of Water , feels like I went to a buffet and pigged out. I hope it gets better because I don't want to be dehydrated again. I know my weight loss will be a guarantee with this type of restriction, and I have noooo hunger nor desire for food since Tuesday ..4 days ago. Today I will attempt a Protein drink, and see what happens. I do notice a change with my stomach, crystal light pink lemonade gives me alot of gas pain, but it wasn't like that before and my drink can't be icy cold but luke warm. Cold drinks give me stomach spasms...but not painful. I'm still painfree yayyyyyy...so far since my sleeve date ...I have lost 10 lbs in 4 days.

So I am excited about my new beginnings once my healing process is over. Does anyone have the same problem or did before and what did you use for gas. My pepcid does ok, gas x ok..???

Sheri

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Hello all,

I was sleeved on July 12,so this is my 4th day. I can honestly say I have no comments yet about my sleeve, because I had great amounts of nausea, gas and dehydration so severe they attempted to find a vein in my arms, hands, feet and lastly my neck. This took place during my hospital stay and after being sleeved. During my 1 week pre op diet, I lost 16 lbs, however I ended up gaining all back due to my IV..so it was nothing but Water weight. I started off desiring the lap band, but I heard about all of the complications, and switched to the gastric sleeve. My doctor informed me, that he made it very small..and I believe it. just drinking 1 oz of Water , feels like I went to a buffet and pigged out. I hope it gets better because I don't want to be dehydrated again. I know my weight loss will be a guarantee with this type of restriction, and I have noooo hunger nor desire for food since Tuesday ..4 days ago. Today I will attempt a Protein drink, and see what happens. I do notice a change with my stomach, crystal light pink lemonade gives me alot of gas pain, but it wasn't like that before and my drink can't be icy cold but luke warm. Cold drinks give me stomach spasms...but not painful. I'm still painfree yayyyyyy...so far since my sleeve date ...I have lost 10 lbs in 4 days.

So I am excited about my new beginnings once my healing process is over. Does anyone have the same problem or did before and what did you use for gas. My pepcid does ok, gas x ok..???

Sheri

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I also had problem with my veins in the hospital. The first week is the rough. And you will have rough weeks afterwards. I still have some bad days when I test my sleeve. But when you get to the 6 month mark, I think that's where it sinks in that it was all worth it.

Hello all,

I was sleeved on July 12,so this is my 4th day. I can honestly say I have no comments yet about my sleeve, because I had great amounts of nausea, gas and dehydration so severe they attempted to find a vein in my arms, hands, feet and lastly my neck. This took place during my hospital stay and after being sleeved. During my 1 week pre op diet, I lost 16 lbs, however I ended up gaining all back due to my IV..so it was nothing but Water weight. I started off desiring the lap band, but I heard about all of the complications, and switched to the gastric sleeve. My doctor informed me, that he made it very small..and I believe it. just drinking 1 oz of Water , feels like I went to a buffet and pigged out. I hope it gets better because I don't want to be dehydrated again. I know my weight loss will be a guarantee with this type of restriction, and I have noooo hunger nor desire for food since Tuesday ..4 days ago. Today I will attempt a Protein drink, and see what happens. I do notice a change with my stomach, crystal light pink lemonade gives me alot of gas pain, but it wasn't like that before and my drink can't be icy cold but luke warm. Cold drinks give me stomach spasms...but not painful. I'm still painfree yayyyyyy...so far since my sleeve date ...I have lost 10 lbs in 4 days.

So I am excited about my new beginnings once my healing process is over. Does anyone have the same problem or did before and what did you use for gas. My pepcid does ok, gas x ok..???

Sheri

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I got tree braids (simialr to micros) the week of my surgery. I am natural, but I didn't want to worry about maintaining anything while I recovered. This helped me with my self esteem too in the beginning. Even though I was feeling crappy, slugglish, and like a bolder, I know my hair looked fly...lol. Hope this helps.

I have been wearing a perm for many years and my hair is a nice length. Does anyone have any advice as how to keep my hair healthy during this process?

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I was sleeved June 27, 2011, I have lost 20lbs, but have went from a sixe 2x in tops to a large. It is crazy. I also had a black surgeon in Dallas. I have seen people with the lap band and it does not seem to work well. My hair is natural, so ihave not had any Hair loss as of yet. So I am doing pretty well. I went through a depression on July 4th and didn't come out the house(haha) I was thinking about all the bar b que I was missing, but i was on liquids then. So things are better now. I am at that 3 week stall, but hopefully things will pick up. My bllod pressure has been normal and i am getting weaned off of insulin. Only 77lbs to go!

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wear braids!!!!! WEAR BRAIDS!!!! I got my sleeve on dec 8th 2010 I have lost 200 pounds and I am still losing. My hair is also natural and I believe that is why I have not lost hair but I did experience some thinning in the front but nothing significant. I too have met other people who have had a lapband and they have had it for a significantly longer time and still have not lost over 50 pounds (and not gained it back). I did not have significant scarring or keloids so my scars are itty bitty. any other questions just ask

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I WAS SLEEVED FEBRUARY 2011 AND I BARELY HAVE ANY SCARS AT ALL...MY PROCEDURE WAS LAPAROSCOPIC SO I HAVE 4 SMALL INCISIONS THAT DID NOT EVEN REQUIRE EXTERNAL STITCHES. THEY WERE PRACTICALLY HEALED BEFORE I EVEN LEFT THE HOSPITAL..I WOULD SUPPOSE THE SCARRING DEPENDS ON THE TYPE SURGERY YOU HAVE.

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hello sistas,

my surgery date is Nov. 3, 2011. I am really nervous. Also not sure I can survive the pre-op diet! Any suggestions?

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • KimBaxleyWilson

      Three months and four days ago... I was in Costa Rica having a life changing surgery! Yesterday we had a followup visit with Dr. Esmeral via video chat and this morning my middle number changed.  I'm down 47lbs and two pants sizes. I can wear a Large tshirt for the first time in like... 14 years! Woot!! Everything is going great. I have zero regrets. I went down to the riverwalk with a friend and walked 2 miles on Monday without even getting fatigued. And no more snoring or chugging pickle juice for crazy leg cramps! I need to go to the gym more... I'm making new shirts next week so that will motivate me. LOL But I'm also just not as TIRED all the time! I have a LONG way to go...but seeing the progress on the scales and in the mirror is a huge motivator!! Thank you all for cheering me on and supporting me!!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • bellaamey

      https://alluniqueguide.com/java-burn-coffee-reviews/
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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