I've just posted my TOP TEN complaints (annoyances really) about the sleeve, just curious what everyone else's is. My list is on my Sunday blog that I just posted today. (Just click on the link to read them).

Hope every one is having a great week and I'll be curious to know what other people think. Most of the time, we just hear I LOVE MY SLEEVE, but there are those few things.....

I'm right there with you. My top ten include hair loss, wishing I could sample a bite or two of pasta without feeling so stuffed and sick and tired of explaining to people that I can't eat regular portions.

Well....the only thing I can think of is an isolated issue. I'm dealing with a nasty (and multiple) muscle injuries in my left hip/leg, and would love to be able to take some Advil, to help with the inflammation. Unfortunately, that's a no-go... Other than that, I'm loving my sleeve, and the weight loss that comes with it!

I've just posted my TOP TEN complaints (annoyances really) about the sleeve' date=' just curious what everyone else's is. My list is on my Sunday blog that I just posted today. (Just click on the link to read them).

Hope every one is having a great week and I'll be curious to know what other people think. Most of the time, we just hear I LOVE MY SLEEVE, but there are those few things.....[/quote']

Where is the link?

Many of your issues mirror my own.

1) I miss Pasta terribly....I have dreams about it. Truely. And bread. Neither of which I have any tolerance for.

2) My breasts look TERRIBLE. I'm back to turning off the lights for "adult time" because I'm so embarrassed!

3) My hair continues to fall out in huge, noticible clumps. Patients at work comment that I must be "shedding", because no matter how dilligent I am, I always have stray hairs all over my scrubs, my back, etc.

4) I REALLY despise when people ask how many lbs I have lost....if I tell them an actual number, I can see the mental calculations taking place. I've had a coworker comment that I was lying about the amount. If I tell people "some amount", they keep pressing. I admit, I've become a bit bitter and have inelegantly snapped back, "You never told me - are you a nazi or a communist these days? Because that's about how offensive your question was to me".

5)It has reduced my already miniscule social life - I never get invited out now, because "we know you can't drink, and it wouldn't be fun for you"....BS.

6) I sag everywhere....like a candle left out in the summer sun. I knew that there would be some loose skin, but I wasn't prepared for this.

And last...

7)I hate the running commentary from those who know about my surgery, and feel the need to contribute their opinion as to the morality of an operation that has already taken place. "It goes against God's design!".....well, guess what, buster! Surgery already happened. So unless you have a time machine, feel free to put a sock in it. Or two.

/endrant

That being said, I would never have reached this weight alone. And for that, I am greatful.

i don’t think I have 10 but I have 1 or 2

1. that I can’t drink much! Like its such a chore to drink Water is still not good and I really kinda hate drinking tea, it feels nice but I never was much of a tea drinker so drinking 4 cups a day really annoys me would much rather a ice filled drink even if it was water but I just can’t handle lots of it even when I force myself it takes me hours and hours to try and drink 1 pint of room temp/cold/ice cold anything.
   

Yeah I think drinking is my biggest pet peeve I don’t really have others not being able to even do 4oz at a time doesn’t even bother some pain doesn’t bother me any more not being able to just chug down a drink really bugs me!

Its warm I am always dry mouthed and just want to chug something other than decaf tea and it be ok!

For those who can't see the link to my blog, it's because you have your signatures turned off on your options. My blog is www.queenofcrop.com The reason I don't usually put it in the body of the email is for some reason (I've never known why really) the VST forum rules say you can't put it in the body....why you can put it in your signature but not the body of the message I don't know. So maybe I'll get my hand slapped, maybe not. But you should go to your settings and be sure to turn signatures ON.

Thanks for all the good feedback everyone.

# i miss drinking ice water i can.only drink it at room tempature

#2 i dont like the crazy hormones thats all for now.

Wow, I tried to think of something, but honestly cannot. Sorry.

Sent from my iPad using VST

Hi QofC: I read your blog weekly and always learn something. Thank you for writing it.

I must say, I've been very fortunate with the affects of my surgery. I can eat pretty much everything, including rice. Every once in a while I'll have a little bit if I've fixed it for dinner, but I concentrate on Protein rich foods.

I still love cooking, but I now cook things that are really healthy and my taste buds are really sensitive now -- as in enhanced. Putting herbs, etc now into my food tastes awesome. This morning I had a egg white omelet with arugula and a tsp of Gorgonzola cheese in it-- yum!

I've begun losing my hair, but it's not too bad yet, but I was pretty lucky to have thick hair.

So, the one thing that is bothering me is that my boobs are pretty saggy and it's going to get worse as I need to lose another 50 pounds yet. I've already decided that a breast lift is in my future next year.

That's the only negative I can think of, but I'll take it. There are just so many more positives. Like, today I went kayaking, in my bathing suit! I would not even have considered kayaking last year, or the year before that, or the year before that. You get the picture. And, I loved kayaking!!! It felt great! The amount of energy I have now is extraordinary! My friends and family comment on it frequently and they say I am glowing.

Having the Sleeve was the best decision I've made in a very long time.

Well....the only thing I can think of is an isolated issue. I'm dealing with a nasty (and multiple) muscle injuries in my left hip/leg' date=' and would love to be able to take some Advil, to help with the inflammation. Unfortunately, that's a no-go... Other than that, I'm loving my sleeve, and the weight loss that comes with it! [/quote']

How come you can't have Advil? One of the main reasons I chose this surgery is because you can still have NSAIDS, unlike the bypass. All of the surgeons I saw here in San Diego, before choosing one, said you can take them after 2-3 months of healing, and that is the main reason people with back pain or chronic pain issues choose the sleeve. Is there another factor preventing you from taking them?

I was told by my surgeon that I am not able to have NSAIDS ever again...

Hi QofC: I read your blog weekly and always learn something. Thank you for writing it.

I must say' date=' I've been very fortunate with the affects of my surgery. I can eat pretty much everything, including rice. Every once in a while I'll have a little bit if I've fixed it for dinner, but I concentrate on Protein rich foods.

I still love cooking, but I now cook things that are really healthy and my taste buds are really sensitive now -- as in enhanced. Putting herbs, etc now into my food tastes awesome. This morning I had a egg white omelet with arugula and a tsp of Gorgonzola cheese in it-- yum!

I've begun losing my hair, but it's not too bad yet, but I was pretty lucky to have thick hair.

So, the one thing that is bothering me is that my boobs are pretty saggy and it's going to get worse as I need to lose another 50 pounds yet. I've already decided that a breast lift is in my future next year.

That's the only negative I can think of, but I'll take it. There are just so many more positives. Like, today I went kayaking, in my bathing suit! I would not even have considered kayaking last year, or the year before that, or the year before that. You get the picture. And, I loved kayaking!!! It felt great! The amount of energy I have now is extraordinary! My friends and family comment on it frequently and they say I am glowing.

Having the Sleeve was the best decision I've made in a very long time.

[/quote']

I am so glad to hear about the energy! I can't wait! I'm so tired alla the time. Surgery is 8 oct.

I was told by my surgeon that I am not able to have NSAIDS ever again...

Me too- never

Thanks everyone for the great posts: to Newfoundlove.....so happy to hear you can eat a little pasta...maybe there is hope for me in the future....planning another trip to Italy in the coming year and thought of going through Italy AGAIN without pasta is depressing. You are right on track for the hair loss (3-5 months) but it doesn't last long; the worst of my hair loss was just a few weeks then it started growing back....everywhere! As for the NSAIDS, there has been a lot of back and forth on this on the forum. I've never been a perfect rule follower and started taking Excedrin (just one) every now and then about 3 months out. It was the only thing that would help my headaches. But check again with your doctor. My guess is one every once in a while once you are healed will be fine, BUT, I'm not a medical professional either.

Anyway, good thoughts; I think over all we love the sleeve and we can work around these few issues.

Can I start with an I LOVE? I love that this is nothing like what I thought it would be. I really, really thought (as ink had resigned myself to accepting) that this would be fairly miserable: constant nausea or vomiting, virtually guaranteed food intolerances, etc. About 5 months in and I can eat anything, so far. That includes Pasta, rice, bread, dough, etc. Not that I eat it much or in large amounts, but I can get it down. I do still very much enjoy the freedom to eat whatever I want (though I really wouldn't complain if it were any other way).

The NSAIDS are indeed back and forth. Really, the only reason we can't take them is a "just in case". They aren't inherently bad for us, but IF you do have a reaction or complication that results in an ulcer, it could be harder to treat than if you had a regular stomach. Ok so that's super simplified, but the idea is there.

What I hate --

I hate not really knowing when to stop. As a general rule I under-eat my sleeve. This has also resulted in me never having hit above 650 calories in an entire day, 5 months out. I worry about that. It's no good. I'd hoped to be around 900 calories by now. My nutritionist wanted me at 900 calories 3 months ago. And from what I've been told, this may never change. I never thought I would _hate_ that I can't eat _enough_ calories.

Related to the above, I do hate the hairloss. I've been through it before (previous WLS) and I'm rather used to it now... but it still sucks. If nothing else, I hate having to clean my shower drain every day.

I hate what this has done to my poops. I take Fiber, and laxatives, and still have a hard time. A few times I've been able to go, only to have it "get stuck" halfway out and refuse to budge (either direction). That may be TMI for some, but it's the truth. What the heck are you supposed to do when that happens?

I hate that I have pretty bad reflux, and I hate that every time I reflux, I worry about complications. Mental note: call my surgeon and talk about this. My reflux is associated with a particular sensation, and it's a sensation I also had with my band - which makes little sense. I'm wondering if I have some dismotility, or a slight stricture. My "this may never change" above is related to the amount of scar tissue I had from my band & previous surgeries, which could also be exacerbating this sensation/reflux.

I hate that with my lapband I lost weight like a rockstar, and relatively 'm a total toirtoise this time around. Don't get me wrong, I think I'm going OK considering I stalled for the better part of my first 3 months post-op. But when I had lost weight so quickly before, I just had high expectations that it would happen again and accepting that it isn't going to sucks money butts.

I hate that I don't know what to do with my too-big clothes. So I'm hoarding them. Because I'm also a little afraid to get rid of them (if I'd gotten rid of them the first time, I'd have been screwed when that weight came back.)

I hate what my body is looking like. I'll take it over the fat -- don't get me wrong. And I'm not a vain person. But I look like a melty wax sculpture. I guess more generically, I hate that I've ALREADY destroyed my body. That I will never have my natural, tone bare skin again. That I've wrecked it, and that no matter how much weight I lose, I will never have my beautiful naked self again.

Ugh I could go on.