myrori

They can hang around for a while,,, the last one to heal up was about a month and that was the biggest one to the left where the stomach was removed. Same with the "freckles" they took about a month. I still have dark discoloration around the big left incision at 3 months.

Early on before my surgery I was all about keeping it quiet too. Then as it got closer I felt like it was to stressful, I felt like I was lying. I had my surgery 2 days before Thanksgiving and with Christmas around the corner I just felt I had to be up front with my family as they would definitely notice my absence on Thanksgiving and different eating on Christmas. It turned out to the be the best thing telling them,,, I got so much support and praise. I did run into a couple nay sayers at work,,, I think they were just threatened by my impending weight loss, like somehow they were ok if someone weighed more than them they did not have to worry about their weight. For the most part I get nothing but compliments at work. I went to an auction on my third day out of the hospital, did I feel normal or great at that point? NO< but I was able. I did take a month off work to avoid the Holiday food gluteny that happens there AND to get used to my new eating and drinking habits. Physically I could have gone back at 2 weeks, but I have a very mentally demanding job and I wanted to transition slowly. · Has anyone on this forum had Dr Bertha do their procedure? What were your experiences with him? · How long I am going to be out of commission. I am only planning on taking about a week off since I don’t want to tell my boss about the surgery. Is this going to be enough time? · I am also in a wedding in July, just over 2 months after my surgery. I am concerned with loosing either too much or not enough weight to fit into my bridesmaid dress, which I ordered 1 size smaller so that I hopefully won’t need to make too many alterations to it. Opinions? ~No · Since my surgery is a week before Easter, am I going to be able to make it to church? I am sure I am going to have to come up with a reason why I can’t make it to dinner with the family, but that I can handle. ~ yes to Church, dinner with family should be about being with family and bringing your own diet Jello to eat · What other complications are possible besides for the leakage or problems with the incisions? There a thousands of complications possible from ANY surgery, but the doctors are aware and watch for them. Your incisions will be less than an inch in length and most likely shut with steri strips. Itching is the most common complaint. · What happens if this doesn’t work and I don’t lose any weight at all? Or I gain it all back? Not having extensive studies on this type of procedure makes me nervous. YOU WILL LOSE WEIGHT, trust me. The only way to gain it back is to eat things like Mcdonalds milk shakes and carbs. It is really hard to eat more than like an ounce of anything at the begining. · What will my skin and breasts look like after this is all said and done? Should I start saving for an augmentation now? lol I am still in the losing process, I so far my skin is good except in the stomach and under arms area,,,, sad to report the breasts were the first thing to go with the weight loss, so when I get my tummy tuck I will get the girls put back up north too

Surgical drains are basically a tube with holes in in that runs along the surgical area inside your body and has a bulb attached outside your body to pull fluids away form the internal wounds. Surgeons like them so that all the extra fluid is not just sitting in there and increasing risk for infection. It also speeds healing along because the body does not have to reabsoarb the fluids that drain. Think of the fluids like the ones you see when you have a cut, the clear blood tinged fluids you see on the bandaid. It really is no big deal, not that anyone likes it or anything, it does not keep you from moving or anything.

Wow, if you can get in all your liquids already good for you! Just no gulping large amounts, sip, sip, sip. This time is all about listening and learning your new stomach. If it feels like too much stop, if you feel you have more room then yes it is ok. It is all about hydration right now and yes Jello and broth count as fluids.

As long as you follow your eating guidelines your staples are not going to come apart. At 2 weeks your chances for developing a leak decrease dramatically. Listen to your physical cues while eating slowly, you will feel when enough is enough.

I just came off a month long stall and yes it does MESS with your head. However there is no physical way to eat so little and not lose weight. Our bodies just need time sometimes to adjust. The body kinda thinks Whooaaa there partner, I may need this fat later and not matter what I am holding on to the fat just in case. That is when to switch things up a bit, some extra calories, increase cardio exercise, switch up the eating patterns ect. Things I learned during my stall, I was not getting enough essential fatty acids due to my low fat diet, I was not getting enough calories in and you must keep fluids going in to flush fat out. ,

Did she give you a script for the VitD? They usually prescribe 4 tabs to be taken once a week. You can boost you vit d in other ways too: Over the past few years, research has shown that getting enough Vitamin D can reduce the risk of several medical conditions, including osteoporosis, gum disease, diabetes, arthritis, multiple sclerosis and YES, even certain cancers. Now, Vitamin D appears to be associated with a lower risk of death, according to a meta-analysis of 18 previously published studies in the September 10 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Here are three things you can do to ensure you’re getting enough. 1. Incorporate vitamin D-rich food Wild salmon 3 oz = 420 IU Atlantic mackerel 3 oz = 320 IU Sardines 1 can = 250 IU Shrimp 3 oz = 150 IU Skim and 1% low-fat milk 1 cup = 100 IU Shittake mushrooms 4 items = 260 IU Fortified yogurts like Dannon Light & Fit 1 cup = 80 IU Fortified cereals:Multigrain Cheerios 1 cup = 40 IU; Post Bran Flakes 1 cup = 40 IU; Kashi Vive 1¼ cup = 80 IU 2. Supplement daily with vitamin D Because food sources are limited, it’s a good idea to consider supplements. As always, check with your personal physician before taking anything new. Take a Multivitamin which provides at least the Daily Value, 400 IU. For women taking extra Calcium, buy a brand that also provides vitamin D — optimally, D3 (cholcalciferol), the most potent form. Two good brands are: *Citracal Plus D and Minerals *Caltrate 600-D Plus Minerals. For men who would like to take additional vitamin D, look for a supplement that provides 400-1000 IUs of D3, also called cholcalciferol. *NOTE: Men should not take supplemental calcium (some research suggests excessive calcium may increase the risk for prostate concerns). 3. Enjoy “a little” safe sun – 15 minutes on your hands, a few times each week. Our bodies produce their own vitamin D through exposure to the sunlight — and fortunately, all you need is about 15 minutes on your hands, a few times each week. That’s good news, considering that too much sun can damage the skin and increase your risk of skin cancer. Remember to ALWAYS apply sunscreen year-round (even during the winter months).

When I started my job 10 years ago I was wearing a mens 2X. We wear the same uniforms as the cops so I had 5, 2 x shirts, 5, size 48 pants and one 2x sweater and I wore that same size until a couple of months ago. As of yesterday I know own 3 size large shirts, 3 size 42 pants and one size large sweater, and........................................................... I would say by the end of next week I will be going in for the next size down in the pants ( This weight loss is causing my employer a bit a money at 45 dollar a pair paints and 30 dollar shirts plus the Patches, But hey I offered to wear street clothes and they said no. Great to be me lately, sucks to be them

H Pylori is very common in the general population. Some people's stomach allow this bacteria to grow for some reason. We all have bacterias, viruses and fungus present at all times, it is when the one them gets out of the bodies normal check and balances that problems occur. You are not contagious and the doctor is doing this a precaution to make sure your recovery goes well.

YOU CAN DO THIS! This is just the first of many trials of your sleeve. Just think in a couple of weeks you will be down about 20 pounds! Then you will have your sleeve and it will be a job just to swallow a little at a time, let alone worry about the taste, and that is a GOOD thing! The sleeve will help you stop focusing on what you CANT eat and suddenly you have to focus on just what you can get in, it really is a good feeling. Somethings that helped me in the 2 week pre op was sugar free Jello and sugar free pudding, it was comfort food as I divorced my eating of the past. Get some of that noodely Chinese soup and through away the noodles, use the packets of broth as a clear Fluid. Get yourself some diet Snapple too, great stuff. Now for your Protein,,, go to costco and get some of their Premier Protein shakes, I like the choc ones. They are the best I have found. Get some of that unflavored protein powder and mix it in what you can. Go get some protein shots at GNC or walmart, they taste like crap but it is a way to get a lot of protein in just 2 oz of yuck. You know the saying ,,,, No pain , No gain??? Well I tell myself no pain, no loss! Change is not easy, it is not comfortable but it is worth it for what you get. Better health, better looking and better life. Just think of the first time you get to put on a size 10 pants, will a few weeks of not so great tasting protein be worth it? Knowing that the weight regain will never be an issue again? Hang in there, you are working toward an amazing goal. Anything worth doing or having in life requires some sort of sacrifice!

1 can of Chick peas (drained and rinsed) 1 can of diced tomatoes 2 cloves of garlic smashed 1/2 cup onion chopped Parsley chicken breasts (I added a spanish twist with a pinch of cumin and saffron) In olive oil, sautee onion and garlic Mix chickpeas and diced tomatoes in a pan and add sauteed garlic and onion and bring to a boil. When all is heated transfer to a deep dish casserole dish and lay chicken breast on top of mix sprinkling with parsley. Bake for 20 minutes or until temp of chicken is 170. If desired broil at the end to brown chicken. ( next time I am adding some cheese on the chicken)

Woot Woot!

1tlbs of greek yogurt 1 tsp of bread crumbs 1 tsp Parmesan cheese 1 chicken breast. Mix the yogurt, bread crumbs and Parmesan in a bowl, adding just a little olive oil if need. Heat up cooking device ( I use a George foreman girl) coat the bottom of chicken breast with olive oil and set in pan, then spoon on yogurt mix. Cook for 18 minutes at 350 and if desired broil at the end if you desire for color. YUM>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I have been a huge promoter of Premier Protein shakes and I just want to post this as a *temporary* retraction of my promotion. Premier has changed their formula, upping the cholosterol to 25mg from 15 and decreasing potassium from 650 to 500 mg. Now that in it's self did not bother me, however the taste is horrible on the chocolate shake. I have been in contact with them and they are sending me a new cast free of charge and I will let you know if it was a fluke. The customer service rep was very responsive and concerned and assured me that my comments would be forwarded to higher ups, but he did admit he as gotten other complaints, not taste so much as thickness. I hope that means my box was just a fluke in taste as I really do not know what I would do without it in my daily routine. Attached is a pic of the new container, I have to say that they missed the boat on that too, it has a cheap look and feel. The new one is the one on the left with the chocolate splash on it: .%3Ca%20href=

Thoughts and prayers are with you, too many around me are battling this awful disease and I hope each and everyone of you kick its @ss!

Amazing!1

Enjoy it! 80 lbs and not one single compliment here. Valentines consisted of me cooking dinner and cleaning it up. Flowers and a card he ran into jewel and got on his way home. Has me rethinking how much I want to be here.

Today I received the free case they said they would send and I am happy to report the taste is better, not as good as it used to be, but better. So perhaps I got a bad batch??? It is not the same creamy smooth as before, but the chocolate taste is there unlike the case I bought. So be for warned they did change things a bit by their own admission in an attempt to eliminate clumps people claimed they were seeing, I however never had that issue.

Right back at ya!

UMMM Still YOU LOST 80 POUNDS in 9 WEEKS?????? UGGHHHH I'm still depressed..................................................................

wOw! Amazing difference in your body at just 20 pound increments!

You lost 80 pounds in a 6 weeks???? Ugghhh, now I am depressed.

I did not loose the first 2 weeks either, I think about 8 pounds total? I was retaining fluids from the hospital and had constipation to boot. I was not a large volume eater either, but I sure as heck could eat more than 3 bites of chicken at a time. I am 11 weeks out and have lost 29 pounds, I started at 220. Also I am 47 and they said age plays a role.

So I am bit down. Let go back from the begining: Jan of 2010 I was at my highest ever, 271! From Jan to August I lost 40 pounds. In August I had my first consult for the surgery. On Nov 23rd I was at 220 with my 2 week pre op diet. Now here I am Feb 14th, I know not even 3 months and I have lost an additional 29 pounds and I frustrated as I have pretty much stalled since Jan 18th. I went up 4 pounds after starting the pill which I quit 2 weeks later and now yesterday I finally got down to 191 again where I was when I started the dang pill. So I am sitting here trying to rationalize with myself that 29 pounds in under 3 months is huge, yet there is this nagging feeling that it should be more faster! I am in a daily guilt fight with what I put in mouth even though I have not ate any bad foods since the surgery. I don't do breads and I watch carbs like crazy. I try to keep them under 30 a day. I guess I am wearing myself out emotionally with the fight to lose in what I perceive is not enough fast enough. I get down when I see folks losing 40 or 50 pounds in 2 months and think what am I doing wrong? I know when I look in mirror the person looking back is not bad at all compared to what I used to see, but when I look at my belly and legs I see the fat left to loose and feel like yuck. I have avoided buying any clothes as I keep thinking it will be a waste because I should loose more weight soon, but deep down I am not trusting that is going to happen any time soon because of the stall. (See the head game????) Just for example a typical day of food is like this for me: 1 160 cal, 30 gram Protein shake Greek yogurt with torani syrup or one with the fruit already. 2 or 3 oz of chicken or one of those tuna cans with crackers some days a afternoon snack of a 160 cal, 15 protein power bar more chicken for dinner.

Oh I should have added that I am doing step for 30 minutes at least if not more than 3 times a week and at work I tone with a hand weight and elastic strap we keep for down times.