Rootman

Yep, having both low testosterone and being overweight both put a jinx on the old libido. I've had problems with both and started taking test. injections and of course have lost 125+ pounds and my libido has risen significantly. Some prescription and even OTC drugs can effect it too. So go with hubby to the Dr's office and have him checked out and discuss it with them. It can be embarrassing so don't keep pestering him about it. Be gentle and genteel.

Yeah, maybe Estella's right, unless you tripping on them don't worry.

lilMissDiva did an excellent tutorial here: http://www.verticals...-with-pictures/

Yes, I agree, hair loss and it's growth and non-growth phases ( https://secure.wikim...h#Normal_growth ) are just natural, throw in what basically amounts to a near death experience of anesthesia and the trauma of surgery and a drastic dietary change - there is little to anything we can do to avoid it. I think the Vitamins, supplements, shampoos and conditioners are a total waste of money designed for people to lose weight - IN THEIR WALLET, but that's just my two cents. I realize this may be a more traumatic experience for you gals but it WILL pass.

Yep, what Beadingnurse sed: jump on this like a chicken on a june bug - well she didn't say that exactly but she meant it. If you really want this then PURSUE IT with all diligence. Call them, write them, supply them with every shred of documentation and testimony you can. Keep after them, they are for the most part just bureaucrats and you are just another number - put a face and voice to the number and force them to realize you are a real person and no just a number and need a better answer than what they've given you already. If possible you may also consider self pay, perhaps in Mexico. Not everyones cup of tea but it worked for me. We all wish you the best. Go Get 'Em Tiger!

For about the first month or so I could NOT lay on my left side in bed, my stomach would just make the most horrible nosies constantly. Long drawn out blurping and moaning sounds. The first time my wife and I got amorous post-op it sort of ruined the mood for a few minutes as we both busted out laughing because of all the comical noises.

Way to go grrl! Congrats!

Congrats!

Yikes! I mean mine are more visible because of not being surrounded by a pad of fat but don't hang that low. Silly question, I know, are you sure that they haven't always been that way and are not just lower because of not sitting on so much fat in your behind and like me are just more visible because of the fat pad disappearing? I don't remember much about the anatomy of that area but seem to recall there was a tendon that supported 'em, I can't picture that "loosening up" unless maybe the attachment to any supporting muscles has dropped. Perhaps a visit to a wee-wee doctor would be in order?

I choose MX because I did not want to wait or put up with being coerced into getting a bypass - the sleeve is what I wanted after a LOT of research. I followed up with my PCP for blood panels and hoped for the best that there would not be any complications after surgery. I've heard horror stories of people being denied insurance coverage but decided to take a chance anyway. Everything turned out fine. I was advised that a local bariatric surgeon will "take over the case" for a cash payment of $2000 just to cover their "risk". I've not had to avail myself of his services. So it is not without its risks and only you can decide if you want to take the chance. For me it's worked out wonderfully. I've lost ~125 pounds went from a TIGHT 3X top and 52 bottom to a LARGE top and 38 bottom. I LOOK thinner than I have in decades despite being still at 250 pounds. I tell everyone it's "all pure muscle" It can only get better from now on.

Wow, I lost track of this post after writing it. don't worry pal NO ONE is watching you pee, just try and keep your belt and pants within the bounds of your own urinal as you hop around shaking it off.

I think that you are over analyzing this. I have been a Christian for 35 years now and have had a few surgeries that have helped me in my life, some like the sleeve can be controversial. I guess he made eyes to go blind too, so we shouldn't have cataract or lasik surgery either, or made feet grow crooked with painful bunions so we should hobble around on nearly crippled feet. How about teeth that crack and open up painful fractures that make our lives miserable. When your teeth hurt seems like EVERYTHING hurts. I've had ALL of these things corrected and am glad I did. God gave man an incredible intellect to be able to help with these many painful, debilitating problems. If you CAN take advantage of them then you should. Pray about it and go with God.

Tijuana MX, Jerusalem Clinic. Dr. Almanza, VSG, $5000. I picked them just because I was most familiar with Tijuana than other MX cities. They contacted me first, the price was fair and I'm a cheapskate My insurance does cover bariatric surgery but I've heard of others having a hell of a time getting approved and I wanted a VSG - NOT a bypass - which is what the surgeons around here want you to have. I was also feeling so crappy with a myriad of problems due to my weight I wanted something done NOW. I had $5000 from an inheritance so I used it for this.

Man wait until the night before your surgery! I was stuck ALONE in San Diego in a hotel for 2 nights pre-op and I swear every other frickin' commercial on TV was for a pizza chain promoting a 5 chees and 2 bacon pizza - OMG I almost buckled! You can make it, keep it up, it'll be just that much LESS you have to lose post-op and will clear your bowels out and make post-op constipation just that much more unlikely.

I recently was able to join a senior wellness center and they have a great lap pool. I hadn't swam in years and was surprised about the effort it took. I especially had problems breathing doing the standard crawl and was swallowing a lot of Water - not cool with the VSG. I was lucky to get in 12 laps at most. I also had really crappy goggles so I decided to go to a sports store to pick up a decent pair. There it was, the answer to my dilemma - a snorkel! I picked up a really nice pair of goggles, a snorkel, a pair of small kick fins and some hand fins. I couldn't believe the difference! I was able to swim for a full hour without stopping. I could breast stroke and crawl to my hearts desire and breath whenever I wanted. I must of done 80 laps or more! I filled in my caloric intake and exercise at myfittnesspal.com was running NEGATIVE 311 calories today! My question is can I keep doing this? Expending that MANY more calories than I take in? At least while I am still losing weight. The site claims I should be taking in 1640 calories with the exercise goals I set. I ate 900 today and supposedly spent 1211 swimming. Man am I sore too!

Miralax once a day for me, I've taken it for years. 1/2 cap a day in a juice glass of Crystal Lite.

No better time to start then the present! At least a few days of a liquid diet will clear your bowels and lessen the effects of anesthetic induced constipation. It will also give you a jump start on the weight loss too. It certainly can't hurt.

Seems to work that way with me too. A few people have "warned" me about losing too much stating I look great now when I tell them I'm trying to drop another 70 pounds or so. It's true I have a "fairly" trim waste at 38" (compared to pre-op 52") but the backs of my thighs and calves are sure fat yet. I tend to lose it all over but not quite as much downstairs as upstairs.

Congrats! Can't wait till you hit <300, then 100 lbs total then your goal! The experiences just keep getting better and better. Keep up the good work, we all wish you the best!

$5k Tijuana MX Jerusalem Clinic, Dr. Almanza

In reality I think it is unusual to be catheterize for such a short operation. I know I wasn't and may on the board here have said the same. Do you have a choice? Can you ask NOT to be? They can always slip it in if you need it - although while you're awake

Taint any better for the guys neither. I have been on testosterone replacement for a little less than a year now, I think it's what really jump started my weight loss and spurred me on to getting a sleeve and losing 120+ pounds already. Prior to my Sleeve op I HAD leveled out about 650 ngdl which is just right. I started out at 125 - way low and just above the testosterone level a woman produces. After losing 80 pounds it was time for my level check and it shot all the way up to 1050! I too was "tearing heads off". We cut the dosage back to 3/4 CC from 1 full CC. My weight continues to drop and the last check I had the level was 1200! Have you ever seen the incredible Hulk movie? Well that was me. PISSED does not begin to describe my attitude The real trouble is that that is my peak, a week after my shot, when I test the trough (low point) just before a shot, I'm back to 125. So I go through these wild swings TWICE a month - shots are every 2 weeks. It's played hell with my emotions, I go from watching a sad TV program and weeping to wanting rip someones heart out and shove it down their throat for something like bumping in to me. I'll be glad when I reach my goal and can stabilize my weight and maybe stabilize my test. dosage and level.

Exactly the opposite for me, I had a distinct sour smell and extremely acid perspiration that has almost completely gone away since my sleeve, I also don't perspire nearly as much anymore, the effect was almost immediate after the surgery. I suspect it has something to do with the part of the vegas nerve that was taken out with the pendulous part of the stomach.

There is SOME truth to this. A "normal" modern diet is so chocked full of Vitamins that there is little real need for them, we often pass most of the extra vitamins taken right out in the urine, however being sleeved we eat so little it MAY result in shortfalls in some vitamins especially during the weight loss period. Vitamins are cheap insurance, by the time you show symptoms of a Vitamin related illness you are usually well past the time that just simply starting to take take them again can reverse it and further and more invasive treatment may be necessary. So YES take the vitamins others have listed above. You should get a full blood panel done at least every 6 months for the first coupe of years. By that time your weight should be stabilized and you should be able to eat sufficient quantities of food so that vitamins are just insurance against shortfall. B12 is one possible exception, it is adsorbed principally in the stomach and since we had 85% of it removed, well you can figure it out.

TP pretty much covered it. I'll put it more simply. I didn't want a plastic gizmo floating around in my gut for the rest of my life - so no band. I didn't want my plumbing rearranged so no bypass. I wanted the sleeve because it is a simple removal of a majority of the stomach and doesn't introduce anything or rearrange anything.