Rootman

Good luck friend! It is sometime typical that this situation can occur. It seems the mechanic drive a jalopy, the painters house is peeling paint and a doctor is fat or etc. It happens. What is important is that you are taking care of it.

ARF! I had to laugh when I read this - NOT at you guys! I woke up with a raging woody this morning, first time in a long time! I got checked for testosterone 6 months ago, pre-surgery and was at 150 ng/dl !!! I started on injections twice a month. My voice deepend, facial hair is thicker and libido went through the roof (my poor wife!). I just went back for a 6 month blood test, this after loosing 85+ pounds. I am going back to the doc to see the results tomorrow.

I am unusual in that I was self pay. I probably could of had the surgery the same day if I showed up at the clinic with the money! As it was it was only about 4 weeks from my initial inquiry to my surgery.

I know by the time I am posting this you are probably already out of surgery but we all wish you the best of luck!

We all wish you the best of luck! You have made the decision and have the proper attitude now ll is left is to follow through!

This looks to be similar to an older method of hydrostatic body mass measuring. Both use the same technique, measuring the displacement of a volume of gas or water to determine the actual MASS of the body, this used with your weight will give you an exact BMI. The height \ weight charts we all use are guesstimates at best and only get you close. Did you know? Most body builders or big football players or wrestlers are technically obese on the standard BMI chart? That's because of the massive amount of muscle they have put on their frame - using the same charts just using height and weight they cannot measure the true mass of their bodies. One of these gizmos WOULD tell them they are not obese as muscle is much more dense than fat. I think it's hilarious that they use skinny models in the video, you have to know most people using them have to be fatties like us.

Congrats and the best of luck !

I too was a "gulper" (let's differentiate that from drinker so as to not confuse people with alcoholic consumption - another subject entirely). I would swig down anything and everything. Soda, water, Chrystal Light - whatever was put in front of me I would drink 2,3 or 4 or more glasses of. I hated going to a restaurant where they served drinks in "normal" size glasses as apposed ot the jumbo size that many use, I would for ever be trying to get the wait staff to bring me another or fill it up again. I was ALWAYS thirsty, I remember being thirsty as a kid too. I too was NOT diabetic although I was starting to show signs of insulin instability for the last few years. Since the operation I can drink very little, in fact I went to the ER yesterday with a kidney stone, largely a result of not drinking enough water to keep my kidneys flushed. I also suffered from hyperhidrosis - I sweated profusely and constantly and have since I was a skinny little kid. It got MUCH worse as I got older and fatter. I've noticed that this is not nearly as bad either, although the weather has been cool since the operation. I used to sweat so bad in bed that I would leave salt stains on my sheets and pillows and leave a funky smell in the bed. I get chilled very easily now and hardly ever turn a fan on - which was the first thing I'd do when I came into a room. I'm not sure what changed but this change is very welcome.

Well there's good statistics, bad statistics and confusing statistics. As Lessey pointed out it is a statistical average of peoples weight loss for a year. Some have taken that figure and turned it sideways to declare that if you reach 65% of your goal the VSG is a success, this is a bit of an over simplification. YES, if you reach 65% of your weight loss goal you have statistically succeeded in loosing the amount of weight that a typical user looses e years time. For statistics sake - and for that of advertising and giving people a reference point and to avoid having to declare what so many weight loss plans in the industry say ( "RESULTS NOT TYPICAL" ), they choose this 65% mark as a mark of success. So at a 65% weight loss you are doing AVERAGE, it is like MRSKOUBiK said above - IT'S A TOOL ... WORK IT. You CAN achieve the average just buy not pushing the sleeve and exceeding prescribed caloric intake. You can achieve 100%+ by really taking an active part in your continuing dietetic needs. Add exercise, continue to eat a majority of Protein over carbs and watch your caloric intake and refuse to add those things back into your diet that do not benefit you the most. A MAJORITY of sleevers are NOT on this board. We who are here are the ones seeking a additional tool to help us reach and exceed our goal - that is - OTHER SLEEVERS, their hints, tips and support. WE can reach our ultimate goal and stay there if we take this marvelous sleeve and really put our efforts behind it and not let JUST the AVERAGE NATURAL weight loss happen. So when you reach 65% of your goal, you are a statistical success, don't stop there, continue on to be a statistical anomaly and lose 100% of your goal weight loss. You can do it.

The whole thing went well. I could of waited for insurance but was feeling so miserable and was just getting fatter by the day so I went self pay. The place is small but nice, the staff is very caring and quick to react to your needs. It WAS noisy though so bring some ear plugs if you want to sleep. The level of care is different from what you may have in your country, it is different from in the United States. It's not better nor worse just different. A lot of the BS that is part of the US care system is bypassed, they just seem to get on with it. And as Forrest Gump said, "That's all I have to say about that." I was comfortable, well taken care of and pleased with the care. I would do it again if I was faced with the same choices.

Well I'm 85 pounds down and still a heft 290 pounds, I had 2 pair of jeans I bought years ago during my last failed attempt to loose weight. I never came close to fitting in them. Well I tried them on after getting down to 290 last Friday and was surprised that they fit! Still a little snug but fit OK and I can get my hands in my pockets. These are generous cut jeans but I was wearing the same brand and was in size 50's and they were cutting me in half. I am so happy!

Yep, had a piece of pumpkin pie on the first day - it was Friday after Thanksgiving here in the USA. Couldn't resist, it was calling my name

Best of luck, post again as soon as you can.

I had two plain beef Tacos last Saturday but I know I couldn't handle two supremes. This stuff is really high in calories so you have to watch them: http://www.tacobell.com/nutrition/calculator/

I didn't get "approved" because it's pretty much sure to be a slam dunk that they will NOT approve. It is VERY likely that they will NOT assume responsibility for another out of plans doctor's proceedure. You would be asking them to assume liability on something that has a fair amount of risk. Call and ask them directly.

I WAS 375# @ 6' tall but never had to use an extender and worried about the same thing. I managed to cram my fat ass into the seat, suck it in and pull the belt closed. I am sure I poured over the edges a bit but no one ever said anything. BTW, IF you pay for 2 seats be sure that they GIVE you 2 seats. I've heard of others who had to fork over for the second seat and got onto a full plane and never "got" the second seat, so they were crammed into a single seat. I realize the airline has to make up for the extra weight with extra fuel, but dammit! If I pay for something I WANT IT. If it would of happened to me I was prepared to raise holy hell (and hopefully not get kicked off the plane) till I got what I paid for - or a bump up to first class. BTW2: If you get a chance to pay to go first class on your return flight DO IT. It makes you SOOOO much more comfortable.

Congrats! I am so looking forward to joining you in onederland but it's going to be a few more months and 92 pounds before I do. Look forward to "seeing" you there!

Yep, same thing here. A lot of things are really disgusting now. It really "helps" me NOT want to eat so I don't complain too much.

I view it a simultaneously the easiest AND the hardest way to go. Easy because I no longer get ravenously hungry and am physically limited to the amount of food I eat by the sleeve size. Hardest because I gave up a way of life that I loved - pigging out and enjoying food nearly every day. My tastes are altered radically, some stuff I loved I can barely stand now. It is really a shock psychologically. But like Tiff said, you're using one of the BEST tools to get the job done and it is a hell of a lot better than being on all kinds of medications and ending up on an electric scooter or losing a limb to diabetes.

Vitamins are cheap insurance against a Vitamin deficiency caused illness. Here's from a post on another thread: Normally recommended are: A Multivitamin Calcium citrate for Vitamin D B12 sublingual Iron supplements Go to the doctor and ask that a blood panel and any other blood tests they desire be done to determine if you are low on any of these vitamins. Use the doctors suggestion on what to take.

I was sleeved on Monday and went back to work Friday - NOT RECOMMENDED. Like Syltx3 recommended 2 or 3 weeks.

They're made of titanium and will more than likely "outlive" you

Sleeved 12/6/10, lost 56 lbs from my fattest, some before pre-op diet some during and the bulk after the sleeve. Gross and vague, but here are my symptoms. This week I have noticed that I have a slight tummy ache, just a little "sick" feeling in my stomach, more or less constant. Nothing debilitating and nothing I'd really call painful just a nuisance. Something between a sour stomach and a stomach ache. It's worse at night. I wouldn't say it was heartburn either as I take a tums and it doesn't really help. Burping helps but it never really goes away. I've also been plagued by frothy spit in the back of my throat and a coated tongue. I've "overeaten" ONCE and had a lot of pain that lasted maybe 10-15 minutes, felt like I was socked in the belly afterwards. So I know my present feeling isn't like that. As I noted elsewhere in the forums I am really turned OFF by food, so I most likely UNDER eating. I am also under a hell of a lot of stress at work - always have been and used to have mild stomach issues before the sleeve, so this all might just be the same thing but amplified because of the new size of my stomach. I'm not worried sick about it but am a bit concerned that it hasn't let up at all this week. Any theories?

Yep, what Tiff said. For me it was picturing my fat self in one of those motorized scooters, another lard ass American eating himself to death. NOPE, NOT ME! The only "scooter" I want to be seen on is my motorcycle! Down 83 pounds as I write this. Talk it over with him, assure him that there is more to your marriage than food and that you are honestly committed to the marriage to HIM. My wife had the same issues.

Good news and we all wish you the best of luck!