Rootman

This seems to be something that is pretty far out to be worried about, after all the risk of getting ANY NUMBER of diseases while remaining obese with an entire stomach is just about 100%. Most of us were headed down a pretty self destructive path and the sleeve is just one tool we can use to take an off ramp and hopefully head towards healthy living. Besides there are actually quite a few people that live WITHOUT a stomach at all. http://cancer.about.com/b/2006/06/19/family-at-risk-for-stomach-cancer-has-stomach-removal-surgery.htm Don't worry about it.

I had high hopes of losing a full 75 pounds by my 2 month anniversary, I almost made it at 73 pounds, that last 2 pounds is just stalling and not coming off. I weighed in at 302 this morning, 122 pounds yet to go. Unfortunately they did not weigh me at surgery time and my start weight of 375 is what I weighed at the start of my liquid pre-op diet - it still counts though! EDIT: Well SHAZAM! I posted this Sunday and got on the scale Monday and was at 300 lbs! Technically I guess I need to be at < 299 to make that 75th pound count but I was so excited. I try NOT to weigh every day but this is like watching a car odometer roll over to a huge number, can't take my eyes off it. NEXT GOAL: 275 pounds which will put me down 100 pounds and more than half way to my goal.

Brazcan, the only advice I can give you is that returning to the US through customs usually takes 2 HOURS or more, mostly sitting in traffic in line for the customs check, which is 5-10 minutes. So plan accordingly.

Describes me to a TEE. I would eat a LOT but was picky on the quality. No glazed doughnuts for me, nope had to be pastries or something more exotic like custard filled long johns. I was a food snob, hee hee, just about typed "slob". I look at it like this. You have got to be willing to make a DRASTIC change to your relationship with food. Be prepared to get a divorce. Food will be your EX that you have to be friendly with for the kids sake but can no longer trust to be around. Eat to live, not live to eat.

Yep, everyone goes through it at least once, most a few times. Our eyes are now LITERALLY larger than our stomachs! Measure and stick with your portions. Don't graze, remember the pain!

It's tough. I flew home on day 4 and it was a miserable experience. I was fatigues beyond belief, sore and emotionally drained. Dealing with the aggravating security, far apart gates and less than helpful airport personnel is draining on ANYONE let alone a person recovering from surgery. Some suggestions: Get some support stockings, this will help prevent DVT Get up and walk on the flight from time to time Have someone come with you for moral support and physical support should something start to go wrong. If they offer an upgrade to 1st class TAKE IT if you can afford it. The difference in room and comfort is AMAZING! Be sure to drink Water like mad in the dry airplane air You may have to make arrangements with the airline for nourishment during the long flight since you will be more than one day total traveling. With the TSA nonsense it will be difficult for you to take liquids aboard the plane. Arrange for wheelchair service at the airports. While it is good to walk the long distances and harried pace may be too much for you to maintain and make your connections. Try and stay in Mexico a few days longer than normal, even if it's just at a hotel. This will help you regain your strength before the long trek. We all wish you well! Keep us posted.

Welcome Lysa! Congrats on your decision AND your weight loss. You are stuck at what is called a plateau or a stall. It WILL happen from time to time. Your body and brain are trying to make adjustments to conserve the fat that it has packed away for so many years, hormones and metabolism are desperately trying to keep the weight ON while you want it OFF. Don't be mad at yourself, just keep on keeping on. Stick to your diet. Remember Protein first then produce then carbs if there is any room left. Measure your portions and stick to them and them only. You will start to loose again.

Calling the doc is a good idea, do it just to make sure. At 4 weeks out you SHOULD be far enough out that any soreness from the operation should be gone. You are intubated and a boughie is put down your esophagus. I too had this sensation and it either went away or I am now used to it.

I'm 6' even and weight 375 and was sleeved 12/6/10. Lost over 75 pounds in 2 months + 1 week and still loosing. It CAN work for you but as previously pointed out ONLY IF YOU MAKE IT WORK. If you take advantage of the surgery and return to unhealthy eating habits and continuously graze and eat around the sleeve then it will do you NO good. YOU have to be prepared to make a DRASTIC change to your relationship with food. It's going to be a heart wrenching breakup but you have to get a DIVORCE and see food as a friend and not a partner. Eat to live, not live to eat.

I do as Sarah doe and mix it with Crystal Light. I use a really tiny jelly jar, you know one of those little 2 OZ (???) jars - anyway they are real small. Surprisingly the Miralax can mix with that tiny amount of liquid and still not be detectable.

Wow Vicky, I was in the same boat as you are last December 6th. Me being a big tough guy you'd think that I could control myself better. I was a wreck! It happens girl, you are making a BIG life changing decision that is pretty much out of your hands once you go under. Cry it out then take big breaths and charge right in. Be prepared for a big crash afterwards too, cry it out then relax. You are starting out on a BIG adventure!

I just had to laugh when I saw this as a link when looking at a VSG video at Youtube : http://www.youtube.com/user/RocaLabs?v=c_g3MUgzTFk&feature=pyv&ad=6303502684&kw=gastric%20sleeve&gclid=COaDoZDk_aYCFcG77QodXhV9bA I remember sometime in the last week there was a brief ad her at VSG talk, I immediately though WTF! The ad was soon gone. Some people will fall for anything. What's next, brain surgery in a can?

I'm confused, how is there ANY malabsorption of anything? Nothing is changed but the stomach and to the digestive tract beyond it. LACK of Vitamin D rich foods would cause a lower level but AFAIK you can absorb everything and anything just fine as before.

Curry, we all wish you well. Let us know as time approaches so we can encourage you more.

I burp nonstop too when I approach full. If I eat too much I get violent hiccups.

Luck I think you are thinking a little backwards. Fat does NOT produce estrogen, fat can STORE estrogen. This normally "buffers" the estrogen by releasing it when the ovaries are not producing it. It can also cause crazy (did I actually say crazy ) mood swings when a female looses weight. Luck, I don't doubt that you have experienced what you say you have but don't forget to factor age into the equation. You are older now then you were then and YES sometimes these things happen like a rush of wind - seemingly all at once.

Reminds me of the old joke: Q: What's BS stand for? A: Bull Sh*t Q: What's PHD stand for then? A: Pile it Higher and Deeper

Yep what Sheila said. Sometimes it can be only 1/6th the cost. You can typically get it done much sooner and if you qualify and can pay - you qualify - no sudden surprises by the insurance company. There are some downsides: Little to NO recompense if something goes wrong - and YES it does go wrong once in a while in EVERY hospital Little to NO follow up visits, you'll have to use your own doc. Long travel MAY be involved and customs to return to the USA Cost of a passport, travel and possible accommodations should you arrive early and stay ofter release Typical very short hospital stay, ONE night is sometimes typical - further time may in a "recovery house" Personal safety MAY be an issue, sites like Tijuana MAY not be as secure as sites in cities in the US. This is way overblown IMHO. Language barrier, while usually SOMEONE speaks english not all staff do. Smaller facilities e.g. Hospital Jerusalem is actually in a strip mall and very, very small. Doctors may not hold USA certification Your health insurance MAY refuse to pay for further care if complications arise from foreign surgery. Should you need a blood transfusion, Mexican blood supplies may not be tested as throughly as US blood supplies Culture shock depending on how xenophobic you are May not have all the bells and whistles. Example: Catheters are rarely used as spinal blocks are not usually given. Simple external stitches for incision closure instead of internal disolveable stitches and steri-strips. Some work like lab and x-ray may have to be done off site. You will be shuttled for these though. Some equipment may not be "state of the art" Many of these points may not apply or even matter. It's up to YOU and your loved ones to decide if it's right for you. It probably saved my life as I think I would of been a goner in a few months or years had I not had it done. I would probably still be "qualifying" had I waited for insurance.

Butrcups, I doubt it will come to wearing a wig. If it's not coming out in clumps then it's probably just what I discussed above. remember we are ALWAYS loosing hair, it a situation like this we loose more and it becomes noticeable. Hair doesn't reach a certain length and stop growing, it reaches a certain TIME and stops growing, falls out and is soon replaced with a new shoot from the same follicle.

WooHoo! Couldn't resist and hopped on the scale again, FOUR times in a row it said 298 so I am FINALLY below 300 pounds! It's been a few years.

Every insurance place is different. If you are morbidly obese and have other co-morbidities then it may take less time. I didn't even pursue insurance because I'd heard of others waiting a year or better for approval. I went to Tijuana MX and self paid.

Go get Miralax or generic equivalent, it's the best stuff out there. I take 1/2 cap a day and am real regular now. If you are still backed up after that get to the doctors, you may need something stronger. You can get a bowel obstruction and have real bad results.

WOW! I HATE flying for just that reason - the lap belts - well actually for a LOT of reasons but that especially. Tight little seats dig into my hips. I typically get stuck behind someone that insists on reclining as soon as the plane is airborne too.

First, get the picture of staples for paper out of your mind. The staples are along the edge where they cut the stomach. They are clamping the open cut edge shut. The stomach scars around and eventually pretty much over them. The staples are more of long clamp than what we typically consider as a staple. Both the remaining stomach AND the part of the stomach being removed are stapled shut. The part that is to be removed is stapled to keep it from dumping it's contents into your gut during surgery. This piece is pulled out of the largest laproscopic incision. Watch this animated video, it shows where they are much clearer:

You're doing fine! That's 3.3 pounds a week, and it's in the RIGHT direction. Do the math that's nearly 172 pounds in a YEAR if it keeps up. Look to the LONG TERM.