swizzly

I completely agree with you. MAKES ME SO PISSY TOO. I hate when the so-called bariatric experts treat an RnY pouch, a Lapband and a sleeve as the same GD thing. They are not at all the same, and liquids have an entirely different relationship to a pouch as they do to a sleeve. GAH!!! I would SO IGNORE that stupid advice and follow more updated, sleeve-specific best practices -- one of which is Protein shakes and Soups FFS. Right, I'll stop ranting now. Good luck...

It's been less than two months since your surgery, why do you think it's a gimmick already? Have you lost any weight? Or is it just because you feel hunger still, that you consider it bullshit? Were you not hungry with the band? I never lost my hunger either, but that hasn't prevented my sleeve from being awesome for me. Objectively speaking, VSG is certainly not a gimmick, there's plenty of scientific research to show its effectiveness at the overall level. I guess maybe for some individuals it doesn't work? But you'd be the first one I've heard of for whom it simply didn't work at all, so I'm curious what your experience is like so far.

The pants sound super cute, lkcraig! -- congrats!! Daisy -- I've been having pants problems as well, have tried SO MANY of them -- money down the pan for the most part. Ugh. One kind I do love is Marks and Spencer's "midi" hipsters, in either microfiber or 100% cotton (don't know if they ship to the US?). The other one I love is Soma's Vanishing Edge hipster in microfiber as well -- sounds weird, but they have these silicone strips that hold them in place and they DO. NOT. CRAWL. up your booty LOL. They also have no VPL under trousers, which I love. They're not cheap, but I have found some on eBay and also they do a 7 for $35 sale a couple times a year.

There is no. way. in. hell. I would put up with that kind of treatment. That is so far outside what is remotely acceptable. I'm sorry he treats you like this, you deserve better than that.

I've been hungry since, no joke, two days post-op. LOL. I was hungry the minute I stopped dry-heaving. I've been hungry ever since, and am well-treated for acid with a PPI and Gaviscon as needed. It's not acid, it's hunger. I thought that might suck, but I'm actually glad about it. Not having any appetite would enable some bad behaviors on my part. So your surgeon is a bit of a fascist. I think you should follow the rules, but I also think you should follow your own common sense. If you are getting hungry sooner after a meal than your next meal time, then add in healthy snacks! I am on three meals and three Snacks per day, it totally helps keep my blood sugar more stable and I feel less super hunger as a result. If you want to use Protein shakes, use them! They are good for you ferf*cksake, I can't imagine why they are outlawed. I don't use them on my plan, but I know most people do. I did my level best to get to 1000 cals per day as soon as I could -- with three meals and three snacks, it's doable totally. I'm up to 12-1400 now. I lose slowly but comfortably -- and I do LOSE. Btw, I didn't get my sensation of "full" back for some time, but it did eventually come back, so I do feel full now. I still get hungry again a couple hours later though. Meh, so it goes. I do have to use self-control and willpower, it just requires a lot less than pre-op. I don't think your sleeve has stretched -- there is no evidence that they do so. Good luck!!

That is PURE AWESOME. Way to go!!!

Mine had grown over a bit due to my appointment getting rescheduled, and it did sting on a few of them, but it didn't HURT hurt and it was over super quick.

I have already purchased way too many skinny jeans and tall boots to wear with them. I love the boots now...and dresses, I've gotten a lot of new dresses too. Love it.

I'm very impressed re: the boxing that you do -- that sounds very challenging to me. I'm lucky to do 30 mins in a row on the elliptical. I've been good -- walking to and from work, going to the gym, etc. Aside from The Cookie Incident on Monday night, things have gone quite well, touch wood. So here's me drinking water in great quantities and eating properly...and even exercising...

My personal experience has been that adding water or other liquids in with food just makes me SUPER FULL (uncomfortably so) and stops me eating on the spot pretty much. I have sometimes really WISHED that liquid would 'push' food through; for me it has not been the case.

I had my sleeve done in Switzerland, and my doctors still got called "quacks" on here. I'm sorry to hear about the bad experience had by Kacee. Regardless of where the surgery was done, it's always awful to have things go seriously awry. I wish you all the best in getting it all sorted!

I'm 10 months out, and a sociologist as well, and find this topic fascinating. I'd be happy to participate.

I have been allowed coffee since day three post-op, they served it to me in hospital already. I've been drinking it every morning since then.

I'm ashamed to say that cold actually forced (FORCED I TELL YOU) me to buy a pair of UGGs the other day. I've always hated them, but then I put them on and their warm snuggly softness just sucked me right in. Damn them.

Yes, I sometimes experience this as well. I also have a hard time coughing post-op, like my coughs are all weak and soft LOL. I am not sure what causes it, but it's weird.

So I walked to work, even though it's crappy and rainy and grey here today. And I went to the gym and did 30 mins on the elliptical. I will be protein-heavy and carb-light today for sure. I need to get all the holiday wine and bubbly out of my system!!

I am convinced the straw thing is an old wives' tale, because many people have used straws to get LESS air as they are drinking and it almost always works. When I asked my Nut about using straws, she just looked at me blankly and said it's a personal preference, there is no reason to not use them LOL. I think it's a U.S. thing more maybe? Anyhow, give it a try, it can't hurt more if you're already getting that much air in...

Are you drinking through a straw? That totally helped me not swallow air as much, which reduced the burping. Also, it's gotten much better over time anyhow.

I'm totally with you!! I have slacked big time over the past two weeks of feasting and snacking and eating all sorts LOL. So I'm back right on the wagon from tomorrow morning, I do so much better when I'm at work anyhow. I will also go to the gym three times a week and walk to work as often as possible. LET'S DO THIS THING!! ETA: I got to my xmas goal of 70kg a few days before xmas, but I'm pretty sure I'm back up to 71 or 72 by now...so gotta get back down to where I was, then down to 65!!

I don't do any lifting on my job and my doctor still kept me out of work for five weeks for a full recovery, though I had zero complications of any kind. It's local norms somewhat, but I do think when possible, people should really take as much time as they need to be REALLY ready to get back to work. Good luck!!

FWIW, I had very little pain from this procedure, have not had one instant of regret, and didn't have buyer's remorse or depression -- I didn't even have the post-op gas pain or hormonal craziness. So there are also examples of very smooth processes. I'm sure yours will be fine as well, it's normal to be nervous and notice the scary stuff more before surgery.

Well, I've read articles debunking the myth that humans need loads of water to drink every day, that people get enough through the course of having bevvies here and there (including tea and coffee) AND through the food they eat. Seriously, the human body does extract enough moisture from all foods, not just obvious ones like lettuce and watermelon, to get the liquid it needs, GENERALLY SPEAKING. My Nut said that the primary reason WLS patients need more water than normal-stomached people is because they are not getting enough liquids via their food. That said, it takes drinking much less than the magical 64 oz a day for most people to become actually dehydrated and it's easier to get dehydrated quickly just after surgery. After you're into normal foods and are drinking bevvies here and there, you're probably getting enough liquids to be fine. If you are not dehydrated and don't feel you need more water, then don't fuss with it. I drink way more at work (insert vodka joke here) than I do at the weekends, so I am making up a deficit during the week. And I do try for 1.5-2 liters per day, but I'm not too fussed. LOL. Some people will make claims about how it flushes toxins out of your system, etc. But I don't buy that one too much -- the thing that flushes toxins out of your body is your lymphatic system. It obviously needs fluids to do so. But no matter how much you drink, it will only use what it needs...which it's getting as long as you're drinking enough to not be dehydrated. Hmm, not sure I'm making any sense at this point...

Oh god, I hope someone chimes in here with a miracle -- my wattle is hideous. Makes me look a decade older than I am.

LOL, I do this one ALL THE TIME, with pills and Vitamins especially. I spend much more time down on the floor trying to find small things I've dropped now that my thighs won't catch them. One I really DIDN'T enjoy was when a friend brought me a pair of brand-new jeans she'd ordered and they turned out to be too small for her...but they were like two sizes too big for me. I tried to keep it very low-key and just said I didn't think they'd fit me properly cos of the rise or something.

For me personally, the awesome thing about quitting smoking to have this surgery (PS, totally NOT required by my program at all), was that I couldn't eat and gain weight while quitting (which is what I usually did). So doing them both at the same time turned out perfect. I am coming up on one year since I quit smoking, no looking back. Good luck!!