kemo46

Those last 4 lbs lost to reach the 100 lbs lost mark seemed like it took forever. It has been less than 7 months since my surgery and now I am only 16 lbs from my goal weight. It actually seems attainable now that I am that close. When I started this journey 100 LBS seemed like a dream but it is now history. Like I mentioned in my blog, I had increased my calorie intake for my strength training. It helped in my exercise and I continued to lose inches but it had slowed my weight loss. Since the weight loss was still my main priority until I reach my goal, I have decreased my calories and carbs back down to 900/80 a day and that got the scale moving again. I am going to increase my cardio, slow my strength training a bit and see how that goes for the last 16 lbs. For those of you reading the forums that have to lose 100 lbs or more, it can be done and you can do it. I used the sleeve as my tool, changed my diet and worked out like a mad man at the gym. The sleeve is not a magic wand, especially if you have this much weight to lose, the restriction has been the key for me. I look back over this 100lbs lost and I have no doubt I could of lost more in probably less time but I felt the strength training and muscle building was worth the trade off of the speed of the weight loss. I have very little lose skin after losing 100lbs and I think that has a lot to do with replacing it with muscle. Losing the 100lbs is a big deal for me but not as much as reaching my goal, that last 16 lbs is going to be a real motivator.

I agree with Amanda and Coops, mix it up and increase your cardio. I hired a personal trainer a few months ago and I learned so much. While any exercise is good, I had to make sure I was getting the most out of my workouts and to make sure I was utilizing my time at the gym. There are so many good ways to increase your cardio other than just treadmills and ellipticals. I really enjoy the boxing and the battle rope, talk about upper body cardio. Get a good heart monitor and use it as a tool, this will help you in the time you spend in your zone. Good luck, you are on the right track.

Great job, I know it took a lot of work and you look great. I know you feel great. Keep up the good work.

Hey Meggie, great for you. I know what it took to do this and I am very happy for you. The sleeve was such a great tool we chose and it has changed our lives. Keep up the great work and enjoy a long healthy life.

It has changed my life in many ways, all positive.First is my health, I take no medication at all, my diabetes is under control and my cholesterol is normal. Second, there is nothing I cannot do now due to any physical limitation( being fat). My energy level is through the roof and I do not get tired like I used to. The self-confidence is also a big boost. With my new lifestyle and weight loss, I am able to workout extensively and continue my better health. The only thing that you could consider a negative is that I have become cold natured and now I have to battle my wife over the thermostat.

Anyone who thinks this is an easy way out is wrong. I had my surgery for health reasons and I go to the gym at least 5 days a week. I see a personal trainer twice a week. I find this whole process anything but EASY. It is a tool to help us change our life and it works. I had to totally change my lifestyle from eating, exercise and a new way of thinking. We have all lost weight on diets just to gain it back. The sleeve is just a tool, the restriction is what has made my surgery and weight loss a success. So anyone who still thinks this is an easy way out, they can follow me to the gym every morning and they will probably change their minds.

Before surgery I had indigestion and acid refux real bad for years. I used to eat rolaids and tums all the time. I thought that after surgery by losing the weight and eating right would eliminate this, it did not. I did not have it as bad but it was still there so I still popped rolaids or tums when it acted up. My wife has been on Omeprazole ( Prilosec generic) for years and she never has any issues. I decided to give it a try. I take 1 20mg pill every morning and since I have started, I have not had a hint of indigestion,heartburn or acid reflux. This stuff is amazing. I get 42 tablets at Sams Club for 16.00 so it lasts me about a month and a half. It is worth every penny. I tried just cheap acid reducer pills before I started on these and they did not work. I feel great and have no issues any longer with acid.

Yecats, I have sent you a PM. If you have the right Doctor in Mexico, you should have many tests there as well. Remember, it is for your well being. You do not want your health put at risk or anything overlooked.

Great job FM. Keep up the good work.

I would be honest and tell them who, where and when. I would get them a copy of your records and x-ray of your sleeve.This would be helpful information in case any issues would arise. If you had an emergency, they have to treat you. If your PCP has an issue with helping you matain good health just because you had surgery in another country, I would find a new PCP. You want whoever your Doctor is to have all the information they can get along with any contact numbers of your surgeon.

Amen.

I too was in your shoes. I was diagnosed with Diabetes in May of this year, probably had it much earlier. Go to my blog www.kemo46.blogspot.com , I have my before and after blood numbers on there. It is not the actual surgery that can eliminate the Diabetes, it is the results. Once I was diagnosed, I immediately changed my diet and started exercising. I cut out bad carbs and sugar. My surgery was already scheduled for later that month. My Doctor wanted to put me on medication but I wanted to wait until after my surgery and see if I could get it under control. My numbers were through the roof, my A1C test was 10.2 and my fasting Glucose was 237. I had my blood work done 3 months after surgery and my A1C was down to 6.3 and my fasting glucose was down to 100. I did not need any medication so the surgery, wieght loss, diet and exercise helped my diabetes. I just went a couple of weeks ago for my 6 month blood work up and my numbers were even better. My A1C was 5.5 and my fasting glucose was 100. The thing that I do not agree with is even though my numbers are normal and I do not need any medication, I am still considered a Diabetic. They say once a Diabetic, always a Diabetic. They say it is now diet controlled but I will always be a Diabetic. I do not agree with this logic. I lost the weight and changed my lifestyle. I cannot tell you which is the best surgery for Diabetes, I can just tell you my experience with the sleeve. I can tell you that the Gastric Bypass is very radical and the lifestyle after the bypass is extreme. The Vitamin deficiency and the dumping is very tough. The reason I know is my sister had this surgery about 6 years ago and even though it was considered a successful surgery because she lost the weight, her way of life after is not near as good as mine after my sleeve.

I agree, it sounds like dehydration. I know it is hard but keep sipping until you get at least 64 oz of water or gatorade down a day. This helps so much. The protein will come but staying hydrated is very important, that affects everything. Hang in there, it gets much better.

It is a myth that it is sub-standard care in Mexico. There are world-class surgeons that practice in state of the art hospitals in Mexico. There are also some that are not. You have to do your research.The cost was a big factor but not the deciding factor for me. I am sending you a PM. Check out my blog as well. www.kemo46.blogspot.com

In the U.S. , the insurance companies run the show. If you do not believe me, have a procedure that the insurance only pays for 2 days and try to stay 3 and see how you are treated. If you have the money, it is no issue but the level of care and the attitude changes greatly once the cash cow runs dry. I just experienced this with a family member at a major hospital in Dallas. I have two close family members that are Physicians, one a surgeon, the other an M.D.. I have learned a lot about how the medical profession is driven in the states. We have been trained to think that if the procedure is not approved in the U.S. , it cannot be good or safe. That is 100% incorrect. In order for a procedure to be approved in the U.S., it has to have a clinical trial to be approved by the FDA. This is nothing more than bribery. There are procedures that have been performed in other countries safely for many years that are still not approved in the U.S.. The bottom line is you cannot say a whole country has bad surgeons or bad health care, you can find both in all countries along with great surgeons. All you can do is research and make the best educated decision possible. People should not knock other surgeons in other countries unless it was their own personal experience. There is too much hearsay and false information being repeated. I had my procedure in Mexico and was treated very well. I know there are great surgeons here in the states as well. That is why I have never said anything negative about any surgeon in any country because of something I have read. If you were not there, you do not know the situation, period. I agree with the poster on the socialized healthcare, who are we to talk down about another country's healthcare program, especially since ours is such a winner.

I would respectfully contact your mother's surgeon and ask for him to take this more seriously and that something is not right. Let him know that if he does not care enough about his patients or his reputation to explore this, you will take it to the Hospital board. A surgeons reputation is very important and you would think he would take it more seriously. If that does not get a response from him or the board does not do anything to help in the matter, I would post his name and the situation on every forum I could find. I would let him and the board know this. It is not to threaten them or to hurt their reputation, it is to get them to do their job and care for their patient like they should do in the first place. I am not blaming the surgeon for this issue becuase we do not know the cause, just blaming them for not exploring the problem. I agree with the earlier posts, the sleeve is a restriction tool but math is math. If you burn more calories than you take in, you will lose weight. It is possible that the surgeon did not create enough of a restriction and your mother is able to eat more than 4 oz of food. Like another poster said, if you eat bad things, you will not lose the weight. Keep us posted, I hope you find the answers.

Thank you EJ for your educated post. It it beyond me how people can say there is not a great surgeon in the whole country of Mexico. Like I mentioned in another post, I know two surgeons personally that teach the procedures to U.S. Surgeons. I guess some would think Peyton Mannning is stupid because he went to Europe to have his stem cell fusion done, he has all the money in the world. I would rather think he went to the most experienced doctor he could find which was not in the U.S. . Thank you again for your post.

That is the most absurd quote I have ever read on any forum. There are some bad surgeons in Mexico just looking for a quick buck but trust me, there are some horrible surgeons in the U.S. as well. I can show you many world class surgeons in Mexico that practice at state of the art hospitals that have much more experience and a lower complication rate than many in the states. The reason a lot of surgeons practice in Mexico is the ridiculous mal-practice premiums here in the states. Many of these surgeons in Mexico were actually educated in the states. I know two surgeons personally that teach and that have taught the VSG procedure to surgeons here in the states. If you want to call out specific surgeons in a certain country based on facts, that is fine but to say that the whole country of Mexico have bad surgeons is just plain ignorant.

Great job, all of that hard work paid off. The sleeve was the tool but as you know, it was your discipline and dedication that helped you reach your goal in such a short period of time. Great job Noel, I am happy for you.

You do not have to deprive yourself, that is what is great about the sleeve. Please read my blog, www.kemo46.blogspot.com , I talk about how I have handled several holidays since being sleeved. You can taste that cookie or that piece of pie, you just do not do it everyday or eat a mountain of them. I love my sleeve in the real world, I split meals, eat healthy and exercise but when I want to have a sweet treat, I have it. Just like Sharon said, surround yourself with good snacks. It is beef jerky and almonds for me. I also do the EAS Advantage carb control ready made shakes. Protein is your new friend and if you will eat the protein first, you will find you do not have enough room for too much bad stuff.

Ela, I have sent you a PM. There are good and bad surgeons in both countries. People cannot just say surgeons in Mexico are bad. The fact is, Mexico has some of the best surgeons in the world and perform their surgeries in state of the art facilities. I know two surgeons personally that have taught many surgeons in the U.S. the VSG and the Plication. Please do your research and you will know who the right surgeon is for you and you will be at peace with your decision. Remember, communication is very important througout this process. Good luck.

Estella, I took my temperture a couple of times a day for the first month. If you have a leak, it will cause an infection and your temperture will increase. That is interesting that your surgeon did not do a leak test, I have never heard of that. I would like to hear from other sleevers if they did not have a leak test. Are you feeling ok, do you suspect a leak or just asking?

Hey Tiffany, the good news is you will be able to drink normally after some more time. It proably took me about 2 months to be able to drink like I did prior to surgery. I love Water and staying hydrated is not an issue for me. At first, it was a chore and it just keep getting easier with time. As far as my only con for the sleeve is I do get cold, this used to not be an issue. It is worth the trade off to lose that weight.

Just like Sleeve of Steel said, you have to stay focused on staying hydrated. The protein will come later. Sip, sip and sip some more but get that water in. You are still swollen and it will get better and you will be able to drink more and much easier. What really helped me post op with fluids and protein was the Unjury chicken soup protein powder. It is 20 grams of protein and you mix it with warm water. Remember, at your stage, staying hydrated is the most important thing.

Wow Noel, that is awesome to be so close to your goal. Have you planned any celebration or any thing you are going to do once you reach your goal? I have thought about it quite a bit but have not settled on anything yet, I am still about 25 lbs. away. You need to do something special, that is quite a goal you are about to accomplish.