SKCUNNINGHAM

I think it would be fine, but you do need to make sure that the shaper isn't irritating your incisions. I wouldn't wear them 24 hours / day - incisions heal best when they get some air, I think.

Yes

The best exercises I have ever done to keep my butt in the right place were: 1) squats 2) lunges and 3) spinning class (a type of bicycling exercise class). Those 3 will definately tone up your backside.

Milk of magnesia is OK to drink. Here is what I do to solve the problem. I make sure I am drinking all the liquid I need to drink. If you aren't hydrated, you won't be able to go regularly. I target 80 oz. of Fluid a day, and don't ever drop below 60. The more you move around and exercise, the more regular you will be. Movement stimulates your intestions to move. I take 1 capful of Miralax (a stool softener) and 2 spoons of Benefiber each morning - either in my oatmeal or my smoothie. I also take a tablespoon or two of flax oil. This works for me. Other people swear a cup of coffee in the morning keeps things moving - I don't know about that - I don't drink coffee. Good Luck. Sharon

Good for you! I admire your tenacity in tacking your issues head on. Good Luck! Sharon

I survived the first few weeks on broth, hot tea and Isopure PLUS Protein. (ISOPURE PLUS I ordered from Amazon). ISOPURE is the consistentcy of Water and taste likes Gatorade. It has 15 grams of protein in 8 ounces of liquid. I hope you feel better soon. The sleeve is the best thing I have ever done for myself - I hope yours works out better for you really soon.

This is wonderful - I am so proud and happy for you. I know the feeling - it is great to be able to care enough about what you look like to want to dress nicely and look your best.

The sweet taste of victory - much better than any sweet you can put in your mouth. Congratulations!

Attached is a picture showing my beginning jean size (26W) and my current jeans size (10P). I saw a similar picture to this on the forum and thought I would do one, too. There is 108 pounds difference in weight. My waist has dropped from 46.5" to 32". (still TOO BIG) My hips have dropped from 48" to 36". I think I will leave these hanging on the back of the door for inspiration.

My burping phase has passed, but I think the air has decided to just take the southern route to exit. I would much rather have the burping back. Jasleeve, I couldn't lay flat to sleep for a few months due to burping and acid. I made sure and took a prilosec before I lay down, then I propped up on a couple of pillows to sleep.

I would call my surgeon's office, describe the pain and ask if it was to be expected. I had nothing like that. Any kind of pain that takes my breath away - I'm calling my doc.

Five - the largest on my left side where the stomach was pulled through. One was on the right side where the drain was. There was one close to my navel and two in the center higher than my navel. It is interesting as I have shrunk, the incisions are moving closer together on my stomach. A good visual of how my skin is shrinking as I shrink.

<ul> <li>OTC Acid medication - Prilosec, Pepcid, Tums, etc.</li> <li>liquid Tylenol and regular tylenol (No NSAID's like advil, aspirin or aleve can be taken afterwards)</li> <li>A waist support belt like warehouse workers wear</li> <li>broth (beef, veggie and chicken)</li> <li>flavored waters (propel, etc)</li> <li>Isopure PLUS Protein drink in grape and punch (I ordered it off of Amazon.com)</li> <li>heating pad</li> <li>soft comfy bras</li> <li>PJ's that are lose around the waist or comfy sweats (the prettier the better - to make you smile)</li> <li>A little squishy pillow or two to tuck around you in bed at night.</li> </ul> <p>Get your house clean and the laundry caught up before you go in the hospital. You won't feel like doing much for a few days once you get back.</p> <p> </p> <p>Go to your primary care physican and talk to them about what meds you are on, and how you won't be able to swallow a pill for a while afterwards and how you should take your meds. You may need both a pill cutter and a pill crusher. Some meds can be dispensed in liquid form. Have a plan for this - you don't want to be unprepared.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p>

Thanks for all the positive comments. If you don't have a pair of jeans in the size you started, go to a resale shop and buy a pair. It is great motivation when the scale isn't behaving itself to slip into the old pair and physically see the change you have undergone. I will get that other picture snapped soon.

Coops, I'm in too. I really want to get to goal.

This is a very interesting site on how to determine your ideal or goal weight. It talks about how the BMI charts are not good for athletic people (Lil Miss Diva - This is talking about you - you shouldn't even judge your weight by the BMI tables) It also talks about how the Metropolitan Life tables aren't good for tall people (MegInNOLA - this is talking about you.) This really made me stop and think about what I wanted my goal weight to be. I am 5'4" and just turned 55. When I dieted before in my 30's - I wanted to be at the bottom of the Metropolitan Life tables - 118 pounds. Well, after doing Modifast for 9 months, I starved myself down to 118 - and wasn't able to stay there once I started eating food again - even though I lived in the gym. I was bony, and looking back at my pictures, I was a little too thin. Fast forward to my late 40's - I dieted and my goal weight was 125. I struggled with all sorts of diets and managed to get to around 135 pounds. I couldn't stay right there even exercising 6 days a week - because I started packing on muscle - not bulky muscles - just firm muscles. I weighed around 145. So now here I am in my mid 50's. When I started this, I wanted to get back to 125. Not the brighest idea - I quickly realized that was not doable - so I set my goal at 135. That puts me within the normal BMI range (I am not athletic anymore so it should be an OK target). The full process I went through to set my goal weight is documented in a couple of threads I responded to. But now that I am at 145 and look at my body - I really don't want to be any smaller than I am now except right around my midsection. I would love to looze the ~10 pounds from right there. My questions are - will the next ten pounds come from there? I am seriously thinking about seein a surgeon and asking about body sculpting / lipsuction around my midsection and tummy. I don't know what that would do, or if I am would need Lipo and a Tummy Tuck to get smaller there. From the droopy wrinkly middle and the droopy batwings, I bet I have 10 pounds of skin and fat. I don't want to lose everywhere else just to get to a number. I really don't know what to do. My plan is to continue trying to lose until I see my surgeon on 2/22. I plan on visiting with a couple of plastic surgeons before then to get opinions. I would love to hear the opinions of you on this forum. Thanks for any advice in advance. Happy New Year to you all. Sharon http://www.halls.md/ideal-weight/body.htm

I agree with every word. Thanks for the post. Sharon

I can both my legs in one leg of the old jeans - but they have such a taper, it is hard to stand up. I will get my husband to snap a picture that way and post it.

Being WAY smaller than my husband's ex-wife (saw her at a family party). :-) (evil smile)

Being content with eating one small plate of food at each of the holiday celebrations, while all those around me ate to the point they were miserable, Being able to be picky when trying on clothes. Even if something fits, if it isn't flattering, not buying it - instead of buying anything (or the one thing) that halfway fits you at all, Getting to pick from a variety of pretty underwear styles - instead of the granny pants styles. Being able to stand on one foot and raise the other one off of the floor while shaving my legs in the shower. Having my husband put his arm around my waist and move me in front of him in the family pictures this year (instead of me hiding half behind him) <P> </P>

Helen - congratulations! How wonderful for you - I am smiling for you as I read your blog entry. Good luck as you lose those last few pounds!

I agree with your premise that we are more than stories about our struggles with weight. Here's mine. I am a 55 year old married career woman. I have been married for almost 31 years (next week). My husband and I own a marina and resort with two business partners on a lake about 75 miles east of Dallas Texas. We have owned the business for about 16 years. I do not take an active part in running the business, I have always kept my "day job" as an engineer and manager in corporate America. Just yesterday, I took an early retirement with my company. I currently looking for another position and will be doing this full time starting next week. But since I am "retired" with health benefits, I now have the flexibility to maybe select short term contract positions rather than another permanent position. It is nice to be interviewing as a thin person, rather than someone who is morbidly obese. I am a mother of one grown son and grandmom to two delighful little girls. I enjoy reading - both fiction and non-fiction and antiquing - both buying and reading about different types of antiques. I am addicted to home design magazines and food TV on the satellite.

I agree with Suzannesh - keep the carbs low (I try to stay below 60) and the protein high (60 - 80 grams per day). Exercise as much as you can fit in. That is my plan to get off the last 10 pounds between me and my goal.

I, too am having dry itchy skin - no rash though. Mine is primarily on my legs fromthe knee down. I get in my Protein and Water, and take flax oil supplements - so I am attributing mine to less fat under the skin (my guess). The parts of me that still have too much fat (around my middle) don't itch.

Yes to Tylenol and its generic Acetomenephen. I take the Tylenol Arthritis for headaches and arthritis pain. No to Advil, Ibuprofen (generic Advil), Aleve or it's generic equivalents. These drugs are a group of drugs called NSAID's - non-steroidal anti-inflamatory drugs. They are hard on the stomach (even regular sized ones) and should not be taken regulary by sleeved patients. My surgeon's Physician Assistant told me (after I sprained my ankle) if I wanted to use Advil OCCASIONALLY (not routinely) after a sprain, take TUMS (several) before the Advil, and then a couple of more after the Advil. I was six months out and my incision was healed. So far, I haven't done this - stuck with the Tylenol Arthritis. Aspirin is also an NSAID - my doctor has said No to it like Advil and Aleve. I guess the coated one for occasional use (not routine use) is probably OK once your stomach is totally healed.