kyllfalcon

Staples?? Didn't have any! Just 5 tiny incisions with some kinda sticky stuff on them.

food density will determine in large part how much you can eat. I seem to be able to eat more than most folks, must have a fairly long stomach, and here's how I landed: I can eat an entire tuna salad or pimento cheese sandwich, with the two slices of wheat or rye bread lightly toasted. No way I could eat an entire cheeseburger on a soft white bun with fixins. I can eat an entire cheeseburger patty by itself, if it's of reasonable size and thickness. I can eat one and a half slices of thin crust cheese pizza. I can barely finish one slice of thin crust loaded pizza. I cannot eat an entire slice of pan pizza regardless of what's on it. I can eat about 10 - 12 large steamed shrimp. But I can eat only 2 - 3 oz of filet mignon, and not one bite of anything else at that meal. Seems to be no limit on crunchy foods such as chips and popcorn. Fortunately, they are not my weakness. I can eat an entire doughnut or pastry, and normal sized slices of cake and pie. Unfortunately, they ARE my weakness.

Was it Erma Bombeck who said that her upper arms have a mind of their own? Or was it Bette Midler? Anyway, mine have totally lost their minds!

I've been eating nuts since just a few weeks out. I eat two servings every day, even now at goal. They have good protein and high fiber. I get unsalted so mine are low sodium. Best part - they required some serious chewing!

Can't address what's in the shots, but my surgeon told me the day he released me from the hospital that the human body can only process about 20 grams of protein at a time. He discouraged taking in more.

O. M. G.

I agree with the previous posters. The most profound effect for me was instant freezing, whereas I had been so hot-natured before. I started shivering the day I got out of the hopsital. I am gradually getting better and body temp regulation is returning to a more normal state. Meanwhile, I have never lost the hunger sensation. Yes, I know folks say certain stomach meds help with excess acid which mimics hunger, but I've tried the maximum dose of all of them and I am just plain hungry. food is the only thing that fixes it. Not a year out yet, but so far my health is greatly improved. I fought off a cold much quicker than normal and it was not as severe as usual. I feel absolutely great. Whatever loss there was for me due to decreased ghrelin (not total removal) has been offset by overall improvement in health.

I don't know if there are any folks on this forum who have had plication, but there is a sister forum for that procedure: sleeveplicationtalk.com

I am a Human Resources professional, the Senior Vice President of Human Resources in a large mulit-bank holding company. I have been sleeved. I am in charge of our benefits programs. Our insurance did and does not cover bariatric surgery of any kind, like yours. I, too, think it should. I of course because of my position did not push to get it covered in time for my surgery because it would appear to be self-serving. And now that I have been sleeved, and have been successful at losing the weight and improving my health, I want and need to push to get the door opened for others. I do so totally appreciate what you are doing and agree with your strategy and your supporting facts. Would you mind if I borrow some of your verbiage and facts? I intend also to point out to the powers above me (the Board of Directors) that we pay for treatment for other self-inflected conditions. Examples would be lung cancer from smoking, skin cancer from sun exposure, cirrhosis due to drinking, gunshot wounds to the head... well, you get the picture. I made a pitch to the CEO but he did not permit me to put it before the Board, even though he knows I had the surgery and sees my success. I intend to retire in 1.5 years, so I will put it before the Board without his permission at next opportunity. What's he gonna do? Fire me? So what if he does? I'm on my way out the door anyway. I have nothing to lose and everything to gain. It may be my last great hurrah! Please, let me know how your plan works! I am very interested. Good luck.

Ha! I ate meals plus snacked all day! This may actually be perfect for you. Let me share how I eat. I have eaten this way since I was permitted solid foods and continue to after reaching goal. out of bed - coffee with non-dairy creamer 2 hours later - Breakfast 2 hours later - nut snack 1 hour later - veggies and dip 1 hour later - lunch 2 hours later - cheese snack 1 hour later - another nut snack 1 hour later - another cheese snack 2 hours later - dinner All the while, I drink sugar-free liquids all day. Of course, the contents of all these eating sessions has evolved over the months to goal, but I continue to eat at the same times. It just works for me, and it might for you. Good luck!

Yes, food is still enjoyable. I have to work at the eating out thing because I have a tendency to eat fast, then I'm finished too soon. I have to make a focused effort to slow down. And best of all for me is that I still LOVE to cook and bake for others, whether I can or will eat it or not. I worried about that, because wife, mother and grandmother is who I am.

YAY!! I totally know where you're coming from!!

And if you didn't have that belly roll you might be much closer to goal! Go on for the consult, whadya got to lose?

I still obsess. I am giddy with happiness, but I still obsess. I come to this forum countless times every day because I obsess. At least now I'm obsessing with success instead of failure!! Newly at goal, I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around what I see. Today a coworker took a picture of me on his new phone, to set me up as a contact. I was shocked at the gaunt face! I didn't realize my face looked so thin now (older picture in avatar, had lost a lot, but not at goal when the picture was made). And Monday, I went shopping for new bras, hopefully last downsizing I'll have to do, but in the dressing room I couldn't concentrate on the bras. I kept looking at my pants. Just a year ago one thigh was almost as big around as my entire lower body is now. Not really, in inches, but I just couldn't quit staring in the 3-way mirror at those slim brown pants... saleslady kept pestering me, I just wanted to keep looking... from 3X to M/12. Think I'll take a new picture of myself... There, new picture posted.

Why dread it? It's EASY and painless. And it's great information to have! Mine tested very high both before surgery and at goal. I'm having a hard time taking in enough calories to maintain, believe it or not.

Me some!!! You look MAHVELOUS!!!

Dawn, it will get better. We've all said that. No, I have not one regret. Wish I had done it sooner. Would spend the time, money and effort again today if I had to. Like a previous poster, I lost weight easily and rapidly, and got to goal so quickly it stunned me. I know I was very lucky in that respect. Hang in there, it will be fine soon.

Oh, mercy. I have suffered from RLS on and off since my first pregnancy, and I am 60 now. At first I experienced it only during pregnancies, then in my mid-30's it returned and has never left, getting worse every year. I have tried every home remedy and every prescription drug on the market. I currently take a low dose of a Parkinson's medicine. The problem with these drugs is that they work well for a period of time, then they lose their effectiveness, or cause conditions known as augmentation or rebound effect, where they symptoms worsen, come on earlier in the day, or begin affecting other areas such as the arms. I've had all those side effects. I have noticed over the decades that having any type of pain or inflammation in the lower extremities worsens the condition in that extremity, such as arthritis, an injury, or a surgical site. I do get it in both legs, usually one or the other, and very rarely, in both. Sitting brings it on for me, and the only relief is to get up. My worst nightmare is an all-day meeting. By 2:00 I am kicking my neighbors, literally. I don't just have the urge to move my legs, they involuntarily jump about. I had hoped against hope that a drastic weight loss would help, but it did not at all. Can't say why you are having this now, may be purely coincidental to the surgery, maybe not. If you are young and sexually active, beware the prescription drugs. They can put you out of business, if you know what I mean... At my age, I opted to take the drugs as that part of my life isn't as important as it used to be, and because my symptoms are so severe that quality of life was seriously affected. The tendency does seem to be hereditary. Both my adult sons get it, one seriously enough that he is on the same drugs that I am. Good luck, friend. Hopefully it will pass soon.

Geez!! All THAT was in there?? I missed every last bit of it... sigh...

Sleeved in March of 2012 at age 59. No complications, great success. Go for it!

I try not to jump in on such remarks, but really? This has nothing to do with self-pay!! Regardless of whether one is self-pay or covered by insurance, they need education, a support system and to particpate in their own recovery...

Somewhat off track... but I was self-pay and was thoroughly educated and had to do everything the insured had to do, including all the medical tests and psych exam, except the lengthy supervised diet.

Gorgeous - a natural beauty! How can you not see? You appear to be half the woman you used to be! (I LOVE the colors you wear!)

Dang (said in my best Kentucky aksient)... I always miss the true meaning of movies. I had no idea that's what The Princess Bride was all about... I just never get it... symbolism, metaphor, all that... Loved the movie anyway.

Funny about popcorn, never ate it prior to surgery. Husband would sit over there and eat a whole microwave bag by himself. Then, post op, it smelled really good!! And I, like so many others who posted here, can eat a ton of it now, with no ill effects. Sooo, only on Saturday nights, I eat popcorn with my sweetie. I measure out two cups of popped kernals, and sweetie eats the rest. Just because it CAN go down doesn't mean it SHOULD. Oh, and I do not use butter. Don't need that greasy stuff.