Dooter

Hey all- My husband just got a serious job offer from a guy in Tampa. I can not pull up much on Tampa in the way of what suburban life is like around there, or what parts of the area are more desirable than others.... can you all give me any insight? You can PM me if you have a lot to say, or right here is fine if the OP does not mind.... I live in the desert right now....the thought of this is a little overwhelming....

VERY NICE!!! I was happy to get out of the "super obese" category into just "morbidly obese." OH HAPPY DAY!! hahaha!! Congratulations! How long did this take so far?

Well...I don't know much about you Izuri, and you've got no picture up (!!!) but you've got an interesting tattoo that I'm still trying to figure out, and you are always encouraging of my posts, even when i'm blathering on! You seem to be doing very well, and you're learning a lot from people on this site. Keep up the good work!

YOu're funny Kathy!

See? I had to get my two cents in here, too!

Yes, the more you post, the more dots you get. It stops after so many, otherwise I'd have a column of them growing out of control, as I run my mouth on here a lot. Or...burn up the keyboard...whatever....

Ok....unless you ate like....a BAZILLION calories yesterday....it's likely just a little bounce from fluid retention. That's a regular part of my whole loss pattern. there's always a 1-3 lb bounce from fluids, then I go back down past my lowest weight. If you're doing everything right, it WILL work the way it's supposed to. No worries, k?

Dr. David Kim in Dallas Texas. I research lots of surgeons and I just kept going back to him. Center of Excellence also, and his leak rate is .01%, whereas the national average is 1%. I liked that a LOT!! www.drdkim.net

I was told to wait two weeks, and I did that easily (mostly because my husband was 800 miles away for most of that), as I did not exactly feel......sexy..... 7 months later, however, is a WHOLE "'nother" story!!!

My doc said he uses a scope to size the sleeve also, and he told me it is equivalent to a 34 bougie. I also feel like I could hold a lot early on, and still do but he still says to stay with 1/2 cup of food at any one time. Eat slowly and rely on the full feeling. It's hard to do, but you will otherwise end up eating too much.

Fat always triggered mine. Not every time at first. The attacks were spread out by months, then at the end, they happened every time I ate so much as a gram of fat. (or so it seemed). It felt like I was being stabbed below the sternum with a very large dagger and said dagger was being twisted continuously. It is a pain that FAR surpasses childbirth. ("IMO") Throwing up usually stopped it, but again....not near the end. NOTHING helped then. Just surgery. I hope yours don't speed up!!

Many many people on here have had wonderful experiences with Mexican surgeons, and would be glad to council you in this area. My biggest concern in this, is how does an American hold these docs accountable if something does go wrong once you're home? They can hang up the phone and pretend like they've never heard of you. Is there, indeed, any legal recourse in that situation? I ask because I am uneducated on this matter, but it's one that I think you should find the answer to if you are considering surgery in Mexico. Before I get flamed- let me be clear: I am NOT knocking Mexican surgeons. I'm am merely questioning legal matters.....

I have been using SF hard candies since the pre op diet, and let me tell you, they have SAVED my butt!! NOTE: I did NOT use them post op for about six weeks, just in case I swallowed them! They have kept me sane on days when my calories are used up for the most part and my mouth is "bored." I'll usually get SF werther's or SF Jolly Ranchers, or SF lifesavers. My loss has not been hindered in the least by them.

Hi! I started at 349. Sleeved in February, and now down to 258 as of today! 91 pounds, and very thrilled at how life has changed. I've often worried that I will never really get as low as I want to, but I think it's all me. I don't think the sleeve limits us as much as the statistics will say. I think our mind and body can accomplish more than they ever thought possible.... If I want to see bones poking out through my rib cage, I think I can do that!!

Ok.... If it helps you!! The first one is me at 349, the second is me last week or so at...263-ish. I'm now at 259. I have a skewed view of it, personally. I think "well...there really isn't that much difference yet.." SMH at myself! I just realized what a blurry, terrible picture that is, and my hair is wet and standing up! hahaha!

My highest weight was 2 weeks before surgery when I started the liquid diet. (food funerals ya know...) so I figure I would not have done the two week liquid diet if i were not going to get surgery, so I lump it all in together. I only lost 15 lbs on the pre op diet anyway...so...there you have it. 90 lbs from highest weight of 349. (YIKES)

I know EXACTLY what you're feeling!! I was away from home- hubby couldn't come with me- I have three boys to be around for- I was scared to death!!! Seven months later, I'm here to tell you it's been a dream! I'm down 90 pounds, I've not thrown up once since the hospital, my diet progression has gone....a little TOO well. statistics are on your side. Depending on the state of your health and where it's going....worth the risk. Even the worst stories I've seen on here do eventually resolve favorably. You will do great! Keep us posted!! Do me a favor though-- PLEASE follow EVERY order your doctor or nutritionist gives you!!!! And remember-- YOU do the work. NOt the sleeve. Sleevie makes the work infinitely easier, but it's all YOU!!! GO GET YOURS!!

OH ME TOO!! ME TOO!! I had that on my status one day in fact. I don't really have that issue (yet?) But I HATE that drawing!! IT's just.....disturbing!!!! BLEH!

Hmmm....I notice we're both Dr. Kim patients too! He uses the endoscope to size the sleeve, which is equivalent to a 34 bougie, which is very small....so it's weird that I can hold so much and that we're both so hungry.... I've heard that maybe I have a "long" stomach??