CowgirlJane

The main reason I went to Dr Sauceda is that I couldn't take time off to do 2-3 surgeries without spreading the work over YEARS. Doing it "jumbo" style like i did has certain increases in risk, but this particular surgeon does it alot so seems to have a very tuned "after care" to mitigate this. I did not experience pain, no wound openings, my swelling wasnt even that bad and yet recovery was very very difficult. I wasn't allowed to drive until 3 weeks post op. I was instructed to walk like a 95 year old arthritic granny ... small steps, hunched a bit, very slow.... it killed me. When my friends saw me 3-8 weeks out they were wowed by my results but quite literally "scared" about how slow i moved and how tired I was. I am a live wire that runs "hot" and so to see me moving like a slug and exhausted after a 60 minute outing ... One of my friends actually called a plastic surgeon in New York he was aquainted with because he was sure I was dying...lol. That surgeon reassured him and I did go on to have a complete recovery of course. I saw a local PS to discuss face fillers and he was very admiring of my arm scars - saying they very often widen. I bet one of the reasons mine didn't is those 6 weeks of doing NOTHING. And I mean I wasn't allowed to do anything except for slow (arthritic granny style) walking. I had my dishes set out on the counter so I didn't even have to reach for a glass of Water. My point is that I think that sometimes surgeons are overly optimistic and don't give conservative enough advice, sometimes patients dont have a choice and must go back to work early on and of course there is the "luck factor". There is only one thing I "might" do differently which is my thighs. I didn't get the long thigh lift so my lovely firm arms are not replicated on my thighs. Flip side, I don't have that long scar. For some reason, the idea of the leg scar bothered me ALOT. Anyway, give it at least 6 months post op before you decide how you feel about results. I was pleased from day one, but I was looking at some "scar" photos from 2-3 months post op and they were wicked ugly. Those same scars are scarcely visible now 16 months post plastics. The "bad" scar i have is the back point on the Lower Body Lift - I didn't open up, but the scar widened considerably and I am not sure when since I can't see that spot. The "after" pics were taken approx 6 months post op and you can see the front scar in the swimsuit. That is practically invisible now. anyway, when ever I get discouraged about my "results" I look at this. I encourage you all to take an objective look and I bet you experienced HUGE improvement too.

Denise, thinking of you today - hope the MRI goes well and they figure out how to solve this infection and get you healed up!

Yes, i am in a good space as far as body acceptance goes. I think i should get pictures now even though I don't really look different now I do think it is affirming to see it in photos, don't you? I am curious what you all think of the big increase in "articles" posted to this website. There are a few members/bloggers who have been added to the magazine staff. I have mixed feelings about this - but so far - none of them have been useful to me. Even the ones that appear to be geared at long term ... I am trying to figure out why they aren't hitting the mark with me. Any of you read them? My home updating is more along the lines of.... new flooring for main area, updating light fixtures, new kitchen countertops, new gas range/micro, removing a wall and adding a skylight. where I am stuck are the materials. I am trying to stay on a budget, do something that looks updated and comfortable, that will be an improvement not a detriment when I sell. I live on a farm, but everyone was advising me to avoid practical materials but get what sells (I won't be here more than 5 more years) - you know hardwood floors and granite countertops. Yesterday I talked to a floor installer who told me he is putting laminate floorings in multi million dollar homes as alot of people just want easy. If i go with the product he is suggesting, it will save about six grand over any decent hardwood floor. I had a low cost granite countertop guy figured out, but the guy bailed on me so i don't have a lead on that anymore. I have a plan for the appliances, wall removal and skylight. I am stuck on the cost for flooring and countertops. I want to get this DONE before summer which means I need to start soon! kickboxing last night went great but I hadn't eaten enough carbs and nearly crashed halfway through. Part of it is that when I don't share a punching stand, I go at it continually. when you have a partner, it isn't nearly as intense as you get short rests awaiting your turn. Anyway, I slept good last night and my knee is holding up well! yeah! Cathy - remind me again - what is the miracle knee product?

Jamie, what you say makes complete sense to me, but i am always interested in actual studies. What i have noticed over the years of hanging out around here (and I suspect this applies to FB groups!) is that you can get a disproportionate idea of things as - "she who posts most is heard loudest" About 2.5 years ago there was a very very very vocal woman who had a leak. She had gone to the same surgical practice as I did and blamed them. If you had read this forum at the time you would imagine that that particular center of excellence was not just incompetant but actually maliciously interested in harming people. It was astounding to me how everyone dog piled on - full of sympathy (of course) and it was a misrepresentation of how that practice operates. I would say in general, reading this sleeve forum here you hear both the best and the worst while the "average" is clearly under-represented. My point is that going by what is posted on a forum is not a balanced view.

I have never heard of this one - either in research or reading the sleeve forums for years. Is there any research about this you can point to?

I am far enough enough out I don't do too much of this anymore..but I am a terrible judge of clothing fitting me. I went to a consignment shop and the owner found a really upper end LBD that looked WAY small but it fit perfectly. I try to squeeze in small spaces at restaurants. I socialize with meetup groups and alot of people aren't necessarily obese but overweight. I feel like it is a nice thing to do to take the "squeeze" spots because I remember how humiliating that can feel- a woman dressed up and looking good but not being able to get through crowded chairs etc. Now, that doesn't embarrass me because I definitely have a skinny butt so I never feel judged whereas 50# heavier and I probably would feel judged.

Good news, I am down a few more pounds! Funny how the loss finally happened when I least expected it. I think I finally have to admit that I have modified 5:2 so far you can no longer even call it that...lol When I first did 5:2 about 1.5 years ago it worked like gangbusters for me, but even then I was a bit suspicious that it contributed to some mood issues. This round, I found I really cannot do fast days without feeling a little bad. I know this doesn't happen to everyone, but I suspect that i am more sensitive to blood sugar levels or SOMETHING. Anyway, I still use some of the techniques such as making sure that I don't eat in the evenings and delay the morning meal so I get a longer period of overnight "fast" that appears to be good for our health. I also do lower cal/carb days, normal days and then tend to allow myself a much higher day (date night sorta thing). Even so, can't really consider that 5:2 ... I will keep checking in, but I guess I need to cry uncle on this, at least for now. I am under my goal weight, but want to lose a few more to have a cushion again!

I didn't have a perfectly good stomach - mine was WAY too big and hungry all the time so I am thrilled it was reduced. It does get better... sip sip sip... dehydration is one of the most miserable feelings in the world so keep hydrated! walk walk walk... helps with gas. I slept in a recliner the first week or two. I remember coming home from the hospital and making the mistake of lying down on the bed - the only time I cried! The pain from the muscle repair/hernia repair about killed me when I engaged those ab muscles. Recliner solved THAT! Try to distract yourself because sometimes the thinking about it makes things worse. Visualize the positive, long term life improving benefits, rather than focusing on the short term discomfort. Hang in there - it really does get better!

A lower body lift is a tummy tuck plus flank// butt lift. The best way to research this is on realself . com i did not experience much pain at all. My surgeon did excellent pain management during first few days and then after that I scarcely needed anything. The hardest part of the recovery is you have to take it really easy for many weeks. And there is exhaustion. Reconstructive plastics is a big deal with an extended recovery. i was off work for 6 weeks and I feel like I needed that. My arm lift gave me incredible results that changed my whole profile. I am actually very happy with my results. good luck whatever you decide - but just do alot of research.

Congratulations! You have done great, you look amazing! I am so glad you stopped back by to say hi and give an update - seems like it was just yesterday you were embarking on your surgery!!!

5# regain is the right time to kick it back up a notch. 5# is NOT 50# and is very very doable! You got this!

I lost more than a decade. I have been obese or overweight the vast majority of my life. Rounding to the nearest 5 years - I would say I have been overweight or obese for about 40 years. It is a big adjustment, and it is still part of me but I am way more than that too. When I was younger and lost weight, I was never good enough (according to me) and that triggered/set me up for a regain - I'd be at goal for about 2 weeks and then just couldn't take it anymore and would begin the regain cycle. I don't feel that way at all anymore. I do have some sadness for the life I didnt get to live as a young woman, but you better believe I am doing everything I can to make the most of things now! Part of that is I genuinely LIKE how I look. In the past i would see that as conceited but I have become aware that I have more self love/body acceptance than many women who were never obese. I don't think I can maintain a weight loss like this without genuinely being pleased with my physical self and physical health. I am lucky that I get alot of validation, support from pals. I love my friends and they love me. I trust each and every one of them to be loving toward me and not have any other motive. I have more issues with one of my sisters who is sure i am aneorexic (yes, a 155-160# aneorexic is possible in her crazy world view...as she believes everyone needs a generous layer of fat to be healthy and look good) today, i ran to the Costco and there was a man probably about my age who was FOLLOWING me. Finally, after the 3rd time I found him staring at my body/chest I gave him a stern look and he bugged out. I think he was there with his wife.. not sure... but I guess that is another validation...haha. anyway, I think fit is hot and that's my story and I am sticking with it! Kelly - the support group in Bothell is organized by a couple of ladies here on bariatric pal. My surgeon's office has them too but i am not sure I am too motivated to go make time for that even though I am sure they would be much better. I have wondered what happened to Fiddleman and his wife. I recall he got discouraged by cross fit and then he seemed to fade away. Hopefully they are both still doing great! Okay, did you consume those Costco superbowl cubcakes? i was going to buy those for the superbowl party I went to but I tried the free sample and they were terrible I thought. It is freaky you are still noticing "remnants". I need home updating advice. Anybody here good with that crap? I like the results of a nice updated house, but have decided I have about zero interest in researching/figuring it out how to get from point A to something that looks good. i have a flooring guy coming out later this week, but there is more to be done. I had found someone/all around handyman to hire, but he flaked out on me when I didn't want to date him..... so back to the drawing board.

Okay, I lost 160+ due to sleeve and honestly considerably more than that from my lifetime high and I had kids and old stretch marks so I don't run around in a bikini as a matter of course..haha.. i burn too easily. Post plastics though I have been seen seen in a bikini a few times. I would look alot better if I had the "long" thigh lift since I still have skin on my thighs. My advice though is to not get too hung up on goals like that. Many many women look wonderful and yet feel too low confidence to wear a bikini. Plenty who have never been obese don't even have it as a goal - so don't be too hard on yourself. I am in the black and white top with black bottoms on the collage - mistake on date, the before picture was from 2011.

Research I have seen backs up what your surgeon says. i was told the same thing when I was sleeved 3 years ago - the research was perhaps less conclusive at the time but they felt 38 was a lower risk size versus alot of the 32s being done at the time. I of course have no real idea and from what i can gather technique makes alot of difference in ACTUAL functional size of the stomach. I also had the honor of having one of the larger stomachs he had removed in a woman. woo hoo. I don't know what that means even, but when you think about our bodies, I bet there ARE differences in starting size of stomachs and perhaps even length right?? I don't know a thing, but I suspect too much emphasis is put on that surgical tool.

I should mention that while I should not care about other people's opinion I really do. Problem is that I don't 100% trust my own view of me. So, my friends have been telling me (even super skinny Shawn who dresses to hide her skinniness) that I look better at this weight. Well, I decided to pick up dating again; although at times I wonder why i bother. I met someone I really like though - hot guy, my age, we had fun together out one evening. Have no idea if we will keep going out - but he said something to me that kinda stuck. He has no idea my history of obesity - nothing - we just met. He told me what an incredible body I have - his last girlfriend was in her low 30s so this is not a "for your age" comment. Anyway, I realize there was some flattery going on but it added to the ideas I already have going on which is what exactly am I trying to do here? What I do need to do is whittle down to the low 150s so i have a bounce range... but i can do that slowly and a less stressfully I hope. It was strange to see the scale dropping as i moved away from trying 5:2. I don't know why.

I think I am officially declaring 5:2 dead for me. I am down a few pounds so it is not that but I believe my theory that the low cal days contribute to mood issues and I love being med free and little anxiety. So what has been working is having 3 "light" days a week -certainly more than 500 calories. 3 normal days and one high carb day. I also try to have a true overnight fast...don't eat late and defer breakfast. I moved almost a ton of hay on Friday, one 65# bale at a time. It was hard, but I did it. Back to kickboxing. I decided I am happier weighing 157 (my weight this am) while feeling healthy, strong and fairly happy than shooting for 140# at the cost of any of that. I am going to keep whittling down so I have a comfortable buffer but the whole universe is telling me to just get over it because I haven't gone through all this to simply carry angst over some effing number that nobody seems to think I am better with. I saw my primary care doc last week and she brought up how ill I was last spring (which is how I got to 140) and to be vigilant to prevent that from happening again. It really made me reflect on what's important.

1 cup capacity is too.much at 3 weeks according to my surgeon and nut. Nerves are cut and take 6-8 weeks to heal. I was advised to measure and eat by the clock not hunger those first 2 months. My restriction improved with time. Having said that the sleeve is not as tight of restriction as the band. Less likely to not tolerate or food.

What the last page of posts tells me is that time off and recovery is under estimated. I took a full 6 weeks off before returning to a desk job! I know not everyone has that luxury but I think increased risk of some follow on issues if you overdo it. I was cleared to stop wearing compression at 6 weeks (i THINK ) but I wore stage 2 bottoms for 2 months more. I felt insecure working out, riding horses without them. Also helped keep swelling in Check.

I went to the local bariatric pal support meeting. There were 6 ladies..all preop or complete newbies. I liked them all except an elderly bypass patient who was insufferable. You know...8 weeks out,lost 40# so know EVERYTHING. I know I am insufferable at times but this was just too much. I was hoping it was more of a mix of experience, but this group was talking protein powder basics. The worst part... we started at 3 and I needed to leave at 3:40.. much of that first 40 minutes was ranting and calling the police on someone who parked in the handicap space. On my way out, a young lady, must be near 375-400#, with a failed band asked for my number...she wants to talk and learn and that wasn't happening at the meeting for sure. My heart goes out to her...She is articulate,smart, pretty, well groomed and cannot figure out how she got so huge after WLS. I can relate.. damn lapband! She is the kind of person that I feel so much compassion for, like the sky is the limit. You don't have to get skinny..if she could drop 200# she'd still be overweight but I bet a knock out - both looks wise and force of personality! This is my second ever WLS support group and a reminder why I don't go to them...sigh

Denise, I am so sorry you are still going through this...quite an ordeal. I can only imagine how awful you feel...but don't ever think weighing 143 is bad! I am only 2" taller than you, weigh upper 150s and I swear get more compliments at this weight than thinner. I am sure you look fabulous, focus on healing!!! And I agree, enough of this crap-time to get the infection solved! Hang in there.

I have gotten hot , sexy , live wire, gorgeous and my personal favorite. ..skinny bitch (from dear friend. .totally a compliment ) yes it's shallow but it's my turn to enjoy it damnit! I actually have changed since losing weight so I can't fault people on that one. My tolerance for bull is low my drive for positive, grab life by the horns stuff is high. Yeah..I changed

I am genuinely not following the point. the web is full of weird stuff, good stuff, dumb stuff, helpful stuff, hateful stuff, inaccurate stuff... I could go on and on. One observation from the photos is that I am fairly fit, but when I look at those photos, i think my body appearance more closely matches the "average" with a little influence of atheletic as I have well defined shoulders and calves. Maybe it is due to my age and obesity history - but i don't think I would ever look like the "fit" or "athletic" photo no matter how hard i trained. Oh, and on the guys - my personal tastes would run halfway between "othermode" and "athletic". see - now we are talking!

Well, just to be clear - I don't miss a damn thing about being fat. It was horrible - more horrible than I even realized during the DECADES I endured it. What I was mentioning were more the "adjustments" that I probably under estimated!

Great links. This study of nearly ten thousand sleevers showed same weight loss result 3 years out whether under or over 40 bougie. Larger bougies showed decrease in risk of leaks. Mine was 38 I think. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23023201

I didn't realize how much I used my body weight and had to relearn. There was a time when large heavy doors were kicking my ass.... I was missing having weight to throw around. What I feared a little, way underestimated, I should have feaded alot was missing my protective fatsuit. After losing so much I was feeling uncomfortable in my new body. I am feeling good now but I went through a phase where I felt like people were looking at me. I felt like I looked, dressed, acted "wrong" or perhaps I felt unrecognizable even to myself. At the same time I felt beautiful and thrilled with my new healthy fit body. It was a headtrip. I recall a counselor saying how I was so comfortable in my skin but that was not the case out in public. I am so glad to have that weirdness behind me.