Sharon's last chance

T'snewstart and Livinglifeout Thank you. I am confident that I will make it to goal with the sleeve, which is something I've never felt would really happen with the many many weight loss plans and programs I have tried since about the age of eleven.

zThank you!

oops, sorry for the double post!

My profile pic is a recent picture.

Because my new stomach was not shaped like a sleeve, but rather like a figure 8 even liquids would not go through the narrow part without difficulty. That left me unable to eat enough and drink enough. I was so weak and dehydrated that I had to go back weekly to get IV fluids. My surgeon performed a total of 4 endoscopic stretches over the first 3 1/2 - 4 months. The procedure isn't fun, but its bearable. I still have trouble getting enough in, but it is much better. I'm thinking maybe one more stretch will be beneficial. They give you drugs to make you foggy, but not usually put you completely out. For my last 3 procedures the added propaphol and I was completely out. Much better for me! Its worth going through. Hope you you get goods results from the stretch.

My favorite is the ready to drink special K milk chocolate. It has 190 calories and 10 grams of protien. Not the lowest calorie or highest protien but unlike the others it actually tastes good and doesn't get poured down th he sink. I like to mix the shake with a quarter or half cup of low fat milk and a splash of coffee (cuts the sweetness).

I think honesty is the only way to go. As long as she knows that you want to date others, she can make her own decision regarding whether she wants to continue seeing you. Just be sure you are not tossing aside the prize catch just to chase after a bunch of bait fish. LOL.

You look like you never had an extra ounce on you. Amazing results. Congratulations!

In my opinion, this is where seeing a therapist is so important in preparing for this surgery. I saw a therapist for a year before I was ready for surgery. She helped me work through the reasons why I ate my way to nearly dead, helped me develop tools to deal with my food addiction, and so many other issues, problems that stood in the way of me learning to love myself and deal with my fears about the sugery. I continue to see her now. I had my surgery May 17, 2012 and despite serious complications, I consider this the second best thing I have ever done for myself. The best has to be having the courage to begin therapy. Without it , I don't believe I would would have been successful with the surgery, and don't know if I would have even had the courage to have the surgery. I lost 54 pounds pre surgery and have lost 82 pounds post surgery, for a total of 136 pounds. I plan to lose another 60 - 80 pounds and know that I will make it to my goal. Both therapy and sleeve surgery have given me back my life. I encourage you to go for it. You are worth it!

A nice treat for Hliween. Congratulations!

Walmarts jewelry counter sells a package of several size clear vinyl ring guards. At least one is quite wide and will likely work with your attached wedding/engagement rings. I believe they were $3.99. Hope this will work for you.

New Hampshire

For me this lasted for around 1 1/2 to 2 months. I did not go out a lot and when I did I always carried lots of paper towels and baggies as I just could not swallow all that saliva without getting sick. I still get the slimes if I eat too fast, too rich too dry or take one bite too many. Sleeved May 17, 2012. Have lost 122 pounds total, 54 pre-op and 68 post surgery. Have dropped 5 pants sizes from a 32 to 22 and in shirts have gone from a 4 X to a 1X or 2X depending on brand. Best of all stopped bp meds, diabetes meds, cardiac meds, some asthma meds and and Cpap machine. I can walk without back pain and severe shortness of breath. I feel better than I have in many years. I had lots of complications post surgery including damage to my airway, collapsed lung, urinary tract infection, anemiia requiring 2 units of blood and a mal formed sleeve which resulted a 9 day hospital stay. The malformed sleeve left me unable to swallow even liquids in sufficient quantities to prevent chronic severe dehydration requiring weekly trips to my surgeons ofice for IV fluids. After 4 endoscopic stretches I am doing pretty well and in spite of earlier regrets and times when I can't eat more than a couple bites and occasionally vomiting my meals, I am very happy that I had this surgery. Today I went to a fair walked more than I have in many years and didn't eat anything. I feel great about that. Sorry so long winded.

Sleeved May 17, 2012. Lost 54 pounds since surgery, 54 pounds pre surgery for a total of 108. Have dropped 4 -5pants sizes, depending on brand. So excited for the journey ahead.

I am 12 weeks out and still burping when I eat or drink or when I'm hungry. Hope it ends soon.

Ready to lose it The protien drinks I mentioned do not have any protien taste or smell. The Speclal K is a little creamy, but I wouldn't call it thick. Try a 4 pack first and if you like them you can by a larger pack at a brtter price at Walmart or evrn larger snd bettrr deal at Sams club.

I tried so many protien drink mixes and could not stand the taste or smell. I have since found two brands that are so good they are like a treat. Special K Protien shake 10 prot. 160 cal. 25 carb Love the dark chocolate, milk chocolate caramel. EAS AdvantEdge carb control 17 prot. 110 cal 10 carb my favorites are mocha something, dark chocolate and cafe caramel. They are really good, at least to me. Hope this helps. It will get better.

LT1002 This thread didn't get nasty till your second post. Responses on this site are for the most part clearly intended to help others avoid problems. Sometimes a post can be right to the point and a little tough to hear. Your response to well intended advice, which you labled as criticism was way over the top. In all your courses while pursuing a law degree I guess you missed some basic life lessons about courtesy, and manners. You are posting on a weightloss support site, not fighting your opponent in court. Anyway enjoy your diet coke.

I agree. You need to get a copy of any images they have taken of your newly formed sleeve (stomach) to ensure that they formed it properly. I think you should also ask for a complete copy of all records of your surgery and hospitalization. You obiously won't know whether the probem is just abnormal swelling or Surgical error until you get more info, but you need those records. Whatever ghe problem, sending prayers for speedy healing, peace and an excellent outcome for you.

If your having trouble sleeping on your back but not ready for side or stomach, try putting a pillow behind (under) your knees. That works for me and I haven't gone back to side sleeping. Good luck!

If your having trouble sleeping on your back but not ready for side or stomach, try putting a pillow behind (under) your knees. That works for me and I haven't gone back to side sleeping. Good luck!

By the way, I still have about 100 pounds to lose, so I still gave a long way to go. Hopefully the worst is over and I can start enjoying the health benefits of this process and getting some long awaited energy so I can actually start living this new life.

After meeting the requirements for two visits with a fherapist for the psych evaluation I continued in therapy for an entire year. I do not think I would have been succesfull with my pre-op diet (lost 50pounds in the last 3 - 4 months before surgery) and certainly wouldn't have been ready to successfully face the challenges that come with gastric sleeve surgery. My therapist helped me work through so many issues with self esteem, food addiction, emotional eating, etc. I was sleeved on May 17, 2012. I had mutiple complications during and post surgery. I am just this week able to begin eating soft foods, after undergoing 4 endoscopies where my surgeon stretched a narrow area in my funky, figure 8 shaped sleeve. In the 9 weeks since surgery I have lost an additional 46 pounds for a total of 96 pounds. Would I do it again? There were a lot of times in the last month that I tbought my answer would be no way,, but today my answer is you bet your life. Sorry this is so long but just had to tell it like is.