It's all new

Looking great! And the difference between hiding your body in all black versus flaunting your curves in bright yellow is fantastic too!

I would rate the pain a 2. I took the pain meds for three days as my surgeon asked - he wants his patients to take them just in case. I'm not sure that I needed them, but I was definitely comfortable. I had no gas pain, my only discomfort was just the soreness from having my stomach pulled through my belly button - lol. I supposedly set a record for walking more after surgery than any other patient they had previously seen - I heard so much about it that I pretty much jumped up as soon as I was awake and took lap after lap around the surgical center throughout the evening and even many times in the middle of the night that night.

I am 7.5 months out and over the last month have been experiencing worsening reflux. It is really bad. I take Prevacid three times per day. (It is usually meant to be taken once daily). At night when I lie down to go to sleep I prop myself up on several pillows, but the reflux is so bad I still choke on it - literally wake myself up gagging on acid. I am getting in to the surgeon tomorrow after finally deciding to call - they said come in right away. But has this happened to anyone else? Is it a sign of anything in particular? Are there solutions?

The doc said even before the barium swallow that because I have tried just about every PPI as well as Prevacid three times per day and get no relief it is a mechanical issue. He indicated that when no amount of PPIs or acid meds make a difference that it is usually something like a stricture. so, it seems to be mild and that counts for a lot.

When scar tissue forms where your esophagus and sleeve meet it causes a stricture, or abnormal narrowing of the passage from the esophagus to the stomach. Mild as in, less than moderate or severe.

Well, in case someone checks this thread down the line it turns out to be a mild stricture.

I have been told that taking geritol is easier on the stomach. My tummy doesn't tolerate iron whatsoever, I ended up with a 6-7 hour iron infusion - I felt fantastic within a month. This was after 9 months of pretty significant anemia, they did my surgery while I was anemic.

Turns out to be a be a mild stricture. Bummer.

You are looking hot, hot, hot! Fantastic.

I just searched "lil miss divas boot camp" and the instructions were in the first response to the OP.

Thank you! I feel like a new person.

I am 7.5 months out. I can't wait until tomorrow - I am going back on Lil Miss Diva's Boot Camp, which is a great way to eat for 5 days. I know it will get me back on track and feeling good! In the past I would have dreaded giving up "treats", now I can't wait to get Christmas out of the way.

Sorry, double posted!

Sannah - I hope your leak quickly improves and you are feeling better soon!

I was sleeved in May of this year. No doubt, the best decision I have ever made for my health and happiness. Getting the results I wanted for my weight and fitness took more work than I expected. I had an idea that it would happen very naturally as the result of having a smaller stomach... silly girl! VST was a major source of information for me in the early days, and without some of the information I learned here I would have been lost. MyFitnessPal is an important part of my daily life, both the community and the weight loss and fitness tracking. I started at 255 on my pre-op diet, May 3. Had surgery May 10 at 245. Currently at 145. (I am 5' 6").

Sex after losing the excess weight is infinitely better, as far as I am concerned. Yes, I have loose skin. But as far as participating fully, that counts for a lot. I see nothing wrong with waiting for marriage. I would imagine you have had conversations about his views on sexuality and feel you will be compatible. It wouldn't be for me - but it takes all kinds!

My experience with extensions was that they were very, very hard on my hair. I have thinner, fragile hair so I think that was part of it. I don't recommend getting extensions for that reason. I was lucky and had no additional thinning from the sleeve - it would have been a disaster! I didnt take zinc, Biotin, or use special shampoo, and i have plenty of stress. It seems to be a matter of luck. I just cut my hair off and it looks SO much thicker it is amazing. It turned out to be the best solution for me.

Yes, it gets better. Your tummy is telling you it isnt ready for the mashed potatoes. Listen to it. You need something thinner. In a day or two, try a bite, see if you are ready to progress. But give that tummy a rest!

Thanks! My goal was 500-600 calories the first few months. As soon as I was cleared for exercise I started with a trainer twice weekly and did cardio on four additional days for an hour each day - walking and elliptical primarily. Around the 5th month I increased my goal to 700 calories. By then I had worked up my fitness level and was aiming for between 1-3 hours of exercise per day, averaging 2 hours I would guess - with a day off each week (or more if my schedule demanded). I still focused on elliptical, strength training, and treadmill. Most days I split my workout into a morning and evening session. At the seventh month I increased my goal to 900 calories to help sustain my workouts. Initially I tried to keep my carbs below 20, the next stage below 30, and eventually around 50 with days that were higher if I planned on hitting 900 calories. With Protein I aimed for 70 or so until I got to 900 calories and then increased my goal to 85- some people aim higher, but as I only have one kidney I am not supposed to. With fat my limit was around 25 grams maybe even 30. I tailored how much fat i had to the number of calories i could still eat that day, often having 1/2-1 oz of cheese towards the end of the day, when I was out of carbs but wanted a "treat". There were days when I didn't have it totally together - don't get me wrong. But this was my general plan and I pretty much stuck to it.

Thanks everybody! I really appreciate your kind words. I am very happy with my results so far. I will say, I am enjoying shopping a bit too much these days!

Smoking hot! What a transformation. I know you feel great and you look great too. Congrats on the work you put into it and your dedication.

I am 5'6", 145 lbs. I wear mostly medium tops, some large and VERY occasionally small. I wear mostly size 6 pants, sometimes 4 or 8. It's amazing how much sizes vary!!

I think it was very generous of you to make such a detailed list. I do want to mention that hair care isn't something that everyone will need, so for others please don't automatically assume you will have this expense. I have had no additional costs in this area, never took zinc or Biotin (as my doc had not told me it was necessary) and had virtually no hair loss. Maybe I shed a bit more than usual - but not much. And I've lost 110 lbs in about 7.5 months - currently at 145. I would think that would have made me a prime candidate for hair loss, and it didn't happen. Nothing wrong with prevention, but it's expensive and debatable as to whether it will help. If it helps you feel better you are doing something about it, and you have the finances... why not. Also, I initially spent a huge amount on all sorts of Bariatric Advantage Vitamins, just to find out after surgery I couldn't tolerate them. So, I take gummy vitamins from costco. Cheap, cheap, cheap. My Vitamin levels have all been fine so far - if farther out i have problems I will have to switch to a more "serious" vitamin. Also, my doc had me swallowing pills the night after my surgery - not crushed, regular sized pills. All my worry about needing liquids, needing chewables, crushing - unnecessary. Of course each doc has a different approach to that issue. In any case, my advice is that whatever you get pre-surgery, buy very limited quantities. And somehow when I first posted I missed that you just had your surgery! I hope it was a huge success! Congrats on a new you.

Search "Help! 9 Months Out And Problem Need Info Not Encouragement?". Scroll into the first reply to the OP and you will find the directions to the boot camp. I'm just finished with day 4 out of 5 - weight has gone from 150.4-146.6 in the first three days, looking forward to weighing tomorrow and Friday.