LilMissDiva Irene

I'm in exactly the same stance as TexasT. I also had the lap band and my hunger was unreal. I would eat, it would either get stuck or I'd feel "full" but I would STILL be hungry. Yes it was REAL hunger too, so I don't want any feedback saying it was all in my head. I know the difference. Anyway good luck to you in whatever surgery you choose. I hope it works out for you, really. However FOR ME and my sleeve, we will do excellent. My hunger is nearly 100% gone. That is no myth.

Cherise, great job!! There are lots of ways for us to measure our success... the scale is not the only one. Look how awesome you've done - wearing your smaller clothes whoot!! Labrys, applause on the weight loss!!!! You go girl!! You know that's funny you mention the root canal. I had to have one a few weeks out too. All of my teeth felt like they were on fire... how weird huh? The pain is gone now, but I just wondered why that was. I think it was the malnutrition really. As for me, this weeks plusses are I also have started to fit into my smaller clothes! What a huge motivator! Yay!! I am also now less than 100 Lbs to my goal weight. I'm getting there! How is everyone else doing?? Check in you sizzling hot september sleevers!!

Thanks everyone! You're the reasons why it makes it so great to even try! You all are my inspiration. Daisy, you have been trying to convince me to dump the band and try this instead for a very long time. For that I say THANK YOU!!! I cannot tell you how glad I am that I took your advice! Lily, it hasn't been all roses and rainbows for me, but I wouldn't trade in the tough times for the good times! NO way, not for a second! Darma, the time will fly by. Please keep me posted! I love to follow along on others progress. Keeps me being good too! Juliah, I have known about it for awhile, but didn't before I was banded. I wish I had done my research - I do believe I would have done this from the start. It's a long story but my insurance only covered the band and RNY - so I went with the band. Though I did kind of get a head start with it, so it wasn't all useless. Every moment in my life has a meaning, and my band had its reasons for being in my life. And I'm so happy for you! It's so fun, isn't it - bagging up all the old clothes and looking for new ones? heeehheee Labrys, thanks! It will be nice doing this along side you!

I did have some yogurt on my full liquids stage... however it was kind of a shock. Just take it easy with any new phase you're going through and be patient with yourself. I would wait a while on blending up chickens in soups, etc. until you know you are doing really well with your fuller liquids. Just take tiny tiny bites, and wait a few minutes between each bite too. Listen to your stomach to see its response. You'll get there!

Then you will DEFINITELY do fantastic with this surgery!

Thank you sooo much sleeve sisters! I really couldn't do it without you all. You are the only ones who "understand" what I'm feeling because you all have been there - and some of you will be soon! :-)

Thanks ladies! @Dansha- whoohooo!!! That's awesome! Getting smaller clothes is so great. It just makes my day... lol You sister are doing amazing!! Keep it up, you are such a great motivator for me!! @StaySea! Take it and run girl! Any way we can get motivation, that's what I'm about. Kids are sooo funny, their candor is so sweet. You know their innocence means no harm, and what they told you was from the heart. Huge motivator!!!!

I don't believe every surgeon practices this, but mine does.

Whooootttt!!! You go girl!!! Great job!

oH KKB, I'm so sad to hear of your terrible troubles! I pray that you heal up fast! So far so good for me, so I really don't have much advice to offer, only my support. Hugs!!!! Please check in and let us know how your doing!

Mary AWESOME!!!! You are on your way lady! Ok so this week I am gonna get back to my workouts big time. I'm going to start adding in 20-25 Minutes of elliptical or stationary bike. I'm back up to 2 miles or more walking 6 days per week (WHOOT!!) and my calisthenics for 30 Minutes 3x per week. Let's do this!!!!

Awesome Congrats!!

Yes, I know which thread your talking about. I don't know if she's recovered or not, there hasn't been any kind of update on her situation. However, just keep in mind she did not have the same surgery as the "VSG". She had the TVGP... which is a much newer procedure. VSG's have been performed for many many years. First was used to remove the stomach for reasons such as stomach cancer, then as a first part surgery for the Duodenal Switch. It's only considered newer because they are going based on the fact it is new as a "stand alone" bariatric surgery. Apparently with her Gastric Plication surgery her stomach must have been wrongly punctured. The reason I know this is because you don't incise the stomach for the Gastric Plication. Don't get me wrong, you can get leaks with the sleeve, for sure. Hopefully your surgeon will do several leak tests before you leave the hospital. From there just be sure to follow all the post op eating plans to a T... that will help in the healing of your tummy and help prevent leaks down the line.

Vicki, no it is not a normal "full" feeling. However if it changes over a period of time I do not know, I'm only a month out. The good thing though, it's not the same kind of full feeling as the band - that is if you are asking if you feel stuck but are still hungry? I know I felt that every single time with my band. It's more a "stuffed" feeling. You achieve this feeling on only a few bites of food, but that's what we get the surgery for, am I right in this assumption? I hear you can eat considerably more as the months go by, but right now for me it's very quick to get there. IMPO, the sleeve is far better than the band for the simple fact you aren't hungry. I think that is a major flaw with the band surgery. I hope this helps.

They are called Sandwich Thins and are either made by Oroweat or Arnold - I guess depending on where you live. They really are very good, and I'll be eating these once again when I can start eating breads.

BBJ and myself had the same exact experience going under. That makes perfect sense too since we had the same Surgeon. Really, I mean everything happened so darn fast I really didn't even have time to think. I remember though once they plopped my big butt on the OR table, looking up at the bright lights and thinking... here we go... again. After that all I remember was being pushed over for the spinal, then waking up feeling super sleepy. But that is no different than any of my other surgical experiences.

Agreed. The first weeks out of surgery and while your tummy is still healing, along with moving up in the consistency of food - you are likely to eat more meals throughout the day because your meals will be so tiny. *Whew* breathe now, that was one long winded sentence! LOL Anyway, I'm talking barely a few bites, then waiting 5 minutes for another few bites. I do try not to eat for more than 30 minutes though. However I will go longer if I know I am below the curb for my Protein grams are concerned. I do this and I surely don't feel bad about it at all. I think we have to be careful with not making ourselves feel like failures, especially so soon out. I have always found that type of mentality was deadly to me and was my escape into "giving up". Well I did this, and what's done is done. There's no way I can give up now. That part of my stomach has been removed forever, and all I can do now is work it. I think you're doing fine Ericka, I say relax a little bit and let yourself heal. Once your able to eat larger meals, then worry about stopping the in between meals.

Oh fun! This is an excellent thread idea. J 10. I want to be thin, and being thin does feel so incredible! 9. I want to like what I look like in pictures again. 8. I want to feel comfortable going anywhere and everywhere without feeling like the fat girl walking around. 7. I only want to eat as much as my body needs, and NO MORE!! 6. I want to make it more fun and easy to do my workouts. Right now it’s really tough moving around, and I do love a good, hard workout. 5. My Knees and Bones are crying out. 4. I want to be a Mother someday, and I want to be as healthy as possible during my pregnancies. I also want to be able to be strong enough to run after my little ones! I will be an older mother when this happens. At least I’ll have energy enough! 3. I want to live a long, healthy life! 2. I would like to cure my High Blood Pressure someday. And the #1 Reason Is: 1. I loooove to shop for clothes, but right now I hate how I look in them. I want to feel sexy and Goddess like in my ‘fits again. Whooooot!!

Oh I see... and yes he charges over 17,000 for his sleeve. I can see why that would be a problem.

IMO 600 Calories is a bit ridiculously low. For a nutritionist to suggest you do this and get in all that Protein is almost impossible. For me, I lose incredibly well with about 1,000 to 1,200 calories per day. I will work myself up to about 1,200 once I'm back to my normal workout routine. I can lose about 3-5 Lbs per week doing this. I now have less than 100 Lbs to go so I can achieve my goal by my first Sleeversary or much sooner. In fact, I can even eat up to 1,800 calories per day and still lose. My vigorous workouts help a lot. Also it has been proven that fluctuating your caloric intake is very helpful too. So one week I can do 1,000 calories and the next I can do 1,200... etc - it keeps your body and metabolism guessing. The stalls due to your metabolism relying on what you are feeding it is real. I know! I've been doing this a VERY long time!

This has been mentioned here before. He used to be partners with Dr. Cirangle at LapSF. From what I understand he is starting up his own private practice, and is not being sued. However this is only 2nd hand information. Dr. Cirangle is one of the most experienced sleeve surgeons in the world with a very small amount of incidence. You can either go with Dr. Cirangle at LapSF or you can wait around until Jossart has his information ready available. Since you mentioned you need this done right away, you may want to consider Dr. Cirangle. He does have monthly Seminars and you might want to check one out. Good luck!