Norma

Hi, Tiff! I also don't get on this site much. You are looking fantastic. My left knee is all healed up but the right one is bone on bone --trying to avoid another knee replacement surgery for at least a year. I have lost 106 lbs now. I, too, do not worry in the least about food anymore, can eat what I want although I don't have much appitite for sweets or rice and bread. I did not get to start on the exercise kick until the last couple of months due to the kidney surgery and the knee surgery, but am in the gym about 3x a week for cardio. I am almost at 1 year post-op now, So much more healthier and thus more active, still run into people who don't recognize until they hear my voice which still pleases me to the max. I am hoping to lose about 40-50 more lbs and I do have sagging skin but I am 51 and had been obese for 45 years too. Glad to see you--will have to check out the book.

Hi all, I haven't been on this site forever. Count me in for one very satisfied Aceves patient. I am down 106 lbs and almost off insulin completely. Dr Aceves and Dr Campos are the best doctors I have ever had and the hospital experience was the best as well--which is saying a lot because I have had 17 ear surgeries, colon surgery, 2 knee surgeries, deviated septum repair, 3 hospitalizations for pneumonia and probably some other things that I can't remember now in my 51 years of life.

I have lost the first 100 lbs and now working on another 60 0r 80. I am exercising for at least 1 hour a day on weight lifting and cardio. the loose skin is really sagging and i hope to tone up some, but if not I will have plastic surgery done in about a year or two.

Hi all, I am 7 1/2 months out and have had kidney stones surgery and full right knee replacement surgery since my sleeve surgery, both of which kept me out of the gym for awhile. However, I have lost about 97 lbs and am wearing 18 slacks and xl shirts. My knee is healing and so I have been doing cardio 6 days a week for the last 5 weeks. No issues with food other than rice expands too much in my stomach and bread is too filling. I feel great and my diabetes is much improved.

I had quick response to needing less insulin. I am off Byetta and Lantus since the day after surgery. I still take Novolog but am using less than 10 units a day.

WildIris, How you will respond to weight loss is going to be result of how you have learned to relate to food and what not having that same relationship with food/mealtime/ textures and comfort food available to you for the first 6 months or so like it was. If food and meal planning were very time consuming for you prior to surgery and you are no longer hungry (like my experience) you will have to seek out other ways to occupy your time. My fat friends found my quick weightloss and lack of being able to/interest in food threatening. I had some resistance from them of being supportive or including me in things that was surprising. I had to deal with mealtime not having the same appeal to me and my own judgements that people were eating way too much or all the wrong foods. I had to adjust my thinking regarding going out to eat as I didn't like paying for so much food and don't like leftovers so unless someone was along with whom I could share a serving, I considered eating out too expensive and wasteful. I have lost 92 lbs in 6 months and have never really started regular exercise as I have had knee replacement surgery, a death in the family and kidney stone surgery in that time frame. I have a therapist that I see about every 3 or 4 weeks--we have discussed how people relate to me differently now that I have lost weight, my adjustment to the lessening of importance of food, the overall improvement of my health. The only time that my history of depression returned was right after the knee replacement surgery when I was having trouble with pain management and unable to work for 8 weeks. So, all of this to say that I think it is a good idea for you to contact your therapist prior to surgery to check in and evaluate what might be your trouble spots on the journey and be mindful after surgery that meds might need to be adjusted for your smaller body size. I believe that you will be able to manage your bipolar issues well if you watch for your trigger signs.

We both got the Vertical Sleeve, Mine was Oct 30, 009 and I have lost 80+ pounds since then. I only weigh on the 30th of the month so will weigh again the last day of Feb. I have gone from size 28 and 30 to size 18/20. My diabetes has improved dramatically--only taking 5 units of Novolog 2x a day now. I had unexpected total knee replacement surgery on right knee on Dec 15th as my knee finally blew backwards and had no stability. However, I am thrilled that the weight loss from the sleeve has helped so much with my knee recovery. I am now able to do cardio exercise and hope to be released from physical therapy soon. I bleieve that Dr. Aceves saved my life with his excellent surgery skills by finally allowing me to get a grip on how I use food in my life. I am never hungry and have lost my raging sweet tooth. I was able to fund the $9000 through flex spend and cutting expenses by moving in with friends. Since surgery, I can eat from the appetizer menus when out to eat or will get a side item and share an entree with my friends. I utilized the clothing exchange here on VST so have not had to buy more than underwear, shoes and a new winter coat. My food costs are less than 1/5 of what I used to spend. My pharmacy costs have also been reduced by 70%. Best decision I ever made in my life was going to Mexico and getting the sleeve.