mistiblu

So glad Donna for the good report, you guys have been in my thoughts/ prayers. Please continue to keep us updated...

Glad to finally hear from you, praying for a swift and complete recovery.

I totally feel you Nikki, last mth my grandmother died and we attended the funeral in Louisiana. Why did my mom announce to her sisters, "look how fabulous my daughter looks, she had WLS in Mexico only 2 mths ago!!!" I was horrified! In all fairness I'd never asked her not to tell others, I just thought that was a given knowing how private a person I am, but it never occurred to her that I might not want others to know. I just don't have the patience right now to deal with insensitive comments like the one from my girlfriend after I'd returned from MX, "don't you feel like you're cheating by having surgery?" My reply, " yes, cheating obesity, heart disease, and diabetes, but cheating weight loss no". I think you're feelings are very valid and hopefully you can make your mom understand how you feel...BTW, I still want to be like you when I grow up :-)

My prayers go out to you and your family Donna. I'm so glad to hear from you, suspected something may have gone wrong when you stopped posting. I believe you telling Linda's story will help many, many people.

Lee, I was exactly where you were. I went 5 wks without losing anything and thought I was going to go nuts...I was religiously monitoring every morsel, carb, cal and fat gram but nothing would move. It seems like once I relaxed and started eating more cals (from 500, 600 to 800) and increased my carbs the weight started pouring off! I've lost 9 to 11 lb a wk for the past 3 wks with no signs of slowing down. I should've known better, Atkins/ South Beach never worked for me pre-sleeve so for me the answer seems to be a more well balanced diet.

I chose Dr. Almanza for my surgery and I was blessed because I too had no complications. Wingrider is completely right, the staff are very friendly and I was well treated however, I would not feel comfortable referring someone to this clinic. I went into this with my eyes wide open knowing all the potential risks/ complications but some of what I saw and later learned convinced me that this clinic unnecessarily puts people at risk. They do WAY too many surgeries a day and I think it's easy to get sloppy when you're herding people in and out like cattle. There were complications in my group I was just fortunate enough to have escaped them. I was very honest with my coordinator about my feelings and was told they were decreasing the number of surgeries daily to ensure they provide better service but it appears this hasn't happened. I believe Dr. Almanza is a fine surgeon, I think the problem lies with Betancourt's push to do too much. I'd probably do it again if I had to because it has changed my life...I'm down over 50 lb. and feel amazing but as an RN it's hard to ignore the risks being taken. All anyone can do is evaluate the information they're given and make the best decision for them. I don't judge others whatever their decision and don't expect to be judged for mine.

I use beneprotein mixed in my yogurt, soups and such. I even mix it in my coffee in the morning but it coagulates a little in really hot temps. I can't detect the flavor/ texture at all.

Will definitely keep you both in prayer, stay strong!

Sweatinitout, I had a TT in the summer of 2007 and was sleeved 1/23/10. The pain was substantially less than recovering from the tuck, but then again I didn't have alot of pain after that surgery either. I realize everyone's different but I doubt you'll have any problems. Was your TT recovery very painful?

I would suggest you take some baseline measurements ie chest, waist, hips, thighs & arms. Once every wk or two measure again and use this for your benchmark...put the scale away for a while. My mom isn't a WLS patient but she has been battling weight gain for a while and in the past mth she's only lost 7 lb but 32.5 inches overall. You did not do this surgery in vain,you will be successful. I'm believing and agreeing in prayer with you.

I turned 40 last July and had always wanted to go skydiving so my husband registered me for a wknd skydiving expedition in Dallas, I was so excited. The Fri before the trip I went on their website for directions and saw that I was 20 lb above the maximum weight requirement...I was devastated!! This July on my 41st birthday I will be in Dallas and I will have my first skydiving experience...it'll be a year late but hopefully just as fulfilling an experience.

What an accomplishment, congrats to you...that keeps me inspired!