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You're having one drink and maybe not even the entire thing if you get tipsy super fast like I do these days. Worry about carbs later and drink what you enjoy! Do the math on what you think you'll order, log it in your food log and go on about your date. Drink SLOW. I used to drink several drinks preop and now I can feel a real buzz in anywhere from three to five sips. ~Cheri

It only happens if you overdo it, something you're likely to do at least once or twice as you learn the limits of your new stomach. It doesn't even take minutes for me. I feel uncomfortable, the food quickly comes up and I'm back to normal in a minute. I would not call it "vomiting," really, because there is no real force behind it and no bile involved. Certain foods can cause this because they tend to swell when they hit the stomach. So instead of getting in several bites, you'll get surprised when after three you don't have room and feel discomfort. Those foods for me (in the beginning, now I know my limits!) were bread, Pasta, rice and tortillas. A lot of people have trouble with scrambled eggs. You learn your new full signals and adjust quickly. The most important thing is to pay attention to what your body is trying to tell you, instead of waiting for the old bloated and stuffed feeling to hit. ~Cheri

I'm sure a Tums smoothie (the ones that melt down very quickly) would be fine and offer some immediate relief. You need to be on a PPI like Nexium, Prilosec or Protonix. Talk to your doc about this ASAP. It was more trouble to have my insurance cover the medicine than it was worth, so I simply bought generic Prilosec (omeprazole) at the store until I didn't need it any longer. You should be taking it daily for at least 3-4 months - most people need at least six for the acid issue to resolve. Good luck, hope you feel better soon. ~Cheri

Best of luck with your eval. I can't give you advice there since I self-paid. For Protein I can help, though! Buy samples - lots and lots of samples. I kept mine aside in a box for post op and slowly worked my way through them, taking note of what I liked and disliked so I could choose a larger tub of powder that I knew I could tolerate. There are a number of sites that offer samples, but I always used Vitalady. ~Cheri

It's definitely possible and people here have done it. There is no time limit on the effectiveness of the sleeve. Weight loss slows down the closer to goal you get, regardless of your starting weight. Those last fifty, and then twenty, pounds are sometimes a real challenge to take off! Your sleeve is as big as it gets right around a year out. There is no reason not to continue to lose after that point if you want to do so. Nothing guarantees how long it will take to shed the weight for any of us. I "only" had 107 pounds to goal but it took me 17 months. How quickly you're going to lose is very personal. I have seen a few people take nearly two years to reach goal. The point is, it can be done if you are determined to make it happen. The sleeve will make loss so much easier than any diet you've ever done in your life, too. I never could have done a regular old diet, relying on willpower alone, for seventeen months. No way! Best of luck, ~Cheri

Great work! I'm sure you'll meet your goal in no time. You look wonderful! ~Cheri Oh, and the hair does come back! You've lost a lot, and very quickly. My hair totally rebounded somewhere between 12-14 months out. A wait for you, but at least it comes back! With a good Vitamin, my hair is finally as long and healthy as preop.

Whew! I was like, WTH? Did some study come out that completely contradicts all of the ones I read before?! Ugh, never mind me, I have hormones on the brain. Thanks for clearing that up! ~Cheri

Bright red spotting is cause for concern, as is anything more than a minor amount. Don't stress it's normal! I wish I felt queasy! I'm hungry ALL DAY LONG. I get shaky, dizzy and nauseated if I don't eat every couple hours. I guess the grass is always greener! Part of my problem is the progesterone supplements (three of them!) that I'm still on - they exacerbate any present symptoms. I even got sick last night from the smell of onions! Once I'm off hormones the symptoms should taper off and become easier on me. Here's hoping, anyway. How are you doing on weight? I'm curious. I'm in this weird place where the scale fluctuates by one to four pounds each day. Seriously - I weighed yesterday and was 137 and today I'm 141 - what's up with that? I know I didn't gain four pounds overnight. This has been happening all week with the bouncing up and down and I hate it worse than the hormone shots! Ugh, feeling nauseous again so it's time to eat. I hope you have a good one and feel better today than yesterday. ~Cheri

The sleeve is not a magic button for most people. Even those of us that are very well adjusted six months to a year post op didn't just magically wake up loving exercise and hating ice cream. That said, losing your hunger (not guaranteed but likely) does make examining and changing your relationship with food much easier. It quiets the monkey on your back long enough for you to shake him off, basically. I do not exercise. My magic "loves exercise" button never got tripped after surgery, unfortunately. I'm far more active than preop, regularly spending 8-10 hour days in my kitchen baking and cooking, or a day outdoors with my four year old twins. But I do not jump on treadmills or do push ups, even if I should. I hate it. Nothing in life is free. Counting your dietary intake is something EVERY person with a weight concern should do. It's when we're lazy and don't do it that we discover that we somehow gained twelve pounds over the Christmas holidays. It's a good habit that surgery sort of forces us to do. Not everyone does it, but it's useful. Liquid diets for a short time are part of the game - your sleeve has to heal! And I, for one, love my daily protein shake. It boosts my protein intake without forcing me to eat first thing in the morning. Think of the trade off for a second. These are very small demands in exchange for a lifetime at your goal weight. I don't know about you, but I would have chopped off a leg at my largest if it guaranteed the rest of me would be skinny! Logging food and drinking shakes is an easy exchange in my book! I tried every diet you can name between the ages of sixteen and twenty nine. I never lost more than thirty pounds, no matter how restrictive or crazy the diet was, and every time I finally gave up (because it was truly agony to adhere to those diets) I had rebound weight and was bigger than I started. If weight loss was one size fits all, and a 1,200 calorie diet and some exercise would make us all fit and skinny, not one person would need the surgery, and the world would be empty of obese people. Because we'd all lose weight the first time we tried Weight Watchers if that were the case! I needed the surgery. I require less calories than the norm to lose, and adhering to that low calorie diet wasn't going to happen without surgery. As it was, it still took me SEVENTEEN months to achieve my goal. Could I have stuck to any diet that long if I were hanging in by willpower alone? No way in hell. I'd still be fat if I hadn't had surgery. If you want to be lean and strong you have to change. The sleeve can make that possible, but it won't make you that person by itself. Get me? Check out BlackBerryJuice. She's AWESOME and a serious athlete these days. She changed her body and her mind and loves being physical. These boards are full of people that love to run, love to work out and totally transferred their food addiction to exercise addiction once they were sleeved. If you want to be like them, you have to work at it. Me? I just wanted to be skinnier. I am. I'm completely happy with my lifestyle and I met all of my own personal goals. It's up to you. Our bodies don't make us fat; our brains make us fat. Overcoming the emotional aspects of our relationship to food is the hardest part, in my opinion. Looking at the sleeve as another diet is the wrong perspective. It's a lifelong tool that can help you change your body and your mind. If you don't do the head work you'll get to goal and flounder and struggle. If you do it, you can achieve anything you set your mind to. Best of luck. You asked some really great questions. ~Cheri

Please link a relevant study. I've never heard this statistic related to WLS before - I've heard similar, though considerably higher statistics for loss without surgery. In every reference I've seen, the 2, 5, and 6 year outcomes are still between 65-80% excess weight lost. ~Cheri

I've been waiting for your post! I need to do mine. I love that you're still coming around and sharing your experience. You haven't had an easy journey but you've done a truly fantastic job. You will eventually hit your goal - you're just going to have a slow time of it, same as the rest of your journey. I understand how frustrated you've gotten along the way. But oh my gosh, what a change! Isn't it worth the effort, even if it's slow going and aggravating as hell at times? You look beautiful and it's apparent even in your pictures that you're slowing regaining some confidence. You've earned this body you're in right now - enjoy it, lady! I'm very happy for you. I, personally, enjoy your input here on the boards. I think it's necessary for newbies to realize that just as weight loss programs aren't one-size-fits-all, life post sleeve isn't the same for everyone, either. I think if more people had better, healthier expectations, we wouldn't see half of the posts here that we see! Best of luck to you on your continued journey, and congrats! You really do look awesome! ~Cheri

Awesome work! Keep it up, more than halfway to goal now. You look a lot younger, too - I can't believe the changes in your face. Keep going, don't give up. ~Cheri

I looked into both. I "only" had 107 pounds to my goal, though, and felt the sleeve could get me there without the malabsorption. I wanted restriction without the dangers of malabsorption. In addition, I'm a military spouse and we've spent most of the last seven years overseas. Getting regular blood panels could be tricky, especially in remote locations like our current assignment. And having a surgery that requires me to have them could keep us trapped in the states, essentially limiting my husband's career. For me, the added stresses and possible complications didn't seem worthwhile. However, if there is a more significant amount of weight to lose and access to high quality, regular medical care, I think the DS is a good option. I see no reason not to do the sleeve, and if necessary, continue on with DS at a later date. The way a DSer and sleever eat is totally different, though. I know this isn't nice, but I've always kind of thought of the DS as the "lazy" way...how hypocritical is that? Check out ObesityHelp's board on DS. They eat all of the junk we avoid. I feel like it's not guaranteed, but that coming out on the other side of a sleeve leaves you with a more rounded, healthier relationship with food. I'm biased and freely admit it. I didn't want a surgery where it would be perfectly okay to eat bacon cheeseburgers sans bun for the rest of my life. I wanted to be healthier while still eating like a regular person. Best of luck whatever you decide, ~Cheri

I was sure I wanted the band but after about six months of research and watching lapbandtalk I noticed a lot of revisions and complications. I opted to check out the sleeve instead and couldn't be happier with my decision. We don't really have a lot of "sleeve docs" in the states since it's so much newer. We do see a number of people posting that their surgeons are pushing RNY or band, though, likely because they're more experienced with those surgeries. Congrats on your choice, you'll love your sleeve. ~Cheri

Your body really does readjust a lot the farther out from surgery you get and the longer you live at goal. I had a pancake butt at one year post op but it seems to have filled out a bit in the last year, even though I've lost more weight. It's not like it used to be, and I'd consider the injections if I have enough adipose fat to do them, I guess. So work on getting the weight off and really, maintain that goal for at least six months before doing anything. You'll be surprised how much your body bounces back. My entire body has a different shape now than I had a year ago. Good luck, ~Cheri

I have not had plastics yet. I just wanted to say that there was a HUGE difference in my loose skin at one year out from two years out (where I am now). I was unable to get my plastics done due to my geographical location. But the longer you put it off while saving money the less work you might need. I would have had far more work done a year ago than I would feel necessary now. I would be perfectly happy with LBL and lift/augmentation at this point, when I would have felt arms and thighs were necessary a year ago. My friend recently had lift/augmentation and a tummy tuck and she is still swollen four months later. So she's just back at her starting weight but the lines of her body are fabulous already. She thinks she might weigh about five pounds less when all is said and done, but her loose skin wasn't really that bad. Whatever you decide, good luck! Update here - I'm now putting off my plastics because of pregnancy but I'll still get them one day. ~Cheri

I hate to laugh but that's funny! A huge part of why we put off our transfer so long was the very real knowledge that we could get more than one. I had a lady tell me once never to put back more than you'd want back, plus one. So if you put back three, mentally prepare for four. She felt this way because after having twins from a transfer of three, they had a set of triplets from a transfer of two. One of the embryos split and she got another surprise! Needless to say, she was done, too! I did wind up transferring three but they were my last embryos and my clinic wouldn't freeze a single. I just felt like I couldn't destroy one and transfer only two, so I had them put all three. I'll take whatever I get, and even if it's challenging at first I'm sure we'll hit our stride eventually! ~Cheri

Copied from an old thread: "Symptoms can include rapid heart rate, dizziness, shortness of breath, fever, worsening abdominal pain, left chest or shoulder pain, abdominal distention, the appearance of illness and a general feeling that something is very wrong. If you are concerned, I would check with a doctor."

It sounds like you and your spouse have an understanding and allow this type of relationship, while it is obvious the OP does not have any such agreement or arrangement. I would have to disagree that infidelity is a given, as well. Fidelity should be expected from both partners and that is sexual fidelity as well as emotional. However, I have lived overseas for years and it seems to be a particularly American thing to have this expectation. I get incredulous looks when my response to an offer is that I'm married, because it's inconsequential to many people in many other countries. Same goes for my husband when he's propositioned, so I swear, I'm not pulling this one out of my rear. But I do think that despite your intent to help, your post came across as rude and dismissive to the obvious struggle the OP is experiencing. OP, I'm very sorry you're going through this. The fact is, emotional infidelity is almost worse than a one-time sexual fling. It means he is looking for something that he is not feeling in your relationship. The fact that he blames you instead of at least accepting responsibility shows a lack of remorse for his action and raises the concern he'd do it again. Couples can and do overcome these things, though, if they really want to do so. That said...all I can do is say how I'd feel. And I'd feel like crap if my husband cheated on me, blamed me for it, and then all of a sudden rediscovered his interest in me as I dropped weight and got my life into a better place. Only you can decide what to do and I wish you the best. And for anyone else reading this, I agree 110% with the PP that surgery isn't the cause of problems. If there is any type of issue prior to surgery it usually gets worse as the sleeved person starts to change. And I really think a lot of people are unhappily married but simply accept it as a part of life until they start dealing with their issues and shedding weight. Then they start to question why they're unhappy and choosing to stay that way. Best of luck to all of you going through these things, ~Cheri

Could also be lactose but it's more likely the liquid diet. It definitely gets better, or none of us would ever recommend the sleeve to anyone! Congrats on your new sleeve. Once you're done with recovery you'll feel a million times better and adjust quickly to your new normal. ~Cheri

That feeling in your chest IS the new full feeling. Hunger hangs around until you're on solid foods AND the ghrelin works it's way out of your system. You should not be pushing your sleeve waiting for a reaction. Be very careful - it takes weeks to heal and months for the swelling to go down. You could cause serious damage to your newly sleeved stomach if you eat or drink too much. I'd be thankful you aren't having a terrible recovery but be sensible about how you eat. Sip, don't gulp. Don't eat anything unless it was specifically okay'd by your surgeon. We do not want to see you on the complications board in a week! Congrats on your new sleeve. Sounds like you had an easy time of surgery. Take it easy on your new stomach, you're giving me a heart attack over here. ~Cheri

Congrats on your boys! I'd actually LOVE to experience "just" one baby. My two were easy, amazing babies but kinda evil toddlers. They had the supertwin power of destruction. Now that they'll be five this fall it's back to fun again, but they still have their moments. I have a boy and a girl. This time, just like last time, I can't shake that feeling that there's more than one but whatever I have in there I'm hoping for a healthy, safe pregnancy. ~Cheri

I think we're now officially a pregnancy group. I got my definite positive HPT today. Betas (blood tests) Tuesday and Thursday should give an indication of how things are going and if there's more than one. I have a suspicion I'm carrying more than one again. I'm putting off my ultrasound until I'm back in the states. I refuse to do one earlier than 7.5 weeks because we did one very early last time and only saw one baby...only to go back two weeks later and see two. It was more a surprise at the first US because I "knew" it was two and was actually really upset when they only saw one. I was relieved and happy when they could see them both the second time. In any case, I don't want any surprises this time. I don't want to get used to the idea of one only to find a extra there again. Similar symptoms here except food is my favorite thing for the first time since surgery. I eat around the clock but I'm not gaining weight (despite feeling a bit bloated around the middle - likely from hormone shots) so I'm okay with it so far. I get nauseated if I don't eat and I'm tired. I have the same almost period-like cramps and they freak me out a bit even though this is the exact same set of symptoms I had with my twin pregnancy in 2007. In any case, I hope you can get some food down soon. That's no fun. The best thing is to find those one or two things you can eat and stick to them, but sometimes nothing sounds good at all. ~Cheri

Pregnant! Betas (blood tests) on Tuesday and Thursday, which should give an indication of how it's going but I'm putting off the ultrasound until I'm in the states in August. I have a hunch it's more than one again. ~Cheri