possumtrot

My surgeon used a 36 french. Don't know if this matters or not, but he also said my stomach is 2 cm, which is less than one inch.

It has been suggested to me to wear those supportive foundation garments (shapers, smoothers, girdles) to help my skin keep from sagging as I lose weight. Has anyone else been told to try this?

When I had my surgery 7/16/10 I wore size 24W pants. Today I bought a pair of capris and a pair of jeans size 18. Those 18s are not loose, but I've worn much tighter clothes before! I thought about 16s but decided not to push it, lol. So even though I haven't lost as much weight as I think I should, obviously *something* is working out right! ; D What a GREAT DAY this has been!

lol on the don't get used to size 18. My closet is getting empty. Sorted and am giving away the clothes I absolutely cannot wear anymore. What a nice feeling this is! Now if only I could get dh to go through his clothes, our closet might become manageable. HOW do we end up with so many clothes? :biggrin0:

Hang in there...you'll be there SOON! Thanks Jamey...I'm not really caring about the scale right now but I'll be honest and say I do want to get to my goal weight, so there's not quite 90 lbs to lose. Better than what I started out at for sure! tdov, I'm saving you a spot on the loser's bench!

I sure hope so! A couple of obstacles have been thrown down my path, but I am determined to get past them. 1. This morning person is going to have to work overnights starting the 22nd, so that ought to be interesting. I'm telling myself it gives me better time to workout. 2. The Chantix I take is making me sick to my stomach no matter when I take it, so it's looking like either I give up Chantix and muscle through the rest of my smoking cessation or I keep puking up Water a couple of times a day. But honestly, that is the only thing about this surgery I am sad about! So, guess it's all good, right? Thanks for the support. Guess I will stop being so reliant on what the scale says and just pay attention to what my body is saying! The last time I lost a lot of weight it took me a year to get to size 14...and now it's within sight so quickly. Simply amazing. Of course my torso hasn't lost as much as my waistline (I'm a lovely apple...always have been) but heck, I did buy a couple of tops 2 sizes smaller. Good enough for me right now!

You also need calcium citrate. I use sublingual B12 too.

One other thing I found important is that our immune systems are linked to our digestive systems. I simply do not feel that the egg-shaped pouches of bypass or band patients can give as much aid to digestion and immune system function as can the banana pouch of VSG. Best wishes OP! It is a tough decision, but I found that once I had made my decision I did not question it. Everything just fell into place and seemed meant to be. I'm only 3 weeks out, but I can tell you that this surgery has helped me immensely in that I finally feel like I am taking life by the horns, not the other way around.

forgot to say: Welcome MKK! I agree with you, this is a great forum!

Donna, took a peek at your blog and just wanted to say WOW. Your post on thoughts at the State Fair blew me away. Right on!

Just saw this post MiMi. Hope you are doing well. Immediately after surgery was no fun, but after that it wasn't bad at all for me. Hopefully you have the same or better experience! FWIW, I had a very dry, scratchy throat after surgery. sugar-free popsicles were very much appreciated. Just remember to take very small sips at first. I look forward to seeing how much you lose...you'll probably end up beating me to goal weight! :thumbup1: ((hugs)) because I know that right now you probably feel like crap, but tomorrow will be better! Walk walk walk, sip, sip, sip. :biggrin0:

lol, my name is possumtrot and I am a stich spitter. Perhaps you are too. Whenever I have to have internal stitches that are supposed to disolve, my body regards them as enemies and rejects them. I've given up being upset over it...it is what it is. I just clip them if they are uncomfortable or I wait until they are pullable. Only after they are out does my body really heal.

Another here who didn't have a drain. I'm not the most patient patient, so was very happy to find out I wouldn't have a drain. Heck, my dr. uses a pain pump and I was so impatient with it that I pulled it out the 2nd day...it felt like I had a ball and chain around my neck, lol. But I agree, it is just surgeon's choice. To drain or not to drain doesn't make one surgery right or wrong.

I really appreciate your advice. As I am still adjusting and trying to get my head right to this new stomach I paid for, sometimes I do wonder if this is as good as it gets or if it will get better. I really needed to hear that it does from someone who has been at this much longer.

I'm having to relearn how much I can eat too. Haven't had to run to the bathroom in pain yet but have felt discomfort from my eyes being too big for my plate. Apparently 40 some odd years of thinking bigger was better is taking some time for my brain to forget. Portion control was my problem before surgery, so with this new built in portion controlled stomach I'm working hard to remember it and overstuff myself. I've learned that one bite of food can make a world of difference! Best wishes Melli on your journey. Your weight loss is fantastic!

If you think you are beaten, you are. If you think you dare not, you don't. If you'd like to win, but think you can't, It's almost certain you won't. If you think you'll lose, you've lost. For out of the world we find Success begins with a fellows will. It's all in the state of mind. If you think you're outclassed, you are. You've got to think high to rise. You've got to be sure of yourself before You can ever win a prize. Life's battles don't always go To the stronger or faster person. But sooner or later the person who wins Is the one who thinks they can. Anon.

I dreaded telling mine too, but she was VERY supportive. I hope yours surprises you as much as mine did me. Good for you OP! Best date I ever had was when I got sleeved!

I've been considering WLS for years now but lap and bypass didn't seem to be my style. Then I learned about the sleeve and I knew that finally the right tool was finally available for my weightloss toolbox to help give me the most success possible. This past April I started contacting different drs, Medical Tourism companies, etc. to see what my best options are since I have to foot the bill out of pocket (because of blankety blank insurance). Mexico was attractive from a budget point of view, PLUS there seem to be some extremely qualified and competent surgeons there. But my s/o totally freaked out at the thought of me leaving the country for surgery and so I will be having the sleeve done in the USA...which I'm totally good with. Currently I have selected a Dr., spoke with him over the phone last night (which I found to be totally cool...never had a surgeon call me before) and am now waiting for the list of tests I need run, talk to my pcp, etc. Needless to say, I am excited and nervous about the whole process! This dream could become a reality in less than a month!

Thanks for the heads up Layla!

Definitley have things to work out. Just had 3 12 hr shifts at work. First day got in my Protein and Water, exercise no problem since I walk almost all of my shift. Day 2 and 3 didn't get in enough protein or water, so I'm looking for creative solutions now since I am dedicated to doing this thing whole hog and not getting enough of the good stuff while at work is most likely a contributor to how I got this fat to begin with! If I can find a big mug not made in China I'll get it, otherwise I guess I'll stick with the liter bottles of water. I'm going to try pre-mixing my shakes and taking them for better protein control...surely I can sip on them during break if nothing else! Today is my 2 week dr. appt. I'm confident it will all go well and am so looking forward to being able to eat real foods!

Best wishes Dickson to you and your wife on your journey to health! Thinking of you today (since for me the day of surgery post-op was the only day of pain...the rest of it has been smooth sailing). Hope you are feeling 100% soon!

Great link Donna, Thanks!

A few years ago I had someone (I think at the Dermatologists office) suggest putting Vit. E on scars...just by the capsules and break them apart to put it on the scars. I was going to try it but had issues so never got around to it. Was thinking of doing it this time around.

Something to keep in mind. Guess I'll bring this up with my pcp next time I see him since our Fall allergy season is just right around the corner and I cannot take otc remedies.

Hopefully this won't be TMI, but last night I had a great walk but some of the area I passed by was weedy. We've been dry, dry, dry here and it got my sinuses flaring a bit. I must have had sinus drainage going down my throat to my stomach because all of a sudden I got that horrible watery mouth feeling like I was going to hurl. The only thing I could do was keep spitting out the Water in my mouth until things settled down internally. I had not overdrank or overeaten. In fact, I had not had a drink for probably 15-20 minutes while out walking, but this was definitely like the one time I took too big of a sip and was already full or at least close to being full and paid for it by feeling like I was going to puke. So at first I was puzzled but then I noticed the sinus thing... So, has anyone else had to deal with this? Aside from starting to take allergy pills, is there anything to do to avoid this occurrence?