samuelsmith46

Yes, I have the same thing. I'm almost three weeks out (March 19th and I "growl" but usually when I drink or eat, like at the dinner table. Odd. My partner has noticed it but we just laugh when it happens.

Four years ago I decided to look into "lap-banding" for weight loss after MANY attempts to lose weight. I had lost thousands of pounds and gained back even more. A good frend said he would attend with me so we went to a "demonstration" a few miles out of the Washington, DC area. We were both impressed so I read over all the material I was given. Several months later I decided I wanted to go ahead with it, looked up a bariatric surgeon closer to home, Dr. J.R. Salameh in Arlington, VA where I live. Encouraged, I began the process after being told my insurance would cover it. I took almost all the tests and, several months later met with the diatition. She told me what I would have to do for the rest of my life and I was shocked. I remember my feeling after leaving her office. I just wasn't ready. My life went on and I got heavier and heavier. Instead of Lap-banding I decided to, again, join Weight Watchers. This time my weight was less than three pounds from 300. I was miserable! Two years later my weight was down over 70 pounds but I fell during "snowmagedon" and had to have my right knee replaced. My recovery was very difficult and painful. I continued to gain weight, almost to my original high. My blood pressure was high, my jointes hurt all the time and, again, I was miserable. Meanwhile, I began to look forward to the day when I could retire. I turned 65 and looked into retiring when I turned 66. My olded daughter moved to London, England for work and told me I was invited to visit when I retired or even earlier. I thought a lot about retirement and visiting my daughter and two grandchildren and all the movement it would require and realized I couldn't do it in my present condition. I knew if I continued on like I was, not only could I not enjoy my grandchildren but I would probably die soon into my hard-earned retirement. This would not do. It again, was decision time. Last November, 2011 I decided I had to decide to change my life; to save my life. I called Dr. Salameh's office and made an appointment, again. I met with him on December 2nd, began the process again, this time with the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy as my target. I began the process, lost almost 40 pounds before my surgery on March 19th, 2012 at Viginia Hospital Center and today am two weeks after still recovering. I have lost 13 additional pounds in these two weeks and lose about a pound a day. i think my final goal with be around 170 pounds or so which is about my weight while I was in college. I'm proud of myself because I think I finally had the guts to save my own life.