notmeanymore

Here's me hugging you Thanks for the awesome compliment.

Thank you so much Rebecca.

This is the first time attempting to add pics so lets hope it works.

My husband and I actually just booked our 3rd trip to the Big Island. We are going for 10 days in August. Staying on the Hilo side this time because we have seen the Kona side a lot and want to explore more of the East side of the Island. So excited because now Im 70 pounds lighter so we can zip line, hike, bike, etc. We rent private houses on vrbo.com each time we've gone. You get a gorgeous huge house on the water for less than a hotel room.

I had trouble with water too but come to realize that its wasnt just water, it was cold water. My surgeon suggested warm liquids because some patients sleeves spasm when they consumed cold water so I started on warm tea and bingo, I was able to get my liquids in. Im almost 6 months out and still prefer warm beverages to cold. But even room temperature water isnt appealing, I do have to add some kind of flavoring.

I was sleeved December 5th, 2012 (about 5 months ago) and was doing awesome. Ive lost a total of 68 pounds so far and started doing bikram hot yoga which I am completely addicted to. Unfortunately I developed a ventral hernia a couple of weeks ago. It started with this lump a couple inches above my belly button and a couple inches below my sternum. It got progressively larger so much that it looked like a had a softball pushing from the inside out. So I saw my surgeon and he immediately had me go get an upper gi where I got to see my small intestines pushing out. Or as I like to describe it, my intestines were trying to escape. Within a week I was in surgery. Surgery was 2 days ago and they originally said it would be out patient surgery. They would repair the abdominal wall tear and reinforce it with mesh. But apparently it was so large that they had to keep me overnight for observation. Im more sore and in more pain than I was for my sleeve actually. They did finally release me last night around 10. They said I could go home if I farted lol. Well I drank about 4 cups of coffee, had some tomato Soup and sure enough, I farted. We call it my $150 fart because had I had to stay another night, I wouldve had to pay $150 co-pay lol. So Im home now, in a lot of pain but my ab wall will be strengthened and I can go back to my bikram yoga in about 6 - 8 weeks. Im off work for about a week which isnt the worst thing in the world I can handle to pain mostly but the most annoying part is sleeping on my back. Oh and Im all bloated from all the fluids they pumped me up with. I better lose a few pounds from this lol.

I also had a single incision. When my surgeon said that he wanted to do that on me I asked why and he said it was because I was only 5'4 (shorter torso). It didnt say it had anything to do with my BMI, just my height. Anyway, no incision pain, barely a scar and it healed fast.

When I have hits stalls, pretty much the only thing that breaks them is to up my calories. I know, it sounds like witchcraft but it really does work. Youll see. I usually add more calories by incorporating some good fats like nuts or a half an avocado or something like that.

Girl you are looking GREAT!! Keep up the great work. Love that blue color on you too

I used to be addicted to food, I was a bad closet eater. But now Im addicted to working out, yoga, bike riding, pretty much any exercise. But I have developed an abdominal hernia (Im at 5 months) and have to lay off all exercise for a while which really really bums me out. So I suppose Ill do more sewing As long as my hands or my body is busy, Im all good.

I bought Mr. coffee ones at Target. I had to go to multiple Targets to get all three because they seemed to have only carried one at each store but luckily they are everywhere like Starbucks lol. Ive been using them since day 1 and Im 5 months out. They REALLY keep beverages warm, not just luke warm but VERY warm so thats nice. I use mugs for Soup since I cant eat that much and it works great to keep my soup warm too. http://www.target.com/p/mr-coffee-black-mug-warmer/-/A-10210650 Target has them for 13.99. I wouldve bought them online cheaper but really really needed one and didnt have time to order. http://www.amazon.com/Mr-Coffee-MWBLK-Mug-Warmer/dp/B000CO89T8 Amazon has them for 9.99 Or Bed Bath and Beyond should have them and you can use your 20% coupon.

Thats great. I keep mug warmers all over my house because I drink a lot of hot tea so I might have to pick up one of these plate warmers. Great idea.

Has anyone developed a hiatal hernia AFTER being sleeved? The reason I ask is because I have this bulge below my ribs and above my belly button. It looks like the size of someone's fist slightly pushing out of my upper abdomen. It doesnt hurt but when I turn sideways I can see the protrusion a little bit. I dont know if it could possibly just be fat redistributing or what. I do very rigorious bikram and dynamic yin yoga and am afraid I may have pushed it too hard and caused a hiatal hernia. I dont know. It doesnt hurt but since Ive lost weight, my abdomen is getting tighter so its noticeable now. After I eat, it gets harder. My stats are: sleeved 12/5, 5'4, 42 years old have lost 64 pounds so far. I do have an appointment with the surgeon on Monday but was told not to do any yoga till then just in case which is disappointing because I love it and its been great in helping me lose a steady amount of weight (Im a slow loser so my definition of steady will seem slow to others). Anyone?

Im praying that Im just being hypersensitive to my body and that things are just shifting around. The worst thing they could tell me is that I have it and have to limit my physical activity. If I do have it, I actually would prefer to have a procedure to tighten the diaphram so it cant poke thru and I can go on my merry yoga way.

Good luck to both of you, being sleeved has changed and dramatically improved my life and the lives of those around me. Im a much happier, healthier me now.

I actually had dumping syndrome after I had my gallbladder out which was before I was sleeved. But since being sleeved, I have not had any dumping episodes. Im sure its because I eat much better now that Im sleeved. No more fatty foods. It was always the bad fatty foods that had me dumping.

I think Im a little strange when it comes to being 'hormonal'. I actually dont get hungry, not that I ever get really hungry but its even less when Im hormonal. Now if we are talking about CHOCOLATE, thats a different story. I make my own chocolate covered strawberries which I justify as being half fruit so at least Im not eating a huge chunk of chocolate. I also make warm hot chocolate with skim milk and sugar free chocolate. It fills the need because its sweet and nice and toasty warm in my teeny tiny belly AND I get protein from the milk. Those are the only tips I have

You can probably use Travelocity or Priceline and find the best deal. The price all depends on when you want to go and come back, time of day, etc.

Just the one incision in the belly button and no drain. At least thats what my spider incision was like. My surgeon told me I was a candidate just because of my height, Im 5'4. BMI wasnt a factor in his recommendation.

It sure IS working for you! Congratulations and keep up the GREAT work

Im only 4 1/2 months out and the only side effect that I have is heartburn. I never had it prior to surgery but now I have it but I take a PPI (Prevacid 30mg) every morning and its not an issue. Its only an issue if I forget to take it. Other than that, every single other thing has been positive.

Oh boy. San Diego is beautiful. Good luck in TJ!