TheCurvyJones

This common. I would recommend some marriage counseling before you leave... WLS will not kill a happy marriage but the amount of changes you'll go through post op will illuminate and exacerbate ANY cracks in your relationship. There is a reason the divorce rate amongst WLSers is high. Hubs needs to get his head right before you start on this journey, you need his support and he needs to be a part of this journey@

I am 22 months out from VSG with Dr. Alvarez. Feel free to PM me with any questions you have. He. is. the. BEST! I do believe he oversews, but I can't really remember. I have lost 86 lbs since surgery, 104 since the start of my journey. I find that losses with Dr A's sleeves are steady. Not necessarily rapid fast but I am nearly 2 years out and with proper eating an exercise STILL LOSINGlbs and inches. Dr is on Facebook and he has a private group where he and his Patient Coordinator are available to answer questions as well as his patients. Search for Endobariatric.com in GROUPS.

I looked like someone's middle aged aunt. Ugh, so glad I did it.

Here's what the surgeon that i saw during my seminar said, and I wish docs would address this: It's a Psychological thing. It depends on what kind of eater you are. For example: meat and potatoes eater, have issues with portion control but not huge on sugar, don't drink a lot of calories, mobile, able to stand and move on your own-- VSG would be a good choice. I chose VSG because after the surgeon closed me up, it was all on me. I wasn't counting on some intestinal trickery nor was I counting on an implanted device. Loss seemed the most natural. Issues with portion control, sugar is a HUGE problem, need to lose a lot of weight in a life or death situation, or immobile/unable to move on your own-- RNY would be a good choice to give you the best chances for weight loss success. Because many RNYers dump, it helps them avoid sugar. Also because of mal-absorption, loss is rapid. My seminar surgeon referred to it as the Cadillac of weight loss surgeries. Fairly active, don't have issues with portion control OR sugar, just have weight problem and need some additional help to slow down and stop eating when you're full-- Lap Band may be a good choice. WARNING that Lap Band requires the MOST amount of work. Successful Banders I know go at it pretty hard, every day. Takes an enormous amount of work to be successful. There are also some issues with the band-- I see a lot of revisions due to slips and stomach erosion, plus people just not knowing how to care for themselves with the band. I HAVE heard that Duodenal switch is the Supercharger of the WLS Surgeries. The Sleeve is only part ONE of the DS procedure. DS is good for people with a significant amount of weight to lose.

Soup (chili with cheese and sour cream, OH EM GEE), Broccoli cheese soup was good, too. A Protein shake is calories and protein, that's all you need. It doesn't have to be fancy, just sustenance to stoke the fire your body needs to run on. Some cheese, yogurt.......more cottage cheese.... I mean... it just has to be food. Generally not being able to keep food down may be a sign of a swollen sleeve. Use kid gloves and keep it soft and liquid and make sure you don't dehydrate. A lot of people can't handle white meat chicken. Try dark. Or wait on chicken, it's not required to eat it. Also...There are also many forms of protein that aren't meat.

I told very few people at first. Some guessed. I was okay with it. Some saw my loss and asked. I was honest. If they have an issue with my decision that is their problem. I'm going to do what I am going to do and I can't stop anyone from judging me. In this age of social media it seems like people need to shout their personal decisions from the rooftops. It's really no one's business but mine... however it is the most open, worst kept secret ever. The one thing I AM open about is how healthy I eat and how much I work out. Whether they know or not, I don't want people to see me sitting around eating Bon Bons and dropping 100lbs, like everyone THINKS Weight loss surgery works.

It can take up to two weeks for the gas to pass. It gets SO MUCH BETTER. Hang in there, get lots of rest and give yourself time to heal.

Ralphs/Kroger sell a brand called CarbMaster. Really low in sugar and good taste if you don't get too wild with flavors (I don't like super sweet yogurt, so carrot cake yogurt is just a big old no).

You can sip, very quickly. You will not be able to gulp down swallow after swallow after swallow. As time goes on, you will realize your true sleeve capacity because you won't be swollen. I work out five days a week. Cooling down hasn't been a problem.

Hooray! Welcome to the Loser's Bench!

I went down a full shoe size. My mom went down two!

BAHAHA mouth got bigger. AMEN. My nose didn't get smaller, per se. It just wasn't stretched across my face anymore.

1) Can you chug Water like you once were able to? Nope. I can drink a few swallows, like three, before my stomach starts to hurt. I don't know many people that can chug. 2) following weeks post op, and the energy level is extremely low...what helped you gain it back? especially during liquid diet phase? Get LOTS of rest and keep your cals up. Liquid diet doesn't mean you only get water and air. Keep your calories at an acceptable level with Soups, Protein shakes, etc. Remember your Vitamins, especially your B vitamins, they're great for energy. Stay hydrated-- post OP this is more important than anything until you're on solids. Also low energy post op is common... you are still recovering, plus losing weight RAPIDLY. It takes a lot out of you. Get lots of rest, go to bed, early, nap if you need to. 3) how long until you felt "normal" again? I think it was about 12 weeks or so before I started to feel 'normal'... but normal is relative! I am almost 2 years out and I might LOOK normal but feeling normal... well I kind of never want to. I don't want my brain to get in the mode that I am normal because I am not. I am surgically modified for a purpose and it has to be top of mind. But regarding energy and what not... around week 12 I started walking and I was feeling pretty good. 4) any anxiety attacks?? Nope. I am not anxiety prone, however. I was TERRIFIED to go under for my surgery but I had the best Bestie that ever was holding my hand.

I can't justify that much sugar so I don't eat flavored yogurt. I'd rather get plain and flavor it with a sugar free syrup or fold some fruit into it with a packet of splenda.

Yay! Let us know how things go!

I've never known anyone to purchase it. Not that it's a scam, but... are you really going to fly back to MX if you're having an emergency? If you're covered under insurance you should be able to be treated at the hospital. They didn't perform your sleeve, they're just fixing issues with an existing organ.

I'm not one of those people who say 'You can NEVER have X THING AGAIN!' And neither is my surgeon. He does try to keep us in good information about putting ourselves in a position to win. Transfer Addiction is a huge deal for WLSers and alcoholism is a BIGGIE. I also know that if you want to be successful, alcohol should be kept to a minimum because your body will burn that sugar and those carbs before ANY FAT. Your first year is your golden ticket... you'll lose more in the first year to 18th months than you might lose in the 2 years following. Use that time wisely. As well, we metabolize alcohol very quickly so you'll be drunk off of one glass when two used to just make you feel good. It is recommended to avoid it for as long as possible. I know quite a few people who started drinking wine and liquor around 7 months out... loss has slowed or stopped and they just seem to DRINK a whole lot. People do much better when they keep it to a minimum. That said, you're an adult and you know the rules. Your Mileage while sticking to them or bending them may vary. I'd hold out as long as you can and if/when you pick it back up, count the calories, count the carbs, plan to not lose lbs that next week and don't make it a habit. There's nothing more embarrassing than a drunk WLS patient. It's REALLY not pretty.

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Sorry the app doesn't tell me it posted, just says it timed out.

You're still healing and it takes a while for energy to come back. Put yourself first and get PLENTY of rest. Losing weight rapidly is hard work and it's going to take a lot out of you. Plus, we aren't eating a lot to sustain a whole lot of activity. Stay up on your protein and your water, as well as B vitamins, they're great for energy.

I didn't want anyone watching me and playing audience participation in trying to be a part of my journey. I know what to eat and when. You don't need to ask if I can/should have what I am about to have. Mind you, I got me taken care of. I told very few people. SOme of my closest friends don't know. Because it's none of their BUSINESS and people can think that's BS all they want. Not all of us are open books and not all of us want to live this journey out loud. I got ME and MY JOURNEY handled. You worry about yours.

Welcome! Almost to the Loser's Bench! This journey has been life changing. I started at 273, was 250 day of surgery and now sitting at goal at 169, size 6/8. It will be TOUGH.. but so worth it. And really fun once the lbs start coming off!

I started early, though by just a few days. I was ready to get the show on the road and I was SO TIRED OF EATING and deciding what to eat and when...........I actually enjoyed the liquid diet. Easy peasy.