Recycled

Yep. Second and third and forth and fif...............................................................

For every doctor that touts the virtues of a procedure, I can find three that will refute it. And that goes for research data as well. Get a couple of opinions and make your best decision on what YOU think is best for you and you're most comfortable going thru. (Going thru as in; Both the surgery and the post surgical adjustments)

If it's a normal recovery and if the project only involves talking and pointing and no physical, manual type work other than walking.......... then recover at work or recover at home......same difference. Take the pain meds and see what happens. Keep in mind, there is no way of knowing what your recovery will entail beforehand. Alot of "ifs" Plus, on meds you might be a little fuzzy.........I hope the project isn't an Air traffic Controller or Pharmacists or the like .....?!

You obviously got the Schrader Valve procedure. It is used in many surgeries. Doctors sometimes overlook telling the patient or typically don't explain it in sufficient detail. It is when they install a small Schrader valve in and inconspicuous location and then during recovery they come in at night and inflate the surgical area to a size that is sometimes even larger than before surgery. No- one knows exactly why. Probably the reason you experience gas pains as well. No worries, gradually it will deflate and the valve dissolves on it's own after a period of time. And for some reason if you ask your Surgeon later, he will deny any knowledge of it. Go figure.

Treasure our little corner of the room cause it's not much different here either.

could be.......Being Guys, we would probably have to see it render a proper diagnosis.......(hey.....ya gotta post here at your own risk)

Ok look Christy, most insurance companies will allow you to use your pre-op process for a period of time after it's completed. So Relax. Now, forget all the other stuff I said except the part about the therapist. Make some more appointments and talk it all out. Do not make a rushed decision. Calm down. You'll find your answers.

The doubt itself would be the first reg flag. Is it fear of the surgery and the pain or discomfort ? Or is it fear of possible long term complications? You'll get over the pain and discomfort, but the risk of irreversible complications is real and should not be taken lightly. Getting ready is not getting surgery and that's why your questioning it as it gets close. And you should. If the weight is not life threatening at this point and you feel you haven't tried hard enough to lose without the surgery......then try. Be sure. Try to follow the same diet and lifestyle changes to lose that you would if you had the surgery with the mindset that the surgery is your only other option. Maybe take in a couple more sessions with the therapist. By all means, be sure and if you choose the surgery, "own it". You will be the one living with it the rest of your life, so don't let anyone else make that decision for you.

Times 3, Go ahead, get it out. Frustration will do that. It's not what I expected, it hurts, why me, I don't want to do this anymore........ Life doesn't always work out like we plan. When you've been around as long as I have you go thru all those experiences and emotions many many times. And you will have many many more to come. However, it's not as hopeless as it seems right now. Come to terms with where you are and what lies ahead and let go of the past. You can't and won't get it back. Once you realize that, you can put more effort into striving for a more positive and hopeful outlook. It can and most likely will get better. But it starts and ends with you right now. I know you can't see months down the road or even want to think it will take months. The leak and the healing and the meds doing their job,won't happen immediately. Give it time. Get on board and help yourself heal and you will make it those months and reach your goal. Think about why you started this. You gonna be there looking back on this and realize you beat those obstacles. What lies ahead is finding out how strong you can be. So don't give up now. You have alot of life to live yet, and you're gonna need that strength to live it. Good Luck.

Minn 52.... Pass on 'em.......go to another Surgeon. If you're uncomfortable with the Surgeon & or the staff......and especially if they aren't on board with your choice to go with the sleeve. Even if you have to travel farther away, find someone else. When I had my knees replaced, I went to 5 Surgeons for consults before I felt satisfied. Was well worth it too.

Now see, it's all in the point of view...........I would never complain about carrying that.!!

My wife weighs about what I need to lose.........So when I tell her to "get off my back" it'll take on new meaning......

With guys it's easy..........our stuff never goes out of style, so I'll just dig out my skinny clothes. They were hardly worn anyway.

Why not answer...."Just alot of healthy diet and exercise" ...... May not be the whole truth.....but it's still the truth. Besides, the surgery didn't cause you to lose weight. The type and amount of food you put into your mouth did. Maybe the surgery motivated you to eat less, but it was the eating less that resulted in your weight loss. I'm not telling you anything you don't already know, so lay off the guilt. You have everything to be proud of and nothing to feel guilty about. As far as them asking you if you had surgery....... It's none of their business anyway.

Nope! as in no, it does not mean you won't get your surgery. In fact, it's likely the surgeon will repair the HH during your VSG. At least that is what mine told me. Even said it was so routine that they commonly discover a patients has a hiatal hernia during VSG and must repair it before proceeding.

In the words of the great Yoda, "Try"? 'do or do not" "there is no try"!!

They are typically made of titanium. As in forever and ever.

No judgement here but think of it like.......Ya know those movies where all the friends are together and then one goes off to the look for something and a bunch of minutes pass and they don't come back..........And then one of the other friends goes.....looking........(yeah, you know) ever so slowly into the DARK room......(and the light doesn't work either) Who does that........everyone knows you don't go into the dark room....... and of course horrible things typically happen. Well, think of that like your stomach and the Doc's instructions.........don't put anything he told you not to into the dark room..........You don't know what will happen but horrible things can......

I think it's the perspective we have about this type of surgery. If you have chest pains and they find a blockage, the cardiologist tells you "You have to have surgery or you'll die". We believe that completely and without question. And after, we don't second guess that the surgery saved our lives. If the oncologist says " I have to remove the tumor or you'll die". We say of course....and cross our fingers it's in time and they got it all. And all the while, every Doc we've seen and every article we read touts all the hazards of obesity and the potential for causing death. And somehow we see the need for immediate and drastic action still as elective or a choice or simply not urgent. And as with any surgery, there is risks and discomfort and complications. More issues to make us consider the so called "decision". Is it worth it.??? I think the more important question would be...."What is going to happen if I don't do it?" Where is the "worth" in remaining obese. With all those other life saving surgeries we never evaluate the recoveries or the discomfort or the difficulty or the worth. We just appreciate that it saved our life. I've had two of those life threatening conditions and the surgeries that saved me.......surgeries that gave me a second and then a third chance. And for some reason I cannot explain, I still had on blinders about my obesity. I knew I should do something but the life threatening alarm just didn't go off. Then it finally hit me. Even after I managed to beat these other unexpected killers.......I'm gonna allow obesity to kill me. Something I can prevent! Really?! Now I feel like I'm on a time clock ticking away day by day. The surgery and the turn around benefits of losing the weight can't come fast enough. I don't worry about risks or recovery or pain or hardship. I can handle those. I just need to beat that clock. Who says you can't have a forth chance at life ?!

I call BS........there is no way those pics are of the same person...... Just kidding.....you look fantastic and appear in the pics to be thoroughly enjoying your accomplishment. Most encouraging, thanks for posting.

Well, I guess if the first one works.....the second one will go straight thru. I certainly understand your apprehension though.....I have always found one to be more than enough. Your doc must have a reason. I would definitely ask him why two .....???.

No jumping here.......I'm sure the OP will agree, compliments from females are always welcomed.

Very dramatic change. A real inspiration. Keep up the great job.

Deleted.......... oops, sorry, didn't realize this was powder room.

Rickster, I have ridden for over 45 years too. I was heavy very young and did in fact lose weight several times. During the times when I was normal size I did notice it was harder to maintain balance and maintain control over the bike. (mine have always been heavy Harleys). During and advanced riding school taught by biker Leo's, I was taught how to use the bike's momentum in literally throwing the bike from one side to the other in quick responsive changes. With practice it became very easy and second nature. You actually let the bike's weight do the work. When I gained weight again I became less capable of doing that with control and reverted to using my own weight to stabilize the bike. So, I feel ya. Give it time and practice with some advanced techniques and it will improve. Also, ya might give the GF some new instructions on passenger etiquette, as in.....your thinner now so she should get her arms around you so you both move as one. Good luck. .