jensjoy28

Laura-ven, you are really a sharp, funny lady...I think I lol at many posts each day from you (that's not to say it is all "fluff", I tend to nod my head in agreements many times a day as well) that's me, a laughing bobble-head doll

Ok...this topic has been beat to a pulp, and I'm not sure why I'm chiming in now, but a "factoid" that I heard while on a medically supervised diet years ago was that GENERALLY speaking, women need 10-11 calories a day per pound of weight to maintain whatever their weight is and men get 12-13 p/pound...so, for a 150 pound woman, she is netting 1,500-1,650 calories a day to stay at that weight. My question for the OP is if they ran a metabolic panel on you pre-surgery to see if there was a reason that you were not overeating but were continuing to gain weight (or not lose)? And, in reference to one of the early posters who asked you a similar question and your reply was (paraphrased) "why does that matter now, I can lose weight taking in xxx calories and then maintain at xxxx calories", the reason that it matters now is because after you lose weight your metabolism will slow considerably (which is why they tell us to bust it for the first 12 months) to reflect your smaller size, and, assuming that the calories you were able to maintain at pre-surgery will be the same post-surgery is HIGHLY unlikely. If you have an undiagnosed metabolic disorder that has you put on weight with calories that should allow you to maintain, I think you will struggle to stay at your new, low weight.

The formula to calculate percent changes is current weight - previous weight / previous weight :-). Ok, sorry for the multiple posts

Sorry Janice...the way I shared does mean that you end up and subtract your result from 100...so, in your case you've lost 8%

You can do it either way, but "Biggest Loser" style would be to take your current weight divided by your starting weight.

I guess the comparisons would happen either way, but it seems like it would be a "more level" comparison if we shared the % lost instead of the #...sometimes I think those with "lower" numbers get frustrated when it is likely due to a lower starting weight. So, I'll start, I am almost 4 weeks out (May 8) and I've lost 27 pounds or 9.3%...I'm hopeful that a few more pounds will drop by Wed so I can be closer to 10% down (which would be 20% of my overall goal)...wow, with all these numbers you'd never guess I was a communications major in college :-)

The Breville is a juicer...it extracts the juice from the fruit and veggies whereas a Vitamix is a professional blender...breaks down the fruit and veggies

...clothes FIT your body everywhere...darn auto correct

Not sure if you are done losing, or if this size is a short-term stop along the way...but, once you have reached your "final" size, if you still have a discrepancy that makes you need a larger size to fit one part than what is needed for another, your best bet is to find a good tailor....from years of watching "What Not To Wear", I know that they say you need to buy the size that fits your widest part, but alter the rest so that the clothes for your body everywhere :-)

Best of luck to you!! It is amazing what a positive outlook and unwavering determination will accomplish...yes, it is a long road...but all you have to do right now is take the first step. Go for it!!

My doc said btwn 3-5 days is normal...I was day 4. I have heard that *most* people are no longer everyday BMers post-op. so far I haven't needed any OTC aids, but I know many people do

You go Laura-ven :-)

Lucky you! It was funny because the guy who wheeled me down to procedure "warned me" about the gross liquid I'd have to take a sip of...then the technician did the same, and then a third person...and they were totally right (but, it was one sip and 5 minutes later it was already a memory). As an aside, I asked why they don't just use barium as was done in pre-op and the answer I was given was that IF there was a leak the barium would be very problematic to leak into your system

WHAT??!! Something isn't right there...either he misspoke or you misunderstood. Leaks due to such a long incision line in your stomach are one of the more common (and serious) possible issues of sleeve surgery. Now, they do a leak test within 48 hours of surgery to make sure everything is sealed correctly before you start taking in fluids and foods, but you aren't out of the woods for leaks for many weeks post-op.

I think it depends in how your incisions were closed...I had dermabond and the rule was not until that peeled off (which was a week post-op for me) but then I had my drain site, which was removed almost a week post-op and my surgeon said no baths until that scabbed over (which I think was another 5 days...think I had my first bath at 2 weeks

Excellent post johnlatte....informative and non-judgemental. For the OP, my surgeon is fine w carbonation after leak concern has passed (so 8 weeks to be safe)....but whether it "sits well" with your sleeve is something else entirely. Before surgery I loved bubbles and would add a little juice to club soda or drink sparkling water ( in addition to soda and other non-healthy drinks)...I am not yet 8 weeks post-op, but have been surprised that I haven't missed it yet. However, I am sure that at some point down the road, I will try it for myself and see how I do :-)

Definitely take it to the bank and ask to talk to a bank manager. They have contacts at many different banks and can/will often verify funds so that you don't have to go through the bank hold period that happens for larger checks. I did that when I got my loan check from credit union and it worked perfectly :-) good luck.

I had an upper GI w barium swallow pre-op....it was nothing, basically an x-ray...and endoscopy is a bigger deal (I've heard). The leak test after surgery was worse (just because the liquid they have you swallow is TERRIBLE tasting...makes barium seem delish :-)

Yay!!! First NSV...got back into a pair of jeans I haven't worn in 2 years...should I have waited another week or so to actually wear them...yes...did I?...nope :-) just put on some sassy high heels so I looked even slimmer

I am about 3.5 weeks out and I've been able to take 3-4 successive "small gulps" (or more accurately, a "regular drink") for past 2 weeks w/o ill effects. Like one of the previous posters, if I was limited to sipping, I'd never get in my fluids. Good luck to you!

I grew up in San Diego and live in Orange County...when you say it takes the same amount of time to fly vs drive, do you mean the entire process of driving to airport and having to get there early? But, as to your actual question of driving, I would imagine you could get the a-ok as long as you stopped every hour or two to walk around a bit to discourage blood clots...and my dr. Required that I be off narcotic pain meds before driving...so not sure how many days post-op you are talking about, but I had virtually no pain and still waited 4 days to drive anywhere...and drove 1.5 hour at day 6

I'm surprised they didn't make you wait to have the surgery until you were done nursing! I always hear that expends so much energy and immediately after surgery it seems like it would be hard to "keep up". I agree with Laura-Ven that a call to your surgeon is in order. At this stage it is better to ask for permission instead of forgiveness :-)