Sydney Susan

Try laser - a m a z i n g. The proper stuff, not ipl or elp or whatever it's called. It's cheap here (well chins and underarms are) and laser hair removal salons are everywhere. It's not a full cure all but has a dramatic effect on making hairs finer and fewer. But do it before you get too old - I'm postmenopausal and now some of those black goat hairs have turned white and laser no longer works on them! Plucking makes them thick and my skin now gets quite damaged when they regrow. And boy do they itch when they are just under the skin. Electrolysis is not bad but you have to get a really good operator as many just make the problem worse. If you are young I'd get checked out for PCOS as per an earlier poster's suggestion. Good luck with this. If you find a good "cure" please shout from the rooftops, as many of us need to know.

Minnie, why would your dr want to cancel you? Surely they couldn't anyway if you are self pay... But why do you feel your dr will see this as so inappropriate for you? I only ask because if that is your overriding fear, it may be something you need to look at in yourself. Don't rush in to an irreversible op if you're unsure. Most of us have at least some time to delay surgery, even if we have significant health issues. If u think your dr is unreasonable about WLS, might be time to change doctors. You will have to tell him/her some time, and it will come up from time to time in the years ahead. You need to be able to talk freely about it.

Opposite for me - really enjoying the slimmer body! Could it be a side effect of fatigue, due to low calories or persistent dehydration?

Last week I had a fitbit flex and a fitbit one in my hands ready to buy. I've had so many pedometers fall off of pants that I wasn't keen to pay $120 to see the fitbit one end up lost in a week. Flushing pedometers down the loo is a bit of a specialty of mine. I'd wanted to get the fitbit flex and it looks great, but I couldn't see how it could be accurate on an arm - most of us move our arms far more than any other bit of our bodies. I looked up reviews and sure enough the flex has been shown many times to overestimate steps... Up to 2000 a day according to some. Now I'm not sure what to do. I believe some people buy a larger size and wear the flex around their ankle. How have others managed this??? And how do you get the fitbit one to work at night? I don't wear a bra to bed... I'd be worried I'd roll over onto it. I'm keen to hear some real users experiences. Thanks.

Not only Protein but mostly, and no starchy stuff like bananas, fruit yoghurts, sugar, rice, Pasta and bread. And avoid fruit generally and limit veges to a couple of cups a day and no carrots, pumpkin, swede, parsnip, sweet and other potatoes. When doing Optifast I've noticed going without milk in tea and coffee (as recommended) makes a huge difference to how I feel. I used to think it was so little that it couldn't do any harm, but when I followed instructions to the letter I lost more weight and felt better (after the first couple of days... which are always disgusting, as your body adjusts) than ever before - I've been on Optifast heaps of times. Do you have a dietician or a special program you are following? You may not be on a ketosis program, but you sound like you 'almost' are. Sadly "ketosis breath" is a feature - I'm home (not working) so making the most of the opportunity to be "unpleasant". sugar free gum helps too. You can buy urine testing strips for ketones to check you are where you need to be (if you're meant to be in ketosis, that is). I believe it's not healthy for everyone (diabetics?) and not long term (do you have a lot of weight to lose?), so your dr may or may not want you to do this. I'm no expert on this by the way, just sharing what is and has worked for me. My weight loss is 19 kg (42lb???) in 12 weeks, so not huge by many people's standards, but massive for me! 12kg still to go! Good luck with it all. Stay healthy first and foremost, so check with your dr or dietician (please).

Not a direct answer to your question but I find I feel better if I completely can the carbs, even milk, and allow my body to settle into ketosis. Could your tiredness be because you're actually eating a few carbs so not in ketosis, but not taking enough food in for a non ketosis diet?? Just a thought... I'm a real carbs junkie so it kills me to give them up completely (except for non starchy veg), but after a couple of horror days I really do notice the difference.

Get your thyroid checked... "cold to touch" sounds a bit iffy to me.

I'm in my 50s so far from your age group, but I've often wondered what I'd advise a young person if ever I was asked. To my mind 60 or 70 years of food restriction and - over that long period - the risk of you needing a bit of your body that's been cut out, mean this op shouldn't be entered into lightly. Particularly if you still have time on your side to try to avoid or address health issues. But you've had the surgery now, and there will no doubt be benefits... providing you commit long term to working with your sleeve. I'm sure you've worked out by now - as I have - that it really wouldn't be that hard to gain weight with the sleeve. Just eat junk or graze all day. You need never experience the health issues that gradually build over years of carrying excess weight. You can develop lifelong exercise habits before weight erodes your joints. You can enjoy feeling your outer image reflects your inner self, through the important twenties years. You will hopefully embrace a full range of life's experiences, free from the restrictions that obesity often places on us. You won't face the economic and emotional costs that weight related illnesses place on us. When it comes time to have a family, your fertility and pregnancy health won't be affected by your weight, as it is for so many. Regarding restricted eating, remember that our "normal" was only ever one version. Many people are naturally small portion eaters. Embrace the fact that this is now your normal and perfect it! Enjoy that you can savour flavour and are freed from the need to eat large amounts to feel satisfied. Don't regret, adjust. If you had lost most of your stomach due to accident or illness, with your family's help you would embrace your "second life" and thrive. Shift your thinking and go for it. Good luck!

Ditto from DownUnder.

My BMI was just under 35 on day or surgery; over 36 when I first saw the bariatric surgeon. I have v significant, multiple comorbidities. I don't know how old you are and I'm always a bit wary of younger people taking out bits of their body that they may find they need later on -especially if there are no health issues right now. But your family history is significant and it's not great that you can only walk a couple of blocks. IMO this surgery - any abdominal surgery - does pose significant risks and shouldn't be entered into lightly. I had a good run with surgery and recovery but I still didn't think it was a walk in the park. Now that I'm sleeved I also realise it is still very possible to not lose or to lose and then regain the weight... this is no magic bullet and you need to work at it long term, have no illusions about that. But having said all that, I am glad I did it and now have real hope for a healthy future and a longer life, after years of feeling completely opposite to that. I'm still adjusting but I don't feel I've 'lost' anything or am deprived. food tastes just the same and I enjoy as much as ever, just in v small quantities. So read up, decide if this is right for you, and if it is embrace it. I'd suggest you read the "complications" and "regrets" posts (along with the good news stories) to get a balanced view. Good luck with it all.

My son takes both Ritalin and Concerta for ADD and both of those suppress appetite. I have NO appetite post op, and doubt it can be further suppressed by meds - you'll have to schedule your eating anyway (or you'll forget to eat), so it will make no difference. Relax about it.

A few things other than anxiety disorders can make you feel shakey and anxious - thyroid conditions, persistent low blood sugar, vitamin and mineral deficiencies (I think that includes Vit B12), toxin build up (eg: pesticides, insect sprays) and some medications. Always worth getting a full medical checkup to rule out a physical cause first.

That's great that your Doc said you should be 'off' your CPAP soon. I'm with you about using it, but then lots of people in my family have been diagnosed with sleep apnoea and my father - a very heavy snorer - wasn't diagnosed but died during the night at 59. Interestingly my dr says he doesn't think I will come off my CPAP machine with weight loss, as he thinks I have a narrow throat... and possibly that's a trait throughout my family. I've tried going without it a few times since I've lost over 17 kg (nearly 20% of my starting weight), and I snore a lot a less, don't wake with the raging 'CO2 headache' that I used to pre-CPAP, but still don't feel 100%. The look of the thing is certainly an issue for women. Strangely I wouldn't care a jot if my husband had to use one, and would just be pleased his health was improved by it... but I am virtually a contortionist in trying to hide from him when I've got it on. I always wait till he's asleep before putting it on and dive under the sheets at the first sign of movement in the morning. Yet he's never said anything negative about it; as a light sleeper he loves that I don't keep him awake any longer. I wear the nasal mask with oh so cute pink headstraps (yuk), and he once called me his 'little fighter pilot'. I cried with gratitude and he's never been game to say anything again, either positive or negative. Poor bloke.

Perhaps this is one of those Aussie-American things - where we think that because we speak the same language we should understand each other, but we just don't - but I don't get why any poster would go raving on about their doctor unless they were being paid to do so. It sounds - to my ears at least - disingenuous. Surely a simple "sorry to hear of your bad experience, mine was good" is enough to balance the record, if you feel that's necessary. I had a very good experience with my doctor, but not in a month of Sundays would I describe him as "awesome"... and he'd probably be completely creeped out if i did.

Me too. Isn't it cool!

To my knowledge even Hindus would cut out a cancer that may kill. I don't know your situation but many of us here were genuinely frightened our weight would bring us a very premature end and leave our children motherless. It's the most natural thing in the world to want to live and live well.

Yes to compression stockings. Big yes. Re ab band, I find I can't bear anything tight around my tummy these days, and I was a committed spanx wearer before. Just feels really uncomfortable despite the fact I'm considerably lighter.

You clever thing, you. Well done!

I hear you... I'm going through a process of determining if liver lesions are benign or not - I had cancer 6 years ago so it terrified me for a while. The lesions are proving hard to diagnose though so today I've been told I'm on 3 monthly scans (known as "watchful waiting"), after a bundle of different types of scan and a biopsy showed nothing conclusive. As I'm pretty well I've relaxed a lot of late. But in the process of a gazillion blood tests it also looks like I have a chronic leukemia. Waiting to see a haematologist. . I was able to deal with food pretty well (for me) but I did feel I was entitled to a drinkie or 3 (with some cheese of course, what good is fine wine without exquisite cheese???), so no weight loss for a few weeks there. And my insomnia has gone through the roof again, and I do find that I eat more if I'm up all night... Not binging, just so much more time awake plus tiredness means I sometimes eat for energy. If it helps to know, I've had benign nodules on my thyroid many times - i have Hashimoto's (autoimmune hypothyroiditis) and they've shrunk with medication. My mother had thyroid cancer and if you are well in other ways the prognosis is excellent. One thing I was told when I first got cancer is that now I'd probably end up with other investigations or diagnoses - when you have lots of blood tests and scans drs find things they can't immediately explain. If they weren't looking you'd be blissfully ignorant - like the rest of the population - and almost certainly nothing would come of it. Try not to worry too much (easier said than done, I know, I know). I think we're both doing well to still be here, concerned about our weight loss and getting on with it. Good luck with everything. I'd love to hear how things turn out, but I think you have every reason to feel positive. In fact I think I'll go and toast your good health right now... with a teensy bit of cheese on the side. Cheers, Susan

Boys! Honestly, I've come home with my hair cut short and a very different colour and neither my hubby nor teen son noticed - even the dog was looking at me funny! Try asking "Can you see anything different about me?" and twirl around. If nothing else it will make him sweat... My hubby would be just as likely to respond with "oh that, well you've had that surgery so what did you expect?", as if that makes it not worth commenting on. Of course if you are getting into shape and he's not, he may be feeling pressure to do something himself. Or fearful a more complementary Prince Charming will take you away.

My doc said 6 weeks too

I did go through this but have to say I'm eating and drinking pretty normally after less than 3 months. It's portion size and low carb that are my biggest changes. Like any weight loss plan there are some deprivations, but I honestly feel they are less with VSG than many others I've tried - but I was always a pretty healthy eater of large portions. The sleeve controls portions really well in these early days (and pretty well, long term, from vets comments here). I wouldn't sweat it too much. The early weeks are kind of tough but your appetite will probably be near to non-existent, so you won't care as much as you currently think you will. Good luck with it all.

I believe that alcoholic and non alcoholic fatty liver are quite different and cirrhosis is far less common with non alcoholic. The fat is actually in our liver cells (though if we are obese we'll almost certainly have more fat than is ideal around our organs too), and the overall size of our liver increases. The Optifast pre-op diet is aimed at decreasing the fat in our liver cells and so the size of our liver. I believe we can decrease the size of our livers by diet, so VSG should really help. Amazingly it's low carb that is most important. Good luck. It's v common these days (due to growing rate of obesity) but far better to be without!

I was asked to bring mine and I'm a regular user of it - sleep soooo much better most nights with it on. We should start a thread on how to get the most out of your CPAP machine... There's so many on here who use them but struggle with them... I've developed several techniques that have made mine more bearable. It's not a perfect system but most nights I sleep well with it (though it is one heck of an ugly thing to wear). My dr is quite conservative and keeps all his patients in hospital 4 nights - those with sleep apnoea spend the first night in intensive care, with one to one monitoring. This is private hospital ICU though, and in Australia anyone with a serious condition, car accident victim etc wound go to the local public hospital which is kitted out the best. I think that's different from the States, not sure. So the ICU was really a relaxed, sleepy little place - at least the night I was in. I didn't use my CPAP then - was just watched closely. I went straight from there to a room of my own. I used my CPAP then and all went fine.

I am nearly 3 months out and the drop in my hunger is phenomenal, but I get occasional twinges and still get the urge to eat foods I just really like the taste of. My understanding is pretty much the same as Lessismore, as explained by my dr and dietician. Basically the body has amazing adaptive capacity, so don't assume you'll never be hungry again. You'll read in these posts of many people who say they do feel hungry soon after surgery - whether that's "real" hunger or "head hunger" (your brain wanting you to eat what you did before) I can't say. The thing to be aware of is the sleeve is quite complex in the way it works - ideally reduces hunger pangs AND increases restriction so you get feedback that stops you eating. Some find their taste for fatty or sweet food has changed. Most get a big kick start on weight loss that helps further weight loss (eg: for me, weight off my joints is making vigorous exercise do-able again). Over time vets say the restriction reduces a bit and hunger pangs can return. Many only get one of these and for some none seem to help as much as they'd imagined. But everyone gets something. This is why it's called a "tool" and not a "cure". The term annoys some but it makes a lot of sense to me... there's nothing guaranteed but whatever weight losing advantages you get post surgery, make the most of them... For however long they last. Better to go in to this with your eyes wide open. I am really pleased I did it, but I didn't expect a "cure". I can still drink/eat loads of sugary and/or fatty foods if I really want to. If someone really feels they have a food addiction, counselling will probably still be appropriate.