VSGAnn2014

Move on. If you hang on to feeling "hurt and sad" about this person, you're dragging around baggage you have already decided you don't need or want. Just wave goodbye to her (mentally), wish her well, and ... move on. You'll find more compatible companions.

Thanks, Texasmeg. Appreciate it.

Texasmeg, would you mind describing that workout a bit? I have a big knees issue and cannot do lunges or squats.

Yea, Bill!

If it's on your left shoulder, chances are it's gas. If it's on your right should, it could be referred pain from a gall bladder that's acting up. Only an ultrasound of your gallbladder will reveal if that's the case though. (I'm the lucky post-op recipient, for the first time in my life, of gallbladder attacks. Will soon have surgery to remove it.)

Hmmm ... I had not anticipated this specific question. Perhaps I'll say: * I don't know. * Don't you think that question is a little rude? * How much do you weigh? * I lost a bit. But mostly, I lost my patience for idiots like you. (Well, that was fun. )

Who you calling "old lady"?

I can't imagine there's a problem drinking faster if you can do it. I had to sip at first. But 19 days post-op, I can do a 14-ounce Protein drink in 30 minutes EASY. I certainly cannot gulp. But I can easily drink 1/2 ounce swallows now. I do have to wait a minute or two between swallows. Glad you're doing so well.

Jeez, I never had to crush any pills. Take a thyroid and a Protonix daily. And I have never had any problems at all. (They even gave me whole pills in the hospital post-op.) My multi-vitamin/mineral is chewable, but that honker is big.

My surgeon has operated on several patients over 70. And I'm almost 69. No problemos here at all. (Am only 19 days post-op, but am doing great.)

Kindle is sooo right! But if you want to compare .... I lost 11 pounds during the 9 weeks prior to starting my pre-op diet. I then had a 14-day pre-op diet and lost 8 pounds. I was sleeved on August 18 (that was 19 days ago) and have lost another 10 pounds. So in the last 31 days that's a pre-op diet + post-op weight loss of 18 pounds and a daily weight loss of 0.55 pounds. I've never, ever lost that much weight that consistently in my whole life! And you've lost a little faster than me (if I recall, your pre-op diet was shorter than mine). I dunno if you can chalk up your anxiety to being neurotic or Jewish, but I think you've got some unrealistic expectations for WLS. My surgeon told me that at my starting weight (BMI of 37 just before my pre-op diet started) I should expect an average weight loss during the first year post-op (depending on my activity level, age, individual metabolic rate, etc.) of 1-2 pounds/week. If I guesstimate I'll lose an average of 1.5 pounds/week, I'll lose 78 pounds in a year, which puts me a few pounds below my goal of 150. I will be so tickled with that. So be happy. Be realistic. Adjust your expectations.

Yeah, he is no charmer. But here's the deal: What you mainly need in a bariatric surgeon is ... a GREAT bariatric surgeon. By that, I mean someone who has done thousands of these operations in an A-1 hospital where many more thousands of these operations have been done -- who seldom (if ever) has had a surgical complication. You need her/him to have a crackerjack surgical team -- a head surgical nurse who has been with the surgeon a long time, who works hand-in-glove with the surgeon, who knows where the surgeon is going to cut, pull, stitch. And you need a strong, experienced anesthesiologist and anesthetist who are skilled and observant at their jobs. Ideally, you'd also want a surgeon who's also a great physician, a natural healer who has a calling for this work. And, of course, you would love to have an office operation that ran like a top - bariatric nurse(s), schedulers, physician's assistant, smart nutritionist and exercise consultant. But more than anything you need a GREAT surgeon who is masterful at doing VSGs safely in ways that result in easy recoveries with no complications. If this surgeon has that skill and experience set, then he should still be on your short list. And nothing's stopping you from continuing to shop. And given the big decision you're making, $250 is a very small amount to pay to gather the information you need to make that decision. Did you find out: 1. How many VSGs this surgeon has done? In what time frame? 2. What's his personal surgical complication rate? His mortality rate? 3. How many WLSs have been done in the hospital where you'll be operated on? 4. What's the MRSA infection incidence (%) at the hospital for surgeries there in the last 3 months? Those are some of the questions you want to find out answers to.

Check out this woman: "LessofSarah" She started out around 460 and last I heard was almost 200. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdM9DUReSA2tcd3JuE2PvzA She's a prolific v-blogger and has a big following on YouTube.

I did not know the bit about the "no Vitamins either." And I've been taking levoxyl for over 30 years! Thanks for posting this here.

Dear CJG, He's either 1) just not that into you, 2) is asexual (ugh), or c) is a manipulative a*****e. In this instance, dating has achieved its goal. It's a time-honored process that keeps you from marrying people your parents and friends think are a "perfect fit." And btw, based on my experience, middle-aged love has one big thing in common with other-aged love: It feels like LOVE! My amazing hubby and I met when I was 50 and he was 57. We are now 68 and 75. And it still feels like LOVE!

Your husband is a genius! Thanks.

Enjoy the journey. That's where the learning is.

Kookichu, I truly enjoyed reading tonight the diary of your journey thus far. You are lovely, in and out. I wish the best for you in your new life. Ann

No one has to have the surgery. Everyone must do their own due diligence and make their own decision that's right for them. Personally, I think the surgery is NOT right for everyone! If you feel like it isn't right for you, then you should definitely not get it.

Needed very little. Only thing I used that hospital did not provide was my iPad. I wore a stretchy dress with no waistline and matching jacket. Smart idea. Pillow in the car home also was a smart idea. It's a hospital overnight, not a vacation. You'll be fine.

Well, this is still my fave thread on the forum! I was sleeved August 18. Today I'm 2 weeks out and doing great. Today was my first full day of pureed food -- ate Greek yogurt, refried beans/cheddar cheese/poached egg, and cream of chicken Soup made with skim milk and fortified with 3 ounces of pureed chicken meat. I've been hitting my 60+ grams of Protein since Day 5. I'm making my 64 ounces of Water most days). Walking the dog daily and today even got on the treadmill and the NuStep for 20 minutes this afernoon. Arthritic pain in knees, legs, feet, back are much better than before. I'm moving much faster than pre-op. On the mood side, I'm happier, calmer, sleeping better than before surgery. Lost 11 pounds earlier this summer, then 8 pounds on pre-op diet, then 7 pounds since surgery - 26 pounds in all. That's plenty fast for me. Some people on the forum seem to be really suffering post-op. I feel sorry for them. I honestly think I lucked out and had a really skilled surgeon. No drain, incisions were not painful and healed like cat-scratches. I took pain med (hydrocodone) only the first night home (yuck!). Nothing since. I will admit to a LOT of afternoon napping. Really surprises me. I never took 2-3 hour naps like this before in my life. This could turn into a bad habit. I've really enjoyed these weeks with nothing to do but heal. I go back to work tomorrow - but happily work at home. Oh, right ... I did have my first gall bladder attack last week, and the ultrasound screens showed what appeared to be two dozen or more gallstones. Erk. I'll see my surgeon this week and schedule a second surgery to take that sucker out. But otherwise, onward and downward. Very happy.

@@Fox-E, I bought very small food processor -- holds about a cup or cup and a half of food. It's perfect for me. Got it on Amazon. (Am too tired to go look at the name of it right now -- will edit this post tomorrow.)

They're called "tickers." Click on your underlined name at the top of this page. You'll see a choice called TICKERS. Click on it and go to town.

I think I have found my peeps! Elsewhere on this board are some deep sinkholes of sensitivity a body could disappear into. Shee! I'm 14 days out today. Feeling good. Doing good. I had one WTF?! day -- fortunately, it was Day Two. And when the sun rose on Day Three it was over. What's for dinner?

Not saying YOU should do this, but here's what I did (because I could not WAIT to get my show on the road): 1. In early June I put myself on a 1200-1400 calorie/day diet. In 9 weeks I lost 11 pounds. I also started my "couch to human being" walking program. I started at 900 daily steps and got up to 7,000 daily steps pre-op. 2. On August 4, I started a 2-week pre-op diet and lost 8 pounds on that. 3. On August 18 (2 weeks ago), I had surgery. As of this morning, I've lost 7 more pounds. That's a total of 26 pounds since early June. Honestly, I started early because I needed to "get in shape to get in shape." I know I did myself a huge favor! I've had a fairly easy time of it since surgery -- although I probably should just thank my lucky stars I had a surgeon whose technical brilliance helped him inflict the least amount of trauma possible on my body while doing VSG surgery. Oh, and I'm 68 years old.