VSGAnn2014

It's a human inclination (not saying it's a good one, but an inclination) to want to look down on others. We're hard-wired to create and live in pecking orders. FTR, some comments in this thread reflect an inclination to look down on those who are alcoholics and drug addicts.

I just want a hug.

Some massively great comments in this thread! I'm still thinking about how I feel about this question (good one, Alex). But one thing I'm realizing is that I need even more friends. It's time to start new-friend-dating.

I have no idea about your symptoms. Just saying hope you feel better soon.

I'm BBQing anything @@Dub is grilling.

Just remember that eventually you probably will be *able* to eat anything. However, that will be months and months and months down the road -- after your new sleeve has fully healed. But even after your sleeve has healed, it probably doesn't mean you *should* eat anything. Which foods you can and should eat regularly depends on whether those foods nourish your body and on whether your body's and your mental responses to certain foods are healthy and don't lead to over-eating those foods. Some foods will wind up being "trigger foods" for you, and you will have to avoid or greatly minimize your use of those foods. For example, some people have problems with certain "slider foods" or alcohol or high-calorie coffee drinks long-term. Many people have problems with carbonated beverages long-term. Many people have real problems with sugary foods and other slider foods and fast foods and fried foods long-term. Again, they have to avoid or minimize those foods. If you have any kind of eating disorders or what some refer to as "food addictions," weight loss surgery will NOT *fix* those issues. If you have those challenges, you should address and resolve those issues in therapy. Some people also find twelve-step and other kinds of recovery programs helpful. Some may need to enter residential treatment programs to address severe problems. Bottom line: "Can eat" doesn't always mean "should eat."

Here's my reaction to those photos and this discussion: First of all, I can't tell what I'm looking at in those pictures. Really. I can't. Second, it does look to me like the scales of the two pics are different (taken from far away in the left pic; a close-up in the right pic). And third, if someone's sleeve actually were larger many months / years down the road, after they've eaten and drunk many things many times, how does one conclude that "diet soda" is THE THING responsible for the stretching? Finally, regardless of what one eats or drinks post-op, if someone's sleeve did stretch, doesn't that likely mean that their surgeon did not properly remove the fundus (stretchy) part of the stomach to form a properly shaped sleeve?

I took liquid hydrocodone only twice after coming home and probably could have skipped it. The pain post op was very minimal. Don't anticipate a painful recovery. It may not be that way for you.

I double dog dare you to tell all this to your surgeon. Because I know what your surgeon will prescribe. Something to help you address your eating disorder: Anorexia. Good luck to you.

I simply mean that sleeve surgery works to restrict severely the volume of food you can eat. That's why many people lose weight "effortlessly" for at least six months, sometimes losing 100 pounds or more during that time. Your profile looks like you wanted to lose only 35 pounds. You have boarded a train that takes a long time to slow down. Eating high fat, high carb food would help to slow it faster. Your surgeon may have better ideas.

Good change.

Yeah, I can see you'd have a problem after VSG surgery done to lose 35 pounds. What does your surgeon advise?

Our decision-making styles are grounded in much more than hormones and have nothing to do with our genders or gender preferences.

Sorry, but that's not a salt fix. That's a carb fix.

Yeah, one benefit to being in a healthcare graduate program. All I have to do is grab the DOI and search it in my university's library. So nice to know you, @@theantichick !

Really great list! You did good.

If you guys look online, especially at surgeons' articles, essays, posts, etc., you'll see language like this: "X procedure can be reversed, but it is rarely done, not always successful, and invites greater risks than the initial procedure."

I did ... but they're all listed in a medical journal library system -- where I'd have to pay bucks to read them.

"monkey butlers from Amazon" Great term.

For me, it's not about BMI, but how I physically and mentally feel. My doc didn't set a goal for me. He made it clear (by what he did NOT say) that my ultimate weight loss was up to me, not him. That felt pretty empowering. I picked 150 pounds as my goal, even though it was 10 pounds less than I'd weighed in the last 40 years. I remember feeling great at that weight in my early 30s. It also one pound heavier than "normal." (I am 5'5".) But mostly I just wanted to be mobile, feel better, wear normal-sized clothes, feel like my appearance reflected the person I truly am. Well, shockingly, I did reach 150 pounds. Then over the next eight months I lost another 15 pounds. And here I sit at 135 pounds. FYI, losing these last 15 pounds are what it took for my old, arthritic knees to finally stop hurting! Pre-op I'd never have thought this weight would look good on me. And it has taken a while for my eyes / brain to adapt to my new look. But now 135 feels and looks good to me. For me, it's not about my BMI -- but how I feel.

I want to look like Debbie Harry. Sent from my SM-G900V using the BariatricPal App

Really good point ... I will never stand in line again. Sent from my SM-G900V using the BariatricPal App

They make you do your own laundry.

Doesn't matter what you call counseling. It will probably help you find greater emotional stability and clarify YOUR values, issues and goals. Go for it.

Hmmm ... A thought -- is your scale an analog scale or a digital scale? All the studies that evaluate scales' accuracy find that digital scales are more accurate. I recently researched this. Just sayin'.