madferitchick

I had also heard of this pre sleeve, not any solid evidence just hear say. My experience post sleeve (almost two years) is that I have had a decline in dental health. I have had a couple of teeth break (had to have one pulled out) and experienced some decay so have had to have fillings. I don't suffer with GERD or vomiting and I eat a good, balanced diet and take my vitamins/supplements. I look after my teeth well. The only thing I can attribute it to is that I think I have a habit of holding fluid in my mouth sometimes if I take a sip of my drink and can't swallow it immediately. Despite not drinking any carbonation or sugary drinks, I wonder if this could be part of the reason. I'd be really interested to hear if anyone else has had any issues too.

Well, another year passed, and another update from a Disney water park whilst on holiday in Florida! It seems surreal that I started this thread two years ago, when life was very different indeed! Since my last update I have undergone round one of plastics and had a back lift and thigh lift. That has made a huge difference to the holiday experience. I am for the first time in about 15 years wearing a normal swimsuit with out needing to wear shorts over to cover my awful thighs! I am also now able to wear normal bras as opposed to body suits thanks to my back lift...which makes life much cooler in the hot Florida sun! It also meant my husband took me underwear shopping in Victoria's Secret on my birthday which was really lovely [emoji7] Having my sleeve really has been the best thing I have done for myself. And it really hasn't ruined my enjoyment of food. I'm still vigilant most of the time, but when I come on holiday I relax and eat what I want...my sleeve just puts a hard limit on how much I can eat and whilst that means I have a lot of left overs, I don't ever feel hard done by or regretful that I can't keep on eating forever! We return home to the uk in a few days, and then two weeks later I will go in for round two of plastics, an arm lift. I'm less nervous this time and looking forward to getting it done. The final round, to get my tummy done, will have to wait as we are planning to try for a second baby later in the year, so no point in a tummy tuck before that!! I hope everyone else is doing well and enjoying life! Happy Easter [emoji195][emoji214][emoji4]

So, I am booked in for round two of plastics in may which will be an arm lift. Excited and nervous! I'd be grateful for any helpful tips from people who have had this surgery for things that helped your recovery as well as compression garment recommendations? I am in the UK but visiting the USA next week so that may be my chance to get something? If there are any aids or equipment you'd recommend too that'd be fab. Thank you all in advance [emoji4]

I use upbeat protein yoghurt drinks, available in tesco/waitrose etc and really nice. Nutramino lean are good for protein bars when you get to solids and need a convenient protein fix you can take out with you. Available from boots x

Wow, Kristen you are looking fab! So pleased to see all went well and you have started your recovery journey. Did you stay in hosp or were you sent home on the day of your op? I will be in two nights minimum but in the UK we tend to be kept in longer than in USA I think. Thank you for the well wishes. Feeling very up and down today. Just want to be out the other side!

Hey Kristen, how are you feeling about your surgery?? I go in on 23 Nov for thigh lift and braline back lift and the anxiety has really kicked in tonight!! Sending lots of love and luck for your surgery and look forward to hearing how wonderful you are looking on the other side

@@Scamp sorry just thought of a few questions! With your thigh lift, how soon did you start to wear compression? And in terms of recovery, how soon were you able to drive again and do short errands (in thinking about dropping my daughter to school etc)? Also did you use anything on your scars like paper or silicone tape or gel etc? Thanks

Thank you so much scamp, that's really helpful and encouraging

I exercised all the way through, cardio and lots of weights/strength. I also lost at a very conservative pace...not my choice but I would have liked it to be faster! However, having been obese for thirty years understandably took its toll on my skin and after losing over 100lb I knew it was never going to just bounce back!

Hi everyone, So, 18 months after I had my sleeve I am booked in for my first plastic procedures. Having been over weight my entire life I need the works, tummy, arms, thighs, back and one day face/neck! I'm starting with these two as I'm not certain if I'm done with having babies or not so as much as I'd love to do my stomach first, that's gonna have to wait! So...I'm booked in for 23 Nov Got my pre op tests next weds. Getting very nervous about it... not so much the surgery as the recovery. I will have help but have a five year old daughter so there will be some stuff I just have to get on with. I am booked in for 2/3 nights in hosp (I am in the U.K.). Any advice, experience or words of wisdom anyone has for recovery etc would be very gratefully received!? Practical things I can have at home ready etc. I am planning to get a walker and raised toilet seat with frame. I'm not sure what my surgeon provides in terms of compression, so any recommendations there would be great too! Thanks in advance :-)

@@KristenLe no they didn't check thyroid - have had it checked within the past couple of years and was ok. Is that something that can be affected by weight loss? @@Babbs you have prompted me to think I did have a bit of lapse in Vitamins a few months back - perhaps I am now paying the price even though my blood work looked OK?

Oh wow! How much is not enough protein for you to have that reaction? I'm in the UK so we don't actually get protein targets, but I average about 80g a day, often more though, like today has been 101g!

Has anyone suffered a second round of hair loss!? I had the classic first round between approx months 3-7...just as I thought I was going to be completely bald it stopped...new hairs started coming through and I cut my hair short and took a huge sigh of relief I had survived! Lol! Hair much thinner but starting to recover. Now, at almost 14 months out from surgery it seems to have started again I realise that when the hair loss stopped around month 7/8 it stopped completely, I really wasn't losing any hair at all - and I know a certain amount of shed is normal - and now it's started again with a vengeance. I'm pretty sure it's not just a normal amount and I can already see the affects, particularly at the front of my hairline where it was really bad last time. If it carries on for the months it did last time I'm afraid I really will end up bald! Does anyone have any experience of this at this point or further from surgery? I'm getting all my protein/water, taking my vits, recently had bloods done and all good there, and although I still have weight to lose its not coming off at the moment, bee stalled for about 6 weeks.

It totally bemuses me this feeling the cold thing! Living in the uk getting too hot isn't usually an issue! but when I was 100lb heavier, on the few occasions the sun did show its face, I used to dread it as I'd get hot and sweaty even thinking about the temperature going above 75! We visit Florida each Easter and I used to dread the heat but love the air con everywhere! Especially in diners and restaurants etc, and in our holiday villa I would set it as low as I could, even though the user manual always said not to lol! My parents come with us and my mum would always be cold when we ate out and need a sweater or something to keep warm, and at night would need the comforter and still be cold in bed as I set the air con so cold! Well, this year we went to Florida and a whole new world opened up! I was cold everywhere with air con! I even had to set it to heat in our villa for the first few days of our trip as it wasn't very warm outside, and in restaurants/diners etc I was always freezing and had to buy a sweater! I hadn't gone prepared! I guess losing 100lb of insulation makes a big difference now I'm willing the sun to come out in the uk this summer and looking forward to my holiday to Europe where it will be nice and hot!

Well a year ago today I took what I felt was an incredibly brave decision to get a gastric sleeve. And I am so glad I did! 107lb down and so much happier, healthier, stronger and fitter! Still more to lose but I'm confident I will keep going in the right direction :-)