Rev Me Up!

I think my sense of style has always been the same, but I was also concerned about what looks good on me. At this stage of my life, I have more of an hourglass shape than I ever had before and I have started to get into the retro clothes - dresses that are tight on top with full circle skirts. Also shirts that have built in darts at the bust to accomodate a small waist with a larger bosom. They are forgiving for the body shape I have today. Also, I am bearing down on 40 and I am trying to evolve my style in a way that is age appropriate while still being cool. I will say today that I am willing to spend more money on clothes because they look fantastic. I also am moving into wearing much more color rather than just colorful accessories. Good luck to you in realizing your full style potential!!!!

Hi- had surgery on 3/7/2011 - just over 6 months ago. I have lost 90% of my excess weight and I am still loding about a pound a week. I should get to my goal in a month at this rate. However, I will probably shoot right past it because I don't know how I would stop losing weight at this point - I can't possibly eat more!! I was a lapband revision and I am THRILLED with my experience with Dr Aceves and my results. The first month is brutal, but it is very effective. Good luck!

I have to be honest, I didn't eat with my family for about 4 weeks after surgery. The smells would make me ill or they would give me terrible cravings and I would feel sorry for myself because I couldn't partake. I would either watch TV or go in my bedroom and read a book. This is temporary. You will be able to join them soon enough without feeling so awkward. If you can't take it emotionally, there is nothing wrong with admitting it. I couldn't take it and I had to remove myself from the situation. Not forever, just for a few weeks until I was healed enough to handle it. No shame in that!!!

Hi- Different doctors give different diets. Those of us that went to Mexico are on an aggressive liquids only for 3 weeks. I got a different set of instructions from my US bariatric support center. They have you trying mushy food by the end of the first week. I ended up somewhere in between. I wasn't tolerating any Protein drinks so I started to eat yogurt and WELL CHEWED cottage cheese after 2 weeks. Even then, I could only eat about 3 bites and it took 20 minutes to get it down. There is no difference between revision patients and virgin tummy patients. If you are confused, call your doctor to clarify. Also, there are a few spots here on the board where people have posted their post op diet instructions. Is there something specific you are concerned about with your current diet?

For me, when the band was empty, My eating was almost completely back to pre-band capacity. The only difference was that I still couldn't eat chicken - it would get stuck. I was not required to remove my fill before my surgery so I didn't see a huge spike in my weight, but I was slowly gaining with 2.6 cc for a year. I had at least 12 adjustments with no weight loss over a few years. With the sleeve I have had amazing restriction. Very consistent, and VERY restricted. I had my band out and sleeve in during one procedure. Good luck!

Not sure about the ER thing - certainly there should be some website or something that could explain it? If your band is giving you problems, then you should visit the ER. You don't want to have it erode too much further - that can be very dangerous. My reply will bump this message back to the top and hopefully someone with some medicaid experience will reply. What about the county you live in? I live in California and found out that the county government also has a medical program. Contact your local county government office and see if there are additional resources available to you - especially for emergency situations. And take it easy on the wine :-) Can't be good for a damaged tummy... or maybe I am just jealous because I can't really drink it anymore :-) good luck---

Hello- You are most certainly sleeved by now and I hope the surgery was a complete success! We are all scared in the hours before surgery - there is no going back once it begins!!! I also had a few "final meals" before my surgery. But, one day you will eat your favorites again. It will be a few months from now, but it will happen. Weird thing is that your favorites may not taste good to you anymore. The first couple of weeks are the hardest. You will wonder why on earth you did this to yourself?!?!? But, rest assured, you will feel better. Eating will get easier and the weight will start falling off like crazy. Take care of yourself over the next couple of weeks. Stay hydrated and keep coming back to the forum - I was on this site 24x7 for 2 weeks. It is really helpful to know you aren't alone. Take care and good luck!!!!!

I don't think I have anything to add as far as advice, but I really feel for you. I can't imagine being in that situation - there is no easy answer here. I would just ask that you remember that you have a voice too. Sometimes in relationships we get so absorbed in what our partners want or need that we forget that we are equal participants in that relationship. Can you think of an instance where you would threaten to cancel his medical or life insurance because he was doing something you didn't agree with? This is bigger than the surgery - seriously. Try and talk with him. You may decide to postpone the surgery, that's up to you. But, I would really try and get to the bottom of the drastic reaction. If you decide to go through with it, you will have to stop looking for his approval. Recovery is hard and you won't have the energy to boost him up afterwards. You have to prepare your pantry and get your supplies. Some people find their spouses calm down after the surgery. Take care---

Hi- You won't know until you get there, unfortunately. But, ask yourself: would you rather be overweight or be a normal weight with some sagging skin? Yes, the sagging skin is yucky, but if you really have a problem with it, there are surgeries you can get to remove it. My sagging skin is primarily a hangover from being HUGE during my pregnancy. That was 7 years ago, but you can'r reverse the scarring (stretch marks) once they develop. The skin on my stomach is really damaged from that stretching and now looks pretty bad with my clothes off. I have made a commitment to give myself a full year after I get to goal weight before I make decisions about surgery. Another thing pregnancy taught me is that your skin / body needs up to a year to get a bit of it's shape back. I have lost so much weight in a short amount of time that my skin is confused :-) The skin sagging has to do with how many inches you lose, your genetics, as well as your age. I have great skin genes, but I pushed my skin over the edge by being obese and pregnant. Even at 37, most of my skin is looking really good, but it takes time to heal. Good luck on your journey!

Just for perspective, I remember when I was in my early 20's I would fluctuate between 112 and 115 pounds. Never more, never less - for several years. I think it is completely normal to fluctuate about 5 pounds. At this point I am still losing and I only weigh once every 2 or 3 weeks. I can't weigh daily - it really means nothing to me. I want to know real progress, not if I had too much burrito the night before. I will say that I will weigh myself the morning after I have had a particularly good BM session - not the day of the session, but the morning after. It seems to clear everything out and I always weigh less. I only weigh first thing in the morning (before showers, Water, or anything else) and I weigh myself in just my undies (no jewelry or clothes). I absolutely DO NOT weigh myself around the time of my period. Who needs the pressure? Good luck with your research :-)

I don't see why there would be any problem. They may not taste very good, but I have never heard of a problem with menthol. You may want to try Ricola as well. That's my go-to for cough drops. The menthol might cause more acid at this early stage. Feel better!!!

Hi there- My body does not like exercise that is tough on the joints - you may want to try pilates reformer workouts. They work on all the muscles while laying down :-) Once you are stronger, then maybe you can go back to a running routine. As a person who hates exercise in all forms, I commend you on your determination!!!

Hi- Good luck on your upcoming surgery! Interesting things I noticed that make me very happy: - I pack my lunch every day. I spend about 3 minutes in the morning throwing tiny servings of food into snack size ziploc bags. It has saved me a lot of money and shows me how much healthier I eat now. I would never have packed a lunch before - food was an event for me!!! - I can walk to the store a mile or so away... AND BACK! I used to try and walk to the store, but I was always realy pooped when I got back home. Now I can go on the walk and really enjoy it. When I return home, I don't feel like it was the biggest workout of my life. I have to add that I don't really work out at all - the difference in how I feel is primarily due to the fact that I am not carrying the extra weight. - I look fantastic!!! I get tons of comments about how good I look. Someone said I looked 10 years younger. I still have to work with my problem areas (my stomach is a mess), but that was the case before I got fat many years ago. My body didn't become "perfect", but now my curves are really defined with a small waist and I can go to regular stores and look for clothes that are truly flattering. - People treat me the same, but I treat myself differently. There isn't a constant inner monologue about how fat and disgusting I am. I feel really good about myself and I think that shows through. I was never they type to be ignored, even at my heaviest. I have been told that I really exude confidence all the time (even when I was heavy) - I was always confident in my abilities, even if I wasn't confident in my appearance. Now my confidence includes my appearance. It leaves room in my head to worry about real problems. That negative body image thing took up a lot of energy :-( Good luck!

Hi there- Mine started in the 4th month. It started out pretty bad, but tapered down after a few weeks. It has been 2 months and I still notice hair on my shirt, but not nearly as much. I also have uber-thick hair so I didn't really notice it in the way my hair looks but other folks have had terrible problems with the fall out. I also got a really short haircut, I think that helps with how the thinner hair looks. The shorter hair also doesn't require as much styling so I fee like I am stressing the hair out less. I am not using any special products / supplements / shampoos. I try to only wash my hair every 2nd or 3rd day. I don't blow dry. I do use a straighteining Iron twice a week. I think the experience is unique to each person, but I wish you the best!

Hi- The only remnant of discomfort that is related to the band is that my port site is still strangely tender if you press directly on it. I think that is from all the tissue they have to cut out of there to get the port out. But, since you got your band out a while ago, you would already have this discomfort. You will be restricted, but it is different from the band restriction. The first few months it can be hard to eat, but once you are completely healed, most foods go down with no problems, you just have to keep your mind tuned in to your portions or you will overeat and be very uncomfortable. Good luck--

I do not regret it, but I wish I didn't have to do it. The reality was: I couldn't do it by myself. I couldn't. The first 2 months SUCKED! I had horrible exhaustion and could barely get through the day for about 8 weeks. I have never been able to get all the liquid in. I had a tough time with food. I have never vomitted, but eating became a serious chore. There are a lot of emotional times when you get so upset because you can't eat what you want or you get bored with what is on your "allowed" list. Eating still does not feel the same as it did before. I always have to think in the back of my mind about how much I am putting in my mouth because I will be in serious pain if I am not careful. But, I used to shovel it in without thinking at all - that is what the surgery has done for me. It's not easy because it truly changes your life and change is hard. It is easy because it actually works and you will be amazed at how the weight drops off of you. The future? None of us really know. The numbers on non- weight loss gastrectomies are promising. I had a lap band before and that thing was pure poison - I am just happy to have it out.

I think it was 6 days, but I was able to be very lazy - no straining that early out!!

FOr better or worse, it seems to come off from the top down. Your face will get much thinner very quickly - it is something only other people will notice at first. Hang in there and stay hydrated. The first 2 weeks suck big time, but it gets so much better after that.

That does suck - it seems like my worst acid issues were in the 2-4 month timeframe. Make sure you are eating only very small meals, maybe 5 to 6 times a day. Cut out anything that might upset your stomach - for example I literally can't eat bread without a bubbling cauldron happening after, so I don't eat it anymore. Cut back on coffee, alcohol, juice, anything acidic that may be making it worse. I hope you find some relief soon! BTW - omeprazole should be sufficient, but there are lots of different variations that could be more affective. I took Zegerid for a while and it helped and then switched back to the regular omeprazole. Good luck--

I have had some hair loss, but maybe not as bad as others. My hair is VERY thick and I can't say I noticed a difference, except that there was hair all over the bathroom floor and I am always picking hair off my shirt. 8 weeks after surgery I got a cute short hair cut to go with my new lifestyle, and I'm glad I did. Easier to manage and the hair loss doesn't show. Also, as the hair grows back, it is very short so it blends a little with my already short hairstyle. Time is the only way to get past this one...

Its all about the brown bag :-) Put the baby food in a tupperware container and no one will know the difference. Tell them you are on a diet - it shouldn't be too much of a problem. Just make sure to bring all your supplies so you are not caught out while you are there. Enjoy the ice Water and iced tea that they serve. Where I work, people just came to accept that I had food in almost every meeting - yogurt, cottage cheese, runny oatmeal, etc.

You may want to talk to your doctor about a realistic goal for your overall weight loss. I sort of guessed on the high side of what I know my body will carry. As I get closer to that number I am realizing that I may shoot past it because that is what my body is comfortable with. Each of us is very different. You will have to take into account your height, bone structure, and waist circumference as well. I am 5'6" and I am still in a size 10 pants at 142 pounds. I imagine I would be a size 8 at my goal weight. That still leaves a lot of fat and excess weight around my stomach that I should probably work on. I was comfortable in my 20's at 125, but that seems really extreme to me right now. By contrast, our friend LilMissDiva is the same height as me, weighs a little more than me, and fits into size 4 jeans. At some point, the weight is less important and the size is important. You are so early out - talk to your doctor about a realistic goal and stick with it. Don't worry about the numbers right now - stick to the doctors food plan and stay healthy. The weight will come off - it just takes time for the body to come to terms with what you did to it with the surgery.

Sorry you are so frustrated. I know it isn't much comfort to you today, but almost everyone has this same experience. Your best strategy is to stay away from the scale for a while. Being a slave to the scale will drive you crazy and keep you from seeing all the real successes in life. Whatever you do, don't cut back on your food. Keep eating to your docs orders and focus on staying healthy. Your body is completely freaked out by what you just did to it. The weight will come off - you can't avoid it. Hang in there!

I lived with my heating pad for about 2 weeks post-op. Gas x is also really helpful. I couldn't come close to getting all the fluids in, but I tried. Follow your doctors orders and hang in there!!! The first couple of weeks are miserable - no doubt about it.

Mine were wacky for about 4 months after the sleeve. I started my period the day after surgery (which was way too early) and then they were all over the place. I am 37 and am usually very regular.