Hammer_Down

@@OzRoo I've so completely lost my hunger that I've been back on Clear liquids only for most of this week. Nothing is appealing whatsoever, and I 'm just riding it out to see where it goes. I guess that makes this Watergate?

@@OzRoo I did bear witness to tacogate, albeit as a lurker! After reading that list (minus the Swedish fish) I'm coming to realize that a ton of people here share many of my favourite foods! I havent felt hungry for 2 weeks, but now I am!

Am I going to be called a mean girl or a bully if I point out that I thought that movie completely sucked? Like, colossally? I don't like movies about teenagers unless they're getting hacked up. And I can't say I've ever felt like I was being chainsawed while posting here. Then again, I just might be the one doing the carving, since I don't always agree with other posters or reinforce behaviour that I don't agree with.

You're new 'round these parts, ain't ya? I think she missed that whole Gina-gate situation. It was a couple months ago lol Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App Dang my brand new self!! Got any links you point me to? You know, to further my education?

I have to say, if I had read online that wearing a diaper was part of the normal recovery process for WLS, it would have given me pause for thought on whether I was making the right decision or not.

Hopefully it doesn't start swirling the bowl. She wasn't insulting anyone in her post, wasn't calling out individuals or name calling. It's her experience, and hopefully people can respectfully disagree if they don't like it.

The price depends on which procedure you choose and which surgeon you pick. They work with several doctors, and I believe the price range was $4300-$4700 all inclusive. The company is called "a" "lighter" "me" (quotes added because the forum automatically abbreviates it to ALM)

I went through ALM in Tijuana last month. I made a long post detailing my interactions with them and my experience before, during and after surgery in the Self Pay in Mexico forum on this site. It's obviously specific to my own experience, but I recommend checking it out for an idea of how things may differ from any previous experience you've had in the USA. I can't sing their praises loudly enough - I was treated well, I was impressed with the accommodations provided, impressed by the staff at the hospital and I'm thrilled with my results so far.

The surgeon is so right about that. I love to watch movies from the 60s and 70s, and it's incredible how slender average people were compared to today. Even Elvis in his fat-Elvis period looks like the average man today.

I read about many of the issues with the lap band while I was intially researching WLS. It seems that some bands were made of substandard materials, prone to corrosion or improperly fitted to begin with. In those cases, i can understand not wanting to have something literally rusting or corroding on my insides. As for the rest of it, I'm inclined to agree. I saw a post from a lap band to sleeve revision patient who has regained the weight and is now trying to qualify for a bypass. Personally, I think it would be malpractice to continue to operate on someone who obviously has an underlying issue that surgery will not address. It might not be the answer that is popular, but all of the procedures work. Not following the diet is the part that doesnt work. Huat eaeloer today there was someone inquiring about revision, and asking about eating mashed potatoes on liquids.

I had some experience with fasting prior to surgery. I would often do a day a week of Water fasting when I was ketogenic, since hunger isn't really issue on that diet. I will not force myself to eat when I am not hungry. The body is very efficient at recycling Protein multiple times before it starts catabolizing muscle tissues for protein.

If she thinks it's the easy way out, she should try it. Let her decide for herself whether it's easy or not.

Swollen lymph nodes in the neck are a symptom of Epstein-Barr, aka mono. Contrary to popular belief, you can be infected with mono when you are young and experience symptoms again when you are much older. The vast majority of people under 25 get mono. Most are asymptomatic, and never know they had it. I noticed my lymph nodes in my neck were swollen first, followed by a sore throat. I used to get strep a few times a year as a smoker, so I went to the doctor assuming I had a throats infection. I was one of the unlucky few % of people who developed full blown mono symptoms and basically crawled around the house on my hands and knees for 6 weeks. I slept on the floor because I didn't have the strength to get into bed. I had a fever, nightsweats, and became very dehydrated. It's worth checking out, even though there's nothing they can do for you.

You were all sleeved on my birthday! I wasn't, but I still feel that special March 16 anniversary love you all have!

I think the bottom line is that if there are cracks in your marriage, any major changes can seriously rock the boat. It's hard to know, in our era speaking frankly is discouraged as rude. Men and women still often have rigid roles, reinforced by the onslaught of media in our lives. TV shows and films play such a large role in many of our love's that even our grandparents could never have understood. When it is perceived as weak or effeminate for men to show their feelings, and bitchy and bossy for women to speak their minds there's little wonder that grievances go unaddressed and problems go unnoticed until they are titanic in size.

I doubt it would be allergy to the vitamins themselves, but different preparations of vitamins are full of fillers, some with sugars/sweeteners/sugar alcohols, etc.

What part of coming right out and saying "this is driving me nuts" and outlining the crux of the issue could be construed as passive aggressive?

Oh, those are a lot of fun! I might just post one of those when I see them, instead of trying explain why someone's comment makes no sense. You know, 'cause words are hard 'n' stuff.

The depression is probably not caused by feeling hunger, since depression is defined as sadness, lethargy and loss of will that has no discernible cause. If it were as simple as stimuli, the 21 lbs you've lost in the past few weeks should have you elated and ecstatic! I had a sleeve, not a bypass but my hunger didn't disappear overnight. The liquids phases were especially tough as I was missing the satiety and chewing from eating proper foods. If you're feeling depressed, I would recommend talking to a mental health care professional about finding a therapist. No amount of "cheer up!" Is going to help with depression.

My suspicion would be something in the Vitamins that you're allergic to, or contact dermatitis. I suffered badly from contact dermatitis when I was young, my hands would get red and so damned itchy. Then they would dry out completely and crack and bleed. I had several bouts of the itching on my feet. My doctor's was never able to pinpoint exactly what was causing it, but prescribed some cream to calm the effects. If it's an allergen, any cream that contains Benedryl should calm the itching down pretty quickly. There's also stereoidal hydrocortisone creams available OTC at the pharmacy that could help relief the symptoms, but not the cause.

I have gone through 3 distinct periods of my life where I was a very heavy drinker. This past year, I began travelling to Houston for work where a dear old friend lives, and began binge drinking again (a 40oz bottle of rum in a night, each). During that time, it was becoming more and more common to put away a box of wine every weekend at home. I drive for a living, and have never been tempted to take chances with my employment, but was using all my downtime to get drunk. The weight gain from my poor eating habits while drinking plus the drinking itself is what drove me to have WLS in the first place. I'm not sure drinking will ever be a regular part of my life again. I'm going to Italy in the winter, when I will be 5 months post op. I don't plan to indulge in Pasta or bread, and I'm undecided if I will indulge in glass of wine here or there.

Have you considered the self pay options in Mexico? I'm very familiar with BPD (wife's family history) and I realize that self harm and eating disorders are a key feature of BPD. I can understand that tied to the impulsive behaviour associated with BPD, bariatric surgery could be risky. However, if you are showing regression at 39 (not everyone experiences this, though many women do) and are receiving psychiatric care for BPD (the hardest part), it seems unreasonable to cite BPD as the sole reason for denial.

I gotta say, I scratch my head often at some of questions fielded here. You had a major surgery but didn't think to get any of the post op care materials from the surgeon before heading home? I'm torn on this, because I belong to a Facebook group for the company where I had my surgery. Literally, every single day people are asking questions that I know for a fact are addressed in the post op care materials. Questions about when they can eat what, how long to dress the wounds, etc etc etc. I guess it's easier to ask a group of strangers on the internet sometimes than to get the information from the only trusted source (your surgeon). Lastly, and I might take some abuse for pointing this out, you just had a second WLS surgery to revise from a previous failed WLS, yes? WHY are you already looking for ways to eat around the sleeve? Liquids means liquids. Mashed potatoes are not only completely devoid of any nutrition whatsoever, but they are not liquid either! WLS is only as successful as you decide it will be. If you don't put in the work required, it's unrealistic to expect the same results as people who do.

This will really depend on how much weight a person has to lose. 50lbs loss on a 5'3" tall, 180lbs woman would look like a total body transformation. 50lbs loss on a 6'2" 350lbs man will not produce the same noticeable effect. You will lose weight from your face first. It's one of the last places we gain substantial weight, and as far as weight loss goes it's last on, first off. So for most people, abdomen, bum and hips will be the trickiest last hold outs of fat, since we tend to gain there first.

My $.02: Find the reason the restriction of the band didn't help with weight loss. There's a great deal of personal commitment required to make any WLS surgery work, as it is just a tool and not a miracle. Eating habits must be changed. Mental changes around food must be addressed by you. There are many successful lap band patients on this site, reach out and find out what they did differently and how they successfully lost weight. Secondly, barring some medical issue like a slipped band, erosion etc I can understand the telictannce to pay for another procedure. The sleeve is not magic. Any and all weight loss will come from careful planning, following dietary guidelines closely and addressing your relationship with food. It's not much different from a band, it just removes some of the possible negative outcomes like slipping, erosion, adjusting fills, etc. The work is still up to you. You admit that you aren't following a weight loss plan now, so why would that be any different with the sleeve? If you are hell bent on getting it done, i would suggest going to Mexico for a revision and self paying.