*susan*

We understand everyone's frustration, and Alex and his team are working very hard to get all the issues addressed. As with any new site launch, there are many things you just can't anticipate ahead of time and have to address as they come up. We appreciate everyone's patience and help by reporting any issues you encounter.

What was your old user name?

You know how on Facebook whenever they make a change, everyone gets really stressed, complains how much they hate it and then a couple of weeks later you never hear anything more about it? I suspect the same will happen here. Once you are used to the changes, and see the benefits of having all your weight loss surgery resources available in one place, you will learn to love everything about Bariatric Pal.

Everything will get straightened out, and in the long term will be so much better. Think of the benefits of people just researching weight loss surgery. They can come to one place to learn about all their options available and hear personal experiences from people who have had the different types of surgeries all right here.

We are still experiencing some technical difficulties, but Alex's team is working very hard at getting everything straightened out as quickly as possible. And please, remember to click on the link at the top of every page to report any issues you are having, as it will help the team to pinpoint specific issues and work them out that much sooner. We really do appreciate how patient all of you are being as we go through this transition.

Please PM me with your original user name and I will be happy to see if I can get you logged back in under it.

Oh my goodness, I am so sorry to hear about your difficulties. I honestly don't believe I have any recollection of anyone having two leaks. I hope you are able to get everything straightened out quickly.

Hi Mandy, How long have you had your band? It is amazing because each persons reactions to a fill or unfill can be so different. Sometimes you just have to go really slow to find your fine line between having the perfect amount of restriction to having too much or not enough.

This is a great topic! I hope more post pictures.

You look amazing!

I agree with unbesleevalbe, you sound like you may be dehydrated. When you are, it literally will take everything out of you. How are you doing with getting in your fluids? I know it is tough, but it is absolutely vital that you constantly have a bottle with you and take small sips all day long. During the first few weeks, when you are taking in so little calories, some energy depletion is to be expected, but it definitely sounds like you need more fluids and protein shakes to me. I agree with contacting your doctor and explaining how you are feeling so he/she can make some recommendations to you based on the post-op diet he recommended you follow.

All I can say is wow, wow and WOW! Congratulations on all counts, you are doing fabulous!

As far as the hiatal hernia goes, most doctors do take care of that when doing sleeve surgery nowadays. Like others have said, there are no guarantees one way or the other when it comes to reflux, it seems everyone has different results. I never, ever had a problem with reflux until I had my surgery. Four years out, and if I miss just one day of Prilosec, I am miserable. But, as long as I take it, I never have a problem. Taking one Prilosec a day is worth the sleeve to me. Then again, when you get to be my age, you start having to take so much medicine, why would one more bother you, lol.

I am glad you have learned a lesson, will leave it at that so long as it does not occur again.

MySurgeryOptions.com is offering a September special for sleeve surgery with Dr. Illan. Book your surgery now, to take place during the month of September for only $4,300!! If you are ready to have your surgery in September, please visit http://www.MySurgeryOptions.com or pm me for more information. Again, in order to qualify for this special rate, you must not have already booked your surgery. And, you must have your surgery during the month of September. MySurgeryOptions.com is owned and operated by the founder of Vertical Sleeve Talk, Alex.

The "Big Book of VSG" is an excellent resource for everyone. It is actually written by Alex, founder of this website.

What a great NSV, so happy for you!

This thread is more appropriate for "Rants and Raves", I am moving it there.

Well, I was definitely a "everything in moderation" kind of girl. I got the sleeve to quit dieting. Yep, no counting calories for me, I wanted to be a "normal person". So, after about eighteen months out, I let myself have that cookie, or that half a bacon cheeseburger. After all, my tummy is still tiny and it would be impossible for me to gain weight again. Heck, how could having regular dressing instead of low fat on my salad possibly hurt me, I have a tiny tummy? Well, let me share the truth with you. I thought and believed exactly everything you were saying. Heck, I bet if you search back far enough, you will find old posts with me saying the exact same thing as you. Guess what, I'm a foodie, always have been, always will be. And those few chips you ate, well, you didn't see any fluctuation on the scale, and they tasted so darn good that next time you eat a few more than last. Then, one day you get on the scale and realize you have gained a few pounds. Oh well, I can take that off easy, my sleeve is still here working for me. But, first, I have that party this week, so I'll worry about doing what I know I need to do next week. Then, wow, why do my pants feel tight? It's okay, with my sleeve if will be easy to lose a few extra pounds. But, not right now because - insert excuse here. Now, a year later here I sit with tears in my eyes reading your post because you sound just like me and I am so afraid you will end up like me. You know what the worst is, if you are an administrator of a forum and a health advisor who helps others lose weight. It is humiliating. I have gone from a size eight back up to a fourteen, and am dangerously close to those damn fourteens being too tight. I now have 40 pounds to lose because I had the same attitude as you. And as each pound came on, I convinced myself I could lose it easily and would, starting next week. Believe me, it is not anywhere as easy to lose this weight at four years out as it was the first year. When I was 300 pounds, it didn't bother me anywhere near as much as the weight I am at now, even though my current weight is significantly less than 300. Because now, I have been thin. I remember how good it felt. I felt sexy for the first time in my life. I felt good about who I was. I became self confident and outgoing. Now, I have gone back to the old me, trying to hide from the world. All I think about is how good I felt two years ago and how angry I am at myself now. You have no idea how many tears I have cried over this. Don't do that to yourself. Don't let that one treat turn into many. Establish good habits now and do not let yourself stray for them, because once you do, it is a slippery slope my friend. Fortunately, my Bill is an amazing man. He is a personal trainer and nutritionist. He saw what was happening, but knows me well enough to know that until I acknowledged it, owned it and the time was right, it wouldn't do him any good to try and help me because I only would have pushed him away. But, two weeks ago I reached my breaking point. I sat down and cried in his arms for over an hour. With his help, I am back working out and eating healthy again. I bought a body media fit and am pushing myself to burn calories and watch every bite that goes in my mouth. I know this isn't going to be easy, but I am going to do it, again. I have to completely retrain myself and once again lose those old habits because I thought just one of this or substituting that just once in a while wouldn't hurt me. It does, we got fat because we love food and don't have good willpower over that love. It is going to be a battle the rest of your life. During the honeymoon phase where the weight is just falling off, you don't believe you will ever be fat again. Guess what, you can and will if you don't fully commit to good eating habits for the rest of your life. So, Butter isn't being a hardass, he is being smart. Listen to him. He knows what he is talking about. Or, don't listen to him, and in two years find yourself sitting on your couch crying because you are reading a post from someone who was exactly like you used to be and you know they will be the next one who has gained weight and wondered how the hell that could have happened when I have the sleeve?

Wow, you look fabulous! Wear that bikini with pride, girl!

Lol, I did keep my lapband when I revised to the sleeve. I still have it in a little plastic bag in my closet, trying to determine an appropriate burial for it.

Are you making sure to take only very tiny sips? Too much will make you nauseous. Also, try drinking your liquids hot or at room temperature, that helps as well.

I stay cold! Like others, it is especially bad at work. Sugar free hot chocolate, a heavy sweater and a carefully hidden heater under my desk are necessary to my survival!

Oh goodness, I am staying away from this thread, no extracted stomach pictures for this girl!

Surprisingly, even at four years out, anything carbonated still makes me really, really uncomfortable.