Tiffykins

This is a picture of just my 3 of my lap sites from the band surgery. This was taken around April 2009 (so 6 months post band placement). I have 7 other scars/lap sites 3 from the sleeve revision, and from the 4 drains being placed. I scar really easily. I did buy some Mederma, but I gave up on using it.

I would stick with your post-op diet. I know it's tough, but it's there to protect your healing tummy. A lot of people say that carbs make them more hungry (I personally don't experience this trend), so I would stay away from bread this early out. As for the lower portion of the body, it will go away as well. There is a thread on here about the "fat that goes first". A lot of people report that they lose their upper torso and thigh fat first. It's been my experience as well. I have a little spare tire around my tummy still and have lost 100lbs. It's a lot smaller than it used to be, but it's still there. Don't get discouraged about not dropping sizes quickly. I didn't drop whole pant sizes immediately, but once the weight really starting to drop, I was dropping a pant size every couple of weeks. Bra sizes is a big indicator of inches loss, and shirts definitely got smaller more quickly. I didn't start eating solids for almost 3 months. I progressed my diet pretty slowly, and some days I have to revert back to the mushy/puree stage even at 5 months post-op.

I'm glad you had a great experience at the support group. I haven't attended any of my programs meetings, but have considered it a couple of times.

I'm sorry your family isn't very supportive, but we'll be here for you through this journey. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to post, or even send me a private message on here. If someone doesn't know the answer, we'll find it for you. Stay strong and positive.

YAY I'm so glad to see that you posted. Congrats, and welcome to the loser's bench. I can't wait to hear more about your progress.

I take a GNC Solotron chewable multi-Vitamin twice daily. These are by far the best multi-vitamin I have been able to find for my needs. Plus, they taste yummy, and I don't have to swallow a horse pill. They contain bioavailable Iron which is a necessity for me since I still have all my reproductive organs, and have menstrual cycles. Sorry if that's TMI. Anyways, I take 2 of the multi-Vitamins daily (morning and evening), and I take 1 sublingual 2500 mcg B12.

Hey Aimee, I'll send you a private message on here. You'll have a notification pop up, or directly below your Log-in Name in the top right hand corner of the page, you'll see you have a new private message. Just click it, and it will take you where you can read it. I'm a texter, and have access to my email 24/7 via my IPhone. If it takes me a bit to get back to via email, I'm not ignoring you, I promise, I'm just distracted, out shopping or at the gym ! ! !

I have at least 10 scars on my tummy from the band and sleeve surgery plus all the drain sites that I had to deal with through the leak repair and hospitalization in July. The lap sites from all the incisions are still pretty noticeable, but they are a pretty pink color. The ugliest scar is from where the port was with my band surgery. I had the band placed October '08, and the scars are the same color/size as the couple of new incisions my surgeon had to do for the revision to the sleeve. I know they'll fade over time. I had lap knee surgery in '93 and '99, all of those scars are minimally noticeable at this point. I'm also very fair skinned, and all my scars end up being a pretty pink color.

I'm sure others have tried this, but I haven't seen it shared here. I burned myself out on deli meat early on, but decided I need to give it a whirl again. 1 slice of Ham 2-3 tsp of pineapple cream cheese I patted the ham slice with a papertowel, and then spread the cream cheese over the ham, roll it, and VOILA it's so yummy. I also enjoy the Garden Veggie cream cheese for some variety. Just thought I would share because I know it's tough to come up with different things to eat.

I'm 5 months out, and will definitely be here for you if you have any questions or concerns. I'm not AIM or yahoo messenger anymore, but I'll send you my cell phone number and email if you want to text or email sometime. There's a lot of good information on this board, and if someone doesn't know the answer to a question, we'll find someone who does know the answers.

It gives me something sweet with the salty ham. I think that's why I like it so much. I burned myself out on laughing cow as well, but have been incorporating it again. I swear I have "menu ADD". I get bored with food now. That's the just about the craziest thing I think I've typed. To think of me being bored with food is just crazy.

Sorry, you didn't find the help you wanted here. But, I think anyone can reply to the thread even though you were not happy with your experience doesn't mean that the members can not reply to this particular thread that you briefly particpated in.

I'm in kind of early tonight, and not sure if I'll be up late tonight.

Absolutely amazing. I'm going shopping tomorrow for wintery clothes since I have absolutely nothing. I'm excited to see what I can actually find that fits. I've already got my 16 pants just hanging on me. I have to exchange 2 pairs of pants I didn't even a chance to wear yet. I'm so proud of you ! ! !

Staple line is the line of staples that they use to cut and staple off the large portion of the stomach for the VSG. The staple line is also found in RNY surgeries when they simply staple the stomach, make the pouch and leave the blind portion of the stomach in the abdomen. If you do not have a weak stomach, and would like to actually see the procedure, here is a video from Youtube.com [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04wTeAzRq60]YouTube- Gastric Sleeve (VSG)[/ame]

Congrats on your surgery, and glad you are recovering well. I hated the 17 days of clears that I endured, but I loved the Celestial herbal fruit teas, and chicken broth was fabulous. Look forward to hearing more from you on your progress.

I'm so excited for you. I know you are going to do great with the sleeve, and can't wait to hear how everything goes.

I'll be looking for an update on the Jazzercise instructor position. My weight loss is slowing down, and I know it's because I'm getting out of that 6 month honeymoon phase. I am hitting the gym next week, and know that these last 20lbs are gonna be tough for me to lose. I've been able to eat more, and a wide variety of things that I probably shouldn't eat. YAY for being out of the 170's. I am stuck right at 170 and hope over the weekend, I can get out of them myself.

You are my hero ! ! ! I will probably skip the wheat macaroni noodles. I wonder if I could trick the husband and kiddo with this recipe. Hmmmmmmmm I'll be going by Publix to find some of these squash.

I haven't tried, but have been tempted to buy some and give it a try. Luckily, I don't have issues with Pasta, but this would obviously be a better, more healthy option. We don't eat a lot of pasta in our home, but I am intrigued by the nutrition facts, and the diversity. I'd be interested to see if I could find a mac-n-cheese recipe for the squash. I LOVE Mac-N-Cheese. It's my nemesis.

I think several patients feel this type of anxiety. I just didn't allow negativity to invade my thought process on having this surgery. I was hellbent on making it work, and knew that I could not let my mind wander with the "what ifs". I had to remind myself this is just a tool, it still takes a concentrated effort to make it work, but it's much easier than having to do it on my own. Have faith in yourself, and know that you will be as successful as you set yourself up to be. Just my 2cents.

So glad to hear that surgery went well. You're well on your way to a better, more healthy life ! ! !