marfar7

The only thing I had to repeat ( 3 1/2 yrs apart) was the nutrition class (Medicare). Was $300 when I originally took it in 2009 and I about had a cow when finding out they now wanted $500. But my dr waived my fee, thank God. My bmi of over 40 was also waived (it was 28) becuz I had a slipped band. Had to be fixed. Medicare recognizes that obesity is a lifelong disease and that They'd probly have to start over with me in a few yrs, once I developed heart disease, diabetes, or whatever due to my gaining all my weight back. I've heard some insurances require u to jump thru all the hoops again tho, regardless of the time lapse between surgeries. Good luck!

If I never see another cup of split pea Soup, it'll be too soon. Yep, I remember my full liquid (4 weeks post op) stage very UNfondly. I thought I might starve. If I could sucked my arm thru a straw, I would've eaten it. This time is a drop in the bucket. I'm telling u, it will be a bleep on the radar of ur life. It does get better. And don't even think about cheating and moving on sooner. The fear of damaging ur sleeve and yourself is too much to bear just for a taste of real food. Hang in there. It could be worse. u could be on Clear Liquids....

Yes. Had my revision 10 mths ago, after having my band for 3 1/2 yrs (slipped for a yr). What do u want to know?

Absolutely! I could feel the energy come back fully after I started eating actual food, at about 4 weeks post op. The liquid stage sucks, not only becuz I starved but becuz I had very little energy. As the weight comes off, ull reap the benefits of more energy also. I also take Levothyroxine for my thyroid. have for about 12 yrs. Haven't noticed a difference in that area since having wls. Good luck!

When I weighed 250, I used to sweat when I walked up a flight of stairs. Now it takes alot to make me sweat. About 60 mins at 4 mph on the treadmill at 5% incline to break a sweat at all. I always bring a handtowel but not sure I actually need one. Not sure u hafta be dripping with sweat to make a dent in ur health tho. look at swimmers. They don't sweat and get in a great workout. Now my hubby, on the other hand, sweats like a pig. He could use a beachtowel. I hafta keep reminding him to wipe off the equipment at the gym when he's done. Thats gross! He sweated the same at 270 as 190. now he's about 215 and sweats exactly the same. But when it comes to being hot while sleeping at nite, I sweat just lying still. hafta have a fan on all nite. hubby complains that it's freezing in our room at nite. He's all bundles up while I just use a sheet and wear shorts/tank. Not sure if there's a correlation. Doens't seem so.

And all this time, I've been counting 5 oz as my nightly red wine intake on myfitnesspal. Thats the serving size. Just actually measured it. 12 oz's! Wow. Went from 112 cals to 252 cals. Never even thought I could drink 12 oz of wine at once. Guess I'm gunna give up my wine at least till goal (about 13 lbs). And no, I'm not even getting buzzed (for those who think they'll get toasted on 2 oz of wine) Advice: Measure at least ur favorite foods/drinks just to get a more accurate estimate on calorie content...

Thanx for the laugh!

About 3 months till I had it occasionally. Waited till about 6 mths to have it regularly. in fact, I rarely drank wine before being sleeved. I was a 1 Corona Lite a nite fan for a cpl yrs. While I miss my beer, red wine is good too. I don't remember my dr having any requirements for alcohol. Probly in there, I probly just ignored it! Think I'm gunna give it up while I work on those last 13 lbs. Yes, my ticker says 11 to goal, but I gained 2 lbs this past cpl wks. Bummer.

My dr gave me a list of recommended Vitamins in my pre op paperwork. Went to Vitaminshoppe with the list. Came out with: Bariatric chewable multivits, B12 sublingual (for 2x a week) and Calcium chewables. In the last 10 mths, I've tweaked it a little. can't stand the chewable vits. So I just take a womens multivit, an Iron supplement, and Vit D (RX - my blood was too low). The B12 doesn't melt under my tongue so I end up swallowing it about 15 minutes later. It's wise to take them after any wls, but especially RNY or sleeve. Not sure u can eat the quantity of food required to get in recommended vits. Good luck1

I had absolutely no ban of coffee at all. In fact, I was offered a cup of real coffee after my leak test the day after surgery in the hospital. Sounded gross at the time (not to mention I'm a coffee snob and hosiptal coffee doesn't meet my standards). I woke up about a month after surgery and said "today is the day". I've been drinking real coffee ever since. Either 2 cups of my own (grind my own Beans every am) with a splash of sf creamer or sf coffee syrup and milk, or 1 cup of a good (read: NOT STarbucks. Ick) coffee house coffee with Splenda and milk. Always add an extra shot of espresso. Like to taste my coffee.So far nothing bad has happened to me. My sleeve has not collapsed under the "pressure" of something "bad". My nurse actually told us that they were not limiting caffeine cuz u hafta have "something" in ur life to look forward to. Not sure I would had wls if they told me I couldn't have real coffee forever. I might've but I wouldn't have been happy bout it! Good luck! Follow ur own drs guidelines. Just telling u what mine expects...

I've been diagnosed with clinical depression for about 15 yrs. I've been on Prozac, Paxil - then took about a 4 yr break from them. My husband of 19 yrs died in 2007 (46 yrs old). I became horribly depressed. Actually did a stint in the psych ward for 2 weeks while they found a medication cocktail that worked. I took Celexa, Wellbuttin and Abilify. In 2009, I had lapband surgery and proceeded to lose 100 lbs over the next 2 yrs. I started dating again and even found my 2nd husband (2 1/2 yrs now). No more depression. Over the last few yrs, I've worked with my psych to wean myself off the drugs. I now take a 1/4 of a dose of Celxa (cuz when I try to go without it, I feel "blah") but the rest r gone. Not sure if it was losing weight and feeling more confident or falling in love again that did it. Not sure how changes in my living could have an effect on my brain chemicals but they do. Give it a while, take the drugs, and ull probly not need them after losing weight. At least for me this was true... Good luck!

Losing in PA (on my phone so I can't quot ur comment) U asked if they make a fruit punch Protein. Isopure makes fruit flavored Protein drinks. My nurse told me they tast like Jolly Ranchers. They don't. I think they're gross. I bought a case of them (for like $60 GNC.com) and managed to choke down about 1/3 of 1 bottle). They finally went rancid about 3 yrs later so I didn't feel so guilty tossing them. I think u can buy them individually at gnc. Definately taste 1 before buying a case.

I am also a band to sleeve revision. When I got the band in 2009, that was a selling point - that it was reversible. But, as I started to lose weight, I wanted it to be permanent, not temporarily. Why would u want something temporarily? I thought the same thing. God put this organ in my body for a reason and would I regret losing most of it? Not yet. I'm 10 mths out and don't regret it for a second. 15% is all u really need. Good luck!

I am also a band to sleeve revision. When I got the band in 2009, that was a selling point - that it was reversible. But, as I started to lose weight, I wanted it to be permanent, not temporarily. Why would u want something temporarily? I thought the same thing. God put this organ in my body for a reason and would I regret losing most of it? Not yet. I'm 10 mths out and don't regret it for a second. 15% is all u really need. Good luck!

I'm 10 mths out and my hunger returned on day 10. I thought, for 10 days, I was one of the lucky ones that loses my hunger. Wasn't meant to be. About 50% of people lose their hunger either forever or for a long period (6-12 mths). The other 50% don't. While Ghrelin is produced in the part of the stomach they remove, it's also produced in the pancreas and brain. I think (as the liver takes over for the gall bladder once removed) the brain and pancreas take over. People would give me the advice to take a PPI cuz it was stomach acid. Not only am I on 40mg of Prilosec 2x a day, I'm 46 and know the difference between hunger and acid. It WILL get worse eventually. It WILL get better as u move on to real food (a small amt of food will fill u quickly but I always got hungry soon - usually within 90 mins). After several months, when ur stomach relaxes, ull be even hungrier. Ull be able to eat more. So u really need to learn healthy eating habits now before it gets out of control Good luck to u!

The past wk or so, I've been increasing my Water and Protein intake, trying to lose the last 10 lbs. I'm not fond of dieting so I thought Id keep that for a last resort. Why do carbs fill me for longer than protein? I thought it was sposed to be the opposite? Has a 5.3 oz container of Fage Greek yogurt for bfast at 8 am this morning. By 10, I coulda eaten my arm. I had 2oz of tuna mixd with a little mayo and sweet pickles. Again, starving by noon. Had a green salad with a cpl ozs of chicken about 1. Again, starving. Oh, and forgot the 4oz of Protein shake with an extra scoop of unfl Protein powder I had about an hr ago. I'm already up to 60gms but literally am starving. Everything sounds good right now Planning on grilling steak for dinner. That and another salad. That will put me at about 80gms before 6pm. I know Ill be hungry again 2 hrs later. While I can increae my protein and lower my carbs, why am I not normal in that protein fills most people up better than carbs? Gawd I hate dieting counting, or wtaching what I eat. Here I sit 1 hr after my protein shake (which in itself had about 23gms + what's in the milk) ready to eat anything that walks by. What's the deal? Does protein actually keep u full longer than 2 hrs? Or do I hafta add fat to it 4 it to work?

Saggy skin has nothing to dow ith exercise. Has everything to do with genes, age, and luck. No amt of crunches will help saggy belly skin. I've lost exactly 100 lbs, am 46, and I guess I was lucky and/or have good genes. Have minimal amt of saggy skin. Its there but its not too bothersome. Defintely. Ot worth the thousands of $$s to fix it. I just recntly noticed saggy skin on my twiggy legs. Never noticed it before. Might have something to do with the fact that I'm almost 50. Looks like Jello when I walk. I think its ugly but hubby doesn't mind Good luck to u. Nuthin much u can do about saggy skin cept hope and wait.

It's been 10 mths since my band to sleeve revision but I remember that 4 weeks of full liquids like it was yesterday. Definately hard. After being banded in 2009, I only made it to the 2nd week and then I cheated. Regretted it for yrs. I was single back then and it was easier to cheat. It was also easier to cheat knowing I couldn't really damage myself withe the band. But I could with a sleeve. Plus I gained a "food Nazi" husband who woulda tattled on me had I cheated. I got my hunger back on day 10 (was easy till then) and then I could eaten my arm - had I been able to suck my arm thru a straw. I ate tomato and split pea Soup, Jello, sf pudding, yogurt, and popsicles. Hot stuff satiates (not "fills" u asn liquids don't do that much) better than cold stuff. So sip tomato soup. Sip, sip, sip. Gawd, how I wanted a french fry or a taco. But then I'd be paranoid about causing a leak and my craving would go away - for about 5 minutes. Nothing I can say that will make u feel better. Hang in there. It WILL get better soon. No, u won't feel "full" while on liquids but u certainly won't die. I wouldn't rush out there and eat something - just in case ur the 4% that get a leak. When ur able to eat soft foods, it will get much better. Good luck!

Eventually when u lose enuf weight, ur port will become very pronounced (hubby called mine my "alien"). I had a sleeve revision 10 mths ago and I still have a lump where my port was - scar tissue and now an incisional hernia. U could actually see my port under my clothes after losing about 100 lbs. And it was sore for a while. Especially following fills (and bruised). Totally normal....good luck to u!

Good luck to u. I had a band to sleeve revision (due to a slip) 10 mths ago. While I've not done as well as most on this board (basically I've lost the 30 lbs I gained during the year I tried conservatively to fix my slipped band by unfilling) but it's an amazing maintenance tool. Not even trying, I'm able to maintain my loss for months. Everyday (yep, I'm an "every dayer") I expect to gain a lb or 2 and everyday it's exactly the same. I still have 10 lbs to goal and I will eventually get there. If I tried a little harder, I'm sure it would come off easily. I'm just happy maintaining in a size 8 for now. Don't forget it's not magic. U hafta work it, just like u did the band. It's much easier than before wls, but it still isn't magic. So, so, so glad I had my revision. I used to vomit almost everyday. I've only vomited 2x in 10 mths - and it was difficult and unpleasant. To be avoided at all costs. My stomach doesn't hurt all the time and I can eat anything (including pancakes, which I couldn't with the band) Again, good luck!

I don't normally like Greek yogurt (too sour creamy to me) but I know it's packed with lots o Protein so I've tried to like it. Just about 5 days ago, I bought 6 different brands/flavors to give them all a fair shake. The best so far? Trader Joes Vanilla strawberry Open Nature Honey I HATE Chobani, Oikos, and Yoplait. Fage is good, just not fantastic. I also bought a Dannon Light and Fit (cappucino flavor) just haven't tried it yet. It's got the smallest amt of calories. I think it's 80. I don't really look at the carbs - just calories and protein. The TJ's has hefty calories (180) for a tub of yogurt (it's 8 oz vs the normal 6). Good luck in finding a good one. I Luv luv luv the 90 cal Fat Free Yoplait fruit blends but there's barely any protein in them. Still fairly healthy in my mind. Better than a Snickers bar! I consider anything healthy thats better than a Snickers bar! Sad, I know...

The sleeve was the first surgery I've ever had that I felt no nausea (cept for about an hr following my leak test the day after surgery). Usually I have days (and sometimes weeks - like in my lapband in 2009) of nausea/vomiting. I feel for ya. Continue to sip Water or Powerade 0. At least ull stay hydrated. I take that back. At about 4 weeks I got really dehydrated and felt nauseous all day. Till I figured it out (iit's a vicious cycle - u can't drink cuz ur queasy, ur queasy cuz ur not drinking) and forced myself to drink Powerade 0. Felt better after about 20 oz. After that, it's important to me to get in fluids (and electrolytes that early on) Good luck to u!

U look fabulous! And r little blacks dresses (yes, plural) r darling....congrats!

My hubby is an Atkins fan. He aims for as close to 0 as he can. He'll include a few veggies a day but rarely goes over 10-15 when he's actually working the program (right now he's "taking a break" - eating all the carbs he can). While Atkins doesn't make scientific sense to me (I'm pro eating fruits, veggies, healthy brown grains, and lean meats and cheeses) I can't argue with the fact that it works. Not sure for how long tho. Not sure anyone can go forever with eating as close to 0 carbs as u can. Atkins Induction (first 2 weeks) calls for 20 or less. Hubby is ALWAYS on induction and carbs are like poison to him. Good luck!

I've taken Levothryroxine for about 10 yrs now. Had lapband in 2009 and lost 104 lbs. Revision to the sleeve 10 mths ago. 10 lbs from goal of 140. Not one change in dosage. I get it tested about once a yr (more often since I've been sleeved, however - but thats only cuz I switched dr's) and it never changes. Thought once I lost weight, I'd be able to lower the dose. But what do I care about the dose? It's already a small pill. It's not like they come smaller when u lower the dose... Good luck!