pnw218

lotusflwr, I originally was planning to get the band, and then after reading more about it and talking to a lady locally who had the sleeve a year before, I changed to the sleeve. There just appeared to be too many complications and issues with the band. Everyone that I talked to who worked at the clinic, had the sleeve not the band. One of the coordinators had the band and is now revising to the sleeve. Do what is best for you ~ you are the one who lives with your choice, not us. I would highly suggest you check out the sleeve. It is an amazing tool and quite easy physically. good luck!

LOL Sign me up!

Congrats on your quick date Carla! It is so wonderful and exciting when the scale moves!! good luck with your surgery and hope you have an easy recovery!

Very good points Christie! And the exact reason why I got divorced the first time. He was supporting me financially but nothing emotionally. So even tho it meant going back to work and raising two little kids on my own, it was actually easier because I wasn't expecting any help from anyone except myself.

I spent my last week saying goodbye, or see ya later, to many of my favorite foods. I was so lucky not to have a pre-op diet. Great that your birthday was recent - and before you surgery! Glad you splurged and enjoyed that steak! My husband bbq'd steak tonite and it is taking me forever to eat a couple of ounces. My sister took me out for a fabulous seafood dinner two nights before my surgery - which was scheduled for my 49th bday! There will be plenty of time to eat perfectly soon. Enjoy your last few days without sabotaging your surgery : )

I didn't do much caffeine before surgery so was very cautious having any afterwards. I may have had tea with caffeine a couple of times since surgery but not often. My first coffee drink was just last Thursday. A mocha frappacino with whip cream. I couldn't drink all of it - probably a little less than half. It tasted good going down but didn't settle perfectly. Pretty similar to before surgery. I love the smell of coffee tho!

You are so not alone! On Sunday, my husband and I were running errands and he started going low blood sugar. He is diabetic. My little brain worked quickly and I told him to pull into Wendy's. A chicken sandwich was just what he needed. Oh, and by the way, get the full meal deal so I can have a few fries!! They were hot, crunchy and salty, just like I love them. I also had a couple of sips of his pop. Nummy! I only ate a few and it was enough to fulfill the craving. Hopefully that will take care of it for another couple of months!

According to medical world, allergies to titanium are very rare. The stents that are used in the heart are also titanium; so it seems they would be using a metal that is the least likely to cause any issues. And - just in case you ever need a stent, they cost $19,000 each!!!! My husband had one placed a couple of years ago.

Jackie, ditto to everything Frankie said!! I had never really thought about surgery until I hit rock bottom in mid January. I am so glad that I changed to the sleeve from the band! It is a great tool!

Tiaras ~ congrats on your weight loss! you are doing great! I was sleeved 10 days before you and you are kicking my butt! : ) Driver ~ sorry to hear it has been a difficult time for you! Your loss so far is awesome tho! Texjul ~ I have had a few days when I can't seem to get full. I would suggest drinking Water or something first before eating again tho. I am still in the 2 - 3oz range for food, depending on what it is. It does still take me forever to eat most things tho. Several people have mentioned using prilosec or similar product stating the hunger feeling could be acid in the tummy or something. I was taking the generic, omeprazole, for several years prior to surgery for a sensitive tummy and redness in the stomach. So can't really comment on that. I take one per day before bed.

I got mine due to back pain and I think I bought it at a sporting goods store for about $20. Walmart or Target might even carry them. I forgot that I did wear mine a few times after surgery. If I knew I was going to be doing alot of walking or something. It was good for a little extra support. It is about 12" wide and a few feet long. It has velcro on the edges. You wrap it snuggly around your abdomen. It is a type of stretchy rubber (?) type material. It is quite comfy. When my back is having an attack, I wear it day and night. [ame=http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000G65LHK/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_2?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B000RZOS42&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0WF84KTE4RWV6NR8MBTQ][/ame]

Stacey, I followed the Cornell University guideline the entire time. I stumbled upon it when I was searching food plans before surgery. I loved it. I certainly wouldn't eat anything crunchy or with little pieces that might get stuck in your seam, however, if you take a little bite or two, wait a while and your tummy feels ok, then proceed cautiously. The mushy foods really helped me to feel better. I could not do the liquid thing and function.

Hi Tiff : ) Marsha just emailed to tell me that she made it home! Said she is doing well. She asked about you. Told her that you were going back to TJ for the eye candy. LOL I always made sure to have something in my stomach, and still do. Even if it is just a few drinks of milk and then I also take the med with milk. By 6 days tho, I was already into the potato Soup, cottage cheese and yogurt. And canned beef stew. I followed the Cornell University plan tho from day 1. If you need more ideas, let us know!

I am sorry mini ~ I don't have an exact measurement, I just dump it in. I would guess maybe a cup for every pound of meat? I stir it and smell it, and when it passes those two tests, it goes into the oven : ) Most of the time I made a mound on a rack on a baking sheet. If I am in a hurry to get it done, then I might make small loaves, about a handful of meat per loaf. It does cook faster. I don't eat spicy food so I don't overdo it. It is very tasty tho!

I certainly didn't feel like I had lost any weight when I got home after surgery, and was totally amazed to see that the number was lower. I thought for sure there would be Water retention from the surgery and iv's. I weigh every morning - sometimes it is up, sometimes it is down - some days it is exactly the same! My obsession tho is wanting to weigh immediately after the poop shoot empties, since I don't go very often. I am always just positive that the scale should show a half pound or full pound less. So far, it hasn't. LOL It will happen! Just a little more patience : )

congrats on your date!! I also had offices that didn't reply for a week or longer. It was crazy! you will be so happy! the sleeve is an amazing tool : )

I agree with everyone else. Don't be so hard on yourself. One bad habit down, the other one will take care of itself very soon. I bought my largest size of jeans ever in my life in December. It was very depressing. After only two months, I am now in 3 sizes smaller. Jeans I haven't had on me since December 2006. It feels amazing!! I was so glad that I didn't have a pre-op diet because I was too busy literally crying over foods as I ate them for the last time. Mentally it is still a challenge but physically, it is great! Go to a thrift store, buy a few things and then eat what you want, unless the dr has advised you differently. You can only control so many aspects of your life at one time. In a month or two, you will be very happy!

Any other surgeons available who are on your insurance list???? Sounds like someone needs to get with the program and become part of the real world. Don't give up! Suppose you could tell him that if you miss the coverage due to layoffs and have to pay for it yourself, that you will have no other choice but to go to Mexico or Costa Rica for surgery ..... might at least show him that you are serious.

yahoo!! great news on a Monday morning!! especially after having insomnia last night, being awake until almost 4am and then sleeping until 1015! LOL The 12's are gone!!!! I tried on 10's this am and they fit perfectly! One pair, Levi's, are a bit snug but should be fine in a few days. Seriously?? I was in a pair of 16's 2 months, 1 week and 1 day ago ... and now, 31 lbs later - am back in 10's. My goal before considering surgery, was just to be back in single digit jeans. I am sooooo close!!! The last time I had the Levi's on was December 2006 when I went to Belgium with my sister. The Incredible Shrinking Woman!!! haha!! :smile1: ok. gotta go to work now. I am about 4 hours behind schedule. heehee

Lan2k and Oregondaisy .... Just want to make sure I understand the rules here ..... if you both agree with the poster's opinion then it is ok for them to post but if you both disagree with the poster's opinion, it is ok to call that person names and be rude and they are not allowed to post?? seems I read something above, from more than one person, including your bff, that said people with good experiences should also be allowed to post. does that not apply to me?? Really, I am so very incredibly sorry that I had a good experience and have seen first hand twice how things work down there. (you and your bff haven't right???, just going on hearsay, right???) bummer, I guess I should have had serious complications so I could be in the "cool" group and not in the "hated" group. LMFAO again

How about a note from your doctor?? OK, elective to an extent, but do you have any related medical issues that could worsen if you wait?? And how much more weight will you gain?? Being in the medical field, one would expect people to be more supportive. Do you lift at work? If not, call in sick the day of surgery and then get a doctor's note saying you need a week off. Your boss really doesn't need to know why you are off. I'm thinking there is a medical privacy law in this country ..... I would tell your boss, ok - I understand. I will wait until the fall to request the time off. And then get "sick" : ) I went back to work 4 days after surgery - but I am mainly at a desk unless I am out walking property.

Oregondaisy ~ LOL!! I totally get it! Chancie ~ I think a big "thank you" would be a fine response. A gal this weekend told me that my britches were getting too baggy in the booty. I just smiled and laughed! She knows about my surgery and is one of the few skinny people who get it. MidwestGirl ~ My assistant at work, who is only coming in one day a week right now, told me last Friday that she is seeing a change in me every week! One of the things she mentioned was that she could see my collarbones! TexasT ~ I am having the same problem with my new anniversary ring! It is so loose! Not enough to fall off yet but very annoying. I may have to switch back to my original wedding set or wear one of my "fake" ones that I wear when traveling alone. Tough problem to have! :tongue_smilie: Wannalise ~ congrats!! Mini, Thin, Jeep and Pirate ~ It must have been one of those weekends! I went shopping in my old clothes also!! I found a couple of donate bags that hadn't been dropped off yet and found 3 pairs of size 10 pants! The 12's are just too loose as of last week. I also tried on 2 summer outfits that I bought in 2007 for our summer trip to Europe, just knowing that they would fit after my tummy tuck and they never did. They are still a little snug but should fit very soon. I also have a few dresses and shirts that still have price tags on them :biggrin0: but they will fit soon too! And just in time for our summer cruise! yea!! Non scale victories are amazing!

That is awesome news Mini! LOL I have had a few sips and it is getting better. I was told that I can have popcorn now, which really surprised me, but I can't eat the popcorn without the pop!

I really need to remember to make meatloaf! I just dump a bunch of salsa into the meat, mix it up and throw it in the oven. It is really nummy and would last a week! :tongue_smilie:

you are a real trooper! good for you! in the end, it will be worth it. no pain, no gain - and this is the perfect example! : ) but then I have always been a rebel and rules are made to be broken. lol