stcyt

Well.... I guess this thread goes either here or in the singles section. So...... the one thing I really envy religious people is their social networking. They form great communities and have lots of opportunities to meet people. I'm single and would like to meet someone but where? There is an athiest group in my community called freethinkers of colorado springs. It looks like they do cool stuff, they have sunday hikes and lectures and pot luck etc.... I'm a little worried though. I really don't want to preach the gosple of athiesm or listen to militant athiest doctrin. I may just be stereotyping.... maybe the group is full of people just like me, jsut looking for social outlets. I guess I won't know till I try. Have you guys had experiences with these types of groups? Where do athiests meet people (besides online)? Thanks Stacey

Hello all, I was sleeved in 2010 and lost 40 lbs. I worked out like crazy and followed all the rules. turns out I had undiagnosed hypothyroidism. Also... I was pretty scared at the time of surgery (in Mexico) and asked for a little bigger pouch (mistake). Anyway... I have gained 10 lbs so overall weight loss ='s 30. I am scheduled to be "resleeved" in Mexico with a differenct surgeon (original surgeon too pricey, although I really liked him). I am hoping to have a better result now that my hypothyroidism has been corrected. I really didnt think much about it.... other than what a complete pain in the ARS!!! But then I read on here that it carries more risks. I don't want to freak myself out.... but does anyone know anything about this? Has any one else been resleeved? Thanks Stacey

Wow Laura-ven.... thanks so much. Its so nice to see that there are other. This is super helpful. It makes me think I should see a doc here for exrays before I dip south of the border again :-)

Yes...it looks like I have lots to discuss with my doc. At first it just seemed like, "why not", but the reality is setting in. Mexico is nice for a lot of reasons, but the real good preop doc discussions often don't happen till the day of surgery. I haven't let my coordinator know my concerns yet... it's just starting to hit me that I am really committing to going through this whole blasted process one more time. I kind of want to get some exrays here in the states or something, just to have someone confirm that the lack of restriction isn't all in my head. Or.... If I stretched it out myself am I just going to do it again? Thanks for you input. I remember when I did my first sleeve I was on here all the time.... its sooooo helpful to have a community :-)

Wow, Thanks PdxMan. This really tells me alot. I am 2.5 years out and was wondering if maybe the restriction just goes away after a while. Its good to know you keep the restriction even after 2 years. I am pretty set on the re-sleeve, I really really dont want to go through that all again, but I really really want to be at goal weight. I read on here that the resleeve carries a higher complication rate because the stomach itself is thinner and the suture line has to go accross the old suture line. I dont know if this is true and it's not a very common procedure, so I'm not sure where to research. I, of course, will ask my new surgeon about this, but I like to do independant research whenever possible, especially when getting care in another country. I dont want to do the bypass or d-switch because I dont want the malabsorption. If it's safer though... maybe I should go that route. Just not sure where to find the information on all this stuff.

I dont know about the Bougie size. I think he was using as a general practice around a 34-36... and then I asked for bigger.... so its anyones guess. I had an excellent surgeon and would recomend him to anyone... he was just honering my wishes by going bigger. I try very hard to eat right and exercise, just hired a personal trainier and am trying to build some core muscle strength. I am feeling quite defeated and had a little Taco Bell Pity Party yesterday.... ate 3 taco supremes with no problem and could have easily eaten much more (not a habit.. just a lapse).

How do you know if you have a leak. I have discomfort from time to time, just getting used to the sleeve. Is there a specific sensation that is associated with a leak?

I'm so relieved. I saw my pcp today and told her of my plans to have vsg in Tijuana. She thought it was great and has several other patients in the same boat. As far as insurance coverage for follow up stuff she said she just has to code things creatively!!!! so manny worries just went out the window. Nothing to do now but have my surgery. :wink0: Thanks for listening stacey

Hi all its been long time since I posted (I think I'll give an updat on another forum) anyway... I thought I'd let you know I'm doing a laser skin tightening procedure called Velasmooth (I saw an add for velashape in the upper corner...same thing) Anyway...my upper arms are pretty bad... I have all these elephant looking folds around the inside of my elbow and the inner soft skin looks like I'm 105 all the way from elbow to arm pit... I lift weights 4x per week, vocusing heavily on that area. That being said, I'm 45 years old with a super fair complextion (red hair and freckels). I went to see a surgeon and he said that was the absolute worst skin type for this type of thing and I shouldnt expect a lot of improvement without intervention. Of course he wanted to do surgery and leave a big scar. I am trying the new laser skin tightening treatments. I just started last week. I am doing 15 treatments over 15 weeks. They use this suction vaccume thingy and it gets everything really hot... they check to make sure my skin temp is at least 104 before moving to another area. It doesn't hurt... just feels kinka weird. I'm paying $3000 dollars. The company (american laser) has their own financing company so I'm paying interest free over 2 years. I'm a little scared because I don't have a lot of money and I am really going to feel that $125 a month. If It works it will be so worth it to not have to wear half sleeves in the 100 degree heat this summer. If it doesn't I'm going to be sooooooo disapointed. They say it will definately get my loose skin and will probably tighten the second wave webbing under my arm. They threw in my abs for free since I have a little crepe papery area under my navel. I will keep you guys posted My fingers are crossed Stacey

so.... I need to do something about the extra sking on my arms. It is all pooled around the top of my elbo and it looks like a rhinoceros' knee. Now... I do have batwings... but here's the thing. I think I can live with that. They are not horrible and I've had them my whole life so I guess I'm used to them. It seems like a trade off.... batwings or a big scar from armpit to elbow. six one half dozen the other in my book. Anyway... I feel like I just need a little tuck under the arm to pull up the rhino skin. Is there a name for this procedure? Is this a common procedure? I would probably have it done in Mexico so I need to be specific about what I want before going down. Any direction would be appreciated. thanks stacey

Okay I know I cant have NSAIDS but is this forever? My PCP didn't know the answer. I desperately need mega doses of ibuprophine once a month. My Dr gave me some tylenol with codine but I know thats not going to do the trick. Usually I take 6-8 advil every 6-8 hours for about 3 days. If I don't I am seriously incapacitated by cramps. Does anyone know if our stomachs are strong enough for NSAIDS ever again. If so I'm sure i could get a script for 800mg instead of doing the mega dose thing. Thanks Stacey

For those of you wanting to kick your ppi I will share my experience with rebound. I never had a day of acid or heartburn pre-surgery so I was really hoping that my body had a good regulatory system in this department and would sort itself out once off ppi's. I stayed on them for 5 weeks per my doc then quit cold trukey. Day 1 No issues :tongue_smilie: Day 2 :001_rolleyes: a little uncomfortable but managable Day 3 :flame:Hell on earth. :mad5: Lots of gaviscon :target:(tums and rolaids cause rebound) difficulty eating... mostly just drank creamy Protein Day 4 :ack2: uncomfortable but better than day 3. Appetite returned by evening meal (my tiny sleeve appetite):hungry: Used gaviscone once Day 5 I can feel it.... but its almost gone. Day 6 To be continued.......... I'm hoping by tomorrow it will be gone.

Hello fellow slow loosers I need some input guys..... for the last 4 mos I have lost no more than 3lbs per month (the last 2 mos its only been 2). I just got on the scale for my midmonth weigh and I have gained a lb. Now... I'm trying not to panic.... in the past this might have sent me over the edge. I was 7lbs from goal.... now I'm 8. I have to say... I am not much of a meat eater.... was pretty close to vegetarian before surgery. I decided to get back on the meat after surgery because lean Protein and veggies seems to really take the weight off. If I eat another meal of meat and veggies I may PUKE!!!! I'm sooooo over it. he thought of it literally makes me gag a little. Consequently I have added whole grains into my diet. I eat alot of legumes and such. Actually.... just this week I started eating bread!!!! (I'm sure that explains the lb) What do you guys think about the idea of going on a DIET. I lost 50 lbs with weight watchers one time and I know the program well. It would allow me to eat more grains and yes.... even a little bread.... while keeping my calories under control. Its only 8 lbs..... I may be able to do it in 8-10 weeks. I would still drink the protein... just count it in my daily pts. before surgery I was a bit of a compulsive dieter... the diet binge cycle. I certainly don't want to go back to that... but mybe if its not too restrictive and I have realistic goals. I would love to have some input thanks stacey

I am booked with Dr Gutierrez.... full arm lift for 3800. He said not only do I have to have the full scar (elbow to arm pit) but because of the excess skin I will have to have a 3-4 inch T at the bottom (the full arm lift is 3800 and he's throwing in the extra incision). I am doing a virtual consult with one more surgeon just to make sure he says the same thing. Here's my pics..... after 12 laser treatments (pics are no different from "before" pics

Vela shape is what I was doing. I did hear that it was approved for inner thighs and the tecs that worked with me said that is where they have seen the best results. I think I have to revise my thumbs down evaluation. The procedure has done absolutly nothing for my loose skin.... but..... I did loose an inch in my arms at a time when I'm not really loosing any more and I havent lost any inches anywhere else. So... I guess for actual reduction I have seen some movement.... its just the excess skin thing. I hope yours works.... It sounds like your not out much if it doesnt' good luck

thanks breezy It is pretty maddening.... its not like there was a little it of progress... just not enough... there was NO progress. Geeze... an arm lift in TJ is $3800.00... what was I thinking. ARGH Hopefully I've learned my lesson about impulse buying. I'm the worst when it comes to this. take care stacey

Well guys.... I was going to wait until I finished my treatments (I bought a pkg of 15) before I gave my final verdict, but, unless a miracle happens in my last 3 treatments I am going to go with a big fat thumbs down on this procedure. I have had 12 treatments and NO results. UGH.... what a waste of money.... Well... hopefully none of you will get sucked in now... its so alluring to believe that you can rid yourself of excess skin with just a few laser treatemnts.... don't buy the hype. I guess its back to Tijuana for surgery. take care all stacey

Hi all I'm 10 mos out and I'm curious about what people are eating. I feel like I can eat alot. I can eat 2 taco suprems from taco bell. The last few bites of the second one are tough... but I can do it with no discomfort later. Now I know I shouldnt be eating taco supremes..... but dang they are good. Anyway.... I get worried sometimes about how much I can eat..... can anybody else eat this muc. If so, do you worry about maintenance? Thanks for you input stacey

Hey... does anybody know... If you had surgery in Mexico using a US based coordinator and the surgery was elective (not medically necessary) can this be deducted from taxes as a medical expense?

check out barenecessities.com. I saw they had a mens section. Its just shapewear... but I think you will get the compression you want. I just went to walmart and bought the old school girdle.... they don't really have such things for men. good luck stacey

I have been a painfully slow looser. I decided that I would be content with 2 lbs per month... at least it was coming off.... right? Last month I didn't loose ANYTHING!!! I started doing 40 minutes of cardio before eating (fasting cardio as perscribed by the "fit for life" guy). Yea.... 2lbs this week... and I'm actually eating more because the cardio makes me kind of hungry. I'm a believer

I recently added 40 minutes of cardio before breakfast. I feel so hungery all morning. I absolutly eat more now - especially between 8am and noon - but - my weight loss had come to a stop and it has started again. I guess you have to put some fuel in the furnace if you want it to burn.

I didn't know what to post this under. I finally decided on success stories because I figure its a great success that we even wory about these things. So..... heres my question. How much have pants sizes really changed. I am 5'7'' and weight 143. I wear a size 6. Now.... about 10 years ago I weighed 132 for a short minute and when I was a teenager (way more than 10 years ago... I guess it was the early 80's I weighted 135) I don't rememer EVER wearing a size 6 before, not even an 8. The difference is, when my weight was low before I was not in good physical shape. Not sickly, I just didn't exercise and was sort of soft. Now I run and lift weights (not hard core) and do yoga. What are your thoughts on the difference.... how much of it is our expanding definition of what constitutes a size 6 and how much of it is having a different body composition? Any thoughts

Just over 10 months out and I have a tiny scar where my drain tube was that is no longer visible. A tiny scar in the center of my chest (1/2 inch) that is barely visible. I have a scar about 1 inch long just over my belly button and another 1 incher to the left of my belly button. The 1 inchers you can see... but not bad at all. Really... my boyfriend has never even noticed. I'm sure its different for everybody... but its pretty minimal for me.

We have so many fears.... all along this journey. Its weird how used to failure we all are. I was a binge eater before surgery. I would do pretty good all week but then I would eat massive amounts of food on the weekends. It was my coping... my a way to self sooth and manage my lonliness. I have had a few 2 "binges" since surgery. The first one... in hindsight... I think I was just testing the limits. I ate a good number of calories accross the day... lots of sliders etc. I consumed a fraction of the calories I did in a pre surger binge and I felt absolutly awful. For the next three days food just sounded abhorant to me (I am a food lover like you have never seen... food NEVER seemed abhorant to me in the past). Binge number 2 was a real live binge... with all the accompanying out of control feelings. I ate icecream and Cookies.... I was doubled over with what I can only attribute to be a "dumping" syndrome of sorts. Sweating nauseaus etc. I will NEVER do that again. Bottom line... even though sliders go down pretty good... binges just dont have the same reinforcing value they used to. Also... the weight loss is so motivating that it really helps you stay on track. I have looked for other ways to nurture and self sooth... hot baths... a little wine with friends...a message.... aroma therapy. Being thinner has given me alot more confidence now too.... so I'm dating someone and I spend much less time alone thinking about eating and much more time out living my life. I know its scary... but this process really is amazing... even for those of us with serious eating disturbances. good luck stacey