Stacy160

If his old office isn't giving you his contact information, it's most likely because they're being asses about it and wanting to keep you as a patient there (been there, done that). How about Googling him or calling information for a new phone number for him?

Oh, yikes. Well, despite my feeling that the band should be outlawed, I do wish you luck if you really do decide to go with it. It makes me a bit sad knowing there's a good chance you'll be back here within a couple of years asking about a revision, but maybe you'll be one of the lucky ones who loses some weight without any problems. Take care, and do keep us informed no matter which way you go, and good luck!

I don't know how to not be blunt when I say this, so I apologize in advance, but your husband sounds like a bully who will find ways to tear you down no matter what you do. Sound like you can't win with him. After 4 years of reading and participating in various WLS boards, my own conclusion is that whatever problems are there to begin with -- the REAL problems underneath the superficial crap -- only get worse. Weak, troubled marriages end badly when the patient feels strong and empowered and realizes they don't have to take that crap anymore. On the other hand, good supportive marriages seem to only get stronger, when the teamwork and love were there unconditionally to begin with. You have to do what's right for you, and decide if not having the surgery means you're OK continuing with things the way they are.

There's really nothing you can do about stretched skin, short of surgery, other than hope it shrinks up somewhat. How much is does will depend on how badly stretched it is to start with, your skin type, race, and age. Pain-wise, everyone's different and everyone has different levels of tolerance. Some people are miserable, others fly right through it and there's no way of knowing ahead of time how it'll be for you, but it'll help if you prepare for it to hurt and visualize how you're gong to deal with it.

I literally felt nothing... no sliding sensation, no pulling at the port... I had no idea he'd taken it out until I saw the thing in his hand!

[POPPING IN] WOW! Just wanted to say you're looking great!! [POPPING BACK OUT]

About once a week I'll pour a glass of diet soda, but I stir the heck out of it and let it sit until it gets flat. Or if we're camping, I'll shake it and slowly release the carbonation from it several times until it's flat. Usually I'll only drink about half before I lose interest and put it away anyway, but with the carbonation out, I figure it's no worse than any of the other artificial sweeteners and chemicals we're taking in.

Very early out, when I'd eat warm soup my heart rate would pick up noticeably, and I'd get hot and flushed, but never felt sick or anything.

I agree with everyone else... after the initial "Wow!" my first thought was "Look how much younger he looks already!" You're doing great!

Hahahahha!! I know it's a typo, but it's a cute one. Glad to know you're feeling better.... and 39 lbs.?? AWESOME, you're gonna rock this thing!!

WOO-HOOOO, Congratulations!!

Never mind, I got the answer! [edit, 7:29pm] OK, it's got 10 minutes more in the oven. Smells wonderful and the boys are drooling.

I can attest to its effectiveness for treating acid reflux. After taking Pepcid for years, I decided to give ACV a try, because a gal I worked with who had been dealing with a hiatal hernia and its symptoms for years had been taking it, and hadn't had one problem with it since the day she started taking the ACV. It does taste terrible and I never ever could take it straight, but I'd put it in about a cup of Water with some Splenda and drink it before bed. It works, as fast or faster than Pepcid and much, much cheaper. I had a patient tell me that he got immediate relief after taking it straight, but that just made me want to puke. Oh, and it doesn't have to be the organic, unfiltered kind, either... straight off the grocery store shelf does the trick just as well for a whole lot less than they'll charge you for the organic stuff at Whole Foods.

OK, so I've got all the stuff to make this for dinner tonight, but I have a question about the leeks, which I've never once cooked with in my entire life. I wrote "2 leeks" on the shopping list, and my hubby came home with 2 BIG bulby things that have a bunch of what look like super-sized chives coming out of them. I don't use both of those whole things, right? Just two of the long dark-green chivy looking things? Anything from the white bulby part? I feel like an idiot for not knowing this!

Pretty colors, but honestly, so far I'm hating it. There doesn't appear to be any New Posts button (at least that I can find), and on most pages there's a HUGE unjury ad to the right taking up a third of the screen. When I go to my messages, which I need to clean out and make more space, I can't because that ad covers up where I'd normally select the ones to delete. Also, it looks like there's some text running off the right side of my screen that doesn't fit, but there's no horizontal scroll bar to get over there and see what it is. I don't like to complain, but YUCK!

It's all in how the body processes them and how it releases insulin in response to them. If you Google Atkins diet, or something similar, it should give you at least a rudimentary lesson on how it works, but I would highly recommend checking out the book from the library (or borrowing it from a friend) and at least reading the first few chapters. It really does make a huge difference!

I think a lot of people do lose a size, or a half-size in length, but I've gotta believe that's more because they don't have to go bigger to get that extra width. I've been in 7 1/2s for years (was a 6 1/2 in high school) but have been trying on and fitting into a lot of 7s lately.

Rude much?? Ambryant, I with ya on all three counts LOL. I just had to take the ring off my right hand because it was spending 99% of its time spun upside down, and wanting to slip off, and the only thing holding my wedding/engagement rings on is the fact that there are three of them, so they sit a little (but only slightly!) tighter on my finger... won't be long before I have to take them off too, the top one almost slid over my knuckle as I was rinsing soap off my hands last night. As far as the shoes go, I LOVE it! I have very wide feet anyway (like 2E) and I'm thrilled to be fitting into some just regular Wide shoes that I can grab off a shelf for the first time in a long time. I've been ordering all my shoes online for several years now. And the constipation issue... well, my best advice is to take a stool softener capsule once or twice a day and make sure you're getting all your Water in. That generally does the trick for me and keeps it from becoming an issue... if I forget for a few days, whoa baby!! Yikes!

I want it right now. Like, really bad. :wink0: So starts today's shopping list!

Nobody doesn't lose. EVERYBODY STALLS. I've read of maybe two people who didn't. Know it'll happen, expect it, KNOW that if you just keep on your program, the stall will end. You'll still be losing fat, but the body occasionally will hang on to extra Water when it feels like it needs to balance itself out. Don't freak, don't think the surgery's failed you... it's normal and it WILL happen. Now, further out you may plateau for several weeks... I have, twice. Both times it's been MY fault. I find myself entering more of a maintenance stage, where I'm having too many carbs, Snacks, and treats. I don't gain, but I don't lose, either. If that happens, you'll know why, and you'll know what you need to do to get things moving again (the hardest part is getting back OUT of those damn habits once they start up again!).

I think that is an excellent idea! You could even have sub-categories on the menu for stuff that fits into mushy-stage.... refried beans done up with some taco sauce and cheese, the ricotta bake kind of stuff, etc.... of course you'd have to have regular menu items or people won't think they can take their families there, but I think WLS people would be beating the door down!

Good afternoon, everyone! Well, Saturday was my 8-month anniversary out of surgery, and also the day of my very first 5K run ever. I'm down about 70 lbs overall, including what I lost before surgery. Should it be more? Yeah... I think so, because I had a long stall in there and am in the middle of another one. It's my own fault, I've been eating more like I'm on maintenance rather than still in the losing phase. I still have about 18 lbs. to go in order to reach my original goal, but I think I want to go another 30 and wind up at about 148. -Ish. Something like that. I have posted a ton of before and current pics on my profile if anyone's interested, but will attempt to post a few here too. Some of these (specifically the '80s jeans ones) are referenced in a thread I started a couple of weeks ago after a particularly emotional day, between a really good run and getting those damn jeans on for the first time in about 22 years. That thread is here, http://verticalsleevetalk.com/vertical-sleeve-gastrectomy-surgery-vsg-success-stories/9113-best-week-ever-nsv-after-nsv.html, if you want to read the story. I'll try to post some of the better ones here, if it works. The ones with the jeans are Those 80's Jeans, as far up as I could get them before surgery, and actually ON now. The rest are all in my profile anyway, if you want to take a peek! It uploaded them in reverse order so you get the current ones first and the befores last. Apologies in advance for any psychological trauma these cause. :eek:

Your friend is very misinformed, unfortunately for her. You can take this opportunity to bring her up to speed though, if she's also considering WLS! We're supposed to take supplements because we can't eat enough food to get what we need through diet alone... but then again, most of our foods are so nutrient-depleted that just about EVERYONE should be taking supplements anyway! From my understanding though (and please, someone correct this if I've got it wrong), the only thing we have trouble processing through food is Vitamin B12. Apparently it relies on something called Intrinsic Factor that's produced by the stomach, to be absorbed through eating. Since the stomach's not making that, then we need to take sublingual B12 supplements, which dissolve and are absorbed under the tongue. They're cheap and usually pretty tasty!