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I am just 3 weeks out and I started taking them two days ago. It takes me about 10 minutes to nibble on them and they work. (TMI) I haven't been this regular in months.

I would love to not sweat after getting the surgery! I sweat going to the bathroom (TMI, I know). I absolutely hate sweating all the time, at anytime. Sent from my SM-G930V using the BariatricPal App

First let me say.... Dr. Alvarez Rocks !!!! He and his staff were supportive, knowledgeable, and charming. The Nurses were gentle and kind. OK, with all the niceties behind me.... I am miserable. Turned out I had a very large hiatal hernia. I had no clue, had never been diagnosed, and was asymptomatic. It made my surgery longer and more intensive. My sleeve sisters were burping and farting (TMI), but not me... I was itching like crazy. No rash, just itching. They gave me a Benadryl with only dehydrated me more and made me more uncomfortable, and I was and still am itching. I was also coughing up white foam. Last night once I got home I fell asleep in my recliner. I woke up soaked in sweat. I peeled my clothes off and got in bed and began coughing up the taste of the vile liquid antibiotic. I'm doing my best to sip, sip, sip, but I'm so weak. Just walking across the room and I'm short of breath. Sorry for the whining, but this procedure was no "piece of cake". The gas has settled behind my left shoulder and I'm just miserable. I didn't have gastric reflux pre-op, but I guess I'm one of the "lucky ones" that has it now. Please.... somebody shoot me.

Productive Burp...when the food comes back up...not vomiting...just regurgitating the food that becomes lodged. Usually a lot of slime comes with it...I know ...TMI

This maybe a little TMI but I was sleeved 1/21/13, and have yet to have a BM. I wasn't really worried at first because of being on liquids for a week post-op, but I started eating pureed this past Monday (5 days ago) and still haven't gone. This also did't really have me too worried because I'm not getting a lot of food in, only about 1 tablespoon in 2 maybe 3 times a day. But this morning I woke up and thought today was the day... I can feel it movin in there and I've been extra gassy (TMI again, I know) and when I go to the bathroom I feel like I have to go but noting happens. It's painful being in there and it's painful trying to get it out, my abs are hurting from all the pushing. I tried taking a hot shower, and thought about Miralax but it would take me forever to drink all of it... ANY suggestions are greatly appreciated, please help!!

Hi everyone I wanted to introduce myself..and say hello to all of you, I have been lurking on this website for a few days now and I'm ready to jump in and meet new people.. I just got my band on april 3rd. I had my surgery in T.J with Dr. Verboonen..(I know the name sounds scary) but he ended up being a really good Dr. I have lost 17 lbs so far and I am so excited, I can't wait to hit my 1st mini goal... this is to lose 30 lbs by June hopefully I can do it. I have 3 children my daughter will be 11 in August and my son turns 10 next month, they are only 9 month's apart and the same age for 3 month's out of the year :eek: lol YES it is possible. I had a baby in June of 2004 and that's when the weight came on. I gained 70 lbs since then and I need to lose them ASAP so I self payed and got my band :clap2: well my husband payed I luv him so much! I have been Married for 12 years.. I was emancipated at age 15 and got married when I was 16. TMI? well I just wanted to say Hi to everyone on this site, you all seem so sweet and full of info that is helpful so you'll be seing more of me.. Wendy

no and i really wish there was. even my food log has it in their activity section (2 settings i believe, passive and active :biggrin:) i've actually forgotten to take it off a couple of times when just bottoms were removed (way tmi - sorry) and the cals per minute burn was interesting. not as much as i thought it would be. i told DH if i didnt go work out, he'd have to help me out ...

I did great hun thank you for thinking about me my tummy is sore but i'm moving around.. i'm gassy and bloated and I haven't pooped yet, I know tmi but other wise ok. working on getting the liquids down. I get to go home on Saturday pretty excited

Well,TMI alert, it's because of a previous case of hemorrhoids that are acting up and he just wants to do a more thorough check. I guess it could wait, but I am in an enormous amount of pain every day. I have a call in to Dr. Aceves and want to hear his opinion on it. I truly am dreading it.

Okay, I was reading a magazine yesterday - since it was "me time" and I found an interesting article. It focussed on hitting 350 minutes a week of exercise, you can do it all in one day - ahhh, not me - or you can devide it up into 6 days a week, or 5 or even 3 - but the key is you have to do 350 minutes a week. I opted for 6 days a week, which averages to be about 60 min a day. I know, 6 days a week is a lot, but I have found that I have to give it my all in the beginning or I just quit. Some people have to start off slow, but for me, if I start off slow, I never get going. Anyhow, I decided to set some goals this week and push myself to do them. I hit the gym this morning, I did a circuit training, where I did 15 min on the elliptical - got my heart rate up - then jumped on the weights (worked my upper body -biceps, triceps, shoulders, back - and thru in the abs). After doing a set of weights, I jumped back on the elliptical for another 15 min, it was at this time my stomach started turning. I pushed anyhow, and did another set of weights. Jumped back on the elliptical machine (I was planning on doing another 10 to 15 min), but I realized my stomache was not settling down. I started dry heaving, which I HATE to do. I don't know about anyone else, but since I've been banding, I cannot throw up. I can PB, or spit up something thats in my pouch, but as far as something that has made it to my stomache, It is not coming back up, no matter what! Anyhow, I had drank some water, and I think that was sitting in my pouch still, and I knew it was about to come up. So I had to cut the elliptical machine short, so I grabbed my towel and headed to the door. I almost made it, but hear it comes, I covered my mouth and out came the water, I knew several saw me. I left in a hurry, so embarrasing. Sorry if this is TMI. Anyhow, I did get in 60 min, despite it all. I'm not sure what made me feel so sick, but I feel better now. I'm about to head to the kitchen and make me a colorful plate of food. Turkey breast, salad greens and some diced apple salad. yum. I'm going to take my measurements later and see where I am too so I can also keep track of them. Goals for the week: 1. Eat Clean 2. Exercise 350 min 3. Get some sleep So far 350 min minus todays 60 min = 290 min to go! Wt - 165.8 - grrrrrrr

I felt so great after surgery, I couldn't believe I had gone through it and felt so good. Day 2 I was able to walk around and I was so ready to get moving. I wanted to prove to myself that I could handle my business, I was given my 30 cc of water and that went down pretty good then move on to the 60cc and that was horrible, I threw up some blood which I was told was from the surgery sitting in my stomach. Okay, that's fine, I guess I can wait another day.. Day 3 drank my water and all was well.. got to have some dinner and boy was I excited!! Day 4 I was released from the hospital and I was so ready to start my new life. So why my first few days at home went pretty well with the liquids, I was just happy to have WATER!! But day 7 I was so ready to have some tomato soup and it was everything I could've wanted.. Then day 8 was horrible, I tried some scrambled eggs and that was the start of the vomiting!! (TMI sorry) When I went for my follow up appt. I was told that some things will be difficult to process in the beginning so I figured okay take eggs off the list of food, but now it seems like everything is coming up and then it's an all day process and water and juice can't be had either. I throw up the whole day and even after everything has come out I still throw up siliva?? What is up with that. I am so afraid to have anything now, cause I can't live without water or kool-aid. Has anyone had this happen or could anyone please shed some light.. The hospital where I had this done is in our neighboring state and it's difficult to get an appt with the doctor, so if this continues I guess I will have to go to the urgent care near my home and hopefully they will be able to help me out.. I don't even know if they can handle anything like this?? Anyone out there.. please help!

I just wanted to post, how happy I am to have movement. LOL I can only attribute it to the Miralax.

I have only slimed once...it was caused by a stuck pill. It hurt like crazy and was very scary because I didn't know what to expect. My mouth just kept filling up with really thick (TMI) saliva. I think the reason the body produces this is to help the stuck food to slide on down. Now since I have had my second fill, occasionally a bite of chicken that is too dry will cause that stuck feeling and my mouth will get a bit of slime, but not nearly as much as when I got the pill stuck. Once you know what is happening it is no longer scary and it reminds you to slow down and take smaller, moister bites. Now I always have a bit of diet salad dressing on my plate to dip the fork into before chewing a piece of dry chicken. If you do vomit or PB (productive burp) it is no biggie. It is not violent like vomiting and it is not gross...no stomach acid in it so it doesn't smell bad. You just don't want to do it too often as that might cause problems for your band.

Okay probably a TMI question but had it gotten skinnier? Sorry if that's TMI and feel free not to answer, the question just popped into my head.

Certainly leave it no longer. You can do it. I am day 13 of a 14 day diet of Optifast plan. Before I started it i was scared that I just wouldnt be able to do it. I also knew that If I cant do this now then I would never manage after having my Op. Yes, I did have a couple of headaches and bouts of nausea for the first five days but after that it got easier. Keeping busy is also good. I have done heaps of cleaning. Where I live must be in shock. This might be TMI but i feel a change in the shape of my body. Maybe that is the my shrunken liver talking. Stop thinking. Thousand of people have done this before. You can too.

I have had watery bowels since my first movement 4 days post-op two days ago. Today, I noticed some fresh bright red blood on the toilet paper. Is this normal? TIA, Pennie

Sigh. Never thought I’d post something like this online, but I’m freaking out a bit & need advice! Also this could very much be TMI for many, so if it is, I apologize. I had major complications after my sleeve (4/2018). My new surgeon figured it all out, and I’m being revised to a bypass January 13th. I’m currently on my presurg liquid diet. I have a new boyfriend, and we slept together for the first time tonight. (Yay!) I have the Mirena IUD. It’s >99% effective for preventing pregnancy. This is why I have it. We used a condom the first go, but the 2nd & 3rd tonight... well, we didn’t. I know they’ll do a pregnancy test at the hospital before surgery, and they will cancel it if I test positive. So here’s my question - for that less than 1% chance, should I take Plan B just to be safe for surgery? I hate worrying over this. This is why I got to IUD... to not worry! But now I’m paranoid that this could mess up my revision. (Please don’t lecture me. I’m freaked out enough. Just need some honest advice. Thanks! 💜)

And it's a hard left turn into the outside wall!!! TMI TMI TMI !!! I'm kidding--------- barely, but I'm kidding.

I am pre-op, probably going to have RNY. I have read a lot about how having WLS increases your risk of having gallstones and needing to remove the galbladder. I had my galbladder removed in 2004. Is there anyone here who already had their galbladder removed before they had WLS? Did it affect anything? I think I already have my own little version of dumping syndrome....I have diarrhea all the time. Maybe I have IBS? My tummy is upset by pretty much everything I eat, sometimes it's quite painful. I have noticed that if I suddenly go on a diet I have bright yellow bile diarrhea for a few days until my body gets used to making less bile. I guess this is something I will discuss with the surgeon, but I just wanted to see if there is anyone here like me.

I am not having any constant pain and I am 4 days out. And for the TMI section, thankful for loose stools!

Today it has been exactly four months and nine days since my Sleeve on June 5, 2013. I have lost 88 lbs., 12 Pants Sizes, 2 Shirt Sizes, 1 full Shoe Size and 14 pills! I am so very happy I made this decision. I am amazed at the transformation not just of my body but of the abilities I now have and the goals I have reached. BS (Before Sleeve) I was using a walker to do any walking at all. I could not shower without a shower chair, I could not go shopping in stores without automatic carts, I only left my house to go to the Dr. I could not stand up long enough to cook meals anymore, I had a full time caretaker, I could not clean or do laundry, I didn't drive unless I had too, I could not hold my Grandson because I had no lap, I would not have sexual relations with my husband because it was too un-comfortable and I felt to ugly, I didn't ever have the desire to go visit people, I could not go to parties or out with my friends to socialize at all. I stayed home and moped and honestly just waited for death to come and get me. AS (After Sleeve) I now go to the Mall with my daughter, I go out to lunch with friends, on dates with hubby, I shop, I cook, I clean, I even am working an area for a garden next year. I no longer need a caregiver and was just released from the program yesterday. I no long use a walker or automatic carts, or a shower chair! I only take 3 medications a day. I love to go visit and go to thrift stores and play with and hold my Grandson! I have sex on a semi-regular basis. (I know TMI) The point is... If you are thinking of having this surgery, Stop Thinking!!!! & Start doing!!! It took me over 2 1/2 years to get approval so get on it now and then do your thinking while you are in the process. You can always opt out later. I would never take it back, because honestly I never thought I would be a real person again and I had all but given up on life. I am however, a whole person again, a real person, with a real life, and real friends. I am even considering finally going back to work after six years of disability. I hope this helps anyone in making up their minds and I hope it inspires everyone who reads it. Blessings to all, Candie Before Day of Surgery Day after Surgery Yesterday

I know, I know, I should have started this before surgery, but instead I'm staring it 3 weeks after surgery, so let's see if my memory will let me get caught up. Background: I've lost and regained all of my excess weight the old-fashioned way a few times, but I had been resistant to bariatric surgery until I heard about and researched VSG because I was concerned about malabsorption and dumping syndrome. The last thing an aspie with life-long IBS needs is dumping syndrome. Even after reading up on VSG, I was leery to try it because I didn't want to lose the enjoyment I have from cooking for my wife and exploring the culinary world. We talked about it a lot. Finally, we decided that the benefits would outweigh the struggles in the long term when I became very unsettled by no longer recognizing myself in mirrors. (That's not to say that pain and fatigue weren't an element, or wanting to be there for my family long term, or wanting to avoid the severe loss of quality of life my mom suffered after 50... But those were already there.) Pre-approval classes: Before surgery with Kaiser So. Cal, I had to go through their Options class. What I learned from the class is that if one instructor seems to have unreasonable demands and/or rubs you the wrong way, there's usually another with a different approach. My first instructor was a "tough love" type, and if you know anyone on the Autism Spectrum (like me), you know that tough love doesn't work with us, especially when we're trying to meet you half way, but need more information to do so. Long story short, first instructor operated by goading the class, and some people need that. Some people do better hearing "don't ask - just do" while others need to know how they can tailor a plan to their other medical problems. This instructor insisted on 60 min, minimum, of moderately strenuous exercise per day, and all that did was destroy the little cartilage I had left in my knee. I could have really used that cartilage post weight loss! It got so bad, I almost quit entirely, when I found out that I could finish the class with another instructor, and what a fantastic instructor she was! She answered questions, explained the whys of everything, and she was honest that each post-surgical plan will be unique to the individual. I finished the course within a couple of weeks then, and I had my clearance to request an appointment with the surgeon by Feb 13. She also helped out by telling me which hospital tended to have the shortest wait. Approval: I had my appointment with Dr. Zane on March 10, and all of my labs were good. No sign of diabetes. Weight loss of 25lbs the old fashioned way. Blood pressure a little elevated but not too bad. Fibromyalgia? Bad. Joints and back? Crazy painful. Dr. Zane agreed that I was in a great place for VSG, and when he asked when I'd like to do the surgery, I told him "I'll take the first opening you've got." As it turns out, he had one last opening available for March 27, and I took it without a moment's hesitation. Pre-op & Surgery Day: To get ready for the surgery, I had to observe a clear liquid diet for the two days leading up. That, alone, made it tough for me to eat. Looking back at my logs, I was lucky to make 600 calories a day those two days, and that was only by virtue of being able to chug protein water. No chugging after surgery, though! Surgery day, my wife, MiL, and the service dogs all trundled down to the hospital. We arrived only to discover that we had a two hour wait before check in time! So the lucky dogs got a nice long walk around the new hospital complex with all of the flowers in bloom, and I think everyone felt better for that. Once I checked in, I was given a robe to change into and a pair of disposable hospital underpants that were made of the most uncomfortable material ever invented. They had a texture a bit like stretched out gauze, and (TMI alert!) my butt is STILL healing a patch of chafing from them 3 weeks later. Just so you know, part of the surgery involves you being sat up in the OR, so if you have mysterious butt bruises or soreness, it's probably that. I had no idea. Okay, so, hospital, gown, TMI, and now I met the surgical team. Two anesthesiologists, both of whom were incredibly cool. Don't be shy about telling these guys if you have nausea issues. Everyone kept me WELL drugged to avoid any vomiting. They also made adjustments for my long-term use of extended release morphine, so make sure you tell the docs about that, too. I remember being wheeled into the OR and my doctor making a joke. I was just alert enough to respond to the joke and then they knocked me out. I went out while being transferred from the gurney onto the operating table, which was so bizarrely narrow. After surgery, I woke up on the most comfortable hospital bed I have ever been fortunate enough to experience. I guess it's because it's the bariatric ward and the beds have to be comfortable enough for people significantly heavier than me, but it's the first time ever in hospital that I wasn't squirming in discomfort because of the mattress. Aside from that, I woke up thirsty and in zero pain. I think I only used the pain pump 4 times during my 24 hours in the hospital. I also want to mention that I woke up feeling incredibly positive, motivated, and ready for the future. For someone who's suffered major depression most of her life, that was kind of amazing. Endorphins, maybe? I slept and dreamed of cooking delicious things and serving my wife and MiL afternoon tea on our deck, enjoying the process of creative cooking without needing to eat it. I still want to do that. (But I'll probably join in, at least for the tea...) Shortly after napping, I felt well enough to walk around the floor, and I fell into a routine of getting up to pee and then going for a walk. No catheter involved. Kaiser also had a set up for bariatric patients of single rooms with fold out chairs that allow a family member to stay with you overnight, and that was invaluable. I don't think I slept much after the time immediately post-op, and my will to exercise was a lot greater than my stamina. I was also incredibly grateful to the suggestion I read somewhere to bring your own pajamas and robe, etc. I'm sure that helped with morale. Food, or "food" rather, was diet Ocean Spray cranberry juice (ugh), chicken broth that tasted exactly like KFC fried chicken (still don't know what's going on with that one), jello (didn't touch it), and ice chips. I found the salty broth and the ice chips the easiest to eat, but I also discovered I had a bad case of water nausea. That's only just starting to go away, and I'm a person who LOVES drinking water. So, thanks to the soup, I met my Dr's expectations, and when he came in the next morning in between surgeries, I was bright eyed and bushy tailed and ready to go home. He warned me that I had one stitch "to remind me I had surgery," and said my healing looked good to him. Don't scrub the surgical glue or get it too wet, and then Discharge ahoy! Dr. Zane released me onto a full liquids diet and out the door I shortly went. I was also told that I'd had heparin shots (one last for the rode before I left the hospital) and a LOT of IV antibiotics. It was an absolute dream to slip into my own clothes, but if I had thought it through more, I would have brought something other than comfortable jeans. Even though they sat well below my incisions, they pushed up on the incisions just enough to cause a case of the ouchies and enormous relief upon arriving home. Having a pillow to hug to my stomach helped a lot on that car ride and on car rides for the next week and a half or so. First week post-op: I have 5 incisions, and the "big bad" where my stomach was extracted is just to the left of my belly button, about an inch long with almost no bruising at all in spite of the heparin. Dr. Zane assures me this is because my surgeon is just that awesome. I love him for his modesty. That one stitch he mentioned was a tiny slice of hell for the first week and a half. Rolling over or sitting up were painful enough to make me see spots and yelp, but that did go away as the sutures began to dissolve. So if you're in that kind of pain, know it does go away, and it's just whatever stitches you have being evil. In fact, they were so evil that on the first and second night home (where the IV pain meds had worn off), I was in so much pain, I spent most of the night wandering back and forth across the dining room and kitchen with a pillow clutched to my stomach. The third night, I managed to sleep all the way through, and then some. Taking my medicine for the first week was probably the hardest part. One pill at a time with only enough water to wash it down. Did I say water? I meant water with a splash of juice. I couldn't tolerate plain water or artificial sweeteners at all. And I did try. Unfortunately, my sensitivity to artificial sweeteners has only gotten worse post-op, which made it increasingly difficult to get my protein in. My salvation? The discovery that milk is still not only delicious but that I did not develop an intolerance to dairy! Granted, I always drink lactose-free milk, but I also have no problems with cheeses or yogurt. So, fat free lactose free milk kept me going when the going was rough. It took the best part of an hour, at this point, to get down a 12 oz glass of liquid. I spent a lot of time sitting at the dining room table staring resentfully at a glass half full. It did gradually get easier as the first 10 days progressed, and the evening before my follow up with the surgeon, I had a delicious dinner of Tom Kha Kai (broth only) from my favorite Thai place, and the spice was deliciously soothing. YMMV on that part, but I was raised on salsa. The other discovery I made the first week is that walking was suddenly easier. I wanted to walk. I felt like I could just keep walking forever. That's a feeling I haven't had in a long time. By the time I went to my follow up, the majority of those struggles were in the past. And one was in my future: thrush. Follow up appt & the 2nd & 3rd week: At the appointment, my Dr. asked me how I was feeling, how I was healing, and how I was doing at keeping things down with the full liquid diet. It was all going well there, with 20lbs lost since surgery, so he cautioned me that everyone has a 2 week stall about 2 weeks out, and he moved me right along to soft foods. I asked him what's the difference between soft foods and mushies, and he answered "they're the same." After asking a few questions, it became clear that he combines those two groups and emphasizes that the food has to be soft even before you put it in your mouth. No chewing chips until they go mushy. I have no problem with this at all. He also diagnosed me with thrush. Ugh! The mouthwash treatment was intolerable, the tablet treatment, slightly tolerable, and the pill, completely tolerable. What a pain in the behind to deal with while learning to eat again! Especially with soft, mushy food. It did put me off eating for a few days, but things got better once the medicine kicked in. So make sure you can find a yogurt to take in during that first week after the IV antibiotics! Other than that, the Dr. said I'll be on this soft/mushy stage until my next follow up with his nurse, the beginning of may, so here's how I'm allowed to eat now: 4 tablespoons of food per meal, max. (I've only managed the full 4 a couple of times. More often, my meals are closer to 2T, and I feel full) 4-6 meals per day No water or drinks for 30 minutes after eating. All food must be soft and moist. On the way home, my wife and I celebrated by swinging through Taco Bell to split a Pintos & Cheese. It takes me about 30 minutes to eat 2.5T of it, one tiny mouthful at a time. We're talking Barbie spoon size for that first meal! I also had to wait another 30 minutes for the nausea to go away before doing anything else. Since then, I've been living primarily on beans, soft cheese (queso fresco is a favorite!), yogurt (plain with cinnamon), the occasional tuna salad, and lactose free fat free milk, still 1-2.5T for most meals before I feel that sensation that the next bite will not be appreciated in my stomach. That feeling really does seem to be different for everyone. For me, it's a subtle hiccup-like sensation in the back of my throat. I have missed the signal a couple of times, and yes, I did throw up. Throwing up itself is an interesting experience post-op. It's not the same "oh my god I'm turning inside out!" feeling I remember from before. With the exception of my body rejecting a vitamin it did NOT like, throwing up since the surgery has been non-painful and over quickly with very little bile involved. My birthday happened during this time, and I had a treat of curry rice in Little Tokyo for lunch, cheese enchilada and beans for dinner out with family (shared the dish with my wife, who ate most of it), followed by a birthday flan the table shared, and then at home, a bit of ice cream birthday cake and some out of this world raspberry sorbet from Fosselman's, a local family-owned ice cream parlor that's been dishing out the good stuff since 1914! Some of you are probably wondering if the carbs on that day set me back at all. The answer is: nope. Remember, this is only one day, and each serving was 4T or less. I had a great time downtown on my birthday and got in a lot of walking with my family while we explored Little Tokyo together. And then I crashed into bed and slept for 36 hours. No joke! During this stage, I also had my first post-op experience with stairs, and my heart would race like crazy by the time I got to the top. It turns out, that's a sign of dehydration. Once I got to the point where I was getting in my full hydration, the racing heart issue stopped. Now, I seem to be evening out a bit as I get the hang of things. I still eat with the family when there's a family meal, and I focus on the soft foods that I can eat, protein first. When they have tostadas, I have beans, queso fresco, crema, and salsa. When they have Eggs Benedict, I have egg and avocado with a teaspoon of hollandaise. When they have spaghetti and meat sauce, I have meat sauce. My travel food is low fat string cheese, or in a pinch, Taco Bell Pintos & Cheese. My wife and I split a lot of meals. My most recent meal was beans, salsa, and requeson from the middle of her burrito. Working out a plan to share meals with your SO has been a great way for us to keep eating together and enjoying food as a shared experience while keeping me within my requirements after VSG. I've also been pleasantly surprised with HOW the weight is coming off me. It seems to be coming off from the areas that were deforming my shape first. I used to be one of those larger people who stays perfectly in proportion, just large. I'm moving quickly back in that direction, and that alone is heartening. I do suspect that part of the reason my waist went down as dramatically as it did is due to the actual removal of 85% or so of my stomach. Considering how much I could eat in a sitting before without feeling full, I would imagine my stomach was on the large side. I'll have to ask about that during the follow up. What else? I'm on the verge of crossing down from Obesity III to Obesity II, which feels like a great landmark to pass. I'm wearing clothes I haven't been able to wear since a major injury pushed me from "hanging in there" to "nope" back in 2014 by severely curtailing my physical activity. My clothes are fitting better even when they're loose (except my damn bra, which is too big around the ribs now and a collection of underwear that think they're thongs). My vintage-style dresses no longer REQUIRE a petticoat to hang correctly over my hips, although petticoats are always cute, and I suddenly have more leggings and tank tops that are actually comfortable to wear again. It's like shopping in your own packed wardrobe and the opposite of all of those miserable shopping trips where nothing fit right. I'm glad I never gave up hope that I would be able to wear these things again. I really am. Hopefully by summer, I'll be able to fit into my favorite size 17 capris. #GOALS

Okay, so am I under the understanding I am going to try and coordinate this thingymabob? I can get on the horn with Lisa and start organinzing for her if she wishes. Plus, if anyone says I am a babe I am all for it. Hey, were you looking in my window last week during my "flashdancing" for my hubby? I tell ya, when I did that running move I almost ended up in the kitchen from the bedroom! oh, tmi. Sooooooo Lisa, PM me with your tele # so I can bug ya. Let's get this ball rolling! Don't feel bad about the group pricing at the hotels Penni, it is a fine art of dealing with the hotels and finagaling a great price. You guys aren't very good with counts huh? Is there a way to set up a poll thread or something? If anyone needs me to check for airfares, PM me. I can at least tell you what I see and how to go and get it, I can't actually book it anymore. But I can tell you where to go. So, let's get this rolling... I reallyyyyyy need to get a count. Can we start a running thread or something? Ballpark room count? Jenna

I too am a healthcare provider. I have been a CNA for almost 12 yrs. now. Since I've worked at a Nursing Home, I haven't seen anyone with complications from the lapband. I have however weighed the pros and cons on this procedure and the pros far out weigh any cons that I have heard or read about. Growing up I was actually underweight. When I met my ex-hubsand, I started gaining my weight. When I got pregnant with our 1st child, I gained over 100lbs. I never lost the weight from having her, guess I was too secure with my married life. 2 years after my 1st born, I had a little boy. By the time I had him, I weight around 230lbs. Never felt the need to lose the weight after him either. The day my ex-hubsand left, I weighed 300lbs and was so unhappy at where my life was going. Let's see, he left the last thrusday in June and by the new year, i had lost down to 218lbs. All on my own, plus my freind depression helped me quite a bit.lol. Since then, I have remarried and wonderful man and have gained back up to right at 300lbs. I'm sick and tired of not being able to get out in the yard and play with my kids because 1. my back starts hurting after just a few minutes of standing, 2. I can't do hardly anything because i get out of breath too easily and i guess my having asthma dosent help that part out any at all, and 3. I just don't have the energy to get up and run around the yard with them. That is what brings tears to my eyes. I'm so ready to have this surgery done and then start dropping the pounds and feeling good about myself once again. But most of all, give my kids the mom they deserve, (the kind of mom that can play and run with them) and to finally be a real wife to my new hubsand that i have only been married to for a little over 4 months but been with for over 2 years. OK if this is TMI, I'm sorry I really am but I don't like looking at my body fully clothed much less naked and my hubsand isn't going to even get the chance to see me naked until this weight comes off and i feel comfortable in my own skin. So in 18 days, I start my new journey and I am so excited about it.

Hi Yall! Im having a TMI moment but need talk to yall about it. Off and on since my surgery 5 weeks ago, my bowels go CRAZY and cause me horrible discomfort in my lower abdomen and pelvic region. Bloating, fullness, aching and pain! My bowel movements cause it to hurt worse and then after a while it goes away. It does this At random and im sick of it :-(. Any tips? Sometimes its one sided and sometimes its both sides.