[MsVickie]

Ok I had my 6 month followup today. They called me yesterday wanting to know why I didnt schudule this? LOL I was like he told me to come back in 6 months. Anyways..........

I got to ask him some questions we all have asked our selfs and others on here and I would like to post his repsones to them.

Did you actually cut my stomach off and leave it in me just making me a small pouch?

His reply: Yes. They way he used to do it was just make a staple line to cut off passage to the stomach. ALot of his patients (eat out) the smaller one busting staples thus reversing. He complety cuts it off laying the old stomach back inside. The only stomach I have is the small pouch. He said yes this could stretch over time but give me ways to prevent that.

How to prevent that?

He said choose the freshest possible foods you can find. This being spring we have alot to chose from right now on roadside markets. He said the fresher it is the more water it would have in it. Always choose somthing you have to CHEW!!! The softer somthing is the less likey you will have to chew it thus making it easier to swallow and you just take in more and more and the streching can begin if done alot over a great period of time. He said of course Veggies would cook down softer but still they were a excellent choice just CHEW them very well. ( This is why I recommend going to the dentist before surgery and getting your teeth fixed). I did just that just being told I would have to chew alot.

Meats of course lean cuts. He said if I had the choice of steak versus a hamburger to take the steak because of the CHEWING! LOL. He said he realized that is not always possible but if the choice was mine to take the meat that needed a bit more chewing. ( Dont get the cheapest and most rubbery that is not what he means).

Snacks: Nuts and Fruit. Veggies. Yes nuts have a bit more calories but he said the chewing part is what he is after. He stated to me that pretzels were the worst possible snack to have. Its a condensed dry carb and you just keep eating at them. ( I love pretzels and was suprised at this) If I eat them to count them out any only allow myself to eat what I portioned out.

He told me to keep cookies out of my mouth along with icecream and mashed potatoes now. I told him at one point all I could eat was mashed potatoes. He laughed and stated early out yes it was good to help fuel me but not now. If I had to have them only to do it rarely. I dont eat cookies and havnt since surgery. He told me if i had to do some icecream to keep it to a bare minimum and on rare occasions. (Remember I dont do artifical sweetners so I do the regular).

He was very pleased with my weight loss. When asking him what my goal should be ......he said ( what ever you feel good at and are happy with).

Remember I did this to save my life. Looking good while doing it is a plus. I know im never gonna be runway model thin but I will fit into chairs and not get winded walking more than 5 mins etc......

I do have a question for yall that do followups. Does your surgeon look at your tummy while standing up and move the skin around? Mine dont look for rashes..... I think hes looking to see how much of a sag I have going on. Im not one right now even thinking of having it removed. Im to scared of that at this moment.

Anyways a long post but I thought I might share with yall that may be struggling. Come to think of it ladies and gentlemen this is what we have been told our entire lives. Eat fresh food, chew it and excercise. Thank goodness we have tool to help us do it. I know Doc has told us how they eat in Japan which matches what he told me today on how to eat.

Oh almost forgot........plateaus, He said the body is a amazing thing. Let it do its business and it will get back to work for ya just be patient. Yes this might take a while but it will jump start again!