Question about Dr. C and his bougie technique

Thank you for reassurance and suggestions!  I have to let go of my control issues and remind myself that the ultimate success of my sleeve is really up to me, and not Dr. Crooms.

I will be double checking with my insurance, though.

I'll second the importance of after-care and support groups. Sure, you might be able to cobble together the funds to travel to another surgeon, but what happens once the surgery's over? Yes, if you had a surgeon who had the experience and technique to give you the "perfect" sleeve, you might have more restriction and fewer complications, but it would still be up to you to learn to adapt to your new life, change your eating habits, do the mental and emotional work, etc. Just because I may be ABLE to eat more than someone with a tighter sleeve doesn't mean I'm doomed to be less successful, or that I have to eat more.

To me, it was important to work with a local surgeon in case I needed medical follow-up, and to have a local support network.

 I have a loose 40f  that is not  oversewn or cut close.  do I wish I had a 32f?  You bet! But that has more to do with just wishing I had more restriction.  Ultimately it's not about the size of my sleeve but the fact that sometimes I do things like wander through Costco eating samples. No sleeve size can do anything about that.  I had a great surgery with no complications and I'm grateful for that.  Regardless of size, the work is up to us. Our surgeon can't follow us home and cook for us.  I agree that follow up and support group meetings are critical, at least for me.

Lets all check in and see where we are in five years!

Thank you, Lee!

I was just mentioning to KrazyDogLady that I know deep down that the success of my sleeve is really up to me.  I will double check with my insurance company, but in the end, I'm sure I will be better off staying here.  My doctor is well known as a great surgeon.  I need to remind myself that he's the one who went to medical school, not me!

I me a lady who works at cosco. she says the people that come in and go around eating at all the sample stations are called "seagulls". hahahah  diane

I want to be a former seagull.  I've been thinking about the people working at the booths and the people hovering around and the germs that are probably breeding on every toothpick.  I'd like to break this habit of mine.  There's something about free food, or maybe it's just FOOD in general.  I still have not had that AHA moment about food that allows me to simply look the other way when it's in front of me.  I am still cultivating that muscle.

One of the surgeon's in my group spoke at a support meeting and talked about people reaching that AHA moment where it just clicks and suddenly food just doesn't have the same power that it once did.  I spent 18 years in Overeaters Anonymous.  While I was able to go 9 years as a vegan with not a bite otherwise and not a bite of flour or sugar, I still did not completely have that aha moment.  Food has called to me since I was 7.  At 61, while it sometimes calls me by the wrong name, it eventually gets it right and tried to reel me back in.  Thankfully I have learned to walk away more times than not.  It's crazy how deeply ingrained these sort of things are.  I can walk past drugs or alcohol and they don't call me at all.  I've always known that food (sugar, fat, flour) are my drug of choice.   Having a Sleeve makes it so much easier to walk away, or to be satisfied with one or two bites.

When I read that on occasion others have succumbed to/chosen a cookie or a candy di**** really helps me know that I'm not alone and that this isn't a moral issue.  My weigh****chers leader tells me that it's all a choice, everything is a choice.  95% of the time I make great ones, then there's the other 5%. 

Anyone else relate?

I can totally relate to the free food thing.  For me, it was almost like a sickness.   I still remember a happy hour I went to over 30 years ago.  I must have entered into some nirvana-like zone as I was ripping into the chicken wings.  A friend of mine had to get my attention and pointed out that people were actually staring at me as I was voraciously chowing down on my food.

Obesity is such a shame based issue in our society and really sets up a vicious circle that is near impossible to exit.

Hahaha, I'm just picturing people swooping in and snatching samples directly out of the hands of the food demonstraters!!!

I have an oversewn 32F and can consume quite a bit some days.  I am almost 5'8" and my understanding is that my sleeve is fairly long, so that has some effect as well.  There are a lot of contributing factors involved.

BTW I absolutely love your line about heaven and cats!

Hi Sandy!  All of you have been so patient with me!  Now that I am only 6 pounds away from being eligible, I'm getting nervous now that reality looms so closely!

I like your avatar!  Since you indicated your appreciation of cats, you are now obligated to view some pics of my Cocoa.  He is a Norwegian Forest Cat.  The final picture is of Cocoa and his littermate, Shugy.  Shugy died of a heart problem a few years ago, but I still love him very much and like to share his picture.  They were like two gigantically fluffy bookends!

Hugs!

Aamot Cocoa of Casa Colonia




Cocoa's Belly


Cocoa (left) and Shugy (right) (Aamot Sugarbear of Eaglehill)





Politically Correct Terms for Cat
                Owners

  My cat does not barf hairballs, he
  is a floor/rug redecorator.

  My cat does not break things, she
  helps gravity do its job.

  My cat does not fear dogs, they are
  merely sprint practice tools.

  My cat does not gobble, she eats
  with alacrity.

  My cat does not scratch, he is a
  furniture/rug/skin ventilator.

  My cat is not a "shedding machine",
  she is a hair relocation stylist.

  My cat is not a "treat-seeking
  missile", she enjoys the proximity
  of food.

  My cat is not a chatterbox, she is
  advising me on what to do next.

  My cat is not a dope addict, she is
  catnip appreciative.

  My cat is not a ruthless hunter,
  she is a wildlife control expert.

  My cat is not evil, she is badness
  enhanced.

  My cat is not fat, he is mass
  enhanced.

  My cat is not hydrophobic, she has
  an inability to appreciate
  moisture.

  My cat is not underfoot, she is
  shepherding me to my next
  destination (which should always be
  the food dish).