juliarh

You're right -- this is a life long journey -- couldn't have said it better -- and I'm really glad you're on the journey with us

I got mine on Sept. 8th -- just loving the results

I think that anytime you have major surgery, it's a little scary. That said, I believe that the VSG is the best present anyone could give themselves. You are so lucky to be able to do this, so lucky that you are in a position to help yourself! So, yes, scary feeling are normal before surgery, but think about what it will be like on the other side and losing weight I can't help but smile when I think what it will be like a year from now

Oh, and I am so not liking the new set up here either. ugh.

I've only told my husband (my kids of course), my parents and one friend (who is a nurse specializing in obesity) -- my friend was very sympathetic and knows many who have gone through the surgery. But, I'm not telling those who are close to me -- I've had decades of comments like "just get up and move more," etc., etc. I see the sleeve as another means of successfully achieving our weight loss goals -- just like there are those who successfully used WW or other weight loss programs -- would I lecture them and tell them it was not in their best interests? No! It's not their business. So, in my opinion, it's not anyone else's opinion how I lose weight. Yolanda, chin up! You know what's right for you and what you need to do to be healthy. Don't let those who have no business butting in, get you down.

Wow!!! hurray and a million congratulations -- you are an inspiration to all of us still on the journey!!

I lost 18 pounds pre-op and gained it all back from the surgery and the IVs -- so don't worry -- it will come off, really! I remember feeling sooooo disappointed that I hadn't lost anything but GAINED . . . . but soon all that water weight will disappear along with your waistline! Sending positive vibes your way . . . .

I had to crush my pills for the first 2 weeks, and then found that I could swallow the smaller pills -- I still take chewable vitamins (the non-chewables are huge!) -- I think that if your pills are tiny, it might be ok to swallow after a couple of weeks, but as others have said, the larger pills will take a while.

Wow, Tiff, you really are an inspiration -- I hope that I can follow in your wake and be as successful as you have been -- thank you so much for sharing your journey with us -- you don't realize how much it helps those of us who are still on the path!

Good luck and give us an update as soon as you're able!

I had a pain under my right breast and it turned out to be a pulled muscle (who knew?) from when I drove the first time (and who knew you would use stomach muscles driving?) -- it went away after a week or so -- but it scared me at first. My dr. said it was a pulled muscle, but if it lasted longer than 3 days to call. And it didn't . . . I hope you feel better and it's not anything to worry about!

I felt the same exact way last week, and I see that I'm only a week behind you -- I was so sad -- I actually cried at dinner one time because I missed being able to enjoy food -- I still have no desire really to eat -- but I too was really sad for about a week, mourning the food, mourning my relationship to it, etc. I wish I could say that I am happier, but I'm not *happier*, but just satisfied. And I'm sure that I'll go through it again. I'm looking forward to not having to think about food at all!

hi -- my doctor told me of one of his patients who had a sleeve and she was well over 400 pounds and she constantly ate potato chips and the like and lost only 30 pounds -- so you can not lose weight if you decide to eat nutritionally void food. That's why we're always told repeatedly that the sleeve is not the answer, it's a tool :thumbup: Hope that helps!

Hi all -- I'm entering my 4th week and getting "lumpy" mushy stuff to eat . . . but the thing I've been struggling with emotionally is saying good bye to food -- I mean, I just don't really like it anymore. Nothing tastes good, nothing is really the same anymore and it makes me sad that at one point, I liked everything (ha -- I know what comes from liking everything). But I guess my sadness is that I just don't really enjoy eating -- and it's not the binging-kind of eating I'm mourning, it's the enjoyment of ANY food I put in my mouth. Now, food is kind of like medicine -- I know I have to eat it to stay healthy, but if I could, I would just avoid it all together. And it makes me soooo sad because I really enjoyed eating, I loved new flavors, etc. Now it's just "eh." I'm hoping some of you all can give me your great words of wisdom -- I've just been so sad this past week and I just can't foresee a future where there is NOTHING I enjoy eating . . . Sorry for the downer post . . .

Christie, the blog and photos and video are great!! Wow, can you really tell the difference, especially with the before and current pics! You must feel great! :laugh0:

Hey mine was a little late too -- and the weird thing was, despite a lot of posts saying theirs were heavy, mine was super light. I figure my body is adjusting . . .

Congratulations!! Your post is so upbeat and happy that it makes me look forward to when I will be able to say OMG!! The OMG moments are the best, aren't they?? Wish I could give you a hug! :thumbup1:

Congratulations!!! What a wonderful, wonderful feeling

I have about 130 to lose -- so I'm in that big old boat with you all. I heard that 6 months is the window to really work the sleeve and thereafter it slows down considerably -- but whatever the window time frame is, I know that I'm going to do my best to work it -- I am anxious too -- anxious that I will flub up or stretch out my stomach or something. I can't imagine going through this process to not lose most of the weight I need to lose!

My dr. just told me yesterday, "you can resume sexual relations." My husband I think was doing a little chair dance, he was so happy. I'm just over a week out too.

Hi Kim! I was on pain meds for two days I think -- I had my surgery in South America, so no pump where I could put the pain meds in myself, they did it. I stayed in the hospital for 3 1/2 days because I had some reactions to the anesthesia (I was miserable). No biggie now though, but they wanted me there just to make sure. I have a Protein Drink here that I'm betting is not in the States, so . . . My stomach was swollen for about 5 days. I think a lot of it was from the IV fluids that I retained too. I couldn't eat the first day (dr's orders), and then drank the 2nd and am on the liquid diet now -- it was painful at first, but now that I"m a week out, I'm feeling pretty good. I hope that helps -- let me know if you have any more questions! :scared0:

Hi all (yay I'm in the post-op section now!)-- am now a week out of surgery and feeling much better -- I had some mild reactions to the anesthesia (which is no big deal considering it went away), but left me feeling miserable for the past week. Now I'm feeling almost 100 percent and so glad I did this. I did hold on to all the IV Water they put into -- I lost 13 pounds of weight from the pre-op diet and then promptly held on to all of it following the surgery. So, I am just now into "virgin" weight loss territory, but I'll take what I can get! So, all in all, pretty good! Happy to be here in the losing side of things! :scared0:

Congratulations!! So glad you're doing well! :scared0:

Hi all -- am now a week out of surgery and feeling much better -- I had some mild reactions to the anesthesia (which is no big deal considering it went away), but left me feeling miserable for the past week. Now I'm feeling almost 100 percent and so glad I did this. I'm still on my liquid diet and will be until next week when my nutritionist will have me on the soft foods (mush) diet. I did hold on to all the IV Water they put into -- I lost 13 pounds of weight from the pre-op diet and then promptly held on to all of it following the surgery. So, I am just now into "virgin" weight loss territory, but I'll take what I can get! I have very little hunger -- and the only way I know I'm hungry is that I start feeling week and with low blood sugar. Don't have much interest in food, either. So, all in all, pretty good! Good luck to you all in your upcoming surgeries!

Hi everyone -- I'm scheduled to be sleeved on Sept. 8th -- very nervous, but excited about the possibilities afterwards! I'm really thankful for this forum -- what a lifesaver to have others to talk to! My husband is extremely supportive, as well as my 3 kids. However, I have not told the rest of my family -- I don't know what to expect from their reactions, etc. So, I think I'll do the wait and see approach with them . . . Looking forward to hearing about everyone's success!