Dallas Curvy Girl

Hello There! I live in NE Dallas and I was just sleeved on the 30th of April. Everthing is working out great with no complications.

I was also sleeved on the 30th and my main focus is getting my protein in. I am not really worried about the scale because I know it will move. It's new and it just takes time to get use to. I am still getting use to only eating 3 oz of soup if that. But my goal is to get that protein down because it is so important. So don't get nervouse just continue to follow your doctors orders and you will be just fine. You are moving at a great pace. Don't stress, you made the right decision.

I'm on my way! Tuesday I went for my first post op appointment and I am doing extremely well. The drainage pump was removed. THANK GOD! That was the most annoying thing to have in my side. But it's gone. When I got on the scale I had lost 11 lbs since I had left the hospital but my doctors assistanct caluclated how much weight I had lost since my Pre-op appointment which meant 14lbs GONE! PPHHEEWW! See ya and I am so glad to be rid of you. On my goal sheet I actually put my stating weight when I went in to have my lab work done because that was the first time I had been on the scale since they had removed the saline from my band. So when I factor it all in, I actually have lost 17 lbs total. I don't know about you but I am super excited. Now if I could just make myself remember to eat. I have to even remind myself to drink too. I can't believe the restriction. But I love it. I am not in any pain just a little low on energy but I try to keep moving as much as possible but not over doing it. Well my next appointment is not until next Thursday. Can't wait to see how much I have lost...LOL! My doctor told me if I follow the simple instructions he gave me there is no doubt that I will reach my goal weight within 6 months. Can't wait to see what it is going to be like in 6 months. That is going to be a great journey to a new and healthier ME! Wishing all of the newly sleeved and those anticipating being sleeved much success. I can't wait to read about you. I will post pictures soon. I was thinking when I make the 1 month mark. Have a great day! Talk to you soon!

Thanks, make sure you keep me updated on your progress after surgery.

Great & informative information about hair. I knew I was going to be quite busy and doing hair was not my top priority. I went ahead and had my hair braided but bought some biotin pills. Do you think my adding the oil from the garlic pills in shampoo & conditioners will help? if so I will be doing that to my shampoos. Thanks for such valuable information. You have definitley done your research.

Good for you! I plan on taking my clothes down to the family shelter. I always thought about the donations they received and if they even got plus size clothing. I normally clean out my closet in the beginning of winter & summer to give away clothes I knew I could part with. Well I can't wait to do the big sweep. I already have an industrial size bag of clothes & shoes already to give away. t's just a blessing to be able to bless someone else.

Hey Everybody! Well it's official I am sleeved. April 30th was the beginning of a new life for me. I am not going to lie. I was doing great up until it came time for them to get the IV in. Let me explain why. I am a very very hard stick and you have to really be a special person to get my IV started. 12 medical professionals could not find a single vein to get the IV started. Surgery was delayed due to this. I was so tired of being stuck that all I could do was cry. My mom couldn't take it and had to leave the room. But my husband stayed, he wasn't leaving my side. I was standing firm that they were not going to put an IV in my neck, no way. I had that done delivering my son & that was not an option. Right when that was the only option, a determined nurser got the IV in finger. I was in pain but just happy it was finally started. All I remembered was waking up in recovery hearing someone calling my name. Sounded like an angel, I make it! Thank GOD, I made it. 2 days in the hospital was challenging for me, the surgery was challenging for my surgeon. I had a lot of scar tissue from the band which caused him to work harder but the surgery was a success. I can not thank the staff at Presbyterian of Plano for making me as comfortable as possible. They provided me with the best of care. My best friend who is more like family to me came and stayed the night in the hospital with me even though she had to get up and to work the next morning. She was there to give my mom & husband some relief. I thank her so much because everytime the nurses came in she was up with them swabing my mouth making sure I was comfortable as possible. That is true friendship and she really does love me. I love you Angie! Time to go home on May the 2nd and I can't leave until I have the barium swallow to make sure I don't have any leaks. Before they remove the tube from my nose I had to have the barium swallow. I didn't think I was going to make it cause I kept throwing up. Even when the techs came to pick me up for my x-rays I was throwing up. The tech was concerned and didn't want to take me. My nurse who knew how badly I want the god awful tube removed from my nose came in and said I know you don't feel good but please try and get the barium down so I can remove the tube. No leaks, tube is removed. I got the strength to tell the tech to take me on down because I wanted to go home. Long story short, I thru up all the way to have my x-ray done but I swallowed that NASTY BARIUM **** and I had no leaks. My nurse came in and the tube was removed from my nose. Now I can talk. YES GOD! In the middle of all of this I walked and walked because nothing was going to keep my from going home. I went home in 30ish degree weather but I didn't care. I was tired of seeing IV's, breathing monitors and the smell of bandaids. The most refreshishing smell was my clothes I changed in. The fresh smell of GAIN. I knew it was time to go. I got my instructions from my doctor, the nutritionist and nurse and was out the door. Sondra has left the building. I have did nothing but sleep for the past few days, just hasn't had any energy until today. The family has been so helpful. Today I had 8 ozs of Protein shake and I am ready to take the world by storm. So this is my update. I am doing great and I don't regret my decision. The Best is Yet To Come & I am looking forward to every minute of it. Be Blessed Until we Chat Again! Stay Inspired!

Good suggestions. I am going to Vegas for a Girl's Getaway 4th of July weekend. I was worried about what or how I was going to eat. Thanks so much!

Thanks for all of the support. The tube was a part of the surgery and I also have a drainage bag on the side. I will have that taken out when I go to the doctor on Tuesday. I had this other pain pump in my chest as well. I took it out on Friday morning to take a shower. They normally take it out at the hospital but it was still full so they told me to keep it in 1 more day. The tubes were the size of vermicelli pasta and came out easily. No pain at all. I just thank god for the opportunity to hit the restart button to live a healthier life. It was all a part of God's plan. Maybe my story will inspire others that's it's ok to restart. I can go all things through Christ which strengthens ME! Words to live by!

Goodbye Ole Friend (Band), I can't say that it has not been fun. We were started out being the best of friends. It was because of you that I went from 368 lbs to 250 lbs, you gave me a new look on life. I just knew that we had built a life long friendship and I could always count on you to get me through the tough time. You did for awhile then things started to change between us. It was as if our friendship had a time restrait on it that only lasted 4 years. Why Oh Why must you cause me so much heartache and pain. I spent a many sleepless night to afraid to fall asleep because my dinner was taking forever to digest. Let's not talk about the embarassing moments where I had to leave the dinner table several times to throw up because YOU decided that I couldn't have dinner that night. The concerned look on my husband and friends face when I returned tore me up inside because I could not imagine why this was happening to me. The more I threw up the more I found comfort in sugary sweet foods that stayed down when I really wished I could digested the grilled chicken salad with feta cheese. The only way I avoided being sick was eating sweets because they were easy to digest and that is where the numbers on the scale began to climb. I decided I refuse to let you get the best of me and decided to do Weight Watchers, the #1 diet. Not once but 3 times and could not get over the 20 lbs hump because you would not allow me to eat all my points. Money wasted! Then there was the wonder pill, Phentermine! Oh it worked at first but then I felt like I was beginning to be dependent, besides my doctor would only prescribe me 3 months. Not enough time to lose the 65lbs I had gained. After 2 years of trying to decide what is the best option for me I finally found it. Vertical Sleeve revision surgery! Even though I was quite hesitate I knew I had to do something because I could not continue to live life this way. It wasn't healthy for me and I didn't want to be sick for the rest of my life. So today I just wanted to let you know that it's time to say goodbye it's been real but I am taking a new route. I won't be needing you to restrict my food intake. Thanks for the life long lessons of what not to do. I promise you I was a good student and took good notes. See ya tomorrow, good bye forever ole friend! Count down! Let's get ready to rumble!

SPEECHLESS! AMAZING! INSPIRATIONAL!

I will do the same!

Good Luck! Tomorrow is my big day too. 10:40! Here's to the good life!

WOW! Look what I have to look forward too..In 20's and some of those are too tight. I was just aiming for a very comfortable 14 without the "W" behind it. Here I come size 14! Keep up the good work.

You look GREAT!

I am on my 2nd day of the pre op diet. I was having major headache and was very cranky. Lets not mention I didn't get any sleep last night because I was up going to the bathroom from drinking all that water. The headaches are starting to lighten up. Now I am drinking 100 calories Lipton green tea which seems to help and is giving me something else to drink. I am just worried about work tomorrow. But I am praying the day will go by fast since my surgery is Tuesday. Hang in there it's going to be all worth it in the end.

The Total Lean Shakes from GNC that are already mixed taste really good, especially the swiss chocolate. I am drinking them as a part of my 3 day liquid diet. Not only does it have 25 grams of proten but it is packed with 24 vitamins & minerals, lactose free and is 170 calories. The only issue I have encountered is gas...But it doesn make me really full. So I guess I will have to see how it works after surgery. I put the bottle in the freezer, let it get slushy and I was good to go. I have surgery Tuesday, I will let you know how I do after my surgery.

I can't wait to compare my old clothes to the new ones I am going to buy. Tiny is what they are going to be..LOL!

CONGRATS on your anniversary! You give me something to look forward to!

CONGRATS! You look simply amazing. Thanks for the advice regarding the 5lb weights. That really helps because my problem area is my arms. Thank for the motivation!

Hello Everyone! I am very new to this site but I have found it quite resourceful. I will have my surgery on the 30th of this month and I am really excited about the journey I am embarking on. The topics that related to African American sleevers are going to really great. I am natural and I too wondered about hair loss. I was thinking about getting my hair braided afterwards since I will be working out when the doctor lets me know I can. I would appreciate any and all information that is provided. I look forward to the future discussions.

CONGRATS! Wishing you a speedy recovery.