Brenda0600

Thanks very much Lee!!! I am hanging on to many of your post as you have been insightful and motivating to me. Hopefully, I can one day be like you and continue to motivate others!. I will certainly keep you updated on my progress.

Wow!!! this is an awesome post.. I am beginning to wonder do we need a support group for those who are 1 week away from surgery, 2 weeks aways from surgery, 3 weeks away from surgery, etc. (trying to lighten our topic and bring humor just a bit) (smile) I, too, will be having surgery within a week and have 100% all of the emotions that each of you may have. I am wondering: "Did I really try to lose weight for all of these years", "I am totally confident in my decision", etc. I am a single parent also with a new granddaughter is my heart. Each time I reply my decision, I come back to my reasons for considering and contemplating the surgery. While each of us have our own decisions, my decisions are that I want to be the healthest and BEST Brenda that I can be!!!.. I am not doing this to become a size 4 and look like a Beyounce or some movie star! I am doing this because my weight has been a burden for far to long. I have denied it my weight issues for far too long. I have overcompensated for my weight issues for far too long. And, I cannot continue to say that my weight at 290 lbs is just a "figment of my imagination". It is not healthy and I cannot get control of it doing things which I have previous done. I need a tool which can assist me portion control and help me evaluate everything which I eat. In turn, all of my work towards execerising and choosing different choices will allow me to "see" the health benefits. I am soo very sorry for this long post; however, the question just became therapy for me to write and share my fears and emotions with this group. To all my veterans sleevers, I just sooo thank you for your support in helping me understand and share experience on weight. Hopefully, I can one day help others as you guys have helped me. My sleeve date is March 19, 2010 and I ask for all prayers as well. @ Breek.. know that God places people and decisions in your life for a reason, season and purpose. Please consider and contemplate your decision as ask yourself which direction (i.e "Is your weight lost journey for a reason, season or purpose") to help you find solice in your decision. Be always Blessed, my friends and new family, until next time.. Brenda Dr. Aceves March 19, 2010 - The Real Journey Begins....

This is an awesome post and I am glad that he is my surgeon as well. I am leaving next Thursday on my way and this post has also reconfirmed my research as well. I also like the honesty that he has not had one yet as we all know that things can happy. I am going to need your support and prayers while I embark upon this journey and I will do the same for each of you in return. @ Bona, please send me your email as I would love to stay in touch with you!.. Peace and Blessings to you all! Brenda Dr. Aceves March 19, 2010 - The Real Journey Begins....

Thanks sooo very much!! You guys are my angels!! I just really so appreciate all the support and will definitely keep you updated before and most definitely after the surgery. As a bag full of emotions, it so nice to have this forum to learn on and for support!

Hey. Another fellow Georiga Girl is checking as well on you!! Please give an update and let us know that you are ok.. Be Blessed. Dr. Aceves March 19, 2010

If anyone is interested, CVS now have an super strength Biotion (7500 mg). I have been taking this for about 2 months in anticipation of hair loss. I am pre-op with my scheduled sleeve date on March 19. Although pre-op, my hair is growing like crazy just from an increase with taking this medicine. I was previously on 1000 mg, then 5000 mg. and now the 7500 mg. daily is totally unbelieveable. Hope this helps someone..

Please someone please tell me about the Gum. My surgery is on March 19 and I may have years worth of Gum in my stomach as I generally would swallow gum about 1 a month. I this case, I may be a basket case at surgery (lol.. lol).. Thanks for any replies..

Congrats on your journey as well Shandra.. you look awesome!! It is sooo very good that "old timers" like yourself still have time to post and keep us updated on your journey. Thanks sooo much for this website, to you, folks like Tiff and VegasAngel who really find newbie, like myself encouraged. I will be sleeved on March 19 and my do I have sooo many emotions.. I am not looking to change my mind; just periods of anxiety and self defeat that things had to come to this. I am attempting to put on my "big girl panties" and deal; however, much emotions. In reading your post, right now, you have definitely brought be continued encouragement and support.. Thanks soo much for your post.!

:thumbup:This is sooo why I just love you guys as you are just a wealth of information. I believe Tiff and MountainLover are right on target as the financial gain, from major insurance companies or from other healthcare related entitites find that the Sleeve is just pure "one stop shopping". In a society like the US where our weight problems are out of control, being able to have information on our options is truly helpful for us to make the right decisions for ourselves. I thank everyone for their comments, informative research and thoughts with helping me understand this issue. Love you guys!!!

Newbie Here so please take my obversations as more of a query.. I really love my new sleeve family and I am scheduled for surgery in March. After months, month and months of research (with the help of this forum), I am just curious as to why there are not commericals or informationals about the Sleeve to help more people.:confused1: This journey appears to be a "God send" for alot of us and I am just sooo thankful I found out about the sleeve by through word of mouth. Anyone curious as to why the Sleeve has not recieved more public advertising.. similiar to the Realize Band? No pun intended to my Band family, just curious and trying to understand why more people are really not aware of Sleeve.. :blushing:

I am attempting to purchase alot of the Protein products to stock up before surgery (March 13). Can anyone tell me if you liked your protein powders during pre-op, did you taste buds change post op finding that you could no longer tolerate the protein after surgery? After much, much, much reading, I am beginning to rethink my plans in purchasing so many products prior to surgery. I am just wondering did anyone find that their taste significantly changed? Any Help if much appreciated.. PS. I just love this board and the new sleeve family since joining. :thumbup1:

Thanks soo very much!!! Your information and recommendation was most helpful. On a lighter note, I have to admit, posting this questioning and having you guys answer the question, made me realize one of the most important reasons in combating this weight loss journey. That is, not buying food and/or "stocking up" on food in mass. This is too funny; but, I started to see that there is no reasons as to why I need to purchase $100 or $200 doll ars of food products "in advance". I know I may be talking to myself; however, you guys have already taught me the importance of shredding this thinking. @ Tiff.. you are such an inspiration and I thank God for you!!! Thanks again to everyone as I am going to be really listening, reading and learning for many of you as I move throughout this journey! God Bless!:lol0:

Congratulations / Peace & Blessings... Please keep in contact and let us know how you are doing.

Hello All... I will be with Dr. Aceves on March 12 with the surgery scheduled for March 13. I cannot tell you all how many emotions I have. (smile). Please email me at Brenda0600@aol.com as I would love to have a partner as well while there. I am in Albany, GA (3 hours from Atlanta). I will be traveling from Atlanta to San Diego. Thanks to everyone on this site for the support and awesome information!!!:thumbup1::thumbup: