iegal

YES. Normal BMI in less than 5 months. For those of us who have struggled with weight for years - the sleeve is a dream come true.

That is so sweet. You are an awesome mom!

Rest, hydrate well and use a humidifier. Hoping the best for you!

JoJo; I suggest you just review the NSV (non scale victory) & VSG Success Stories for the next two days. That will keep you happy. This is sudden, but most of the pre-ops here would love to be in your shoes rather than up to a 6 month wait. Keep smiling!

You may be sleeved by now...so welcome to the losers bench! Wishing you a speedy and uneventful recovery.

Your screen name says it all. Congrats on your upcoming surgery date!

Hi Cutie; You did not put down reasons why you are backing out of surgery. Tell me why and then I can help. This is your decision alone; it is a life changing decision. If you are not resolved then do not have surgery! Did you go through any psych counseling before surgery appointment was made? I did have a "what have I done to myself "moment...crying in front of a HomeStyle Buffet knowing I would never be able to gorge over and over. This is an embarrassing pathetic moment really. At that point i was on liquids. Today I still enjoy all kinds of foods at goal weight in reduced quantities. Last evening I enjoyed part of a cupcake, a jalapeño popper, steak, grilled zucchini, salad...in small delicious quantities over a period of time which did not leave me wishing for more. I still cook, I still go to friends houses for food and fun, I still go out to eat at restaurants. Quantities have changed and I no longer feel hunger at the time like before. Feed me, feed me, feed me....that mantra is gone. I have no regrets - my health is better, my lifestyle is better, my outlook is better.

Really...a big wheel for adults? HA HA. Don't know wether to giggle or grimace. Congrats!

Oh - and you sound like a fighter. Hugs to you.

I believe you are courageous for being willing to share your story. You did everything right. Relieved that you had an advocate along with you for out of country procedure. All surgeries carry a risk of complication. I am glad you are getting better and recovering. Mostly I respect you for not coming on here and bashing your surgeon - even though it seems he bears the blame. Wishing you an uncomplicated recovery from here on out.

Weightbgone - things will get better. Your ticker does not say how long you have been sleeved...assuming a short time frame ago? Your body is getting dramatically less calories, sugar than before...it is not happy and now your are lethargic. Make sure you drink enough, commit to get out and walk four times a day for 15 minutes. Grab your bottle of liquids, sip and then walk. No matter what. Yes, it is easy to lie down and nap but then you are not tired at night and then your body is truly mixed up. Hugs to you.

Hi Randy; Yup - have been there. Which Isopure are you drinking? The small plastic bottles with 20oz approx or the ones from GNC with 40gm of clear protien with flavors like apple-melon? (think green jolly green rancher candy) Protien is so hard to get in right away or enough liquid. Argh, that first month or two was rough. I probably bought 15 different kinds of protien powders before I found one I could choke down. It was the 40gm ISOPURE from GNC - apple melon only. I still drink it upon occassions. Another one I like and still use is a bariatric Cappuccinos (Bari-wise sells 7 packets for $11). Your body has been through a great shock and is adjusting. Do not give up. You need calories maybe even some low level sugar. I went through the same thing - shaking, light headed, and weak. Hang in there, this is just an adjusting phase. Call you doctor on Monday morning to see if they recommend anything, but until then go out and get some G2 gatorade (low sugar/calorie). Sip, sip, sip or you are going to dehydrate and end up in the hospital.

Oh Kerry; Many of us here have felt your pain, your struggle. Today is your day, tomorrow is your day, Tuesday is your day and so on. This is for you and no one else. Commit each day to get through that day alone on the diet. My surgeon looked me in the eye and told me he would close me up if I did not follow diet. 2 weeks of pure misery - over Labor Day. I hid out, did not see my family for meals, parties or otherwise. Want inspiration - go look up some before and after picts. Being sleeved was nothing short of a miracle for me...it can be fore you. Your miracle is about to happen! You can do this!

Hi Bryn; How long have you been sleeved? I too could not stand Vitamins for quite a while. Yes, you can get liquid forms of vitamins and I have seen them at WalMart. Be sure to make sure you are taking the right # of pills and check out that it meets guidelines of what you surgeon suggested. But, I tried Flinstones Complete for the first month - surgeon told me no vitamins for first week and then I had to crush Flinstones. Since I have some, I still choke down the Barriatic Adv. Vitamins. Good product but the taste...yuck.

During the soft food stage...and even today I had a really hard time with scrambled eggs. Only time I retched up any food was with scrambled eggs. But - read a post Tiffykins made and she said to try deviled eggs. Wow - love em. Okay, I don't LOVE them but I can get them down and they are a great way to get protien in the morning. Yeah Deviled eggs...just remember to chew, chew and chew.

Welcome to VST. Clicking on this link will give you instructions on how to make a ticker. http://www.verticals...605#entry115605 I was never banded, but there is a thread on here you can look at for those revised from band to VSG. Do this by scrolling down in topics. Best wishes for this Friday. The sleeve does work! No regrets.

I read a study that said that it's common to put on 20 lbs by 5 years post op but I plan on not having any part of that! Happy 2nd Sleeversary! Always enjoyed your posts. Um - really to the 20 lbs above? Is this for sleevers or all WLS patients?

Congratulations on such a success story. I too was a self pay and my insurance starting covering the sleeve less than 2 months after my surgery. Oh well, to all reading this I strongly second Swiftflows statement of "..was worth every penny." I have no regrets.

Hello to you too apple-saucy; Sounds like you have a lovely family. Congrats on being sleeved!

Hi Lisa; Yes, yes and yes. A lot of good surgeons will do surgery with a lower BMI. Mine was just above 33 and we are about the same height. I lost all my weight in less than 6 months by following my surgeons diet to the letter almost without exception. I was a self payer and it was worth every penny here in the US. I was close to home having excellent follow up, my results were nothing short of a miracle (see my b4 and after photos under VSG success stories), I see others scars and cringe since I had minimal scarring, no drain, no catheder, no pain pump, needed no pain meds except to sleep one night and had VSG as an outpatient surgery. So you can pay less outside US, but there is a cost which will make me unpopular on this site. Having Kaiser - you need to send a private message to Sleeve 4 me and talk to her. She had a BMI of under 40 and Kaiser in SoCal paid for her surgery. Wishing you the best of luck!

Sorry you had so much discomfort and realize the error of your ways. Did you really try to eat lasagna as first solids? Where is that listed on solids? But at seven months I still have moments where i eat too much or do not chew well enough. This really is a journey of learning new habits. Thanks for sharing.

I think you have already talked yourself out of helping yourself. Sorry if I am blunt - but even you admit your CAREER IS OVER if you do not make changes. Have you made those changes from August (your first surgery date) to now? If yes, then you would not have scheduled 2nd surgery date. I was sleeved because I failed over and over and over at so many diets and Weight Loss programs. Being scared is okay, it is healthy to worry, but it is not healthy to have your fears paralyze you from making rational choices. You need to realize that you are important. Your health is important. You are not "normal" now, are you? Do you eat normal size portions or is it all genetics that made you severly overweight? I still enjoy food. At goal, I can eat almost anything, just in drastically reduced portions to my "presleeve" self. Your options. Say no and get diabeties and high BP and lose your job. OR Step out and take a minor risk (all surgeries have risk) and as long as you have chosen a good surgeon, I say Yes. Make the choice to save yourself from you. But this is not my choice, it is yours. What ever your choice I wish the best for you! I have no regrets.

Our stories are similar as so many here. Glad to hear you are willing to step out and make a change to help yourself be healthy. You are fortunate to have a husband who supports you. Sorry about your friend, she is either secretly jealous or scared, maybe both. I am excited for you!

Hi Lots of hope; I had my surgery through this center, but used Dr. Quebbemann. Can name 3 people who have used Dr. Braverman. Send me a private message if you would like to discuss. (click on my user name in upper left corner) Best wishes on this journey! Glad I choose the NEW Program!

Simply beautiful! Can't wait to see less of you in May.