iegal

Christa; You are right on with this post. Support groups keep us accountable. I just came back from my surgeon's weekly support group, which I admit, I do not attend weekly. Helps for the reminder of what was and what is now. NUT was giving seminar tonight. Encourge all of you to attend. No regrets.

My mouth is still hanging open. Shocked by a person's lack of decorum. Stay strong and best not to engage with idiots or fools.

Thanks for sharing - you look sassy and wonderful!

I had to look twice at your pictures to even recognize you. Huge difference all around. Congratulations on making the sleeve work!

Hello Sizzling Sept. Sleevers; Wonderful reading about everyone's victories, challenges and determination. Amazing women (and men) here on VST. I am almost at my personal goal less than 5 months out. Followed my doctors/NUT guidelines and watched how others on VST & how they mixed things up to beat a stall. Slow and steady loss the last several weeks. So excited about how I feel - emotionally and physically. Sleeve has given me the chance to win the ugly weight gain cycle of lose a few, gain more back. Soon to join maintenance group. I say this with full faith - I have no regrets even as a self pay in US. A lot of money spent but I saved myself from medical issues, poor eating choices, lack of energy, self loathing and more. This forum gave me courage to step out and make sleeve work. Encourage you to keep sharing, newbies and "old timers" like me pour over your posts. Thanks!

Wow - congratulations on such a big upcoming event. But a heck of a way to loose pounds going into the hospital for the complication (leak) and illness. Yikes, stay healthy!

Welcome. I too found this site less than 2 weeks before surgery and all of the posts/memebers were very helpful, friendly and informative. Now I was not calling my surgeons office four times a day with "little" pop up questions. Do not lurk - search through the many venues here. There is a great thread for what you will need right after surgery. http://www.verticals...surgery-thread/ I was much happier after using heating pad and drinking slighly warm liquids rather than cold liquids. G2 gatorade helped me stay hydrated when liquid was an issue. Never needed to use any pain meds...and I was an outpatient for this surgery. Hugs to you and good luck!

Congrats on your success already. Remember, you are learning about your new body, so be patient. In time you will learn fullness and now is the time to measure everything. Eventually you can eyeball what you can and can not eat. Even at 4+ months out I sometimes forget and fill my plate, laughing "who am I kidding?" You will learn fullness by your body response. Sometimes I get excess siliva (gross) or hiccup when eating to quickly. Best wishes on a speedy recovery and more success!

Self pay in US. Once I had all my tests done (physc eval/ labwork/ EKG/ upper body Ultrasound/ clean mammogram) very quick to surgery date. Less than one month but I was held to availability of surgeon or I would have been 2 weeks earlier. No regrets. Good luck to you!

Hello Cheri; Tons of good thoughts and prayers being sent your way! Will be thinking of you.

Hello - what do you fear? Surgery or the fact that you are changing? Want to echo previous thoughts - it is much harder prior to surgery. Those nagging doubts, what if I fail again, it costs so much (I was a self pay in US) the other what ifs... What other options do you have to take control of your life? VSG will change the way your live. I was happy before VSG, but now my happiness is magnified. I move more, I laugh more, smile more, walk more, socialize more and take care of myself more. Decide to make yourself a priority. I am healthier, happier and more productive in so many ways. No regrets - amazed at results at under 5 months out surpassing surgeons goal, less than 7 pounds from my personal goal. Good luck on breaking away from the old and becoming the real you. The only thing we have to fear is fear itself...Franklin D Roosevelt

I love it! That truly is a non scale victory. If I tried that, my legs or back would break. Worse I can imagine getting stuck face first in the flooring. Thank for sharing - made me smile BIG.

Welcome to VST and good luck to you on the start of this journey. Anxious to hear about your choices and decisions. I was a self pay (in the US too) and have no regrets. Worth every single penny and the results are nothing short of a miracle.

Hello Tabitha - are you considering VSG or have you been sleeved already? I started off with a BMI of just above 33, carrying those extra pounds for years although I was not overweight all my life like many on this site. My sleeve was almost 4 1/2 months ago and I am have surpassed my surgeons goal by 5 lbs. My ticker below shows my goal weight of 145 and weight loss is close to current. I anticipate being at my personal goal with next several weeks. So at 5+ months out I hope to be at my goal losing over 70+ lbs. - forever! My sleeve is a miracle as diets failed me too many times to count. Self hatred and loathing were constant. Yes, I was a total failure at each join of WW, JC, every magazine diet and other fads. I used my tool (sleeve) and followed the guidelines which are so much easier when you do not have the constant "hungries" all the time. Yes, iI still have to choose not to eat mashed potatoes, chips and candy at every turn but the overwhelming demand that my body used to shout is no longer my only consideration. I no longer hear (sometimes I hear it softly) the "feed me, feed me, feed me" chant. My surgery was a self pay as insurance would not cover me since I was not being treated for my co morbidities for over twelve consecutive months. I have no regrets with such amazing results. Good luck to you!

Good luck to you on Wed! You will be in my prayers.

Big huge pat on your back for such an amazing stats. Love my Sleeve and no regrets.

Good luck to you tomorrow!

There are some great websites that have vsg post op diets. Beware, surgeons have their own list of when to eat and what to eat during different phases. I would recommend you contact your surgeons office (if you have a date yet) and see what they have to say. If not, do a google search. Good luck with your upcoming sleeve surgery. I have no regrets.

Yeah FJM, congrats on the redistribution of weight. More importantly - who knew that rib cages would be such a beautiful thing? That stall is bound to break sometime!

Wear your sweater inside out, proudly. Then when those stop you to notifiy you...pause, stare at the tag and smile. I am so gonna do this when I hit "M"

Incredible - but your lovely smile remains the same. You son is almost as tall as you! What an amazing story you have shared with us with all of your posts and support. Thank you from one of your followers.

Hello Survived; I too survived after a good bout with nausea. Only liquid Tylenol w/Codine for pain. Only took twice and that was to sleep through the night. Nausea and a high acid stomach were my only complaints. No staples, no drain to contend with either. Oh yeah - I was an outpatient surgery for VSG too. Better to be at home that in some strang bed.

Congrats Mrs. S - you continue to amaze me with your determination. I wanna go too. Now I have to take action. Thanks for the picts to inspire me. You are AMAZING!

Congrats on your decision to have VSG. 4 months out and I have no regrets. Really loathe the posts here about how sleevers told everyone who will listen about VSG - how bombastically rude and then to think those of us who do not that we are a bunch of liars. All of us here are or have been overwieght, therefore have experienced the censure of others. Some are okay with "this is who I am - love me or not", but then some of us are uncomfortable telling others about a major surgery to which they are not a vitial person of importance. I still have not told a lot of people, my mom now knows - but that was almost 3 months after surgery happened and she lives close by. My dad & son do not know. My fiance went with me to surgeon consult. My daughter found out about 2 months after surgery since she found my paperwork. My very close girlfriends know - but I told them prior to surgery. I built a support system who would tell me the truth, support me in the good and bad times. My recovery was not as easy as I hoped, but the incridible results are so worth the journey. Do what is best for you - if critisim could derail your success, then you do not have to say - "Hey, I have had WLS." Tell person if they are not close to you that you prefer not to discuss your weight as you are sensitive to the subject, which is the truth. If a compliment comes your way - simply reply - "Thank you" for those who are only aquantences. Good luck!

Good luck tomorrow! Will be keeping you in prayer. This really is a new start - a tool to help you lose weight. You still must watch what you eat, but now it will be easier. I have no regrets because now I can be in control. Hugs!