M2G

Oh my gosh, you know what? I actually cringe when I see a before picture of myself.
And let me tell you something else. I would have argued (at the time...pre-surgery) that I was healthy (no co-morbs, great cholesterol, great BP, not on any meds whatsoever) and I exercised 4-6 days a week, why did I need to cut off 85% of my stomach in order to lose weight (I'm not a binger/purger, not on antidepressents, no eating disorders, etc.) And I can tell you right now, even as healthy as I was, that losing almost 50lbs has made me feel 1000% better. I FEEL SO MUCH BETTER AND I DIDN'T FEEL SICK BEFORE.
So yeah, I hear you. The fear of the unknown is a hard thing to get a handle on. And even typing it out ...it does sound drastic. 85% of my stomach. Gone. Forever. But I would do it all over again in a heartbeat to feel this good. And I'm not even halfway to goal yet.
Glad you had your decision-making moment. I don't think you will regret doing this for yourself.

Oh my gosh, you know what? I actually cringe when I see a before picture of myself.
And let me tell you something else. I would have argued (at the time...pre-surgery) that I was healthy (no co-morbs, great cholesterol, great BP, not on any meds whatsoever) and I exercised 4-6 days a week, why did I need to cut off 85% of my stomach in order to lose weight (I'm not a binger/purger, not on antidepressents, no eating disorders, etc.) And I can tell you right now, even as healthy as I was, that losing almost 50lbs has made me feel 1000% better. I FEEL SO MUCH BETTER AND I DIDN'T FEEL SICK BEFORE.
So yeah, I hear you. The fear of the unknown is a hard thing to get a handle on. And even typing it out ...it does sound drastic. 85% of my stomach. Gone. Forever. But I would do it all over again in a heartbeat to feel this good. And I'm not even halfway to goal yet.
Glad you had your decision-making moment. I don't think you will regret doing this for yourself.

I thought the same thing! I would definitely try a new NUT or ask your surgeon if he knows of any.
My surgeon gave me a huge 3 ring binder filled with pages of notes and specific guidelines, etc. He also has 3 in-house NUTs whom I saw for 6 months prior to surgery AND they run his support groups.
I think there is some online documentation about someone's guidelines in PDF format, maybe try OH and search for it, or even search here, as it could possibly help just give you some clear direction.
I personally have to limit my carbs or I don't lose. I'm carb sensitive, but do okay with small amounts of healthy carbs. The junky white carbs/sugar just make me want more.

SN..............Starting Wt........Current.......Goal.......Lbs to Goal
Avilda .................270.............196..............184............12 (12-9-10 191 down 5) Back on track!!!
BlackBerryJuice...........208...........155...........155..............0 (Dec. 19th goal - reached a week early!!!!)
Brendasgonnalose 335......244.............235............4 ( 12-20-10 239 down 3)
Chilo1.............216...................169..............154................15 (down to 160- so back to original goal of 154!!!))
Dansha...........220..................220...............195................25;)
DJackson........246.................230...............220................10
Filosophia Scandinavia...205...205.............187...............17 (Will be sleeved on the 30th November)
Fit ..................290.................250.8..............235.8............15
GayleSBennett ....232.................201................189...............11 Good Luck everyone! =)
Juliarh............303.6.................236.6..............225................11.6
Kgremmy........225..................221..............199................22 (being sleeved 12/14/10)
Labrys............238..................208.................193...............15
Laylasmojo......242.................200.6.............185.............15.6
LilMissDiva........247...............236.............226.8..........9.2
Lisalu..............210..................137..............130.................7
livelovelaugh....236..................216................196...............20
Maddie............257.................167................147................20
merieri............240..................206...............190................16
Mini-Me...........203...................128.6..............125.............3.6 (Getting Better!)
Mommy2Girls....275..................256.............240...............16 - GOAL REACHED!
mp8btpc.........199...................160...............145...............15
pattimomof3NJ.....203.4..........168.1............170...............-1.9 BELOW GOAL!!!
Pumpkin97....220...................150...............143...............7 (this is my goal for Jan 1 2011)
Sleeve 4 me ...204...................167..............164..............3
Stacy160.........258..................174...............148...............16
StaySea........299...................299.................275.............24
twoboysandagirl..226..........212................199..............13( made goal 8 days post op) NEW GOAL 185
FlyGirl...........260.................227.................219...............8
I just had to share that I reached my goal today! I've lost -35lbs in 2 months since surgery and 16lbs since we started this thread. I am over the moon happy! Hopefully I'll be below goal by New Year's Day!

Coops is right! I completely agree!
I'm just a tad over 6 weeks out and have only lost 28lbs. I cannot remember the last time I've lost almost 30lbs in 6 weeks...oh that's right, NEVER! So I am happy. I simply cannot compare my stats to someone else.
Sometimes people lose a lot prior to surgery, so if they lose 30lbs pre-op and then another 30 in the 2 months following surgery, their ticker may say they are already down 60lbs. Which looks like HUGE loss in a short amount of time. Please do NOT get me wrong, their ticker SHOULD read -60lbs because they absolutely own every single pound they have lost and they should absolutely Celebrate those lbs gone. So I'm not saying anything bad about that. But please do NOT compare yourself to someone else.
I went to a support group last night and there was someone there who basically had the RNY about a week before my sleeve, and she has lost -65lbs. I was blown away!!! But then she revealed that she had been hospitalized once post-surgery to clear out some Fluid build up in her stomach remnant, and her starting weight was 470lbs. So then it was all very much in perspective for me. She weighed basically 200lbs more than my starting weight, she was basically still recovering from the trauma of being hospitalized twice in the same month and all the sudden it was very clear why comparisons just don't work.
Please do not get discouraged and down on yourself. And know that this is a journey. You know the saying ...the pounds did not magically appear overnight (even though sometimes it feels like they did!) and they will not magically disappear overnight. Celebrate your loss and know that when you are using your tool, you will continue to get healthy and lose weight!

As for driving, I was told as long as I had been off of pain pills for 8 hours or more then I could drive if I needed/wanted to. I didn't "need" to drive until about 5 days post-op, and was off pain meds by day 3, so it all worked out good.
As far as the other, I would just recommend listening to your body. If you are in pain still, you most likely won't enjoy "it". And I also recommend going slow the first time so you don't pull/stretch anything abdominally.

I started mushies today! I am so happy!
I had an ounce of greek yogurt about 3 hours ago. All went well. So now I just had an ounce of cottage cheese. I sprinkled in a bit of seasoning to give it a bit of savory flavor. I'm am soooooooooooooooo happy that all is going well.
I never would have thought I would be so excited to eat ordinary food. My NUT cautioned to keep the new foods to 2 a day and go really slow. So those are my 2 for today. She said do eggs/egg beaters last because those are the things that most people have the hardest time with. Does anyone echo that about eggs?
Just wanted to share my happiness!

DITTO!!!

Well written JuilaRH!!!
Maybe we should all write the author and "suggest" easy ways to be in control of her anorexia. How hard is it to eat a couple of donuts a day? I mean that would solve her anorexia problem right? Simple. Why didn't she think of that.
Ppffftttt! What a biotch!

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.