I Made It

Hi Tammy, I had my surgery with Dr. Aceves a year ago, my 1 year anniversary was last week. If a year is good enough (I know you said 2 years), feel free to browse my posts and/or send me an email at wendyjwolf@yahoo.com. I am totally willing to share my experience, highs and lows via email or phone....

I am 1 year out.... I'm 5'5', weighed 210.5 with 35 BMI. Today I am still 5'5'(lol), weigh 144 and have a 23 BMI, very happy with my weight! I weigh less than my driver's license!!!

HI! I looked into having the lapband about 18 months ago. During my consultation/seminar they mentioned all of the different procedures and when the began to describe the sleeve, it was like a light bulb went on and none of the other choices made any sense to me. That's when my sleeve journey began! I ended up not being covered by insurance and was a self pay. I am 1 year out and it's the best investment I've ever made in and for myself! I am sooooooo glad I did it. Your post reminded me of me in the sense that I was always weight challenged, but after having kids I lost complete control and could not figure out how I could not only lose all the weight but maintain it off too! I felt like Weight Watchers and I needed to break up and I needed to find a new relationship with the sleeve.... I'm in love! lol... Good luck to you and I wish you all the happiness in taking this journey... it's so worth it! Just jump and don't look back! Wendy

I am posting my "I made it" photo! I am going to weigh the same one year from now, dammit!!! My friends say I shouldn't lose more weight because I will start looking gaunt.... no one has ever told me that before!!! lol.. Thank you everyone for your support, I hope I can give back to inspire those who are thinking about taking the journey, ready to be sleeved and are newly sleeved. It really does get easier and easier..... I had the foamies, the spit ups and the throw ups for the first 4 or 5 months. It seems like it will never end, but I promise you it does! Starting BMI - 35, today it's 23.9

BTW, chewing is overrated! lol....

Thank you Sara for your kind words, it really touched me! It's actually nice to hear from someone that seems like they have had the same challenges as me. I love that you are close to goal, and my guess is you will fly past your goal and be surprised where you land! I bet you are shocked to see yourself in the mirror... feels great, huh! Wendy

Hi, I was sleeved by Dr. Aceves on 4/13/11... I must have met you or passed you on our walk in the hallway. My room was across the hall from the nurses station. I am happy to say I am down 67lbs and below my personal goal of 150lbs I am happy to hear you are doing well too! Take care and keep it going! Wendy

Not sure when you are having the surgery, I am from So. Calif. I drove myself over the border and it's only 3 blocks past the border to Almater Hospital. Parked my car in the lot right by the security guard and had the luxury of leaving a day early, I was ready to go home to my bed and felt good! In addition, parking was free and it was nice to have my body pillow handy The driving part was easy... . Coming home took about an hour to get over the border, it was fine. Good luck to you! Keep me posted...

Jen, It's okay to get on the scale everyday out of curiousity. But measure your weightloss based on a specific day of the week. For me, it's Wednesdays because I had my surgery on a Wednesday, and I document Wednesday as my weigh in day. Don't get discouraged if you don't lose any day-to-day - look at it week to week.... I'm happy for you and it's only the beginning of a great journey! Be patient, it will happen!

Jen, I don't think I ever feel "full" like I did pre-sleeve. It's a different kind of full, it's where the trap door shuts in your esophagus and you feel like you are going to throw up because you ate 1 bite too many or will throw up if you eat another bite. But I don't think you really get that feeling until you transition to solids. I remember trying a Matzo ball a few weeks out, probably earlier than I should have... it's pretty mushy but expandable.. Couldn't get to a 3rd small bite, was going to make me sick. You will KNOW! lol... Hang tight, the next 4 months are trial and error... you will know when error occurs! Good luck to you and congratulations on your new tummy!

Hi Crosswind I have been following you since you got sleeved last year. My old screen name was "newly sleeved", I had to change it as don't consider myself a newbie anymore. I had my surgery 2 weeks after you with Dr. Aceves and your 'left my stomach in Mexicali' was my bible, and I felt like I followed in your footsteps every step of the way in Mexicali! Anyway, just want to stop in and say hello... I celebrated my 1 year on Friday and can proudly say I made and exceeded all of my 1 year surgiversary goals... I wrote about it here in one of the forums if you want to catch up with me. I am so happy for you and the progress you have made... over 100lbs is amazing and inspiring! You've inspired and given shi** and giggles to many people here, finding raw humor in the journey of a lifetime... hugs to you! Please post pictures, you don't have to hide anymore... you da bomb!

Hi New Life! I was sleeved last year on 4/13/11, is that close enough??? My starting stats seem similar to yours. I went from weighing 210.5 at the start and now I weigh 143.5, a size 18 to 8 in less than a year. I just posted my journey and results on my anniversary, feel free to go back and read it. In a nutshell, I am over the moon at my results. Have met and exceeded my hopes and if I had any expectations, the surgery has exceeded them all. I am pretty up front about the pros and cons of the surgery and what you give up in return for the results. I wish you the best of luck on your new life, it's a journey and one worth taking. Feel free to contact me anytime, I have been there! Wendy

Congratulations! Great Post! Just celebrated my 1 year anniversary this week, and I agree it's the best thing you can do for your personal happiness! It's great to hear from a 2 year veteran!

HI! I was so scared, it's a LIFE CHANGE and it's permanant! My start weight was 210.5, I was hoping to reach the weight I got married at (158), and my goal was to see 155! Pre-surgery I focused on the idea that I was making a life change because continuing to stay as the same was not an option, and the journey of Weight Watchers AGAIN was just another set up to fail and I knew it. I can do WW for 3 weeks really good, then I am just sick of it. I knew that if I did this, I had not choice after the 3 weeks. And yes, I sat there a few months after the surgery and had the conversation with myself that this sucks because I want to eat a big meal and I can't and never will. To tell you the truth, it's a bummer! But I would do this all over again in a heartbeat, it's all a trade-off!. I am currently 143.5 and shocked I surpassed all my hopes. I had no expecations because I didn't know what to expect but knew I wanted to reach at least the weight I was when I got married. As far as complications, I had none. I can't speak for how other people experience their aftersurgery but I can tell you that I drove Mexico myself, drove home myself. The hardest part was the first 3 months. My energy level and feeling well were perfect. The food intake and struggles with what to eat, what I liked and what I could keep down, including quantities, was very trial and error. I threw up a lot the the first 4 months or so, just because I was always a fast eater who didn't take the time to chew, chew, chew and my mind not catching up to my body feeling full while I still had food in my mouth and swallowing it caused a lot of my problems. It just takes time to heal and you have to be patient during that time and know the tolerance increases over time. The other thing that I miss is you can't eat a meal and drink at the same time. Not because "you aren't suppose to" but because your body won't let you. It's very uncomfortable and your stomach gets filled by the liquid and can't intake the food. You are hyperfocused on these things the first 6 months. The last thing I want to say is my "AHA" moment came a few months ago when some cashier asked to see my driver's license. I handed it to her and as I glanced over I realized I weighed less than the weight on my license said... I smiled the entire day knowing I made the right choice... that was when I knew the surgery had far exceeded my expectations! Anyway, sorry for the long-winded response. I wish you so much goodness on your life change and if you need a surgery support friend, please feel free to write, call or text. One thing I didn't have and still don't is someone I know who has had the same surgery as me. I relied heavily on reading the website forums here for advice and information. Wendy