Chicadee

I was sleeved on Tuesday and I am still way to sore to sleep on my side or stomach right now. I tried crawling into my bed last night and then had trouble getting back out so I slept in a recliner and will do so again tonight until some of this soreness goes away.

My first period right after surgery was horrible. So much bleeding and it went on for like 2 weeks heavy. Then I didn't get it at all for three months and the GYN put me on premarin and provera and I finally got it, that was pretty normal. I just got it again a third time since surgery and it is pretty heavy but not like the first time. I have to say losing that much blood was scary. I would definitely check in with your doctor if it persists or you have pain.

I don't know if it doubles in size or not, but I know most sleevers (including myself) can eat more after a year than we could the first few months after surgery. But for me, it's still a lot less than I was eating before surgery, which tells me it's still a good bit smaller than it was pre-sleeve. I'll be two years post op in a couple of weeks.

If you click the "like" button for someone they get a reputation point. If you go to your profile you will see on the top right a number. For example, mine says 3 neutral so I haven't received very many "likes". LilMIssDiva and Tiffykins on the other hand, people who often have really good answers and input and post often have many likes and are in the category "reputation points leaders". You can actually see the leader board on the right side of the forums if you scroll down a bit.

My surgery was on May 3rd and so far with pre-op and post I have lost 31% of my excess weight. My total is 80 lbs so far.

I had severe obstructive sleep apnea prior to surgery and I had no problems during surgery because of it. I did have to take my CPAP to the hospital with me so I could use it at night.
Now with the weight I have lost so far I don't have to use the machine at all any more, it is permanently packed away in my closet.
Good Luck.

Hey Meg,
I know it is horrible to have really thin hair, I am the same... Not sure if this will help, but I had to have mine cut short and sort of swept to the side to conceal the thinness... it does the trick to a certain degree...
Just remember though, you are NOT UGLY!! Your hair does not define YOU... ok, so it helps us along the way... but you are still You and still beautiful!
Hugs x

Hello there VST!! It's been some time since I've sent you all some updated photos... so that's my full intent right this very moment.
I've been through a lot!! I've been struggling to get healthy and fit for 6.5 YEARs now. Well guess what, TODAY and everyday after will be a success, because that is exactly where I am right now. I do NOT regret one single second of my long journey, and certainly never punished any pound lost. I celebrated them all, because they all mattered! I avoided the word "only" like a disease because that one single word can change a sentence by volumes. You are what you make of it. I made it gourmet, and I encourage all others to do the same.
Never let anyone tell you there is an end to the weight loss with the sleeve, never allow anyone to put an "expiration date" on your tool. The only one person who has control over that is YOU!! If you believe it, you will BE IT!!
Be LOUD Be PROUD... OWN IT!!! Keep on fighting!!!
Remember, I'm always only a message away. I'm always happy to give out my help if you need it, because I already know how difficult and mentally trying weight loss can be. I was there!! But... even when I was at my lowest point, that was when I reached down deep inside, picked up my big girl panties and made it work!
Heaviest ever weight 330 Lbs. Lap Band weight 283 Lbs. Sleeve weight 272 Lbs. Today 170 Lbs!!!

Here are some before and "after" pics. I put after in quotes since I'm still losing. I was shocked to look at these two pics side by side today and thought it could be motivating.
The first picture was taken in April 2011, one month prior to surgery. I weighed 414 pounds in the first photo and was wearing size 32 pants. The second picture was taken today, I weigh 301 pounds and am wearing size 24 jeans.

yeah...no liquid calories here, my daily calories are too precious to waste drinking pure sugar. I only drink diet soda and carbonated flavored water.< /p>

Daisy you won't see a like button on your own posts because you can't "like" your own posts... since it's giving a point for reputation. At least I hope that is what you are asking. Either that you won't see anyone's name there if no one has "liked" your post.
For the record, I always like anything you say... I don't know, maybe I was of some help just now?

If you click the "like" button for someone they get a reputation point. If you go to your profile you will see on the top right a number. For example, mine says 3 neutral so I haven't received very many "likes". LilMIssDiva and Tiffykins on the other hand, people who often have really good answers and input and post often have many likes and are in the category "reputation points leaders". You can actually see the leader board on the right side of the forums if you scroll down a bit.

Ok. I have a box of 1X, 2X, 22 and 24. Most are tops (winter) and there are 4 or 5 pairs of jeans / pants. My husband's ex-wife brought over some of her stuff and most of what is in the box came from her. I have never sent anything heavy before. Do you know what is the cheapest of USPS, UPS or FedEx?
You can PM me with your shipping preference and address. I should be able to mail them out on Tuesday.
Shae

I have a few 22's mostly gloria vanderbuilt jeans. I will have to look to see how many pairs and such. Unfortunately, I just got rid of all my 24's and some of the 22's. I am 5'2" so they are either short or average length. I will go through them tonight and get back with you tomorrow.
Shae

My Consultation is on Monday and I'm hopeful I will be able to schedule for September 1st. I already know which Dr. I want to use as I've seen his work first hand and it's really really good. He also does reconstructive surgery for weight loss patients. I might want to get many consults at that point, and most likely might choose another Dr. for my Total Body Lift. However, that won't be for a few years from now. I am still considering doing the arm lift but will wait to see how time heals that.

Attached are my pre-op photos. Right now my breasts are a 34C, however I bet if I wanted to fit in a B cup I probably could. My breasts totally flattened out in the last 20 Lbs!! They were doing great for a long time. I do believe I'm going to go for about a DD. As far as the knees, as you can see no explanation is necessary. I'm sure having that extra pillow of fat will feel so much more comfortable for me, during workouts and just the way my clothes fit. I'm very excited about this and I'm ready to go!!!
   

If you click the "like" button for someone they get a reputation point. If you go to your profile you will see on the top right a number. For example, mine says 3 neutral so I haven't received very many "likes". LilMIssDiva and Tiffykins on the other hand, people who often have really good answers and input and post often have many likes and are in the category "reputation points leaders". You can actually see the leader board on the right side of the forums if you scroll down a bit.

I can see above a post where someone has used the like button on a post. How do I see if a post of mine has had someone click on the like button? When it's my own post , none of that is above the post. I can see where I have clicked the like button on someone else's post.
Thanks Alex or Ken or whoever can answer this!

Happy Thanksgiving
I am so Thankfull for my sleeve and have great news as of this morning I have lost 201 pounds. I lost 50 before surgery. And 151 since my sleeve on April 7 of this year. I am 50 and feel 20 again

111 lbs gone so far....started losing in March had surgery on May 3rd. Still have about 129 lbs to go for my ultimate goal but getting to 199 will make me ecstatic, which is 80 lbs away

Hi fellow sleevers:
YES, I finally hit the century mark!! I was sleeved on April 18, 2011, so it's just over 7 months out. I am so thrilled to reach this milestone!
My progress has been pretty fast, I think. The first couple of months, I had sincere buyer's remorse, because I had excess acid and was sick every day for 8 weeks! Then the folks on this forum advised me to take Prilosec, and that solved the problem; I took myself off of that med at 5 months with no residual problems.
My husband was sleeved a year ahead of me and has been encouraging from the beginning. I've had amazing support and positive reinforcement from friends, family, colleagues, and students, and that has been a huge help and a tremendous source of happiness for me. I would absolutely recommend this procedure to anyone struggling with their weight--now my outside is starting to match my inside, and my "fat suit" is never coming back!!!
The attached pics are one of me from a cruise last Thanksgiving and one from this morning, so almost a year's difference. :-) I still have a ways to go, but as I told my husband a while ago, if I don't lose another pound, it's still been 100% worth it.

who cares if it is 'real' or not...lol... it is how you feel that is more important! And if hubby is noticing too... well, I would just take that one for the team!
Good job! x

You can answer, "Either is fine with me.", when asked, "Would you like a table or a booth?"

I had surgery on May 3rd so it has been over 9 weeks now. Up to about a week or two ago, I was not necessarily feeling buyers remorse but just angry about the fact that I ended up having to come to this. I had a very non eventful surgery. No gas pain whatsoever, incision pain only, only took pain meds that first day. I have learned I definitely need to take a PPI because the acid sucks.
I am starting to learn my limitations and try to stay away from them. I cannot eat regular bread, Buns, Bagels, and Pasta. I can eat rice, couscous, and those friehoffer sandwich thins on occasion. I eat pretty darn normally. Going to restaurants which was something my husband and I used to love to do every week can be challenging, I have gone out to eat twice since surgery and I did fine and I enjoyed it and had lots of leftovers. I have been lucky that I have had no real complications and have only vomited twice since surgery.
I have lost 64 lbs that I otherwise would definitely not have lost on my own. My feet don't hurt like they used to, I don't get winded walking from my car to my office, i can go up flights of stairs relatively easy and I was able to turn the pressure down on my CPAP machine about 4 points, can't wait to never have to use it again and I have only lost about 20% of my excess weight. I can only imagine what it will be to lose 50% or more of that. How can I regret it? There is no way possible.
I may get angry about not being able to eat certain things but that is my fat self being spoiled rotten like I have been for the last 18 years when I started putting on the weight. Eating what I want whenever I wanted is what got me in trouble in the first place.
There are so many folks on here, even those who have had serious complications and made it through, who will tell you they do not regret it one bit.

I am hoping that since I am participating from now until the end of May (with surgery tucked in the middle) in the local Corporate Cup healthy team challenge that any weight loss I have I will attribute to that and then when it is over I will say I am continuing to eat right and exercise. There is a woman on the floor I work on and I know she had a bypass years ago and has now gained a bunch of weight back and is struggling. I don't talk to this woman but i know that about her cause people talk too much.