SKCUNNINGHAM

LMD - this is an outstanding post - thank you so much.
I would add:
DO: Keep a food diary of what you eat and drink. This is a great learning tool as to which foods have what amounts of fat, Protein and carbs that add up to your daily intake goals. There are many ways to diary your food - from old fashioned pen and notebook to many options via smartphone apps. Keeping one is the important thing - however is right for you. I use mine now to look back for meal ideas when I hit a blank as to what to prepare for a day or a week.
DO: Realize this is not a diet to be followed for a while then set aside. This is a permanent lifestyle change. Yes, the amount of food you eat will increase as time passes, but your relationship with food will be forever altered. How you Celebrate your joys, successes and holidays will be different. How you mourn your sorrows will be different. Some people need outside help to get through the sometimes overwhelming mental changes this process brings. If you need help with this part of the deal- reach out and get it.
Thanks again LMD - you are awe-inspiring.

I too am a Christian. Your question reminds me of a joke ( I am not making light of your question - there is a point to the joke.) It is not my intent to offend anyone's faith here.
A man lived in a house close to the river. The river was swollen with flood waters; the waters were still rising. Authorities were telling people to evacuate. The man refused to go, saying he was a Christian and God would provide for him. As the waters were rising and he was forced to go to the second floor of his house to get away from the flood waters, friends in a small boat came by to rescue him. He refused to go, saying again he was a Christian and God would provide. The waters continued to rise, and the man was forced to go onto his roof. A police yatch came by and told the man to get in the boat - they would take him to safety. Again, he said the same thing and the police reluctantly left him on his roof. A little later, a rescue helicopter hovered over him, dropping the ladder down so he could climb on - only the very highest part of his roof was still out of Water. And again - he refused to go - saying God would provide. Well - the man drowned. He went to Heaven, and stood before St. Peter at the gate. He wasn't very happy - and St. Peter asked what was bothering him. He told St. Peter he was surprised he had drowned - he had expected God to save him. St. Peter said to him "Who do you think sent the two boats and the helicopter?"
I view the sleeve as my personal ladder coming down from the helicopter. Dr. Nick did the surgery - but the man upstairs definately played a major role in my success with the sleeve.

LMD - this is an outstanding post - thank you so much.
I would add:
DO: Keep a food diary of what you eat and drink. This is a great learning tool as to which foods have what amounts of fat, Protein and carbs that add up to your daily intake goals. There are many ways to diary your food - from old fashioned pen and notebook to many options via smartphone apps. Keeping one is the important thing - however is right for you. I use mine now to look back for meal ideas when I hit a blank as to what to prepare for a day or a week.
DO: Realize this is not a diet to be followed for a while then set aside. This is a permanent lifestyle change. Yes, the amount of food you eat will increase as time passes, but your relationship with food will be forever altered. How you Celebrate your joys, successes and holidays will be different. How you mourn your sorrows will be different. Some people need outside help to get through the sometimes overwhelming mental changes this process brings. If you need help with this part of the deal- reach out and get it.
Thanks again LMD - you are awe-inspiring.

I see by looking at your profile you are young - 31. If you have been heavy for your most of your adult life (the last 10 years) you may be suffering from insecurity based on your rapidly changing body. At 31, you may be used to defining your "self" a lot based on your physical body. If you are insecure, certainly you would not be interested in relationships, much less a sexual relationship. I would recommend you focus on finding out who "you" are, maximizing the wonderful person you are, and falling in love with yourself. Once you are secure and happy with "you", you will find it much easier to relate to other people.
Have you ever considered volunteering for an organization you believe in? Go build houses with habitat for humanity, serve meals at a Soup kitchen, volunteer at a food pantry, be a docent at a museum, etc. That is a pretty easy way to ease into being with people, and it will make you feel better.
Good Luck,
Sharon

If you go to www.surgery.com, it will tell you the following (I got this from typing "deaths from sleeve gastrectomy" into my search engine)
The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery lists the complication rate in vertical sleeve gastrectomy to be relatively low, even among patients considered to be at high risk. Cumulatively the overall mortality (death) from vertical sleeve gastrectomy is 0.39 percent—lower than with traditional bariatric surgeries. (last updated 11/24/2009)

From an article on www.gastricbypassfacts.com, here is a extract from "How Does the Sleeve Gastrectomy Work?"

The risks and complications of the sleeve gastrectomy:As with all forms of weight loss surgery, the vertical gastrectomy does carry risk and these will clearly vary from one patient to the next and must be discussed with your physician. Complications might include:

Gastric leakage and fistula 1.0% Deep vein thrombosis 0.5% Non-fatal pulmonary embolus 0.5% Post-operative bleeding 0.5% Splenectomy 0.5% Acute respiratory distress 0.25% Pneumonia 0.2% Death 0.25% http://healthengine.com.au/article/sleeve-gastrectomy.html
This article quotes " The mortality rate in gastric sleeve is 1:500 and it lies between the gastric band, which is the safest, and the laparoscopic gastric bypass, which carries the highest risk."
So the first source says 3.9 patients out of 1000, the second source says 2.5 patients out of 1000 and the third says 2 out of 1000. So I would feel comfortable (based on these 3 sources) saying the death rate is somewhere between 2 and 4 per 1000.
To contrast that - imagine 1000 people walking around that are your height and weight - with your exact health problems. How many of them would die in the next year from their health problems?
From something I was reading this week on another forum - surgeons who perform 100 or more sleeves per year have lower risk rates. Hospitals that perform over 150 sleeves per year have lower risk rates.
If you are considering a surgeon, ask how many procedures he/she has performed in a year, and how many he/she has performed in total. Then ask the same two questions about how many of his patients died. This will give you an idea where your surgeon is versus the norms. Also ask about the hospital you will have the surgery performed in - how many procedures do they do a year?
Any surgery is scary and has risks. You can't go through life avoiding all risks. For me - the risk of dying of heart problems from NOT DOING this surgery and staying obese was much higher than the risks from the surgery. This surgery was the right decision for me. I wish you good luck on making your decision.

If you want an easy food plan to go on prior to your TT, follow the pre-surgery diet your doctor gave your prior to your Sleeve. Mine was liquid Protein drink 2X per day and a salad with lean Protein on top for dinner. All the broth and no calorie liquid you could drink.
Also - write down every morsel you are putting in your mouth and see what your patterns are.

Congratulations! You are doing great. Your post really inspired me. I have been sleeved 2 years and 7 months as of today. I am looking forward to my 3 year anniversary.

If you want an easy food plan to go on prior to your TT, follow the pre-surgery diet your doctor gave your prior to your Sleeve. Mine was liquid Protein drink 2X per day and a salad with lean Protein on top for dinner. All the broth and no calorie liquid you could drink.
Also - write down every morsel you are putting in your mouth and see what your patterns are.

If you want an easy food plan to go on prior to your TT, follow the pre-surgery diet your doctor gave your prior to your Sleeve. Mine was liquid Protein drink 2X per day and a salad with lean Protein on top for dinner. All the broth and no calorie liquid you could drink.
Also - write down every morsel you are putting in your mouth and see what your patterns are.

I like my cottage cheese sweet (with unsweetened fruit) I also like mix a few tablespoons of it into yougurt. The craziest way I eat it is to mix about 2-3 Tablespoons of Salsa into about 1/2 cup of cottage cheese. Looks awful, tastes good.

If you think my face looks 21, God Bless You for the compliment. It's been many years since I was 21.
Sharon

I am a patient of Dr. Nicholson in Dallas. I think he is wonderful, so much that I have my testimonial on his website
My process for picking a surgeon was to find out the criteria my insurance used for approving surgeons. I was covered on four different insurance plans while I was qualifying for surgery (long story). All of the policies required a "Center of Excellence" surgeons, so I limited my list to those surgeons in the area.
Then I did research on what the risk factors are for the surgery and how to minimize them (I am a statistician, so forgive me for this approach). Two key things that can minimize the risk is 1) pick a surgeon that has done at least 50-100 of your surgery (sleeve) in the last 12 months. 2) pick a hospital that has supported surgeons performing your surgery (sleeve)at least 50-100 times in the last year. So I limited my selection to those doctors and hospitals. I was pushy getting this info - I didn't care how many bands and bypasses they had done - I wanted sleeve data.
Then I went an met my surgeon candidatess. Pick the one you have the best raport with that practices at the hospital you want. My selection was Nicholson. Have never regretted that decision one moment.

I am a patient of Dr. Nicholson in Dallas. I think he is wonderful, so much that I have my testimonial on his website
My process for picking a surgeon was to find out the criteria my insurance used for approving surgeons. I was covered on four different insurance plans while I was qualifying for surgery (long story). All of the policies required a "Center of Excellence" surgeons, so I limited my list to those surgeons in the area.
Then I did research on what the risk factors are for the surgery and how to minimize them (I am a statistician, so forgive me for this approach). Two key things that can minimize the risk is 1) pick a surgeon that has done at least 50-100 of your surgery (sleeve) in the last 12 months. 2) pick a hospital that has supported surgeons performing your surgery (sleeve)at least 50-100 times in the last year. So I limited my selection to those doctors and hospitals. I was pushy getting this info - I didn't care how many bands and bypasses they had done - I wanted sleeve data.
Then I went an met my surgeon candidatess. Pick the one you have the best raport with that practices at the hospital you want. My selection was Nicholson. Have never regretted that decision one moment.

I am a patient of Dr. Nicholson in Dallas. I think he is wonderful, so much that I have my testimonial on his website
My process for picking a surgeon was to find out the criteria my insurance used for approving surgeons. I was covered on four different insurance plans while I was qualifying for surgery (long story). All of the policies required a "Center of Excellence" surgeons, so I limited my list to those surgeons in the area.
Then I did research on what the risk factors are for the surgery and how to minimize them (I am a statistician, so forgive me for this approach). Two key things that can minimize the risk is 1) pick a surgeon that has done at least 50-100 of your surgery (sleeve) in the last 12 months. 2) pick a hospital that has supported surgeons performing your surgery (sleeve)at least 50-100 times in the last year. So I limited my selection to those doctors and hospitals. I was pushy getting this info - I didn't care how many bands and bypasses they had done - I wanted sleeve data.
Then I went an met my surgeon candidatess. Pick the one you have the best raport with that practices at the hospital you want. My selection was Nicholson. Have never regretted that decision one moment.

I am a patient of Dr. Nicholson in Dallas. I think he is wonderful, so much that I have my testimonial on his website
My process for picking a surgeon was to find out the criteria my insurance used for approving surgeons. I was covered on four different insurance plans while I was qualifying for surgery (long story). All of the policies required a "Center of Excellence" surgeons, so I limited my list to those surgeons in the area.
Then I did research on what the risk factors are for the surgery and how to minimize them (I am a statistician, so forgive me for this approach). Two key things that can minimize the risk is 1) pick a surgeon that has done at least 50-100 of your surgery (sleeve) in the last 12 months. 2) pick a hospital that has supported surgeons performing your surgery (sleeve)at least 50-100 times in the last year. So I limited my selection to those doctors and hospitals. I was pushy getting this info - I didn't care how many bands and bypasses they had done - I wanted sleeve data.
Then I went an met my surgeon candidatess. Pick the one you have the best raport with that practices at the hospital you want. My selection was Nicholson. Have never regretted that decision one moment.

Hang in there, it does get better.
Here's why I was emotional after surgery.
My body doesn't like being cut on, that alone takes time to recover from
My body doesn't like being put under anesthesia, that takes time to recover from (weeks for me).
My comfort foods were taken from me and I was having to face life (and emotional upheaval) without them.
I felt like crap and was having trouble swallowing anything.
My digestive system was torn up and I was having trouble "going".
My stomach muscles rebelled every time I tried to sit up, lay down, or roll over.
I didn't feel like having relations with my husband, which really put me in a bad mood.
My disappearing fat cells were dumping estrogen into my system like crazy - making me an emotional wreck.
So you are probably feeling some or all of the above. Believe me - in a few weeks it will all get better.
Sharon

I am a patient of Dr. Nicholson in Dallas. I think he is wonderful, so much that I have my testimonial on his website
My process for picking a surgeon was to find out the criteria my insurance used for approving surgeons. I was covered on four different insurance plans while I was qualifying for surgery (long story). All of the policies required a "Center of Excellence" surgeons, so I limited my list to those surgeons in the area.
Then I did research on what the risk factors are for the surgery and how to minimize them (I am a statistician, so forgive me for this approach). Two key things that can minimize the risk is 1) pick a surgeon that has done at least 50-100 of your surgery (sleeve) in the last 12 months. 2) pick a hospital that has supported surgeons performing your surgery (sleeve)at least 50-100 times in the last year. So I limited my selection to those doctors and hospitals. I was pushy getting this info - I didn't care how many bands and bypasses they had done - I wanted sleeve data.
Then I went an met my surgeon candidatess. Pick the one you have the best raport with that practices at the hospital you want. My selection was Nicholson. Have never regretted that decision one moment.

I used my weight from the day I had my consultation. It was pretty close (within 5 pounds) of my max weight. Never have been pregnant, so that wasn't a concern for me.
Sharon

Good morning! I am so sorry about the weight gain. All I can tell you is what I do, what I've done from the beginning. For me it is a total lifestyle change, as natural to me as breathing. I call this my 'dashboard'.
1) I weigh EVERY day. I KNOW how quickly I could gain eight or ten pounds, and that would be overwhelming to me. If I'm up a pound or two, I just make a change or two and it's gone in several days.
2) I weigh and/or measure my food when I am at home (eye ball it carefully when out)
3) I log my food on my fitness pal. Before discovering MFP, I used fitday.com and at the VERY beginning, I have a spiral notebook and wrote it down.
4) I attend support groups
My comfort zone is 142 - 145, I weigh first thing in the morning, out of bed, go to the bathroom and on the scale. A pound or two is manageable, but for me, I cannot go by how my jeans fit, by that time I'd be up ten pounds and it would take me a few months to get that off, I'm sure of it. I must track my calorie, there is a fine line for me between maintaining, gaining and losing. I've been doing this for over 2.5 years, so I've got the hang of it, but I can never be complacent. Like I said, this is my new normal. This is why I call what I do, my dashboard, if a 'light' comes on, and to me, being up a couple of pounds, or my calories being above what I need.....those are my lights. I just change things up a little, meaning, I lower my calories by 100 -150 and that takes care of it.
Make sense? My advice is, find something that works for you, something you can do forever, there is no end date, we've made a lifetime commitment.....and make it part of your life. Good luck, you can do this.

I am 2 years and 7 months after surgery. I started taking Biotin as soon as I had surgery and was able to swallow the pills. My hair did thin, but it is now back to pre-surgery levels if not actually thicker than before. I think I eat better now, which is reflected in the health of my hair. It seems to grow more quickly, too. I continue to take Biotin.< /p>
Hope this helps.

Being overweight physically covers our bodies with fat, hiding our natural shape. It also hides us emotionally and mentally, not only from others but ourselves too.
So when we lose weight, as well as revealing new bodies, we uncover ourselves again. That's what's happening to you.
I may appear to have changed with my weight loss, but I am now just who I was inside all along. The fat barrier kept me from really being me but no more!
Life is too short to live a lie or to live only for others. Making changes will be hard but nothing worth having comes easy.
Good luck, this too will pass and life will be as it should be for you :-)

Congratulations! You are doing great. Your post really inspired me. I have been sleeved 2 years and 7 months as of today. I am looking forward to my 3 year anniversary.

I agree with your premise that we are more than stories about our struggles with weight. Here's mine.
I am a 55 year old married career woman. I have been married for almost 31 years (next week). My husband and I own a marina and resort with two business partners on a lake about 75 miles east of Dallas Texas. We have owned the business for about 16 years. I do not take an active part in running the business, I have always kept my "day job" as an engineer and manager in corporate America.
Just yesterday, I took an early retirement with my company. I currently looking for another position and will be doing this full time starting next week. But since I am "retired" with health benefits, I now have the flexibility to maybe select short term contract positions rather than another permanent position. It is nice to be interviewing as a thin person, rather than someone who is morbidly obese.
I am a mother of one grown son and grandmom to two delighful little girls. I enjoy reading - both fiction and non-fiction and antiquing - both buying and reading about different types of antiques. I am addicted to home design magazines and food TV on the satellite.

I agree with your premise that we are more than stories about our struggles with weight. Here's mine.
I am a 55 year old married career woman. I have been married for almost 31 years (next week). My husband and I own a marina and resort with two business partners on a lake about 75 miles east of Dallas Texas. We have owned the business for about 16 years. I do not take an active part in running the business, I have always kept my "day job" as an engineer and manager in corporate America.
Just yesterday, I took an early retirement with my company. I currently looking for another position and will be doing this full time starting next week. But since I am "retired" with health benefits, I now have the flexibility to maybe select short term contract positions rather than another permanent position. It is nice to be interviewing as a thin person, rather than someone who is morbidly obese.
I am a mother of one grown son and grandmom to two delighful little girls. I enjoy reading - both fiction and non-fiction and antiquing - both buying and reading about different types of antiques. I am addicted to home design magazines and food TV on the satellite.

I agree with your premise that we are more than stories about our struggles with weight. Here's mine.
I am a 55 year old married career woman. I have been married for almost 31 years (next week). My husband and I own a marina and resort with two business partners on a lake about 75 miles east of Dallas Texas. We have owned the business for about 16 years. I do not take an active part in running the business, I have always kept my "day job" as an engineer and manager in corporate America.
Just yesterday, I took an early retirement with my company. I currently looking for another position and will be doing this full time starting next week. But since I am "retired" with health benefits, I now have the flexibility to maybe select short term contract positions rather than another permanent position. It is nice to be interviewing as a thin person, rather than someone who is morbidly obese.
I am a mother of one grown son and grandmom to two delighful little girls. I enjoy reading - both fiction and non-fiction and antiquing - both buying and reading about different types of antiques. I am addicted to home design magazines and food TV on the satellite.