NikiS

They didn't give me any vitamins in the hospital. I was told the day that I got home I was to take 2 multivitamins daily. FYI - Centrum Chewable with iron...yuck!!!

I can drink about 5 ozs. I'm too scared to try for more although I know there will come a time when I will be able to. I was reading over the instructions from my doctor -- this manual that he gave me -- and it says that I shouldn't drink more than 8 ozs an hour. How much are you drinking?

For the past few days I have been getting hungry. I mean stomach growling, no liquids or creamed Soups will satisify me hungry. Last week as I sat on the couch allowing my hunger pangs to do their thing I drifted off to sleep. My dream was so wild and vivid I called and posed a question to my sister and my mom. What if I really didn't have the surgery??? No, I'm not crazy... I definitely had the surgery, it was just a dream. In my dream, on Sept. 20 I was wheeled into the OR. My surgeon and his staff chatted me up until I drifter off into lah-lah land. When I woke up I was in recovery. Sounds about right, right? After a while I was taken to my room and given the royal treatment. Then, when I got home, initially, the weight practically melted off -- or at least the first 30 pounds did. As the weeks went by I'd barely lose a pound. By my 1 month appointment my doctor said, "Nicole, you're down 3 pounds." I found this to be a little discouraging. At my 1 year follow up appointment I was down 55 pounds. I thought for sure after a year I would have reached my goal and I said as much to my doctor and that's when he hit me with the news. "Nicole, we conducted an experiment and we're happy to say because of you, we now know that thousands of WLS patients can achieve the same goal that you achieved without having surgery. What we did was made incisions and told you that we performed surgery. During your consultations you were told that your new stomach would be the size of a small to medium banana and the other 85% would be disgarded. When in fact, your entire stomach is still intact. You felt restrictions because you were conditioned to do so. It was your own will and determiniation that aided you in losing the weight. You are our very first successful placebo weight loss surgery candidate! I woke up immediately after that called my mom and my sister and told them about my dream and then listened to my mother laugh hysterically!

@ Kay, I'm trying Lady - LOL. I know it's going to be an adventureous journey but I'm in it for the long haul. How are you holding up?

Sweetie, congrats on having been sleeved!!! You've come so far and worked so hard to get where you are right now. Please afford yourself every opportunity for a healthier lifestyle. Cheeseburgers are good, in fact they are better than good they are simply delicious and there will be time for them down the line but for now we have a strict plan to follow and we can definitely do it. Be encouraged. The best is yet to come! All the best, Niki

so good. Tuesday, September 20, 2011, at 8 AM I had my surgery. Before hand, like many of you, I had second thoughts: am I doing the right thing, did I really try hard enough to lose the weight, am I taking the easy way out, am I really ready to give up the food and change my eating lifestyle, etc. Because I had been praying about it for what seems like forever, and my family had been praying I had peace and comfort and forged ahead. After the procedure naturally I slept like I hadn't slept in years. I mean the good, undisturbed, morphine enduced sleep that I so needed - LOL. Later on that evening, around 11 PM, I was awaken and told "come on, time to walk." I didn't think I would be up to it but it really wasn't that bad. With the next day came another challenge -- liquids. I wasn't given anything to drink in the morning but at 3 PM I was given 6 oz of chicken broth. The first 3 oz went down with ease and suprisingly I didn't feel full but I knew I needed to stop sipping. I had the last of it around 5 PM. Home a day after surgery - yeah, I though it was a bit early too - it was time to operate in the real world. Time to apply all of the things my doctor had told me, the nutritionist shared with me, and all of the super helpful things I've read from all of your experiences. Today, I'm sitting here 4 days post-op, getting in roughly 48 oz of liquids a day, in mininal pain and taking it easy. Initially, I said I was going to go back to work after a week but I've decided to go back Oct. 3. Oh, and as if things couldn't get any better pre-liquid diet I weighed 323.6 pounds. The day of surgery I weighed 311. And as of yesterday when my home health aide/nurse came, I weighed 295!!! Oh happy day!!!

On the losing team and loving every minute of it!

Welcome, Krista and congratulations on being sleeved! You'll find that this forum is absolutely wonderful and someone always seems to have the answers to questions you haven't even thought to ask (which I personally love). All the best and congrats again, Niki

I'd have to agree, 83 pounds lost is a great accomplishment and to that I say CONGRATS! Don't put so much pressure on yourself. The weight will come off. I've read so many times that when you're more than half way to goal the weigh loss takes a little longer and if that's true than you are right on point. Be encouraged and keep up the good work. Continued success, NIki

I am so sorry to read that your wife left. She probably would have been a great support to you and who knows maybe down the line in your journey she may still be a great support. For now I say take a deep breath and focus on what you really want. If you opt to have the surgery in a month, your VST family will be right here to listen to you vent, read your updates and share in your successes. So chin up and be encouraged! You really can do this!! All the best, Niki

That's awesome. You're doing it Lady - keep it up! You look wonderful!

@ DallasMom and Granny - oh how I pray I am like you both - no residual effects from the surgery! I pray, I pray, I pray (literally). It sounds like you both have had very good experiences. @ Raine - After Tuesday (that's my surgery date) you'll have to make room for me on the loser's bench

Lily, I just wanted to wish you luck on your surgery. I have a surgery date of Tuesday as well and I am right there with you with regard to the liquid diet :cry_smile: ... although admittedly, I cheated a few times. Not that I know for sure, but exercise coupled with you being so young, I don't think you'll have a problem with excess skin. (Just my opinion). All the best to you, Niki

Inhale deeply of those wonderful aromas that I am sure are coming from the restaurant across from the business center and then RUN back to your room - LOL It seems like you have a great support system in your fiance...that's great! Thank you so much for the update. This is exactly what I needed to read. Your previous blog are my thoughts exactly. My surgery is on Tuesday (9/20) and I have been questioning if I am going to do the right thing, did I do everything in my power to lose the weight, etc. After thinking things through for the millionth time and then reading your blog I know I can do this. I guess I'm just wishing I was on the recovery side of things. *woosah* If you're feeling 75% better already, I'm sure you'll feel even better by the time you get home. All the best to you and thanks again for the update, Niki

You look amazing!!! Congratulations!!! All of your hard work has truly paid off. Continued sucess, Niki

Here's praying things work out. It sounds like the milk diet really worked well for you. Prayerfully the Water weight will be under control by the time you have your next doctor's appointment. You've worked so hard and if for some reason your surgery is postponed, when you do have it I'm sure you'll do well. Be encouraged, Niki

Diane, chin up and be encouraged! The questions that you have are normal and pretty much what a lot of us have asked ourselves. No more missing events and you deserve to go for and have any teaching position you want. Here's to a new and healthier you! Blessings, Niki

Congratulations on losing 17 LBS! I know what you mean about feeling nervous and excited. My surgery is on Tuesday and unlike you, the liquid diet was a very big challenge for me. Although I've weight it wasn't nearly as much as I expected - LOL (but I'll take it). I wish you all the best! When you're feeling up to it please let us know how you feel. Be well, Niki

That is wonderful. You are truly working your program. Keep up the good work and definitely keep us posted. Continued success, Niki

I think you may be right. For as outgoing as my "friend" is and for all of the confidence that he has he may be a teeny tiny bit insecure. He and I have talked several times about the "advantages" and he seems okay but then in later conversations he mentions something about the surgery. I am trying to go healthywood (by the way I like that term) with a splash of hollywood. I think I dress alright now but I'll be able to add more of a variety later. I guess I need to prepare myself for those inevitable comments too - LOL. God bless you! Nik

I know I just did a blog entry but as I previously stated - I have a lot on my mind. Anywhoo, I have a friend and he is very supportive of me having surgery. He's fine with me the way (size) that I am and initially when I shared with him that I wanted to have surgery and later told him that I was definitely having surgery he was and has been nothing been supportive, cooperative and understanding. HOWEVER, just about every conversation we have he mentions the surgery but not necessarily in a bad way. True examples: We were talking about how quickly the weather had changed and just as quickly for no rhyme or reason he says, "when you have your surgery and you're all thin I'll still love you." We were talking about 2 Fast 2 Furious and out of the blue he says, "will you still love me when you're thinner after your surgery?" He asked if I enjoyed vacation with my family and before I could answer he said, "guys try to hit on you now, but after your surgery will you continue to ignore them? You're not gonna leave me right?!" While talking on the phone he kinda worked my nerves and I was hang up and he said, "and the transformation begins. Before your surgery you had more patience now you don't." Then you caught himself because I haven't had surgery yet. There's always some reason to mention it, how he knows I'll be after I have it, the "transformation", etc. He's a wonderful guy and I love him.. I do, but today I questioned for the first time why on earth did I tell him. Of course I had to because he is who I bounce things off of, he's a special friend and he cares about me, and I wanted to share it with hm, but...UGH!!!

Hahaha! I just posted something very similar. I guess we just have so much on our minds the only things that we can do at this point is clean, get things in order and get ready for this next very serious leg of our journey. All the best to you, Niki

I almost feel like I did when I was pregnant and I had the urge to handle everything. When I was 7 months I was so tired of waiting for my husband to paint the nursey when he came home from work I had it done and had the furniture arranged. That's how I feel now. I have the urge to clean, throw things away, make sure bills are handled, things at work are beyond organized, etc. I know this is because I have so much on my mind, surgery is on Tuesday and I want to be prepared. Yesterday I went to get my protein powders and vitamins so I was able to scratch that off of my To Do List. I still need to stock my fridge/freezer with the things that I will need after surgery. My mind is on so many different things every so often I have to say, "Nicole, take a deep breath and relax". Calgon take me away...

My physician said the multivitamin should be taken separate from the calcium citrate. Take the multiviatmin with breakfast; take your first dose of calcium at lunch; second dose at dinner; and your thrid dose at bed time.

Good morning. I just posted a very similar question before even seeing your post. I've been thinking about hair loss lately and I have to say I am extremely nervous as my hair is already sooooo thin. I've heard of several people taking Biotin but I wonder if it really works. I was just sitting her thinking should I prepare myself to be a wig wearer - which I don't have the face for; a weave wearer - but what can the weave be adhered to if I don't have any hair; or should I make an appointment to see the first available doctor at the hair club for women. I know everybody is different and I may not lose any hair at all but I really do want to be prepared in the event that I do. If I hear of any proven remedies I will let you know. Until then, be encouraged! All the best, Niki