Hopeful Spirit

Hi October Roster Sleevers! Just checking in. Came home today after being sleeved on Monday, 10/17. Everything went very smoothly with expected pain, but nothing intolerable (with morphine, that is! ha, ha) Hope everyone who is getting ready has as easy a time as I had. Very straightforward with no complications. Now I am challenged with a new way of eating. It is amazing how long we can go without eating, isn't it? All go things and thoughts to you all! Phyllis

Hi Everyone! I am returned home today after a successful surgery on Monday, Oct 17. Everything went well with no complications and I really only had one bad day, pain-wise on Monday and Monday evening. By Tuesday, the pain was noticably better and by this morning when I was getting ready to come home, things were also much imporved. Right now I am working on getting all my liquids in and tomorrow I start my full regimen of Clear Liquids and full liquids and Vitamins. I was feeling a little nauseous this afternoon after drinking some V8 juice. Maybe I did it too quickly. Drinking really slow is important. It is really pouring rain today, so am hoping to get more walking in tomorrow. Good luck to everyone still on the Roster to get your surgery -- MinniMommie, you are tomorrow!!! Best of luck to you especially since you have done such a good job in keeping us all together! And best to all my Oct 17 and 18 buddies as well -- and everyone else!! This is a great forum. Love, Phyllis, aka Hopeful Spirit.

Hi MsKendraHL! Wow, I thought I was the first surgery of the day tomorrow at 8:00 am and you beat me!! LOL I think it is good to get it over with early, don't you think? Since I have to get up at 4 am to get to the hospital at 5:45 am, I am thinking that I will be so tired (no caffine, you know) that I won't know what is going on until it is all over! Today I am on a clear liquid diet all day. So far it has been Water, Fruit 2O and Propel, and I am doing okay as long as I am no further than 15 min from the toilet!! I will try to connect with you and everyone when I get home from the hospital. I don't think they will allow me to have my computer at the hospital. All good things (and thoughts), Phyllis, aka Hopeful Spirit

Hi Ren>3: Glad you are holding up okay. Don't worry now about people changing now. Just think about getting through the surgery tomorrow beautifully and coming out on the other side when the worst part will be over! That is what I am thinking. My surgery is scheduled at 8am and I have to be at the hospital at 5:45 am tomorrow morning!!! This means I have to wake up at 4 am!!! I am happy to have it in the morning so my this time tomorrow I will be (hopefully) be in recovery waiting to go to my room and see my friends! As far as people changing, I am afraid that will happen little bit for some people, but not everyone, and you will be able to handle it if you are prepared. I am 66 years old and have a lot of life experience with being very overweight my whole life. There was only one time that I lost all my excess weight on weight watchers when I was 28 years old, but it only stayed off for 6 months before starting to come back to even more than before. During that one thin period in my life, at least one of my girlfriends thought of me differently which was difficult, but the most surprising thing for me was all the attention I began to get from the male population. We all want that, right? But it can be very difficult to deal with if you never had it before, which I didn't. So I got me a good psychotherapist and with a lot of support, and I got though it. Therapy or Counseling are good at a time like this. I am happy I am in therapy now, because now I expect the changes and know I will need help with the adjustment. I have a great book for you to read. You can find it on Amazon, and it may be good to read during your recovery. It is OBESITY SURGERY, STORIES of ALTERED LIVES, by Marta Meana and Lindsey Ricciardi. There are a lot of personal stories from people who had bariatric surgery and I think you will find it helpful. Good luck tomorrow. I will be thinking of you and we can meet up on line after we are out of the hospital! Phyllis, aka Hopeful Spirit

Thanks! Most of this stuff is new to me, but I am getting used to it quickly! How are you doing? You will be sleeved on Monday just like me!! I was nervous for a week or so earlier, but for some reason I am more calm now. I am a believer of the "self-fulfilling prophecy" and am thinking that my surgery will go easily with minimal pain like some people have experienced. I am hoping positive thoughts will carry me through. How are you this last weekend before our "change of life" experience? Let's keep in touch, Phyllis

Hi Chris: Just wondering what your blinking "Bump" picture means in your last post. Are you okay? Phyllis

Hi Beechlover. Great to hear from you. So sorry to hear that you had such a difficult time with pain and are even now struggling with the liquids. But just the fact that you are able to communicate this shows me that you have strength. I haven't had my surgery yet, but this helps me to know what to expect. Some people recover more quickly than others, but I have heard that things get a lot better 5 days out. Please keep in touch with your progress, which I know will happen. Soon you will be on the beach again looking a lot better!! Keep your eye on the prize. The worst is now over for you. Phyllis

This is for JenniLee0628 Just a special note to a fellow October Sleever hoping that you are doing okay today, and wishing you all the best tomorrow. Know that I will be thinking of you, waiting to hear how you are doing after your surgery, and will support you however I am able. Phyllis, aka Hopeful Spirit and October Sleever (10/17)

All good things for all the October 3rd Sleevers! This is the big day for the beginning of your new life, and since the day is already in full swing, you will probably not see this message until a couple of days out. But know that we are here for you when you do check in. My surgery is scheudled for 10/17, but you are now the first of my Official October heros!!! Please let us know how you are doing, Peace and love, Phyllis, aka Hopeful Spirit

All good things for you today, my dear, on the beginning of your new journey. We are all here for you. I added you as a friend, and although you probably won't read this for a couple of days, know that I am thinking of you! I will be here for you for any support you need. Phyllis, aka Hopeful Spirit

This is such a good idea! Thanks for putting me on he Roster. Good luck to everyone. Thanks for doing this, Love from Phyllis, aka Hopeful Spirit

I just need to put a good word (thought) in to you for you (!) Good luck tomorrow! So great to see you so positive. It is contagioius (I hope). Positive in and Positive out! Let us know how you are doing. All the best!!

Hi! I also am "on the way to be" Sleeved, and was just looking for some good shakes and found WONDERFUL information on this very Forum under "Protein Shakes" There are many suggests and a WHOLE LOT of recipes. I copies them all, but would never in a 100 years get to them all. Take a look, It is under recipes. Let me know what you think! Phyllis aka, Hopeful Spirit

Hi: Hope you are "holding up" okay. Even though I haven't had surgery yet (due 10/17), I have a particular concern about GERD. I evern posted a question about it on this forum, but only received one response from someone who didn't have it before surgery and had it after. The research that I have done (and what they tell me at the hospital -- Mass General in Boston) is that some people develop much worse cases of GERD after Sleeve Surgery and Some don't. It seems to be a toss-up as to what result you have, and it looks like you are on the "got worse" side. I am taking Prilosec now and have been for several years. I will definitely continue taking it. I think if you stick with that and follow up with your endoscopies, you will be okay. So sorry to hear of yoiur distress. But it looks like you are doing soooo great weight wise! You are a real inspiration to me! Hang in there.

Good luck tomorrow! All best wishes. Sorry you are so nervous, but I totally understand. I am nervous NOW and I am not having my surgery until October 17th! Don't know what I will be like the day before. BUT you see, you will be all finished then and will be able to respond to my hysterical post for support by telling me "Oh, it isn't ANYTHING!!" I will be thinking of your tomorrow. All good things! Phyllis aka Hopeful Spirit

Hi MeMeMEEE! Thanks for the quick response! Sorry I messed up my first reply to you. I have to learn how to use these forums. What you say is not good news at all. I am really beginning to worry about my GERD getting much worse than it is already. How are you coping? Did your surgeon talk to you about this before surgery? My surgeon didn't, but another doctor mentioned it. If anyone else can shed light about the GERD problem, please chime in. I am wondering now if the VSG is the right procedure for me. Thanks so much for your comments!!

Hi Everyone! I will be having my VSG on October 17, but am wondering about my Gastric Reflux. While doing research on the sleeve, I noticed that in several places, it was noted that it would not be a good idea to do the sleeve when you have GERD because it may make the symptoms of GERD worse. I know it "solves" the problem of GERD when you have Gastric Bypass, but is it different with the VSG? Has anyone had any experience with GERD symptoms before and after surgery? Thanks for any info you can give on this. Hopeful Spirit!

Hi GeLu and Congratulations for getting your surgery date for the Sleeve Gastrectomy! I remember when I finally received my date -- which is October 17th. I felt like a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders. I could now begin to plan the rest of my life. Everything felt like it was on "hold" for more than a month. I still have nutritionist and therapist appointments at the Weight Loss Clinic as well as a group meeting, but I think I need that -- at least the therapist and group. I must admit that I am not crazy about my nutritionist. Anyway, Best of luck to you, and I will look forward to following your success!!

Oh my God! Did you just have your surgery last week?! Hope you are doing well, or at least over the "worst of it." Love to you.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Thanks, and I will "keep a look-out" for you. You still have a little way to go, but there is so much support here, I am sure everyone will be "with you". I will not be too far behind. Thanks again.

Hi and thanks for the welcome! I know I am very new at this forum stuff, but how do you get your picture and your weight loss ticker to sho up on your posts? I have it all on my profile, but it didn't show up on my post. Did I forget to check something somewhere?

Hi everyone! So interested to support & share with you all and learn from your experiences. I will be 66 yo when I have my VSG on Oct 17, at Mass General Hospital in Boston. I think I am older than everyone here!! Any "Children of the 60's around? But even though I hope to retire sometime in Jan, 2012, I am still young at heart and LOVE young people. So much to learn from you. Lots of appmts with Nutritionists & Psychologist at MGH, and medical tests. Not all hospitals will take someone older than 60 or 65 for tlhis type of surgery, but I found a brave surgeon. A little scared after You-Tube videos , but will still go for it. I have been heavy my entire life and DO NOT want to live my last 25 to 30 years (hopefully) unable to get around -- not to mention move! -- because of my weight. I think my heart will thank me too. So here I go on my journey. Let me know how you are all doing!