HDubSleevery

I am attending a state conference today and tomorrow. It has been a really tough day for me. I went in this morning and starting talking to vendors and all of a sudden...hot flash. I sat down in a remote corner continuously wiping sweat from my head. Once it felt like it passed, I decided that I could absolutely not wear my blazer jacket. The dress I was wearing had sleeves that were too short so I left and came home to change.

I changed into some khakis and a polo with the organization logo. I had an even farther walk in 94 degree 100 percent humidity weather than I did the first time I got to the conference. I made it in and sat in a really good session. Then we had the awards luncheon. I pushed my salad around my plate hoping no one noticed I wasn't eating. The second course comes and it looks fabulous. I couldn't eat it so I ate some of the gravy off the plate and pushed the rest around. Dessert was cheesecake with some strawberry sauce. I ate a little of the sauce and maybe half a dime size fork of the cheesecake.

I sat in another conference and a lovely lady I had been talking to all morning asked me if I enjoyed my food. I told her I had just had surgery and was on a liquid diet for a little while. Well, she is a REPORTER for the local paper. She took my picture for the paper as being a part of the conference. Well, I look ridiculous. My pants are hanging below my belly because I can't have anything tight around my incisions. The shirt looks like a tent. I feel sloppy.

After I left the conference I had to go to Target to get some stuff for the baby and my it was now 98 degrees with 100 percent humidity. I just wanted to drink and drink and drink and of course I can't. I am sitting here having a pity party knowing in 30 minutes I have to carry my fat hot a$$ back outside to go get the baby from daycare. Tomorrow I get to do it all over again.

This liquid phase may actually be the death of me. I think I need a good cry and I'll be back to my old self but today was pretty hard.

I'm less than 2 full weeks out and I am on full liquids. I thought my full feeling was a lump at the back of my throat but that turned out to be overproduction of acid. At this point, when I have had too much liquid I get a pain at the bottom of my ribs and I hiccup.

That is fantastic!!!! It took a lot of hard work to get where you are so love every second of it!

Thanks! Now I have to pick a color.

I have done a lot of weight loss programs and my favorite thing was to get the sticker or the bear or the whatever when you lose 10% of your body weight. I can't tell you how many times I tried to hit that 10%.

Well I just looked at my ticker and I have hit my 10% and I didn't even realize it!!!! I have been home from Mexicali for a week and I hit my frickin' TEN PERCENT!

Like others have said...this is the ONE place you can come where we completely and totally GET IT!

Embrace it and do a happy dance! (Besides, happy dancing burns calories!)

Congrats on keeping the secret!

I was all geared up for some Soup. I wanted something different. I heated up a can of cream of chicken and mushroom Soup. I added some garlic powder, salt, and pepper (my pre-op staples). I took one small sip and my stomach felt like it turned over. I tried a couple more small sips to make sure it wasn't just a reflex to something new. No go.

I am fine with warm broth and yesterday I was able to get through an entire Protein shake. I'm not sure what's going on today.

Does anyone have a vitamix blender? They are having a sale on them on QVC today and it seems like it would be great for post-WLS. I figured I would ask if anyone has ever used it?

I agree that it is really hard the first couple of days. If you really feel like you need the Isopure, you can try cutting it down with some Water so it isn't as "thick". I still have one whole unused bottle and 2 half bottles in the fridge. I tried but it was just impossible to get that stuff down. Once I got to full liquids it was a lot better.

You could also try swapping between a couple ounces of the weakened isopure with some other drink so you don't feel like it is all you are having.

Good luck! Everyone is right. It DOES get better every day.

And one more thing...

Thanks to those of you who compare the sleeve to botox and boob jobs done in the name of vanity. Certainly we have had surgery to make ourselves look better, but when did anyone ever have botox or a boob job for their health????

YEAH US!!!!!

Exactly my point! Yes, there is a factor in the surgery that is cosmetic. We will look better (in clothes). However, we are taking something most of the country still deems as cosmetic or unnecessary and using it as a tool to live a better life.

If we had stomach cancer and the only way to live was to remove 85% of our stomachs, they would do a 60 minutes special on us and we would all be revered for our "bravery". Because we are using it as a tool for obesity (which WILL kill us just a little bit slower), we are pariahs.

It's a double standard like nothing else and sometimes infuriating!

I was thinking about making a move on one of the cleaning ladies, but I wasn't sure that I was supposed to be running so soon after surgery...

That's hysterical! I think you could have hid on one of their carts and they ultimately would have HAD to take you along.

I went alone to Dr Aceves too and it was fine. I drove myself, fortunately the hospital is just a few blocks over the border in Mexicali so i didn't have to worry about getting lost and driving a long distance in a foreign country.

I never felt afraid or lonely, I read a lot and played on my iPad - which I bought with money I saved by having the surgery in Mexico.

I went to Dr. Aceves by myself as well. It was nice not having to worry about anyone but myself. The first day I had a bit of a meltdown (too much built up anxiety + margarita = meltdown). I had my "surgery iPad" too so I came on here and the folks on the forum helped me through it.

You will probably meet people there or if you want to just hang out, watch tv, read, and sleep, you can do that too! Good luck!

HI! I went to Dr. Aceves and went through medloanfinance.com......I was NOT happy with the finance place...I thought I was applying for a loan, but it just turned out to be a credit card...which would have been fine, except I get those offers in the mail all the time, and instead of paying the finance company $265 to get me a credit card, I would have just sent one of the offers back with a "yes". That was my only gripe with the finance company, and with Dr. Aceves and his staff...I have no gripes! Good luck to you!

I agree with this. I went through medloanfinance.com and they charge you an arm and a leg just to get a credit card you could have gotten yourself. I think the only benefit is that they do this shotgun blast of credit applications all at once, but really you could do this yourself and save a chunk of change.

I had surgery on a Tuesday and flew back home on Friday. I went from San Diego to Atlanta to Savannah. It was draining but after a good night of rest I was moving along. I went back to work on Monday. I have a desk job and the worst part of it was the fatigue. I got off at 5 PM and went to sleep with the baby around 730 - 8 every night.

As for the keloids, I would ask Nina about it and she should be able to get some information for you on it. I took Arnica tablets before and after surgery. They are more for bruising than scarring. I talked to Nina about it to make sure it wouldn't cause any issues during surgery. She said it was likely unnecessary before surgery but it wouldn't hurt for me to take them if it made me feel better mentally. LOL!

I just put my personal pics from the trip in my gallery so you can take a look if you want. For me it was more like a vacation that happened to have a surgery in the middle.

Hi y'all. I just posted some pics from my trip to Mexicali & Dr. Aceves. Feel free to view my gallery to see some glimpses of my journey.

I didn't believe it until I really got there, but no the people who graciously shared their experiences with me were not paid and are telling the truth.

I haven't heard of anyone getting denied, but I agree with everyone who says to try to get tested at home. It will help ease your anxiety about it if nothing else.

I was a binge eater. I couldn't even control it to stay on my pre-op diet. I was too ashamed to admit it to many people before. I binged in secret once I got home. I would eat until I was overfull and too miserable to move for the rest of the night. I have seen counselors and even tried OA (along with all the counseling in all the different diets). I had gotten to the root of my issues, but it still didn't stop the behavior.

For me, food in mass quantities was just too accessible to me. I could always find an excuse why I was binging. It's been 11 days now and other than the occasional "mental food pity party" it really hasn't been bad at all. I haven't had any real cravings for anything other than different flavors of Water or Protein shake. I got some sugar free pudding and thought I would go to town on it, but after 2 bites I was full and satisfied - not even overfull.

For me, this surgery was the best thing I could have done for my binges. It is a tool that helps to keep me from hurting myself. Some people take drugs to help them live a better life, and I had surgery. I don't view myself as any different from someone with a disorder. We as a society don't look down on people who use Botox for Migraines so my sleeve is my Botox.

Dawn and HDub - I am 4'11'' so feel the short pain!! What sounds like a small amount to some is a very large amount at our height!

You are SO right. 5 pounds look like 10 when you are short. I am amazed every morning when I have lost a pound or two. I haven't started doing any real walking yet because I am still so tired after a day of work. As the weight comes off and I get to solid foods I really hope I can get back into walking.

SHORTIES UNITE!!!

I am so glad I found the recipe page!

Sounds great! I am going to try this in a few weeks when I get to the "eating" stage.

Shut my mouth! You look like a completely different person with a whole different attitude! Great JOB!

I agree you look great. The best part is the SMILE!

I can't wait to get where you are! It is so wonderful to be able to do things with the kids. I don't know who gets more joy out of it...the mommas or the babies!

CONGRATULATIONS!

Yup. The first time it happened I panicked thinking I had somehow gotten preggers with no symptoms.

I really stopped and thought about it too! So glad i am not the only one!

Kelly - You're right. It's the next day and surprisingly I am still kickin! It's so funny the things we can panic over.