LindaS

This is a picture of my dad and me when I was about 16 years old. My dad weighed over 400 pounds. This is the only picture I have where you can see his stomach because he was very good at making sure his shirt was long enough to cover it up.
He died in 2006. I was 35, and I was so MAD at him because he died from complications of his weight. For the last 10 years of his life, the quality of his life was horrible. For the last 5 years, he spent most of it in and out of hospitals.
His highest weight was almost 500 pounds. When I married in 1989, he was at the lowest he had weighed in many years at about 350 pounds.
I loved/love my dad. I never saw him as fat.
But when he left me (died), I was so angry at him. At the time of his death, I wasn't that overweight. I weighed about 180. I gained weight after he died. And when I finally realized what the weight was preventing me to do, I tried losing it. This is why I finally decided to have WLS. When I was about 10, my dad was going to have WLS. It was scheduled. He made it into the surgery room and something the anesthesiologist told him scared him. The guy said my dad had a 50/50 chance of not making it through the surgery. There was some concerns about his weight pressing down on his lungs.
I wonder now that if he had gone through it, what would my memories of him have been like? I remember him sitting or laying down on things. He would tell me to get this or do that for him. He had a bell he would ring to get my attention. I was his legs. He didn't go to my concerts or games or talk to my teachers.
If he had weighed less, he would have been more a part of my life. He would have been a full participant in my life instead of someone watching from the car or hearing about it later. My kids would know him.
As an adult, I remember thinking how great wheelchairs were because it allowed my dad to go with us places he couldn't walk to.
I loved my dad. I love my kids. I chose this surgery to give my kids something that they don't even know they would have missed.
In grad school, I wrote a memoir titled "Fat Man's Daughter," where I dealt with many of my issues about my dad and myself. Here's a link to the first chapter: http://lindasherwood.com/wp/category/fat-mans-daughter/chapter-one/
This Suethsayings blog talks about the "conspiracy of silence" surrounding weight loss surgery. I want people to know about the impact not doing something has on lives. If my dad had WLS, I think he might still be here.

This is a picture of my dad and me when I was about 16 years old. My dad weighed over 400 pounds. This is the only picture I have where you can see his stomach because he was very good at making sure his shirt was long enough to cover it up.
He died in 2006. I was 35, and I was so MAD at him because he died from complications of his weight. For the last 10 years of his life, the quality of his life was horrible. For the last 5 years, he spent most of it in and out of hospitals.
His highest weight was almost 500 pounds. When I married in 1989, he was at the lowest he had weighed in many years at about 350 pounds.
I loved/love my dad. I never saw him as fat.
But when he left me (died), I was so angry at him. At the time of his death, I wasn't that overweight. I weighed about 180. I gained weight after he died. And when I finally realized what the weight was preventing me to do, I tried losing it. This is why I finally decided to have WLS. When I was about 10, my dad was going to have WLS. It was scheduled. He made it into the surgery room and something the anesthesiologist told him scared him. The guy said my dad had a 50/50 chance of not making it through the surgery. There was some concerns about his weight pressing down on his lungs.
I wonder now that if he had gone through it, what would my memories of him have been like? I remember him sitting or laying down on things. He would tell me to get this or do that for him. He had a bell he would ring to get my attention. I was his legs. He didn't go to my concerts or games or talk to my teachers.
If he had weighed less, he would have been more a part of my life. He would have been a full participant in my life instead of someone watching from the car or hearing about it later. My kids would know him.
As an adult, I remember thinking how great wheelchairs were because it allowed my dad to go with us places he couldn't walk to.
I loved my dad. I love my kids. I chose this surgery to give my kids something that they don't even know they would have missed.
In grad school, I wrote a memoir titled "Fat Man's Daughter," where I dealt with many of my issues about my dad and myself. Here's a link to the first chapter: http://lindasherwood.com/wp/category/fat-mans-daughter/chapter-one/
This Suethsayings blog talks about the "conspiracy of silence" surrounding weight loss surgery. I want people to know about the impact not doing something has on lives. If my dad had WLS, I think he might still be here.

I hope a guy's NSV is ok to post here too. I'm about 4 1/2 weeks out and have resisted the urge to buy any new clothes yet. I've been VERY fortunate in that I'm already halfway to goal but I know anything I buy now won't fit when I reach goal. I've moved a couple of times in the past few years for work and unfortunately have some of those boxes of stuff that don't get unpacked and just get thrown into the 'junk room'. Well yesterday I stumbled onto one of those unopened boxes and found about 8 pairs of jeans that were supposed to have been taken to goodwill a few years ago because my (previously) fat *ss couldn't fit in them anymore. Well I now have 7 additional pairs of jeans I can wear and the 8th pair should be wearable soon. Oh, the little things in life that make you smile.

Probably a little weird NSV, but I get such satisfaction over being able to take one hand and in a claw like manner hold my other wrist touching with my thumb and middle finger with a little room to spare. I also like touching my collar bone being able to feel bone. No, I'm not anything close to underweight, it's just that it was covered up by so much fat before, it's nice to see the new "me" emerging.
Something fun is I'm taking a day trip tomorrow and have realized that the jean pile I went through over Christmas to change out the original fat jeans to the not so fat jeans, that now some of those are too baggy. I don't like tight jeans, but hate baggy jeans. So, I now have a new pile of jeans that don't fit. I'm wearing a pretty solid size 10 now which is awesome! I still have my brand new size 6 and 4/5 jeans from my last journey nearly 14 yrs ago that I fell short by 20 or 30#. I'm happy with my progress, but will be doing the HUGE happy dance if I'm able to fit into those babies!
Oh, and one more since you guys brought up grocery store stuff. I was at Walmart last week getting a few things. I was in the soda row trying to get some liters of Diet Pepsi Wild Cherry which was on the top shelf and all the ones at the front were gone. I couldn't reach the ones in back and some guy noticed I was struggling and he says, "here, let me throw you up there to reach those". I about did a double take to see who he was talking to. "THROW me up there?" I couldn't look that thin, not yet for someone to even suggest that. Talk about make my day!! :Banane55:

NSVs this week:
1. Had to buy new bras because mine were allowing the girls to escape.
2. Had to buy a new pair of jeans. Mine came off without being unbuttoned or unzipped. Unfortunately, the new ones are already looking baggy.
3. Saw a friend's hubby this week for a sad occasion. I don't see him much, but , when I went to hug my friend's hubby, HE commented on how much weight I've lost.
4. Chopped down and cut up four trees in my new yard. Okay, they weren't huge, but still a lot of work I'd have never been able to tackle before surgery. I got a decent work out, but was able to do the job myself instead of waiting on "some man" to come do the job.
5. In the same vein, I've spent a bunch of time rearranging furniture and crawling on the floor to re-route computer, cable, and printer wires. I'd have NEVER been able to do that 81 pounds ago!
Overall, I'm very pleased with my progress!!!

I have had a big NSV day... I am on the United Way board and we were doing site visits. The people on my panel didn't know me heavy and didn't now my situation at all. They don't know that two years ago I was in pulmonary rehab and couldn't walk more than 100 ft. Today, I walked myself all over the Y, a huge homeless shelter with a Soup kitchen and transitional dorms, a developmental daycare, and finally an adult daycare PLUS vocational campus. When we finished at the adult daycare, the tour guide wanted to take us to see what the United Way funds paid for the prior year - a walking track of about 1/3 miles in the woods that's paved so wheelchairs can go. We walked about halfway to the lookout and then back to the facility up a huge hill. OK, huge to me but still...a hill. Anyway, I didn't sit down except when we were in conference rooms and everyone else sat. I stood or walked for most of the almost four hours I was on these visits and without this surgery, I never would have been able to do it.
I sent an email to my program director thanking her for this. Really, I feel like I'm slowly getting my life back.

Here's my most recent NSV! Went out with a "friend" the other night, and wanted to dress to impress. I think I managed it! Oh, and the shoes are the first heels I've worn in years! I wore them till 4 in the morning without too much pain!

I'm not feeling very NSVish lately, the scale hasn't moved in 55 days, but I thought if I listed some of my changes over the last 18 months that it might make me more hopeful and positive:
I started out in tight 24's and am currently in 14's (or 6's, or 10's dendending on the nuttiness of the sizing).
I recently bought some dedicated running shoes, and I am capable of actually using them.
I got hit on by a 21 yr old (Im 33)
I can wear high heels all night and just be tired from being tired, as opposed to exhausted from existing.
I can suck in my stomach and have there be a difference.
I stayed over at a friends house and she lent me some yoga pants to sleep in and they fit. She is a former competitive body builder and very lean and shapely and time was when no amount of stretch wouldve allowed for those pants to fit but they fit just fine and weren't even straining.
Getting down on the dance floor at a club a few weekends ago and the guy I was *ahem* grinding with, our bodies were fully against each others, there wasn't an ocean of flesh between us.
In bed I can sleep on my stomach or can bring my knees up to my chest.
I'm still very frustrated at my slow pace, frustrated that after 18 months I'm "only" a 14 and still can't do some yoga positions because my fat gut is still in my way but, I guess I've made some progress =)

Well, despite everyone's good advice, I didnt feel brave enough to do "before" measurements, or even to keep the biggest of my clothes for comparison, and despite having been at goal for 2 months now, I've had a few weeks of feeling really fat recently (the power of my stupid psyche eh??)
Anyway, I googled what my starting measurements should have been based on dress size, and am TOTALLY AMAZED. Thighs and forearms aside, I have shed 34 inches!! I am so happy looking at it like that.
-12 inch hips, -10 inch bust, and -12 inch waist (if I cheat and pull my gut in that goes up to -15 inch!)
I dont consider myself to be thin, (I'm 38-30-35 now), but I'm certainly not as big as the person I imagine in the mirror either.
I <3 my sleeve xx

So, I've been at the same scale weight for nearly a month and this morning, I lost 3.2 pounds! YAY!!!
I keep preaching it..don't let the scale run your life. I have lost 3 pants sizes this month, plus seen new definition in my arms, legs and waist, but that 3 pounds makes me happy, too!
Happy dancing this morning!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today is the day. Almost seven month ago I walked out of my docs office disappointed I would have to wait six months, Wow Time flies, in a few hours I will start a new journey, a new way of life. As I hold up a cup of a imaginary drink ( cause I cant have nothing) I make a toast to the transformation, the new healthier me, and to all my friends on here that have been so helpful .Thank You ! TTYL my Friends

Today was the day i had my VSG surgery. My doc is Dr. Umbach at Blossom Bariatric in Henderson, UT (Vegas). He did a great job. His team and their process was very professional. My wife has been an RN for 21 years and she was very complementary of our experience.
Twelve hours post-op I feel pretty good. Breathing & Walking. Taking some med's & slowly drinking some Water.
So far, very happy with my decision to take this step & choose Dr. Umbach in Las Vegas.
First day of the rest of my life.

Going into a bathroom stall and having room to move around is probably one of my favorite NSVs. It used to be hard to even close the door on some of the smaller stalls.
Congrats on all of your NSVs, Dooter!

I turned 40 just 10 days after my surgery. I have four kids and birthdays are a big deal to them. I didn't want my surgery to change what they were used to, so I went out and bought two small birthday cakes (one was an assortment of cheesecakes). The cakes were for my family although I did put candles on the cakes and posed with them.
For me, my daughter made me Jello. That is what I ate on my birthday. It was wonderful.
The big thing for me was at that time, my family was really feeling guilty eating in front of me. I was on a liquid diet, and they felt weird eating when I couldn't. I didn't want them to worry about me, and I knew no one was going to buy a cake unless I did. I felt it was really important that my family still have the traditions we've always had despite my surgery.
I wasn't even tempted to eat cake. The Jello was perfect.
I have told people about my surgery, so it might be different if you haven't. I had a low-key birthday at home, and I enjoyed it.
A month later, hubby and I celebrated our anniversary. It was right around the time I was able to finally start eating real food. We did go out to dinner, and I ate a tiny bit of my meal and took the rest home. I focused on being with him instead of the food, and we had a great time.
My advice: focus on the people and enjoy your time with them.

Friends-
Today, I Celebrate one of my biggest moments of bravery. I Celebrate agreeing to be wheeled into surgery despite a healthy dose of fear of both complications and the unknown. I had no idea how I'd cope in life without the crutch of food and failure. I wasn't excited about surgery and possibilities. I was simply scared and resolved. Now, I live a life I truly wasn't sure I'd ever get to enjoy. Life is good. So good.
I have been incredibly blessed on this journey. My approval process was relatively painless. It only involved four months of supervised diet. I didn't even have to do a liquid diet leading up to surgery. My only real complication was a very minor infection on one of my incisions. A round of antibiotics and I was fine.
My biggest memories of life following surgery were trying to figure out how to live without food as a focus and exhaustion. I wasn't hungry but still felt a need to eat but couldn't. I worked hard in therapy to be ready for this yet I wasn't. On top of that, I remember being absolutely exhausted until week 5. My other biggest memory is when I lost about 50 lbs. and realized that I no longer hurt. I had been overweight so long that I simply accepted pain as a part of life. To wake up one day and comprehend than general life no longer hurt left me giddy.
Since surgery, I have dropped 112 pounds, 12 inches (literally a foot!) off my waist, and 6 dress sizes (from 24/26 to 12/14). I have found a passion for running that culminated in running a half-marathon in January. I found the confidence to apply for a dream job that came with a crazy raise and got the job! I've found pride in myself and my appearance. I've become more than what I eat and how I look.
I haven't been the most well-behaved sleever. I feel I should share that in the interest of honesty. When I got the crazy, awesome promotion I started making some poor choices. I have yet to gain weight but I am in the world's longest stall due to poor food choices and a lack of focus on diet. I haven't lost a pound since December. I recognize that I haven't lost the last thirty pounds because of my less than ideal food choices but I am okay with this for now. I know that I will soon be ready to lose the last thirty and I will focus and finish what I started. My goal is to be at or under 175 by 18 months. I feel this is very doable. However, I recognize that this is my journey and I will finish it when it is right for me. Right now, I am enjoying the ride and life in general.
I would like to take a moment to thank all of you for your constant support, opinions and advice. I've found this forum and the people it consists of a lifeline on more than one occasion. Bless you all!
Of course, a surgiversary post isn't complete without photos!


PS- I swear I am not a big drinker... it just happens that pics normally occur when I'm drinking.

I truly can't believe that my legs no longer rub together. there were times when pants were damaged due to my legs rubbing together. now I can actually stand and see light between my legs. I have never been able to do that except when I was in middle school. I love my sleeve.

Ok, so I have this lightweight jacket (kind of like a cross between a trench and a peacoat) that I love and have been wearing for a couple of years. Ihe problem is that the sleeves are a bit tight up top and prior to surgery, they would cut into the top part of my arm--near the armpit, sometimes to the point I had to take the jacket off. I was even considering pulling some of the seam out of the armpit to make it more comfortable. Well yesterday I wore the jacket, and I got all the way to work before I realized that my arms weren't hurting! I was totally comfortable, even with a long sleeved shirt underneath! I wore it again today with a long sleeved shirt plus a light sweater, and while it was a smidge tighter--still no pain! YAY! I'm only 3 weeks out and have lost about 20lbs (including 4 pre-op), but this was a nice treat for me to feel better in clothes that have previously made me suffer. Woop-woop!

FAIR WARNING: TMI ALERT! TMI ALERT!
I had THREE consecutive nsv's today, and they all had to do with a flight to San Antonio. First of all, since the beginning of the pre op diet, then surgery, I've lost 34 pounds. Today, I saw the fruit of my labors.
NSV #1:
I went into the public bathroom at the airport, and the handicap stall was full, so I went into the teeny cramped one, hoping I (TMI! TMI!) didn't need to do a "twosey" because I can't reach the necessary location on my anatomy for proper cleansing unless I'm in the big stall. (I hope some of you know what I mean so i'm not a total freak!) Well, it turns out I would have had COMPLETE access to the necessary area!! HOORAAAAYYYY!!!!
#2:
I sat down in the airplane and BUCKLED MY SEATBELT!!!!!!! AAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! AAAANNNND.........
#3:
Put the tray table DOWN!!! WOOOOO!!!!! UH HUH!! OH YA!!! UH HUH!!! OH YA!!!
(then my day went downhill at dinnertime, but that's a different post! Still happy though!)

Hi Kim,I have read through this whole thread. I hope you get things figured out real soon and that justice is served.
I post here alot,I always get support. I love this site. What I am struggling to wrap my head around is why some people felt the need to bash your story and point out their opinions of inconsistencies when this is supposed to be a site where you can come and tell your story and seek advise and comfort!
I think ppl need to stop being so judgmental and have a little faith. If you don't believe her story,then don't comment! Yes,I understand that some of you think it may scare ppl away from having the sleeve. But if anyone has done the research that they should on the sleeve,they will see that the complication rate is low and the success rate high. I don't mean to come off rude,I guess I am a little appalled at the fact that as soon as one person said the story sounded fishy,so many other ppl just jumped on the bandwagon and started bashing this lady like she is a liar. When I tell my version of a story,it is hard to get my facts straight too. I'm not a liar,I pride myself on being honest,brutally honest in fact.
When I was 19 weeks pregnant with my twin daughters just last year,I had to be rushed by ambulance to the Hospital BC I was in severe,excrutiating pain. I am rolled back to the e.r bed then left there crying and screaming. No one said A WORD to me. A nurse comes about 5 minutes later and doesn't even look at me,she just gets on a computer and starts typing. I am screaming for help,that I am pregnant with twins,and that I am in pain and I am afraid I am losing them,begging her to help me,to get a doctor,to give me something for pain. She looked at me and very rudely said "the doctor is handling something more important and I can't get you something for pain until he orders it,so you'll just have to wait" then she walked away. By this time I feel like I am going to pass out. I had no cell phone with me,noone came with me as it was the middle of the night and my husband had to stay with our other 2 kids bc my mother didn't wake up to her phone ringing. It took an hour,A WHOLE HOUR of me screaming and crying and feeling my babies kicking in distress for ANYONE to come in,and as they are doubting me that I am even pregnant with twins (I was so fat you couldn't tell yet but had been going to the dr since 6 weeks pregnant) I passed out! Woke right back up to them trying to start an iv and then they gave me morphine,then finally an ultrasound tech came in and gave me an ultrasound on my kidneys and saw I had an enormous amount of kidney stones,then went on to check on the babies and lo and behold,once they saw my babies in my belly they started being sooo much nicer,as if I just wasn't worth the time before. Point is,that crazy things can happen in the hospital. Noone should have made me wait that long to even come in and take my vitals or SOMETHING. I could have died in there waiting for help if it would have been something way worse than kidney stones.
Sorry for the rambling story I am just saying that crazy,bizarre things do happen,and hospitals don't always give their patients the care they need/deserve. I am just surprised to get on here after the day I've had and see ppl being rude to someone that was reaching out for help and advise,and comfort. I've made some great friends here and I hope to keep them even after they read my post,I just had to get how I felt about this thread off of my chest...
Kim I believe your story and I wish you all the best. I think you should start your diet over. Pretend like you are newly sleeved. Start on Clear liquids,then move up to full liquids and Protein shakes,make sure you are taking your Vitamins also. Then after a couple weeks of full liquids go to pureeds,then on to softs. Combine all this with a good 64 ozs of liquids and day,and consistent exercise,and that weight will come off girl. Also,see another bariatric surgeon,so maybe they can try to help you figure out why you are vomiting still.. Sorry you didn't have the best experience here on this site,but you can message me anytime if you need to talk. I like to help others,it makes me feel good. To always doubt would def make me feel like a bitter person,just sayin. ((HUGS))

Today is my 1 month surgiversary!
This morning I had to take my husband's car, instead of mine. (Long story and not pertinent, lol). We are about the same height, but I always had to move the seat further away from the steering wheel because of my belly.
Well, today, I got behind the wheel and there's 1 1/2 inches between my stomach and steering wheel. I didn't have to reach down to move the seat back!!!!
That is progress I can see even if I don't feel it too much in my clothes yet.

Hi Everyone,
I am so excited to say that I am now a normal weight 14 months after my sleeve! I have been losing slowly the past few months, but I didn't give up. There have been times when I have made bad food choices and skipped working out. I had to learn from those mistakes and start strong again. It is so rewarding to be here after a painful failed Lapland. I am just so thankful each and every day for my sleeve. If you are struggling, don't give up. You can get to you goals!

Twice, I was out walking this past summer,,I made it about 1/4 mile and it took me about 10 minutes to do that. I ended up in ICU both times due to respiratory distress because of a rare autoimmune disease I have..it sent me into a Myasthenia Gravis crisis. My muscles in my chest wall just couldn't do the work..not to mention the extra weight those muscles had to try and lift. Today,,I walked at 2 mph on my treadmill for a mile!!!!!..no distress, no pain,,just energy and enthusiasm. I just thank God that this is finally happening for me. Steroids put most of the weight on and by golly I'm going to fight to get this weight off and get well!!!

As many of you know, my weight lately has been hanging around the same number. I broke into the 160's about 5 weeks ago and stayed at 169 for three weeks, then dropped to 166.5 and have been there for two. It just seems like this stall lasted longer and was immediately followed by another stall. I was feeling a little down yesterday when I realized it was time to measure. I measure every two weeks. Lo and Behold I am down 2 inches in the hips and one in the butt and also a half in my thighs! IN TWO WEEKS! No weight change either. Baffleing. I even measured twice. How can this be? I dont know but I will take it. I guess all that zumba and walking with a weighted vest is paying off. I will be smiling all the way to gym tonite!
My big celebration for today is that I am wearing a size 10 jeans for the first time in 22 years or so. I havent been this small since before I got pregnant with my first child at the age of 22. WOW. Tears of joy. I may not be able to wear all size 10 jeans but by golly I am wearing these! They dont have a lot of spandex either. Very little in fact. I also bought a size 10 blazer and it fits well in the sleeves and all! OMG! I was a size 20 when I started this so I guess I am half my size! I am almost in single digits!!!!! WHAT???? Somebody help me to comprehend this! I am doing this! I love my sleeve!

Hi All,
Do you recognize me?
Yep here i am. for the past few days i've been in onederland - didn't want to tell you earlier, cuz i was afraid my weight might creep up slowly and gain back into the 200's. Well its been a few days now
its official, i'm in onderland to stay - the only place for me now is to go down hill
kathy

What customizations did you make to the myfitnesspal? I signed up, and I'm trying to figure out what I should be tracked. I started my pre-op diet, and I wish I could set the calories a little differently. I am slsherwood51 there.