carolina girl

So..... nobody gets sleeved tomorrow?? Look out on the 29th though, there's a bunch of us on that day: peppercma daviso AutumnBlueCarmen phardin carolina girl xplorurself I hope everyone is ready. I know I am! I have tried not to dwell on it too much, but I haven't slept for a couple of nights now. This is so typical of me, I get stressed and instead of falling over from exhaustion, I can't seem to close my eyes! Blessings to all of my sleeve sisters and brother!

All I can say is.......Get it Girl! You look strong and SEXY mamma!

Welcome Nikki1974, Congrats on being sleeved! I'm guessing that your surgery went off without a hitch since you spent only one and a half days in the hospital. Hope you are doing well. I live about three hours away from the Raleigh-Durham area but anywhere in Carolina is home to me! I haven't been sleeved yet (only one more day till surgery) but I look forward to keeping up with the July Sleevers on here so we can share experiences and information as we are all going through this at the same time!

Sending prayers out for you this morning Papa Jack! Happy "New" Birthday to you!

Just a follow up... I went to my pre-op appt today and took ole' "Paula Deen" (AKA mom) with me. I guess she decided she needed to know what her one and only was really getting herself into with this surgery thing. I told her, first and foremost, that she had to behave at all times, which I'm happy to report that she did! I was relieved that she finally took some interest in understanding why I have come to this decision and what it involves. My husband still thinks I could do this on my own, and while I appreciate his vote of confidence, I know that he's just full of bologna! He knows I need this, he just has never fought with his weight and can't wrap his head around why I can't "just quit eating". But that's OK, I am a grown woman, and besides the good lord above, I don't have to justify my decisions to anyone. I thought that I would leave my appointment today with some hint of fear, some small doubt, something that would make me re-think this and ask myself "Is this REALLY what I want to do?". Instead I left with the confirmation that this is the right decision for me, right now. Why wouldn't I do this now, before my health gets worse, before I gain any more weight, before I have to take anymore pills? Why wouldn't I want to take control of my health now? We only get one go around in this world- I want mine to be full to the brim. I don't want to turn into a crippled up old lady who can wipe her own fanny (I know you know what I'm talking about,lol) I want to LIVE what little bit of life I'm blessed with to the fullest! So off I go to the hospital Friday morning- gotta be there at 5:30 am! So glad I'm the first surgery of the day..... wish me luck!

I don't know if you have an herbal pharmacy near you, but there are several essential oils that are great for headache. No swallowing involved- just rub a little on your temples and it really does help. "Head- On" is usually available in most drug stores- does the same thing. Of course this is if your doctor says no oral meds. I know my headaches come from caffeine withdrawal, I've been trying to ween my self off caffeine for a few weeks now!

Hang in there Sugarmamma! Three days is a short time to have to suffer through it. It will be over before you know it and you will be on your way to the new improved you! I'm right there behind you- I start my 3 day on Tuesday! I'm sure the "curse" is making it extra hard, poor thing! I always feel like crap then any way.

Nectar Syntrax products are zero carb and offer several different flavors. I personally like twisted cherry, choc truffle and strawberry kiwi. They dissolve easily, even when mixed in my blender bottle with water.

Welcome! I think most of us have the same concerns as you do, I just remind myself that there is no side affect of this surgery that could be any worse than the slow death that we guarantee ourselves with continued obesity. I get sleeved next Friday, my approval came quickly, so I feel like I'm diving in head first ! It still seems surreal. Everyone hear on the BB is great, full of information and encouragement. It will quickly become your "go-to" source for any question you have. Best of luck to you on your journey!

Texas Gal, I too am being sleeved on the 29th too. I'm sending you a friend request on here so we can keep in touch. Don't worry too much- If I could get back all the time I've spent worrying about things that never happened, I could probably add years to my life!

That is awesome news! So happy for you- before you know it you'll be saying "my weight starts with 17!" Can't wait to join you!

Congrats CaliforniaJenn! Best of luck tomorrow! :bananajump:

Thanks everybody for all your support! As the days grow closer, so does my excitement... and anxiety! You are all so right, this bulletin board is a great source of reassurance, information, and knowledge. And... ya'll are the best cheerleaders anywhere! I even added my first friend today... Thanks SmokyMtnGal2011!

How can you help but be obsessed with this whole process! I feel bad for my poor husband-it's all he hears about lately! We went to his sister's house for dinner last night- and what did we talk about??? you guessed it ... "the sleeve"!!! I get sleeved on July 29th- 11 more days:) and his sister has decided to get sleeved also! Poor guy he just can't get away from it all! We were joking him last night that after he helps me with my recovery, he will know exactly what to do to take care of his sister in a few more months!

Best wishes for a quick and speedy recovery for all of you! Prayers will be going out for ya"ll this week. Congrats on taking the plunge to a new healthier you!

Thanks ya'll for the warm welcome. I'm so glad to know you are all out there and will be a great wealth of knowledge and an understanding ear for me to go to. I don't think you can truly appreciate how hard it is to be over weight unless you've been there. Likewise, no one understands WLS like someone who has been through it, I'm sure I will need lots of advise very soon from ya'll. I can't wait until I'm not the "big" girl anymore!

That's exactly how I feel too- like I'm getting my life back. Best of luck to you, I'll be right behind you- my surgery is on the 29th!

Awesome! Keep up the good work! When were you sleeved?

Every good story starts like this "Well, you see, what had happened was... If only weight loss and gain,and loss and gain, and ..well you get it, was such an easy story to tell! So for me what happened was life. You see, I'm a southern girl. To say that food is a big part of my life is an understatement. I consider myself an eastern North Carolina BBQ expert! I have driven across the state of North Carolina charting my course around the best BBQ restaurants in the state more than once! My mother could out-cook Paula Deen any day (now that's the truth!) My grandmothers probably created every recipe in the Southern Living cookbook collection! Genetically, I am pre-programed to cook (and eat) all that is delicious!!! When we have a pot luck at work everyone wants to know what I made- It's guaranteed to be good. Did I mention I make custom cakes "on the side"? People love my cooking! It's been a blessing and a curse all my life. I wasn't overweight in high school,but the potential was there! Like most women my weight gain began after having kids. I gained 75 pounds with baby #1, lost most of it fairly easily (I was only 20). Baby #2, I was more careful with that pregnancy, I exercised regularly and only gained 18 lbs! Lost my best friend to breast cancer a year later and ate my weight in "friendship bread" (a delicious cake for those who aren't familiar with friendship bread, make sure you NEVER eat it!!) over the next few months - From September to January I had gained 60 pounds!!! I woke up one morning (literally) and looked at myself in the mirror and didn't know it was me. I was actually startled when I saw myself that day. I decided I had to do something, so I just started walking. Everyday I walked at least a mile or two, slowly I began to jog and then run. I lost 65 pounds over the next year. I ate nothing white- no sugar, no white flour, white pasta, white rice, white bread. If it was white or prepackaged I didn't touch it. I lived like this for about 4 years. If I would slip off my program, I would quickly catch myself and get back on track. I exercised daily , sometimes twice a day. No cake at birthday parties, no splurging during the holiday's, I stayed on a tight leash. At my smallest I was still overweight by 15-20 pounds. I was happy enough with my fitness level, my size and weight but I had to follow my program to a "T". If I slipped I could gain 5 pounds overnight. I got pregnant with baby #3 at 29 years old. I gained too much weight (60 lbs), and it was so much harder to lose than it was when I had my first two babies. I had so much pain in my feet I could hardly walk some days. Found out I had plantar fasciitis in both feet- OUCH! I needed to exercise, but my feet hurt so bad I couldn't, so I didn't. I slowly began slipping back into bad eating habits. For me sugar is the devil, so are carbs- love that white stuff!! Once I start I can't quit, it's like crack! lol!! I didn't want to go back "there" again so I once again tried to get back on track.I took almost a year. I went back to my program, started exercising again. I was feeling great again. I went through a few changes in my career over the next few years, finally going to work for the government in 2008. I was excited about the new job, but had no idea how much different sitting a desk would be. I had never worked a desk job before. Over the last three years my weight has steadily increased. I have gained over 50 lbs. in the last 3 years. I was already overweight when I started there, I've tried to control it but it has gotten so far out of control it's not even funny. In the last three years I have: begun taking two blood pressure pills daily, sleeping pills for my insomnia, prilosec for my reflux, naproxen for my other aches and pains and I can't tie my shoes with out cutting of my oxygen supply! I have to stop in between flights of stairs, I am chapped and chaffed in places I shouldn't be, even my rolls now have rolls. I've taken diet pills, every fad diet there is, spent hundreds (maybe thousands) on pills, supplements, exercise equipment and DVD workouts. Well, I just can't do it anymore. I can't wake up at 4 am, dirve the van for the van pool, work all day for some arrogant SOB, make dinner for my family when I get home at 5pm. Clean up ,check homework, take care of a house and give my husband and my kids the attention they deserve. Food has become my comfort,even though it is the cause of my misery. I'm sick of having no energy, no drive and no interest. I am tired of being tired and I want to be myself again. I have set a terrible example for my sons and I've finally decided that enough is enough! So.....on July 29th (just 12 days from today!) I am having VSG! I know it will be hard , but it will be worth it to have my life back. Some people won't understand, some will think I took the easy way out, some may even be jealous. i just don't have time to care about what anyone may think about my decision. Either they will support me or they wont. Please, wish me luck as I do the rest of you. I need all the support I can get, especially at those family gatherings with my own "Paula" and her fabulous meals! I think her feelings are gonna' be hurt when I can't eat her cookin' any more! She'll just have to get over it now won't she?

This is the kind of story that inspires me!!! I used to be a runner- I ran 6 days a week! I ended up with plantar fasciitis in both feet after the birth of my third child. Of course I didn't know why my feet hurt so bad, I thought it was from gaining weight during my pregnancy. Long story short- I suffered for a year before I finally pushed through it. I have gained 70 lbs over the last 4 years, so running hasn't been a part of my life for a while, but story's like this ignite a spark in me and give me hope that I will be running again before long. My middle son is going to train with me to do a 5k in December, hopefully that is do-able for me. Thanks for sharing your journey.

I am a federal employee also and was approved in one week like most others have said. If you haven't heard from your surgery scheduler in a weeks time, I would call them back, you may have already been approved. In my case I called them and found out I was approved, but the scheduler was just too busy to call back right away. I know it can make us all crazy waiting to get that approval, it is all you can think about until you have an answer! Just remember, your Dr. may have 50 patients trying to get approved at the same time you are, so be assertive but pleasant and call them back so you don't have to wait on on them- you may be the 50th patient on the list!

Best of luck to all of you! I will certainly keep you all in my prayers this week!

AutumnBlueCarmen, thanks for the welcome. It seems to me, the folks that have their surgeries within days seem to follow each other on this forum. I look forward to following you,Phardin, and Xplorurself, as we will all be starting this new journey on the same day. Best wishes to all the rest of the July Firecrackers too! I think this bulletin board is such a valuable tool for all of us. I am lucky enough to have two co-workers and a sister-in-law who are being sleeved soon. One in July and the other two in October. I will get them tuned into verticalsleevetalk soon!

Hello July Firecrackers!! Could you please add me to the list too? My surgery date is July 29th!