Mrs.Riene

Hello Mrs, Reine and every other March Sleever!
While I do not experience "feeling cold" it is probably because my previous anemia is no longer a problem since my recent menopause . My 3 month blood work show a slightly elevated hemoglobin for the first time in forever! I also increased my thyroid dose a few months ago, so I am feeling warm and cozy at the moment! But, I do know the feeling of "cold" in the past due to hypothyroidism and anemia!
My surgery was March 1 and to date I have lost 27 pounds since surgery(225 now down from surgery weightof 252) and 57 pounds total (from max of 282). I am thrilled and trying not to compare my rather slow and steady loss with the rest of you fast losers! I am trying to see the big picture and the long journey! I am so happy I did this though and feel for me it is easier than dieting without surgery by far. I suffered a lot while dieting, both from wanting to eat more than I was supposed to eat, craving carbs, overeating and feeling tired, and feelings of guilt and condemnation etc etc. I was never a big loser or fast loser, so I am trying to "be content in whatever state I am in". I wish I had practiced that more while I was struggling with dieting. It seemed no matter where I was on the weight scale from 4th grade on, I was never happy with my size. Now looking back, I was pretty cute at 160 pounds!
One downside is that my bloodpressure is up since surgery so my BP med was doubled. My HA1c (diabetes sugar test) is also up to 6.0 from ptr-op of 5.7 before surgery and we are not sure why, but most likely a fluke from menopause happening at the same time. I would likely be worse if it had not been for the surgery. I am not discouraged but more determined than ever to keep up my exercise regime and make healthy choices.
I struggle now most when I eat out or am at special meals. I tend to overeat and it takes only a teaspoon or two extra and I feel nauseated and it comes back up. Fortunately this happens infrequently. My brain is getting closer to my stomach.
Here are a few things I have done since surgery that I have not done for a long time:
1) Playing tennis with son and daughter
2) Riding a rollercoaster
3) Kayaking
4) Bogie boarding in the ocean
There is still much I am not doing, but I have the taste for living life to the fullest! Thanks for your support everyone!!!
Love
Nancy

NaturalRhapsody33, glad to hear you are feeling better and that your surgeon was able to use your VSG cuts plus now you have a new thing to Celebrate a inny belly button. This sound like a win win to me.
Today is one day short of my 4 weeks since my surgery and I am happy to report that I have lost drum roll please, 33 lbs total since the start of this journey. I lost about 7lbs prior during the liquid diet phase and 26 after surgery. I know I said that was only going to weigh myself each month, but I figure since tomorrow marks 4 weeks since my surgery, measuring myself a day before was not going show anything differently today then it would tomorrow. Also yesterday I walked 3 miles, it felt so good and then I went to dance practice. I woke up this morning feeling really good and refresh. When I looked in the mirror for the first time I noticed a change. So instead of pulling something out of my clothes were I have all of my big girl clothes, I ran to my other closet were I have my transition clothes of 16 and 18, I found a dress that I love and tried it on with my pj and was surprise it fit with clothes underneath. This dress is a 16. I guess I have some clean and reorganizing to do tonight. Moving all of my big girl clothes out of my main closet and bring my 16-18 down from the other closet. Boy, I feel really good. Now on to my next goal to loss an additional 30 lbs before my birthday.

Update on status!
It has been several weeks since my last post. Well I am doing great, my scar are healing nicely as a matter of fact some are almost gone, I have been using Medema since the steril strip fell off and it has really helped. The biggest scar is still there but I feel it will be a little less visible in time. My diet is going well, I have not had any of the awful side effect that some people have reported. The last time I was on here I had only lost about 22Ibs, I haven't weigh myself in a couple of weeks because I was getting very frustrated when I notice the scale would move up a pound and then back down. So I figure I would only weight myself monthly. I can definitely tell I am loosing because my clothes are fitting me differently and I already had to give some of my big girl clothes to a friend. My only problem is I won't to get more active but my doctor told me I needed to wait 30 days, which will be April 28th, boy I cannot wait. I just want to start working on my arms and legs to build muscle. In my younger days I had muscle because I ran cross country and track. I just want to get back to lifting and instead of running I am going to invest in a bike. I heard it was better on your body.
Well I hope everybody is getting long well. Also NaturalRapadsody33 I saw your post regarding you gallbladder. I am glad to here you are out of the hospital and recovering. You take it easy and make sure you heal well. I will be praying for you on a successful recovery.

My surgery was a success and recovery is somewhat slow then I expected. I have some pain but not a lot matter fact the only time I feel real pain is when I cough or sneeze. I having a hard time in getting Water in. But I am able to eat yogurt, Jello and Protein Shake. I will just be glad when I can get these staples removed. I also realize some of my clothes are getting big. I almost forgot is anyone having some tenderness in their legs I just noticed it today? Call my insurance 24 hr nurse line and she said that I can just keep on taking the blood thinner and everything should be ok. I will probably call my doctor's office tomorrow to be on the safe side. I will be glad when my life gets back to some type of normalize.

My surgery was a success and recovery is somewhat slow then I expected. I have some pain but not a lot matter fact the only time I feel real pain is when I cough or sneeze. I having a hard time in getting Water in. But I am able to eat yogurt, Jello and Protein Shake. I will just be glad when I can get these staples removed. I also realize some of my clothes are getting big. I almost forgot is anyone having some tenderness in their legs I just noticed it today? Call my insurance 24 hr nurse line and she said that I can just keep on taking the blood thinner and everything should be ok. I will probably call my doctor's office tomorrow to be on the safe side. I will be glad when my life gets back to some type of normalize.

Well March Sleevers, tomorrow is my big day. I am on a totaly clear liquid diet and drinking Magnesium citrate for lunch to prepare for surgery. I am now official getting more nervous about the whole thing. I just hope that I am one of those who has an easy receovery. I just don't want to feel a lot of pain, discomfort is okay. But pain is something else. You all just pray for me that the surgery is a success and my recovery is smooth and easy.

I started my pre-op liquid diet on Thursday, March 22nd with the surgery date of March 29th. I would say that the first two days are the hardest, especially since this weekend my family had a lot of celebration from marriage to Goddaughter birthday. I was good with the exception that I had four bite of my cousin's lasanga on Friday at the reheasal dinner and very small piece of carrot cake on Saturday at the wedding reception. But nothing at my Goddaughter birthday. The lasanga made me sick to my stomache so it did not stay and the carrot made me a lttle bit nausa. Over all I feel I am doing all right. The one tip I can give you is try to fill yourself up before going to any event with the right stuff. If you are full prior you want be so tempted to indulge in all of the wrong foods. Get someone to hold you accountable for what you eat, my husband watch me like a hawk. He is the reason why I only ate four spoonful of the lasanga and a small amount of cake and not the whole bowl or a larger piece of cake. Keep thinking to yourself what you are doing is preparing for your future. Do not let food control you, you control the food.

Boy, I just noticed there are quite a few of VSG friends having their surgery this week. So, to ensure everyone is aware the following March Sleevers Friends who are journeying to the loser bench.
wannabb08 - March 19th
eylish - March 20th in Mexico
JayhawkJess33 - March 20th
Priscilla Johnson Wright - March 21st
aaeactive_gm - March 21st
bethany1987 - March 22nd
I just want to let all of you know I am praying for each one for a safe and speedy recovery. See you all on the Loser Bench very soon and don't forget to return and share your experience.
In addition, since next week I and others will be journeying to the Loser Bench. I just wanted to ensure I let everyone know of March Sleevers Friends who will be having their surgery the week of March 26 - 30. To all of my friends who will be sleeved the week and the day I share with you, I will be praying for each one of you. My hope is that I will be able to send out messages to each one of you prior and after my surgery but I am not sure. So if I fail, please know you are in my prayers. Once I return I will be sure to let you all know about my experience and those who are journeying the same with me, please do not forget to do the same.
BuBsmama – March 27th
Lighteningbug - March 28th
Mrs. Riene – March 29th
3AZscotties - March 30th
Also, in viewing all of my past post I was not sure if I post a message to those who had their surgery the week of the 12-16. If I forgot charge it to my mine and not my heart you were all in my prayers and I hope to hear from you all soon.

Good Evening My Fellow March Sleevers,
I am so glad to see that there are people who will be starting their new life journey during the same month as me.
The reason I started this group is for those who are scheduled for the VSG in March of 2012. We can share our experience as we journey to a newer us. Please feel free to start a discussion and share your experience.

Fitbottomdgirl, New Chapter and Mews TODAY is the first day to a newer you. You are all in my prayer for a successfull surgery and recovery. See you all on the loser bench. 13 days and counting when I will be there with you. Keep us post on your progress.

Well my fellow March Sleever. Yesterday I went to see my cardio for a checkup and was very surprise as to what she shared. All this time I taught she did not support my decision to proceed with the VSG. On the contrary she totally supported it. As a matter of fact she demanded the insurance company to approve me. In her letter to them she emphasis that I need this surgery to ensure my heart remain in the condition it is and she felt that if I did not proceed with the surgery and continue on the path I was on my later years would be feel with many heart complication. Boy, this puts everything into prospective when it come to my nervousness regarding this surgery. Her first question to me at the appointment was "When is your surgery scheduled?" I told her March 29 and she ask why so late. I then got scared as to why the rush, she simply state that she just feel that insurance company are guilty in pushing thing off for their needs and not the patience. I told her that was not the case that I choice that date because of my work schedule. Well to ensure my surgery is a success, I am going to start my road to a healtier me now, by being smartier in the things I eat and the amount of food I consume.
On my way to a Healthier me!!!

WHOO WHOO!!! Congrats!

I am some what new to this forum. I have been a observer/reader of your posts and have to admit this group seems to be lot friendlier then some of the others I have read. Especially one I read this morning. It was one under tell "Your Story", can I say crazy and somewhat mean. But that is that forum. All I wanted to say congrats to all of the March sleevers. This is our month when our journey to a new us begins.

Blackanese25 not sure about the insurance but I know a little about sciatic nerve problems. I always get them especially if I turn the wrong way in a chair. The best thing my chiropractor suggested to me when I feel them is to put ice compress on the area of your back were you sciatic nerve is (15 min off, 15 min on). I know this sound simply but it really works. Once the swelling went down I was able to function again. I hope this helps.

Also I would not consider myself to have a large chest but I am an AA and therefore I got butt. With that said I am definitely an apple shape. When I was younger I always had a butt and really do not see it going anywhere once I loose the weight, just smaller in circumference, I hope.

It is great that they are taking precautionary measures and to ensure a great outcome for every patient. But the question still remains is blood thinner prescribed in a case by case or is it just prescribed to everyone because of marketing and funding. That is the question. Especially since it is not prescribe in every in surgery.

I just received my approval letter from the insurance company. Have not heard anything from my surgeon's office at this time, but hope to here from them soon. The letter was actually sent out on the 24th and I received it in the mail this morning. I am so excited and ready to move forward with the next phase.