Lissa

I don't have one. My surgeon said it's an unnecessary expense, so I skipped it. I do, however, have my card saying that I am sleeved directly behind my driver's license in my purse and my cell phone has a note under ICE (In Case of Emergency) that says "See Notes". My Notes section (iPhone) has a section labeled Medical with details about what I take, no blind tubes, no nsaids, and my surgeons name/phone number. Hopefully that's enough information for a medical responder.
My son, who is a type 1 diabetic, has a tattoo on the inside of his wrist with the AMA symbol and IDD underneath it so that emergency responders always know that his is an Insulin Dependent Diabetic. He and his dad have matching tats and his dad's actually came in handy while he was working out of town.

At 300+ pounds, a bootcamp is probably too much for you. Try walking, elliptical, or treadmill for cardio (easier on the knees and back) and doing some light weights and stretching exercises to build up your muscle and endurance. If you hurt yourself doing the bootcamp, you won't be able to do any exercise until you heal. I started literally with walking up and down my hallway, along with 10 reps with 2 pound weights. Now, I do at least 30 minutes of cardio daily, plus weights 3 times a week... still low weights, high reps. I also just added in martial arts classes (tai kwan do), which incorporate lots of stretching and working with/against your own body weight. I'm down over 120+ pounds from my high weight and I can't imagine even attempting the martial arts at over 300+ pounds.

I've been making sure I got my Vitamins and Protein daily, using Neutrogena body oil, dry brushing (infrequently), and avoiding tanning since surgery. My excess skin is pretty much limited to my abdomen and upper thighs. I'm not at goal yet, although I've lost 120+ pounds and I have had a plastics consult (2 actually). I have about 10-15 pounds of excess skin, depending on which doctor you believe. I have also been an avid gym rat, doing cardio and weights to help tone things. My plastics doc says there isn't a lot you can do to avoid the skin, although he has encouraged me to keep doing all of the above things because they will help in the long run. A lot of skin issues depend on you... your genetics, your age, how overweight you are now, and if you've already had issues (C-sections, abdominal surgery). It's still better to have excess skin than skin that's full of fat. At least, that's my opinion. I'll take the excess skin that I have to deal with over the 120 pounds I've lost all day long!

Not to be flippant, but the only suggestion I can give you for the pre-op liquid diet is "Just Do It". That is the absolute toughest part of this journey for most of us. I ate a lot of sugar free popsicles (the only "solid" I was allowed) and drank a ton of Water and crystal light. By day 3, you should be having an easier time of things. I had to do three weeks and I made it through by sheer grit and determination because I didn't want my surgeon to refuse to do my surgery.
Good luck on your journey!!

I'd do my surgery again every day of the week and twice on Sunday!!! I'm not officially at goal yet, but I'm LOVING life these days!!!

You cracked me up! I spit Water out my nose!!!!
I can say that there is a lot less "padding" than there used to be prior to the surgery. Also, I have an easier time "trimming the hedge" since I can now see it!!!!

I'd do my surgery again every day of the week and twice on Sunday!!! I'm not officially at goal yet, but I'm LOVING life these days!!!

Um, the outside has shrunk, but the inside seems the same at 9 months out and 100 pounds lighter. As a matter of fact, things seem to fit better/deeper these days. TMI?

I'd do my surgery again every day of the week and twice on Sunday!!! I'm not officially at goal yet, but I'm LOVING life these days!!!

Pardon my french, but HE#* yes, you're worth it and HE*# no, you shouldn't give up on the idea of having a sex life. You're 47, not 107...and I understand the geriatric set are into sex in a big way, too!
I think you have laid out an excellent case for why you want to have surgery. You have busted your butt to lose weight and do what's right for everyone else. If you want to have this done, I say go for it!!!

I'd do my surgery again every day of the week and twice on Sunday!!! I'm not officially at goal yet, but I'm LOVING life these days!!!

Hey, M2G!!! I'm thrilled to see your big smile on here! I'm in and out here as well. The new lifestyle that comes with the weight loss has me running crazy, just like you. I haven't had any regain, but my loss has slowed down to almost a standstill due to various issues. Most of those are resolved, so, like you, it's onwards with the exercise goals. You'll have to check in more often!

Great job! I would like to add that some surgeons (mine included) ban straws either temporarily or permanently after VSG. I am now using one again, but when I was early post op, straws made me feel gassy. YMMV

Yee Haw!!! Read my signature, I'm an NSV 'Ho!!! LOVE THEM!!! You go girl!!!

Yee Haw!!! Read my signature, I'm an NSV 'Ho!!! LOVE THEM!!! You go girl!!!

Yee Haw!!! Read my signature, I'm an NSV 'Ho!!! LOVE THEM!!! You go girl!!!

Go explore the gallery or the VSG success stories thread. Heck, go read my profile! I was convinced I was going to die, and I had the medical problems to make that a real threat. I gambled and won! You will, too! Imagine where you want to be in a year. How about this? In one year, imagine yourself 100 pounds lighter, wearing great skinny clothes, hair done, makeup on, heading out for a date with the guy/gal of your dreams. It's a real possibility... and it's my reality at 19 months out. All you have to do is get on that table, then follow the post-op diet for six weeks, add in a little exercise and you'll be 100 pounds lighter in no time. I would have given my right arm to lose 100 pounds pre-op. All I really had to give up was 1.5 hours on the operating table, with no memory of that time, 85% of my stomach, and about an hour 4-5 times a week to exercise. I think I won the lottery!!!

my favorite from this thred - "I DON'T CARE if WLS is cheating. I just care that I have a new, improved life and my health prognosis is once again normal."
I think that we are all programmed to hear the word "cheat" or even that notion...makes you automatically think that its bad. NO you arent alowed to cheat...cheating is bad, bad people cheat. I want an improved life...and health...and you know what, I want it sooner than later!!! Im 30 years old, and became over weight at the age of 8 or 10. I have waited long enough!!!
I also really like what SoCalDixieGal has to say. I really needed to hear that....its like we are set up to fail. I dont want to obsess over food anymore, whether its ..what am I going to eat next...or I have to limit what I am eating. I just want to be able to eat a small portion, feel full and satisfied and not have to really think about it! I know this will take time, but I think that with the sleeve it will be a reality some time.
I have done my research...a lot of it! Ive even watched the surgery performed on you tube to see what I was getting into. I know that my dad and stepmoms approval isnt necessary and I am going to get this surgery no matter what....but I guess I was just hoping that they might have been supportive.
I will just find support some place else. My mom and husband are immensly supportive. Thank you all for your kind words. I really feel so much better

Hey, M2G!!! I'm thrilled to see your big smile on here! I'm in and out here as well. The new lifestyle that comes with the weight loss has me running crazy, just like you. I haven't had any regain, but my loss has slowed down to almost a standstill due to various issues. Most of those are resolved, so, like you, it's onwards with the exercise goals. You'll have to check in more often!

My best friend is an ER nurse and works in a hospital where the main doctor is a bariatric surgeon, so she sees the complications that can happen. When I was researching WLS initially, I kept everything on the down low because I had similar feelings to the OP. Then I had some major health complications, including pneumonia and pulmonary embolisms that put me in the hospital three times in two months. My regular doctors told me that if I didn't lose at least 100 pounds in a hurry, I wouldn't live another year. I didn't like the WLS doctors I was researching and finally asked my RN friend about whether she though WLS was right for me, and she immediately recommend the doctor that she worked with, Dr Domkowski. I was sold from the first seminar I attended with him. For me, WLS was the right choice. I had all the same doubts and fears that it wouldn't work for me, or that WLS was somehow cheating. But, 19 months later, 120 pounds lighter, I DON'T CARE if WLS is cheating. I just care that I have a new, improved life and my health prognosis is once again normal. I still have more weight to lose, but I'm not in the red flag danger zone I was living in before. Thank God, Dr. Domkowski and whomever invented WLS! Your family needs to be supportive, or at least keep their mouths shut. Would they rather you wait until you're in the position I was in pre-sleeve? I applaud you for making a life-changing decision for yourself and for your ability to be resolute in the face of their disapproval. But, when it comes down to it, YOU are the person in charge of making decisions for your life. Their opinion is just that, their opinion. You are the person who has to live with the consequences and you are the one who gets to make the choices based on your own research. Oh, and as for having children, Tiffykins has two of the most adorable littles you'll ever see. Both were conceived and born after her sleeve...and she's been able to get back down to her goal weight fairly quickly, even after having two babies in quick succession. It is possible to have healthy children without sacrificing your own health after the sleeve. BTW, I apologize that I cannot seem to make paragraph breaks in my posts here lately.

Hey, M2G!!! I'm thrilled to see your big smile on here! I'm in and out here as well. The new lifestyle that comes with the weight loss has me running crazy, just like you. I haven't had any regain, but my loss has slowed down to almost a standstill due to various issues. Most of those are resolved, so, like you, it's onwards with the exercise goals. You'll have to check in more often!

You look soooo good!
I anticipated that my wife would be shopping more when she got to goal, she lost 110 pounds. What I didn't anticipate is that I would get the shopping bug for her. When I am in Macy's without her I find myself in the women's section looking for size 4s. I seem to want to dress her up.
What is happening to me?

So Tomorrow it has been a year that's when I made my decision to go thru with my Sleeve ..And Boy it has been a Rollercoaster LOL...I have to Say it was the best thing I could have done for me and my Health . I have been truly blessed to have great support from My Husband and my Frieds ( Shout out to my Peeps y'all know who you are ) love y'all <3 ...I Started my Journey at 250lbs and as of today I'm 135 give or take a lbs or 2 ...Hahaha my Hubby does Not Apreciate my new hobby which is SHOPPING LOL...Pics to follow

Wow, it has been a long time since I spent any "real" time here at VST.
For those who may not know me, I'm almost 2.5 years post-op, with well over 100+ posts (so I think I'm ok to post here ) but I definitely count myself in the 'slow to lose' category. I initially lost 100lbs at just about the 18 month post-op mark, and then spent a good 9 months putting on about +15-20lbs by not tracking what I eat, grazing, and generally sort of letting my guard down.
I never quit exercising but in 2012 I took on a full-time job and that put a crimp in my exercise style which was basically workout every day. I went from working out every day to 2, maybe 3 times a week. So that helped also contribute to my gain.
Now I'm not working, but have decided to go back to school (already have my bachelor's but need updated skills) and I've learned the importance of not letting exercise slide. So even though school is a huge time sucker, I've been very true to my exercise pattern. I don't work out every day anymore, but 4-6 days a week is pretty normal for me.
Since Jan 1, 2013 I've now lost -9lbs so I am working off the regain. Then it will be time to get to goal (I never made goal initally.) Part of my absence was due to work, then school, but also for the a lot of the same reasons that many of the vets don't stay here. Another reason is my preferred browser is VERY slow to load this site as it is bogged down with so much advertising that it will literally time out. Alex is working on that, and I have other browsers that aren't so slow. I also have the phone app which does okay reading but I rarely find time to post, as the reading is usually a quick 5 minutes while waiting to pick up a kid from school, etc.
Anyway, just wanting to say hello and meet some of the newer vets... so GLAD to see a Vet's Forum around here! Also happy to see some old timers still here, like Coops, CLK, PDX, Lsereno, MsSkinniness, and Lissa, etc. Sorry if I'm leaving anyone out.
One of my goals is to be around more often!

My best friend is an ER nurse and works in a hospital where the main doctor is a bariatric surgeon, so she sees the complications that can happen. When I was researching WLS initially, I kept everything on the down low because I had similar feelings to the OP. Then I had some major health complications, including pneumonia and pulmonary embolisms that put me in the hospital three times in two months. My regular doctors told me that if I didn't lose at least 100 pounds in a hurry, I wouldn't live another year. I didn't like the WLS doctors I was researching and finally asked my RN friend about whether she though WLS was right for me, and she immediately recommend the doctor that she worked with, Dr Domkowski. I was sold from the first seminar I attended with him. For me, WLS was the right choice. I had all the same doubts and fears that it wouldn't work for me, or that WLS was somehow cheating. But, 19 months later, 120 pounds lighter, I DON'T CARE if WLS is cheating. I just care that I have a new, improved life and my health prognosis is once again normal. I still have more weight to lose, but I'm not in the red flag danger zone I was living in before. Thank God, Dr. Domkowski and whomever invented WLS! Your family needs to be supportive, or at least keep their mouths shut. Would they rather you wait until you're in the position I was in pre-sleeve? I applaud you for making a life-changing decision for yourself and for your ability to be resolute in the face of their disapproval. But, when it comes down to it, YOU are the person in charge of making decisions for your life. Their opinion is just that, their opinion. You are the person who has to live with the consequences and you are the one who gets to make the choices based on your own research. Oh, and as for having children, Tiffykins has two of the most adorable littles you'll ever see. Both were conceived and born after her sleeve...and she's been able to get back down to her goal weight fairly quickly, even after having two babies in quick succession. It is possible to have healthy children without sacrificing your own health after the sleeve. BTW, I apologize that I cannot seem to make paragraph breaks in my posts here lately.