Lissa

You can change your own title any time you like. Read mine. It used to say "Life Saved by VSG". I change it whenever I get the whim. Go to your profile and you can do it easily.

I got comments during my recent gallbladder surgery scare about my low blood pressure and low heart rate...until they actually started physically looking at me. Despite my weight (still obese), I am extremely muscular, which the doctors believe accounts for the "symptoms". Overall, my health is fantastic, so I'll be continuing my exercise routine. I have no worries about my blood pressure or heart rate, but I'd be worried if I were experiencing the dizziness that you are all having.

Ain't it funny. Since I was 10 years old...anything that caused me to go to the doctor was blamed on obesity. I could get hit upside the head with a 2x4 and it was because I was overweight. I guess if I had been skinnier I could have gotten out of the way....I don't know. But I asked an orthopedic doc one time if he ever had skinny patients with knee injuries and he said yes, all the time. I said well tell me whatever it is you tell them, instead of just telling me to lose friggin weight.
Sorry to take this thread off topic, I just had to rant. Back on topic now....

My VSG was the result of a "Come to Jesus" conversation with my doctors. They told me to lose weight or I wouldn't live another year. I made my decision based on that and that's what I told anyone who questioned me. I'm totally open about my VSG and it has inspired several people close to me to work out, diet, or have their own WLS. If there are naysayers (and there are always a few), I simply tell them that this surgery literally saved my life. End of discussion. I don't listen to negativity. This was my last, best, option to save my own life.. and it's worked so far. I'm 18 months out, over 120 pounds lighter, and I feel like a brand new person! I really don't care what anyone else thinks of my decision. IMO, this is the best thing that has EVER happened to me, after the births of my children... and some days that's questionable! LOL

call your doctor. It does sound like your synthroid needs to be adjusted, especially since you're already taking B12. B12 is what I was going to recommend to you. Good luck

My PCP is a jerk, but he's been my PCP since I was 11 years old. Everything that's ever been wrong with me is because I'm fat, go figure. Now that I've dropped 120 pounds, all of my health problems are still because I'm overweight. Never mind that I have had major improvement in my health, with resolution of most of my co-morbidities, and never mind that I'm a gym rat now, everything is weight related. I had surgery locally, but my PCP still says it was "too drastic". I don't care. I'm shopping for a new PCP, but haven't found one yet. I think that older doctors, like mine, don't trust anything too new-fangled.

My PCP is a jerk, but he's been my PCP since I was 11 years old. Everything that's ever been wrong with me is because I'm fat, go figure. Now that I've dropped 120 pounds, all of my health problems are still because I'm overweight. Never mind that I have had major improvement in my health, with resolution of most of my co-morbidities, and never mind that I'm a gym rat now, everything is weight related. I had surgery locally, but my PCP still says it was "too drastic". I don't care. I'm shopping for a new PCP, but haven't found one yet. I think that older doctors, like mine, don't trust anything too new-fangled.

Our tastes do change dramatically after surgery. I kept my Protein Shakes and powders and they did taste good a few months out, but I couldn't stand sweet stuff for months after surgery. BTW, I love your name!

I'm 18 months out and still can't really drink while I eat. One thing that helps, though, is making sure you have something moist on your plate. I believe it was Egg Face who said that the key to eating Protein post-op is moisture and she has tons of dip-type recipes that are high protein. I make greek yogurt based ranch dressing and will often put a dollop of that on my plate to dip meat. I have actual physical pain if I drink liquids while I'm eating and it's a good way to make me slime or vomit if I drink with a meal. I'd prefer to skip those two things.

Amy is correct. You are right where you are supposed to be. Have you read about the 3rd week stall on here?
Search the site. This is probably the most commonly posted thread.

Chopz, Welcome to VST! I understand how you're feeling oh so well. I, too, went on blind faith and trepidation when I had my surgery. I had so many health problems that I was convinced I'd die on the table and I was willing to risk that to save my own life. 120 pounds lighter and 18 months later, it was the absolute best decision I've EVER made in my life. I congratulate you on taking this huge step, on taking control of your own life, and on being brave enough to admit it out loud. Good luck on your journey!

There are no prizes for not taking your pain meds, you know? Take them. You're not going out anywhere and you're definitely not going to work, so take the pain meds to take the edge off. You won't become addicted in just a few days. Congrats on being sleeved!

I am with Lissa and pdxMan ! 5-6 months. :-) that time flies by too!

Yup, like Lissa, at 6 months I was able to eat steak, bread, Pasta, lettuce, tortilla chips ... without feeling like something that rhymes with "fit". Albeit smaller bites and chewing really well, but that was my marker ... 6 months.

Six months is when I really felt "normal" on food again. That's when I was allowed to add salad and other fibrous foods back into my diet. I don't eat anything like I at pre-op at this stage, though. My food choices are much better because I realize that I have to get the Protein first.

I can lick my big toe!!! Oh, and I must confess that I am enjoying seeing what kind of "ass I can pull". I have a 30 year old hot firefighter telling me how good I look on a regular basis...that makes me go hmmmm... I'm seeing someone who is WAY hotter than any man I've ever dated before and I'm LOVING life.

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!!!

Not a little black dress, but I love these pics.
For reference

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!!!

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!!!

choripan,
I get the hesitation to have a majority of your stomach removed. That was my major objection to this to start with, but then I had an epiphany... probably drug-induced because I was in the hospital with major pneumonia at the time.... I can continue to eat like I have and gain weight, or I can do something about it. Now, I lost 50 pounds on Atkins last year. It was a hard, difficult, PITA struggle. I busted my butt to lose that 50 lbs, turning down sweets, breads, potatoes, in short, everything that I liked foodwise. I subsisted on chicken breasts and salad, but I took off that dang 50 lbs.
Once I did that, I took "my" next step and quit smoking. Within 10 days, I had pneumonia. On my first visit to the ER, the doctor prescribed antibiotics and high codeine cough Syrup, warning me that if I took "one drop" too much, I'd end up dead. She treated me like a drug-seeker. I dutifully took the antibiotics, measured the cough syrup with a syringe, and ended up back in the ER 10 days later with an oxygen saturation of 70. The nurses there were shocked I was walking and talking. After six days in the hospital on steroids and mega-antibiotics via IV, I got out and gained all 50 lbs, plus a few extra back.
Between the pneumonia and the blood clots I developed after such a long period of inactivity, I'm not allowed to exercise more than 5 minutes 3 times a week...and that at a "casual" pace. I'm now on three meds for asthma-like symptoms, blood thinners and a bi-pap machine. My health took a major nose-dive in less than a month, and I'm still struggling. My doctors have actually told me that I must take off a bunch of weight NOW or I won't live 5 years. At 44 years old, that's a tough pill to swallow.
So, for me, the surgery is the way to go. I'm afraid, somewhat, of having that much stomach removed, but I'm more afraid of how much worse my health can get if I don't have this surgery and drop this weight. I listed my current co-morbidities earlier: sleep apnea, borderline diabetic, rheumatoid arthritis, breathing problems, pneumonia tendencies, etc. I am praying and hoping that this surgery helps to turn back the clock on these conditions so that I can live a long life and get to see my kids marry and meet my future grandchildren.
Your reasons may vary, but I bet all of use want a couple of things: to feel better and to look better. The question we must ask ourselves is if we can get there without surgical intervention. For me, the answer is no, so I am moving forward. I hope my thought process can help you make your decision...and, whatever decision YOU make is right for YOU. Good luck!

choripan, Who have you seen that doesn't seem to have lost much with the sleeve? Unless those people are being non-compliant with their diet (eating sweets and lots of carbs), VSG almost guarantees you'll lose about 80% of the weight you have to lose. Now, keeping it off after the weight loss slows down, and continuing to reach your personal goal(s), is a little tougher and requires discipline. Making goal AND arriving there in good physical shape takes even more work.
I've spent a good bit of time on the Lap Band Forums because that was my initial WLS of choice. One of the things the "Elders" there preach is that you don't just band your stomach, you have to do the head-work too. (Called banding your head over there) I'm calling the mental work I'm doing "Sleeving my head". I know that the surgery is a tool, and, like any other tool, you can use it to fix things, or you can use it incorrectly and end up gaining back the weight. I know that my whole relationship with food MUST change. No more sweets, low or no-carbs, and much more diligence about what goes into my body.
If you are interested, there is an awesome blog by a gal who had GB (Roux N Y) about 5 years ago. The girl, Cheryl, writes "The World According to Eggface" and she gave up all sweets, carbs, taters and Pasta when she had her GB. She posts tons of recipes using Protein powder, almond flour, and various ingredients that are compatible for most WLS patients. She made goal 3 years ago and posts daily about what she's eating, both to help others and to keep herself honest. She has a lot of valuable insights for those of us just starting the journey, IMO.
I looked at your profile and I'm not sure where in South Florida you're located. If you're anywhere near me (St Lucie County), maybe we could get together and compare notes. I'll be thriilled to share my journey with you and to forward links to the bloggers I follow, if you're interested.

I'd add the following: Don't compare your journey to anyone else's journey. Celebrate where you are today instead of being unhappy that you haven't made it to goal yet. Talk positively and think positive when discussing your journey. You didn't get fat overnight and you won't get skinny overnight either. And, to steal from The Help: You is good. You is smart. You is important. Treat yourself that way!

I'd add the following: Don't compare your journey to anyone else's journey. Celebrate where you are today instead of being unhappy that you haven't made it to goal yet. Talk positively and think positive when discussing your journey. You didn't get fat overnight and you won't get skinny overnight either. And, to steal from The Help: You is good. You is smart. You is important. Treat yourself that way!

I'd add the following: Don't compare your journey to anyone else's journey. Celebrate where you are today instead of being unhappy that you haven't made it to goal yet. Talk positively and think positive when discussing your journey. You didn't get fat overnight and you won't get skinny overnight either. And, to steal from The Help: You is good. You is smart. You is important. Treat yourself that way!