illgeturhairdid

Not as much as you think! I LOVE too cook- but I honestly do WAY less of it now. Going through all that prep for one itty bitty meal that I probably won't eat all of any way curbs that desire to cook. You will learn to cook a few essential items and you'll be fine

I'm not at a point where I can give up the scale yet- but I wanted you guys to know I love seeing your success and I wish you all the best

So last night and the night before.... Both mornings I have awoken with my pjs bottoms below my butt because..... THEY'RE TOO BIG!!!

So last night and the night before.... Both mornings I have awoken with my pjs bottoms below my butt because..... THEY'RE TOO BIG!!!

A lot of insurances have an out of pocket max- for me mine was $2000, but I had already met $1000. So my surgery cost me my copays plus $1000. (Which was my coinsurance of 10% until I met the $2000.) Look into your insurance to see what it would be. Also- your insurance will have a contracted rate with the surgeon and hospital. For instance the hospital billed my insurance over $33,000 but the contracted rate was only like $5300- so I only had to pay 10% of $5300 not the $33,000!

I am sipping on this as I write- it is AMAZING!! I got this off of another website but VST will not let me post the link. Next time I make it I think I will be adding a little instant coffee to it as well.
Ingredients
1/2 c. Hood Calorie Countdown Skim Milk (this can be hard to find. Regular skim is fine)
8 oz. boiling Water
1 heaping tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
1 scoop chocolate Protein powder
4 pumps sugar free carmel Syrup
4-6 packets of no-calorie sweetener
About 1/4 tsp of salt (Shari suggests a specific kind. I use regular table salt cuz I'm poor and it works! Usually I end up with a bit more than 1/4 tsp to get the desired effect. If you're unsure about this whole thing, start with 1/8 tsp and work your way up)
Optional: fat-free whipped cream
Directions:
In 12 oz. mug, combine your Protein Powder, sweetener and cocoa powder. Add milk and stir until a thick, smoothe paste forms.
Add boiling Water SLOWLY, stirring while you add and then stir some more! This takes some practice but if you do it right, you get a smooth drink with no lumps.
Add your caramel syrup and salt and stir. Now give it a taste. It should be sweet with a small, but noticeable, punch of saltiness. If you can't taste the salt at all (because salt, in small doses, amps up sweetness so it takes a good bit to get the salt to register), add a bit more until you get to that sweet/salty flavor.
Top with whipped cream and enjoy!

Lola, I too was sleeved 12/5! I'm thankful I haven't had to deal with any nausea just extreme exhaustion and at times weakness. I think you should talk with your doctor and nutritionist. Do they have you on actigal to protect your gaul bladder? Maybe it doesn't agree with you?
Or it could be dehydration... Maybe going to the ER and having them do an IV would be helpful. I was almost to that point because of how dried out my lips were, but thankfully I was able to start taking bigger sips and that has helped. Dehydration can mess with us in a vast array of symptoms.

The previous poster and I were typing at the same time.

Sorry I missed this part. My surgeon said that if in 2 days the nausea wasn't gone, he would give me an iv. I never got to that point, but I think that was supposed to rehydrate me and allow me to drink and eat more, therefore avoid the nausea. Perhaps others can chime in. I wonder if it is a good idea that you go to the emergency room to get this done.

Whirley Pop has been added to my Amazon wishlist!

Whirley Pop has been added to my Amazon wishlist!

Ugh. This is mine. I don't know how I am going to be able to go to a movie and handle not being able to have popcorn.< /p>

I find tweezing in the car is the best place... All that natural light shows what you miss indoors... I'm horrified some days when I take a peek and see everything I missed!

I haven't noticed my facial hair slowing down. As a matter of fact, I should own stock in a tweezer company! I have a pair everywhere, plus two in my purse and one in the car. My "Sherlock Holmes" chin grab is a sight to see! LOL

Hey there girlie- I'm a white girl but man o man let me tell you I enjoy food from every freakin culture there is lol (well, minus the spicy). Welcome to VST- it has been a life saver for me! Good luck on your journey and don't be afraid to ask questions.

This time of year I really like to pause for a moment and think about all of the blessings in my life.
This year the biggest blessing has been all the support I've had during this exciting adventure. Support has come from virtual friends, as well as real life friends and family. I am so thankful for both!!
The last 4 months of my life have been an amazing journey and thank you to all of you who have followed my progress. Also, thank you to those who have shared your journey and successes with me.
May you all have an amazing Christmas with your families- and a happy, wonderful, healthy New Year!
Love,

I think this is a fabulous idea! I would love to join this group! Webcams can be purchases relatively cheap all over the place anymore. I would even check Amazon. Amazon is my go to for everything these days because it's just so cheap. Let me know how things go and if I can help you get this started at all.
Thanks!

I thought that was me prior to surgery. Now, looking back- it really wasn't a new thing. It was sort of how I was doing things all along and just wasn't paying attention to it. Did I go out to eat more? Yes, because I knew it would be a long time before I was able to eat at my favorite places again. Take it from someone who has very recently (12/5) been there, done that- use this time wisely. It will allow you to have an easier time adjusting post op.
Good luck!

I'm another one that VSG saved my life. I'm not totally out of the woods yet, but I am making fast progress!
I can walk now, which I could barely do before. Old me couldn't walk from the car to the front door without wheezing and sweating. New me goes and walks around in the mall without a second thought.
I don't mind trying on clothes now, where before I would buy stuff I thought was big enough, bring it home and, if it didn't fit, I'd just pass it along to someone else. I was ashamed to return clothes! Now, if it doesn't fit, I go back and get a SMALLER size! Yay!!
In general, I'm happier and I'm more assertive than I was before. That's def a side effect of the surgery. Pre-op, if someone hurt my feelings or was nasty to me, I'd go buy a bag of chips or candy and sneak off to eat it. Now, I can't do that, so I've had to learn to say "You cannot talk to me that way." It's very freeing. I'm not talking about being rude, just being able to hold my head up and say "I deserve better".
Good luck to us all!

Today I had to return some clothes I ordered online to Fashion Bug and managed to get the sister who doesn't totally hate shopping to go with me. Since I was returning clothes because they were too big it was okay to browse as long as I didn't spend more then I was refunded right?
Well, shopping is so much fun right now! In August I remember being in Fashion Bug to get an outfit for my uncles 80th bday and crying in the dressing room when I had to try on 4x because 3x just didn't work anymore. So today I go into the dressing room with a few shirts in 3x and one 2x just because they didn't have it in a 3x. I tried on the 2x first because I figured I could cheer myself up with the other shirts when this one didn't fit.... But guess what!!
I had to peak my head out of the dressing room and ask Alyse "Can you see if this one is on the clearance rack in a 1x?" Seriously, that moment is totally in my top 10 best moments ever! I ended up getting a few shirts that were 2x and a few that were 1x. I comfortably fit the 2x's now- but I know it won't be long before I need the 1xs. (At $5/each how can you not stock up a little in the smaller sizes?)
It was such a fantastic day. Alyse hasn't seen me since before my surgery because she was away at college. When she saw me for the first time last night she couldn't stop telling me all the places she could see the weight loss. (face, stomach, legs, ect.) I kept telling her to shut up and stop trying to make me feel good.... This went on all night until she made me stand in the doorway I took my preop pics and then loaded the new ones into the computer side by side.... WOW! You can see the difference.
Who knew I have a neck? lol!!!

You will be fine! It is totally normal to do a bit of freaking out- I sure did. Two nights before my surgery I had such a meltdown my sister had to hold me and I soaked the entire front of her shirt. A week post op- my regret is not doing it sooner as I am already seeing fantastic results. Good luck!

The pain passes quickly. Day 5 I woke up and realized I was sleeping on my stomach! Even more then that, I was so comfy I decided to sleep for another hour! I had a hard time too with the Protein powder. I sucked it up though and got it down. It is easier to drink now then it was. Take your time and get used to your new tummy- Good luck to you!

Furios- I really just started to cry reading your story! I'm so happy for you. I too was lead to this surgery due to PCOS. I want children more than anything in the world! Right around the time I decided to have this surgery my periods stopped. 4 days post op I was getting in the shower and realized my period had come. I cried the entire shower! This is going to be the best decision of our lives ladies!

So I've started vlogging. I shouldn't say starting as that makes it sound like I just started. I've been doing it for about three weeks now. I really enjoy doing it and have found it to be somewhat therapeutic even. I wanted to share it with you guys and encourage you all to start one if it is your thing.
I watched 100s of youtube videos while preparing for surgery and I know we all get encouragement from each other and this is just one more forum to do so.
Thanks!
http://www.youtube.com/madamdanyell

So I've started vlogging. I shouldn't say starting as that makes it sound like I just started. I've been doing it for about three weeks now. I really enjoy doing it and have found it to be somewhat therapeutic even. I wanted to share it with you guys and encourage you all to start one if it is your thing.
I watched 100s of youtube videos while preparing for surgery and I know we all get encouragement from each other and this is just one more forum to do so.
Thanks!
http://www.youtube.com/madamdanyell