Smoggy

A question that I've been thinking about for all you post-op sleevers. Can you remember when you were able to sleep on your tummy again after surgery? I know everyone's healing process is unique, but I'm a stomach-sleeper and I'm hoping I'll be able to sleep on my back allright, but it would be nice to know approximately how long it will be before being able to lie on my tummy once again. Thanks!

I am July 2nd and it seems sooo long to go. At the moment I'm under heaps of pressure at work and my weight is causing me all sorts of aches and pains that are just not helping with stress. I am really looking forward to the surgery but I'm also pretty nervous that I might be that "one" that is the exception with complications etc. I'm in a similar boat to you Justsleeveme23 - the only surgery I've ever had was to remove my appendix when I was about 11- so I'm quite apprehensive too! No idea what it will feel like! .I'm going to be on my own at home and also on my own for quite a while after the surgery while I recover (no family here and most of my friends will go away over the summer) so I'm hoping my few supportive friends will keep in touch. Good luck Kellythestarr- hang in there!

Great news- will be crossing fingers and chanting for you! Best of luck!

I'm self -pay :-( (Which is a fortune but I am trying to feel better about it by telling myself I will take it very much more seriously if I have saved every cent!) Thanks for the advice everyone, I think working on not drinking during meals and chewing heaps are simple but great things to start getting used to. Never would have thought of them myself..

I am July 2nd in Abu Dhabi. I SO hear you re: carbs - this is my downfall too...

Hi nabird77, I'm also scheduled for July - we'll be sleeve sisters! Great question, that is something I've been wondering- my doc recommended I go high-Protein but doesn't request a liquid pre-op diet. I will be weaning myself off caffeine and doing some exercise but I'm not sure yet how I'll go about upping protein or generally preparing. I like your idea about purging the pantry too!

Congratulations JanetF, so glad your surgery went well, and I hope your recovery is all smooth sailing. Nairobi is a really interesting place,and the Kenyans are lovely. I've been there often. I'm sure you'll miss Beirut though!

Hi there- I have a tentative date for July 2nd, to be confirmed. Dr Abdulsalam Al Taie in Abu Dhabi.

Nope- I'm in Abu Dhabi in the Middle East :-O Exp - weight management?

I have a date! 2nd July. Dr Abdulsalam Al Taie.

My surgery is not until July 2nd, and I just had my consult today. My surgeon also said no "set" liquid preop diet would be necessary. He advocated eating high protein in the run-up to the surgery, light meals the week before and liquid the last couple of days. I will try to lose as much as I can between now and then, and get a bit fitter as I think it will just make it an easier surgery both for me and him.

Hope you feel better soon... and your moving news is VERY exciting!

So I decided to start a bit of a blog here as it will hopefully track my progress along the vertical sleeve journey. I'm 42, 5 ft 3" and I live in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. Dubai is my next-door-neighbour and that is where I had my first consultationwith my surgeon - a Dr Abdulsalam Al Taie. However, he will be doing the surgery in the Al Noor hospital in Abu Dhabi which is nice, as I'll be closer to home. I really liked him, he was very open to answering my zillion questions and seemed quite relaxed and confident, and very much on-the-ball. His info session was fairly comprehensive and I will have another meeting with him and a bloodwork and tests session before surgery as there is still a bit of time to go. From here on out I am bursting the bubble- it feels real. Today according to the surgeon's uber-space-agey body composition analyser machine thingy I weigh 115 kg and have all SORTS of ghastly and worrying statistics. I think this is the highest weight I've ever been. Argh! Well thank flipping heaven this is soon to change.... starting with my own version of a pre-op diet right now. My surgery date has been tentatively set for 2nd of July.Yay! I am so excited! Thank-you Tamou you really were a big help holding my hand today and desertmom thanks for the laughs and encouragement. Onwards and downwards!

Just got my surgery date today (to be confirmed) in Abu Dhabi. I will be sleeved if all goes well on July 2nd YAY! Tamou, thanks for all your help you have been such a support - and desertmom too! xoxox Just drinking Jeera Laban Sweetsusie- YUM

I'm with you Yolisse- I am one of a large staff group where I work and gossip is UTTERLY rife on a good day. I have decided that this is my private business and I don't need the judgement, second - guessing, the zillion explanation nonsense to ignorant people or the skewed judgement that with certain people will surely follow. I have told a very small number of people. 6 close friends who are scattered around the world and sworn to zip it, my Godmother and my brother. That is IT and that is how it will stay. My Dad and stepmom don't even know ....

Go girl! You can do it!

Thanks NJsharon! Sadly they don't do financing...*sigh* The bougie question and stitches/staples are good ones... adding to my list!

YAY! Cool- how awesome is that. WELL DONE - We've all been cheering for you!

So I have a consultation on Saturday with the surgeon that I am hoping will be able to do my sleeve. Where I live there are no pre-op workshops or info-sessions and not a lot of support afterwards really. I have kept in touch with a great support group of sleever friends whose brains I will be picking soon but I also wondered if any of you have advice, tips etc for burning questions I should really ask my surgeon. I will be self-pay ( insurance pays for zilch for me) and I am hoping he can do it at the very beginning of July when I have time off work. What info do you think I'll need to be aware of apart from the basics like what emergency medical backup he has, pricing, what he will do in the case of complications, and what his pre and post op diet, exercise and recovery recommendations are. Any thoughts peeps? I am a little nervous so my brain has left the building.

WOW what good news desertmom! I look forward to hearing all about it hopefully at the weekend. Glad the fiber change is working out for you. Keep on keeping on!

Hi there melissamae99 and welcome! I am also planning surgery, and have been researching for ages. I know keeping it off is the key, and the sleeve is simply a tool. Many sleevers have failed through thinking the sleeve will do everything for them -and so for me, I am seeing a psychologist to get to the bottom of my "head hunger" so I am armed with all the tools at my disposal to take it off and keep it off. I am so sorry your OH is not supportive. Surely you deserve the benefit of the doubt, this is a powerful and serious route to take and it seems he is mentally setting you up for failure no matter what you do. Perhaps he is not as invested in your WL as you think. Some friends and family are enablers and it suits them that we remain obese for whatever reasons. I may be completely off base here but if you are serious enough to consider surgery and he is not against it for fear of complications, encouragement is the least you can ask. I am so doggone stubborn that in your situation I we'd be on they warpath now to PROVE him wrong! How's that for an extra bit of motivation! Good luck and I do hope he sees the light. Xx

Wow, what an amazing success- well done you! Fantastic inspiration for us pre-sleevers! I wish you well in your continued journey.

I thought this article was very interesting and wanted to share it here . Protein while we recover from surgery and beyond. "As soon as you drop below your ideal weight, you get into a group of people who are malnourished," and not well in general, de la Cruz-Munoz said. People in this population may not have adequate levels of protein in their bodies to properly heal in areas that have been operated on, he said"

That's me! I don't have an exact date yet but am planning on early July.

Cool- and a BIG well done on your WL!! How are your energy levels? I'm okay- not planning on having surgery until July, but am seeing a counsellor about my food issues and triggers and bit by bit getting organised for July.