cooper3600

I am not going to write a book about my life or anything, but I would love to share a short story on how I ended up with the sleeve. I have been overweight my whole life and battled countless diets along the way that always in the end for the worse. I started working at a bank a year ago and they have excellent benifits and pay for 90% of lap band and sleeve surgury. My husband and I have been trying for years to have a child and I thought what a great way for me to get healthy and possibly help me have a baby. So as of October 10th this year I had the surgury and my weight was 286 at my highest. Currently I am at 250. I was worried I was losing weight too slowly but my Dr. said I am right on schedule and doing well, although I could use some more excerise. I have struggles of not wanting to eat at times but most of the time I get my fill in just a few bites of food. I stay completly away from all bread and pasta now since I learned the hard way and became ill. It is a huge learning curve but I feel very blessed to have had this surgury and pray that soon I can be an expecting mommy. So thats my story!

Before I had surgery, I was wearing a tight size 20. I set a goal for myself that I wanted to wear a comfortably loose size 8. I also set my goal weight at 140. Well, I have been hovering around 148-147 for the last while but those 8's fit pretty nicely. Just for kicks, I tried on an old (VERY OLD!!) pair of size 6 pants today and guess what!!!!!! Yep! They fit! I wore them all day and was totally thrilled with my success. I had gotten on the scale this morning and was a bit frustrated that I still was hovering at the 148 level. Darn scale can really depress me. But when I tried on my 6's, just on a whim, and saw they fit...I was happy as can be! I love this sleeve!!!!!
Just had to share.
Living the dream,
Laura

im sorry but 36long had me dying laughing!

Hi all, I was sleeved at 730am this morning by Dr. Jossart. I have a huge private room with a great view of San Francisco. I have had wonderful nurses so far.
I am feeling better than I thought I would. Just sips of Water today which hard cause I seriously cannot art awake. Little discomfort with my stomach when drinking but other than that no pain with incisions. Not even using my morphine pain pump.
So I need you all to slide over on the losers bench to make room.

Hello Cooper3600,
I am sure many people will chime in on this once they are back from their vacations...lol (Holidays - Y'know)
For me, I went to Mexicali, MX by myself. I saw Dr. Rodriguez. He and his staff are fantastic at their job.
I too was slightly worried only because when you speak to local people around you -- you find that you get all negative input about Mexico. But, honestly I think those are people who have never been. Like any city there is good\bad!
I stepped out on faith. I told myself how much I "needed" this surgery. No matter what diet I tried, I only lost inches or a couple of lbs here\there. Or, the weight just wouldn't come off. I wanted a better life, and better health! This surgery was one of the best decisions I ever made for my life!
I was extremely surprised at how "nice" there people were in that portion of Mexico. And how accommidating there were to my needs. Heck, to be honest I was tired of seeing the staff..lol There was someone in my room every 30mins to the hour for 3 days!
My ride\stay was literally 10mins from the airport.
All I can tell you is pray on the situation. Once it is over, you will probably tell yourself that you were extra excited for no reason -- but thankful that the surgery\travel is over.
Good Luck to you!
Sleeve2B

Well it has officially been one week since my sleve surgery!
I have been so lucky with the ease of this whole process. Dr. Aceves and his team were wonderful. I had no gas pain and very little pain at my incisions. The worst part so far was trying to choke down the nasty blue stuff for the leak test!
I am still on Clear liquids for a few more days. I am doing my best to get all the liquids and Protein in, it seems to get easier every day. I have been very lucky!
The best news is that as of this morning I have lost 21 pounds since surgery! I could not believe my eyes!
I am so so so glad to finally be on that damn loser's bench!

kathy again, dr's office just called with new updated WLS date
instead of 12/6/11 - it is now 12/15/11.
They really did it quickly, and were really great.
looking on the good side, there always has to be a good side, i have an extra week for liquid self-imposed diet, dr. didn't require,
bye for now
kathy
til later - kathy

hi all - kathy again - i reread what i wrote before, realized i babbled a lot, repeating stuff ( sorry, just wanted to tell you guys thats tears are drying and this 58 yr old cancer survivor has been through much worse than a little postponement. i just got pretty upset, but i'm better now - thanx for listening - kathy

I thought this would be a good prayer to pray, for you to bring comfort and peace doing this time, God bless you!!!
Father in the mighty name of Jesus, I ask you Lord to touch the mind and hands of each surgeon, nurse, anesthesiologist and caretaker who will come in contact with me during my hospital stay. Lord, I pray that my liver is small enough so that the surgeon could work around it. Lord I pray that there would be no complication during or after surgery. Father, Allow no hurt, harm or danger to come to me. I pray for minimal pain, minimal gas and no mishaps. I pray that I will return home as scheduled, and that my recovery will be an easy one. Lord, I know that I am in your hand and it’s You whom I put ALL my trust in and that You O’ Lord have control over everything and I am glad that You are my keeper and my safety place is in You Lord where I hide myself and find rest.
Thank You, Father for being the Creator of all things and creating me, NO ONE knows this body better than You.
Lord, I also ask in the name of Jesus that you would watch over my children, while I am in the hospital, place Your Holy Angels around them, for You, O’ Lord am their safety nest too. Thank You Father.
Amen.

I always wanted to be a "hot" skinny chick, I guess I will settle with being a cold skinny chick.....lol

Let's see - "Downside" of the sleeve:
- You will be tempted to spend $$$ buying a wardrobe of new, sexy clothes once you get to goal (in additon to all of the in between sizes)
- You will spend a bunch of time going through your old clothes to find what fits, and getting rid of "fat" clothes and you shrink out of them
- You will get LOTS OF ATTENTION as you are shrinking (and when you are at goal - I'm not there yet).
- You will be COLD - but sweaters look really nice on thin people!
I think these are the "worst" of it. I LOVE MY SLEEVE.

Hi. I go to Tijuana for my VSG with Dr. Lopez on Dec. 13th. My excitement level is through the roof... MissE, I as well am having those dreams. I can't wait for those dreams to become reality. I pray for you all the sucess in the world.. Congrats...

The 13th is right around the corner! I hope all goes well, and i look forward to sharing after pics and stories!

good luck cooper! I am hoping to be done around the same time, ad it will be here before you know it, i will be praying for ya on surgery day!

Hello guys and gals, my name is Alexander, my age is 26 male from the Bronx, NYC. I was born here but am of Dominican Republic/Cuban heritage. My WLS journey began back in 2002 at St Lukes hospital which I spent almost two years doing all the pre op tests to actually be denied of surgery b/c I was to heavy. From there I contacted beth israel hospital and after a few months of going on seminars and such I got denied b/c i was to heavy. After both of those denials I decided to put the WLS on hold for the time being as that is totally discouraging. Maybe after about two years later maybe 2006-2007 I went to Montefiore medical center with Dr Gibb to seek RNY and to be denied yet again was baffling to me. I then said to myself after that im no longer seeking WLS b/c Im going to accept me being a "big guy". To no surprise almost two years after that I noticed my weight had reached a high of almost 600lbsand noticed my health in serious decline. after watching tv shows like biggest loser and people getting WLS on TLC I got motivated to research a facility that would operate on me (a person almost 600lbs at 6-2) on google Columbia presbyterian hospital showed up and contacted the surgeons assistant (Dr Ude at that time), she was on vacation and would return back about a month after that call, during that time I saw my PCP for a full exam and referral to see the surgeon, When october came I had seen the surgeon for the first time and she did the check up and sat me down in her office and I heard the greatest news ever!!!!!
"She said yes we can do the surgery on you!!!" those words were the best thing I heard in years hahaha, so after that she said I have to do a 6 month supervised weigh ins by a nutritionist and several other pre op exams required by my insurance. SOOOOOOO im into my 4 month weigh in then to find outthat the surgeon had switched hospitals. That was the worst news to hear, i literally balled up and teared my eye away, right there the phone rang and Ude had told the assistant, that she left a file there with a hospital and surgeon thatll do the procedure on me.
With that I got switched to lawrence hospital which is joined with CPH and the surgeon is called Dr Ahmed. Bad thing was Dr Ahmed didnt accept my insurance so I had to switch to H.I.P which is one he accepts. Then after switching insurances I got to meet the nutritionist there for the first time to give me the bad news that the nutritionist at CPH wasnt doing it correctly so I had to restart the 6 month weigh in with her and thus far doing the rest of my pre op requirements. so into my 5th month weigh in, I learned the surgeon Dr Ahmed was leaving lawrence to go to harlem hospital!!!!! also the NP was switched, which all felt chaotic and I didnt know what else to do. I told the new NP my story (one im telling you guys now) and she was FURIOUS! She said to me dont worry your new surgeon is Dr Aaron Roth and he'll be the one doing the procedure on you, and he's really anxious to meet you.
SO after meeting with him a couple times and finishing the pre op requirements i was scheduled for surgery june 6th.
But wait........ during the month of may I get a call from lawrence telling me the insurance people are about to deny me b/c theres not enough proof that the surgery isnt cosmetic. insurance asked me to go to my old PCP and get weigh ins from up to 10 years ago. instead of doing that, I called my primary and told him the story of what insurance wanted me to do and he was outraged....put it like this, half hour later insurance called me telling me they approved!!!!!!! then the desk lady for lawrence called me and said "you should thank your PCP, I heard he gave them an ear full" lmaoooo that was so funny but thanks to me being on top and persistent I got sleeved (VSG) June 7th 2011 and since have lost 161lbs!!!!
I know have a youtube Vlog that I update frequently, I would love if you all would watch them and subscribe and comment also...www.youtube.com/brol1k

Hi im a uk sleever . After many years struggling with diets some good some bad , slimming pills i finally decided my best option was surgery. Initially i considered the lap band but after much research found many complications with the band and disapointing results . I discovered the sleeve via many usa led forums.after much research i decided the sleeve was the answer to my life long struggle at 44yrs old with a bmi of44 enough was enough. I researched a surgeon mr. Simon dexter leeds uk and booked a consultation in october 2011, he explained all my options for bariatric surgery and we both agreed the sleeve was best option. So 11th november 2011 i had my surgery. Was admited to hospital 7am taken to theatre 830am and woke up in my room by 11am. I had one iv fluid insitu and no pain whatsoever. At 2pm i was allowed to get out off bed and start my first lap of the department absalutly no pain and no nausea. I walked on the hour every hour and it helped shift my gas. Spent a comfortable night slept well no pain and no analgesia required.next morning i was allowed sips of water then at lunch time tomatoe soup (heaven). my drip was discontinued and was allowed clear fluids and soups was discharged from hospital sunday so spent 2 nites there. I am now day 8 and have been able to drink 2 litre fluid plus soup and protien shake. I can honestly say it has been nothing like the horror i thou ght it would be. I can 100% say it is the best thing i have ever done i have lost since pre op diet 1 week before surgery 34 pound i cannot belive the diffrence it has made me feel already. So i just wanted to say to all pre sleevers you will be fine