Flagstaffian

I LOVE YOU LADIES & YOUR HONESTY! This community is a blessing...a hilarious blessing :Angel_anim: Hmmm....mine is horrendous already...so maybe I will experience the opposite effect after surgery....

Hells YES!! I hope DR. Baggs get ME on the pickle train! I would be all over that! Medically prescribed pickles- I freakin love it! SF

Oh my gosh, thank you for that uplifting and inspiring message! I get so freaked out sometimes about all of this, and it is great to hear such positivity. Congrats on your success! That is HUGE for you!!

You're post is just so darn inspiring. I hope to maintain such a happy, positive outlook like you. Mazel Tov! I wish you well!

So glad to hear it went well for you...Mazel Tov!

Hi Luisa, I am totally looking forward to all of the things you've mentioned. I'm looking forward to having MORE ENERGY Less carpal tunnel pain/numbness Wearing a bathing suit in public without shame (something I've never experienced) I can't wait for my hot hunky boyfriend to be able to throw me around a lil bit! :blush2: and give me piggy back rides.... (((HUGS))) Sarah Flag

Thank you so much for responding. I tried to search for other topics in the Forum that covered this, but my search yielded no results! One thing I worry about is like, Do I have an "eating disorder"? I'm 130 lbs overweight! I am an overeater, you know? It's like, I KNOW that "overeating" is not in the DSM-IV, but it might be in the future. So...anyway, thank you so much for responding. It's always nice to know you're not alone Sarah Flag

Shells, you are a goddess and I just said a prayer for you...You're beautiful and I can't wait to hear how your recovery is coming along!

Hey there boys & girls... I have my psychological evaluation with Kaiser Richmond Bariatric Surgery Center tomorrow, and I'm kinda freakin out! I don't have any idea of what they are going to ask... and I was supposed to lose 10 lbs in 4 weeks (since my last appt), but I've only lost 4#!! I did call them to let them know, and they said to come anyway but....I'm afraid they're going to be mean about it. Maybe this is just the same old self-loathing fatty guilt I've been dealing with my entire life... Am I crazy? I have not been following the meal plan. It is very rigorous and...I'm not going to make excuses here. I just haven't been following it, but I HAVE increased my exercise and decreased my caloric intake, and therefore have lost 7 lbs so far in my journey. So, I'm feeling guilty and I am worried that since I have not lost 10 lbs in 4 weeks, they are going to assume I am not 'ready" for this...and deny me. Or that maybe I'm "incapable" of making changes or too psychologically "weak" to do this. I'm not weak though! I'm STRONG...but I just have no idea what they are going to ask or what I'm supposed to say? What do they want to hear? I know this surgery isn't going to magically fix me or all the problems in our lives but- it should make a huge difference in how we feel, how we act, and maybe even how we are treated by society at large...and that might make all the difference in the world! PLEASE... your thoughts?

You are so beautiful!! Your pictures & your story are definitely an inspiration for me. Keep up the great work! Sarah Flagstaffian

You are a rock star and you WILL make it through. PS- There is a youtube video with Dr. Aceves (Mexico's sleeve guru?) talking about diarrhea and "going to the bathroom after VSG". Sorry to be so blunt, but we're all in this together! SF

I am 5'1", weigh 262#, and am currently in a size 20 pants/jeans, XXL tops...ugh. Not to be negative, but I can't wait to dump Todd. (Todd is what I named my fat when my therapist decided I needed a name for it...as in, Todd, get off my back! And Todd, quit following me around! I can't quit you, Todd! Except now, for the first time, I have hope that I really can quit Todd!) (((HUGS))) Sarah Flagstaffian

It's 09:54 here in Northern California, so that means you are sleeved, my friend! Best wishes and God bless! Make sure to update us when you can! (((HUGS))) Sarah Flag

I am currently pre-op with the Dept. of Bariatrics at Kaiser Richmond. The bariatrics team there FORBIDS the use of protein shakes, before or after surgery. I specifically asked my doctor about the reason for this, and the best thing he could tell me was that 1.) people use them as a "crutch" and 2.) he has seen people gain weight from drinking protein shakes. Neither of these things sound like medical facts, and I SOOO WANT to get some shakes (I like Premier Nutrition's chocolate), but I am trying to commit to following my dr's instructions to the letter. It seems like 99% of doctors recommend the shakes...grrr....but I guess some just don't I really don't understand how one woul d get in all their post-op protein without them! I guess I'll find out eventually

Hells YES, I'm telling EVERYBODY! I am proud of myself for making a decision to live a life of happiness and health! I can't wait to meet sleevie! (((HUGS))) Sarah Flag

Sunshine, I am still pre-op, but I have read other posts like yours. It seems like a lot of times, that feeling of hunger your have is either : head hunger OR INDIGESTION/HEARTBURN?! I have read of many, MANY people getting a prescription for Prilosec (omeprazole) and their "hunger" feelings vanishing. it may be something worth trying. Good luck! Sarah Flag

Paola, you are so right. Why do extra damage if VSG gives you very similar results? And how interesting that your dad is a doctor! I hope he was supportive of your decision in the end (to be sleeved). You are a beautiful girl and I wish you all the luck in the world next week for recovery!! Sarah Flag

GIRL!! I have the exact same feelings as you about bypass!! It's like you read my mind. Plus, my mom died 1 yr after a bypass due to complications (but that was 10 years ago, and I know there have been improvements since then, but still...). I'm not sleeved yet, but I am about halfway thorough the pre-op hoops & I feel more sure every day that it is the right thing. hey- we even have the same ticker!! I am looking at a possible surgery date of 03/30/12- not officially scheduled yet...when's yours? (((HUGS))) Sarah Flag

Now that is one amazing NSV!! Congratulations to you! (((HUGS))) Sarah Flagstaffian

Hey peeps!! That is EXACTLY what I am talking about. Things like - Rosacea clearing up?! Who would have thought?! But, wearing your fat suits literally drags down ALL of your systems in the process of living each day. No more swelling ankles? Finally! One of my biggest NSV's will be to one day wear SHORTS or a skirt that shows my legs! I've never, ever done that. About the carpal tunnel- obesity is (obviously) not the cause, but it exacerbates the condition by applying extra pressure to the carpal/neural pathway (the tunnel). I am hoping by having this one surgery, I can prevent about 10 other surgeries in the future! But dang it, Kaiser told me to lose 9 lbs in the next 3 weeks...or to reschedule my appt w/ the psychologist Time to cut the carbs and increase the walking!! Thank you lovely ladies for your wonderful stories. This community is the BEST!! (((HUGS))) Sarah Flagstaffian

Hey Sleevers! Happy New Year! I am currently in the process of losing my last 10 lbs before Kaiser will schedule me for surgery (yay)! I'm 29, have been overweight my whole life, and I don't want to spend the NEXT 3 decades of my lief like this. I am wondering, outside of the standard co-morbidities that improve (cholesterol, T2 diabetes, etc), what kind of health effects you have seen in your body as you've lost the weight after a VSG... Obesity affects nearly every body system. Even my worsening carpal tunnel syndrome is possibly due to this! I am beginning to have foot pain, skin problems, back aches, etc... I would love to hear about your positive "health surprises"! Like, things you might not ven have though of! (I tried to find a forum on this and counld not.) Thank you, & ((HUGS))! Flagstaffian

Thank you, Pdx. I definitely need to ask specific questions about that during my next appt.

I have a surgery center (Kaiser Richmond) that is 100%, unabashedly, militantly, ANTI-PROTEIN-SHAKE. My surgeon said I won't suffer or not heal from not having enough protein the first few weeks. It seems like the biggest reason he could give me was that people use it as a crutch...but seriously...is there any other way to get protein in for the first few weeks??

THAT is a genius idea, my friend. I have been worried about how I will fund the "non-food rewards" that we're supposed to give ourselves for reaching mini-goals (pedicures are expensive!!). I am going make me a money jar!

I had a consult with my surgeon yesterday, and he wanted to "check out my belly button"...I wonder if he uses the spider, and that's why he was "pokin' around" down there...?