waterlover

yay! there is hope lol. it's so embarrassing, and funny at the same time (when you read it all written out). gah!

haha, that's an AWESOME way to put it.

hehe 'bonier' i understand that. i had a tummy tuck after i had my daughter so they pulled up the whole pubic area on me so i have this freaky fat patch up to the scar of my tuck, then a freakishly flat stomach (with puffy hips sticking out i'm so weird shaped now). i really hope to lose that without having to have lipo. it's really weird and unnatural. if i wear yoga pants it's like i have a computer mouse shoved down my pants. (i know TMI lol). well you look fabulous and you seem to be in excellent shape. very inspirational! it must be so different to have only 10lbs left to worry about than what we start with, i'm so excited. i want to lose 100lbs. although not sure if that's too much or not, i suppose i'll stop when my body decides it's time? i don't even know. i just know i was most 'normal' looking at 115lbs, i'm short so it's reasonable. i cant wait! i'm now thinking that since i'm having the surgery and going to be eating more thoughtfully and exercising that maybe my body will look better than it did in my early twenties as i never worked out or tried to define my muscles. now i know much much more about taking care of my body. ps. speaking of calves, those are actually my own in the picture in my avatar lol.

you make a good point estella, the routine part. i always think every surgery for a doctor is some bloody emergency OR scene from a movie or show from tv. where they are yelling STAT! a lot and everyone is running around. i guess it's not like that at all is it? haha.

oh wow 14lbs left!!! you must be so proud of yourself! congratulations! do you think that the extra tummy weight could be helped with exercise then? like doing lots of situps? or you just have to lose it. likasulema, you are ahead of me in the journey gotta keep me updated on those thighs lol.

oh wow that's so weird. i saw your videos on youtube before i even joined this board haha. you are like a celebrity to me. very awesome that your surgery went well, i am choosing to get my sleeve done by the same doctor.

Even when I was my thin I always had big thighs. Saddlebags I guess you could call them. I was wondering if when you lose all this weight after being larger, does your body goes back to what it was or does it change? Like will I ever not have fat thighs? I know that's a weird question but it interests me about how your body changes as it gets older, with fat distribution and when you have rapid weight loss does it come off evenly. Another question and this is difficult and embarrassing. Does your 'lady' area lose weight?

Oh that's really awesome to hear, yecats! I wish the best for you and hope to hear your updates, they help so much!

Thanks for answering my question everyone. I think even having people tell me their stories has made me feel a lot better. I think I was just going through a 'complication freak out' period. I also think I have chosen the doctor I want to do the surgery! So I feel so much better now.

yay apebrown~!! cant' wait to see your progress in real time.

your weight loss tickers are so inspiring lol. sleeve 4 me i thought for a minute your shoe was a stomach :biggrin5: wouldn't that be an ironic icon.

Well thanks for your replies, it makes me feel better to know you all didn't wait years or something because I was worried I was rushing it by taking a few months (I'll probably do this is February or close to) I think once I choose a surgeon I will feel a lot better. Right now it's really what is concerning me. So many choices. Mexico is looking high on the list, as I would have to travel anyways and I've never been there so that would be kind of neat, maybe do a bit of a trip before hand and stay in San Diego for a few days. I'm thinking physically my body is pretty good at recovering from a surgery, but I'm kind of concerned about it being botched or freak accidents, so choosing a good surgeon is so important. I've been on other boards and people are fighting and slinging mud back and forth about doctors and I don't know who to trust, it's brutal. I'm seeing a few names that stand out and interest me but I've talked to two coordinators here where I live and both are like "those are paid people trying to drum up business" then I think, well what about you, are you doing the same thing? How can I trust a doctor when I'm told all the bad things get deleted off sites, and there are fake people posting glowing reviews. You know what I mean? I am going to see my family doctor and will ask him if he has any patients that have had successful surgeries. AND what kind of care I can expect here at home if complications arise, as in, do we have any kind doctors who can fix leaks or any other scary things that could happen. That would probably alleviate my fears quite a bit if I knew I could be helped properly here, IF I had a complication. I am probably a good candidate as I am still quite young, BMI in 30's and no co morbidity. I have also tolerated surgeries very well in the past (I've had plastic surgery and a few other kinds not related to WLS).

I was just wondering how long it generally took people to decide to do the surgery from the time they started reading up about it and doing their research. It's only been a few weeks for me, I'm just pouring over message boards and blogs and trying to educate myself and choose a doctor. I'm in a funk right now because I'm thinking about how permanent this is. I'm afraid of complications (leaks, clots, infections & stents and being tube fed etc). I don't know if this is a phase. When I first heard of it I met some people who had gone through the surgery and they were so excited and I was excited and 100% sure I was going to do this. I'm not sure if the bad things I read are proportionate to the successes. Is this normal to feel confusion?

Everyone seems really happy with their decision. I really really want this as I feel, due to my family history and general knowledge of how my body works, I will never be able to lose this on my own and keep it off, I mean I could diet and try to lose it but I know it would be a most miserable existence and I would be suffering tremendously with the desire to constantly eat. I have an insatiable appetite too, does the whole getting rid of the Grehlin production part of the stomach thing REALLY work. Because seriously this is the thing that attracts me most to the surgery. I'm always 'hungry' and always eat till I'm satisfied and that takes like 2 or 3 servings! Would be AWESOME if it would only take a few oz to feel satisfied.

I didn't have a VSG but i did have a tummy tuck and i remember a part in the line where i was sewn opened up like a hole about the size of a pea and was oozing. i went to a walk in medical clinic and they did a quick stitch after cutting away a bit of the skin around the incision. used those gel bandaids, along with polysporin, they worked GREAT. Good luck with your healing!

I'm actually from Canada, and I could get it covered if I wanted to wait 8 years but I don't think I'm heavy enough to qualify - you need to be near death. I am not familiar with any Canadian doctors that have self pay type deals but I'll be looking into it first. From what I've read so far on these boards, a lot of people go to Mexico and are successfully sleeved with little to no complications. (My biggest worry is a leak, infection or incompetence, poor follow up care ((especially once I get home with doctors who may have no idea what's going on with the sleeve because there aren't very many bariatric surgeons where I live)), and safety). I will certainly look into your doctor and see what he/she has to offer. Thanks!

actually, since you are doing your classes online it might be a nice thing to help keep you busy while you are recovering and just think, while you are reaching one goal of losing weight and getting healthier, you are also feeding your head with an education! two birds with one stone! you should be proud of yourself, i'm sure you will do great! and if things are too overwhelming, like others have said, i'm sure the school would understand if you needed to withdraw if you explain to them ahead of time all about your situation. good luck!

wow, i'm sorry this happened to you! sounded like the perfect storm for a really bad experience, a surgeon in another country from where you live so a lot of problems legally, a procedure that is new and probably not tested enough, and a doctor and staff that has a not very nice reaction to your issue. again, so sorry you had to experience this.

are the slimes the same as the 'foamies' then? what a deterrent! ack!

Oh my dear! I too suffer from panic attacks and i can only imagine what you are going through! Won't it be wonderful once it's over and you can come back and alleviate others fears? Not sure if you believe in holistic things, but you could try some herbal relaxing remedies to keep you centered and positive.

I know both of you are sleeping right now and tomorrow will be the first day of the rest of your new wonderful lives! can't wait for you two to check back in and share your experience!

Hi I'm Waterlover. I chose the name because Water is my solace and calm. I also love to drink lots of it!!! I am doing my research right now on getting a Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy. I am 225lbs and find it very hard to lose weight. I am very shy (until you get to know me!), so I might not pipe up too often and just read a lot. I am also interested in meeting other people from around my area who have been through the process or are thinking about it. I would love to have a buddy to go through the journey with! I have been doing a lot of searches on different sites and this one seems really supportive. So that's why I joined. I hope I can become part of your community and not only receive support through others experiences and advice, but also be supportive to others too. Right now I'm doing two things. Deciding on a good surgeon & trying to learn all I can so I know what to expect pre, during, and post surgery, have realistic expectations, and do the best I can to become as successful as many of you have. Waterlover...

Hi. I'm new here, and have been doing a lot of research on the psychological aspects of weight loss surgery. It is completely possible that this lady may have commited suicide, as I've read many articles on the number of suicides in bariatric patients being double than general population. I could site my sources if you would like. Either way, a very very sad thing that someone died while trying to improve their life. If i go during surgery, at least I know my last thoughts were that I was having something to look forward to. And if I can't handle it after I hope I have the support to see me through.