danithediva

Probably second week in May here; but I'm way down in MS!

Hey everyone! I just wanted to check in and say I'm doing well. Dr. Almanza did a great job. I'm confirming my realization that I'm an emotional eater. Fear of messing up keeps me from giving into it. Hope everyone is doing well! Oh and I'm down 8# since my surgery. 24# total! Praise God!

Got word yesterday my paperwork was submitted Monday 3/19!!!!

Thank you!

Thank you and you will get there soon.

Yesterday I went with a friend who was sleeved yesterday. She had other friends there whom I did not know. They were concerned for her because they knew nothing of this surgery. I explained to them she will be fine because I also had the surgery from the same doc. They started laughing and said oh now that explains it cause girlfriend we were just discussing amonst ourselves that we don't know who this girl is but her dress is too big for her and she needs some new clothes lol.

Thank you everyone for the responses. I'm sure some of the goodies will go away, but if I could get to goal and reverse some of the damage I have done to myself internally, I will be overjoyed! I just want to get outta these plus sized clothes. I'm sick of paying that extra $10!!

Greetings to all
I am April from Chattanooga TN. I was sleeved on 2/6/09 and I has since lost 132 lbs, gaining approx 13-14lbs after starting a new more laid back job. I have not had ANY complications (knocking on wood) since my surgery. I had a high weight at time of surgery of 283.

And lest I forget...all the glory to God.

HIGHEST WEIGHT WAS 619LBS
SURGERY DATE WAS 503
12MONTHS OUT WAS 437LBS
CURRENT IS 372LBS

If you aren't local you just might nit understand what a big event the Houston LS & R is, but it talkes over the Reiliant Stadium, Toyota Center, and adjacent real estate (hundreds or acres) and parking lots all around - rodeo, shopping, shopping, shopping, food, food, food, live big name venues every night, every type of farm demonstration and animal, etc...
..oh yeah, and the carnival. I will be riding the rides today, for the first time in years....
I will NOT be eating the fried anything! or the popcorn!
I got me a rock-a-billy shirt and steampunk vest, pair of carheart jeans and my trusted steel-toed boots, and my hat with my horns...cause sometimes the missies are the one's with the biggest, er, horns, LOL.

Hello all... I am to be sleeved January 10th, 2012. I am so excited yet extremely nervous. I'm just praying that God's will shall be done. I'm only 28 years old and will be 29 five days before my sleeve... I can't wait to see how I'm going to look at 30. :aureola: I suffered from undetected high blood pressure which caused me to have kidney failure in March of this year (2011) (thank God I didn't need dialysis). I've always been over weight but with the kidney failure and recently being diagnosed with PCOS (polycystic oavry syndrome) my fiance and I thought it was only right for me to consider weight loss surgery when my doctors brought my weight to my attention. This will be my first major surgery and again I can not stress how nervous I am but I will do whatever it takes for me to live. If anyone can tell me about the pain (i.e. feeling etc.) would greatly help and things you did to coop. Thanks Ladies!!!

I love the "why don't you try diet and exercise?" OMG! You found it! The whole idea eluded me until you JUST BROUGHT IT UP! Why oh WHY didn't I think of doing that?! Genius. Pure genius.

Well ... Well ... Well! Hello everyone. The last time I checked I was still black so I guess I will chime in!
I had VSG on November 20, 2010 and have lost about 50 pounds. I love my sleeve! I have an African-American male doctor in Houston, Texas who has been VERY honest with me. I almost choked the first day I walked into his office and he said. black people do not do well with Lapband! I was like how could you say that? He explained that we love soul food and sweets. We find ways to cheat. I honestly believe cheating has no color, but we do tend to like heavy, greasy foods.

He begged me not to have Lapband and I am soooo grateful to him! I feel good. So far, no hair loss. I really try to take my Vitamins and eat Protein to prevent this. I am finally to a point where I am eating better. The first few weeks I could barely eat anything. The weight loss has slowed down a little, but I am not concerned. i don't want to lose so fast that I look bad. I am in this for the long haul.

Take care everyone and keep in touch!

i have never had surgery either. I'm 31, not marries and no kids. I'm scared too.

Look at it this way, you can never have a bad hair day with a "Diva Wig" on standby!

Dont let this hold you back!! I paid and still owe for my EGD. I have insurance, Good insurance. I paid the hospital 500 so far, got a bill that i owe 500 more. So 1,000 with insurance. I look at my insurance claim they claim the proceduere at 10,500 dollars but my insurance only paid 1,400 for it. I also see there are some other separate doctor bills that i have not gotten a bill for. The hospital worked with me on payment letting me pay half, and as for the other bills I havent got them yet but I am not going to worry about that at all until after my surgery!!

I have been waiting patiently for more than six month to hear that "Oh were already Approved"
After completing my six month of Nutritional visits, and having done all my blood work and scans, i go to my last visit to tell me that i need to do a sleep study.. omg my schedule n stomach turned out so bad because i thought that by now i would get my approval and surgery date.. uugh.. so in a moment of stress n depression, after doing my sleep study, i call three days later, speak to the receptionist regarding my case, and she tells me i have to wait up to two weeks for them to get the results. I ask her do u know who i am, since a lot of people call, she assures me she knows who i am, i hand up n ask God if its upon your approval for me to get this surgery, i will wait for that call... no even 2 mins out, and the clinic calls me, i quickly answer, and all i hear, you had already been approved even after i told u to do the sleep study!!!.. wow. really, regardless of all the time and money i wasted here n there, i finally can breath because i was APPROVED!!! n my next visit is on Wednesday!! woo hoo so happy guys, its really finally happening for me! I Thank God for the biggest support, my mom, and best friend, and this forum! My decision on not letting anyone know about my surgery had taken a toll on me without knowing, i have become so distant and depressed, and jailed inside.. but now i can begin to breath again!!! AMEN!!!! Glory Hallelujah !

I actually got hit on tonight! Not something that ever really happens to me, but anyways, he seemed really nice, was attractive and clean cut and funny. So, I gave him my number for us to text and see what happened from there.
So we began texting and he was so complimentary, but then.........
Why is it men have to turn texting into SEXTING??? Yes, sex is part of life, but come on! How about spending time getting to know something about someone before bringing it up.....on the first night? Sorry that I'm on a rant here, but it just sucks.....I was so excited. Now I have to wonder if it's him or if I put out some sort of vibe that says that would be okay.

Hey everyone! I am new here, but thought I would let you know about the Tria. I have been using it off and on for a few months and have seen a big difference in my leg hair!I am sure if I used it more frequently and continually it would work better. I started a little on my face but only use it around my mustache and chin area. I am too afraid to use it on my cheeks or close to my eyes!
Too bad the facial hair doesn't fall out!

That's why I shave! I went to a dermatologist to weigh all my options. There's a prescription you can take that will make the hair stop, I tried it, but it made my Migraines more frequent. According to my dermatologist all the other options like electrolysis, laser, etc are all temporary and something you will always have to do to some extent. She told me it was fine to shave, tweeze or use hair removal creams. I like shaving just because it's fast and I don't have to worry about that one hair I missed.
Something else my dermatologist told me..... all women will get hair on their face eventually (whew!) and that more women shave their face than will ever admit.

Wow...so many things -

Putting on socks and shoes (and tie the shoes) with out feeling I've just had a major battle
Crossing my legs
Gardening and being able to get up and down/bend over
Not looking at stairs and worrying about having to stop 1/2 way up to let the burning in my legs fade
Not being so out of breath all the time
Sitting in a chair at 90 degrees without falling backwards because my stomach is in the way
Sitting in a movie or on an airplane and not having the side arms of the chair dig in
No seat belt extender on airplanes
Shaving my legs with ease
Giving myself a pedicure

Those are just a few off the top of my head

Great post & thanks Dr. Oz I feel that when it comes to getting surgery and needing this tool, then its a first step to changing your life for the better. I know I don't like feeling unhappy and worried about my weight and what health problems this is causing. I remember I was asking a nurse a few questions about Vitamins and she asked what I was here for and I told her I am getting the vertical sleeve and she was giving me her opinion and said not to take the easy way out and to work for it! I was like I don't recall asking for your opinion...any who I respectfully thanked her and walked away. I learned quick to keep this private. I go to support groups, discuss with this forum and communicate with my bariatric team, I am aware of what I am doing and I am ready. I want to be healthy and want this tool, I want to live.

I had my surgery on Jan. 10 and my surgeon did not require a pre op diet. I just had to do Clear liquids the day before drink the Mag Citrate. Up until the one day liquid diet, I had the biggest food funeral you can imagine. Went to all my favorite restaurants, had my favorite dishes during the holidays, Desserts, you name it. I had my consult with my surgeon 6 days before surgery and he asked me to cut back on really fatty foods for the final few days. He told me that it doesn't take long to shrink the liver. My surgery went smoothly with no complications. In fact, he called it "nice and boring".
Now, by all means follow what your doc tells you! I am in no way encouraging anyone to break diets. Just sharing my experience with not being required to do one.
By the way, I'm 11 days post op and down 18 lbs!! WOOO HOOO!!

WLS Do’s and Don’ts

DO remove the word ONLY from your vocabulary. Ex: I’ve ONLY lost 10 Lbs in 2 weeks… Now let’s look at this again without the word ONLY: I’ve lost 10 Lbs in 2 weeks!! See what I mean? Perception is reality folks!!

DON’T assume you’ll never eat all of your favorite foods again. This is just an excuse your brain has designed to allow you to indulge. You WILL eat all your favorites again someday, just much less but find it to me more enjoyable. Which leads directly into the next:

DON’T do the “last meal” syndrome. You will only sabotage your weight loss you might have pre-surgery or set you back further from your ultimate goal post-op. This surgery is very serious and is for the serious minded. Use this time wisely to get the feeling of how life might be like post op.

DO learn all of the rules pre-op that you will endure post-op. Such as, no drinking with meals, using smaller utensils and plates, engaging in some type of workout routine, limiting your sugar and sodium intake, joining as many WLS support groups as you can.

DO Celebrate every single pound lost! Imagine one pound of butter. Yeah… that’s gone from your body forever. It is noteworthy and worth every bit of a pat on the back as any others that may go along with it.

DON’T compare your successes and losses to others. Chances are very high that you will only come out on the short end and only find yourself disappointed. Everyone’s journeys are their own…

DO keep track of your losses in many different ways than just the scale! Examples:

DO keep one set of your largest clothes you’ve ever worn. Make it a point to try them on, especially when you’re having a down moment. You will find this will really pick up your spirits! This is a real rollercoaster of a ride, and anything that will keep you positive is what you should do!

DON'T keep any other fat clothes around. Get rid of them ASAP. You're never going to fit them again, right? So... off to donations they go.

DO take photos of yourself just before your surgery. Keep them close. Again, having a bad day? Look at them and compare them. As a matter of fact, take photos of yourself often. You will also find that the more you lose, the more you will want to take pictures. Nothing wrong with that!!! That goes with celebrating your losses.

DO take measurements of yourself often. Keeping track of all your inches lost will really keep you on the right track when your scale is being stubborn!!

DO reward yourself every time you hit a mini goal. Make some more worthy than others. I like to go shopping when I hit a goal, it is my favorite thing to do now.

DON’T let the scale define you. Great majority of us will endure many fluctuations and stalls in this journey. It is what it is… patience is the key here. Meditate and envision yourself months down the road at your goal. Smile, then move on!!

DO find out about measuring body fat! It’s more than just weight loss, FAT LOSS is the real goal here. Keep in mind that the BMI scale is greatly inaccurate and most Health Studies do prove this. According to the American Council on Exercise (ACE) our body fat % ranges should be average: 25-31% for Women and 18-24% for men. Any higher is considered obese. However it does go more in depth, according to ages and more. Everyone has different genetic make ups, frame sizes and fitness levels... even a different ethnicity can post differences.

DO have many goals in sight. Having only one, especially a simple weight goal you will find can be difficult. Have many MINI goals along your journey, and more than just ones that involve the scale. Such as, clothing size goals, body fat% goals, fitness or workout goals, dietary goals, etc…

DO challenge yourself always!! Whether it’s a global challenge with others, or personal challenges... It will keep you motivated and always willing to go further than you ever thought you could!

DO have a mentor! Find someone that you can trust and confide in, and that you know has “been there”. Preferably someone you know in person. You will find many folks in your life who have been there, for obesity is worldwide now and there are so many who have been able to defeat this demon. It’s not easy! It quite literally is the toughest feat I’ve ever had to endure. I can say this too, my job will never be done. This is for life!
DON'T believe the myth that your tool has an expiration date. Yes, it's true you will lose the most weight in the first year and it's also true that the further out you are and the closer you are to goal, the harder it is to lose. However, as long as you keep up with your healthy eating and fitness routines you will continue to lose weight and / or keep it off in the many years post op. It all boils down to calories in vs. calories out.
DON'T believe the myth that having WLS will keep the weight off forever. That is our individual responsibility.

And finally…

DON’T ever beat yourself up! We all make mistakes, and dare I say not one person on this Earth is perfect. I try hard to be, no doubt! I always admit that I’m a perfectionist – but I’m far from perfect. I just try to be… The only thing you can do is pick yourself up, give yourself a pep talk, perhaps contact your mentor for reassurance and move on!!! Again, this is for life. Every day you wake up is a second chance.

DO look for solutions to your problems. Otherwise they will just become excuses.


DON’T EVER GIVE UP! I don’t think any explanation is necessary here.

DON'T expect the scale to post a loss every single day. As a matter of fact, don't expect it to move that much even weekly! Just keep doing all the right things and the scale will move in the right direction when it needs to.

DO expect to see fluctuations on the scale, both down AND up. DON'T lose your head over it either. This isn't a miracle cure and the weight isn't going to magically disappear in a few weeks. You have to keep pushing with healthy eating, some type of workout and getting plenty of Fluid.

DON'T let the scale define your journey when there are so many pieces to that puzzle!!!



Good luck to all of you. This journey is a tough one, but if you are here, then you believed in yourself enough to give yourself the life you’ve always dreamed of. YOU WILL BE successful. Always keep that in mind.

Add-ons by other experienced sleevers:

DO keep a list of NSV (Non scale victories) to reflect on when times are getting hard. Can you walk up 2 extra flights of stairs before getting winded? Cross your legs?" and

"DO NOT be afraid to change things if they aren't working. Stalls happen even gains happen. If you are on a long stall look at your eating and decided if changes need to be made. Utilize your tool!" -- Southern Sleever

DO: Keep a food diary of what you eat and drink. This is a great learning tool as to which foods have what amounts of fat, Protein and carbs that add up to your daily intake goals. There are many ways to diary your food - from old fashioned pen and notebook to many options via smartphone apps. Keeping one is the important thing - however is right for you. I use mine now to look back for meal ideas when I hit a blank as to what to prepare for a day or a week.

DO: Realize this is not a diet to be followed for a while then set aside. This is a permanent lifestyle change. Yes, the amount of food you eat will increase as time passes, but your relationship with food will be forever altered. How you Celebrate your joys, successes and holidays will be different. How you mourn your sorrows will be different. Some people need outside help to get through the sometimes overwhelming mental changes this process brings. If you need help with this part of the deal- reach out and get it. -- SKCUNNINGHAM

DO roll with the punches!! -- fern