ChristineS NY

I received a call today from my surgeon's office and my pre op testing is scheduled for 04/30 and if all goes well I will be having surgery 05/21/12!!!! It is so exciting but at the same time I'm sitting here in a daze experiencing all other emotions as well. I didn't think I would be a may sleever!! I'm so happy! I'm so scared!!!! I'm really doing this!!!

My name is Mike I am 35 years on. I had Gastric Sleeve Surgery April 2011. At the time of the surgery I weighed 529 pounds I am a year in and I currently weigh 355 pounds! Feeling great! Still have alot of work but its a whole lot easier now! Do get me wrong I still have my bone head moments like eating to much or to fast! It takes alot of work! But if I can do it everybody can! Good Luck to anyone who is in the first stages and keep up the good work!

Had my 3 week post op appointment today. 18lbs gone forever. my doc said I'm right on track and doing great. He cleared me for all exercise except swimming. I have to wait one more week for that. He was pleased with my progress. He did say I needed to cut my Protein down because I'm getting in between 80-100g a day. He said my body can start turning it into carbs. He wants me to stay between 60-80g. I'm pleased.

Congratulations!!! Keep us updated! and hello ChristineS...I'm down the road in greenville!!!

Last night was pretty comfortable. I had morphine pump at my disposal. I slept rather well. Today I feel pretty sore but nothing like imagined. Pain is about 4. Already went for two walks to get blood moving. Just started liquids. Nurse says one tiny cup per half hour. It's amzing but felt kind of full sensation with first cup. I should get released later today, ready to go home.ill keep everyone posted as I go.

Hello my fellow sleevers,
I had my surgery on Mach 29th. I'm still getting used to all the changes but so far im very happy with my decision! This last week I had went to my nieces school concert and I was able to fit in the seat without getting stuck, it was a wonderful feeling. But what was even a greater accomplishment for me was when I put on my "only" pair of jeans that fit before my surgery (and even then they were so tight they looked like skinny jeans), are loose and keep falling off. I also fit into 7 more pair of jeans that I had hiding away! I just love clothes so I'm so excited to be able to fit into ones I've only been able to wear once and go shopping for new ones!
Thanks to all of you for your support, positivity, wisdom & humor in all your posts! It's helped me through a lot of my days. Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.
Xoxo Ashley

Congrats! You'll do great!

Oh Good glad you feel better my turn is in the morning!!!!!!!!!! God Bless and have a great recovery. Best wishes to you. Here we come come world you better look out...

Thank you all Sooooo much! I was sleeved and feel so much better today. Just sore no major pain. I'm officially a loser lol

So...I weighed in at 298 today. Whats it called once you get out of the 300s? I know if you get into the 100s its called "one-der land" So what are the 200s? Super Twos? Discuss......I haven't been under 300 since I was a freshman/soph in high school (I'm 32 yrs old now) I'm down to a size 38 waist from a 46. Down to a size 3XLT shirt from a 6 XL. Down a size 14 shoe from a 15. Total weightloss from being sleeved on 1/12/12 is 90 pounds now. NOT TOO SHABBY!!!

There are lots of Dr's that do not support WLS. Some because they are not up to date with the new surgeries, Some because they feel that "You can lose the weight on your own" and others are just plain ignorant.
I have not yet asked my Dr. for my physician letter. If she says no i will tell her thanks for your services, ask for my records and move on to the next Dr.
I don't agree with what others have said about not having health issues yet. You ALREADY have a health issue! You, just like me, are OVERWEIGHT and that alone is a health issue!
We are all scared to death. But you know what? Im more scared of not seeing my kids go to College, Get married, have grandchildren. That is what I'm more affraid of!
Good luck to you with whatever decision you make.

I'm approved thru BCBSIL. Their approval was easy. The problem was I had to get approved thru an outside agency because my insurance is thru the city of chicago and they have their on guidelines. It took a week for an approval that should have only taken 2 days. I called every day for 4 days and finally on Friday I talked to the the nurse. It took her all of 1.5 min to look over my paperwork and say she would send it on to the doctors. My approval came thru on Tuesday!!!

Feeling good and when I took a photo this week in the same outfit I wore at my highest weight, I looked closely and saw a 'hole' in the top of my legs......where they no longer touch!!!
I never thought I would see the day.......I'm running a mile in 14 minutes; feeling good and still posting my story and photos on my Sunday blog. Like others, my BEFORE and AFTER photos are pretty drastic......I just posted the same outfit one on this week's blog.
Thank you for all the support this forum has given me........so happy.

My surgery date was 2/28/12. I was released from the hospital weighing 352lbs. I did not have any issues in the hospital but as told by my nurses that I was the only wls patient that did have nausa problems. The pain was not so bad but I did take pain meds for 1 week. I did get dehydrated and was hospitalized again on 3/17-3/19. I couldn't hold anything down and was throwing up stomach acid for hours. I had an upper GI to mke sure everything was ok. So let me sress that fluids are MOST IMPORTANT when you get home. I took PPIs for a few weeks to settle my stomach acid and now evrything is normal.
My starting weight was 370lbs. Today, I weigh 324lbs. I dropped to 321 but went back up to 324 and I have been at 324 for two weeks. Today stars week 7 for me and I can eat almost anything but I do throw up here there. I am learning to eat slower and take smaller bits. I will say that I m not totally comfortable eating around people that don't know I have a sleeve plus I get scared that something will go wrong. Overall, I am happy. I have dropped from a 26-28 to a 22. I will say I love my clothes fitting better but some of your clothes will be baggy. Baggy is better than tight! I am learning how to plan meals. So I do need help in that area.
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April 14 was my two month surgiversary, so here is a little on my progress.
1) SW-335
DOS-317
CW-272
2)I have lost a total of 63# counting pre-op.
3)I started in a size 28 3-4X. Currently I wear a 20-22 XL.
4)I have gone down 3 sizes in panties and from a 46 to a 42 in bra band size. Luckily the girls are sticking around (for now) and I'm still in a F cup. We like the girls..hehe. Makes the waist line look even smaller.
5)I have quit 18/21 of the meds that I was on. I only take the two stomach meds and a Vitamin now.
6) I have not had a Fibromyalgia flareup since the surgery.
NSV
We have a Jacuzzi tub in our master bathroom. I regularly soak in it because of the pain from my knee and hip injuries. I was in it the other night and kept stretching out; I had my feet on the tile back splash admiring my new French pedi and I just kept having to push myself back up in the tub. I though,
" something doesn't feel the same, what is it." I knew that I was not shorter. Then it dawned on me. You are not touching the sides of the tub! I was sliding down because the Water was able to circulate all the way around me. The bubbles from the jets were moving me around. My big booty no longer had me corked in there. Yay!
I took my kids to Burger King the other day to eat and play. When we came out, this guy had parked his big 4WD right on top of my van. I was livid. How in the world did the big dummy expect me to be able to leave! I calmed myself down and told the kids to get in from the other side. I decided to give it a try before I went in and fed him his burger in one big choking bite. I DID IT! I squeeze through that tiny crack in the door (that even a thin person should not of had to do) and didn't scratch or ding either of our doors. I was tempted to open it back hard two or three times after I did get in though. Some people are just inconsiderate. Even if I weren't fat, I could have been crippled or elderly. Arrgg!!
I completely rearranged my living room by myself. I moved; the sofa, two recliners, love seat, buffet, 55 gal. Aquarium, antique steamer trunk, metal caldron fountain and about a ton of assorted junk. Then I swept and laid the new rugs and then put it all back. My Fibromyalgia flares are exercise induced. The would normally have put me in bed in excruciating pain for 24-48 hours. I had myself braced for the worse, but nothing happened. Not even a twinge! I have not had a flare since surgery.
I do not have to fight with the seatbelt any more!
This is just a quick little run down of a few things that have progressed for me over the last several weeks. I have not made it by far, but I am getting there a little bit at a time. Health, happiness and Onderland! Boo-yah :0)

Well I discussed the breastfeeding with Dr. Kim today and he didn't seemed phased by it. He just said I'd need to stay on prenatals, and absolutely make myself drink all the Water, because the water is key. And then his team would help me make the best choices on foods and meals to keep both baby and me safe and healthy. :] Glad to have a doctor who supports my decision!

Sleeve finished. I feel I'm doing very well. I can walk pretty far already. Not alot of gas pains.

So I have been post op 9weeks. I guess I was in shock or I don't know what I was. That i have never said i love my sleeve till today!! Lol But I weighed in today at 205lb. Highest weight ever was 291 ( 3years ago) started my pre op diet at 268. Prior to surgery I weighed in at 240lbs. But I am sooo close to onederland, I can almost taste it! I am a slow loser I average 2lbs a week. I have a trip to Hawaii on May 4th. I know I won't be bikini ready (far from!) but I so wanna be under 200. Ahhhh I hope I make it! Btw I had an NSV... I can wrap my bath towel around myself and no skin shows!! Lol

I agree, I chewed sf gum constantly and went to bed early so I would not be tempted to kill my family while they were munching in front of the tv in the evenings:) I am 5 wks out and it was so worth it to get to this side!

Two years ago I started researching various WLS hoping to have surgery done. Long story short I had an excusion on my ins, changed jobs which now gives me no insurance. I met an amazing (incredibly cute) guy, who is everything I could have ever wanted and he has asked me to spend my life with him So when we marry in October I will once again have insurance! Whats better is that I had future hubby send an email to Aetna asking if the sleeve is covered and it is!!!! He loves me just the way I am, but is totally behind me if I need to do this for me LOL sorry for the ramble but i'm so excited - things are working out for me in ways I never imagined! So now I guess I will start the 6 month Weight Watchers diet to get that out of the way. Has anyone else gone through Aetna Choice POS II? What were your pre surgery requirements?

Awesome. I am 13 months out and at 180 today. Started at 273 i need to get back to the gym. Thanks for your insight.

Just celebrated my two year anniversary of my gastric sleeve. I began my journey at 279 lbs with a dress size 22. I am currently at
149 lbs and a size 8. I never would have believed I could ever be this healthy or happy. My weight has been quite stable for the past 10 months or so. This surgery was a wonderful tool on the road to healthy living. I spent most of the first 18 months in the gym working out 3 days a week with a trainer. I believe that was a big key in getting my body back in shape. At age 55 I think it took the gym to get my body toned. I have not had any additional surgery but am considering having the skin under my arms tightened. No matter how much weight I lift or exercise, that loose skin is still there. At this point I know it's just vanity, but feel I deserve a little something for the effort. I don't eat any bread or red meat any more, it just doesn't digest well and I don't really miss it anyway. Instead I do chicken, shrimp and some Pasta. For those of you in the early stages of your recovery, I encourage you to hit the gym, I don't like to exercice, but it was worth the results. Take the stairs, park at the end of the parking lot, those little everyday things. Everytime I go up and down stairs, I remember it wasn't that long ago, that I couldn't make it without gasping for air, or stopping halfway up. Find a small victory every day and keep motivated. You can do it.

Hi everyone, I had my surgery on the 11th, this past Wednesday. I was discharged yesterday afternoon. Doing okay...just been dealing with a lot of gas...the gas is pure evil lol...I laugh now but its not to funny when I feel the gas building up from my stomach to my chest :0(...that is the thing that's bothering me the most is the gas...the only thing that helps is walking...walking back and forth while I'm writing this actually...also been using gas x strips they have helped so much...it actually helped me get a good night sleep last night...felt some nausea only on the next day but the nurse gave me something for that...really hard to do the Protein and the puree right now..been drinking liquids and eating some jellos...thank goodness I bought those protein jellos lol...but other then that I'm doing okay :0)...if any of you have any questions or advice lol please feel free

Had my surgery this AM. Feeling great!!!! Not too much pain.
So excited to new chapter in my life!!

I never give it time to melt and it's the exact consistency of a milkshake. lol
I use sf syrups too and PB2. I love to use sf hershey syrup, sf white chocolate pudding mix and pb2. tastes just like a white reeses cup.