robin33

My name is Robin and I am a weight loss surgery patient. I have struggled with weight my whole life. I blame it on my paternal grandmother's genes, haha! Honestly, I remember my mom always having Snacks after school but she limited them to one serving. I CRAVED more! I would sneak and get toast and put sugar on it.....skip the cinnamon and go straight to the white sugar.....and now I know why it's considered as bad as cocaine! I controlled my weight by being active. BUT, when I got married right out of high school my weight started climbing. About 2 years later when my first son came I think I gave up on ME. I totally gave my family every ounce that I had. My husband would play ball with our son after work and I sat on the couch....I was exhausted. I was always tired and exhausted. Fast forward to 11 years later, we decided to have our 2nd son....after that amazing child was born, my weight skyrocketed! I have tried every diet known to man. Sitting in weight watchers was humiliating; sitting at the ball field while the boys played and being so miserable and exhausted was humiliating; going on vacation and wearing shorts instead of a bathing suit was humiliating....I can go on and on...you all know the drill....covering it all up with a smile and lots of clothes.....and a tan! After my 2nd son was born I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Before that I always joked that I was the healthiest fat person ever. I always thought of arthritis as being an old person's way of complaining about being old. Boy did karma hit me in the face. I was 30ish and after researching RA, I realized that this is a very dangerous disease. The inflammation in my body could actually kill me! Then comes steroids, disease modifying meds....then high blood pressure, restless leg syndrome, anemia, horrible menstrual cycles and I FELT LIKE A FAILURE! In 2012 I was introduced to a program that my husband's employer had in Costa Rica and I could have weight loss surgery FOR FREE! 2012 I had gastric sleeve and immediately started losing. I started walking afterwards, then running, then biking, then triathlons, then half marathons, then long bikes and I started gaining weight! WTF, gaining weight while doing all this crap.....I hit a LOW! More research......I found that I had to learn how to be successful......Just having the sleeve doesn't solve all the pre-surgery issues we have with food....see, all that crap I was eating still went down really easy.....So here I am again re-learning 6 years post op. I did not reach goal weight (YET). I am, however, losing again after 6 years and getting stronger than EVER! Best thing is.....I no longer have high blood pressure, restless leg, anemia, and my RA is under control. I am down to 1 medication for that and only steroids when a flare comes! I AM TAKING BACK CONTROL OF MY LIFE...even at 52 years old!

If anyone here needs support, I have a private Facebook group where we are starting a back on track challenge (free). Please look me up on Facebook.... Robin Englehardt Benson and send me a friend request with a message to be added.

Hope everyone is doing good! Our anniversary dates are just around the corner....June 29 for me! Down 103 lbs and doing great! Ran my first 5k 2 weeks ago and doing another this saturday! I love my sleeve and the new life it's given me!

Tomorrow I will be 5 months post surgery and I have not experienced Hair loss. I actually had my beautician use the thinning shears this past weekend. So, yes, it is possible not to lose hair. I am not taking Biotin or zinc or any of the other remedies that people talk about. I try to keep my Protein and Water intake where it should be.

June 29 was my surgery. I hit 52 lbs lost today!

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I was sleeved on 6/29/12 and stalled in weeks 2, 3, & 4. Then the weight started coming off. As long as I get my Protein and fluids I lose the weight. I have only stalled one other week and that was last week when I had my monthly TOM. Then got on the scales and had went down 3 lbs in one day. It will happen. Your body has been through a lot and is in shock!

I Am sharing my Facebook post to my friends:

Well, today was my 6 month post-surgical visit with Dr. Pinson and here is the run down: I am down 111# and 100 some-odd inches. I have went from a size 28 to a 16. I am off the walker, cane, and 21 medicines. I no longer suffer in continual, crippling pain from the Fibromyalgia, but can walk, without even a limp, a 20 minute mile. A VSG patient is considered a success if they have lost 60% of their excess body weight by 18 months post-surgery. I have lost 75% already, so today I was "pinned". I received my gold pin of success. I asked him if he thought I would be able to get another 40# off in the next 6 months. He said, "OH, YEAH! with a doubt." He was ecstatic with the progress I have made (he was cheering me like I had just won the Super Bowl...lol) and said, "I can't wait to see what you look like in another 3 months." YAY!! I am soo excited. I have not been this small in almost 20 years and I haven't felt as well in I know 10. Y'all just hang around and watch me disappear ;0)...and if you want to try it too, give me a call. All you've got to lose is sore feet, aching backs, the medicine bag, big butts and bellies and a lot of inches. It's not a magic bullet by far, but it is a shovel (a tool) to help FILL IN the hole you are in. It sure beats getting deeper and continuing to dig your grave with a spoon!

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Awesome loss! I wish I was losing that fast. But I will take what I can get. I am from Amory, MS and went to a seminar with Dr. Pinson. However, my insurance would pay 100% plus give me money back if I went to Costa Rica or India to have it done. I chose Costa Rica and am so proud I did. I'm down 40 lbs since my preop diet started. Very happy. Nice to see a fellow Mississippian.

The link never worked for me, but I sent a friends request - Suzie MacDonald.

Thanks

Suzi, I don't remember getting a friend request from you. Try again.

Thank u to ur family for ur husbands service and ur family's sacrifice. Please stick around here and we wi all b here for u. This is a great group of people and u will find lots of support. Think how great u will look when ur hubby returns home.

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Is the fit bit Water proof?

I don't believe it is.

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Hi! Starting to think I added the wrong robin? Can u confirm? I keep my friends list tight' date=' would prefer to delete if I have the wrong person.[/quote']

Did u find the page yet. I've added everyone that I have an invite for.

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Does anyone have trouble taking their vitains? Mine make me sick!

First day home (day 9) i chewed up my Bariatric Advantage Vitamin and swallowed and my stomach started doing all kinds of things!!!! It was 1 week before I got the courage up to try that again so i bit off a little and swallowed then drank some Water..ok..another bite....then yuk, same sensation with my stomach. Currently, I don't know what I'm going to do about Vitamins. Anyone have suggestions?

my surgeon had me wear the support stockings until after my flight home at 8 days post op. I did wear flip flops with them because the toes were open in the stockings. As soon as I touched down in Memphis and got in my son's car...those hose came off! I hated them but also know they are necessary.

My advice is to take as little as possible in ur carry in.

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My husband and I just flew united to costs rica for my surgery. They had on demand direct tv for 7.99 for flights longer than 3 hours. We did not have to open the laptop just take it out of our carry on to scan. Had to take off shoes etc to go through security. The limitations above are for carry on. The bottles of Shampoo and stuff are fine in your checked baggage. Please be prepared for your trip back with some Protein powder u can mix with Water. I could not stomach what I took and airplanes and airports r not friendly to recent bariatric patients. My husband walked all over Houston airport to find me chicken noodle Soup so I could sip the broth. I was 8 days out for my ride home. After 4 hours from costa rica to Houston and 3 hr layover then 1.5 hours to Memphis and going through customs and immigration I was exhausted and blacked out. I have never felt so bad in my life. Hope some of this helps u.

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I was 10 days post op and I can tell you I had absolutely no energy. Came back on Monday and it was Thursday before I made it all day. I had a pillow in my chair for a couple of days because of back pain (don't know what was up with that ). Good luck to you!

Is the Facebook group private? Because not everyone on my current Facebook knows that I had the surgery, was just wondering before I look it up.

Yes, it is a private (secret) group. No one can see anything you post in it unless they are a member.

To all those who think that success is only measured in pounds' date=' I'm here to tell you you're wrong. If you're not taking measurements and you're just going by what the scale says (it lies BTW) you're only doing a disservice to yourself...

My starting measurements as of 1/1/12:

Weight - 278

Pants - 24/26

Tops - 2x - 3x

Neck - 14.5"

Chest - 47"

Arm - 16.5"

Waist - 42"

Hip - 55.5"

Calf - 20"

My measurements 5 1/2 months post-op as of today:

Weight - 196

Pants - 14/16

Top - L/XL

Neck - 13.5"

Chest - 40"

Arm - 14"

Waist - 37.5"

Hip - 47"

Calf - 18"

Don't sabotage your success by only looking at the scale - measure your success in whatever way you can! By my count I can Celebrate 9 successes instead of just one, and I dunno about you but when it comes to celebrating, more is better [/quote']

WTG! Our measurements are almost the same starting. I'm just 1 week post op.

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My name is Gretchen I was sleeved June 26' date=' 2012 at the University of Minnesota Medical Center by Dr. Ikramuddin.[/quote']

Welcome Gretchen. I was the 29th.

Got sleeved on the 29th. No pain meds today. Just walking and sipping trying to get my liquids in. Just gas right now but it's bearable. Hate these compression socks. How long did y'all wear them? I have to wear until my post op check on thurs with my dr. This is beautiful country in costa rica mountains for my recovery

Has it really been almost a full month!? Wow!

I'm not sure what I'm going to do after the end of the month after this! (Just kidding)

For those being sleeved today welcome to the Loser's Bench! I hope your surgeries have gone or will go smoothly and successfully and your recovery has been easy as a small tiny sliver of cake (no more jumbo sized pieces for us anymore!)

For those over the next couple of days:

June 29' date=' 2012

EileenFrances -- Dr. Subhash Kini

Robin33 -- Costa Rica

tonibugg -- Dr. Rod Juarez

SunnyCox - Dr. Kelly in Mexico

TinaP - Dr Rodriguez

June 30, 2012

lil lee -- Dr. Aceves in Mexicali

Mrslittle -- Dr. Alvarez

We have a spot waiting for you on the best bench in the world. The Loser's Bench!

May your surgery be successful and complete. May your recovery be speedy and without issue. May you have no complications after coming home. And may you lose all the weight you ever dreamed of losing!

Prayers and well wishes to all of you!

Eric[/quote']

Thank u Eric!

I am having my sleeve done tomorrow.........June 29th. I know I will be okay....will be back in contact as soon as possible.

Me too Addison. Good luck tomorrow.

Awesome! Glad everything went well.

Gosh, we have a long list next week....But guess what? I'm finally on that list! Yeah! Anyways since I am going to so busy next week with work and packing, wanted to wish all next week sleevers best of luck and I'll be praying for you daily! This week wraps up our June sleevers and we'll all be on the loser bench! I cannot wait.

June 25, 2012

Looking Ahead

Ready Rudy

Artichokes -- Dr. Lautz Brigham & Women’s in Boston

Jubjub07 -- Dr. Aceves

anais02 -- Dr. Garcia

Skane10 -- Dr. Garcia

Janedeaux3

Lose4good2012 -- Dr. Billy (may use spider surgical tool)

aled

carolinagirlz

136HereICome- Lawerance hospital in NY

ChristianMomma7

CRichard1107

SMP1126

Mariec1

June 26, 2012

locoladi

Trista1975 -- Dr. Almanza-reyes, Mexico

JTmoas

s.ledbetter17 -- Dr. Edwards and Lane – mcg.

Nardelkn

cherryseven

chuckles -- Dr. Keith Gersin

Misslorlor

MsPerry

1920-Zeta

tumblersmom

glocks90

suzilouise

rudekitty

ShrinkingBellyKelly

June 27, 2012

herewegoagain

Edward Mun -revision

GivingItMyAll

pkehrer

mcsleevy - Dr. Sherman Yu in Houston, Tx

Joyce Ellis-joy686 - revision

MoreganK

Praldous - Saranac lake NY Dr.Hill

Carlashooter-

Aworkinprogress - spider single incision with Dr. Robert Marema

Ris26

June 28, 2012

kkm23 -- Dallas

Iwannabslim -- Dr. Jaime Ponce – sleeve revision

Sleevertobe

Mina05pit - Philadephia, PA

Apricot111

ready4change79

June 29, 2012

EileenFrances -- Dr. Subhash Kini

Robin33 -- Costa Rica

tonibugg -- Dr. Rod Juarez

SunnyCox - Dr. Kelly in Mexico

TinaP - Dr Rodriguez

June 30, 2012

lil lee -- Dr. Aceves in Mexicali

Mrslittle -- Dr. Alvarez

I'm having mine on the 25 of June on Monday ....

That's tomorrow Tam1965! Woohoo, prayers coming your way! Mine is friday the 29th! I cannot hardly wait!

Ok...here I go...My name is Robin and I have been married 28 years to my high school sweetheart (Dennis)! I have 2 beautiful sons (Eric 26 & Ryan 15). I inherited a beautiful sweet daughter in law (Misty) and she and my son gave me to gorgeous and energetic granddaughters (Hallie 6 and Kaylin 1). I love my family with all my heart. Love to watch my youngest son play sports. He's my baseball player and we've played tournament ball for 6 years. Now we're doing high school baseball and that's how we spend our summers. I am a paralegal for a small law firm and love my job! I live for my family but I've decided that I've gotta do something for myself now. In 7 days I will have the surgery that will cure my obesity (with a little help from me, of course). I will spend 10 days in Costa Rica at a recovery villa that is beautiful with someone waiting on me hand and foot....I've never had that. I've never been away from my children but 7 days....this will be an adventure for me. Oh, and I've never been on a plane (and I am dreading that). I am deathly afraid of heights so I am not looking forward to the plane ride but this will get my surgery so I'm conquering my fears and flying to Costa Rica! I am a christian and I love God and I know he will see me through it all! I love this forum. It's full of amazing people that can give you encouragement and a stiff kick when you need it. Anyhow! That's me!