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! Sent from my iPad using VST

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!

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.

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. Sent from my iPhone using VST

I don't believe it is. Sent from my iPhone using VST

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. Sent from my iPhone using VST

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. Sent from my iPhone using VST