KatieOkieDokie

I guess I'll jump in here, even though I haven't been sleeved yet (I will be in April) I had to be put on a diet to lower my BMI. I started at 422 and I'm now down to 368 since Nov.12, 2012. So the first pic was taken Nov 12, and the after was taken this morning. I hope you don't mine me posting since I haven't been sleeved yet.

I was 5'5 when this all started, however now I am measuring in closer to 5'4

Congratulations!!!! How tall are you? I'm starting out around the same weight
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I really hate my scale. I have to lose 75 pounds before I can have surgery. I have to lose 60 before they will schedule. I have lost 55 lbs. I am right there. I even have an appointment on the 28th to weigh in at the office. I started at 424 I am now 369 and my scales (I have two) have started to give me different readings. Meaning I will weigh myself with the green scale three times and each time it gives me a different readings. Then I'll weigh myself with the white scale. Same thing. Three different readings. I know the two scales never read the same. But I would think the same scale would give the same reading. Maybe I need to chill and relax.
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Yay!!!! Keep us updated on her recovery.
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I would love to do Water aerobics .
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3 weeks post op and I'm down 24 lbs!!!
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This is a very sad story indeed. Seriously sounds like malpractice.
I disagree with the whole "someone I love had a very bad experience therefore this is a bad surgery to have" mentality. My grandmother died of complications following knee replacement surgery, but I would never advise that people would be better of in wheelchairs rather than getting knee replacement surgery. It just doesn't make any sense.

Sorry to hear about your sister, but first off you're violating her privacy and HIPAA by releasing her medical history publicly on the net. I had the surgery new years eve. I knew leaks were a possibility as does anyone else who has this surgery. Hell you can die on the table giving birth to a child - do you think every woman should quit going through child birth? It's a known risk you take - sorry it happened to your sister.

You are an idiot to post this here. I don't have any problem wih people posting their stories (even ones with bad outcomes), but in no way shape or form is this kind of situation common. The opposite is true. So stop trying to scare people away from LIFE SAVING surgery with your story. It would have been fine if you had told the story and left it at that. But no, you have to punctuate it at the end with your moronic advice and how you would never have weight loss surgery. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx violation of forum rules. People die from having their wisdom teeth out- should they not have surgery to alleviate their pain?
I hate trolls.
-Kendra

Hey OP (Original poster) how are you feeling today? Any better? I hope so! I hope today you woke up feeling wonderful! But if not I pray that day by day it gets a little more easy for you!
I understand why you posted! The one reason I LOVE this site is I get BOTH the good the bad and the ugly (I listed 3 things..lol). But it's good to know that things don't always go smooth, that people react to the surgery, and sometimes medication differently.. Leaks can happen, bleeding, pain, getting sick. etc. etc.. and the good can happen too! There is nothing wrong with letting people know I am pre-sleeve probably will be sleeved around March and I want to know what can go good and bad!

Hahahahaha worst auto correct ever! Oh man I am dying right now re reading that.

I have really been going back and forth as whether to post here or not. I guess I am sort of a "forum person" in my hobbies and areas of interest, but I have to be honest, I have avoided posting on this site or even looking at it for a couple of reasons. I found this site only a few days before my surgery but when I found it I found more negativity and frightened people then I found inspiration. Actually, I have gone here and gotten the (bleep) scared out of me by a few posters, every time I see their posts I get knots in my stomach. The main poster that does that to me has a screen name that starts with the letter "i". Everybody is terrified of leaks and all the negatives of this surgery and I just haven't been able to relate to many of the topics. Below I will share some of the basics of my journey so far.
First off, I am a 35 year old male who is 6 feet 3 inches tall. I wasn't fat my whole life, I actually weighed 218 when I was 19 years old. That was pretty close to a "perfect" weight for me. I got into a business where the guys I worked with partied, ate, and drank to excess. Over the years I ballooned to 445 lbs which is where I have been for the past 2-3 years. In 2010 I was considering the lap band but chickened out. I was back on in 2011 but chickened out again. In 2012 I HAD to make a decision because I was put on Metformin for borderline diabetes and Lisinopril for borderline blood pressure as well. That was it. I started again with the nutritionist appointments and made an appt. to see my surgeon who is located downtown Chicago a few miles from my house. My first appt. with him was in early October 2012 and he suggested a VSG instead of the lap band because of the large amount of weight I wanted to lose. I left thinking about it and did the rest of my pre op requirements such as upper GI, psyche, EKG, etc. I saw my surgeon again on November 14th, 2012 and we decided on the VSG (which I really didn't know a lot about). We set surgery for December 21st, 2012.
Because I am a big fella, my surgeon put me on a 28 day pre op liquid only diet (to shrink my liver and loosen my skin) which I started on November 23rd, 2012 (the day after Thanksgiving). The first few days were tough but I have very strong will power and stuck to it, following the requirements to the letter. I didn't cheat even once. Again, not even once. After about 12 days it was smooth sailing and I just plugged away and kept up the exercise plan that I had been doing for over a year which was just walking 1.5 miles, three times per week at my local YMCA. I didn't weigh myself even once the entire plan and weighed myself the morning of surgery. To my astonishment I lost a staggering 49 lbs!!!!I I couldn't even believe it, to be honest with you I began to sob like a little girl! I went from 445 to 396. I was just so shocked. My surgeon told me that I broke his practice record which was previously 45 lbs for a pre op diet. Again, I LOST 49 LBS IN 28 DAYS!!!
On the morning of December 21st, 2012 I was ready for surgery at a major hospital downtown Chicago. I arrived, valet parked, checked in, and was laying on the table prepped for surgery within 1 hour just waiting for the anesthesiologist. I was in surgery about an hour and a half later and the surgery took 2 1/2 hours. I am going to cut the details of my hospital stay down so readers aren't sitting here all day reading. Any questions just ask me. I wanted to leave the hospital the next evening but my surgeon said that he wouldn't allow me to break two records and that I should stay another night. Quick recap, I was checked into my room after surgery at 6pm Friday night and was discharged from the hospital at 11am Sunday morning, less then 48 hours after entering my room.
Upon arriving home I checked my weight, expecting to have lost a few lbs, and actually gained back 2 lbs due to all the fluids that were pumped into me. I was back up to 398. My recovery went ok I think, I was in a lot of pain along my largest incision which is about 3+ inches wide. I was on Tramadol which sucks. It took me 9 days to finish the 25 pills that I was prescribed since I was skipping doses. I was home on Sunday morning and by Wednesday morning I was off to the YMCA where I walked only one lap around the track. I limped around and talked to my friends there before going home. I was back at the YMCA on Friday and actually walked 5 laps (a half mile). I finally weighed myself on Friday, one week after surgery, and I was down from 398 to 391. I weighed myself again on Sunday afternoon and I lost another 4 lbs from Friday to Sunday, 9 lbs in 9 days, ending up at 387 lbs, 58 lbs down in 38 days.
So that's basically that. It's been over 10 days now since surgery and I am feeling like a million bucks. Here are the "scary" parts. I am using the term scary because after reading this site I would have thought I was going to die from this surgery. I HAVE NOT been nauseous even for one second since surgery. I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NOT thrown up, or even gagged for that matter, not even once. I AM ABLE to drink 60ozs of Fluid per day. I just started puree on Saturday, 8 days out, and it's been perfect. I had 4 ozs of low fat cottage cheese (which I LOVE) today as well as only one Protein Shake, a bowl of Tomato Soup, and plenty of Water. I AM NOT hungry, EVER. I just eat to live, that's it. Today I feel the best that I have felt since surgery. Every day gets better. My goal is to lose 220 lbs, 100 in three months from the start of my pre op diet on November 23rd. I WILL do it.
I know I left out a bunch so fire away (or ask any questions that you want).

Its been just over 1 month since I was sleeved and Im 52lbs down. My doctor cannot believe it. He told me that he has never had a patient loose so much weight so quickly. Since my wife also was sleeved, they want us to do a testiomial for his news letter and for the hosipital. I was also asked to speak to the support groups and want to hear all the low fat, health recipies i came up with. By far this was the best thing I have ever done.

Congrats on your 102 weight loss!!!
I am pre-opt right now, so I am not dealing with the Hair loss yet. However, they have put me on a multi-vit. and told me to take Biotin now. I also use Shampoo and conditioner with biotin in it. Since I've been using them my nails grow like crazy, and my hair is soft and strong!!

Well I'm 20 wks post op and lost 100lbs, which I'm very excited I hit my first goal two weeks shy of my birthday. I still have about 60-70lbs still I want to lose, hopefully by Summer a majority of it. I was wondering with exercise if anyone has tips on fitting them in to a hectic schedule. I have four kids 2 of which are under 4yrs old and a full time job, so trying to find something that I can do at home and maybe kids can join in.
Also any tips on Hair loss, I know its at its worst between 3-6 months. I'm so thankful I have (well had) very thick curly hair b/c if not I would be in trouble the way it comes out and how frail it is now.
Thanks for any help and info!

WoW Its been a while! I can't believe its been 4 months since my surgery! I remember when I would frequent this page I would come on twenty times a day! I would always wonder why people who are far from surgery date never long on, and BAM i did the same thing! Guess I have been busy living! If any of your remember my post ( i think you can find it in my profile?) I was about 517 lbs last january. Today I weighed myself at 385! A few weeks ago when I was at the critical 399 I nearly fainted. I never thought I would see a 3 again, now I am excited thinking about the day I see a 2! At the surgery I was at about 461 so its been a total of about 76 lbs. Every day gets easier and easier and for anyone even remotely thinking about this surgery, DO IT ! Yes there are times I wish I could "throw down" like I used to but those days long gone.
I remember posting about my trip to disney, and as a side note I was able to go on the haunted mansion without stopping the ride! For anyone who was ever been on it when it played the " the spirits are acting up and the ride will resume soon yada yada" bit, thats when a fat guy like me got on and the bar didnt go down, so it stops the ride! I was shocked when i just sailed past the workers and the ride kept going!
I promised myself I would buy a car at 100 lost, and I did just that, a brand new jeep arctic edition. I am able to go much harder on the treadmill now, and simple things, like tying shoes, to just plain walking to the car are so much easier. I find myself zipping everywhere in almost a light jog. I am guessing its because I am used to lugging around and extra 140+ lbs on me?
Anyhow, I will leave this post just updating all the people who posted last time on my out of surgery post that I am doing fantastic!
I will post some before and after, for new years.

I would inform your boyfriends mother that it's natural to go through stalls, and everyone does at some point, even those who have never had WLS! It's a part cycle. Also a lot of time during those stalls while you may not be losing weight, you may be losing inches.
Some of the things I hate hearing when it comes to WLS..
1. Being told by my cousin who weighs around 120lbs. She was trying to talk me out of the surgery and doing it the "natural healthy way" She said to me. "If I can do it, you can do it. I have faith in you"? Now I know this was meant to encourage me, but really it just ticked me off. My reply "Oh so you weighed over 400lbs and lost it on your own"?
Other than that most people try to convince me of the high death rates, and complications, and how most people gain back and ends up being waste of money. I have found that if people are not researching, and thinking of getting WLS they are misinformed.

1. I would have to buy all new clothes including underwear and shoes - twice. Had to get a loan to buy the winter items.
2. People would not recognize me; they sometimes think I am ill.
3. People expecially men would treat me differently - I never knew how to react to an actual flirt.
4. I now care about what I wear each day - I wonder if Lane Bryant and the Avenue miss me?
5. The small things like moving the car seat closer to the steering wheel, crossing my legs with ease, walking up and down stairs without panicing, cutting my hair very very short because I now have a jawline and cheek bones, keeping up with my friends when walking, feeling my hip bones when I lay down, and smiling all the time because I feel so good.
What are your surprise issues?

Hey OP (Original poster) how are you feeling today? Any better? I hope so! I hope today you woke up feeling wonderful! But if not I pray that day by day it gets a little more easy for you!
I understand why you posted! The one reason I LOVE this site is I get BOTH the good the bad and the ugly (I listed 3 things..lol). But it's good to know that things don't always go smooth, that people react to the surgery, and sometimes medication differently.. Leaks can happen, bleeding, pain, getting sick. etc. etc.. and the good can happen too! There is nothing wrong with letting people know I am pre-sleeve probably will be sleeved around March and I want to know what can go good and bad!

I have read/heard that many surgeons will not do WLS if someone's BMI is over 50. I was wondering if anyone have experienced this? As of right now my BMI is around 70, and to get down to 50 I would have to lose almost 100lbs! I was just wondering if anyone else had to lose a great deal of weight before getting WLS due to high BMI

Hello! My name is Katie. I am 32 years old, single and I have no children. I am very proud bird nerd, and amature photographer, whose trying to decide if she wants to finish her degree in Nursing, or Social Services, or both! I live with my parents stil, I struggle a lot. I have one brother whose married to a wonderful wife whose the sister I never had! They have two little boys who are my world! I love my nephews to death!
I am an animal, nature, lover! I am most happy sitting outside taking in the sun rays, and enjoy the beauty around me!
I live near Dayton Ohio.
I have yet to have surgery, so I haven't officially joined the losers bench. I am working toward it though, slowly one step at a time (would have had it done 6 months ago if I could have).

Hello!! And welcome!! Pretty soon you'll be on a new journey to a much healthier life! And with that healthier life will come a different slimmer look!
As far as are you putting too much hope in the surgery that totally depends on you. Weight loss surgery is a tool. YOU still have to do your part to lose weight by watching what you eat, making the right choices, working out. It will work for you if you work too!

You will probably be just fine to carry the baby. The reason they want you to wait is so you can lose most your weight before considering pregnancy. It is much harder to lose weight after pregnancy. It will be harder to nourish the baby in the first year too but you will not need to get an abortion, It is very common for sleeveers to get pregnant suddenly shortly after surgery! Try to get to your goal weight THEN get pregnant and get the most out of your sleeve!