Magicmuffin

Sorry, I meant keyboard diarrhea lol

Hi This is an awesome thing to bring up. It's important to remember that, just like the sleeve, the scale is only a tool for weight loss, not the be all end all. Yes, muscles weigh approx 1 1/2 times fat, so go by how you look, how you feel, how your clothes fit (always better over a toned body than a flabby one), what you have been eating, and for women, what time of the month it is. So many factors to consider, listen to your body, if you listen close enough it will tell you what it wants and how it is feeling. I know whereof I speak. I will not get my sleeve until January, but I have learned bits and pieces from all of my past weight loss attempts, and also as a nurse of almost 30 years I still remember what one of my instructors told me so long ago - "listen to your patient. They are the ones in that body, if they say they are in pain, they are, if they say they feel nausea, they are. It may not always make sense, and it might take some investigation to figure out WHY they feel that way, and what to do about it (our job, IN CONJUNCTION with out patient) ' but what they feel is real" Something I try hard to follow in ,y practice. I also spent several years in the gym, and although I never did get lower than the 'overweight' category, I had lean muscle, looked good and felt good. My problem being I do not have 1 1/2 - 2 hours a day to maintain that, so I am now once again 'moderately obese', so...I will add the sleeve as another tool. Sorry for the key oars diarrhea, good luck to all!

Hello everyone I have found this to be one of the most thoughtful threads yet. I thank you all for your posts and your honesty, and I will not reiterate my Own journey here as it can be read elsewhere. I am still calling it a journey even though I have not had the surgery (yet) because I have been on the road a while. I understand the fear, it is something I am dealing with myself, for even though I have been a nurse for almost 3 decades (lord I sound old!) and have seen and cared for thousands or surgical patients of every type of surgery(boobs,guts,bones, lungs, heart you name it) I myself have only had my tonsils out when I was almost too young to remember, I am a veritable surgery virgin. I agree with a previous postee that when it is your time it is your timr (how scientific is that?) as I have seen people who should have never made it through surgery and recovery literally walk home the next day, and people who should have had no problem whatsoever have a very rough time. I can also say that while dying during a 'routine' aka 'elective' and non emergent surgery IS an uncommon occurrence, it does happen , albeit rarely, and nOt necessarily due to surgical team error. And I have said it on a post before but I feel strongly about this - the mind is a force to be reckoned with. While pre surgery jitters is a very normal thing, I would NOT advise anyone to have this done until they are very sure of their decision, and the only way to be sure is to research, compare, learn-about the procedure, your chosen surgical team, AND yourself - why are you doing this? Is it the right time for You to do this? Have you explored all of your options? I do not feel wls (weight loss surgery) is a 'last ditch effort' - and I do not agree that it is 'mutilating' your body - would the surgical removal of a cancerous tumor be considered mutilation? It would be seen as potentially life saving, as I feel this surgery is, or could be. Neither is it a cure all, or 'the easy way out' and you need to be prepared for that work. It sounds like you are doing all of these things and I applaud you for all of your work. No one should jump into this, especially without a plan for after the surgery. Knowledge is power, power leads to control, and confidence to do what is right for YOU. Good luck in your journey to find what is right for YOU. PS.

Yeah, I know what you mean - my "baby" is 17 now! Thanks for the reply - what are your plans and where are you on this road?

Just wanted to introduce myself, just found this site last night and already have learned so much, thank you! I am a 46 yo married mom of 2 mostly grown kids. I work 3/4 time as an RN on a dialysis unit and long term care. I have struggled with my weight since shortly after getting married, the biggest struggles came after having my kids. I am 5'2" and currently went 200 lbs, my highest was 226. I feel like I have tried everything - each time with moderate success...I think 'finally' and then it all comes back + more. I have high cholesterol and asthma as well, and am getting frightened for the future -my whole family has struggled with weight and my brother had a heart attack at age 38, and has had 2 stents placed since and is generally unwell...am I next? Time to get serious. I have decided to go ahead with the sleeve, probably with Dr. Pompa in Tijuana, although due to staffing issues and money will likely not get there until early 2013. But I will get there! I saw Dr. Pompa in a magazine and Newsweek! As well as ads for Weight Loss Forever has offices close to home here? I have done a lot of research and am pretty sure this is the way to go. I am wondering a few things - has anyone else gone to Dr. Pompa? And with what results? Also, has anyone on this site had weight loss surgery after having a heart attack? I want so badly to talk to my brother about this but would he be too high a risk? His BMI currently is 37 . Any thoughts for me?