Des0520

A little more of things I never posted on. I know I know I should just start fresh and forget it, but these are some of the best times of my life. On a side note, the first time I was able to fit into a booth at a restaurant.....AMAZING!!!! First Vacation!: My husband and I were married in 2004 and never took a honeymoon, nor have we ever gone on a vacation together (other than visiting family and in my book that so does not count). So in March of 2011 he took me to one of my dream destinations...HAWAII. For the first time in I can't remember how long I wasn't horrified to get on a plane. I was able to buckle the seat belt and not need that extender thing. I was freaked about flying over water but that's normal. We stayed on the north shore of Oahu at the Turtle Bay Resort and it was amazing. I went snorkeling, kayaking in the ocean, walked around in shorts and my swimsuit, and didn't feel self conscious. We've already planned to go back for our 10th anniversary and I can't wait. If you ever find yourself there, you have to visit the Kahuku Grill on the NE side of the island by the sugar mill. The chocolate chip macadamia nut coconut banana bread is amazing. So are the fresh fruit stands. I want to move there. :wub: Second trip in a year (setting a record, lol) My husband turned 30 in October 2011 and for his birthday I purchased tickets to see the Steelers (fav team) vs the Ravens in Pittsburgh in November. Sadly it was a short trip and I wish we could have stayed longer. We stayed at the Priory hotel which was in walking distance of the field. We walked all over the place and I actually lost 6 lbs that week. Amazing considering the food I ate lol. I loved being able to not feel stuffed into the stadium seat. We plan to go back and visit for longer and catch another game this season. Even though they are coming to Dallas....I want to go to Pittsburgh. I love the history of the town. This is second on our places to live.... 2012 has not had any trips in it. We were supposed to go visit family in Tahoe, but due to my sister-in-law's illness we cancelled that trip. Instead we made a mini road trip to St. Louis and picked up my four nieces. My brother, who hasn't seen me in over two years, didn't recognize me.

So for a quick catch up on things from previous forum entries, I have my first post about me, my return home, the drain removal, and a quick update. This is all the stuff I posted about at the time and didn't remember until I read them again. Comments made on those post from today are in purple. From Sept 16, 2010: Starting to Freak Out My name is Desiree and I set my surgery date for October 4th yesterday. I've been on a journey of working to lose weight for a couple of years now. It all began a few years ago when I destroyed the cartridge in my knee and had to have surgery that put me on crutches for 6 weeks and I couldn't put any kind of weight on my leg. I decided to seriously work to lose weight then and was at my heaviest which was 342. I recovered from surgery and starting working with a personal trainer and following a strict diet. I lost several inches in 3 months, but not enough to count on the scale. While working with my trainer I once again tore up the same knee, only a different injury. This time it the cartilage on my femur and had a hole 1-2 inches in diameter torn into it. This equaled another surgery and this time 8 weeks on crutches with no weight allowed. I had considered the bypass and band off and on for several years but was always uncomfortable with rerouting nature's plumbing and having something plastic that required upkeep in my body. That all changed after learning about my stupid knee injury. While waiting for my 2nd knee surgery I went to a seminar for surgery. I found out all the requirements for my insurance company and started working on them. I found success with a non surgical doctor in the same office and put off the surgery part. Due to recovery time I had a stall in my dr visits and had to start over three months later. I had gained back most of my weight while recovering but over the next several months of starting back up I had dropped 30 lbs. I was happy and all was going well until the pain in my knee came back and I couldn't work out. I was told I have stress fractures in my knee caused by my weight and the thinner cartridge in my knee. The doctor said I need to lose weight more quickly so he recommended surgery. I consulted with my weight loss doctor and next thing I know I'm waiting on insurance approval. It was fairly easy because I'd already had the dietician visits and the psych evaluation. My surgery date is less than three weeks away and on Monday I start a two week diet of no fat, low fat, no meat. I'm starting to freak out and trying to find answers to all of these questions that are suddenly popping in my head and I do not like what I have found online so far. Then I found this site. I'm looking forward to sharing my journey with everyone and putting to rest some of my fears. I was scared for nothing! From October 6, 2010: Just Got Home Just got home today from my surgery. I was sleeved on Monday and other than the 4 hour delay it went great. I went in so hungry and still have yet to get hungry. The gas pains have not been bad but the soreness is bad. How long should I expect to be sore? Did anyone else pull their pain ball thing out at home? Did it hurt? And one last question, did anyone else have problems eating cold stuff like the popsicles? FYI Cold stuff doesn't bother me as much now but something warm makes me check to see if I spilled it on myself every single time. My original Drain Removal post was like everyone else's, me asking if it was going to hurt because I was freaked out by it. From October 14, 2010: Reply to my original post after having the drain removed. It didn't hurt at all. It felt like a suction cup being removed by my stomach and a little weird feeling when it made its way out but no pain!! Other than that the visit was fast and easy and he was pleased with how I am doing. Thank you again for all the help From February 22, 2011: Long Overdue Update This is long over due, but I think it's about time. I'm now almost 5 months post op and I've lost 62 lbs. I think I've hit my first plateau but I think that's because of the working out. I've been doing great and still amazing myself with foods I now like. I'm down 5 sizes which is such a great feeling, I can wear my prom dresses from high school again. I am struggling with hair loss, and I always get in my protein and take my vitamins, but I was told it's expected. My husband and I are planning our first vacation ever and after 6 years I think it's time. Little nervous about wearing a swim suit on the beach and flying on a plane, I've avoided that from fear of not fitting in the seat. I'll get some pictures and measurements posted soon. This was my last update and I never posted my measurements lol.

Hello. I don't know if anyone will really read this or not, but on the off chance that someone out there finds me interesting, I thought I'd be polite and say hi. A blog is something I've wanted to do for quite a while. I need a place where I can vent and just let it all go. I can vent to my husband, but there are just some things he doesn't get. You can expect to see entries about the sleeve journey, my work, my school, my selfish friends, my struggles, my success, things I've tried, and things I've learned. I hope you'll find me not too dry and boring and that you'll enjoy reading. The first few entries will be catch up for stuff I should have put into a blog and didn't. Thanks for taking the time to read :wub:

Plano has those centers too, but in my area they are more packed with people than the gyms. I was a member of Planet Fitness which is a judgement free gym with inexpensive memberships. 20/month gets you unlimited gym access, unlimited tanning, and one free guest a day. The location the gym was in raised their rent so they moved too far for me to go. There are a few in the Dallas/Ft. Worth metroplex and worth checking out. I miss that gym. I just want to be outside for a change. I was going to Gold's but I got tired of being cooped up in a building. The heat stinks, but I like swimming or walking in the pool. I got up at 6 and took my dogs on a walk along the trails this morning, it wasn't so bad.

I live in a master planned apartment community that has several gyms I can use and do, but I want to swim while I can lol. Part of the appeal of moving to this community is also the trails they have that go through a nature preserve, so I do try and take walks when the heat isn't too killer.

PCOS has not been proven to have any cure. They symptoms improve with weight loss and changes to your lifestyle. I have PCOS and I was diagnosed several years ago. I had to stop taking meds prior to surgery (hormones) and was give a patch but never used it. After surgery I was regular and because of the no children for 18 mths rule, I requested to be put on BC and was on BC up until April. During this time I started missing again and my dr said it's not uncommon for that to happen because I still have PCOS. We started trying to conceive in April with step 1 - stopping the pill, now I'm on step 2 - clomid. I just took round 1 and have a good 4 weeks before I know anything. So fingers-crossed that it works.

There is a surgeon search on this site. You can search for ones near you. If you are on a computer logged in it is at the top of the page.

I didn't have a problem logging on the computer, but I don't have the mobile app so I can't say for sure. You might have typed a key wrong on the phone. I would try logging in from the computer first and resetting your password if need be.

I would say mine was super easy. The worst thing I had was the nurses trying to make me get into a bed that was too tall for me, but that was quickly fixed. The only other problem I had right after surgery was being extremely thirsty, I couldn't do my test for leaks yet and until then I couldn't have anything so I got those lemon lolly things that tasted nasty lol. I was ready to get up and walk around first thing the next morning(my surgery was in the late afternoon/early evening so i was pretty much asleep the rest of that day). I walked around as often as they let me out of my room and once I was home I felt great and could do pretty much anything except bend over to pick stuff up because my abs were sore. I've gotten sick a total of 2 times in the 20 months since. The first time I ate 1/4 piece of bread well part of it and my body was like nope not happening (that was 4 months after surgery and I don't eat bread now by choice) and the second time was after I had a really strong drink, I hate that feeling of instant drunk so I don't drink often and someone ordered me one on my Bday and boy o boy I didn't get 1/4 of the way through and I was long gone lol. Other than that it's been smooth sailing and easy going, but I don't tend to push it with anything. That doesn't mean I haven't had any snags with habits.

We should be sweating them away! The threat of rain the last couple of days have made it extra humid.

I can't wear heels....ever. Stupid knee. They are all so cute. And now I can find tons more since I'm in a size 7 lol.

I am fortunate to have a supportive husband and one that never was bothered by my weight no matter what I weighed. You should have dumped that chili on him. I would have. He should be supportive of you and help you, not be rude and mean. Hand him some lotion and introduce him to Palmela. Put yourself and your happiness first.

Hmm I've never heard of this. I'll go stick a post it on my door to look for it at the store lol.

Electronic Cig? Then there is no pack to tempt you.

I like the atkins, i don't know if they are bad for you I just prefer powder ones. As for the medifast shakes I don't know, I've heard rumors of appetite suppressants being used in them, but for presurgery that might be good. As for the taste it isn't bad I tried my mom's once. My pre surgery was only no meat, no fat, low fat. Being on a liquid might have been easier lol.

I had pain after surgery but only because the hospital staff tried to put me in a bed that was way too tall for me. Once my dr found out he was angry and got me a step stool to use. He made the comment of how can she get up there when she's been gutted (a joke he liked to use and warns you about). I had a quirky/funny surgeon and can see him making a joke about being stabbed. When I asked what I'd feel like after he said high on pain meds and laughed.

I got soft foods 5 weeks out. I would give myself a treat by getting soup from McCalisters once a week and liquefying it. So one meal a week was something tasty and yes I asked my dr before doing it lol.

I tried that but I have to take so many I couldn't handle it. I'm actually on a pre-natal now and I'm kind of a trial and error test for my dr with them lol. He only had one option and the gel cap for the oil I couldn't do. Trying to find one before I become pregnant so that I will be good to go.

These are so sweet I gag. I had a lady with a band at work bring them up for me to try. I've tried every flavor and couldn't do it. Too Sweet.

KZBen I totally love your picture. I have a feeling on my next break I'll now be playing some cut the rope!

That is awesome! I didn't get to do that for a while after mine, but it looks like my doc has longer time lines than other doctors. Enjoy the soft food!

Have you tried taking them when you eat or before you go to bed? I have to split mine up and take the last ones before I go to bed so I don't have nausea.

I don't remember having that problem but it could be really bad. I know you haven't been back to your dr and can understand the far drive. I would at least call them and ask them about it. Good luck.

That's awesome. I remember that feeling when I was cleared for some irregular heartbeat they found in my sleep study. Congrats!

I finally was able to buy Uggs!! They are even big around my calves with my jeans tucked in. But I have lost a shoe size since last winter so I'm sure I'll need a new pair.