debs1954

I remember being where you are this time last year. My one year sleeversary is on May 21st and I've lost 117 pounds. I was so scared. I remember wanting to back out but I had prayed and ask God to free me from the fat prison I had been in most of my life. I would lose and gain it right back. I mean, I really lost a lot of weight throughout my life. Fifty pounds here, 90 pounds there, then 75... only to put it back on. I just decided to go for it. I thought, well... if I can get myself to the hospital and get back to surgery that is it! Thats exactly what I did. I knew when I went through those doors to surgery, there wasn't any turning back. You will do fine. I can't say I didn't have some hard days after. I'm older and my recovery was a little harder but I made it and I'm glad I did it! God bless!

Tomorrow morning is surgery. The hesitation has struck. I have read many posts about the depression and regret that some have had, and it has made me pause. I know that I cannot keep weight off with out a crutch to keep me in check. That which does not kill me will make me stronger. Please let me know I am not alone. Please share your feelings the night before surgery.

I'm Jan (browniejan) and I just got scheduled for May 16th. I also am so excited. My insurance approved me after sleep study, psyche consult and testing, and my cardiologist approval. I had already done a year of supervised weight management through my employer and it was excepted. I started gaining weight about 17 years ago when I weighed a nice 123, but had a complete hysterectomy. Last year I was at 235. Now I'm at 214, with 38.5 BMI. I have high cholosterol, Mitral Valve Prolapse with an irregular hearbeat. Some mild Coronary Artey Disease, and sleep apnea. I am also 63 years old. I am not anxious at all. My daughter had sleeve 4 years ago so i have 1st hand knowledge of what to expect, even though I may not have same journey as she did. She lost half her body weight during the first 2 years and 325/160 and has done an amazing job keeping it off. I have been on extra Protein for ot ona month and just ordered a supply for after the surgery. Glad I've found someone going at the same time. I entered info about my surgery date but it's not showing on upcoming surgeries list. Good luck and if you want to chat, just holler.

I could have written this post myself - it is exactly how I feel - especially the first and last paragraphs. When talking with my friend who had gastric bypass nearly 8 years ago, she said that she told everyone she came in contact with that she had the surgery. She felt it was up to her to educate everyone. However, now she says if she had to do it all over again, she would be much more selective about who she told. I think there is a time and place for everything, and I will decide both when it is right for me.

The countdown is on...two and a half hours to be at the hospital.
I'm starving and super excited!!

May 7th rocks! we are going to do great!

May 7th rocks! we are going to do great!

Thanks for showing up and speaking out everybody. May 2013 is right around the corner and this stuff is real now.
Ya'll, after getting some love from my FB group, I'm in a much better place. I got so wrapped up in my fears that I forget I have done my research. I have selected a great surgeon and a great hospital. I am following all my doctor's pre-surgery orders and I'm going to follow all his post-surgery orders as well. My surgeon is very careful and he's very cautious. He places the staples and then he goes back over them with sutures. He leaves the drain in for 4 days after the surgery in case of excessive bleeding. He checks for leaks after the surgery and the next day. He keeps you in the hospital for 2 days and then in a hotel, which he stays at himself so he's close, for another 2 days. On my return, I have solid medical care in case anythng goes wrong. Yes, the care is 4 hours away but that's ok. I can be admitted to the hospital with no problems and the bariatric surgeon has residency there so I'll see him as much as necessary, if needed. Most importantly, I have a God that loves me. I have a God that has brought me out of hell, that has always shown a light in my despair. I have never been deserted or rejected. I have never felt alone during my darkest moments. If God has been saving me from this world since I was a child, I know He's not going to overlook me because I'm in Tijuana.
That's my truth. That's what's going to allow me to have this surgery and claim the victory I know is mine, even if I have to walk through trials and tribulations to get to that victory.
Now ya'll tell me your truth. What steps have you taking to be ok? How have you ensured that no matter what happens, you've done your part? Because at the end of the day, if we've done our parts, the rest is up to the fundamental goodness and purpose of this universe. Whether you believe in God or not - I use to believe in whatever was keeping the trees alive because the trees didn't work and they didn't move - sometime you just got to let life be life.

That is wonderful! and gives me hope I will feel the same on May 7th when its my turn on the bench

I am saying this because I care... we are all in charge of our own "journey". The patient has a huge amount of influence in how this works out. Wildly successful, so-so, or whatever.
This is a good place to "vent" and I recognize much of this is just venting but i worry about nervous pre-ops getting the wrong idea - it is hard to let go of old ways. I was very ready to let go and yet i do recall those early months... feeling a little like the world wasn't as brightly colored. Feeling a little... I won't say blue... but certainly not technicolor bright like it is now! I accepted responsibility for making the choice to have the surgery AND because I listened to people who came before me, i knew it was temporary. The surgery did EXACTLY what was promised. I can eat less, and I am no longer hungry 24/7. Absolutely everything else - following guidelines, working out, working on my emotional challenges - that was all me. Here is the newsflash - really really soon after you heal from the surgery, you are pretty much on your own sisters and brothers. The surgeon has done his/her job, you better have a plan for the rest. Doesn't mean you need to write the plan, it means you need to find the resources, support, education etc.
If you seriously can't afford chicken, cottage cheese and greek yogurt and veggies to eat - i can't fathom why you are getting this surgery.
So, here I am in maintenance living a life I could only dream about before. I do sometimes struggle, but crap, that is real life - isn't it? I mean, I don't know ANYBODY - fat or thin who doesn't have some rough days. Get over it.
I am not as mean as I sound... I am just suggesting to anyone that wants to learn from this conversation thread that sleeve life is still life with all it's struggles. You still drive the bus - where are you heading?

I'm 5 weeks out and as far as family gatherings and food, I'm in LOVE with my sleeve!!!
I don't know about you, but I've been on a diet for my entire life, or since I was 12. I would go to family functions during all these different diets feeling strong willed & crash and burn and feel like crap about myself every time. It might or might not set me into a spiral that included a ton of gorging myself on stuff that's led me crave more junk and more more more until i hated myself. Again.
Today my dh bbq'd and I made all the fixins last night and today. Things I Love. I have done really well on this new way of living and I thought last night I'd indulge in some suddenly salad. Complete junk, but I'm a firm believer in moderation. Anyway, got myself 1/4c and before it was gone, I was done. I gave the rest to my son. I remember when I was pre w my first daughter, making suddenly sala an eating the whole box. I call last nights "cheat" a success.
Today was the BBQ. I made the deviled eggs low carb and had one deviled egg an the filling from 1 1/2 eggs. Then I very slowly indulged in one chip. I'm not even kidding. After this BBQ, I was telling my dh how much I looooove my sleeve. I would have eaten 2 and a half plates in the past. (Back up, I would have "licked the spoons" to everything I made) and then dessert. Probably a lot of leftover Easter candy. SUCCESS!!!
I don't miss pigging out and feeling like a slug. I do enjoy being with friends and family, tasting this and that, eating my healthy meal and being done. And feeling good about myself afterwards. I looooove My sleeve and can't imagine ever going back even if I were given the opportunity.

that's wonderful! are you the guy in the before picture and far right in the after pic? It's so difficult to see detail on people's profile pics, but I'm guessing from your forum name that you are the guy and that in the after pic it's your whole family, including your son?

Do what you can. Exercise everyday and eat as healthy as possible (obviously). Drink tons of Water and make your portion sizes smaller. If you really really stick to that there is no way you wont be able to lose more weight. 15 lbs? I'm not sure but as long as you show you are trying your hardest your doctor should work with you. I'm also in nursing school and just got done taking a nutrition class. Write down EVERYTHING you eat, and make a small note next to everything you eat stating what kind of mood you were in. My nutritionist told me to do it and it's crazy how much emotional eating I was doing!!
Good luck with your weight loss!!
Well said Butterthebean. I got teary eyed reading that. Congratulations on your weight loss and it is so good to hear that, especially from someone with experience!

I was super excited about my upcoming surgery and then the day came that I actually got a date. I almost cried in the Dr's office, not because I was excited but because I was scared out of my mind! I came home and cried off and on for a few days. All I could think of was leaving my kids without their mom, leaving my husband alone to raise the kids, and thinking of my husband remarrying and getting a new "mom" for my kids. I couldn't imagine how they would survive without my income and once the life insurance money ran out. Well, I had my sleeve on March 25. My husband and both children were at the hospital during my surgery and were there when I woke up. I have not had any complications from surgery, not even nausea from the anesthesia (and trust me, anesthesia ALWAYS makes me severely nauseated). I haven't been sick any and the pain has improved daily. I'm home with my kiddos and loving it. Everything is going to be okay. You are going to come through surgery great! Surgery will be fine. You'll probably be sore when you wake up but you'll have some good people taking care of you. The worst part of this for you, in my opinion, is that you have so long to think about it. Think positive thoughts and be confident that you have made a good decision and that you are going to get amazing results with it!

Congratulations! I got my approval this week, thankful but starting to get nervous

Hello everyone I am scheduled for surgery May 7 and it has just become real to me. I am 246 lbs (most ever) 58 years old and feel 80 some days re knee and hip pains. I too want to keep up my our grandchildren and enjoy retirement in a few years.

Overweight for many many years and nervous of leaks, eating those small portions and how my life and interactions with friends and family will change. It is sad to realize how much time is spent eating and drinking with these folks!
The unknown is also a worry...pain level, complications, failure, 12 yards of extra skin! But we will get thru all this...together! there is so much info on these forums hard to imagine not finding the answers we need.

Ok.. Technically, I could say y'all are being mean now. I live in the Pacific Northwest so you can imagine what all this sunshine and beach talk is doing to me :-P

I am happy to contribute to a group that is supportive and positive- I have had enough negativity, judgements and "shoulds" all my life- I don't want or need it on this journey. Even though we are all after the goal, and maybe have walked some similar paths, it is for each of us our own unique journey-
My surgery is tentatively Feb 7th- start the 2 week pre-op on Wed...getting a little nervous, its kind of hard to wrap my head aroeund the permanency of this decision. Always grateful.

Ha! He took about three "glances" at me and my picture ID before questioning if I was a relative using the wrong ID. Nope, just 140 pounds less of me...

I am really tired of Reading Post about So Discouraged, Down in the Dumps, Slow Loser….Then find out you have LOST 30 or 40 lbs. in a few weeks or even a few Months. We are all here because WE could NOT lose weight. So Who ever lost and kept off 20, 25 or 40lbs in as little as a few Months…. Sorry to sound harsh, But Enough of the Complaining. Stop Weighing every few days, do what your Doctor said and look at yourself in 6 months…Lets Keep this Positive it is about a Life Style Change and the weight will come off in time………..OK, I am Done Venting

Hello you May babies! You are near and dear to my heart because I'm a May Sleever too. This May it will be 2 years. I will be celebrating one year at goal weight this March. I love my sleeve and will be thinking of each of you in May as you begin your post-op journey to goal.
Lynda

Hello, new too my surgery is May 7. Just notified today. I have been reading a lot on the forums, there is so much information to digest