OhSoNique

Hi!! I had vsg Jan 5 2015 and went from 274 down to 140 in about 10-11 months. After I had vsg (my surgery went well and my dr was great) my body went crazy I ended up with a pic line in my arm and a feeding tube for about four months before it fell out. So that's a reason why I lose it so rapidly and causing a great deal of excess skin. Fast forward to two years later I'm ready for the next step. Plastics surgery! This is harder than deciding wls lol. I don't know where to start. With wls my insurance had a program with a guide. I'm on my on now. So looking for some starting points and help. Connecting with people who had plastic surgery and sharing your experience with me. I'm even considering Dominican Republic. But want some insight..

Thank you!

Lose the weight, find a new husband.

I have my date!! March 18!

Ohsonique so sorry to hear that, whats going on? Why they had to put a feeding tube?

I will be 18 wks post op tomorrow and on Friday nite I was shopping with my daughter and we took a selfie to send to my mom. I have a before pic on here of the both of us and when I looked at it compared to the new one I was amazed at the difference.
Just thought I would share it on here to help encourage anyone who might be struggling or help inspire those just starting out. I know stuff like this really helped motivate me in the beginning!!
I am sorry that the second pic is sideways, I have tried everything I know (which isn't a lot when it comes to computers) to correct it.

I did to have the NG tube so I can't say anything there. As for the nausea and vomiting, I have it almost everyday. I'm close to 7 weeks post op and I'm exhausted. You never know from day to day what's going to make you sick. I can have corn chowder Soup today and feel great so I'll have it again tomorrow thinking it's a safe choice but it's not and I get sick. What's good today may not be so good tomorrow is what I'm trying to say.
I know our bodies are still trying to heal and all but the nausea and vomiting are a killer. My Dr. says it will pass, eventually. I'm still waiting foe that day to come. The best I can say is stick with the plan, we will get through this. This is all for the greater good and if it gets me to my idea of the promised land then so be it.
Good luck to you, I hope were both feeling better soon!

*First is my MAJOR scale victory, I am 100lbs down as of Sunday. Hw 290, Sw 282, Cw 190 from a size 20/22 to a size 8/10. Shoe from size 9W to an 8 regular.
*I no longer snore at all, which is big for me since it recently started and was so loud and disruptive to both my family and I. Now, nothing at all, they say im so silent they wonder if im breathing. I sleep so much better and more comfortably.
*Also, the late night cravings have gone away and I never wake up at night anymore so no more late night snacking.
*I no longer have pain from my Fibromyalgia and have stopped my medications completely!!!! I hate meds!!
******Sad to say that I have had serious negative responses to "MY LIFE" decision, here are some of the daggers in my heart...
-I've had family tell me, I didn't need the surgery, I was pretty enough even though I was "BIG"! As if I am so vein that I would do something so serious to my body just to look good...smh
-I was told, "I don't like this on u, it's not YOU, you're not meant to be this small"...SMH
Then, "I could never make myself sick every day just to look good". WAH? Who's that, I'm not sick at all...uneducated speakers make me wanna vomit if that's what u mean...UGH.
-another family member, "don't lose no more, we have enough crackheads out here, wouldn't want people to get the wrong idea". WTF???
THEN THE ABSOLUTE WORST OF ALL.....
-My husband threw me a big party when I hit my first goal of 200lbs. I invited all my favorite girls to a Glam Session to do makeovers and a photo shoot (my first pics public photos other than on BP) as a girls night but also as a celebration of my successes since at that time, I had also gotten a raise at work (Which is also suspect), a new luxury apt and a new car. I struggled over 2 years to gain these things from a 1 bedroom box apartment and no car to the new life that my hard work paid for. Do you know one friend was heard saying, "Why she gotta show off, now she think she something special because she lost weight, who's gonna shrink her head?" This hurt me the most because my husband offered me anything I wanted to Celebrate and all I asked is that he treat me and my girls, 17 of us to catered food from Carrabbas (My Fav), dj for the room, make up sessions with Mary Kay, we had a pure romance presentation, a man that was selling jewelry to enhance our look and a photographer to document the whole evening and take personal photo shoots as well, all this at no cost to them and this man made that happen just to celebrate me and my accomplishments and I was extremely thankful beyond belief but also so hurt by not only the person making the comment but the 4 that entertained her, 2 by saying, "that's alright, when she fall, she gonna fall hard" "she got a new 2014 car but just asked me for $60 bucks just last week, she's a phony" -this was when I lost my bank card and had to wait for another and she was with me so I asked her instead of calling my husband. Lesson learned!
Basically I learned that people are not always who you think they are. Thank God I did what I did for me and not to impress anyone or seeking anyone's approval. I am happy with my decision and since I've noticed that ppl seem to be down for you as long as you stay down in life...on their level perhaps but the minute you move up, now your not good enough for them. I have since been uninvited to 4 events and the excuse was, " Oh I thought You'd be busy or traveling" REALLY? I was suppose to be celebrating but I literally cried for 3 days. Beyond the gains (materials) and the losses(weight), I thought I had support. I learned an ugly lesson that day and here's some I wish to pass on...
Make your moves for YOU!, Seek only approval from YOU! Make sure you have a true support system. Then my daughter sent me a comment picture that reads,"Don't dim your light simply because it's shining in their eyes" That's for you too. Be positive and don't let the haters tear you down.
I don't have a positive relationship with my family, been on my own since 16, so these women have always been around but now that I can't even share my life losses or gains with them...my husband is taking me away from it all, no more pain, no more tears, no more haters, we are moving to California, his home town and I will make new friends and hope and pray to share a good life together. He even says we will renew our vows so I can get a new dress vs the size 26 I had to wear in Jamaica. After 18 years, we will renew our vows in Santa Monica!!! Haven't told any of them yet but I bet they act like they care... but they probably don't and who cares, I'm over it!! It will be a last minute goodbye and an AWESOME 2015!!!!

I am happy and I will continue to be, I could have uplifted others but I will reach out to the real ones and help bring them up and we can pray together for those too busy hating on others to ever come up in life!! Good riddance to em'...
Love you guys, needed to get that out!! Thanks, whew!

I'm having surgery at New York Presbyterian 1/5/15 with Dr. Bagloo. She is so nice!! And the office workers too Josie and Ivy! They submitted my papers and got a approval a week later. So far I'm happy with my decision

I cooked last night for my family and ate with them, (my yummy Protein shake) I can't hide from them eating for the rest of my life. Last night was the big test and I passed with flying colors. I knew before that I was ready for surgery but now I know that I am mentally ready as well ????

I've experienced something similar and it was peristaltic muscle contractions of the sleeve. Can feel it significantly with crunchy foods or something that just doesn't agree with the sleeve. Also, things just feel weird and mostly crappy this soon in your sleeve journey. When in doubt or worry, talk to the surgeon.

Im 2 days post op. I'm getting a strange feeling in my stomach. I'm hoping someone else here can identify with. It comes In waves. It's a feeling of hunger/nausea that washes over the top of my stomach in a matter of seconds, then it passes. But it's constant. Every few minutes. What is this? Anyone else felt it? It doesn't stop when I drink or if I take nausea med. I can't figure out what it is but would feel much better without it. Thoughts?

Hi to us who've made it!! Officially post op and feeling great!

I am so excited and happy, today is a week since I started my preop diet and I have lost 11lbs. ???????????? Surgery is on Thursday, I can not believe its almost here.

I'm sleeved!! Dr Ortiz and his staff at OCC, ARE AMAZING!! Had a wonderful experience. So much care and attention given to the patients. Yahoo!! On the losers bench, for REAL now.

My incision sites hurt worse than the tenderness in my belly. Once I get up, I feel fine. Once I sit down, I feel fine. But the transition up and down feels like a knife cutting my stitches. Getting out of the house for the first time today. Hoping this helps speed up the healing process!

I came home last night n just been resting. I'm feeling better now, and can't wait till I start feeling like myself again too

I woke up after surgery dry heaving, then by time I got to my room Hours later I was throwing up.Then still kept throwing up the next few days. So today was the 1st day no nausea. Yay! Haven't had any gas pain yet I don't think but my tummy has been growling n rumbling at times lol, is that gas? I'm gonna get out the house tomorrow too. And gonna step on the scale lol lets see

Today felt like a big turn around for me. The last two nights have been really hard. I woke up last night dry heaving because of the gas. I got gas-x today too and it has helped greatly. I no longer need any pain meds. Yes I am still sore but today I was able to nap on my side, my preferred way to sleep. Tomorrow my goal is to start walking, not just around the house. I actually put on real clothes today. I have no appetite at all. I am struggling getting in enough fluids. One odd side effect for me has been a heightened sense of smell. I smell EVERYTHING like crazy. My family will eat away from me and I can smell each item on their plate.
Cheers to us! We did it girl! Now we just need to get over this hump and it will be great.

I got discharged last night, and I'm a tummy sleeper so at the hospital I could only sleep on my side so last night I slept on my tummy n was kinda sore. Today I just rested n got my fluids in. Can't wait to feel like my self again:)

Well it's been 3 months since my surgery. A lot has changed obviously. The sleeve is a great tool, it's worked wonders for me so far. It's allowed me to make clear decisions about my health and diet choices. I'm working out around 4-5 times a week (30min weight lifting and 20min of cardio). I feel like my mental state is returning to normal. Those first few weeks of caloric deficit really alter your mental state.
I've had some ups and downs. I lost my brother I was close to on December 5th. He had diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, etc. I was following his path in life. He was so proud of me for getting the surgery. He said I hope I can get it one day too. He died of a heart attack at the young age of 49. If I had not of had the surgery before they I would been in a completely different state now.
I made it through the holidays. It was different not gorging on food,but honestly it felt so much better this way. I have clarity now I didn't have before. I enjoyed family more without focusing on food.
Overall at work my mind is clearer and sharper. Just this week I returned to joking nature.
I'm down about 70lbs. I would like to lose another 60. I start p90x next week and am looking forward to that. I tried to focus more on building muscle and not just losing weight. I feel so much better.
See yall in 3 more months!

@@anaxila, I got out at 5. It was a horrible night last night too. Way harder at home than the hospital. I had to sleep in a recliner because I couldn't lay flat on my bed. But today seems better. I did get lots of sleep last night. I am moving slow but getting around well. I have no interest in food but I will get my Protein Shakes down just to get the Protein in. We did it!

I can't believe that my surgery day is here. I am mostly excited and a bit of nervous worries. I hate IVs and I as m changing my body for the rest of my live. But change is for the better, right?!?! I have not cheated once on my preop diet. I lost 12.8 pounds this past week. I felt better than I have felt in a long long time.
I check in the hospital at 5:30 AM tomorrow. I will post as soon as I can after.
Cheers to a new me, you and 2015!

Surgery was Monday the 5th!
Doing really really well! I was home Tuesday evening and Wednesday went to the mall and walked with my mom for about an hour. It's cold and snowy so outside isn't an option. Then Thursday and Friday I went to the gym. Walked slowly on the treadmill for 30 min!!! I'm keeping everything down, which is only Water, crystal light, Protein broth, Protein shakes and now cream of wheat.
I was just watching my husband eat sour cream and cheddar chips-which were my favs. I just even thought....
What if I lick the powder off the chip?? Would that be AWFUL??
Yes. Yes it would. I googled if anyone has ever done that, and they have. But they also said something along the lines of your body is craving salt. Make broth!! So I just made a Protein chicken broth from unjury for the first time. It's pretty good. And guess what!! I did NOT lick chips lol.
I'm still working on my "head" part of this. I know I don't want chips, I wanted SALT! So if anyone has that urge, MAKE BROTH!! Sip it slowly and this too shall pass!!
Hope everyone is doing well or getting ready to have it done!!
Praying that all goes well for everyone!! ????
Katie

Surgery is set for TOMORROW at 10am! I can't believe the date is here already. I'm so glad to hear about everyone surgery experience! Sending lots of love to everyone still waiting for their date and those who are already in the recovery process! =)

Surgery is Monday so I've just got to get through this weekend! I eat out often for work taking clients or just business meetings so I'm learning already to be smarter with my orders. Today I had french onion Soup without the cheese and croutons and just sipped the broth. In hindsight maybe I should've just ordered a cup of au jus. Earlier this week I had egg drop soup and tried as much as I could to sift through the eggs. And another time instead of coffee and Desserts I had hot Decaf tea. The crazy thing is that no one really questioned me about my choices. It took me about the same amount of time as others to sip and sift my Soups as it did for them to eat their lunches. Lesson learned I need to focus on the company and conversation and NOT on the food!