LilMissDiva Irene

My first original choice was Dr. Cirangle right here where I live. He works with LapSF... However, it turns out he charges a bit more than I could afford, unfortunately. He's an amazing and gifted surgeon, I'd still go to him today if I had the money and hadn't already had my sleeve completed. I ended up with Dr. Aceves. I'm glad I did!! The reasons were simple: -He is extremely skilled and gifted as a surgeon, his technique gets results of nearly 97% of his patients reaching their goal. I am amongst that stat!!! In fact, I passed my post goal, goal #1 and now working on goal #2 even... though I'm not really trying extra hard... LOL -He is a member of the FACS (I did my research and verified this). You can't be a deadbeat surgeon to be in this prestigious club of surgeons. -He had the best experience with my situation. I had my band removed and revised to the VSG. -I had a LOT of friends who had him as a surgeon and received 100% positive feedback from all of them. -I did hours and hours and hours and weeks of research on all WLS forums and never once read a negative comment from any of his patients. -I'd seen photos of and read about him working out of a REAL hospital and how clean they kept it. Every single comment was spot on. That has to be the cleanest hospital I've ever been to. My Mom joined me on my journey and she worked in a Hospital for 35 years and said the same thing. -His coordination staff was above and beyond. Nina is an absolute sweetheart and when I met she and her husband in the hospital she gave me a big hug and wished me well. She's adorable in real life too!!! Those are the main reasons, and I have zero regrets. I won't tell you anymore than give you my own personal experiences. Good luck to you and in all your endeavors.

Wow, that was a pretty bizarre happening! I'm sure it was a little scary knowing you were in another country even. That said, I'm glad you're back home where you can get completely healed. Wishing you the very best as your new journey begins!!

I've always been one to dress really well even when I was fat. It's much easier to find cute outfits now... maybe too easy. I have WAY too many choices and I've never been good about picking any one over another. My closet is crazy stuffed right now!!!

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/ The above website is for lap banders who are currently banded. This website you are reading right now is for the vertical sleeve. HTH

I hit my original goal in about 6 or so months I think. I got to a size 8, then bumped it down to a size 4 and hit this one at around 10.5 months out. Now my goal is to just be happy and remain healthy and thin. Dr. Aceves is really good and his technique is marvelous. I don't regret using his services one bit. Good luck!

Hi there! You're very welcome, I truly from the bottom of my heart find helping others achieve their goals a goal of my own. I know and believe too that with GOD all is possible. HE has always provided the best for me, and HE'd never lead me wrong. Not everyone is lucky enough to have social groups or forums around them in person. If you do, that is great and they are extremely helpful. However if you do not, then hanging around here a little bit more may be in order. There are a great many knowledgeable folks here who have been around for a long time, have reached goal and so far are doing excellent at maintenance. They are always willing to chime in and even take you under their wing if that is something you prefer. I'm happy to assist or answer any questions anytime! Xoxo

Thanks Yolanda!! I am absolutely truly happy. Even if I didn't get the liposuction I'd STILL be happy. I think my being so thin on top and still feeling bigger on bottom was making me feel kind of confused on whether to keep losing or not. Now that I have refilled on top, I do feel completely comfortable with me now. That said, I'm still going to get the rest of my procedures, and I know I'll truly be done at that point. *Hugs* It will be a wonderful thing for you! I know it!

LOL, but no I have Triple D's... so not sure what my name would be with that.

Yayyy!!!! I'm 3 1/2 weeks out from my breast augmentation. The pain is *finally* subsiding. I've got all my feeling back in my breasts, the only pain I have now is some slightly in my nipples. Also, and not surprisingly a little bit in the incision area, added with some itching. Totally normal for me... Anyway, the BEST PART is that the surgery swelling is almost totally gone!!!! WHOOHOOOO!!!! Here I was getting paranoid that I'm gaining my weight back... gosh can't I ever give myself a break? I'm actually back down to my 179 Lbs plus my implants weigh 3 Lbs (I weigh 185 this morning so very very close - Yahooooo!!!). So, only a few more pounds and from there is true weight loss again. I really was starting to freak out big time!!! LOL I measured myself yesterday and my ribcage is back down to 35", which I was a 34" before surgery. So I guess I still have a tiny bit of swelling left. That's fine, I'm sure it will be gone in the next few weeks at the most. So, as I measured myself and I'm always really good about finding the right bra size, it turns out I'm a Size.... get this... 34 or 36 (right now while I'm still in a little pain) DDD!!! OMG!!! LMAO!!! That's a 34/36 F... that's some crazy stuff right there... Have a great day everyone!! Next stop is LipoVille!!!

Heyyy y'all!!! Thanks so much for all the super sweet comments!! @M2G - YEAHHHHH LOVIN THE GIANT DANCING BANANA!!!! @SouthernSleever - Sexy is NOT something I dared think about a year ago, so that's a really great compliment, THANKS!!!! @Kimmes - I truly enjoy helping out and really feel like sharing my journey is the best way I can give back. I'm always here, and I never mind trying to give a 3rd point of view. If you ever have a q regarding PS... just let me know! Though I won't have any skin removals for a few years, if I even do.

I think setting a goal of 1-2 Lbs per week is both realistic and expected. That's always what I go by. Now that I'm post goal and just trying to either maintain and simply avoid weight gain, and because it never hurts to lose a little more here and there I usually say 5 Lbs per month maximum. HTH

Awwww If I ever get the chance to visit your Gorgeous Country - you're gonna have to be my tour guide!! I can't imagine a better vacation! I've always been fascinated by Egypt - and now I've got an awesome friend living there too!! Keep up the excellent work... you look absolutely stunning!!!

It plain and simple has given me the life I only dreamed I could have. Life without co-morbidities, without self depracation, without low self esteem, without the need to wear clothes that would make a circus clown look silly, without feeling judged for being the fattest person everywhere I go... There are just too many more reasons TO do it, than not.

Thank you all so very very much, and just as you say I'm motivational - I really don't think I could've done this without all of you!!! You constantly remind me where I've been and how far I've come when those days come around and I'm not feeling so inspired. It's a really really tough journey - but like I always say... SOOO WORTH EVERY POUND AND INCH LOST!!! @Coops - OMG lady are you kidding me?? You have got to be the MOST inspirational person here!! I won't have it any other way, and I'm seriously gonna throw a ticker tape parade for ya when you feel comfy enough to say you're done. *hugs*

On this day in 2010, I was revised from Lap Band to Sleeve by Dr. Aceves. Life's good. I'm happy. More comments to come later, but for starters, here's some photos detailing the last year of my journey (First 50 Lbs. was pre-op):

Awweee!!!! Congrats MINI-me!!! Here's to bouncing baby bundle of joy!!!

WOW!!!!! You are some kinda superstar!!!! Keep up the amazing progress!

Oh noooo!!! I will NOT let you do that to yourself!!! Girlie, turn that frown Upside DOWN!! You have accomplished so much, and the only feeling you should have is to feel elation! That said, I totally get what you're saying about the whole graze eating. Hey, no ones perfect - least of all me. But, here's what sets all of us apart from the obese world... we have chosen to DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT! food is addicting. I'm addicted to food. I have to remind myself of this every single morning when I wake up. I literally have to let the first thought in my mind be "I will not eat bad today". That is the promise I make for myself that day. Sometimes I break that promise, but I don't do it on purpose! I just have to forgive myself and make that next meal a good one. I really have never been able to do the 5 day pouch test. The only time I'm ever able to stick to liquids only is when I'm getting cut open and my surgeon threatens my life with it... LOL So what I do is kinda turn it into a game. I've always liked the Slim Fast diet - for years! That was how I lost my first 50 Lbs and kept it off. Well what I'll do is Protein dense (Isopure or powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury chicken Soup) Clear Liquids up until dinner time. Then for dinner I'll have lean protein and some delicious green veggie as my side dish. Then day 2-3 I'll do the Atkins shakes and again, lean protein and green veggies for dinner. Days 4 and 5 I pretty much reintroduce solids back in during the day and maybe substitute one meal with a Protein shake, and dinner being lean (say it with me folks!! LOL) protein and green veggies. I know that's not for everyone but I'm just offering an alternative to the common 5 day pouch test. Here's the ONE thing I believe gets me through it though... I fire up that food logger and make sure I'm adding everything! Those two things combined and I'm always back on track and losing weight again. Good luck to you! You're only a few pounds away from your desired goal... you WILL be there PDQ I know it!! Xoxo

Hi mariposa, Well, I did not have and eroded band, but my band simply never liked me. It never gave me proper restirction, even after 2.5 years and 20+ adjustments! It also gave me night GERD and I would wake up choking on my reflux all night long. It was no bueno!! When I started to seriously consider perhaps having the band removed and maybe getting the sleeve or even the RnY, I researched and asked a million questions to lots of people. I was finally convinced that I should just go for it, and I would be happy with my decision. Guess what...??? I AM!!! My sleeve has really saved my life!! I had so many physical issues, some life threatening that today are no longer but a distant memory. High blood pressure, possible future diabetes (it ran in my family and I would get hypo/hyperglycemic sometimes - though I do still if i eat something too high in sugar!) arthritis in my knees where I was SCHEDULED to have 2 seperate knee surgeries - but NEVER NEEDED TO HAVE!!! yayy!! I was so down and perhaps even depressed... but today I'm living the life I'd dreamed about for decades and I'm feeling SKY HIGH!! I know this can be you as well! Hang in there and once you get your surgery, you will be here before you know it. Xoxo

OMGoodness... I"m so sorry to hear that news!! Though, I'm very glad they caught it early... sending you positive thoughts and prayers!! Please keep us updated on how you're doing. *hugs*

EXCELLENT sound advice! Thanks for this...

WHOOTTT!!! Lookin' good! That shade of pink look mahvelous on you!

Thank you ALL so very much. I really can't even begin to express just how much everyone's support here and well wishes mean to me, and to everyone else. We are truly a special bunch!! Hey there juli Yep!! That's what this is all about! Making all of our dreams a reality! Step one, get to a healthy normal size... then if more is needed - GO FOR IT!! Whatever the case may be, at the end of our journies, being completely happy with ourselves is the ultimate goal here. *hugs* I have to say, I've never smiled so much in my life!!! I mean, this coming from someone who often smiled, regardless of what was going on in my world at the time. I'm a generally happy person, but now the confidence and happiness I have for *me* makes me exude this one million times more! I want this for every single one of us! Having WLS is really tough... surgery period is tough - but the results are so worth it!!! All the best to you! You're going to be here too, very very soon! Xoxo

I agree with everyone else, please call your surgeon ASAP. *hugs* and please keep us updated on how everything turns out. Try to think of anything you might have eaten just before and if you can, check your temperature too. These are questions you might be asked when you call.

He is the only PS that Dr. Aceves recommends correct? I do believe I will go to him to perform any of my excess skin removals, should I decide to do that when the time comes. Your surgery really came out great, it looks very natural. *hugs*