LilMissDiva Irene

Can you kind of walk me through the first day? Check in, tests, etc? When you get driven to the hospital after being picked up by Ernesto (who also had the sleeve) you will immediately be taken all around for your pre op testing. Blood panels, x-rays, etc. You will speak with the Anethesiologist and with Yolanda. They are going to go over things with you and collect payment. Once completed you and all the other pre op patients will have a quick presentation by Dr. Aceves. Afterward you will be taken back to your Hotel (very nice!). Catheter? If so, before you are asleep or after and when does it come out? I was not placed a catheter but eventually needed one. It was a one shot deal and I was ok after that. How long are you hooked up to an IV? I had my IV in until the 3rd day I believe around midday. Are you feeling well enough to walk to the pharmacy by yourself the day before you leave? Is there an opportunity on the pre-op day? I didn't do this but I would have been able to do this if I wanted to. Are you allowed to eat whatever you want for dinner on pre-op day? Is there a decent place to eat at or very near the hotel? You will be allowed to have your last supper of sorts. You can whatever you want! The Hotel makes excellent food, enjoy! Do they really not have wash cloths at the hospital? I mostly slept in my hospital gown for the first two days. I don't believe I needed to worry about washing my clothes at all. The hospital will keep your linens and gowns very clean. Did you have diarrhea on going home day? Not until I got home, but it's mostly because liquids in, liquids out. No big deal. If anyone had a revision: On me, Dr. Aceves plans on doing a barium swallow test and an endoscope under heavy sedation on pre-op day. If you had this done, how groggy were you after? I did not have to go through this, so unfortunately cannot answer this question for you. I hope this helps. If you have anymore questions, ask away! There's lots of us here and always eager to help. You are in good hands, Dr. A is one of the best in the world. I originally was going to have my revision by Dr. Cirangle but found Dr. A's prices much more fitting to my finances. I don't regret it for one second.

I think my main focus is always my pictures. I can pick myself apart like no other! I did notice though I was at Kohl's the other day and I had to analyze (I'm an Analyst by day... lol) what I was doing. I picked out some cute capris that were on sale. I chose sizes from 10's going all the way up to 16's!! I don't know why I did that. I know I'm not a 16 anymore... *sigh* I just didn't want to be disappointed if what I brought into the fitting room were all too small. Well I did at least start from the smallest I had. The 10's didn't buckle but I was a bit shocked that I could even get them on that much. I don't know why because I do have a pair of 10's at home that I can get on (not comfortably though!) So I tried on the 12's and of course they fit perfectly. I was even more shocked at this. I just find it hard for me to imagine fitting 12's where not only 7 months ago I was wearing 22/24's!! I didn't even need to think about trying on the 14's or 16's. Then I decided to go look for some new tops. Funny, I felt weird about doing this but for the first time in 20 years I ventured over into the Junior section. Their tops are always way more stylish/cute than the Misses. I find Misses to carry some cute stuff but a lot of it just look like Women's size clothes to me - and I'm so over that!!! LOL I felt weird in that section though. I kept wondering if people were looking at me like "what's that fat girl doing over here?" I would scan a little bit just to see, and no one was even paying any attention to me what so ever. So yeah, my brain still needs to catch up. Here's one other thing I've noticed. I'll sometimes glance at the Women's clothing and be amazed at how humongous they look to me now! Like sheets of clothing! I always feel sad to knowing I used to buy those sizes, then instantly happy again that I don't... LOL I can totally relate too with Deb that seeing other large folks out in the world now, and how I perceive them. They all really do look very large, much larger now than when I was large too. If that makes any sense at all...

This link will take you to the tutorial, HTH: http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/13516-ticker-tutorial-for-vst-lbt-with-pictures/

ANew, yes getting low on B-12 is pretty dangerous. I'm glad you had the good mind to read up on the symptoms. However, shame on your Dr. for not looking into this further!! I'm already B-12 anemic (as well as iron) and I know us sleevers have a hard time with keeping up with it. The way our stomachs are cut makes it harder for our bodies to absorb the B-12 in the normal way. I'm just curious, it sounds like you have some really good B-12 Complex that it helped you fast. Would you mind sharing that link you use to buy your B-12? I might want to look into it myself. I'm very glad to hear your on the mend. Don't use that other product anymore! It didn't do a darn thing for ya!

Sounds good!! :-) I'll work on that Yahoo! Group tonight. I'll have some time.

:party4: !!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY !!! :party4: :Dancing_tongue: !!! CONGRATS ON THE LOSS !!! :Dancing_tongue: I know how much you try, and I just wanted to let you know that I think you are one super chick. You never give up and never give in, and in this long journey of ours I think that is the BEST attribute anyone can have.

Sarah, this was so special - your slide show from FB. It nearly made me cry. You have done so fantastic and you have so very much to be proud of. You are transforming into a butterfly!! You already don't even look like the same person and your barely working on your 7th month. Thank you for sharing your story with us... and here's to the home stretch!!!

That's one of the BEST NSV's!!! Congrats!!!

Do it one step at a time. Go shopping and try them on in the fitting room - get them a bit too small and work your way into them. Once you fit in them, go get some more pants for the next size down.

I have so many clothes right now that are goal oriented. I saved a great deal pair of jeans and pants that I saved over the years while I gained a bunch of weight. There are maybe 10 or so pairs. So far I've been able to get comfortably into 3 pairs already and now they are in the Goodwill bin. I just wanted to be able to fit into them again, and let me tell you when I finally fit into that first pair - IT WAS SUCH AN INCREDIBLE FEELING!!! I've been holding onto them for 20 years!!! They were made back in the day before stores started making the vanity sizing. I have one pair 16's Levi's that I can get into now, and 2 pairs of 14's!! I definitely suggest having numerous pants that you can *almost* fit into at any time. It's so great when you can finally get into them. Try them on often - especially if you are going through a stall. It always makes me feel instantly better.

WOW ROCK IT SKINNY MAMA!!!! Looking AMAZING CONGRATULATIONS!! You smoked it!! :Dancing_biggrin::cheer2: :Dancing_wub::success1: :party4: :cheers2: :Dancing_tongue::youcandothis:

Welcome to the forums!! At first it will seem like baby steps. You will only be able to take tiny sips at first and will have to wait some time between each one as well. It's best to measure your intake at this time. Keep in mind all your clears will count toward your daily total (broths, Gatorade, Jello, etc.) Over time you will be able to drink more and more. You will never be able to chug drinks again like pre-op. However for example, so far today I've already had 112 oz. and it's only 3:22 PM. Wow that's a lot!! BTW I'm over 7 months post op. Good luck!!

That is fantastic!!! Keep up the excellent work!

Hi Heather Those are great! There is so much more in store too, that's the best part.

Wow look at you! You do look thin already like coops said. Love the red hair on black, very chic.

Oh my goodness!! I forgot to post my update... Coops, luv you girl - you just keep hanging in there. I'm always rooting for you no matter what. And yes, a pound is a pound!!! They all deserve recognition. ____________________________________________ SN..............Starting Wt........Current.......Goal.......Lbs to Goal LilMissDiva.....221.8..............201.6...........199.8.........1.8

Hip, this surgery is amazing. I have no doubt you could get yourself to any weight you'd like. If you wanted to lose more than 235, I'm willing to bet you would. I'm a revision and yes, I gained with my band. I'm far below my lowest with my band weight now - and really I don't feel like I'm bottoming out at all. Like Denise said, as long as you're following the sleever rules of eating, it will eventually come off. I stall here and there but over time I think I've grown very confident that it will come off down the line when it's time. I just dropped 8 Lbs in 3 days right now. Then I also just had a 3 week stall right before this too. Just hang tight, and give it some time.

WHOOHOOOOOO!!!! Welcome to sleeve land!!! Everything you mentioned is very classic and normal. I pretty much had every single one of those issues you are going through right now. Just try to Rest Sip and Walk as much as you can. It gets easier and less painful every single day... hugs and if you need any support let me know. I'M SOOOO HAPPY FOR YOU!!!!!

I have been doing my Onederland countdown since I had surgery... LOL!! I started with 72 Lbs. Now I have about 3 and a half. It has been 20 years since I've weighed in the Ones. It will be a good day!!!!!!! I hope we all get there FAST!!!!!!

W W!!!!! Major differences Becca, I'm so happy for you.

CONGRATS!! I can def tell a difference already!!

July 4th sounds good, thanks for the suggestions! Keep em coming, but so far it's sounding like US Day.

Hi Treequeen I'll try to answer your questions as best I can! I'm going to have to with yes, in the mirror. I'm still gyour personality will most likely change when you get close to goal and maybe even more when you get there. For me, this is a no. I feel like I was much more weak as an super morbidly obese person. Now I'm much different. I have no problem with getting into conversations, sticking up for myself and expressing to others what I like and don't like. It comes with time and getting to know who I really am, and not the big person surrounded by the coccoon I had wrapped around me for so long. That person wasn't the real me, that was the "safe" me. That was my protection from the outside world, not having to deal with reality. It kept others away from my inside and was always the best excuse not to go out and do anything. As I'm losing I'm finding that I'm having to take double takes of myself etting used to how I look now! My shadow, my reflection and even the new person I've become on the inside. It's all for the better though! I hope not, confidence does not have to mean becoming an ego maniac. Lacking self esteem I would sometimes see others who were okay with being more aggressive and in the lime light as being an ego maniac. However now that I'm more like that, I just realize I was wrong. Maybe that's because that's how I really wanted to be from the onset. There is nothing wrong with feeling good about yourself!!! Enjoy your journey and Celebrate all you are doing for yourself!! When I was much heavier I was more of a people pleaser. I think this had a lot to do with me trying to stay out of everyone's line of fire. I had zero confidence, and you need some in order to express YOUR wants and needs. Again, every ONE of us deserves to be happy, and you cannot do this by pleasing everyone else and forgetting about yourself. I'm not saying to become totally selfish, but you have to be happy to live the life you always wanted. There will be a lot of changes once you start losing weight. People WILL notice. At first this was a little uncomfortable for me because I never wanted to be the center of attention. I get complimented all the time now, get called skinny, etc... and I think I've finally become ok with this. I actually enjoy it a great deal now, and someday I am in hopes of giving back. I have no problems with speaking up in meetings, talking amongst others and finally being able to feel good about who I am! Pretty much everything is a surprise for me! It's like Christmas all year long. Well, honestly I didn't know what to expect. I'd never lost this amount of weight in my life. I was thin as a young lady and once I got out of High School and got married young I pretty much gained a lot of weight. I was able to lose at most 50 Lbs but would quickly gain it all back and then some. So all of this is new to me. It's a good new though!!! I wish I would've known how awesome it is to be thin and healthy. It's the best feeling in the world!!!! The thing that freaks me out the most is how I will deal with being thin.. I have absolutely NO experience in the area. Will my peronality change? Will I become a weakling? Will I recognize myself when I look in the mirror? Will I become an ego-maniac? Will I still be a people pleaser? What will change besides my size? Where there any suprises for you when you lost the weight? Are things different than you thought they'd be? If there was one thing you wish ppl would have told you about ahead of time, what would it be?

***CALLING ALL CHALLENGERS*** It's about that time to choose a new challenge date! I'm so excited for a new one already, especially knowing I'm well within reach to actually making or passing this last one I set for myself!! Whooohoooo!! Anyway, I also really liked the fact we gave ourselves a little extra time to make it. So, I'm thinking either Father's Day which is Sunday June 19th - or the first day of Summer which is Tuesday June 21st. Open to suggestions as well!

Down 5.8 in 2 days... Wow, I really gotta keep rockin this plan! I won't stop til I hit my Easter goal!!! The only thing is though it's not bad, it's just the same thing every day so it could get a little tiring - but I must press on!!! ____________________________________________ SN..............Starting Wt........Current.......Goal.......Lbs to Goal LilMissDiva.....221.8..............203.2...........199.8.........3.4