Norma

Hi, Tiff!

I also don't get on this site much. You are looking fantastic. My left knee is all healed up but the right one is bone on bone --trying to avoid another knee replacement surgery for at least a year. I have lost 106 lbs now. I, too, do not worry in the least about food anymore, can eat what I want although I don't have much appitite for sweets or rice and bread. I did not get to start on the exercise kick until the last couple of months due to the kidney surgery and the knee surgery, but am in the gym about 3x a week for cardio. I am almost at 1 year post-op now, So much more healthier and thus more active, still run into people who don't recognize until they hear my voice which still pleases me to the max. I am hoping to lose about 40-50 more lbs and I do have sagging skin but I am 51 and had been obese for 45 years too. Glad to see you--will have to check out the book.

Hi all,

I haven't been on this site forever. Count me in for one very satisfied Aceves patient. I am down 106 lbs and almost off insulin completely. Dr Aceves and Dr Campos are the best doctors I have ever had and the hospital experience was the best as well--which is saying a lot because I have had 17 ear surgeries, colon surgery, 2 knee surgeries, deviated septum repair, 3 hospitalizations for pneumonia and probably some other things that I can't remember now in my 51 years of life.

I have lost the first 100 lbs and now working on another 60 0r 80. I am exercising for at least 1 hour a day on weight lifting and cardio. the loose skin is really sagging and i hope to tone up some, but if not I will have plastic surgery done in about a year or two.

Hi all,

I am 7 1/2 months out and have had kidney stones surgery and full right knee replacement surgery since my sleeve surgery, both of which kept me out of the gym for awhile. However, I have lost about 97 lbs and am wearing 18 slacks and xl shirts. My knee is healing and so I have been doing cardio 6 days a week for the last 5 weeks. No issues with food other than rice expands too much in my stomach and bread is too filling. I feel great and my diabetes is much improved.

I had quick response to needing less insulin. I am off Byetta and Lantus since the day after surgery. I still take Novolog but am using less than 10 units a day.

WildIris,

How you will respond to weight loss is going to be result of how you have learned to relate to food and what not having that same relationship with food/mealtime/ textures and comfort food available to you for the first 6 months or so like it was. If food and meal planning were very time consuming for you prior to surgery and you are no longer hungry (like my experience) you will have to seek out other ways to occupy your time. My fat friends found my quick weightloss and lack of being able to/interest in food threatening. I had some resistance from them of being supportive or including me in things that was surprising. I had to deal with mealtime not having the same appeal to me and my own judgements that people were eating way too much or all the wrong foods. I had to adjust my thinking regarding going out to eat as I didn't like paying for so much food and don't like leftovers so unless someone was along with whom I could share a serving, I considered eating out too expensive and wasteful.

I have lost 92 lbs in 6 months and have never really started regular exercise as I have had knee replacement surgery, a death in the family and kidney stone surgery in that time frame. I have a therapist that I see about every 3 or 4 weeks--we have discussed how people relate to me differently now that I have lost weight, my adjustment to the lessening of importance of food, the overall improvement of my health. The only time that my history of depression returned was right after the knee replacement surgery when I was having trouble with pain management and unable to work for 8 weeks.

So, all of this to say that I think it is a good idea for you to contact your therapist prior to surgery to check in and evaluate what might be your trouble spots on the journey and be mindful after surgery that meds might need to be adjusted for your smaller body size. I believe that you will be able to manage your bipolar issues well if you watch for your trigger signs.

We both got the Vertical Sleeve, Mine was Oct 30, 009 and I have lost 80+ pounds since then. I only weigh on the 30th of the month so will weigh again the last day of Feb. I have gone from size 28 and 30 to size 18/20. My diabetes has improved dramatically--only taking 5 units of Novolog 2x a day now. I had unexpected total knee replacement surgery on right knee on Dec 15th as my knee finally blew backwards and had no stability. However, I am thrilled that the weight loss from the sleeve has helped so much with my knee recovery. I am now able to do cardio exercise and hope to be released from physical therapy soon. I bleieve that Dr. Aceves saved my life with his excellent surgery skills by finally allowing me to get a grip on how I use food in my life. I am never hungry and have lost my raging sweet tooth. I was able to fund the $9000 through flex spend and cutting expenses by moving in with friends. Since surgery, I can eat from the appetizer menus when out to eat or will get a side item and share an entree with my friends. I utilized the clothing exchange here on VST so have not had to buy more than underwear, shoes and a new winter coat. My food costs are less than 1/5 of what I used to spend. My pharmacy costs have also been reduced by 70%. Best decision I ever made in my life was going to Mexico and getting the sleeve.

Tiffy,

Godspeed for the surgery and will have you in my thoughts all day. I go back to work half days starting Thursday. Hope you are feeling good soon after.

Thanks, everyone. I am really glad to be moving down the scale. I hope to keep it up for another hundred pounds and have actually no idea what I will look like or what size I should be as "normal" weight. I hope that the skin will adapt but am starting a plastics fund in case I have to go that route. I plan to post pictures again in a few months.

I had surgery 0ct 30 2009. My weight was 312 lbs at 5'3" tall. Took 3 month pictures yesterday and am down from size 28 to size 18/20. Weight is 240lbs. So posted a couple of pictures.

Have you asked yourself why your motivation for losinng weight and staying honest with your structure about what foods to eat is waning? What are the challenges and fears of being thinner?

I am almost at 3 months (lack one week) and have lost 67 lbs. I have not done any cardio type exercise as I had total knee replacement surgery 1 1/2 months after the sleeve surgery. I am still off work with the knee surgery.

Why don't you contact Nina or Renee or one of the coordinators? When you bring a person with you, they can stay in the hospital room with you as there is a leather couch in the room for them to sleep on. I doubt that your 14 year old would have much to do unless she likes to read or Ipod. There is a tv but not many channels. I took a friend with me and she walked around the area but was unable to find a shopping center and she basically read or listened to books on her ipod while I rested or walked around the halls of the hospital. The wing is small and so you will have access to other Aceves patients while there and that might be all the socialization you need while there. If you don't have to deal with connecting flights at an airport to get home, I think doing it alone is quite easy.

I am trying to adjust to the pain level and the need to constantly keep in motion. I am progressing well according to the physical therapist but it is annoying that as I get my quads contracting then my knee gets stiff and then I have to really work to bend it and vice versa. Can't seem to sleep for more than 2 hours at a time as the knee stiffens and start shooting pain. Of course, I can only take the pain meds every four hours. I did see my range of motion improve some-I have 110 degrees of flexion but am still struggling to extend my leg straight -5 degrees. Feels like I am working out all the time but not able to really do any cardio so weight loss is slow. However, I am only needing about 10 units of Novolog daily now and BP is getting better. Wearing smaller sizes too so will have to go through the closet and purge of too big clothes. It will all balance out eventually.

Good to hear from someone who talks funny like me--I am from Missouri. I had a great experience with Dr Aceves. I wish all my doctors were cut from the same cloth. He is a superb doctor and wonderful person as well. Congrats to you, Gary.

Well, I am home from having knee replacement surgery and am progressing albeit not as fast as I recovered from sleeve surgery. Knee surgery is painful-hugely. Physical therapy is intense pain because you are breaking down the adhesions that are trying to form so that you can bend and straighten the leg. Then the Luveniox makes me feel cold. Of course, the 15 degree weather and snow we are having could have a part to play in that too. I am probably going to have to miss about 12 weeks of work. That is rough because I like my job and like to be in control since I am used to being the boss.

But, Christmas was great and I got some new clothes and was surprised that I now wear a size 18/20 in tops!!!!!!! I am doing pretty well with the diet except that I really can't eat much and am having to use hydrocodone elixir for pain meds because pills are too tough on the tummy every 4 hours. I am going to have to drink Protein Drinks to get all my Protein in. Anyway, just wanted to check in and update you all on my status.

To all you newbies and those researching the sleeve, it will be the best surgery and best tool you will ever chose to get for yourself. I am so happy that I had mine done. Knee replacement surgery--well, let me get a few more weeks past this before I make any recommendations. lol

Hey everyone!

I am in St Joeseph hospital in Kansas City for the next 3 days. Surgery was this morning. they did a nerve block and general anesthia through an IV. Surgery went well except that the plastic piece that resembles cartilage did not snap on and so the doctor had to order another knee and wait for 45 min for persom to deliver it. I was in surgery from 10am to 2pm. I am doing well, still have morphine pump tonight. I will have to get up tomorrow and walk on it. I'm in room 548.

:confused:Sounds like you are having grief reactions to all the trauma you have been through with this. That is a sign that you are mentally healthy. Be kind and gentle with yourself. I will send healing energy your way in my daily mindfulness meditations. (((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))

Congrats to those of you getting sleeved in the next day or two. Linda, I am having knee surgery on the 15th. I have decided not to have any more surgeries for two years and then I will probably do the Tummy Tuck, upper arm batwing, and putting the girls back where they are supposed to be surgery.:drool5:

You didn't mention if you are taking Nexium, Prilosec, or some type of acid blocker medication. If you are not, I believe stomach acid reflux might be causing you some discomfort. I did not have much pain from my sleeve surgery; however, I have a very high tolerance to pain and have been in intense pain from my right knee (bone grating on bone because I don't have any cartilage left). Hope you start feeling better soon.

Tiffykins,

If you didn't look radiant and beautiful and sexy and healthy and glowing with love and compassion:thumbup1:, I would let you know. Your eyes, skin and hair look great in the pictures and I think that your family is just overly concerned. I have had lots of people comment about my loss of 51 lbs in 38 days in a similar manner--they are freaked out by the speed at which I am losing and are thinking that my stomach has been made too small and that I will die because I won't be able to stop the weight loss. I find that concept hilarious since I have another 130 lbs to lose. Calm yourself and enjoy looking sexy in that dress at your party. Dance the night away! :biggrin0:Besides, Caysen would tell you if you looked ill.

Knee surgery is next Tues (12/15/09) at 10:00 am. I am supposed to be in the hospital for 3 or 4 days, then home with PT daily for 2 weeks. Surgeon is saying I will be off work for 6-10 weeks but he doesn't know me--I am stubborn and don't like to be off work. I think I will be back to work in 4 weeks max. I can't wait for the pain to be gone. I get 2 days of morphine pump!!!!! I won't be able to post much until I get home as I don't think I want to try taking my laptop to the hospital and leaving it in my room while I go to PT daily.

At 5 weeks out, I have lost 51 lbs. Start was 312 lbs and am 5'3". Really noticing it in clothing; It is bone chilling cold here and was able to wear thin sweatpants under my blue jeans and the jeans were so loose that I had to wear a belt to keep them up! My doctors want me to lose to 125. That would be 187lbs to lose. I am game.

Since I can get obsessed fairly easily, I decided not to weigh except at the request of my personal trainer or at the doctor's office. I am fine with this weight loss being slow and steady and am a little unnerved by it being so easy at this point. Once I have my knee surgery and get cleared for exercising then I might be more curious about my weight but will not weigh more than once a week at the most.

That is something to shout about!!!!!! Congrats. Thanks for sharing such wonderful news. I hope to join you sometime.