charitymarroquin

Well Guys! I haven't been on here in a long time... Sorry... Time sure does fly and I've been staying so busy... On Tuesday it will be a year since I was sleeved! October 12, 2009. 90lbs lost! I am a completely different person. I still have a ways to go. Probably the last 4 months I have just been holding my own, which I know isn't good, but hey at least I haven't been gaining and it is possible to maintain right? I have went from a size 22w to a size 11/12! I just bought me a pair of jeans that were an 11 the other day! How exciting! Now I do need plastic surgery. Especially on my arms and thighs. Hope I can get that done before long. Also my gallbladder is full of stones. My doctor recommends taking it out, but right now I'm not going to worry about it since it's not bothering me... I know... I do need to get it out... I don't know if it is a result of getting the sleeve or losing weight. Wish I knew... I am a missionary living in Nicaragua. I know I should have lost even more weight that I have, but my life is so hectic. I have a 3 yr. old daughter, plus another 12 children living in our home. We have a children's home... I actually have 5 babies that are in diapers! Life is great! It's worth it! Where are all you other guys that had your surgeries around my time? I don't see you all on here. I see Tiffykins! She has been a role model for me from the beginning. I notice that I can eat more than most people that have had the sleeve. I don't know why. I guess it's not that bad of a thing if I don't gain weight. I still want to lose about 25 or 30lbs. I need to get back on track. Time to finish this!

Hey Tiffy! Glad to hear that you made it through surgery ok. How are you feeling now? Hey Carolyn, I know I need to do something... :-( I don't have insurance though... but here in Nicaragua it is alot cheaper, but it is still going to be around a $1,000. Which when you are missionary and do not receive a salary still makes it difficult... I have been thinking about trying a gallbladder/liver flush to flush out at least some of the stones. Have anyone here tried that? And I don't know it that is safe or ok after being sleeved. It's pretty nasty. You drink Apple Cider Vinegar, Olive Oil and Salt Water and different times. But if it worked it would be better than surgery. Do you think it's ok for me to try it?

Hey Tiff! So sorry to hear about your gallbladder... :-( I just found your post tonight. I will be praying for you. Hope the surgery goes well and that you have a quick recovery... Believe it or not I just returned from the doctor and he had me do a ultrasound on my gallbladder and said that mine is almost totally full of gallstones... :w00t: I don't know what I should. :thumbup: The doctor here in Nicaragua says that I need to have it. The sooner the better. I don't know if that is what I should do or wait until I am having problems... I feel fine. I haven't had any pain or anything... Oh well... I guess I'll have to figure it out. Let us know when you get back from the hospital. Praying for you!

Thanks Everybody for the congratulations! Everyone on this board has really helped motivate me through this! Together we can make it! 150lbs here I come!

Hey Everybody!!! I know I haven't been on in a while. I have been staying so busy, but I wanted to give all of you an update on how I am doing. I am a little over 3 months out. I have lost almost 50lbs. and this last week I weighed in at 199!!!! This is my first milestone. I think it is so comforting to know that I will NEVER see 200lbs again! I have went from a size 22 pants to a 14. I was wearing 2x tops and now I can wear a large. I am getting rid of all my "big" clothes! I haven't been exercising and I haven't been drinking Water like I should. I also haven't been eating enough Protein. I hope to do better to lose the rest of my weight. I know this last stretch is going to be harder than the first half, but I know I can do it!

I am a little over 3 months out and I have lost almost 50lbs. But, I haven't been exercising or drinking enough water. I need to get on track better, but I am happy with what I have lost. I'm about halfway there! Of course I think this last half will be a lot slower than the first half, but I know it will happen. Just this last week I went under 200lbs! I was so happy! It's amazing to know that I will NEVER weigh 200lbs. AGAIN!

Hey Chancie!!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!! That is a big thing! Wow! I have 5 more lbs. before I get there. I am so excited!

Thanks Guys for all of your replies! I really appreciate all your input!

Hey Guys, I haven't been able to be online much. So busy... I'm 6 weeks post op. I've lost 30lbs. Seems like It's been slow at times, but I'm believing it's going to come off. Been kind of confused on some things. I'm living in Nicaragua. I went to see my surgeon yesterday. I told him that I was using Protein shakes for Breakfast that I had someone bring me from the states. He told me he didn't want me drinking Protein Shakes... He said that they are too many calories in liquid form and won't fill me up or hold me as long and it is better to eat food and eat protein instead... QUESTIONS: 1. HELP! I know most of you use protein shakes. Also I really wasn't told to stay away from carbs... They did tell me to make the protein a priority... What do you think? I feel so confused. I know I have to count the protein shakes as calories, but if I have one in place of breakfast I don't see anything wrong with that. They actually hold me quite a while too. At least until lunch. Also I feel like I'm cheating alot. The food is so different here and it is so hard to diet. 2. If I eat 4 chicken nuggets at McDonalds am I going to mess myself up? They have 190 calories. Not bad on calories if that's all I eat for that meal... Also I can get them for a buck. We spend a lot of time on the road and it's so hard for me to eat out. When I can eat a salad it will be easier. I hate to go to a place and order a whole meal and just eat such a small portion of it. 3. If I eat some of my calories in carbs am I going to hurt my weight loss? 4. My surgeon told me not to use a straw or chew gum. Is this forever? 5. Can we use airborne? It is in those tablets that dissolve in Water. It kind of bubbles, so I didn't know if we can. Sorry to have so many questions.... :wink0: I really appreciate all of you and all the advice you have given me!

My goal it to be in Onederland for Christmas! 15 lbs. to go!!! I can't wait!

Hey! I'm 27 yrs. old. I am 5 weeks post op. I started out at 245lbs. and I have lost 25lbs. so far! I don't think I'm going to lose weight as fast as some people. I have a very slow metabolism, but I know it will come off! The best thing with the sleeve is knowing that this weight will NEVER come back! That's the greatest thing for me. I've already had to get rid of a lot of clothes because they are too big. I went from a size 22 to a 18. I can't wait to get to onderland! Hopefully within a month! It's kind of like a dream, I can't imagine it really happening. lol I can try to help you with your ticket. I went to Graphical Tickers and Trackers: Weight Loss, Trying To Conceive, Pregnancy.... Chose your ticket there and you set it up there. Then you copy the codes they give you. Then you go to your profile here at verticalsleevetalk and click on customize profile. Then click on signatures. Then copy and paste the text there. That is the only time you will have to do that part. In the future you update your ticket at the tickerfactory and it will automatically update here. Hope this helps.

I am 1 month post op and I am amazed how well all my incisions sites have healed. They are just a little light scar. Not that visible. The only one that is darker pink is where I had the drainage bag. Is this where they took out my stomach? All the other incisions areas are the same tiny size.

Hi, I am 1 month and 2 days post op. Everything went well with my surgeon, but afterwards he had me start going to a nutritionist for her to tell me what I should be eating. Before the surgery my surgeon told me in 6 weeks I should be eating normally. I went to the nutritionist two days ago hoping to move from Mushies to something more solid and thought in two weeks I would be eating normal food, but small portions. Instead my nutritionist gave me a weekly menu (as normal). I hate this. I can't still to a weekly menu for every meal I eat. She did add a few more foods and told me to start eating 3 oz. of chicken or fish for lunch and dinner and said she would see me in 6 weeks. 6 weeks! Here I thought I was almost done with the post op diet? I think I am going to stop going to her. I'm the kind of person that I would prefer to know what I can and cannot have and how many calories or something and I will plan what I eat. Maybe some of you that are about as far out as me can help me with what you are eating? Anything I try seems to go down ok for me. I wonder if there is any harm in just trying different things? Any advice would be appreciated! THANKS!

Hey! I am 4 weeks post op. I lost 20lbs the first 2 weeks, but after that I had almost 2 weeks of not losing a pound! It was so horrible, but I got on the scales yesterday morning and I dropped 5lbs! I'm hoping it keeps going this time. It was really worrying me too, but I had read so much on here about people having stalls especially earlier out. I also tend to weigh every morning. They say it's best once a week. Hang it there! You will start losing again. You have to with the low calorie intake that you are on.

Hey Guys! Thanks for all your posts. I got on the scale this morning and I was down 5lbs! Just hope it keeps up. I am kind of worried about not losing like everyone else does, because I also have a slow thyroid and it has always hindered my weight loss. The cake I ate went down fine. I didn't have a problem at all, but I don't plan on doing that again. I have not been exercising. That's probably another problem. I need to get back in that tomorrow. Also I have been struggling with my Water intake. It is so hard for me to drink one 20oz bottle of water and I need to drink 3 a day! I don't know what I will do! Have to find a way. Also I believe my calorie intake has been low. Maybe 300-400 calories. I don't know quite how to raise it... Also I'm still on mushies and it is hard to get much Protein in during this stage. Any suggestions?

Hey Okalani, How much weight have you lost? I am 3 1/2 weeks out. I have been feeling bad lately too. The first 15 days went great and I lost 20lbs, but since then the scale hasn't moved at all... :crying: I don't understand it since we are not eating hardly anything. I am at the point with my drinking that it doesn't bother me to take bigger gulps. So, I am just starting to get more Water down. I went out with a group this week to eat and everyone was eating fried chicken and french fries and I was there with my side of yucky mashed Beans... :confused1: You don't feel as bad about it if you are really losing weight, but if you're not it sucks! Sorry that you haven't been sleeping well. I don't know about that one.

Hey Guys! I've been feeling a little down. I lost 20lbs. after my first 15 days, but I have almost 10 days that I have not lost 1 pound! :crying: What's going on? I guess it is since I started on mushies... But why? I'm not eating much. Probably all day it is around 1 cup of food. Not that many calories. I'm only drinking Water. One day I cheated and ate a very small piece of cake, but besides that nothing else... Help! :confused1:

I'm 3 weeks out and I have lost 20lbs. But, I lost this during the first 2 weeks. I haven't lost anything this last week... Is that normal? To go a whole week and not lose anything? I'm on mushies...

Sorry you're having a bad day. Keep us updated on how you are doing. I'll be praying for you!

Congratulations Judy! You won't regret it at all! I'll be praying for you! Let us know how everything went after you get home.

I made homemade chicken soup and blended it up. My doctor let me have it on the second week of liquids, but it was a little weird because of the chicken and all the different vegetables. It really didn't have a distinct taste... They have a vegetable here in Nicaragua called pipian (it is like squash). My doctor told me I could boil it with a little Water and the add skim milk and blend it. It was great! I think the more items you blend the more confusing the taste, but hey anything is better than only liquids right?

Hello Nayna, Welcome to VST! I was just sleeved 2 weeks ago. Getting the sleeve is one of the best decisions I have ever made! I have lost 20lbs. in 2 weeks and a lot of other people on here have lost faster than me. I was in the hospital for 2 nights. The same day as the surgery I was up and going to the bathroom on my own. I was able to take a shower the next morning. Keep us updated on how you're doing. Let us know if you have any more questions. I'm a newbie, but there are a lot of people here that have had the sleeve for quite a while.

Hola Miguel! Felicidades! I vivo en Nicaragua! Yo soy una misionera aqui. Mi esposo es de aqui. Yo soy de los estados (Tennessee). Mi espa?ol no es muey bueno... lol I got sleeved here in Nicaragua 2 weeks ago. It was one of the best things I have ever did! Welcome to this site! Keep us updated on how you are doing.

Day 15: I weighed this morning and I have lost 20lbs! :eek: I can't believe it! I hope this keeps up. :cursing: 2 days ago I got the rest of my stitches out. :thumbup: So painful, but at least I'm glad they're out and it's OVER. :biggrin2: For some reason it seems that I can eat more than most people this far along... :sad0: I don't know why... Today I had a scrambled egg for breakfast and ate the whole thing... :mad0: For lunch I had 2 crackers with chicken salad. I had a fudge bar for a snack. And for dinner I had soup w/rice (3/4 cup). But even though I am eating more than most at least I am still losing... It's so hard for me to get my water down... I am usually getting 1 bottle down a day. :scared0: I went walking yesterday and today for about 30 mins. I think it really helped me. :drool:

I'm 2 weeks out and my incision areas are already healed. You can just see a small scar. But where I had the drainage tube is still healing. It's taking longer there. I'd love to have a bathtub! Here in Nicaragua everyone only has showers. I enjoy the 1x a year I get to go home and have a real bath!