Michelle Cicerello

The first picture is of me it was taken about a month ago, right before I started on this journey, the second one is of me today after I got my hair done! I love it!!

So today, is day 18 for me, I feel good, pain is non existent now except if I over do it, then I have some minor pain - Yesterday was a blah day for me, I wasnt mad, wasnt really happy, just rather blue - I chalked that up to hormones and tried to be as pleasant to everyone as I could I have more stamina now, I am able to walk walk walk and not get tired or hurt, use to be, that I would get a few isles down in a store and my legs, hips and lower back would hurt and I would have to take a break - not anymore Yesterday I went to the Eye dr and got some new glasses that I knew I needed for a long time - I havent worn glasses since I was a kid, but I knew my eyes were not in tip top shape - I found the cutest glasses ever, and I cannot wait to get them - lol silly I know Today I am going to the hair dresser and I am getting a brazilian blowout and highlights and a cut - I am getting a "makeover" before I go back to work on tuesday to go with the New me All in all this week has been good, and I am so blessed to be where I am now.... OH OH OH, I forgot to mention the best thing - the spoke with the Dr and he said that is was ok to start on the mushy foods now YAY, and I found a Protein shake yesterday at GNC that I can stomach!!! YAY Life is good, thanks for listening to me ramble

It really was good, and it went down just fine - they were thinned pretty good, so its not like I really "cheated" just nice to have some new flavor - only 4 more days until we can have some texture!!! YAY lol

Funny you should mention the "trying" thing, as I did try some thinned out refried Beans.... YUM... Shhhh

Yay Meggie - I am so happy for you!!! Are you sure you dont have the same Dr. as I do?? I was told the same exact thing today by mine!! lol So the count down begins until we can have mushies on Monday. We are well on our way to the new improved us!!! Gratz on talking to perspective sleevers, its always nice hearing it from someone who has been there!! HUGS to you

Awww Joan, I am so sorry to hear this, I know how excited you were to get this done - Thank goodness they found this before hand, and before you know it you will be on the loosers bench

Kelly - as soon as I am able to have Mushies, I am going to try the ricotta bake, I love her website and plan on using her recipes and meal plans for myself - I am still working on loosing the weight I gained this week - I have no idea why I gained, going to ask the Dr. today. Just take it slow, take a tiny bite of eggsalad and see how it goes, if you feel like its not doing well for you, stop and eat something else and wait a few days or so then try it again.

One of my goals is to be able to take the stairs at work instead of the elevator. Also be able to enroll in Zumba class and not feel silly.

Lissy - Thanks! I really do try to be upbeat, and really have a hard time NOT being that way these days lol Good luck with your DR appointment tomorrow, and let us know how it goes, I am really hoping that I get the go ahead for mushies - I am sooo tired of liquids, I am sure you all know what I mean - my mouth wants to chew something, or have something with texture in it lol BTW I am in TX, North Dallas, I see your in the Ft. Worth area, we are about neighbors Take care.

I am so glad I am not the only one who is all emotional - Today I go for my first post op visit with the Dr, and I am really excited to go, because I have some questions, and I want to know when I can have some mushy food! Thank goodness for this forum and being able to share experiences and getting feedback from people who have already been through it - Take care Holly, things will only keep getting better

Awww Meggie, I love you too, I really do - even though we have never met in person, we have been through so much together - it will always bond us together. Yes, I am sure that my body is doing a horde thing right now, and I know that those 4 pounds will come off - I am not being hard on myself, because I have done one hell of a job so far!! I am thankful that I have this forum to voice my emotions, my thoughts and my fears, and I am grateful that you all know exactly what I am going through. You all Rock!!

oh, congrats, I bet it did seem like Thanksgiving!! LOL

Yes!!! that is EXACTLY how I feel!! I am SOOO happy I cant hardly stand it, and I feel so good, I havent felt this good in well, I cant remember how long!! Its like I am a new person, and everytime I think about my surgeon and the new lease on life he gave me, I really start to cry, I owe him and his team so much, much more then I could EVER repay - he is an amazing man to help so many people!!! AHHH where are the kleenex??? LOL

Awww girl, see, just reading your post made me cry, and I am NOT depressed - I am just a sap!!! LOL We girls have to stick together to get through this - I am so happy to be on this journey with my Red Velvet gang!

So, I am past the 2 week point, and have found today, that I have some emotions that are flooding in. Mostly happy - I am so happy for this gift that has been given me, I cannot even put into words how happy I am that I have this sleeve - every morning I wake up with a smile on my face because I know that my life is getting better every day and I am so thankful - I did get on the scale this morning and noticed that I gained 4 pounds - not sure why, or how that would even be possible, but I did, and I didnt beat myself up over it - I am guessing that maybe my body is going into "horde" mode and that may be the reason, I may need to find a way to up my Water intake and calorie intake - any input on this would be great! I also started listening to some Rascal Flatts music, and the video what hurts the most had me crying like a baby - then Sugarlands "stuck like glue" came on and I was smiling and belting it out like noones business.... whew - These emotions are all over the place today! Well I am feeling awesome, I am so happy I did this and wouldnt trade it for the world! Thanks for listening to me ramble on

Girl, I am sorry, I wish I had the answer for you, but I havent been able to start the "mushie" foods yet, but would like to know if this is what restriction feels like, because in all honesty, I really dont know - I tend to error on the side of caution when it comes to what I take in, because I really dont know when I am full, because quite honestly, I am NEVER hungry!! I will keep watch of this thread to see what kind of responses you get, just so when I get the mushy stage, I will have some extra knowledge. Congrats to you though on how well you are doing, seems you are progressing nicely!

I got the itemized bill that the hospital is sending to the insurance company, and it was for 44 thousand, and I about fell over - I was told that the surgery would cost 13k and it included the hospital stay, anesthesiologist everything and on it, I had to lines for surgery, first one was for 14 thousand, second was for 17 thousand - I have my two week post op visit tomorrow and I am going to ask if I had a second surgery that I didnt know about... lol I am sure it will all work out in the end, but like you, it kinda threw me for a loop but hey.. we have the surgery, everything else is just cake

I am so happy for you guys! Meggie, I have my post op Dr appointment Wednesday as well, and I am hoping they tell me I can start on some mushie food - I am really tired of runny stuff - I am feeling like a new person myself, the last two days I havent had ANY pain and just feel really really good! I am so happy I did this, this is just awesome!! Nice to see you and Kelly - I have missed talking to you

Hi Brenda - I am an order Manager for Verizon Business, so I have a desk job, and I am 44 years old. I have 3 weeks off, and I am so glad that I do, I know for sure I wouldnt have been able to go back to work in just 1 week - but thats just me, everyone is different Good luck with your surgery plans.

Awww, I would ignore it too, it will come off, your body is probably going into the "keep everything " mode because of the few calories being taken in - maybe see if you can up those? seems funny, but I hear, that sometimes you have to eat more to loose... interesting concept hehe

Hi - I was told by my DR that if the pill could be cut or broke in half, that it was ok to do that to swollow it easier, nothing was ever mentioned about rough edges, so I am assuming it would be ok - wouldnt hurt to give your DR a call and ask though I am still on liquids which also includes soups - and I still will take a drink of Water if I need to, because basically I am drinking everything anyways - I try not to drink while I am eating my Soup, but if its needed, I do Hope that helps

Congratulations!!! that is awesome, keep on workin that sleeve girl!

Denise, I had my surgery on May 9th - 11 days ago - as of yesterday I am down 58 pounds, and that includes the 37 pounds I lost on the 2 week pre op diet. Congrats on your loss, that is awesome!

Well, today is day 11 post op and I am doing pretty good, I felt really good later in the afternoon yesterday and I think I over did it, so today I am having some added pain that I dont normally have around my pain incision area. I am still feeling great though, just dont have alot of energy and try to use it when I have it. I am though EXTREMELY happy that I did this, and wouldnt change it for the world!

Joan, your so welcome, anything I can do to help, thats what I am here for. I was talking to my friend who is having surgery on Monday, and I told her, there are 3 things you really need at the hospital if nothing else - Chapstick your own pillow Heating pad if you have those 2 things, you will be set, I was costantly putting on chapstick as my lips were so dried out, and just having my comfy pillow made me more comfortable, and the heating pad helped so much with the gas pains that I had out of surgery. Take all the ice chips you can and all the popsicles they were heavenly - also, I dont know about you, but when I dont feel good, I cant stand to be hot, and in the rooms at Baylor Plano, they have thier own thermostats in each room and I had the nurse turn mine down to like 68 and it was so nice and cool in there, I froze my visitors out, but I was comfy... lol Hope this helps -