MsC

A big thanks for this post! I am at just one week out and this is such helpful information for me. Congratulations on your commitment and great success.

Oh my gosh!!! It made me so happy to read your NSV post! Congratulations!!!

Suez1105 -- something that you said caught my attention: "Also I am having pain only on my right upper abdomen but it's not close to where any incisions are. I mean it hurts especially when I move but it's not terrible but is this normal?" Rapid weight-loss can evidently cause gallstones which would cause upper right quadrant pain. Do a search within the forum for: gallbladder You will find questions and descriptions about this problem. I just don't want for you to be ignoring something that could be making you feel very bad indeed -- thinking that it is just normal post-surgery pain. I hope you feel better very soon.

I am so happy for you. I am feeling better all the time also. My mind is moving into other life projects that I want to accomplish also. Maybe it is all this time at home during recuperation -- time to think and imagine. Go back to school? Start a small business? Start traveling more when the airline seat will feel more comfortable? Try a ZipLine when I am below the weight limit?! You know I used to LOVE roller coasters... I wonder if we can still "lose our stomachs" on one of those. Ms. C.

Hi Mick, Actually, just the opposite; if anything the sleeve will help your situation. You can potentially get rid of your diabetic symptoms with the sleeve and a proper high Protein / low carbohydrate diet. And if you have only been diabetic for a short period of time -- less than a year or two -- the odds of this reversal are very very good. The news that you are diabetic should probably strengthen your resolve to have a weight loss surgery. And the surgeons deal with diabetic sleevers all the time. In fact, most insurance companies need to see that you have one or more "co-morbidities" in order to approve the procedure. (The usual co-morbidity list includes Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, a high Body Mass Index number, sleep Apnea, High Cholesterol / Triglycerides...) I would say that you are in the right place at the right time. You had already come to the decision that you want to have this procedure for a better quality of life and you can also reverse a terrible disease. You said that you don't know much about diabetes but I have seen it in my family all of my life. My sister is a blind amputee who has no feeling in her feet; she has 8 stints in the arteries around her heart. My brother died at age 47 from heart disease cause by diabetes. My grandmother had alzheimer's which is now clinically linked to diabetes. My great uncle was an amputee from this disease. I found last year that I have Type 2 diabetes. My surgery was 9/23/11. I have already been taken off of all of my diabetes medication. I hope this helps. I wish you all the best. Ms.C.

@ April -- I think that you should post this question as a new topic instead of part of another existing thread. I think that your situation sounds very important and more of the experienced "old timers" will see your question and respond. My heart goes out to you. Call the surgeon's office and if they have a good staff they will get this worked out for you. Definitely don't stay quiet about this -- what is happening to you is not typical and needs to be addressed asap. Of course you are in despair -- you are not able to function mentally or physically if you can't keep in enough Protein and nutrition. It will not always be this way. Please let us know how you are doing.

Hi Sleever4Life, Yes I can relate. I started gaining weight at about age 6. By 9 years old I had an endocrinologist (probably the first kid to have one in my grade school!) and I was on full thyroid replacement. I have been heavy always. I am just sleeved, 3 days ago. Put away the fear and stress if you can. I felt like taking the best care of myself before surgery -- taking my Vitamins, getting enough sleep, not stressing out over a decision that I had already made -- might help recovery. Surgery always sucks, even at the best facilities. But I can honestly say -- even during the worst of the post-surgery -- I have NOT felt that this was a mistake. Now at 3 days out I am feeling better every day. In fact, post surgery it is amazing how much difference 12 hours and 24 hours can make in how you feel. I went from a pathetic miserable wretch to eating veggie broth and asking when I could take a shower within one day! Once I was home and could sleep in my own bed I started getting real rest and I can see the progress in how I feel. Oh, and I did the 2 week all liquid pre op diet too -- mine sounds just like yours. It is so difficult. But you are almost done with it. I wish you all the best. MsC

To a healthy future! I am about to try to go to sleep. I have to be at the hospital at 7:30am for my big day too. All the best to you.

Heather86, I am 4 days away from surgery now so I am interested in how it is for you. Keep posting updates when you feel like it. I am rooting for you!

You are too fun! I am not fearful either. Those feelings left me a couple of months ago. I know that after I get used to the new normal I am going to feel so much better. Yes. Let's do this!

@ Cristin -- oh the pain. The people in the emergency room told me that I need not fear any other sort of pain because I had already had the worst one. They isolated me in one large room of the ER by myself because they didn't want other patients to hear me. For some reason they couldn't give me painkiller until some tests came back. I have always been stoic as is everyone in my family but that night I must have looked like an alien was trying to claw its way out of my body!

Thank you SO much for all of the replies!!! I appreciate your help so much. You guys are the best.

I haven't yet had VSG but I had my gallbladder out about 15 years ago. I have no problems eating cheese or anything else. No food restrictions. I take no digestive medications, no heartburn. But get that gall-darned gall bladder out of there. I waited too long to have mine removed and ended up with a stone lodged in the tiny tube/duct that takes bile to the intestine. This is the worst case scenario for gall stones. Don't wait for that to happen. It made my recovery much longer than it needed to be. Gall bladder removal is totally routine surgery. Easy breezy. I've never missed that little trouble maker!

I need some advice. My surgery is 5 days away. I am on an all liquid 2 week pre-op diet consisting of protein shakes, broth, crystal light, decaf tea. My surgeon has not required a pre-surgery cleanse-type product but I read on some post(s) that it is a good idea to do it anyway. Here is the thing. I am working up to 6pm on the day before my early morning surgery. I need advice on what product might work this sort of cleaning magic in a matter of hours the evening before my surgery. I don't want to be needing to run to the bathroom as I head for the operating room! Also, I am guessing that people recommend doing this cleanse because the gas pains are such a post-surgery factor. And also that our bowels are slowed-down for a time by the anesthesia. Are there any other reasons? Thanks for your experience and advice!

Fact: Obesity is the last socially acceptable prejudice. We are the freaks that everyone is allowed to look at and judge. It is not socially okay to comment on race, mental or physical handicaps, learning disabilities, gender or sexuality especially in the work place. Sometimes I feel that I exist -- that my zen purpose on the planet is to make others feel better about themselves. As the fattest person in the room I take the pressure off of everyone else's ego. Their inner voice says "at least I am not THAT big." It is my opinion that, while shows like The Biggest Loser like to pretend that they are doing some sort of public service, they are really just seeking viewers much like a carnival sideshow. They trot out the desperate, voluminous, fat-rolled contestants and the audience is given want they want. They want those fat people pushed to the point of tears. They want to see them struggling, dripping with sweat and prostrate with exhaustion. We are a curiosity. We are like the villain in the wrestling match; the audience wants to see us brought down a peg. And the insecure people can feel better about themselves because we exist. Am I being too blunt for a Sunday morning? I am one of the morbidly obese. I am due for surgery 9/23. And if you will allow me one more opinion... morbid obesity is not about slovenliness and hedonism. I have been fat since I was 7 years old. I have been on a diet my entire life. I understand nutrition. I understand the glycemic index. I understand simple vs. complex carbs. I have always taken my own lunch to work and everyone has marveled at how healthy I eat. Here is what I know. My body is too efficient. My body, like those of our cavemen ancestors, conserves and stores. If I eat carbohydrates my body will conserve my fat and store any extra carbs for survival -- even though I do not live in a time of food shortage. My tiny co-workers from Asia eat ALL THE TIME. Seriously, if my boss weights 100 lbs. I would be surprised and yet she ordered FOUR meals at IKEA and ate them all. She eats constantly. It is about how our bodies handle food. Metabolism. I know this post sounds like I am a bitter person but I am decidedly not. I am so lucky in my life. But I HAVE been occasionally called blunt . My husband just reminded me (as Dave Chappell taught us) sometimes keeping it real goes wrong! I do not mean to offend with any of my comments and opinions. Much love to you all.

All of the advice so far is right on track. The only other thing that comes to mind is to make an appointment with your primary care physician for a consultation with both of you. Your husband needs to see the bigger picture, he is operating out of fear. Since he feels so strongly that he is willing to threaten to cancel your insurance, he should at the very least agree to get more information from a medical professional. Your doctor has your health history, can speak about your future prognosis in developing diabetes, and also about the option of vertical sleeve as a tool. All questions can be answered by a third party, and the PCP doesn't have a horse-in-the-race (so to speak) because he isn't making money off of the surgery. In fact, your PCP stands to make LESS money because you will have less on-going illness to treat! I wish you all the best.

Paul, I am awe-struck at the super-fast weightloss. I am to be sleeved soon. Any special diet and exercise that worked for you? Serious congratulations on your transformation! Thank you so much for posting!

Congratulations!!! I am holding positive thoughts for you and will look for your posts! My surgery is scheduled on the 23rd! A toast to better health to us both!

GOOD LUCK! Check back in and let us know how you are doing!

I found some protein shots in tubes at the GNC. They do NOT taste good but they are 0 calorie, 0 carb, 0 fat and 42 grams of protein. If I am so hungry I think that I am about to crack, I knock back half of the tube. It is a clear, thick, fruit-flavored syrup -- again they do not taste good -- but they immediately coat my stomach and I feel better. It lasts for about 1.5 -2 hours. Also, try sugar free jello. When you get close to surgery date don't eat the red colored jello because I think I read that the red dye can be confusing during the operation! Oh and Blue Bell makes pretty okay sugar free popsicles. And I don't see Crystal Light on your list... I am living on Crystal Light drink mix. Try the Fruit Punch flavor.

Well... here is my morning pile o' pills: iron supplement (cause I am a girl and we need that), Multivitamin, B-100 (multi-B from Costco), CoQ10, Alpha lipoic acid (helps Type 2 Diabetes), Chromium (ditto), kelp, resveratrol, cinnamon (again, for maintaining level blood sugar), vitamin C, and something for joints with glucosamine and MSM. Before bed I take: magnesium, calcium, vitamin D -- the first two keep muscle cramps at bay. I am just completing day 5 of my 2 week all liquid diet. Not easy but I seem to be getting into a rhythm. At least my head wasn't as foggy today.

Soon2B -- I am so sorry. This is really a long process but a good surgeon is worth the wait. And October is a fabulous time for a change. I wish you all the best. And hey, Thanks for calling us "Beauties!"

Mine is Sept. 23! Starting out the first day of Fall with a new lease on life!

Hi Janet, I will be sending positive energy your way on Friday! Your surgery is one week before mine. I hope to hear your update. This is a great site, I have been reading it every spare moment and have learned so much about what to expect. Cheers to our improved health!

Try looking at a proper BMX style bike -- avoid Next and Huffy -- a good brand would be Haro or similar. BMX bike has smaller wheels, small frame and high handle bars designed for maneuverability while flying through the air / doing tricks. The seat can be adjusted low for a smaller rider. The smaller wheels have more spokes so they tend to be tougher. And the frame accommodates a lower seat height. They are created for the impact and abuse of tricks and jumps so should work very well for a heavier rider. Another thing you could look for is called a "dirt jump" bike or a "park" bike. They will be a little bigger and have a front shock but will be equally strong, albeit a little more expensive. The riding position should be comfortable for standard street riding on all bikes mentioned above. (credit goes to my bicycle-crazy husband for all info.)