Queen of Crop

I suppose it depends on your age, but I am 58; and my boobs were a 40 D and now they are a 36C. They look great in a bra and I love wearing beautiful sexy bras now; and I can show a little cleavage and wear cute dresses (I even wore a strapless dress (which you can see on my about me page on my blog link below). But the honest truth is, without a bra they're pointing south! Still, clothes fit SO much better and I am so happy to not have huge fleshy boobs any more. I'm not sure they'll ever be firm but I'm doing my strength training exercises every day in hopes that will help. Queen of Crop http://www.queenofcrop.com/about/ A YEAR IN THE LIFE OF A SLEEVER; UPDATED EVERY SUNDAY

I'm really selective who I tell about this surgery, but I told one more friend....not sure how I feel about it. I posted some of my thoughts on my Sunday blog. Part of me wants to tell the world, but then part of me thinks I took the easy way out....especially when I know how hard it is to lose the traditional way.....and I think some people think this is cheating...???? Anyway, I'm happy to keep it to myself with only a few people knowing... Either way, it's nice to be back in Hilo, Hawaii again.....tried on some clothes I hadn't seen in a year; and have posted a photo like you see on TV on my site...I had fun 'shopping! QUEEN OF CROP A YEAR IN THE LIFE OF A SLEEVER, UPDATED EACH SUNDAY http://www.queenofcrop.com/

Wow! Congratulations!!!! Size 4; isn't that incredible???? Who would have thought? Not sure where you started but I am now in a size 12 and feel positively svelte after being in a size 20! Anyway big woohoos to you!!!!! The sleeve may be a tool but we all know we also need to work at this to get there.....well done!!! www.queenofcrop.com A YEAR IN THE LIFE OF A SLEEVER-UPDATED EVERY SUNDAY

I know how you feel! But we both have to realize this does not make sense.....it's time to move on and I hope someone else will enjoy them......but I am hanging on to more than I should..... www.queenofcrop.com A YEAR IN THE LIFE OF A SLEEVER; UPDATED EVERY SUNDAY

All great ideas!!!! Simple stuff....I should have just figured it out.....weird, it's hard to part with some of my things.....even though they're huge; I loved them.....just part of the process I guess. The odd part is that after 60 lbs many of my tops fit great now (?) but my bottoms just fall off.....makes me wonder how tight the tops must have been before...... www.queenofcrop.com A YEAR IN THE LIFE OF A SLEEVER; UPDATED EVERY SUNDAY

Does anyone know how we can pass on our bigger clothes to others who are going through the transition and don't want to buy those sizes? Problem is, I live in Hawaii.....so to ship them to someone would be expensive. But I just went through a ton of stuff to day and there's some nice stuff in there..... Thoughts? www.queenofcrop.com A YEAR IN THE LIFE OF A SLEEVER; UPDATED EVERY SUNDAY

Whoa....this does not sound normal for a 4 week post op patient....most people can barely get 500 calories in that stage and there is usually no hunger at all. However it sounds like you are doing the right things, except for drinking with your meals. Teeny sips are OK, but you really should not do that as it moves things through your stomach too quickly. The best advice I can give you is to try not to drink with meals, and as for the weight, it will come off at some point; your body is going through a lot right now. You should be due for your post op check up so be sure to tell your doctor what's going on. Good luck and keep us posted. www.queenofcrop.com A YEAR IN THE LIFE OF A SLEEVER; UPDATED EACH SUNDAY

I have news for you; it happens post menopausal as well, AND bladder infections! You really should see your doctor to be sure you don't need antibiotics. I had a miserable bladder infection for 2 months after surgery; I was traveling and had to hit clinics in Amsterdam, Prague, and florence, Italy! No fun...... www.queenofcrop.com A YEAR IN THE LIFE OF A SLEEVER UPDATED EVERY SUNDAY

Thanks Amanda for going the extra mile! And everyone else for a great thread....as I've said, I have sneaked an Excedrin in here and there over the last few months; the only thing I have found to get rid of a head ache; only one, when I used to take two. I think like anything; if you don't abuse it, and you are healed, it would be OK. I'm going to see a ND (naturopathic doctor) that I have seen before now that I am back in Hawaii and ask her. She's really fantastic and I know she will be just blown away at how different I am. I tried working with her to lose weight and although she got all my blood work in good order, alas, as we all know, the weight was a whole other story. Still, I trust her opinion and she always spends an hour with me; I think she'll have some good info here too. I love this forum....and I love my sleeve! I'll write about it on my blog in the next couple of weeks after I see her. www.queenofcrop.com Blogging a Year in LIfe of a Sleever each Sunday

Wow, that's news that we can take aspirin......I have sneaked a few in here and there over the last 4 months when I have had a terrible headache and the Tylenol has done nothing. I was told we could never take aspirin (or my drub of choice...Excedrin) again....is there a doctor in the house to settle this one? www.queenofcrop.com

WOW! 10 lbs lighter! Well done! I was making my husband weigh every day, just waiting for that moment.....lol. I've been really surprised how many of us were heavier than our husbands.......been a popular post that's for sure....who knew? Now if I could just grow a little taller...... www.queenofcrop.com

Thanks for the update.....I think I asked you this once before, or someone else is having it done there too! Anyway, good for you and keep us posted! www.queenofcrop.com

Hi Cathy! So sorry your insurance won't cover this.....but good for you for just paying it; I did, and believe me, after reading so many posts about all the red tape and frustration with the insurance, I was happy to pay! Where are you going for your surgery if I may ask? I had mine done at Krankenhaus Sachsenhausen in Frankfurt and was very happy with the care I recieved. www.queenofcrop.com A Year in Life of WLS

Good morning all: This is for Dyesee: I think many of us felt at some point we should / could do this without surgery and in fact, if you read the posts (I wasn't one of them) many people have lost lots of weight in the traditional way; only to gain it back again. Having the sleeve is not a cop out! It's just a more effective tool at getting the weight off and keeping it off (with work) so you can be healthier. As for the exhaustion; every one is different of course. But if you keep up your B12 injections (I screwed up on that one) that will help. I started getting my full energy back at about 3 months; but I know many people who not only have gone back to work, but they have little kids at home! If you can take some medical leave off; then you should do it for your long term health; if not, maybe you could go back half time or work at home. But you will see once you start feeling better YOU become more important than other things; like work. I speak from experience as I know for a fact, that work was always the priority for me; and an excuse of why I couldn't exercise, or why I gained so much weight because I was so stressed or always working...... You'll get through this just fine and although it isn't a breeze in the beginning; it gets better every day and it sure beats feeling deprived on a diet. Just so you know, at the moment, I'm losing 1 lb a week on 1000 calories a day....which I'm just fine with since I'm on the home stretch....but could I do 1000 calories a day easily without the sleeve? NO! I don't feel deprived at all and I am eating what I want and it's easy to make healthy choices. Keep us posted and it's normal to feel anxious....this is a big decision, but as you can see from reading the posts; there are few regrets. www.queenofcrop.com A Year in Life of WLS

Thanks for the nice comments.....and yes, Europe is a different animal as you know; which is why we're headed back in the fall.... For my blog, just click on SUBSCRIBE either on the top purple bar next to ABOUT ME or on the side bar and simply enter your email. Each Sunday you will get an email when I do a post. For the forum, if you want to respond directly to someone (like I am here to you) click on QUOTE instead of MULTIQUOTE. That's it! s

Hey ladies.....100 miles for this is cake! I traveled from Holland to Germany to have this done, and after the surgery (they kept me 8 days which was nice) I walked to the train station to catch a train home back to Amsterdam....after 4 weeks recuperating in Amsterdam, I then traveled for the next 3 months.....just now I am back in Hawaii.....I'm not recommending this plan by the way, I'm just saying it's all logistics to get healthy! Good luck to both of you! Sunday blog. www.queenofcrop.com A Year in Life of WLS

Finally! Hey, maybe it's only one pound, but at last I weigh less than my husband.....(who is tall and slender). Plus I had three other big NSV's this past week!!!!! Posted those and some photos on my Sunday blog. www.queenofcrop.com Wishing everyone a great Sunday.... www.queenofcrop.com A Year in Life of WLS

Finally! Hey, maybe it's only one pound, but at last I weigh less than my husband.....(who is tall and slender). Plus I had three other big NSV's this past week!!!!! Posted those and some photos on my Sunday blog. www.queenofcrop.com Wishing everyone a great Sunday.....hey, isn't tonight Daylight Savings Time? I'm in Hawaii so we don't change anything, but for those who do.......I think you lose an hour.... www.queenofcrop.com A Year in Life of WLS

Hi Sandy!!! Welcome to a very exciting new journey you are on! I am also 58 and was sleeved just 3 days after my birthday last October.....good for us 50 somethings! The only downside to this so far for me is that I was very tired months after my surgery (could be my age, or it could be that I wasn't home when I had it done, but if you can believe it, I was on a year long trip!....not ideal for major surgery, but I made it work). Please take a look at my weekly blog; I think it will be encouraging to you since we are the same age (as a blog of another was to me). Good luck on the sleeve negotiation; I think it's a very wise decision and I hope your insurance recognizes that. Keep us posted and keep reading the forum; it is very supportive! www.queenofcrop.com A Year in Life of WLS

Woohooo!!!!! That's fantastic.....wow, a size 6! I can't even imagine.....I am now in size 12 and I feel positively small at that.....I know what you mean about your mind catching up with your body; I still sometimes dish up more than I could possible eat and then wonder what I was thinking! Congratulations! www.queenofcrop.com A Year in Life of WLS

I think sometimes this surgery makes us think harder, think more deeply about things we might have not wanted to think about when we were heavy. At least that's how it is for me. I find myself wanting to opposite outcomes when I see people I haven't seen for a long time; I want them to notice that I look better and I want the compliments, but the other part of me doesn't want any attention focused on me because I'm embarrassed that I had let myself go so much that the weight loss emphasizes that I was a mess before. Plus, I just never want people to talk about my body parts; yet if they don't say anything, I feel a bit let down......so I think it's just a heightened awareness of our new selves and our old selves and relating to old friends in a new way....... One question I had was, how do you think the get together would have been different if you had not lost weight? Isn't nice to have a forum to explore these interesting things? www.queenofcrop.com One year in the life after WLS

YEAH!!!! A whole new world awaits you! Most of us feel very fortunate to have found a solution to this overwhelming problem. For me, I was never even able to lose the weight so who knows if I could have kept it off!!! But today I am in a size 12 and still 21 lbs from my goal weight; but I feel great. If you are new, take a look at my weekly blog if you are interested and you'll have an idea of what to expect. www.queenofcrop.com Keep us posted! www.queenofcrop.com

I wish you all the best; please keep us posted on your progress! www.queenofcrop.com

Hi there.....I was sleeved in Germany last October (while traveling!). I was also self-pay. I spent 8 days in the hospital (at Krankenhaus Sachsenhausen ). They treated me very very well; I was very happy with them and my surgeon, Dr. Weiner. After the surgery, I went back to Amsterdam for a month to rest and recuperate. I then went back to Germany for my 4 week check up and then, if you can believe this, started traveling throughout Europe for the next 6 weeks, then the US for 6 weeks after that. I did have to find a couple of clinics because I got a bladder infection; but other than that, I didn't have any problems other than just normal healing. Eating out all the time was interesting.....I just got back to Hawaii this week and had all my blood work done by my regular doctor. I have chronicled my entire journey on my weekly blog; it might be helpful for you to read that. It's at http://www.queenofcrop.com Where are you having your surgery done?

Yikes, reading this makes me SO sad. I was self pay, so I made the decision on Oct 5th, I was on the surgical table on Oct 25th, at 204 lbs and a 35 BMI; with a 48 hour pre-op diet. (This was in Germany). But they recognized that I had been overweight all my life; had hip and knee joint problems and now I am so much healthier (down 62 lbs). I wish you all luck with the red tape; I wish insurance companies would see that in the long term, they would be better off approving these surgeries. BTW, I am now 4 months post op; and I write a weekly (Sunday) blog. It might be helpful to some of you to know what to expect. Just click on the link below and if you subscribe, I'll be sure you get each update. http://www.queenofcrop.com