Spatters3

yep, I get the runny nose. It really is odd because I never had that happen before getting the VSG and I know for sure that I have filled up my pre-VSG stomach. It really is a blessing because eating too much or too fast makes me feel miserable (although, thank God, I have not thrown up since the 3rd day after surgery!).

I knew I was going out to eat lunch with my DIL but I didn't think it out - she wanted to check out the new Zaxby's chicken place in town and so sure, I figured I could order a grilled chicken salad. Well... the serving size was HUGE ! An entire family size salad bowl full of goodness and I could only eat a tiny bit of it. I was really conflicted because I couldn't take it with me - we were going clothes shopping and the food would have been dangerous let alone ruined after sitting in a hot car for hours. It almost hurt physically to throw all that food out.

So, it was a good lesson: yes, I still have food issues; don't EVER feel bad about not ordering something and just snacking off your dinner partner's plate (with their permission, of course); bring a cooler if you think you may have leftovers !

I'm looking forward to being able to take my grandchildren to zoos and amusment parks and hikes and festivals and all sorts of wonderful experiences. It's just not as much fun when MaMaw is sitting on a scooter

I pushed up my move to mushy foods by a week or so because I just could not stand the Protein Drinks any more. Be very careful and remember that your stomach is still healing and you REALLY don't want to put any strain on the seam - a leak could kill you.

approach your Protein supplement like it is medicine. You MUST take your medicine or you will get sick. (this worked for me for a few days atleast... until I got to the mushy stage and then I never drank another one!)

poor thing :-( Please make sure you are getting fluids in because being dehydrated will make you nauseous.

Dana, I didn't actually think the VSG would work for me either. Atkins had stopped working after 30 lbs. I really couldn't lose weight at all. But by golly, it IS working. My weight loss has really been put on the back burner since I'm undergoing treatment for uterine cancer, but it IS still working :-)

I resisted WLS for many years. I felt it just wasn't healthy ! Silly human that I am. Instead I kept dieting myself into a corner. Ended up needing 3 total knee replacements, a foot rebuild, high blood pressure, and in pain all the time. Every doctor I went to suggested WLS. "No no.. it's not healthy. I'll do it on my own." But I couldn't. No diet worked anymore and the little bit of exercise I could manage just wasn't enough. Thank God I found out about the sleeve ! I still think bypass and the band are unhealthy but the sleeve is doing exactly what I needed it to do: I can eat anything, just not enough for 5 people ! Even though I tracked my food religiously for years I must have been lying to myself because since getting the VSG I have lost weight and it's just because I can't eat too much.

So yes, I would do it again. I didn't have any of the really horrible complications and yes, this is major surgery and a major life change. I wish it had been available 20 yrs ago.

I was at work, just like today. It was a Tuesday too. When the 1st plane hit, we thought it was a terrible accident. When the 2nd plane hit we thought it was an act of war. When the 3rd plane hit the pentagon we were crying. When the 4th plane hit the ground in PA we immediately understood that someone had intervened. And then the towers came down. We all got very quiet, called our loved ones, prayed, cried...

It is still such a horrific thing to have seen, I'm crying now. We're still all collectively suffering - our loved ones are overseas fighting terrorists every single day.

God bless America indeed. Keep our children safe and close to home. My son is in the KY National Guard and he's heading to the battlefield soon. No mother could be prouder but my heart wants him to stay here.

So yes, God please bless America ! Help us be the light on the hill to all the nations of the world ! Let us live up to our forefather's aspirations of being a good and kind and righteous people.

Iggychic: *big and gentle hug* did you get that full time nurse yet ?

Sleevedreamz: I told the doctor & nurses that I don't do well with morphine but they gave it to me anyhow - resulted in 2 days of hellish pain, fear & nausea. Stupid people. I guess I'll never be a heroin addict. Cool.

cherrybomb: that really does suck. Cookbooks, that I can understand as a gift (although it's rather a backhanded slap), but not an actual diet how-to book. That is downright mean. *hug* Perhaps you can find a "how-to survive plastic surgery" or "how-to win friends and keep from being a loser" book for the giver for this Christmas ?

here here ! Yes, we are the lucky ones but statistically we ARE the majority ! The VSG is doing exactly what I hoped it would do - limit how much food I can eat. Like most of us, I am an expert dieter and know exactly what a good and balanced diet is and with the sleeve I can eat this balanced diet, just not enough for five people !!!

1. being in pain

2. not knowing if a chair will support me or if I'll be able to haul myself back out of it

3. not being able to chase after and catch my grandson (he's autistic and bolts)

4. med techs not being able to get to a "good" vein

5. not being able to sing on the praise team at church because I can't stand up for a half hour or get down off the stage safely

(since I have already lost so much weight some of my previous "things I won't miss" no longer apply like, being able to wipe my butt or buy clothes off the rack)

You have already done exactly what you needed to do: talked to your doctor. Try not to worry, be kind to your sleeve and only take in liquids, oh, and try not to worry :-(

Sending you home with no pain meds or instructions is just wrong. It doesn't sound like this outfit is a Bariatric Center of Excellance. Please call them and request that they call in a prescription and give you some instructions !

Also, I don't know how you feel about this but I personally would NOT let this surgeon touch me again.

prettyNYCnurse: congratulations and welcome to the Loser's Bench :-) Hope you heal quickly and get past the liquid & soft foods stages without too much trouble so that you too can enjoy your new Sleeve-O-Rama !

Things I didn't expect:

2 days of not being able to keep anything down (ice chips gave me spasms) but as soon as I was able to see for myself on an x-ray that there were no strictures and no leaks, I haven't thrown up since. The mind is a powerful thing.

As for memory issues, I have been on Atkins or other low-carb diets in the past and know that they make me "stupid" for awhile. This too shall pass.

I am still surprised that I am losing weight :-)

1. I don't enjoy cooking for my family anymore, which makes me think that I must be more of a selfish person than I thought I was. Oh, I still do it, and they all enjoy it, but it kind of ticks me off when I can only eat a smidgen of the meal myself. I really am basically bad :-(

2. I am becoming more intolerant of my husband's refusal to even try to lose weight. His response to my gentle goads is "well sure, YOU're losing weight because you had surgery" (he pursued WLS as far as the psych eval, which he failed because the psychologist thought he would not comply with the rules). He will be 70 this November, is 5'10" and 350 lbs, and is in constant pain due to bad knees.

3. I shake my fist at God atleast once a week because this was my year to do something for ME and I got struck down with uterine cancer (note: chemo sucks). I know, I know.... but He understands, listens, and still loves me.

4. I don't exercise at all and I really really really have to start doing something.

5. the sleeve is the smartest thing I have done in a long time :-)

Yes'm. My doctor's team was VERY adamant about this. I am surprised that no one told you this requirement.

Cookeeez: absolutely correct ! Nena: you aren't eating enough calories period. For my body I found that if I eat less than 1000 calories a day, I don't lose weight. I try to keep it under 1200 and definitely get atleast 70g of Protein. This isn't a "die" it, it is a "live" it . Feed your body good things and the sleeve will keep the amounts under control.

Let's see... yesterday I had

B: 8 oz coffee+creamer; 6 oz carbmaster blackberry yogurt; 6 triscuit

L: 3 oz pork chop; 1 oz cheddar; 1 med. apple

D: 3 oz steak; 1/4 cup baked beans; 1 small potato; 1 pat butter

Snack: 1 cup fresh fruit salad; 10 slices pepperoni

Total: 1257 calories, 120g carbs, 53g fat, 79g Protein

Kind of a high calorie day, too many carbs & fat, but great protein :-)

gummi Vitamins. Even those can get you nauseous, but less likely.

You, my dear, are a very brave person! But yeah, take the double raft next time I have never been on a Water park slide and I am really looking forward to doing it someday. I think the most initmidating part are the hundreds of steps you typically have to climb to get to the top !

wow ! What a great accomplishment ! I can see the difference, especially in your face & neck (of course :-) I bet you're "fluffy" rather than "solid" now too in places. Even with the VSG this is not a short race, it is a marathon. Keep it up ! This is what I absolutely LOVE about my sleeve because by now I would have backslid, given up, messed up, thrown in the towel but.... the sleeve doesn't give up ! With just the smallest amount of willpower and effort on my part (not sucking down milkshakes, etc.) I will continue to eat small amounts and so continue to lose weight. And so will you ! WOO HOO ! hahahaha I get giddy sometimes because it really is working after so many failures for so many years. *doin' the happy dance*

After your either of your c-sections did you ever have bladder tacking or netting done?

We all have to remember where we came from. Remember how it feels to be forced to wear ugly, ill-fitting clothes and pay double for the privilege! Remember the snide remarks and snickers of salespeople. Remember... and then make darned sure that we always show compassion and kindness to others who are currently where we were (or still are, like me).

My heart just hurts reading all of your stories. What a sick and twisted world we live in! Every child should be raised in a home with love and patience and acceptance. It takes a special kind of stupid to be so selfish to hurt a child.

We are all so damaged. I thank God that we're all healing and not passing on the legacy of abuse.

I grew up in a lovely family... well, ok... emotionally dysfunctional, but not overtly abusive. My father is an honorable and ethical man who has always provided for his family. My mother is a loving and hardworking woman who also has always provided for us. So why did I get fat ? Heck, I don't know ! I was always active but since I was 6 months old I have been overweight. I weighed 200 when I got pregnant with my 1st daughter and then gained 60 lbs that didn't go away with the next 2 children.

I managed to diet myself into not being able to lose weight at all. Now I'm 56, sleeved since Feb. '12, and I am losing the weight!

I pray health and well-being for all of us *HUG*