Bonnie0810

Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie. I am 5 feet tall and was 223 lb when i started my journey last November. I have insulin-dependent diabetes, sleep apnea (using CPAP at night), high blood pressure and have had both knees operated on. Since November, i have been working toward my life changing surgery. I am 62 years old and have finally come to realize that if i do not do something now, especially when i have all the tools in my reach, i would be crazy. I jumped in with both feet. My first step was going to the seminar. My doctor was so confident and knowledgeable. I was given the pamphlets and appointments were made. Then the work began, losing the 10% required for the surgery. It was hard work and i worried that I was not going to be able to do it. I had failed on every other diet (i wish i had all the money i spent in my lifetime on diets of all sorts). It was taking too long for me to lose the 22.3 lbs i needed to lose. At my next weigh-in appointment, one of the nurses talked with me about my worry. She was so supportive and understanding that i pushed forward. I did not make the goal by the time my surgery was scheduled, but by the time the surgery was to be performed, but by the grace of God, i made it !!! ... i went through the dieting, appointments with the pulmonologist, cardiologist, psychologist, labs and GI testing. I was doing it. i really did get caught up in the optimism and support. Last Wednesday night, the night before the surgery, i was worried, really worried. Like most, i was worried about the unknown. I heard some horror stories about not being able to handle certain foods, the nausea and the vomiting. I was told and i believe that if you listen to the doctor and follow her instruction, you will not be sick. From the beginning, if you do not drink when you are supposed to drink or eat when you are supposed to eat, the possibility of these things happening is very real. No drinking when eating. Stop drinking 1/2 hour before eating and begin 2 hours after. Must follow progression of foods, clear liquids (see through liquids) for 5 days, full liquids for 2 days, then pureed foods. I struggled and did this for a week AND i lost 8 lbs. I feel great (don't get me wrong, it was still surgery on your abdomen with the incisions and piercing pain when you cough) BUT it goes away. I keep thinking over and over, i will not have to ask for a seatbelt extender this year on the airplane for vacation and i will not have to take pain meds for my legs. My journey is moving forward ...I hope everyone who is contemplating this surgery goes forward and succeeds. Don't wait until you are 62. I feel wonderful right now, even with the fear of sneezing, about the 30-some lbs i have lost so far. Good Luck to everyone. Thank you for listening.

sounds like you could be taking "in" too much for your pouch at a time, between air and fluid ...remember pouch has capacity of around 1 cup...and empties slowly... sip very little sips all the time so it really doesn't sit in your pouch for any length of time. No drinking 1/2 hour before eating and no drinking for 2 hours after food. watermelon, i thought, had a lot of water content. slow, slow, i think is the key ... it seems to me that if you overload your pouch, it only has 1 way to go... UP.... hope you all feel better ...

I am 1 week postop for my sleeve. I feel wonderful. I had my first dinner this evening and it tasted wonderful and feels wonderful. My fear was that i would not be able to eat the same things i was cooking for my husband. i had 1 tblsp pureed roast pork, 1 tblsp of mashed potato and 1 tblsp of pureed carrots. Best meal i have had in a while. i had no clue what life would be like after the surgery. Now i know i can handle this journey on a small scale. i feel good. on the treadmill a couple of times a day for about 10 minutes a shot.

i agree with David, tests, tests. Because David's heart history was a little bit more involved, he was required to get the extra cardiac testing. i just had a regular office visit with the cardiologist. psyche was also a breeze. had to have two visits. did have upper gi study with swallow before surgery and also after the procedure to check for leaks. David is also correct in the fact that everyone knows how hard you are working toward this goal and they are willing to help as well. i think i dreaded the weekly weigh-ins most for fear that i would not make the 10% requirement for the surgery. Good Luck to you on your new journey !!! You will love the new you !!! I am hearing this from everyone who has had the surgery and I am looking forward to the new me ...