DanaInNewOrleans

Oh my God Lila!! You look awesome! Can you believe your transformation in JUST 6 MONTHS??? I'm stunned! I know it was rough start (what an understatement!) but thank God you got through it. And now you are totally transformed (both inside and out!) Just amazing! Congratulations! Dana

Hi! Looks like we we're stat twins.... same surgery date and almost the exact same weight loss stats! Lets keep the faith!! Dana

WOW! Thanks for sharing this.

So that is the reason things suddenly stopped "going out"!! It's been like a week! Thanks for letting me know!

I've had a very smooth post-op. No pain, no nausea, no throwing up (except once when I made myself throw up) and could tolerate all liquids and puree or mushy food that I tried. In the last two weeks I started with a deep gnawing empty feeling, almost like hunger but not quite. It was almost constant. I also had an almost constant feeling of slight nausea, especially when drinking Water or flavored water (not my Protein shakes). When I would have my Protein shake I would get some relief from both the nausea and gnawing feeling. I'm guessing ulcer and I remembered the beginning of it coincided with my taking Advil (3 is my normal dose) 2 days in a row on an empty stomach ( I just wasn't thinking). The gnawing empty feeling has pretty much disappeared but the nausea is a little worse. I'm avoiding drinking because drinking makes it worse. I did call the doc's office and they gave me Zofran, which I don't see helping very much. I'm just wondering if anybody on here has developed nausea weeks after surgery (I'm 5 weeks out) and if so, did it resolve on it's own? I'm not getting in my liquids and I also don't feel like eating... I'm on Prevacid 2x daily. Thanks for any insight... ~Dana

We went to Kauai a couple of years ago in February. It is so beautiful! Have a great time! ~Dana

Congratulations! You look wonderful! Is that your little girl? She is darling!!!

Hi, I really enjoyed reading your post. Very interesting! With regards to fats...Dr. Atkins, who was THE low carb guru loooong before the latest craze in the last 20 years, always stressed that low fat / high carb diets were the road to obesity. Of course, everyone's body is different. For me, low carb was the my answer and my salvation 12 years ago. I lost 160 pounds on Atkins and I believe that had I been informed about it 20 years before that, I would not have had the struggle with morbid obesity that consumed my life. I have kept the majority of those 160 pounds off, I believe, because I never went back to a high carb lifestyle. In my normal everyday life I avoid carbs. Yes, I have gained back about 60 of those 160 pounds over the last 6 years but I really attribute it to body set points, hormones and not being quite as strict with my low carb way of life. I feel like the gastric sleeve will be an additional tool for me along with my low carb philosophy. Congratulations on your success! My surgery is the 21st and hope it will put me back on the road to losing weight. ~Dana

Monday December 10 11:30am 11 Days Before Surgery Day I decided to start this blog to document this entire life changing experience. And if it will help others contemplating this survery or already in the process that will be great too. I probably should have started the blog months ago because my process began in August. I'll just give a brief overview.... I began looking into Gastric Sleeve in July when I realized I was never going to be happy unless I lost weight and I was never going to lead a full life unless I lost weight. I've dieted my entire life, with some success but mostly disappointment. I did manage to lose 160 pounds 11 years ago (doing low carb) --- at that point I was still 200 pounds but I was very happy. I was a size 16, which for me was a huge accomplishment. I managed to keep the 160lbs off for about 5 years. I was then diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and Thyroid Cancer in the same month. I had my thyroid removed and had radiation. It seemed to get harder and harder to keep the weight off, although I have still followed a mostly low carb lifestyle. It was so demoralizing. I have slowly regained 60 pounds back over the 6 years. I tried Weight Watchers, thinking that my body was so used to low carb that it needed something different. I GAINED weight on WW. I went back to low carb -- no success. I was despondent. I'm thankful I've still managed to keep the other 100 pounds off but I really believe I was on the road to gaining it all back. I came to the conclusion that I MUST do something drastic, NOW. I'm 49, with Multiple Sclerosis and Lupus and I want to make the most of my life NOW because I do not know what the future holds. Like I said, I started looking into this in July 2012. By the end of July my mind was pretty much made up. I was going to do this! I had my first appointment with my surgeon August 16 and that is when my journey "officially" began. Aetna required a 3 month medically supervised diet program, which I completed in November. So here I am, finally! 11 days before my surgery. I don't have an official diet to follow before surgery... my doc just said "don't gain". However I have been supplementing meals with protein shakes for a while. I finally found a couple protein powders that are actually GOOD and that I ENJOY! Nectar Chocolate Truffle and About Time Birthday Cake. Both are high quality whey protein isolate. I haven't lost any weight though but he said that is ok. And I do plan on having a few Last Meals with my hubby. He is a little bummed out that I won't be able to go out and eat for a while ( he is not overweight). I'm excited and apprehensive at the same time. I know I will miss real food. I'm a native New Orleanian --- food is basically a religion here and it really is a huge part of normal life. EVERYTHING revolves around food. I wonder if I'll ever be able to eat normal things ( of course in much smaller portions)......but deep down I know that this is what I NEED to do.....

Hi! Congratulations! Your doc's instructions sound almost the same as mine. My surgery is 12/21. Wash night before and in am with hibiclens. Wash hair ( I don't think they mentioned conditioner though). I do not have a pre-op diet other than "don't gain". I've been doing the 3 month regular diet thing but nothing special the next 10 days like some people have. I'm thankful for that because I'm hoping to enjoy a few last meals with the hubby. I'm praying I won't gain. Basically I'm going to do my protein shakes during the day and eat a "cheat" meal in the evening without going completely crazy. I was thinking about doing a blog to document this experience. Reading your first entry really was comforting ....I'll be following you every step of the way I think I will do one of my own as well. Mostly just to remember everything and help the newbies with their fears and questions. Good luck! ~Dana

Hi, I believe the insurance companies require a definitive diagnosis. None of your labs indicate definitive disease. Your blood pressure is great, LDL and HDL are slightly elevated. Your A1c of 5.8 may be indicative of Metabolic Syndrome. ( I work in the Clinical Laboratory industry.) What is your BMI? Some insurance companies don't require a co-morbidity if the BMI is extremely high.

Hi, I felt the same way about almost all the shakes and protein powder. For me Atkins and Pure Protein were the only ones I could tolerate. Now LOVE the Atkins and Pure Protein shakes because I doctor them up. I swear to you it feels like I'm cheating! Here is one of the shakes I just recently made. There are so many things to do to doctor them up ...once I realized that I'm sure I can handle the liquid diet. Now I am still concerned about the clear liquid stage because there is not much to work with to doctor that up. But I believe that is only for a few days. I just put everything in a blender and they come out awesome! 1 Atkins Cafe Caramel shake 1/4 banana 1 tablespoon sugar free Banana Cream pudding 1-2 tablespoons plain Greek Yogurt 1/5 cup of Hood low carb milk 1/2 teaspoon of Coconut Extract 3 ice cubes This was my morning shake today... Atkins French Vanilla shake 1/4 banana 1 tablespoon chocolate sugar free pudding mix 1/2 cup Hood lowfat milk 2 tablespoons Greek yogurt 2 tablespoons Unjury unflavored Protein Powder ( just to boost the protein grams) 3 cubes of ice Quote MultiQuote Edit

Hi, I felt the same way about almost all the shakes and Protein powder. For me Atkins and Pure Protein were the only ones I could tolerate. Now LOVE the Atkins and Pure Protein Shakes because I doctor them up. I swear to you it feels like I'm cheating! Here is one of the shakes I just recently made. There are so many things to do to doctor them up ...once I realized that I'm sure I can handle the liquid diet. Now I am still concerned about the clear liquid stage because there is not much to work with to doctor that up. But I believe that is only for a few days. I just put everything in a blender and they come out awesome! 1 Atkins Cafe Caramel shake 1/4 banana 1 tablespoon sugar free Banana Cream pudding 1-2 tablespoons plain Greek Yogurt 1/5 cup of Hood low carb milk 1/2 teaspoon of Coconut Extract 3 ice cubes I just finished my morning shake--- Atkins French vanilla shake 1/4 banana 1 tablespoon chocolate sugar free pudding mix 1/2 cup Hood lowfat milk 2 tablespoons Greek yogurt 2 tablespoons unjury unflavored Protein Powder ( just to boost the protein grams) 3 cubes of ice

Congratulations! I'm hoping and praying that my experience will be just like your experience!

Would your doc allow you to make your own shakes or choose a different one? My doc uses Prescripfit, which I cannot tolerate. It is gross. I switched to Atkins and Pure Protein shakes and I doctor them up. They taste like I'm cheating! Seriously! Can you explain your feeling to the nutritionist?

You might want to talk to another surgeon. I'd ask your current surgeon, What if it happens again? Will he do the open surgery or close up again? If he says he'd close up again I would look for someone else.

Hi Cas, What type of Protein shake are you drinking?

We actually left and went to Dallas the day before Isaac hit because we knew we'd be without power. We stayed with friends and made sort of a vacation out of it. The power was out until Saturday but we stayed the until Monday. We made out really well. Just a little Water under the front door which kind of ruined our wood floors and some fallen tree branches. The hurricanes and evacuations are just a fact of life around here!

Good luck! You're in the home stretch!

Hi, We are right around the same weight/height (before you lost so much! ) My husband has suggested a stationary bike too. Maybe that would be a good thing too. I could put in the bedroom and it would take up any space living room space.

Hi Jane, Yep, my biggest embarrassment is my inner thighs and they're only going to get worse with weight loss. I will DEFINITELY need plastic surgery for them. I've heard that that surgery is one of the more difficult recoveries. Biker shorts are a great idea!

Hi Sassy, I love your attitude!! I know I shouldn't care as much as I do. Chalk it up to 40 years of shame.... Actually if I lose a little weight I think I could manage the courage to wear shorts and t shirt. If only I could find a pool with a "plus size night or day". ~Dana

Hi Lissa, I am more determined than ever after reading everybody's responses. My take away message is to do whatever you can -- even a little means a lot. I plan on getting started on light weights - although I really don't know any of the different weight lifting exercises. My husband does and he'll work with me. And one good thing is that my surgery will probably happen in late November -- just in time for cooler weather which will allow me to get outside. And when its too hot I'll just walk fast around my house! And I'm hoping that once a lose some weight my knee won't be as much an issue. I'm sure it will still be a problem but I think I'll have more options with regard to activity. One thing I want to let everyone know-- I do not use a wheelchair. I am still mobile, thank God. I'm very lucky. I always enjoy reading your posts Lissa! You are a wonderful ambassador for VST!! ~Dana

Hi, Many people have mentioned weights so I think that is something I will start! Thank you!! ~Dana