AJPeezy

Included in my surgeon's list were: Extensive bloodwork, Glucose Challenge, EKG, Abdominal Ultrasound, sleep Study, and Endoscopy.
Coupled with the insurance companies requirements, it's like a full time job trying to keep track of what I have to do next.

I'm at the beginning : had the seminar and initial consult. Now I must have a sonogram of my liver/gallbladder on Monday, two nutrition visits, four PCP visits, a psych eval, cardiac clearance (my cardiologist referred me, and I have pulmonary hypertension, so I require extra monitoring), and pre-op testing (which will include a vena cava filter placements).

(No pictures this time. I HATE photos; I'm so damned pale and washed out that I always look corpse-like and OLD in my photos, whereas in real life I'm looking pretty damned HOT! )
So I was sleeved in May 2010. It's about two and a quarter years out. I started at 338 lbs.
At that weight, I was miserable. I was sick all the time, everything hurt all the time. No clothes fit properly, unless I just bought everything in tent-like proportions. I had multiple chins, moobs (man-boobs), rolls and rolls of fat around my waist, a fat ass, fat legs, everything. I felt awful. I couldn't walk very far without becoming winded and my feet hurting. I couldn't stand upright for very long without my lower back aching, and my thighs would chafe like I was being scourged by the Furies.
And my self-esteem was just awful. I felt slovenly, ugly, unsexy, unsexual, unmasculine, frumpy, and ashamed all the time. I felt -- fairly realistically -- that no woman would look twice at me, let alone want to take me as a lover. It was okay, though, because I was in a monogamous relationship, so I didn't need to "date." How disrespectful that is to my girlfriend, I can't put into words. But that's a separate issue. That's between us.
Fast forward, past VSG surgery, past two years of steady weight loss, careful eating, ups and downs, plateaus and sharp drops, past fitfully starting and restarting my fitness program, to today.
Now, I work out at the gym almost every day. I like it. I look forward to it. It's how I start my day! It's still challenging, I'm still exhausted, but I look forward to it. I usually lift weights, but some days, like today, are all about stabilizers and athletic performance -- today was focused on speed and agility, on building muscle memory. My trainer agreed with me that I'm still pretty uncoordinated, but also was impressed at how fast I improved; he claimed that maybe, under years of sloth and a sedentary lifestyle, just maybe I was a natural athlete who never developed his abilities! I'm not sure I'd go that far, but I think that I have a lot of potential, and better late than never -- let's leave it at that.
I'm getting ripped. With my shirt off, my chest and shoulders and arms ripple with muscle; they have a lot of that classic bodybuilder look (without that nasty veiny zero body fat/covered in baby oil thing). I realized today, and pointed out to my girlfriend -- that I'm actually developing a six pack. Me! Mr. Fat-ass! Mr. Lazy! A six pack!
I'm down to just a hair over 200 lbs. That means I've lost over 130 pounds, and (more importantly) am maintaining it (and, in fact, am still losing, slowly). At the same time, I'm steadily building muscle mass (contrary to myth, muscle building is slow, but all my measurements show a steady gain). My stamina and energy are the best they've ever been. EVER. Even when I was a kid, and I'm 42 now! My latest testosterone measurement was 611 ng/dL, which is pretty phenomenal. Reference range is 300-800, so this puts me on the high end, about on par with a kid in his 20's; this is just stunning for a man in his 40's, and bodes very well for my continued sexual and physical well being into middle age and old age. It will protect me from injuries, keep me strong and fit, and even boost my mood and libido going forward.
My self-esteem is way up. My girlfriend and I opened our relationship up to other partners (if you want to discuss open relationships/polyamory, I'm available to talk, but please don't post here, that's not the point ), which means I'm dating again. And I'm having FUN! I'm finding that women that I used to consider "out of my league" are now tongue-tied around me. I messaged a woman on my poly-friendly dating site; I thought she was super sexy and probably way too pretty for me, and she responded that she hadn't contacted me because she thought I was out of her league. I mean, holy crap, Batman! Who'da thunk it!
But it's not just vanity. I'm finally, finally, finally coming to accept that I'm a handsome, interesting, attractive, sexy, sexual, masculine man. Along with being wicked smart, with an IQ approaching 200, I'm becoming something of a jock. I'm hiking, bicycling, running, lifting weights, and soon I'm going to start swimming laps at the local pool. I go out to concerts and clubs, I date, kiss, make love, have fun. I'm fit, in shape, and healthy as an ox. Yes, I'm middle aged, so my only regret was that I couldn't have found this when I was 20.
But you know what? I'll take it. I'll take it! This is the life that I think many people wish they could lead. And in a lot of ways, I owe it all to the sleeve!

Hi all, Im sleeved!!! Feeling ok, much better than yesterday, had my swallow test today eewww & had to redo it as they thought they saw a leak. All good though, lots of gas pain but hopefully that will subside soon enough. Wishing all my fellow sleevers much love & speedy recoveries

Have faith, your going to be fine. Prayers and hugs from the midsouth!

OMG one more sleep til my surgery. My fingers are shaking as I'm trying to type this!! The nerves are really setting in now, just got phone call from the hospital explaining everything I need to do (& not do) before tomorrow. This has just become so real for me. Im so scared, the pain, the leak test, vomiting, going under anaesthetic... I'm doing this totally on my own. I have kids at home who need me. Please everyone pray for me xx I'm sending out prayers & thoughts to all the other sleeve sisters & brothers who join me tomorrow & in the future. much love to all xx

Hi everyone. It's real now... I'll be sleeved tomorrow at 1:00. Please keep me in prayer

So I am officially 4 months and 1 day out today. It's been a journey to say the least. Not any issues with the sleeve, just the head part of it. I know I have lost a lot weight (89 including pre-op) but I mentally still see myself as what I looked like before. But, I have went from a size 22/24 to a size 14, I went from 285 to 196, I weigh less than I did in Jr high, and weigh less than my husband does (by 5 pounds thank you lol). It takes a lot to accept the compliments from others, but I have got to say, I like the attention.
I work out at least 4 days a week for 60-90 minutes. I eat almost only Protein, though I can say I don't really watch calories. As long as I know my carbs are down, and I get all my liquid, I know weight will eventually move. Just know that this journey is not easy, but I would do it a 1000 times over.
I would've put full body pics up, but the only before pics are only in bra and pants LOL. Other than that, never really allowed full body shots.

Congrats and soon you will be a member of the BIG LOSER's CLUB! Congrats and if you have any questions or fears, please feel free to ask.

Lol your friends are crazy! I hope your surgery goes well and your recovery as wel!