MsShaunaMarie

I agree with Kobay I was just Sleeved Nov 14th with Dr Ben Meir and St Vincent was the way to go for me it was my first choice and my only choice my dr at the time recommended them to me and I feel in love with the place. I havent had a bad experience yet with any one there. As for the cleveland clinic I cant say. I dis like all the CC offices that are around me. I was treated so wonderful by the hospital staff at ST Vincent that I didnt want to leave hehe. If you have any questions feel free to message me I have also made many friends who have also used Dr Ben Meir and we talk on a daily basis if not a regular basis and a few of who are getting ready to have surgery too. My bf was also very please with St Vincent and is also thinking about WLS, Hope this helps!

I second St. Vincent's recommendation. Just got sleeved on 2/12. I loved him and the staff. The rocked!!

DeeDee,
My heart goes out to you. I'm only two weeks out but I have been able to tolerate everything I have tried with no issues whatsoever. I can drink normally -- not guzzling but definitely not sipping. The only time I had an inkling of an issue was when I tried Cream of Wheat which I had not watered down.... after a few teaspoons I felt like an elephant was sitting on my chest. I stopped and it went away after a few minutes. Yesterday I wanted to eat (ok, slurp) all day...which I sort of did. Never much at one time and I still stayed under a 800 calories (I usually average 600 now) but it worries me.
I had my first post-op visit yesterday -- I told them I almost feel like I never had surgery. They assured me that once I transition to more solid food I will be able to feel the restriction. I hope so.
Maybe you are stuck in a cycle-- not losing weight, getting depressed, eating..... If you can maybe go back to full liquids for a week and see a major loss-- maybe that would help you get back on track?
Keep posting and sharing.... the fact that you recognize the problem and are open about it is really a good thing....you're not sticking your head in the sand.
Maybe you can find someone who you are accountable to on a daily basis... say a friend who can remind you to drink, take your Vitamins, Protein etc....I asked my husband to try to remind me -- I asked him to call me and ask Have you taken your Vitamins? Are you drinking?? ..and it has helped. When he calls I immediately go and make a Protein Drink or take my vitamins. Just a thought...

It's annoying. If you search hard enough you'll find some old threads about losing "friends" throughout the process. Women can be very mean and very competitive. And I think that every one of us has one "friend" in our lives that isn't a true friend and is in our lives for reasons of their own.
Losing weight or making any other big change in your life can make even your close, genuine friends insecure. It's part of the process. They're either going to realize this is for good and get over their own insecurities, or they won't and you'll have conflict and more comments in the future. There's no way to know.
All I can say is that if they aren't genuine friends and can't be happy for and with you (once they adjust to the idea of a new you), then it's perfectly okay to dump that baggage the same way you're dumping the excess weight. Changing your lifestyle and cleaning out your emotional closet is the perfect time to clear out toxic people in your life, if they're hiding in there somewhere.
If you're not letting them know it annoys you or bothers you, they don't know it. Or at least they can pretend they don't know it. Confront the issue if it gets bad enough, but otherwise, hang in there and I hope everyone adjusts soon. The people close to us sort of tag along on parts of our journey, whether they expect to or not and it can be a challenge for them to adjust.
~Cheri

I'm kinda glad I won't have to worry about this. My mom is about to start chemo for non Hodgkins lymphoma, and when she looses her hair I'm shaving all mine off and donating it!

OMG. I wish I had a buck for each person who said something similar. The good news is, most of them eventually get used to you at the new weight and lighten up.
Lynda

I understand!!!!!!! My daughter is trying to lose weight after having a baby and we have been encouraging each other to eat healthy and exercise. However she keeps sneaking in snide remarks about how I will lose weight even if I don't exercise or eat healthy because I "cheated and had surgery". I understand where her mind is..and the envy...and the no clue how hard it is when your older..thus I don't kill her.......but sometimes I want to.

It sounds as if they are beginning to envy your success. And may not know how to handle the changes they see in you. You could just blow it off or reply with something like' you better get with it then, cause I am ON FIRE! " Just pat yourself on the back for your accomplishments, Good luck!

Down 68.2 lbs since heaviest in April 12.(309)
Down 31.8 lbs since surgery. Nov 14. 2012 (272.6) Wt now 240.8

Yes Mag Cit is not fun at all my dr office had me take the day before surgery off so I could do the bowl cleanse. I ended up losing I think 4lbs that day alone, ahh soo glad its over with. Good luck with surgery and welcome!! your almost to the losers bench!

Prayers and fingers crossed!!

Soooo I have an awesome update for you guys! My wedding is a little over a month away and I had to get a new wedding dress yesterday! I'm 4.5 months post op now and my new dress is a size 14 (I fit the 12 but didn't like the dress that was a 12!) and since I don't have time to order it was better to just take the corseted 14. So my previous dress was a 22!!!!!! Holy cow! I'm STOKED!
(Please ignore the weird tan, that was the ending of a horrible spray tan HA!)

Awesome... I can't wait to schedule my surgery and get this weight loss journey started....

Down 68.2 lbs since heaviest in April 12.(309)
Down 31.8 lbs since surgery. Nov 14. 2012 (272.6) Wt now 240.8

You folks are making me hungry. I love mushrooms and onions! I love them over scrambled eggs... tossed with zuchini, on burgers... just so good! :wub: I am a self-proclaimed mushroom vampire. Mmmm....

I went shopping at Sam's Club and found these chicken burgers. I made them tonight for dinner and they were wonderful! Very full of flavor and even my boyfriend loved them!!!
Only have 180 Cal 10g fat 2g carbs 20g Protein in one Pattie.

I think thats great! at 3 days post op!! each day try to do a little bit more!!! your doing wonderful! It will get easier as the days pass you will be able to take in a little more and little more each day!

The Spinach and Feta cheese burgers are delish too!

i cant believe that today marks a yearsince i changed my life. wow!
i walked in that hospital as one person & rolled out in a wheel chair as another!
i went thru hell & back to get where i am but i am so glad that i made it!
i started at 273lbs. im now 142lbs!
thank you for all the love & support everyone!

Today was my weight in day and my 4 wk doctor visit and I have been advanced to Soft Foods yay!! I've LOST 4.4 lbs this wk I'm at 250.2 lbs
April 2012 Heaviest weight: 309 LOSS of 58.7 lbs
Last Dietitian Appt. before insurance approval weight: 286.5 LOSS of 36.3 lbs
Pre-op Testing Day Oct 22, 2012 weight: 281 LOSS of 30.8 lbs
Surgery Date Nov 14th 2012 weight: 272.6 LOSS of 22.4 lbs
Post-op Wk 1 weight: 265.8 LOSS of 15.6 lbs
Post-op Wk 2 weight: 257.6 LOSS of 7.4 lbs
Post-op Wk 3 weight: 254.6 LOSS of 4.4 lbs
Post-op Wk 4 weight: 250.2
GOAL 130: 120.2 lbs to GO!

Surgery 8/20....down 102 as of today...wow....did an 8K Turkey Day Morning....I don't know how to behave, friends...I got on an airplane this week and for the first time in 13 years....NO EXTENSION!!
Thanks for all of your support. :Reading your stories has inspired me!!

Im 19 days post op and here is what I bought and stocked up on
bottled water
crystal light powder
propel zero powder
poweraid zero
creamy chicken soup
tomato soups
chicken stock/beef stock
diet cranberry juice
1% milk
gateraid to take my meds crushed
chewable genaric multiviatmin similar to Centrum takes like oranges also comes in liquid get at CVS
Already had a ninja and love it
I bought a new soft comfy blanket to take to hospital with me
I bought some lose night gowns to wear at the hosptial when i was able to shower and change
slippers
chap stick
3-5oz size dixie cups for portion sizes helped me alot to know how much I was drinking.

Medical supplies:
2x2in gauze to cover drain sight and tegaderm to go over gauze, about 2 wks worth
a pill divider you will have alot of pills to take after you come home
pill crusher cus you cant take pills for 6 weeks after surgery

Thats all i can think of hope it helps.

I had to share and y'all on this site are truly the only people that would understand. Today I bought concert tickets for August 2013. I'm hoping to be sleeved in February 2013. Up until now I would have made an excuse not to go because I know I would never fit in freaking seat!! But today I am certain that by August I will not only fit in the seat comfortably but I'll be able to walk up and down the arena stairs without embarrassing myself. So excited!!

1. Not going to miss having to ask for a table because I am afraid I wont fit in the booth comfy.
2. I am super excited about being able to finally notice the weight loss in my pictures!

Good Luck to you both!! you both will do great!