Momonanomo

oHNO! I am so sorry you're having a rough time -- hope you are mending soon. Brava for standing up for yourself and getting the answers and treatment you need!

That's pretty much what I've decided -- to hope for the best. There's no way to tell how it will be for you until you're already there!

not to wear out the soapbox, but you've just gotta become a non smoker before surgery. It is not easy, I smoked for 25 years and stopped 8 wks ago. But I've decided to have this drastic surgery to remove 85% of a major organ so that I can have a chance at a healthy life. I just couldn't reconcile the thought of not giving myself the best possible chance at a successful recovery. If you are considering this surgery, you should quit, and the sooner before surgery the better. You can do it! I promise!

omg i know what you mean about the arm rest! can't wait for that to stop congratulations-- you're doing great!

you look gorgeous! I always love your posts; you are very inspiring! I'm the same height, and the thought that I could end up looking as trim and healthy as you look makes my heart sing! thanks for posting, and congratulations on ALL you successes! ps -- the 30s can be just as fun --- MORE fun even -- than the 20s, I promise!

ooooh ooh! I love cold coffee too! I have an ice try in my freezer specifically designated to make coffee ice cubes. Then, I can make fresh, hot coffee and poor it over the coffee ice cubes. And I love to make protein-chinos too YUM!

congratulations on 70 lbs and all thise meds -- gone forever! And I can't wait to hear more about this cookbook of yours

I put cauliflower through the food processor as a sub for mashed potatoes when I was on WW. I liked to add garlic, and laughing cow lite helped make it creamy without adding butter. I even fooled some folks at thanksgiving one year thinking it was the real deal. Yum. But yeah, it is a pretty 'stout' veggie so you might wanna wait a bit.

Hi Lee. I had my last cigarette 7 weeks ago and am slowly getting myself off the nicotine gum that helped me quit. I expect surgery in May. First, let me say that I know it is difficult -- it is an addiction after all. When I smoked and I knew it was SO bad for me but I did it anyway...well I just knew it was bad. The whole 25 years that I did it. I think what really motivated me to quit though was indeed getting this surgery--- I want the surgery and recovery to be as easy as I can get it. And the reading I've done about smoking and anesthesia and surgery, well it was eye opening. Try read: http://anesthesiologyinfo.com/articles/12012003.php One sentence that really struck me in this article was that these are proven facts, not just theories. The gastric sleeve surgery is pretty hard core. Why no do everything in your power to give yourself the best opportunity to recover well? You CAN do this. If I can, you can -- I promise.

It's only been 4 months?!? Wow awesome progress! Congratulations!!

Sorry you're having frustration with your co-worker, that sucks. I can tell you are trying so hard, and you don't need his temptations! But....I just wanted to throw this out there, from a third person perspective: I could be way off base but it sounds to me like this person just plain likes you. Could be romantic, but maybe not, maybe even just as a friend. Either way, the way he always was able to connect with you was through food. And now that's gone and he misses you..... but that's the only way he knows. Like I said, I could be totally wrong, or I just always want to see the good in people. But perhaps his motives aren't to try to sabotage you (although it seems that way). And just remember, it's challenges like these that make us stronger!

love love love love love love love lovelove LOVE LOVE I've been told I'm strange. does that count?

Hi L ~ I agree it sounds like you had a GREAT day. Good for you on the gym! It's encouraging to me to hear that you've got the energy to do an hour of cardio -- I really do worry how my energy level will be after surgery on so few calories. You sound like you've got this conquered! I got the call from Mary yesterday that all the records I had sent from various other dr's do add up to 6 months (the required 6 for my insurance). So it's time for Val to schedule me for quickstart! So I'm well on my way and now it's either mid to end of April or beginning of May. Yay! aloha, B

jus curious if, at least in the first few months after surgery, is cabbage one of the tough ones on the stomach?

pork roast cooked to very tender then shredded/ pulled apart. Very yummy! but I always thought it sounded naughty too!

Pre-op here, aiming for a May surgery. I haven't had a cigarette in 5 weeks -- oh wait it will be 6 weeks tomorrow! yay! I used the gum, and now I barely want that anymore. The key for me was my husband had to quit too. I knew if I was around cigarettes I would want one -- that's been my experience in the past when I tried quitting & he didn't. It's actually been easier than I had thought this time; I was way past ready. Now I'm actually enjoying not smoking! I love that I don't smell anymore! LOL. And c'mon seriously....it is SOOOOO bad for your body. And it's expensive! I smoked for 26 years (yes I started young) and I'd hate to think of all the money I spent and KEPT spending even as the price went up (in Hawaii it's like $9 a pack now!), All just so I could poison my lungs and make myself an outcast of society LOL! Pretty stupid. Oh sh*t I don't want to be one of those self righteous former smokers. I know it's hard. That's why it's called an addiction. I was saying in another thread yesterday, the crazy thing is I keep dreaming that I'm smoking! But each time, in my dream, I light up without even thinking about it and then am horrified by what I've done! In my dream the other night I was lamenting "oh crap now I've gotta start all over again!"

several years ago when bypass and the band were my only options, I decided against WLS surgery altogether. The band was a no go for me because I didn't like the idea of having a foreign object in my body. Late last year when I learned about the sleeve, I knew it was right for me. Especially since it addresses the issue of grehlin (the hunger hormone) whereas I don't think the band does. Once I made up my mind, I found VST. There's an entire gang of folks here that are band-to-sleeve revisions. And holy moly some of the complications people have had from the band are enough to convince me I made the right choice!

May for me too hopefully!! wooooo hooooo!

How exciting! And look how much space there is between you and the arm of the chair!! congratulations! and honey, this is one place you need never ask forgiveness for posting a pic to share an NSV ! Thank you for the inspiration!

thanks for posting that Jo! I'm like dand, altho I don't have my date yet. But when I have a "moment" and do a reality check about what I am pursuing...I get major butterflies. I can imagine when I get my actual date I will want to throw up too!! But jus like Jo said, the whole reason I'm pursuing this is because I can't live this way anymore. dand, I don't know about you, but my "normal" way of eating is what got me in this state in the first place! I'm wanting a NEW normal that will help get me to and keep me at a healthy weight

I love your new pic! Thank you for sharing your story thus far -- I had read the Bread Thread so I am glad to get to read more about you !!! You've been very successful and I know it's been hard work (as for all of us!) I'm preop and am a recovering smoker as well (5 weeks now woo hoo!). By day I think I'm doing really well, but 3 times now I've had dreams about smoking! So weird! Good thing is though, that in my dream I light up and then am absolutely horrified that I've done it! So funny the subconscious mind! The nicotine gum has made it really quite easy....but I know there will be no gum for a while after surgery.... Anyways! Just wanted to say congrats and THANK YOU for being an inspiration!

omg soooooo funny!

My impression is that it's up to the surgeon....I keep forgetting to ask my doc as well..... I have a silly question for you guys though, can anyone give me the phonetic pronunciation of bougie? Does it rhyme with Dougie like the dance or does it rhyme with Doogie as in Doogie Houser MD? Or does it rhyme with Hoagie like the sandwich? lol but, yeah.....?

I completely agree!

thank you thank you for the words of wisdom! I'm just getting into that part and it's perfect timing for you to have posted this! Yes here's a cheers to understanding bosses, they're priceless Good luck with your gallbladder ultrasound; hope all is well with that buggah