SleeveBeliever

Someone Saved My Life Tonight by Elton John!! Absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!! "And someone saved my life tonight sugar bear You almost had your hooks in me didn't you dear You nearly had me roped and tied Altar-bound, hypnotized Sweet freedom whispered in my ear You're a butterfly And butterflies are free to fly Fly away, high away, bye bye"

Thanks everyone! I see all the before and after pics-which are awesome btw-and know alot of sleevers are losing more. I guess they don't want to give false hopes which I can understand. I will work that sleeve for all I can! I am ready to feel healthy and thin!!

Love your honesty! Hey it is what it is! Your body will let you know if it was ok. Good luck and CHEERS!

I had my first appt yesterday. Loking at surgery around late summer. The nurse told me I should expect to lose 60%of my excess weight. I am female and 245 pounds as of now (my highest weight). She said I should expect to get to 185 pounds. To me that's still big considering my ideal weight according to the nurse is 145. I was hoping to get to at least 150--or less. Does this sound realistic? I'm kind of discouraged.....

I am just beginning this journey myself, and although I do have concerns, I am 100% certain this is for me! When I get nervous about the surgery, I tell myself, "Self, it's either going to be sleeve surgery now, or open heart surgery in the future. Which would you rather?" LOL that usually puts my positive thoughts right back on track! Good luck!

Wow! Congrats to all on the tremendous amount of weight you've lost, and thanks so much for the input! This does help ease my mind! Terry, you sound like me, and I'm glad to know I'm not the only one that worried about this before getting sleeved! I love carbs--esp bread! I have been doing a lot of reading, and what I do read over and over is that the things you want before the sleeve is different than what you want after. I'm sure that does help with missing the food that I love now. And that is a GREAT thing, because most of my favorite food right now (fried food, bread, desserts, etc) are exactly the things I should never eat if I want to be healthy anyway! I'm praying the sleeve will help me with that!

Thanks! I can tolerate smaller portions, but saying goodbye to alot of the things I love forever is scary! lol

Hi all! I am still a newbie. My seminar isn't until 2/21. I have a question for those of you that are post-op, or even pre-op if you know the answer. Will there ever come a time when you can eat "normal" again. For example, after sleeve surgery, do we all have to avoid certain food and drink for the rest of our lives, or can we eat and drink everything we do pre-op, just much smaller quantities?? I am definitely a "foodie" (like I'm sure most of us are, that's how we got in the shape we are in LOL!), and to be honest, to have to go the rest of my life with a restricted diet is concerning and, frankly, depressing to me!! Any input from any of you is greatly appreciated! Thanks for sharing!

I am pretty new to all of this, but I have never been more sure of a decision in my entire life. Many people at my job have had either the sleeve or bypass, and are happy with their decision. This is my story: I am pre-op--haven't even been to the doctor yet. My seminar date is 2/21, and I CAN'T WAIT!! I am female, 45 years old, 5ft 6in., 236lbs., BMI of 38.1. I would have this surgery tomorrow if I could! I am sooo ready to get this weight off me. I was not always heavy. In my teens, I was in the 120s. In my early 20s, I was around 130-150lbs. My weight has always fluctuated. By the time I was 30, I was 170-180lbs and getting very uncomfortable with my weight. By my mid-30s, I was around 200lbs. Once in my 40s, I stayed at 226 for about 3 years, until this last year, where I am now 236 and FED UP. As I get older, the weight keeps coming on, and my energy level is almost non-existent. I have high blood pressure. In 2009, I lost approximately 35 pounds. I got down to 192. I was feeling FANTASTIC!! Then, within a year, I packed all the weight back on plus more, and my blood pressure was severely out of whack. It took me a solid year to get it back in check. I was having nosebleeds, and had to see a cardiologist because my heart rate was irregular, and I had developed a murmur. After many tests on my heart, everything was ok, except my left ventricle was slightly enlarged and not closing all the way, causing the murmur. I was put on an ace inhibitor to correct my hpb as well as, my heart irregularities. My father passed away at only 52 years old in his sleep. He was diagnosed with congestive heart failure at only 48 years old and told he had 5 years to live. He lived 4 years to the day. My father wasn't a large man--far from it. He was 5ft 11in and 180lbs. It runs in my family. And being obese on top of it scares the heck out of me! I have only told a few people about my plan to have this surgery. I think my older sister--who has no idea what it is to be overweight, because she is 150lbs and thinks she's "fat" --will give me a hard time about it, but I have to do what makes me happy and, more importantly, healthy. I am so tired of the lack of energy, the hbp pills, the joint aches and pains, the fear of a premature death and/or massive heart attack, the feeling of being out of control with food, the fear of the future weight gains, and the humiliation of being overweight. I just want to be normal again! Sure, I have anxiety over some things that are involved with this surgery--complications, losing most of my stomach, the inability to have certain food for the rest of my life, but the yearning for being healthy and thin far outweigh all of the anxiety. The morning of my surgery, I'm sure I will be terrified, because I am a chicken when it comes to things like that! But I realize it is the means to an end, and the beginning of a new and better life, and a chance to one day be able to see my grandchildren (when my daughter has them!) Those are the things that make this worth it to me. I am so thankful to have this forum and the support of all you wonderful people that understand my journey and are willing to share your stories. Many of your have helped me so much so far. I am getting a wealth of information from the real people that have been there through each step, and for that, I am beyond thankful! We are all in this together! God bless us all for having the courage to undertake such an endeavor! :wub:

I am scheduled for my seminar on Feb 21! A lot of emotions. Disgusted with myself for having to do something so drastic--I am 5'6" and 236 lbs--my heaviest ever! I've had high BP for 12 years (I am 45), and I'm ready to change, become healthy, and feel good abt myself for the first time in years! I'm very nervous about losing a large part iof my stomach. It's kind of freaking me out but I know I have to do it! Does that bother others?

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