Annie04

I was sleeved May 10th (11weeks ago) and my BMI was 31. Started at 202, now 159.4. Goal 130. Down 43 pounds. Just 4 oz. more until I am a NORMAL weight!! I had NUMEROUS people tell me that I didn't need surgery, what did I do that for? I totally agree that it's my business, body, money and time! I am thrilled with results so far!!!

Very true and hopefully they listen to the other side of things. Its an important factor when researching VGS.
There are pros and cons in the gamble of having WLS. No one knows how things will work out regarding the surgery procedure .. Regardless of BMI. Life is full of difficult choices and people have a million reasons why they choose what they do.
All I know is fat is fat and unhealthy is unhealthy and unhappy is unhappy and we're all after the same goal.

My bmi was 33ish when I was sleeved 8 weeks ago. I previously had the lapband at a 40 bmi so I was fully aware of what I was getting myself into. I considered this to be a preventative surgery to me, instead of waiting until I had to do something about my weight and I was even more miserable than ever with a mile long list of co morbidities that I was just waiting to happen. I have since lost about 24 pounds and am at lowest weight i have been in over 10 years! I'm happy, socialize like always but now I eat to live instead of living to eat!
A 30 bmi still makes you obese so there shouldn't be any judgement but there will be. Not only from here but friends and family. This is your life and you only have one. If this is what you want to do. Do it and screw everyone else!

Thanks to you who responded with actual, personal help.
I am fully aware of all the pros and cons of the sleeve (and surgery in general) and will be sleeved soon. This tool will allow me to finally get control over my weight battles. Every choice has a down side. This is the tool I have chosen for me after careful thought and consideration.
Chickenlittle, I figured there would be some judgement. Ironic that those with high BMI's who have been judged all their lives, presumably, would choose to turn around judge someone who was not 'obese' enough. How silly.

I have no regrets what so ever. Never. I don't have a problem eating and most certainly don't have any issue socializing because I'm sleeved. WLS is what you make it and I've made it my lifestyle. My new socializing is just eating like a normal human and not like a pig. No one even knows about my surgery and they don't even notice my smaller portions as being odd. I don't slime, foam or get sweats because I learned right off what I can and cannot do with my sleeve. My hair fell out for a few months, but I was prepared and not shocked. I don't take anymore Vitamins than I did pre-op.
Life is wonderful.. And my sleeve makes it even better LOVE MY SLEEVE!

It will all work out. Can't you tell your new job you're not able to start for an extra week because you have a family emergency or personal business?
Most people recover very quickly and are able to return to work right away.

Brighteyes,
Aww, I will definitely be praying for you and I know that it's going to line up perfect for you. Take it to God and leave it at the altar, it's already worked out; just trust and believe.
I'm going to go for surgery in October; where are you having your surgery and what doctor.

First off, this group has been a bit of a god send. With the exception of my therapist and a handful of other people no one knows I am preparing to undergo WLS. At least this is a safe place for me to talk about things as they happen. Normally I go to friends and family to ask for support and prayers. However, because of the private nature of my decision, I am asking this group for this instead.
Here is what has been going on. At the beginning of this month I was given official notice from my job that I would be furloughed requiring me to take a 20% pay cut along with a separation notice informing me that my last day at work would be 30 Sept. I am not scheduled for surgery until sometime in Oct/Nov. Thankfully I will be able to maintain my insurance for a year at the cost of my regular contribution. I am fortunate. Here is where things get a little messy. I am interviewing for a new position that I am very excited about. I find myself getting very anxious over the idea of not being able to get my surgery done because of having this new job ad not having the sick leave available. Yet I am not in a position to turn the job down.
So far I feel I have been very blessed. What I ask from whoever feels so inclined is to please say a quick prayer or send some positive energy my direction. That hopeful the time line for this surgery and a new job will align with no complications so that I will be able to start my new life with a great job and a healthy new beginning.
Thanks for giving me a moment to get that all off my chest.

I have the sleeve and I love it. I am one yr out and 91 lbs down. Mind you I was self pay, cash in Tijuana Mexico and have had no follow up medical care after.. but also have not needed it.There were several people there with me that were having the revision done and from what I learned from them, the sleeve is so very much better. There is an adjustment of course after surgery.. If you eat too much, yes , it will come back up but I personally have not had any issues since about 3 months after. I am able to eat pretty much anything I choose, just very little of it. My evils are Pasta and beef..my heaven was grilled cheese - cheese- cottage cheese and Protein shakes.. that was basicly what I lived on for 3 months.. and brothy Soups when I wanted it. and yes grilled cheese on bread.. I choose multigrain bread, toasted or crunchy. So to me this sleeve is a Miracle.. I can have a bite of anything I want to taste but thanks to my little buddy ( sleeve ) I can not over eat.. I will never over eat again. Just make wise choices as far as gravy, pudding, cheese cake, just because you can eat it, doesnt mean you should.. my new motto. I wish you luck and I hope you love your sleeve as much as i do

I know exactly how u feel... I felt the same way... im 2weeks and 1 day out and I've lost about 27lbs already!!! sleeved on july22.... I wish u the best of luck ur gona love it!

Hi Mocha,
Thanks for sharing your story! I will be having surgery myself on August 28th! I have the same problem, in that, the surgery is ALL I ever think of. My husband is super supportive, but sometimes tires of hearing me talk about it constantly, lol.
I'm slowly changing my eating habits as well. I've stopped drinking any sodas, don't drink while I eat, and have substituted Breakfast every day with a Protein shake.
I look forward to sharing my journey and also reading about yours as well!

Well my surgery date is Aug. 29th and I have started changing my eating habits as of Aug. 1st. I want to give my self a chance to drop a few pound before the 10 pre-op diet which I think I will be starting on Aug 19th when I go to see the Anesthesia person and have my consent and nutrition teaching. I am really excited but it is really hard to keep those danger foods away from me. I am a sweet and junk food eater and I know they are not good for me. I have been OD'ing on crystal light and it helps with the need for something sweet but I still attend functions where they are eating all the things that will be off limits after this surgery if I want to see success.
I have been dealing with a lot of stress so I have been working on a new way to deal with it besides eating and having a cocktail. I don’t have an issue with liquor but every so often I like to have one when I want one. But I have been having them a lot more before Aug 1st. My mother in law lives with me and my husband and she is a junk food eater and Snacks all day. So, it’s really hard not to have those foods in the house that are a sore spot for me. She also is an older lady so it hard to say that it’s not good for me and she remembers that. Her memory is slowing leaving her so its going to be hard for her not to have those things and for her not to eat the things that are for me. She eats my yogurt now and does not even remember even eating it. It’s crazy for me but I am trying to work around it.
I think this would be a good place for me to get a few things that are on my mind in a journal of my journey. I am thinking about this surgery day in and day out. I can’t seem to think about anything else. I think about what its going to be like after, how will I feel about food?, how will I look?, will I be able to keep it up?, will my husband be able to accept the changes in me? He fell in love with the heavy me and will I still be as attractive to him? He always tells me that he loves me no matter what I look like and I really believe that but he has never had to see me look different.
I feel really good about this surgery and what it means for me that I will be able to walk up and down stairs and not feel winded or my knees hurting soooooooo bad. My ankles won’t hurt so much either, I feel at the end of the year and twisted both ankles and tore ligament in both. They are not able to heal complete because of all the weight they have to carry. Not to be nasty or anything but I want to be able to see my lady parts without looking in a mirror but look down and say "hey there your are!" I am looking forward to having an active sex life again. I don’t have much of a drive anymore and I know it’s because I don’t like the way I look and I don’t feel attractive anymore. Now my husband does not agree with this statement but I told him it’s about how I view myself. I want to wear clothes that are visual pleasing to me and fit nice. I will be able to stand and not have lower back pain and be able to lay on my back because my behind will be smaller. These are just some things that I am looking forward to after the surgery.
Ok, I will come back in a few days after I have gotten my scale to see if I have made any changes on the scale since I have tried to change my habits. More to come.

Wish I knew what to tell you. It is nice to know that I am not the only one not telling the in laws.

Well, in a way, it's true, right? Your dreams & the way you want to live your life are much more important than any excuses you may have used to put off surgery or change your mind or whatever. You ARE moving toward your dream & your vision of your future, right? I know many people struggle with negativity from the folks around them, but if your in-laws find out & are negative, then try & ignore them. Your life is your business & your responsibility. Good luck!

There is no true obligation to tell ANYONE. You do not need anyone's approval. It is your business and no one else's!

Surgery tomorrow at 1:30! Have to be there at 10:00 because they are putting in a pic line. My veins suck! Soooooooo ready for this!!!!

Ok, so my new favorite pre-op shake is:
chocolate Unjury (1 scoop)
1 cup of 1% Milk
4 Ice Cubes
1/2 a frozen banana
2 tbsp of PB2 (powered Peanut Butter - only 45 calories, 2 grams of fat and 5 grams of protein!)
Combine in blender or Nutribullet (I have the bullet)
Enjoy!
Hope I can do this post-op at some point - maybe not right away but perhaps when I can have pureed food.< /p>

I've been doing the ore surgery diet for about 4 weeks. No sugar and under 33carbs. Today is my first of 2 days of the liquid diet before surgery on Thursday. I never thought I would miss chewing so much. A little hungry but not starving but just want o chew on something (I've been chewing gum -not cutting it). The coffee table is starting to look good right now:)

Smart move! And thanks for the nice words!

If anyone is interested, there's a FB group called "August Sleevers" where we're all keeping in touch about our surgery experiences. It's a closed group, meaning the only people who can see posts are members of the group -- it won't show up in your newsfeed for other people to see. Join us!

IT's HARD!
Build a plan. If you get through 3/4 days WITHOUT ADDING CARBS OR SUGAR it WILL get better! (If you do eat sugar and carbs, you start the process all over again IMHO)
When "hungry" (and you will be hungry -- likely for the first time in YEARS) remember that nobody died from being hungry AND that this is in your head more than it is in your stomach AND:
-- drink Water, it works,
-- go for a walk
-- at night, go to bed.

This article talks about the history of the VSG: http://bariatrictimes.com/the-history-of-sleeve-gastrectomy/

Good luck to you, & wish u a speedy recovery! If you feel up to it, post your experience & I will look out for it--you are a few days ahead of me!

I'm the 7th too!

On my way to the airport to fly to San Diego. Surgery tomorrow (Tuesday) in Tj! So very nervous.