Newme48

My timeline was 6 months and I ended up taking a whole year to get ready due to working two jobs, and getting organized. It went really fast and I was comfortable and ready when surgery day came!!

You have researched this and are well informed. You have the support of your husband which is crucial especially during recovery. That is all that matters!! Go you! Put yourself first and you will reach your goal and the sleeve has been a wonderful tool for me! I am almost 2 months out from surgery and have lost 55 lbs. best decision I ever made! Good luck to you!!

The preop diet will help shrink the internal fat in your abdomen as well as shrink your liver. This will make it easier for your surgeon to see and perform your surgery. This will also mean less time in the operating room if they can operate without your liver in the way and that means less anesthesia time. It all is to your benefit. Talk to your surgeon again and see if they will compromise on the length of your preop diet. Be sure to tell them why it is important to you. Remember if they insist on the 3 months that it is for your benefit. Put yourself first. Good luck to you.

The stomach is usually removed through the largest of the incisions. As a result they sometimes close the inside of that incision deeply. Keep your doctor aware of the pain. Good luck to you!

Ask for Roxicet? It is pain med in liquid form. Worked wonders for me!

I totally understand. I had a stepfather and 4 half sisters. I was the only overweight one and suffered verbal abuse from him all my life. I became an emotional eater. I had my sleeve so that I would have the full feeling and be able to control my diet better. It is a tool. Your parents do not know fully how you feel because they do not walk in your shoes. You must do this for yourself. You will be so happy because you will finally have a tool to help you achieve your goals. It sounds like you have done your research. Make your Nut your best friend and keep in contact with any questions or advice. Keep venting on here too!! We are all in the same boat but maybe in different ways and for different reasons. You should always find support on here too!! Good luck to you!

You are a definite inspiration! Congratulations!!

Yes, I am an OR nurse and I know exactly what you are concerned about! I actually keep little single servings of Peanut Butter in my pocket with a spoon and use it when I start to feel hungry. I keep a water bottle with me where ever I go. Our recovery room also has an ice machine so I stop and get ice Water in between cases. I recommend keeping a bottle of water in your lab coat. Maybe the peanut butter too. They come in handy in a pinch. Good luck to you!

Absolutely YES! It has been the best decision I have ever made!! It took me 30 years to put this weight on. After many diets and brief successes that turned to failures I now have the proper "tool" to help me and I am very grateful. It is helping me to become the healthy person I want to be!

I am hoping to be in "one-derland" by June 1st. Good luck to everyone!!

I agree with space dust, Water is key. I was sleeved on feb 5th and I have lost a little over 30 but 54lbs since my preop diet. It took me 30 years to put this weight on. I am happy with my progress so far and I am now starting to incorporate exercise, so if I build up a little more muscle to replace the couch potato fat I have acquired that too will help burn more calories. You are doing great! Be positive and keep looking to the future! Set small goals and work on your plan to reach them. This is the best thing I could have done for myself and I'm going to use my new tool to make the most of it!! Good luck to you!

I won't lie when they pulled mine out it felt like they punched me in the stomach but it quickly went away. Follow your diet instructions and make sure you always get your Protein as it is a must for good wound healing! Congratulations on your sleeve! I am so happy now and wish I had done this sooner!

Inspiring!! Awesome!! Congratulations! I cannot wait to be able to post the same.

Definitely recommend walking. It does make a difference. If you use a little medicine cup and make sure you drink Water from it at least 6-8 times an hour you will be doing great! You will know when you don't need the cup anymore. It helps keep you on track during the first week. It helped me for sure! SF Popsicles are awesome too. I love the tropical flavored ones. I still enjoy them. Congratulations!!

Congrats!! Thanks for sharing!!

I would also like to add for the people that need help finding others on MFP- if you go to the top of the web page and click on Community and then on the second row click on find members you should be able to just enter the username to the right of the info line and you will be successful!

I am loving MFP and my username is 37doreen!! I would like to make a suggestion if we could make our diaries open or available that is a great help. You can get great ideas from each other as well as the support. Good luck!!

Congrats!! So excited for you and optimistic for me!!

Please call your surgeon. They need to know if you are having problems so they can help prevent bigger problems. I felt great after 3 days out. I was begging to go back to work but they made me take 3 weeks minimum so that I could get used to my new routine and maintain Water intake. This could be something simple and the surgeons see all kinds of symptoms with WLS patients. they will help you. Good luck to you and take care.

Yes I agree I would call your surgeon. Better safe than sorry. Good luck to you!

I agree I would have researched Mexico if I had not been approved. You control your own destiny. You do not want to look back with regret for not going just to appease your parents. There seem to be a lot of people on here that went to Mexico too. They must be doing something right to have so many people use their hospital. I hope they go with you. I pray your husband comes around because he needs to be your biggest support person. You have done the research so you should trust your heart and do this for yourself. This is the best choice I have ever made for myself. Wish I had done it sooner. I am so happy and I wish this kind of happiness for you!

I have experienced the same looks from complete strangers. It does hurt and it can make you avoid things. I had a nice experience with a yoga instructor. She was very helpful and made the experience good. I have to say the most disappointing experience for me is when we take our son to an amusement park, in the past it has been Disney world, Hershey park, six flags, dorney park you name it. I would sometimes try to get on a ride if it looked like I could fit, only to be disappointed when the three of us get on the ride and I have to pass. This was so embarrassing, especially when strangers on the ride would stare and laugh. Hurtful because I can't experience roller coasters which I used to love, with my son and then catch a glimpse in his eye that I am different from other moms. That experience is what started me on my journey to WLS. I cannot wait till I can go back to some of those parks!!

I live in Windber, near Johnstown, pa. I was sleeved on 2/5. Doing great. I love this website. I am on it more than Facebook !!

I was told a year by my nut. I've been secretly having a little wine though

Protect your new 'tool' follow their instructions and prevent a leak!! I was on Clear Liquids for a week after surgery and then full liquids after that. Now I am on puréed. Let your sleeve have time to heal at the staple lines. You will do fine! Good luck to you!!