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I think many would be reluctant to say that they are doing it for vanity reasons. Weight loss surgery seems to be such a taboo in the general public. I get "Oh you don't look like you need surgery, you're not THAT overweight." Well yea I am, and everyday I see something else that doesn't appeal to me at this weight. Clothes don't fit, I don't recognize myself when I look in the mirror, i don't feel attractive even though my husband loves me to pieces.
I don't have the typical comorbities, but I do have lupus which puts enough strain on my body to make me feel like crap, I don't need the extra weight adding to my aches and pains.
When it comes right down to it, I want to be thinner, I didn't diet because I wanted to be healthier, I dieted because I wanted to be thinner, and more attractive, and be able to walk into a room and turn heads. I want to be able to shop for clothes and not have to go to the "big-girl" section...the clothes there are god-awful, and who the heck decided that prints would make a big-chick more attracticve? I don't want to continue to gain and loose the same damn 30-40 pounds over and over again and never get to my goal. And strangely enough I want my kids and my husband to be proud to say that's my mom/wife. Not that they aren't now, but I am sooo much hotter when I am in onederland..hehe
The health benefits are going to be an added bonus as far as I'm concerned...shallow...maybe. Honest...absolutely.

I have Lupus diagnosed post Lap-band placement, soooo, band is contraindicated and needs to come out, so I will be converting to the sleeve at the same time. I have to stop the meloxicam 7 days before, not looking forward to that I'm gonna be hurting. Hopefully getting the band out and losing the weight will help with my overall pain situation. Crossing-fingers, and feel free to stay tuned. I'll definately post my experience with Lupus/VSG post surgery.

I have Lupus, and actually had a revision from Lap-Band to the Sleeve April 24th. The hardest part was being off of my anit-inflammatory pre-op but since I've been losing, honestly I feel so much better. Joints aren't as stiff, muscles don't ache all the time. Doc thinks the lap-band may have been contributing to my flares, body's response to the foreign body and all.
So far, so good

Going to add u if that's ok

I unpacked some clothes from storage that I haven't been able to wear in 7 years & they were a little big! That is so fun!!!

And feeling sexy
VSG Date: 2/13/13 SW:285lbs HW:302 5'3 current weight as of 4/16/13: 239 5/15/13: 231yay me

I'm three weeks out today, down 25 pounds, and even though I was leary I decided to try on some jeans today that haven't fit in two years...THEY FIT!!!!! I could button them! A little snug, but three weeks ago I never thought I would fit in them again. Too soon to declare myself a success, but I'm definately in the right lane

I was throwing up in the hospital and it freaked me out that I was gonna bust something, my surgeon specifically said it was OK, he stapled and sewed over the incision. It hurt like hell, but he said I didn't hurt anything.

I was throwing up in the hospital and it freaked me out that I was gonna bust something, my surgeon specifically said it was OK, he stapled and sewed over the incision. It hurt like hell, but he said I didn't hurt anything.

Good luck to both of you. Try to relax, it's nerve wracking but you've worked long and hard to get to this point. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

I feel ya...I'm also freaked about this being another failure. Praying that you are successful!

Mickeymantle I'm not quite sure how you came to the conclusion from my minimal post that I am not ready for the sleeve. My band NEVER gave me restriction, had an Upper GI recently that validated the fact that there was no restriction even with a complete fill. There are health problems associated with my band, as I stated I have Lupus, which was diagnosed post-banding, Lupus is a contraindication for the band as there is a foreign substance in your body and Lupus is an auto-immune disease. So regardless of wether I'm sleeved or not, the band has to go.
I'm assuming that you have suggested therapy to everyone on this board, as everyone that requires bariatric surgery has some type of food issue, otherwise bariatric surgery would not be necessary and 35% of the population of the United States would not be considered obese.
I am ready for the revision, my husband is the one that has concerns. Not looking for judgement on my decision, looking for assistance in convincing a loved one.

Goodbye Ole Friend (Band),
I can't say that it has not been fun. We were started out being the best of friends. It was because of you that I went from 368 lbs to 250 lbs, you gave me a new look on life. I just knew that we had built a life long friendship and I could always count on you to get me through the tough time. You did for awhile then things started to change between us. It was as if our friendship had a time restrait on it that only lasted 4 years. Why Oh Why must you cause me so much heartache and pain. I spent a many sleepless night to afraid to fall asleep because my dinner was taking forever to digest. Let's not talk about the embarassing moments where I had to leave the dinner table several times to throw up because YOU decided that I couldn't have dinner that night. The concerned look on my husband and friends face when I returned tore me up inside because I could not imagine why this was happening to me. The more I threw up the more I found comfort in sugary sweet foods that stayed down when I really wished I could digested the grilled chicken salad with feta cheese. The only way I avoided being sick was eating sweets because they were easy to digest and that is where the numbers on the scale began to climb. I decided I refuse to let you get the best of me and decided to do Weight Watchers, the #1 diet. Not once but 3 times and could not get over the 20 lbs hump because you would not allow me to eat all my points. Money wasted! Then there was the wonder pill, Phentermine! Oh it worked at first but then I felt like I was beginning to be dependent, besides my doctor would only prescribe me 3 months. Not enough time to lose the 65lbs I had gained. After 2 years of trying to decide what is the best option for me I finally found it. Vertical Sleeve revision surgery! Even though I was quite hesitate I knew I had to do something because I could not continue to live life this way. It wasn't healthy for me and I didn't want to be sick for the rest of my life. So today I just wanted to let you know that it's time to say goodbye it's been real but I am taking a new route. I won't be needing you to restrict my food intake. Thanks for the life long lessons of what not to do. I promise you I was a good student and took good notes. See ya tomorrow, good bye forever ole friend!
Count down! Let's get ready to rumble!

Yea I agree but they weren't helping. The finally gave me a compazine suppository and although unpleasant was a god send. Feeling 90% better now.

Yea I agree but they weren't helping. The finally gave me a compazine suppository and although unpleasant was a god send. Feeling 90% better now.

I had a nasty headache, too. I don't know if it was caffeine withdrawal or residual anesthesia. Either way, it will pass.
The puffiness, though, that could be Water retention. Check with your doctor, to feel better.

Headache is normal but I didn't have the puffy face. I am only 5 weeks out everybody is different , if you are comfortable with something call your doc that what there for.Don't consume your self with the scale it will drive you nuts. I was on it twice a day for 5 days until I told myself once week.
Good luck on your journey this is on of the best decisions I ever made , my only regret is I should of done it 5 years ago. Down 55 lbs as of today

I've been much more comfortable since I got home. A little off this morning, but I think putting all the medicines (chemicals) in my stomach without any food in there wasn't such a good idea.
Slept great last nite, trying to stay on top of the pain and nausea meds. I don't know if I don't understand gas pain, but I don't think I've really had any. I'm having trouble deciding whats pain vs. whats nausea vs. whats gas.
I have put on 15 pounds since surgery,, I'm sure it was all the fluids they were pumping into me. But wait...i should be skinny by now, shouldn't I?? LOL joking.
Hope your feeling better today.

Yea I agree but they weren't helping. The finally gave me a compazine suppository and although unpleasant was a god send. Feeling 90% better now.

Best wishes for a successful surgery and speedy recovery.

The days before surgery we are all anxiety ridden I think. But the funny thing is, as women WE put up a brave front so that the people around us will feel better, when truthfully they should be trying to make us (the patient) feel better. It's nice to be able to come here and vent, and people understand.
This time tomorrow we will be on the other side...and working on our new normal.
Yea US!

The days before surgery we are all anxiety ridden I think. But the funny thing is, as women WE put up a brave front so that the people around us will feel better, when truthfully they should be trying to make us (the patient) feel better. It's nice to be able to come here and vent, and people understand.
This time tomorrow we will be on the other side...and working on our new normal.
Yea US!

Hi Cat, tomorrow is my day as well. Many of the things you mentioned rang true for me. My husband and I spent an exorbitant amount of time talking about, planning, cooking and eating meals. We also spent a lot of time in bars eating and drinking. Well he was forced to stop drinking and now I'm going to have to change the way that I eat and drink. It is going to be a change for both of us, and we will need to find other things to do to occupy our time. My hope is that now he is healthy from his addiction and I will be healthier from losing weight that other things will be easier for us to do and enjoy doing.
One thing that you said really hit me, that you haven't celebrated any of your pre-op weight loss because you've lost that weight before, and that's exactly how I feel. I've been here before and so scared for failure.
But we are going to do it anyway, and hopefully from now on we can Celebrate our weight loss and at the end be able to maintain it for the rest of our lives.
Crossing fingers and toes for you!!!

Hi Cat, tomorrow is my day as well. Many of the things you mentioned rang true for me. My husband and I spent an exorbitant amount of time talking about, planning, cooking and eating meals. We also spent a lot of time in bars eating and drinking. Well he was forced to stop drinking and now I'm going to have to change the way that I eat and drink. It is going to be a change for both of us, and we will need to find other things to do to occupy our time. My hope is that now he is healthy from his addiction and I will be healthier from losing weight that other things will be easier for us to do and enjoy doing.
One thing that you said really hit me, that you haven't celebrated any of your pre-op weight loss because you've lost that weight before, and that's exactly how I feel. I've been here before and so scared for failure.
But we are going to do it anyway, and hopefully from now on we can Celebrate our weight loss and at the end be able to maintain it for the rest of our lives.
Crossing fingers and toes for you!!!

Ok yall, tomorrow is the day! I have had my fits of crying, celebration,denial, revelations and anticipation! But for the most part it was periods of reconciliation...
I sat down with my husband and he was very emotional about this process..He has been doing the preop diet with me so I wouldnt feel alone. We realized that every major celebration,accomplishment has been filled with food. We really have enjoyed those times and he was mourning the loss of those moments. I believe he is an food addict too and realizing he will no longer have his partner in crime saddened him.
For the first time I saw this process through his eyes...what this process would mean to our relationship and how we communicate with one another..He is so afraid for me and is absorbing all of my anxiety it seems... i dont talk much about my doubt with him,I know if he sees i have doubts he would have them too.
I have to change the conversation in my head, i know that...but I cant help but have doubts about the success of this procedure. I have been overweight for over 20 years and I have tried everything. I have had small victories and the weight would come back before I could really Celebrate.. I lost 25 pounds in the preop process and I never celebrated a pound of it...its because I have seen 25 lbs gone before but it didnt matter because it never stayed away.
I know i have the capacity to follow the process and do what i need to do for continued success,pre op is hard and I welcome the post op diet after what I have been through! I remain prayerful,focused and ready for the new me...and praying for new conversations with myself...