pantala

I work for Google as a Writer/Editor. Currently working on Google's new version of maps where you can see which restaurants & attractions are around you to choose where to go!

I am a legal secretary from New Jersey. I had my surgery on May 23, 2013 and am down 60 pounds

Great topic!!
I am 35 and have been teaching high school special education for 11 years in NY. My second job is a single mom to a 3 1/2 yr old! Yesterday marked two weeks that I was sleeved. Feeling great! Down about 17lbs post-op and getting REALLY bored with my liquid diet. One more week and I'm in to puréed : ). Looking forward to the next chapter.

I have worked in Emergency Medical Services (ambulance) for the past 23 years, currently a Paramedic/Supervisor for the last 13. I am noticing more and more emergency services personnel showing up all the time here, funny most people would think we would all be healthy and fit from all the running around we have to do, of course if you haven't ever done the job you don't understand the amount of down time and pure stress of the job. I believe the stress in the medical fields are what truly lead to there being so many medical oriented folks who are overweight and therefore likely to get VSG.

Lets see, right now i work in a UPS warehouse overnights. Its tough work but they gave me health insurance for 50 dollars a month which paid for my sleeve. And they are paying for my college, and i make a decent wage for a part time job.
I was unmotivated when i graduated high school so i never gave college a real shot even though i was very smart in school. I've decided its now time to do it, So I'm going for my bachelors in biology, and hopefully into a medical school to become a dr of some sort.

I am also an RN currently doing hospice. I worked in ICU at local hospital for almost seven years my over weight body just couldn't handle it any more. back pain, knee pain, foot pain you name it. why are there so many overweight nurses? Because we don't have time to take care of ourselves. work long hours, without having time to eat and if we can eat it's not always nutritious, and too tired to exercise. Don't get me wrong I love my job, it's very rewarding but enough is enough I have to get this weight off 20 years is a long time. This is my first post i've just been reading. I haven't scheduled my surgery yet but I am hoping for January. I am scared to death, but i haven't changed my mind I was hoping to do it with in next few months but i'm out of vacation time.

I am a RP (Rapid Prototyping) Supervisor. I make the first of everything, from pen caps to helicopter engines. The parts are literally grown layer by layer using liquid photo polymers and UV lasers. In lay-mans terms....3D printing.
I love what I do. I have the opportunity to work on something different every day.
Although, prior to this I was in the Jewelry industry for 10 years. Prior to that I was a corrections officer.
Lets just say I am diversified.

Photographer/Photojournalist based in Philly. Sleeved a week ago today and having some minor issues. Haven't gotten to "love" my sleeve just yet, but working on it. :-)

Another one in the medical field....I have been a RN for 10 yrs in Mississippi. Pre op still!!! Seems like surgery will never get here. Sept 13th is my final visit in the 6 month dr supervised diet. I also am doing all of my pre op testing and my pre op class that same day. Then we will be submitting to UHC for approval. A tentative surgery date for the end of sept. I know it's not that far away now, but it has taken so long to get here. I feel like I won't believe it's happening until I wake up from surgery. Been trying to get here for over a year.
Why are there so many nurses in need of this surgery?

Im a lawyer. I am not sleeved yet but am going for my pre surgery screening tomorrow, I am scheduled for surgery 8/16 and I cant wait!!! I have lost weight lots of time in the past but I have never been able to stick with it long enough to get anywhere near the finish line. I feel like this is giving me an opportunity to succeed like never before. I have also learned that in private practice my appearance is just as important as my knowledge which is sad, but true. I am so inspired by all of you and good luck to everybody that is on their way!

I'm a patent agent in a corporate legal department practicing mainly in the biotechnology area. I am four months post-op, lost 45 lbs.

I'm at a little over 4 months out and haven't seen any Hair loss yet (knock on wood). I have been careful to get required Protein down and taking my bariatric Vitamins. Or maybe I'm just lucky.....

There is a difference between changes in how things taste and how things agree with my new tummy.
I am very sensitive to salty and sweet now: almost all processed foods I find are overwhelming in either salt, sugar or chemicals. Blech. No (or very little) artificial sweetners for me!
I still love spicy food but my tummy can't handle it I'm four months post - op so maybe soon I can do salsa but not now.

Take your comfort in these 2 sentences. They don't get it. It is not your job to help them get it either. Some will over time (as they see you get healthier) and some never will.
Either way, this is your decision, your body, your health, and your quality of life. Some people are okay sitting on the sidelines judging everyone's life. That is so their problem not yours.
I made it absolutely clear (probably by my matter of fact disposition) that I was having this surgery and could care less what anyone thought about it. Make up your mind that you and what you think about you are enough. Once you do that, what they say/do/think just won't matter.
Sending you hugs!!

I work in Project Management. This is the first time that I have been the main stakeholder and deliverable of a project. There are five phases in a typical waterfall project.
Visioning
Design
Construction
Implementation
Production Support
I have done visioning (getting information on the types of surgery) and also Design (Deciding on surgery type, and finding out insurance criteria. I am currently in the Construction phase and doing what needs to be done for the surgery to occur. I am getting preop tests performed, psych evaluation, and working on 6 month medically supervised diet. Implementation will be the actual surgery, and prod support is the first part of weight loss after surgery. Since a true project is temporary, this project will be closed. I will then start on a permanent maintenance phase.
This break down helps me to see where I am in the process and what still needs to be completed to have a successful completion of the project.

Look into the Duodenal Switch.....the sleeve is the first part of that procedure; it is an improvement on the gastric bypass. Anyway, if you find a surgeon who will do the DS, they will likely consider a sleeve first and if needed, proceed to the switch. I may not be explaining it well, but here is a link: www.dsfacts.com
Good luck!!

Find another psychologist. I'm gonna take some liberties here and guess that most of we sleevers are stress eaters (and sad eaters, and happy eaters, and bored eaters -- you name it!). Stress eating doesn't get any better by continuing to eat, oh and stressing over the eating!

This is probably pretty boring, but see if they have won ton Soup or egg drop soup! Those are tasty!

What percentage of you not wanting to miss this is guilt and what percentage is wanting to be with your family and brother at this event? 'Cuz if it's more about guilt, I say throw that bugger down the stairs - you went to his first wedding and you just had surgery - really??? Guilt for no good reason serves no purpose.
But if it's more about not wanting to miss a big, fun, family event then you might want to put on your big girl panties, take the great advice here about how to handle that, and go!

Globetrotter, thanks for starting this topic. I can't remember the exact moment I realized that wastefulness around food was baggage for me but I have been working at being more conscious of this for some time (even before my sleeve).
So many people have this issue: my mom has kept containers of spices for 10 years (ewww) rather than throw them out! My husband keeps Condiments with 2 teaspoons left until they are dry and hard. I have a dear friend who has no idea what is in the back shelves of her pantry. In each case when I try to throw that crap out, they have a fit. But I get that because almost every time I throw food away I feel a twinge.
We all deserve better than to eat outdated, icky, possibly dangerous food. Never mind eating past health and comfort to avoid being wasteful.

What percentage of you not wanting to miss this is guilt and what percentage is wanting to be with your family and brother at this event? 'Cuz if it's more about guilt, I say throw that bugger down the stairs - you went to his first wedding and you just had surgery - really??? Guilt for no good reason serves no purpose.
But if it's more about not wanting to miss a big, fun, family event then you might want to put on your big girl panties, take the great advice here about how to handle that, and go!

... to be wasteful.
I was never a member of the Clean Your Plate club, that was never enforced in my family growing up, though at the same time food was considered the only justifiable expense. But I was admonished/critisized/guilted for any act of wastefulness, to the point of being denied access to many things because it was deemed a wasteful expense (including being seen by a doctor but that's another can of worms).
So, as part of my WLS journey, I am learning to give myself permission to be "wasteful". Spending 10 dollars on cheap cosmetics at Walgreen's, instead of a trip to Burger King - that's okay!! So I "wasted" my money and an antire can of Coke because all I wanted was that first frosty bubbly sip - so what, it's my money and a small sip is better than 8 oz! It's okay!! It's not as easy as it may seem, the indoctrination of youth is difficult to shake, last year I was unemployed for a few months and had to be on a budget and I found myself reverting to self-abusing habits: Not going out because that would mean a couple of dollars cover charge, but spending that same money on food - because it is justifiable. My enjoyment wasn't justifiable, isn't that just sad? I'm sad -and embarrassed- as I type this.
A new lipgloss or bottle of nailpolish from Rite-Aid costs about the same as a fast food meal or drink at a bar, with much more positive results. I struggle to believe that my desires matter, that my having ANY desire for self-care or tenderness is NOT a sign of ego or a$$holery. It is time to wash myself clean of my parent's toxins.

Sounds as if you feel you should be there but know, in practical terms, that you can't...
You just did something major and positive for yourself, now give yourself time to heal, recover and get used to the new life. We can hear your distress at the thought of missing this event but, as you say, you went to his first wedding.
Cut yourself some slack, your hormones will be all over the place which will also be making you feel emotional. Decide today what you are doing then stick with your decision or it's going to be another week when your focus is elsewhere rather on you. And at the moment, you need to concentrate on you.
Final thought - we would all like to believe that if we don't go to something, we will be missed. That's true up to a point, but if you don't go, everyone else will still go and have a good time, your absence will be noted - but that will be it. Limited impact. Meanwhile you will be safely at home doing what you need to do, looking forward to seeing the pics of the day...
Think you know what my advice is :-)))) Just make the decision then relax, stress isn't good for weight loss

Take GasX strips and chew Gaviscon for the gas. Then get on the plane. It will always bug you if you miss your brothers wedding.
As far as being on liquids, make sure you take plenty of RTD Protein shakes. You can also get broth -- just ask the restaurant to give you just the broth from the chicken noodle, veg Soup or French onion Soup.
I found that when I was just on liquids, I was better if I didn't miss social activities. And I actually enjoyed the people I was with MORE when I wasn't obsessed with the food. Make sure you have your own hotel room to escape to for an hour or two if exhaustion starts to take over.
Go, have a good time. Then you can look back on it and say, "remember when I survived my brother's wedding on a liquid diet?"

Ultimately it is up to you. I personally found in the first couple of weeks after surgery, looking at "real" food wasn't even appetizing. If you decide to go, a suggestion is for you to become the "unofficial photographer". That way you can keep yourself busy and away from the food if you're up and about taking pictures of everyone and everything!
Good luck!