Smiley_Girl

63 LBS!!! I am so excited that I almost passed out at my Dr's today. I weighed 552 on the day of my surgery and today I weighed at 489LBS. My Dr was very happy and cleared me for stage 4. I asked if this was normal and he said someone my size would lose quicker, but I'm definitely ahead of schedule. I'll be honest, I had some thoughts of regret right after the surgery, but then I really focused and it is paying off. I still hate Protein Drinks, but I've found other ways o get my Protein like eggs or Peanut Butter on a spoon have really helped.

Wow we are starting the summer off right! Must be a summer blow out special on the 6/7 days. Lets do this. May 20th baby.

My date is may 2 in los Angeles Ca. Im sooo excited god bless us

That you cant take ibuprofen for the rest of your life
That you cant give blood for the rest of your life
That the procedure is new

Thanks for showing up and speaking out everybody. May 2013 is right around the corner and this stuff is real now.
Ya'll, after getting some love from my FB group, I'm in a much better place. I got so wrapped up in my fears that I forget I have done my research. I have selected a great surgeon and a great hospital. I am following all my doctor's pre-surgery orders and I'm going to follow all his post-surgery orders as well. My surgeon is very careful and he's very cautious. He places the staples and then he goes back over them with sutures. He leaves the drain in for 4 days after the surgery in case of excessive bleeding. He checks for leaks after the surgery and the next day. He keeps you in the hospital for 2 days and then in a hotel, which he stays at himself so he's close, for another 2 days. On my return, I have solid medical care in case anythng goes wrong. Yes, the care is 4 hours away but that's ok. I can be admitted to the hospital with no problems and the bariatric surgeon has residency there so I'll see him as much as necessary, if needed. Most importantly, I have a God that loves me. I have a God that has brought me out of hell, that has always shown a light in my despair. I have never been deserted or rejected. I have never felt alone during my darkest moments. If God has been saving me from this world since I was a child, I know He's not going to overlook me because I'm in Tijuana.
That's my truth. That's what's going to allow me to have this surgery and claim the victory I know is mine, even if I have to walk through trials and tribulations to get to that victory.
Now ya'll tell me your truth. What steps have you taking to be ok? How have you ensured that no matter what happens, you've done your part? Because at the end of the day, if we've done our parts, the rest is up to the fundamental goodness and purpose of this universe. Whether you believe in God or not - I use to believe in whatever was keeping the trees alive because the trees didn't work and they didn't move - sometime you just got to let life be life.

OMG!! I know exactally how you feel....My surgery is May 3 and I have even had awful dreams. My son told me I hope your surgeon knows what hes doing because your my only parent....geeez!! My anxiety is through the roof all I think of is the surgery....Im soooooo ready and excited but damn Im scared!! Also I read about preop diets and hospital stays. My Dr is doing my surgery outpatient and I only have to fast after midnight the day of surgery.

Hi Tammy
Im getting my surgery on May 3rd. Im so excited and nervous. Ive been having a little anxiety and I think its because of the unknown. I have fears of the surgery but I also fear being overweight and what the complications will be if I dont have surgery. Theres so much advice on this site. I love reading everyones experiences. Nice to meet you :-)

Good job, I know its hard.
Try and relax as much as possible tonight.
And get some sleep! You have a big day tomorrow, good luck to you!

I'm scared too. Getting sleeved on may 8th. Trying to be positive but you are right, things can go wrong. I have 2 small children and sometimes I'm scared they will be left motherless. But obesity could do that too. This is tough. Thank you for posting. I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels this way. Chances are good that we will all come through it just fine. I need to keep focusing on the positive things this surgery can bring to my life.

Hi Cerenatee,
Thank you for posting this! I feel the same and you stated everything so well.
I am pre-Op, my date is May 7th. I was in the office today and there was part of me hoping that they would find some reason that I could not go forward with the surgery.
I am very thankful for this site, there is so much information and support, but I have not really found a place to hash out my fears. I admire your courage for posting this. I know I am done with being overweight... obese... and I have done a lot of work to understand why I got here, but feeling confident about those things is very different from feeling confident about having the surgery.
You're right, the risks of complications are small and we try to just tell ourselves that they won't happen to us... but just because we tell ourselves we won't have any complications doesn't mean we won't.
This is a very serious surgery. It has the potential to seriously change our lives for the better, but I'm affraid we are kidding ourselves if we do not consider the possible complications seriously.
I'm scared, too.
Thank you again for posting this!

Cerenatee - I feel exactly like you. I am so scared to have this surgery, but I am also scared NOT to have this surgery. Although I have 160 lbs to lose, I have been so fortunate that I don't (yet) have any other health issues -mild high blood pressure, but no aches & pains or diabetes that you would expect. But I too have tried 100s of times and 100s of times gained back all that was lost, plus more. I don't want to look back a year from now wishing I would have had the surgery in May 2013. It's so scary - emotionally, physically & spiritually. But I am not going to back out. I am just going to pray, follow the plan & exercise. Looks like we will be recuperating at the same time - I wish you all the best!
Teresa

I am absolutely right there with you. One moment I am fine, looking forward to surgery and changing my life, then the next time I come here and read complication stories or regret stories I wonder what the hell I'm thinking. You put it all very eloquently.
I did the only thing I could do - i researched the heck out of doctors and actually made a switch from where I thought I was going to another group an hour away from home. I felt an urging from God to check them out, went on Saturday to another seminar there, and found comfort in the choice. It's a big group that has literally done thousands of surgeries, including doctors who were pioneers and are nationally ranked. Yes, an hour away from home is a lot more driving, but I have peace that I am doing all that I can to get that complication figure as close to zero as I can. After that, there's really nothing you can do. Pray and make a leap of faith, asking God to bring you through it with him.

I too was nervous before going in with this surgery however I've also been thin b4 with the help of the band. When I lost the weight I got my life back and was able to do things I havn done in years like run not walk, play with my kids, swim etc.. unfortunatey, I devloped herniab and took it out gain most of my weight back but I am glad to have a second chance with the sleeve. Being over 300 pounds is so debilitating to my life. Since surgery 3 weeks ago despite the ups and downs my knees don't hurt and I look forward to what summer will hold with me and my family. I chose the surgery because I want to live a long healthy life. I intend on folowing the program so I can accomplish just that. I am glad I found this forum so I can encourage and be encouraged as well. Put God first and he wil do the rest. Yur fate does not have to be your mom or sisters. Keep pushing(pray until something happens-push)

Hi Tammy
Im getting my surgery on May 3rd. Im so excited and nervous. Ive been having a little anxiety and I think its because of the unknown. I have fears of the surgery but I also fear being overweight and what the complications will be if I dont have surgery. Theres so much advice on this site. I love reading everyones experiences. Nice to meet you :-)

Hi Tammy
Welcome to journey… Two pieces of advice: be proactive with the doctors and take the information on this website with a grain of salt. Every “body” is different and will have different results, expectations and experiences….

I'm Tammy ~ 45 yrs old ~ 5'8" tall ~ 295 lbs ~ size 24 (4X) ~ BMI 44.8 ~ Goal 157 lbs.
This is the beginning of my weight loss surgery journey. I have been to my first appointment (4/3/13). I have had my consult with dietitian, financial liaison, doctor and psychologist. I am now waiting to be contacted to schedule the surgery. I'm seeing Dr. Scott Stowers in Ft. Worth, TX
This is definitely not the beginning of my battle with my weight and health, of course. I've gone through the courses of action, diets, exercise plans, and every method I could afford or conceive of without medical intervention in the pursuit of fitness and health. Just like so many here, in that way we find common ground.
I am excited about the prospect of actually losing weight. I mean, I see it as a real possibility that I can be healthy and fit. It's not just a pipe dream! I see and believe the stories and testimonies here. Real people are doing this and it is working. I have hope again. I have real desire to the point of a constant lump in my throat as I contemplate my "after" pictures and how I will feel getting to that point.
I want to be a part of this welcoming, informative, friendly, supportive community. I look forward to getting to know new friends and learning from the advice and encouragement and insight offered here.
~Tammy

It really doesn't have to be all or nothing. I mean every now and then I have a slice of pizza or half a cheeseburger. That's not going to make me fat again. What would make me fat is if I ate a whole pizza and a whole cheeseburger with fries and coke regularly. But that isn't going to happen because my stomach does not have enough capacity for that. Everyone should lighten up on themselves and on others.

There's some really angry, anal-retentive folks on this forum.
Just an observation.

1. Pussification
pussification(noun): the state in which a society becomes less and less tough. This noun's originator is the famous comedian George Carlin.
"We are undergoing a pussification of our entire society."
2. Pussification
The state of mind that a man undergoes when he has lost any control that he ever had in a relationship with a woman. The point in a relationship where a man becomes his mates personal b***h. Once pussification takes over the man will spend every waking minute thinking of ways to please his mate.
"Hey Mike, wanna grab a beer after work?"
"Thanks guys, but I can't, I have to hurry home to give the cat a bath so that I'll have time to watch Seventh Heaven with the princess"
"Holy ****!! Mike!! You've got pussification. We need to get alcohol in you right away"
3. Pussification
Taken from a George Carlin bit, referring to the reversal of roles and attitudes specifically of the American male due to being overly "politically correct."
Using soft language and avoiding confrontation and critisizm has resulted in the complete pussification of the american youth, as manifested by "emo", and "cyberbullying"
emo pussification wuss sissy *****-whipped
4. Pussification
To become a *****, wus, coward, whimp etc.
We are witnesses to the mass pussification of males as a result of the fload of female hormones in our Water from the consumer use of the birth control pill.
Draft Dogers? That's pussification straight up!

That you cant take ibuprofen for the rest of your life
That you cant give blood for the rest of your life
That the procedure is new

May 14th here...I'm so excited and it just seems so far away lol

I'm too excited the new me begins on May 6th!!!!!! I can't believe this is actually going to happen. Yay!

That you cant take ibuprofen for the rest of your life
That you cant give blood for the rest of your life
That the procedure is new

Are there any VSG urban legends that you can think of that you have debunked?
The 1st one I can think of is: I won't feel hungry after surgery.
Sure the part of our stomach that produces ghrelin is gone and our physical hunger is reduced or even eliminated... but no one can tell me that "head hunger" doesn't feel real and powerful!