megancd

Some days my sleeve sounds like it's trying to call the mother ship. I keep expecting an alien baby to pop out. Hasn't happened yet but surely all those noises can't be originating from my tiny sleeve.

Down about 45lbs and couldn't be happier! Another 30-35 to go!

Photos are 1 year apart. I'm 8.5 months out from surgery & down 78 lbs.!! Love my sleeve!!

I promise myself that I'd return a year after to the same spot in Hearst Castle...

Wow! 3 years ago I made this terrific decision to have surgery and although it has been difficult at times and still can be I much prefer this lifestyle than the previous!!!!

I took a walk with my chihuahua last night and he got tired first! Little brat just sat down- like he was saying just carry me. Lol! I cant stoop and pick him up yet tho. We were standing in the street having a little argument. Finally got him to walk home with me. So I think treadmill is what I will have to do. That way he can sit in his blanket and sleep.

I am sorry you had to deal with the ass end of my gender. I've recently had to deal with an issue myself and it is quite difficult sometimes to understand why people do the things they do. My girl of 10 years left me last month for someone else. She told me I had changed to much. She told me I look and feel different and she wanted to move on. For the last 3 weeks I have felt so guilty for losing 110 pounds. I have felt so ashamed for changing myself because that's the reason she left me. Because I changed for the good. I do things now that I thought I never could. I wanted to grow old with her. I know it sounds corny but I didn't expect this from surgery. I knew some things would change but I never imagined it would be this. Even other people such as co-workers, family and even some friends treat me differently. Almost as if I was invisible before and now all of a sudden they want my company. It is heavy on my heart that people are this way. But you know what, I do me. I have learned that I need to focus on myself and I have done that. Despite the issues at hand I work 2 jobs, work out twice a day and just stay positive. Thank goodness for my dog Oreo Thanks for sharing your post. It's always easier to talk to someone about something when they have to deal with BS as well. Good day to you.

Ah, great idea. My M.O. In the past has been to lose weight, pick up a loser, gain weight, drop the loser, repeat. Uggggggg, hopefully now I can drop that behavior and feel like I can offer a guy more than being a sugar momma.

Ruled out a leak. Looking like possibly a stricture. Find out more in the am. Thank you friends for your thoughts and prayers! They are so much appreciated.

Ruled out a leak. Looking like possibly a stricture. Find out more in the am. Thank you friends for your thoughts and prayers! They are so much appreciated.

I am sorry you are returning to the hospital because of complications with the sleeve...I had a leak too and I spent 5 months in the hospital because of it......i know it does not feel like it but this will pass and you will soon be on your way again......I am 10 months now and doing and feeling great!!!
Just don't think about it too much.......If you do have a leak there are a lot of options for you out there....You and your Surgeon will find the best way for you to heal!

They did lab work and a CT with contrast at the Dr office. Can't rule out a leak or stricture so I'll be spending my night at the hospital for IVs for dehydration and further testing including an upper GI scope. Pray for me please sleeve friends.

They did lab work and a CT with contrast at the Dr office. Can't rule out a leak or stricture so I'll be spending my night at the hospital for IVs for dehydration and further testing including an upper GI scope. Pray for me please sleeve friends.

OK. Here's mah stats:
November 2012: weight 459
Surgery 5/2/13: weight 417
8/3/13 - 3 mo post op: weight 359.
That's a total of 100 lbs down from my highest weight!! I lost 42lbs in 6 mo pre-op and have lost 58lbs in 3 months post op. LIFE IS GOOD!
Here are some pics. I don't have a lot of "before" shots to choose from, because I didn't like to take pics when I was that heavy.
 
I see a major difference and look so forward to seeing all the changes in store for me!

So Beautiful! Wow! Hoping for similar success in a year.

I just wanted to thank each and every one of you for your incredible inspirational stories! You help me when I feel down. I had my sleeve done June 2012. After a year I am down from 308 to 168. I will never miss those 140 lbs. I lost another person!!! I am proud of myself but I am also so proud of each and every one of you! You're all an inspiration to me! Never lose hope because you're incredible!!! Love yourselves and enjoy your new lives
Here is a before surgery picture and one from last week!!

I just had to share the MAJOR pre-op NSV I accomplished this weekend! For the record, I'm having my surgery in exactly 2 weeks (8/19) and am starting my full liquid pre-op diet tomorrow. About a week and a half ago I watched a great food documentary (it's call "Hungry for Change" and is available on Netflix streaming, highly recommended!) and something just clicked. I decided to change everything, right then. I put on my shoes and went for a several-mile walk that night after watching it, and have been dedicated to eating healthy, no snacking, lots of Water & Protein, and daily exercise. Even bought a juicer and am making fresh green juice in the morning for myself for breakfast!
Fast forward to this past weekend: I had planned a trip to Disneyland several months back as a "last hurrah" before surgery. Disneyland is my most favorite place ever. I go about every other month. Of course, one of the things I love most about the park is the FOOD. I would plan my whole vacation around what I "had" to eat. I am a huge sugar fanatic, so usually this was churros, ice cream, candy, etc...although my meal choices were also decidedly unhealthy. I was EXTREMELY anxious about this trip because I had committed to my lifestyle change and this was like going into the belly of the beast! I met with my therapist before my trip and we created a mantra for me whenever I was feeling anxious at the park: "Disneyland is still fun without food."
Anyway, here I am, sitting in the airport ready to fly home—and I am so proud to say that I didn't have so much as a SINGLE BITE of sweets or treats this WHOLE trip!! I brought Protein Bars & shakes with me and treated myself to one healthy meal in the parks per day (had some pretty amazing salads!) I didn't snack at all in between and drank lots of water. I am really proud of myself, and this was not easy by any means! However, it was all worth it knowing that I have given myself the confidence to enter into the pre-op diet...if I can survive without any cheating at my favorite place, I know that I have no excuse to cheat while at home.
Just wanted to share, and for all of my fellow pre-ops, I promise you that if you start developing these kinds of healthy habits & challenging yourself to make permanent changes before surgery, it will be a tremendous confidence booster and constant reminder that YOU CAN DO THIS!
Have a great day, everyone!

Wow! Awesome! How long did it take you? Do you mind sharing your stats? I wanna look like you!!! very inspiring

I am with you Amy. This has definitely not been a cake walk. I was sleeved a week ago and having a heck of a time with pain, nausea and not being able to keep anything down. Here's to certainly hoping it gets better & soon!

Just to be clear.......they mean Hair loss from your head. Just back from a beach vacation and the old bikini line was - uh - not affected by VSG hair loss.

Yup - everyone. You can take all the Biotin you want, eat all the Protein you can and take all the Vitamins you can swallow, but it will still fall out. Month 3-6 are the heavy shedding months. Most people stop losing after that. The hair that falls out is usually the dead or weaker hair follicles. Do not worry. It is just a phase. Your hair will be stronger, longer and more beautiful by month 9.

I am 6 weeks post op & starting to go out socially again. I was nervous about eating out or going to a cocktail party & how I would do when I wasn't preparing my own food. It's been just fine, though, and that has helped to increase my confidence in my ability to succeed.

Wife and I bought a run down doublewide trailer in a nice trailer court here in Florida. She and our relatives have transformed it into a beautiful place. She has been working me like a guard on a chain gang.
Floor fixing, painting, plumbing, cleaning, and we haven't even started on the outside yet.
We get so busy doing things we lose track of just enjoying each other. We are taking time to have coffee in the morning and just talk, no newspaper, no computer.
More hugging, too.

Thank you ALL so very much for your responses, your truth about the outcome pro's and con's. Everything you all told me is exactly the same things I have thought myself, so hearing it from people who have had the surgery really helps.
I want to live my life too instead of existing, I think ALL the time at how I think I would be so much happier if I was thinner so I could go and do fun things with my husband and daughter. Go for walks at the park, go to baseball games and do fun things that involve a little walking. I would LOVE to go camping and tell stories by the fire with my little girl and sleep in a tent in the backyard. So many things I want to do to ensure she has a wonderful childhood, and that I provide myself with the best life I can. But for some reason, I just can't keep the weight off on my own, and I think I need the "tool" of the surgery.
Thanks again to all of you. I hope you don't mind if I add you all to my friends. I'm still trying to figure this site out so hopefully you all get my response. God Bless!