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tbrown9

Gastric Sleeve Patients
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  1. Like
    tbrown9 got a reaction from mmhutch in Single incision vsg with Dr. Carlos Diaz? Anyone?   
    I am a patient of Dr. Diaz and am getting this procedure done in Aug. I would be happy to tell you more about it if you want to Facebook me at tmaygraves@gmail.com.
  2. Like
    tbrown9 reacted to Pookeyism in Removing the "-" in yo-yo. How VGS helps us help ourselves.   
    It was asked of me last weekend if I could clarify one thing about WLS, if I could make one notable point that has not been mentioned what it would be. So I thought, hmmmm….
    We are constantly reminded that after WLS our stomachs have gone from being a sources of distress, these large cavernous things that CAUSED us to be overweight, FORCED us into eating poorly, etc. to valuable tools we use to lose weight. We have changed our stomachs to be sure. What, however did we change them to? VGS is generally a laparoscopic procedure that removed most of the body of the stomach. Starting generally below the pylorus, the suture/staple/cauterizing procedure extended along the length of the body of the stomach and removed the greater chamber, and may or may not have removed the fundus. So now what, what does that mean?
    Now we have our tool. We eat less, we have to. The weight comes off. It may drop like a rock or progress slower. Different body types, health issues, meds, and still the foods we choose to consume will help determine this. So we have a tool for weight LOSS.
    Then we maintain. Now we just eat less and it stays off, right? If you have been on the forum for even a little while you will see it is not always that easy. There are still many questions, lots of issues and answers still to be figured out, each in our own way and time. Many questions are about how to use the tool in maintenance.
    BUT this post is not about maintenance; it is about the in-between, one of the less mentioned but in my opinion more profound things we do with this tool that affects our success. I define success not by an ideal size or shape but ability - ability to be a size that allows me to be active, and healthy, and off at least some medication, to name a few things. These are not the only goals I have, but they are the achievements I have that I now use to have a far superior lifestyle to the one I had before.
    A big shift I have undergone is that I recognized that my tummy did something I did not expect. It provided a way to eat less and it has definite, defined physical ways it has assisted me, no doubt. Mentally it has assisted and even raised more questions! Beyond that, however, there is something more, and whether or not I embrace it I think is the true test of how successful this will be for me. I am talking about the “gap”. I have tried to find any reference to it in the articles and such that I spend a bit of time reading but so far I have not found that many.
    The gap I refer to is that space that we never met successfully when we dieted. The ‘ –‘ in yo-yo. That point where the adulation of successful weight loss, and health and compliments began to lose momentum. It lagged with stress of home life, maybe. It was the burger and fries when, honestly, even if it had been a lackluster salad one could have ordered that instead, heck ordered TWO, whatever to be full – but did not. It is the sinking feeling one get when 50 lbs. of weight loss did not make the ailing marriage better, or the bills did not pay themselves. Maybe the issues that were under those layers were still there and still hurt. food was there, with food came feelings of comfort and simultaneous guilt, and a yo-yo began before the weight even crept back on.
    Here is the “gap” the ‘ –‘ in yo-yo, and here is where our new friends, our new tummies, kick in. I think it is much underrated in the WLS journey. Our sleeves fill the “gap”. In between that space that we could not overcome, that ‘– ‘ in the yo-yo. We do not eat the burger and fries, we cannot overindulge by volume. We have a means to bridge that gap, if we want it. I think our longest terms of success can be affected by how we choose to take advantage of this bridge over the gap. Better habits, educating ourselves on food choices, understanding what got us here, learning to forgive and set vanity aside. Repairing the mental damage from being in the shells we were in, this is something our sleeves offer us that we did not have before. Much more important than just eating less and as vital as exercise - we have time. Time to recover before we even stumble, time to get equanimity from our minds and bodies at the same time we do not regress to bad habits and start that journey back up the scale.
    We have time to make time – days and months and years to in turn create space to enjoy those days and months and years. If we did not gain a day from this, we gain quality. You know the sayings about rather have quality of years over a lot of years? We get an opportunity for both!!! From VGS and the bridge it gave over the “gap”.
  3. Like
    tbrown9 reacted to butterfly_gal in Keeping surgery a secret...?   
    I was planning on keeping it a secret at work but now I found out that we're switching health insurance carriers in October and we need to fill out a health questionnaire that of course asks for any previous surgeries, and all this paperwork is submitted to the HR Manager. If I could trust my HR manager, I would just tell her, but she is the worst gossiper in the building (which is sad considering she is supposed to be the confidential one). My plan is to tell everyone before then so it doesn't come out as a "secret" because if it comes out as a secret they'll talk more about it, but it I just tell them, hopefully it will be all they hype for a couple days and be over with. I work in a small office (8 people total) I initially didn't tell anyone because it is none of their business, and I have heard them scrutinize and pick on someone else for having gastric bypass a while ago. I am the only overweight person in the group. I enjoy my job, but I do not enjoy my co-workers! I did tell my family and friends though, it was just the snooty co-workers I didn't really want to tell.
  4. Like
    tbrown9 reacted to brajt in Clothes available - Free - paying it forward   
    I have reached my goals and I know these are on the smaller size but I have sizes 10, 8 and I think 6, medium and large tops available. Willing to just give away, paying it forward. These are nice clothes mostly designer labels or high end.
    I wore a lot of this stuff to my job which is business casual so it is work oriented but causal stuff too.
  5. Like
    tbrown9 reacted to ca_medic5 in Going alone to Tijuana and scare to death   
    only eat the popsicles from the store at the Marriott there in a green package about .80 cents
  6. Like
    tbrown9 reacted to Momonanomo in Mindful Eating   
    oooh ouch. Been there. Once. And hope to never do it again. I feel your pain! This is some serious behavior modification we've signed up for, isn't it?!
    On a different note....your healthy tacos sound really yummy !
  7. Like
    tbrown9 got a reaction from eortega in Going alone to Tijuana and scare to death   
    I just came back from Tijuana. I went alone and got sleeved on Monday. It was not scary at all. Don't believe all the stories that you hear about Tijuana. Tijuana in this day and time is nothing like it used to be years ago. I even went with some some surgery buddies that I met at the Marriott to the Walmart and got some things. We walked, it was beautiful weather there 74 degrees and sunny. You will be surprised that you worried for nothing once you get there. Good luck with your surgery! You'll do fine!
  8. Like
    tbrown9 got a reaction from emr3857 in who's going to Tj soon?   
    I am at the Marriott scheduled for surgery tomorrow!
  9. Like
    tbrown9 got a reaction from AmandaRaeLeo in To Whom it May Concern...   
    Amen!!!
  10. Like
    tbrown9 reacted to AmandaRaeLeo in To Whom it May Concern...   
    To whom it may concern:
    Surgery is scary. Leaving the country can be scary. Leaving the country to have surgery?Terrifying.
    Coordinators:
    We don't need bogus reviews, paid reviews, vague reports of tragedy, and referral kickbacks out there amongst us muddying the waters. We need you to answer our questions... Honestly. We need you to hold our hands in spirit and in person whenever possible. We need you to represent your company and the surgeons who contract through said company with integrity and dignity. If you struggle defining those words or relating to them I suggest a career change.
    Medical Tourists:
    We need some solidarity. We are all, or have been, in the same boat. For whatever reason surgery at home isn't happening. We've made the bold decision to reclaim control over our obesity and we've kicked it up a notch.
    All VST members:
    We come from all walks of life. Various roads and life experiences have brought us all to this point. WLS. Many of us, if not all if us, have been criticized or teased regarding our weight issues. Many have felt "less than" because we are "more than". Why on earth are we attacking each other? What are we gaining from it?
    Take a long look in the mirror. Tell yourself you are going to try and be the best *you* that you can be. And then... Live it. Own it.
    “You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.”
    ― Ralph Waldo Emerson
  11. Like
    tbrown9 reacted to serenity1959 in August sleevers?   
    I am leaving today for San Diego. Going to spend Saturday there, meet the driver for Dr. Aceves Sunday, and have surgery Monday. I can't believe it is almost here!!!!!
  12. Like
  13. Like
    tbrown9 reacted to cdnsatellite in August sleevers?   
    I'm getting done on 8/8 with Dr. Carlos Diaz (single incision) at Mi Doctor. I'm alternating between being excited and being nervous as all get-out!
  14. Like
    tbrown9 reacted to No game in I'm leaving in a couple hours for the Indy Airport   
    My doctor, had a complication on my surgery day, the patient before me was a super morbidly obese person and she had some problems.. She's fine by the way, but I still had my surgery by a competent doctor whom I trusted, complications happen, chances are they won't happen to you. But this is life and its not prefect and no amount of money or research can change that.
    By the way my surgery was in the USA,
    This is life! and the benefits far outweighed the risks for me, because I was morbidly obese and would of suffered much more severe complications
  15. Like
    tbrown9 reacted to adr525 in August sleevers?   
    I have created a Facebook page titled August Sleevers if anyone would like to join.
  16. Like
    tbrown9 reacted to Vetniemeer in August sleevers?   
    Hang in there sugarpop...I don't know which plan you're on, but I know from my own, it is tough. I've done a week of it now and the sugar-free Popsicles do help. Don't give up...keep reminding yourself it isn't forever and all for a great cause....YOU!
  17. Like
    tbrown9 reacted to sugarpop in August sleevers?   
    Ugh. Totally bombed on the pre-op diet today. I wish my doctor didn't believe in them like other doctors. If I could starve myself successfully I wouldn't be in this situation. Debbie downer right now. Here's to a better tomorrow.
  18. Like
    tbrown9 reacted to Vetniemeer in The OCC and Dr Ariel Ortiz?   
  19. Like
    tbrown9 got a reaction from Dee White in our month August almost here who's ready   
    I will be sleeved August 4th!!! Come on new life!!
  20. Like
    tbrown9 got a reaction from lnelson796 in white chicken soup   
    That's sounds really good! Thanks for sharing. I am looking forward to trying this post op.
  21. Like
    tbrown9 reacted to AngelNP in Pre-op & Post Op Exercise   
    I have already created Mexico Trip Tips & Sleeve Bible(s) documents. I'm contemplating on starting a document for pre and post sleevers regarding exercise (cardio, weight lifting, toning, flexibilty, stretching, etc). I would love input especially from the gurus, experienced sleevers. I have a lot of advanced exercises; however it's really important for the pre-sleever or recently sleeved (after medical clearance to exercise). This information will not supercede medical instructions from their PCP or surgeon(s). Thanks in advance.
  22. Like
    tbrown9 reacted to katie75009 in pre op diet   
    Yeah, I'm not enjoying this too much. I refuse to mess it up, but still don't like it. It definitely helps to stay busy and drink lots of Water. My surgery is Aug 3. Sometimes it seems like its right around the corner and sometimes (like today when I'm frustrated with the diet) it seems like forever. I know it will go quickly overall, but its dragging butt today.
  23. Like
    tbrown9 reacted to melissa73 in August sleevers?   
    Hi Ladies,
    I am getting my sleeve on August 15th. A little nervous but also excited. I just turned 40 on July 16th and I am looking to make my 40's+ way better than my 30's.
    Good luck to us all and thanks for all the support!
  24. Like
    tbrown9 reacted to LipstickLady in Soup Question   
    I didn't make a poodle for 13 days, 2 days pre-op and 11 days post. I finally took a colace and it helped things along. I felt like singing for the rest of the day, too. In fact, I think I did.
  25. Like
    tbrown9 reacted to AmyInOrlando in Pre-Op Begins Today   
    I was told to do 7 days, but decided to do 14 days of liquids. I started yesterday also. So far, no headache, no hunger and down 3.4 pounds, overnight. Haven't given up caffeine yet and not looking forward to the withdrawal. I'll fight that battle next week.

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