JCassell

I really need help, or encouragement or something.! I'm 10 months out and I have only lost 60 pounds. I feel like such a failure! Did anyone one else fall off the wagon and how did you get back on board? Is it too late? Please chime in. I exercise but not regularly, and I snack in the day. My nutritionist would cringe at my food journal. What should I do?

I have PCOS too. I haven't gotten on birth control yet. I have migrains and I have to take the kind that a breast feeding mother can use (don't know the name). They told me that it had less estrogen, I guess. I go to my surgens office the 19th. I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one, thanks for the advice! I'll call my gyn.

I am having a huge problem. I have been on my period since my surgery 7 weeks ago. On again, off again, just never completely stopping. I have lost about 40 pounds, and I was thinking that this could just be hormonal stuff from surgery. I was hoping that would have let up by now. I lost 60 pounds previously and my cycle evened out and happened on time monthly. It hasn't been heavy or abnormal but I'm worried and so tired of this! Could I be anemic or something? Does anyone else have this problem? So sorry to for the subject!

Surgery was 10-30-13

Highest weight: 337

Surgery weight: 313 (Huge shock, I was hoping for 10 pounds.)

Current weight: Unknown. Waiting for post op appointment 11-7-13

Goal weight: 170

Everything is going well for me so far. I have over done it a few times tring to clean, and run after my daughter. I don't think I'm getting enough fluids but I'm working on it. My protien shakes are filling!

I have surgery tomorrow too! I know just how you feel! Will be praying!

My surgery is tomorrow and I am so nervous! I have to be at the hospital at 5:45! Holy cow, I only have 6 hours to drink anything! Ahh! I'm excited but my husband has been saying things like "you better make it through this" and "Please don't die" He is really freaking me out! I told him he is suppose to be the support system here! I've got my dishes and laundry done, childcare set up, bills paid, cashiers check in my purse, groceries in the house, and my bags packed. I just hope I'm not forgetting anything! Does anyone have any advice for a scared soon to be post op? Did anyone else have doubts the night before? I saw a cookie in the kitchen and thought that if I ate it I wouldn't have to get an IV in a few hours, lol.

Got my date! Oct. 30th!

My first appt is Oct. 1st. This is the same surgeon that did my mothers surgery. I am expecting Oct 23 to be my date!

Thank you all so much for the pep talk. My gym choices are few and far between (I'll have to drive 25 minutes to the next town) but I think I have found the perfect one for me. It says that it is a TRUELY non jugemental gym that has varying rules about harrassment. They have child care, nutrition classes, and a few classes I always thought I was too fat to attempt (Zumba, kick boxing, yoga). I spoke to the manager and she was very helpful (And understanding) and offered me a free day at the gym, and a free session with a trainer before I made my decision. I'm going in today (In thier slower time) to take a tour of everything. I'm excited! I really want to do this right, I don't want to take my sleeve for granted! Thanks to everyone for your support and I will update you soon!

Today i sat in my car, outside the gym in the parking lot, gripping the stiring wheel until my knuckles went white. I am embarrassed about the way I look, and how I think my body will look whilst exercising. I can just feel people staring at me thinking 'what is she doing here, I wish I didn't have to look at that.' I know that this is exactly where I need to be but I feel like such a novice that I sould be doing the work at home. The truth is I need to be shown what to do, I need help. I know I can't be the only one who feels this way. This is YEARS of social programing by angry teens, coworkers, and strangers, talking and joking about the way I look. How do you get over it? How do you push yourself through the door, in front of that cruelly accurate and huge mirror wall, and do classes? Just need some encouragment please!

I have had percings, and they dont bother me either. IVs are a different story. If you have an IV somethings wrong! I think its the fact that they leave it in. Ugh. No. The Surgery is sounding more and more like two days of Hell. And the lovenox injections afterward. I'm just so unsure. I dont want this fear to be an excuse tho.

Are any of you needle phobic? I am DREADING the IV!!! It makes my skin crawl to think about it. I had a freakng panic attack when my moms IV prolapsed. Ugh. Time for my big girl panties! Thans for all the encouragement!

Help! I am freaking out! I have been with my mother for the past few days during and after her surgery, and I am so second guessing this decision. She was so worried the day of surgery, and she told me the operating room was scary and all she could think about was is she doing the right thing. Then post op I was helping her up to go to the bathroom, and she was in so much pain. I'm sure that it doesnt help the situaton that its my mother in pain, but I am still very worried. On the other hand, we are both using same surgeon and her incisions look fantastic. So I am more confident with him, and the hospital has been amazing. I have been just putting myself in her shoes because I will be there in a few weeks. My first appt is October 1st. I just need some reassurance that the pain in the hospital doesn't last forever!

I have seen a lot of people post about bringing a robe. If you are wanting to travel light, you can just ask for another hospital gown. Put it on backwards, like you would a button up shirt. It is lightweight, offers coverage when up walking, it has open sides for IVs and tubes, and you dont have to haul it to and from the hospital. I know some people feel more comfortable with a warm comfy robe from home though. Just a thought.

If you go on ebay or amzon and searh for childrens silverware, or childerens silverware sets you can find a little more grown up verson of the toddler utensils. They are usually stainless steel and come with a fork, spoon, and knife. I found some from Oneida that actually match my 'adult' silverware, and its usually less than ten or twelve dollars for the set. I found them tonight and thought I would share. I just bought a set for my mother and me. We are both getting sleeved in september (hopefully)! Sorry I don't know how to link you to it!

I look forward to helping my daughter practice ballet, and karate and Tball and soccer! I want to be able to make my husbands jaw drop. And I want to go SHOPPING for my style, not whatever they have in my size (if they have my size)!!

Im going in for my first consult and some pre op testing next month. I'm very nervous.

I'm gallbladderless. Surgery went fine. I freaked out a little when I woke up (My first time going under) and I nearly fainted when they were putting in my IV (I am a serious needle phobe). Although I didn't get to follow my plan I did get some good practice and info for future surgeries. I think Ill handle the next one better, and I am liking no attacks, so it defenitely was worth it.

Well from the time of diagnosis to surgery was about a month. I told my PCP about my symptoms, I had an ultrasound confirming gallstones the next week, and they called me the day of my ultrasound to schedule surgery. That was scary, by the way. I am a surgery newbie and ultrasound to surgery in one day put me in panic mode. I told her I wanted to wait until my VSG surgery. Then two weeks later I had a third attack and was down ten pounds, and dehydrated. I saw the surgen and he scheduled the surgery about ten days out. It was delayed because of the long weekend. So it went fairly quickly. My aunt waited a year before she had hers removed. I think it just depends on your pain level. I wanted to wait for VSG too, but it was more than 6 months away and I didn't want to risk it. I had several attacks in a short time tho. It couldn't hurt to do the ultrasound and be sure.

The first gallbladder attack I had honestly felt like a heart attack. That was the first thing that went through my mind. It was a pain the the middle of my chest and it went all the way through me. I couldn't find a possition where the pain would ease up and I had to wait it out (about 4 hours). The second attack I had wasn't as painful. I couldn't even sip Water, food was out of the question, my whole body was achey and I was kind of disoreinted. The last attack I had wasn't too bad. I was leaned over my desk and all of a sudden it was painful to breath deep. If I straightened my back as far as I could the pain left. Mother said I was putting pressure on my gallbladder. I know this is a random set of symptoms with every attack but I'm being as straight forward as I can. Hope this helps, and hope you don't have them!

I saw my surgeon today. My gallbladder surgery is set for 7-12-13. I haven't had another attack yet. So far So good. He said that it was outpatient surgery and I wouldn't be in the hospital more than four hours and that I would have a few bandaids. My doctor said that he knew my VSG surgeon and that he was a very good doctor that took very good care of his patients. He also said that he thought that VSG was a great option for me and he was proud I was being proactive with my health. I was ready for a talk about how bad the surgery was but instead I came out more confident in my decision. Overall I'm glad I went and this should be good practice for my VSG.

I had everything set up with my insurance company and was going to start my six month diet next month. I went to my seminar saturday. Unfortunately I have had a gallbladder attack that has keep me down and out for two days now. This is my second attack in a month and I'm afraid that I don't have six months to wait. At the seminar they told me that they have done over 5000 surgeries and only one was covered by my insurance company. Those are depressing odds. On the other hand they said if my gallbladder attacks were serious, they could have me in surgery in two weeks. I don't know if I sould go into debt for this or not. But I also dont want two surgeries that could lead to months of recovery, I have a baby at home. Do any of you regret going into debt for this? I don't want to rush into it for the wrong reason (the two week thing is tempting), but I don't want to risk my health waiting for an insurance company that may never approve me. Do any of you have any advise for me?

Thank you everyone for your support! I know Mother will feel so much better knowing she isn't alone. I feel better knowing all of you did so well, hopefully mother will have a easy time of it as well. She understands what the testing is for and knows that its necessary but she is worried about the expense. Ive told her to invest in her future and that it will be good for her. So far I haven't heard anyone say that they regret it.

Hi everyone! My mother is getting the sleeve done this year. She is attending her seminar June 22, 2013. She is self pay and she is very worried about the expense of the pre-op testing, and the kinds of testing required. She is also worried about her age and how it will effect her recovery and weight loss. She is a nurse and knows the ins and outs of the testing I've told her about seeing in many stories on this sight. Now I'm afaid she will back out of the surgery altogether. I am really just hoping for some first hand experiences that will help her make her decision and put her mind at ease. She asked me if I could find any information from people around her age. If you can offer any support I would greatly appreciate it!

Congrats! Can't wait until I get there!