DestinClair1983

My Dad had it done in the early 1970's due to ulcers. And did fantastic lived to reach 94 ate small meals throughout the day.

Even though they weren't being performed as a weight loss tool, gastrectomies (partial or total) have been performed since the 1880s as a treatment for stomach cancer or severe stomach ulcers. Knowing that, I felt safer with the vertical sleeve gastrectomy than the gastric bypass because of the long history it has lol.

Wow, thanks...that's good to know! I didn't think of it that way and was worried since its considered new. Your point that its only new as WLS is encouraging. Thank you.

Copy this link for a funny reminder to be careful when you are at the gym.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=KTQ4HnWP6B0#t=0

You look great! Such a big change in such little time. That's awesome, keep it up.

I'll never regret my decision to have had the sleeve. I'm 70 pounds lighter than my highest weight. I still have a ways to go but my diabetes is gone, I'm off my blood pressure meds, no more chest pains or shortness of breath, and just feel so much better overall! The sleeve has been helping me stick to the plan and I know that I will reach my goals because of this amazing tool. Good luck!

Two previously supportive coworkers tag-teamed me with their opinions today. Came out of nowhere. I figured it would happen at some point, but I'm still frustrated. Oh well - I was falling asleep and now I've been annoyed awake...at least I'll be productive the rest of the day.
This was all the usual stuff. Just eat 1500 - no, 1800 calories. Eat every 2 hours. Low carb. No, no carb. No carb is good. Don't waste the money on surgery. Eat broccoli and boiled chicken. After surgery you'll have to diet, why not do it now? Blah blah blah and some more blah.
One of them is my size, getting larger, and in denial about it. Stuffs herself into her clothes like a sausage in a casing and won't admit to being over 200 pounds. She goes through wild swings. One day you can offer her something and she goes off the deep end at you about how she's on a diet and isn't eating crap like that - the next day she's stuffing rolls and M&M's in her piehole hand over fist.
The other one, I'm very proud of - she's about a size 4 now and used to be >250 pounds, and did it via the "boiled chicken" method with boot camps twice per day. Good for her. But her way isn't the only way, and being on the other end of a lecture from a sanctimonious ex-fatty who thinks her answers are the only answers is not my idea of a fun way to spend the afternoon.
I'm having this surgery because I'm 36 and 300 pounds. I've been fat my entire life. My knees hurt. My feet hurt. My blood pressure is poorly controlled. I want babies before I'm too old to raise them. I. Don't. Want. To. Die. And anyone who thinks they're going to talk me out of doing something to save my life can kiss my fat a$$ for as long as I still have it.
Rant, over.

I suggest "The BIG Book on the Gastric Sleeve." It has a wealth of information re: everything you need to know pre-op and post-op. I bought it on Amazon a few months before surgery and I learned a lot!

Yaaay! Congratulations you guys, that's awesome! Good luck to the both of you!

I'll never regret my decision to have had the sleeve. I'm 70 pounds lighter than my highest weight. I still have a ways to go but my diabetes is gone, I'm off my blood pressure meds, no more chest pains or shortness of breath, and just feel so much better overall! The sleeve has been helping me stick to the plan and I know that I will reach my goals because of this amazing tool. Good luck!

IM three days post op and I came home yesterday. I did pretty well while in the hospital, I was in high spirits and walked my ass off. Only time I really hurt was getting up out of bed or getting out of a chair, that's when your ab muscles come into play and man does it hurt!
I'm sleeping okay. Slept in my bed last night, I couldn't wait to actually sleep in my own since the hospital. I couldn't turn or really move because I was sleeping on my back and it hurt too much to turn. I tried having pillow support if I did try and turn on my side, it wasn't enough and too much discomfort. It's difficult because I'm a stomach sleeper, I feel like it's going to be tough no matter what. After walking around some this morning, I was watching something on TV and a funny part came on and I laughed. NOT GOOD. It hurt so incredibly bad, I immediately started to tear up and tried controlling my breathing. I took some liquid oxycodone. Other than that, my experience so far with the sleeve has been exceptionally good. I'm extremely proud of myself and other Sleevers for doing this because it is NOT easy. Keep up the good work everyone.
Be proud of yourself and one another

My Husband and I go to the Seminar on Dec 17th 2013. I already knew before going that I wanted the gastric bypass. At that time I never even heard of the sleeve I did learn of the sleeve at the Seminar but still leaning toward the bypass. The Seminar lasted a few hours they go over a lot. I know several people that have had gastric bypass and one person who has had the lap band. So I know a lot already. ... anyhow. At the end of the seminar they give you a pamphlet and tell you to contact your insurance company since everyone is different. I needed to find out what exactly my requirements are from my insurance co.
1st was a 3 month medically supervised diet.
2nd was that I had a BMI of : either 40 or 35 with co morbidities.
3rd was note from my PCP.
4th was that I have a note from a Psychiatrist.

My 1st Appt with the surgeon was also set up at this time for Jan 23rd. On Jan 4th I had an appt with my PCP for refills on some scripts so while I was there I just asked her if she would write me a note saying I would benefit from WLS and she did.... so one requirement down!

The very next night Jan 5th my BP shot up to 186/98 and I started having some chest pains. My Husband took me to the ER and they admitted me. They ran several tests. EKG, chest X-ray the whole nine yards. They didn't find anything. I followed up with a specialist and was told it was probably gas... right?

Jan 15th I see my Psychiatrist for my ADHD, while I a visiting him I ask if he can write a note saying I am good to go for WLS. He does. Yeah!! another requirement down!!

My BMI is 37ish I also have the co morbidities. (main requirement)

I had done a medically supervised diet for exactly 3 months just last year. June, July and Aug. When I did this diet I had no thoughts of surgery. I was really trying to lose weight. Those horrible pills. (Phentermine) The first month I lost 20lbs. The second month I lost nothing. The third month I lost nothing. That's when I said forget it. The pills aren't worth it. So I gained the 20lbs I lost back and then some.


After that let down and some serious thinking I decided I would try and see if I would qualify for surgery.

My 1st Dr visit Jan 23rd. I bring in ALL my paperwork. My note from my PCP, the note from my Psychiatrist, the paperwork from my 3 month medically supervised diet. I talk with the Dr. and we decide on the sleeve. This is what I want. No question about it. I am ready. I am told I need an EKG and a chest X-ray. I ask if the one from the Jan 5th ER visit would be ok and they said yes so I had to fax that over.... All I had to do was some blood work. I went across the street and had that done.

Everything was turned into the insurance company on Jan 24th.

My phone rang on Monday Jan 27th. I thought for sure she was going to say it was denied.... when she said APROVED. I cried.

My surgery date is 3/3/14 .... This is my Journey

I'm not fat (on the outside) any more! I'm not skinny by any means, but I'm not fat. I weigh 157 pounds which is still far too much for my 5.3 frame, but I wear size medium tops and size 8 pants, which is officially smaller than the average American woman.
I am no longer shopping in the women's section.
I am no longer wearing the largest size in the ladies' department.
I pick up clothes in consignment shops and often have to reject them for being too big. ( WTF?!?!?!)
I fit in bathroom stalls and dressing rooms with room to spare.
I can walk through turnstiles/bus aisles/theatre rows front ways instead of turning sideways and sucking it in.
I no longer stress when some jackhole parks too close to my minivan when I can barely open my car door to squeeze in.
Every seatbelt fits.
I can put my handbag in my seat with me instead of on a different chair.
I can sit in a booth without my tummy and/or boobs smooshing up against the table.
People don't mind sitting next to me at the movies or in tight restaurants.
More people make eye contact/open doors/smile/initiate conversation with me than ever before.
I am no longer looking around to see if I am the biggest person in the room because I'm not. Ever. Not even in Zumba.
I can wear my leggings home from the gym and stop at the store without caring if I run I to anyone I know.
I could go on forever. I'm still a fat girl on the inside so this whole thing is very surreal. It's just finally starting to set in that after 20 years of being obese, I'm now just a regular sized fit mom (with some loose skin) who can do anything I fracking want to do because I gifted myself with the least easy "easy way out" I could have ever chosen to do.
Love love love. Love.

Congrats...walk and sip....we should have a song about that lol

I am up an walking . There is a lot of gas trapped in my body . I really like the delotdid med that they have givin me it helps with the pain . I am swollen from Fluid . But I am sure I will pee in a couple days . Just givin y'all an update . I think for the most part Jesus seen me through this and my wonderful support group(y'all) so thanks everyone I will keep in touch.

My niece emailed this little item about friends. I don't know the source, but I thought it was worth sharing. Look on this post for a download titled Real Friends.

Good luck, Glitter, wishing you a smooth surgery and speedy recovery!

I had my psych evaluation today, what a blast I had. I did not have to take any test. She asked me a few questions and the rest of the time we were discussing Greek food. She found out I am Greek and continued to tell me about how much she loves greek food and the places around here that have the best food, Then she continued to tell me about her son in college. I think I know more about her than she knows about me!
I also had a nutrition visit, she was wonderful and very helpful!

I was lucky enough to have two doctor's appointments this week - my three month follow up with my local bariatric doctor and my PCP.
I lamented to my bariatric doctor about my stall. How I haven't lost anything in the past 18 days. I was kind of whiney about it. She just looked at me like I grew a 2nd head. She said, "You're going great. You've lost a total of 50 pounds. What was your expectation?"
I got to thinking about that - really, what number was going to make me happy? If it was 53 pounds would I automatically to over the happy side? What about 63 pounds, is that the magic number?
She pointed out all the good things going on - lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol, my ability to walk seemingly forever pain-free, my increased energy level, etc. All good stuff, right? So why am I so hard on myself about the number on the scale. She asked how often I'm weighing - I'm back to weighing every day. She told me to stop that, but I weighed again today.
The best thing she said about my weight was this - "If you graph your weight loss, the line won't be linear, it's going to be more of stair step." And you know, she's right. I graphed my weight loss to date and it looks like stair steps.
This morning I went to my PCP whom I haven't seen since late-October, about 2 weeks before surgery. Her jaw dropped when she saw me. She cannot believe the difference in my appearance. Then we started going over the labs and she was amazed. She actually said "You are glowing! You look happy. Your eyes are clear and bright. The transformation is amazing."
Sometimes we get so hard on ourselves because we're not losing a the rate in which we think we should. "I'm a slow loser!" "So-and-so is losing so much faster than me!" We need to STOP! This is marathon, not a sprint. I didn't get to 256 pounds overnight, I'm certainly not going to lose it overnight.
Sometimes it's good to step back and look at things from a different angle.

5 months and 80 pounds lost I am so loving my sleeve

Congrats on your progress, you're doing great Keep it up!

what ive noticed is even with a slower weight loss my waist is losing inches. Ive learned as my bmi gets lower the rate of weight loss decreases. I should be fitting into a 36 waist pants comfortably in one more week, they are just a little too snug yet. Im hoping I can get down to 165lbs my current weight is 198lbs. But I do remind myself that in the process of the wls and reduction of weight my blood pressure returned to normal, I dont take meds for diabetes anymore, Im hoping that I will not have sleep apnea soon. I know i still have it because i recorded myself at night sleeping to hear how i breathe and snore. the good news is that even with the recorder on voice activated only it only recorded about 1.5 hours of interrupted sleep patterns. So I believe I am getting better as far as the apnea is concerned. I do my 3 month check in this week with the nut and surgeon. then a week after them I do bloodwork with my pcp and i will find out what my a1c is also my cholesterol levels. I hope i can get off the cholesterol meds soon.

You are braver than you believe
Stronger than you seem
Smarter than you think
And twice as beautiful as you had ever imagined!
I didn't come up with this but I think it needs to be said. Sometimes we have such doubts while on this journey. This is just a simple reminder to all of us doubting ourselves. Carry on...

Stretching the sleeve is not the proper way to defeat it. Eating non-stop.....eating more when you sense there is room...is the road to failure. That new stomach is pretty stubborn about it's shape, it's more or less a muscle not just skin. Muscles can stretch but it's pretty difficult and they only stretch so much.
Relax with Mickey! If you are in Florida you have a great day for it, I'm on my patio with Italian Dark Roast Keurig coffee with butter pecan Creamer, bare feet, shorts, listening to the birdies, watching the bicycle riders go by. This is a great time of year here before the advent of the steam bath.

I had my sleeve on January 22, 2014. It went incredibly smooth. After surgery I was up walking within hours. The first few days I found it most difficult to drink warm liquid instead of cool or even room temp. chicken broth was my friend! I never did have, and still haven't really had any pain associated with my incisions. I had pain in the middle of my spine and my shoulder pretty bad the first few days. The surgeon stated that was referred pain from my diaphram being irritated. I did not experience any nausia. Within a couple days of surgery I was out shopping at the mall and out to a movie! I returned to work within a week right after my post op.

The day of surgery I weighed 220. My highest weight was over 280 (my scale only went to 280 so I don't know the true highest). The day after surgery when I went home, I weighed 232! The doctor assured me this was just Water weight and it would take about a month to even out. I am now at 204. I find I stay at the same weight for 2-3 days usually which is suprising just because my calorie intake is still so low. I'm on soft foods for 3 more days. The things I find easiest to eat right now are soft poached eggs, cottage cheese, Soup, shrimp coctail, cheese. I still have at least one Protein Shake a day which I don't love at this point. It doesn't keep me full very long at all, but at least I know I am getting a lot of Protein. Another thing I do is make sugar free pudding and I add Protein Powder to it. That is very filling. I'm suprised that I actually am hungry frequently. I fill up fast, but am hungry again soon. I hope this passes when I am onto my new life long eating plan I keep having to remind myself to eat very slow, take tiny bites, and wait in between bites for the food to go all the way down. I threw up one time last weekend, because I took 2 bites of something too quickly and it just wouldn't go down. I hope to not make that mistake again anytime soon!

I have been overweight my entire life, since 4 or 5 years old. I have had diabetes over 10 years, which was becoming increasingly difficult to manage and I was about to have to go on insullin. My primary driver for surgery was a cure or major improvement in my diabetes. I'm happy to report that I've not taken my diabetic meds since a week before surgery. I'm waking up with a fasting blood sugar of 95 to 105!! I'm very excited.

I found Bariatricpal when I was searching the web for different issues and symptoms post op. I decided to join and I'm so glad I did. I find it very comforting to read other people experiencing some of the same issues I am going through. I hope it will be an encouragement to me, and that I will in turn encourage others.