homersmomma

I am considering coordinating a WLS support group in my area since there doesn't seem to be anything in my area. So far, I have one other person interested. I live in McAlester, by the way.

I was dating someone months prior to my surgery. He has been wonderfully supportive and told me he will still love me even if I end up looking like a deflated balloon. I am keeping him.

I was dating someone months prior to my surgery. He has been wonderfully supportive and told me he will still love me even if I end up looking like a deflated balloon. I am keeping him.

My surgeon shares the following poem with all of his WLS patients. I was shocked so much of this was true for me and I think this helped me come to terms with some of my issues. There were also a lot of tears shed as I tried to read it to my husband.
LISTEN TO THE LIFE OF THE MORBIDLY OBESE Author Unknown
LISTEN to the embarrassment we encounter in our everyday life. The name-calling, stares, rude comments and looks of disgust we endure battling the last acceptable form of discrimination. People we meet that give us a far wider berth than we need when passing us on the street, in the hall ... in life. Afraid that somehow our disease of obesity might be contagious.
LISTEN to our apprehension as we expertly eye the chair. Will we break it, or will we fit. Will we ever fit into life, as "normal" people know it?
LISTEN to our agony as we just walk and perform the simple activities of daily living on joints screaming in pain from an incredible burden they were never meant to carry. LISTEN to the pain of our humiliation when ridiculed by a doctor for "allowing" ourselves to get so fat. Realizing even the doctor's office is not a "safe" place, we tend to neglect our health even more. Hey doctor, didn't you take an oath to help?
LISTEN to our hopelessness after being turned down over and over for a job or promotion because we don't "match the corporate image" of the person they envision for this position.
LISTEN to our guilt. Because of our size, we feel we've cheated those we love out of the parent, spouse, child or friend we feel we should've been. Our embarrassment has now become theirs as well.
LISTEN to our anticipation as we eagerly embark on yet another diet. THIS will be the one. This time I WILL SUCEED!
LISTEN to our frustration as once again we fail at another attempt to lose weight, reinforcing once again our feelings of worthlessness, failure and defeat.
LISTEN to our fear for what life holds if we don't have surgery. We try to ignore it, to stuff it down, but when we are brutally honest with ourselves, we realize an early death is an almost certainty.
LISTEN to our indecision as we do extensive research, trying to outweigh the risk of complications (up to and including death) versus the chance of a new life. A chance to improve our health, move without pain, play with our children, the opportunity to just "fit in" to society.
LISTEN to our indecision as we second-guess our decision to have surgery. As we ask ourselves, "Should I try just one more diet?" ... And tell ourselves, "If I only had more willpower." Knowing that willpower isn't the whole answer.
LISTEN to us as we eagerly meet with the surgeon, with our five-page, single-spaced, list of questions in hand. Let down by the medical profession in the past, can I really trust this person who looks at me with compassion, as he assures me I'm a "good candidate" and he can help? Please God, I want to believe him, tell me I'm not setting myself up for failure once again.
LISTEN to our feelings of helplessness as we place our future in the hands of an insurance company. Fully aware that with a simple denial letter, all the work we have done to this point, may be pointless. This surgery is not without cost, physical, emotional and monetary.
LISTEN to our joy as we open the long awaited "approval letter" or obtain financing to make this dream a reality.
LISTEN to us as we grasp for a chance at improved health, of moving with ease and just living life as a "normal" person.
LISTEN to our renewed hope of living long enough to see our children grow up, get married, play with grandchildren and grow old alongside our mate.
LISTEN to our fear as we roll into the surgical suite. The sights, the smells, the needles, the faceless people behind the masks. Do you care? Do you understand, or will you too make cracks about my weight once I'm asleep? My life is now in your hands, please take care of me. I have a brand new life ahead of me, and so much to live for. LISTEN to the Sigh of relief as we wake up in pain ... but alive! Stand up, walk a few steps, cough and deep breathe. Sure nurse, whatever you say, I can handle it ... because I'm alive!
LISTEN to our delight as the weight starts to drop off, realizing this is for real. We are actually on the losing side.
LISTEN to our misery as the body we once knew so well, now betrays us with nausea and vomiting when we attempt to eat.
LISTEN to our frustration as we attempt to do something as simple as drinking a glass of Water.
LISTEN to our panic at the first plateau or weight gain. As that little voice inside tells us, "Once again I'm a failure."
LISTEN to us relax and let out our breath as we watch the numbers on the scale edge down once again. Plateau over. Renewed hope. Maybe I will make it after all.
LISTEN to our efforts to move as we slowly and painfully attempt to exercise in a body that is still morbidly obese.
LISTEN to our confusion as our emotions wreck havoc with us. Why am I crying? Why do I feel depressed? Why am I mean and snapping at the ones I love? I don't like this person that has taken over my emotions.
LISTEN to our sense of accomplishment the first time we walk a mile. It rivals the high of any runner completing their first marathon.
LISTEN to our depression when we realize we can no longer soothe our emotions with food. We now have to learn to feel and deal with these emotions.
LISTEN to our tears as we mourn the loss of that brief but satisfying sensation of gratification we once obtained from the "comfort foods" we can no longer have.
LISTEN to our obsession surrounding the scale, Vitamins, Protein drinks and carb counts, determined not to fail "this time".
LISTEN to our sense of accomplishment as we pass up that calorie laden, high carbohydrate treat, telling ourselves, "My new life is sweeter than any dessert."
LISTEN to our elation as we reach that "century mark" that once seemed so distant, but now is a reality.
LISTEN to our resolve to reach our goals. Moving the weight on the scale down another notch, reaching a new "century" of numbers, wearing the dream outfit and attaining our "goal" weight.
LISTEN to the gratefulness in our hearts as we thank our surgeon for not only their technical skills, but equally important, their understanding and compassion for the morbidly obese. Thank you doctor for the opportunity to rejoin society and live a fulfilling life.
LISTEN to our amazement as we come to the realization that "reaching goal" wasn't the most important thing in life. It was the lessons we learned, the friends we made and the sense of accomplishment we gained along the way.
LISTEN, don't talk, don't give advice, don't judge, just listen. And then, maybe then, you will start to understand the life of a morbidly obese person.

It's not meant to harm or offened anyone, and I wasn't being funny......its not gross, its just a long tube with a bulb at the end.someone may want to see one that never seen one.....because I haven't until I seen mines.....you can just imagine what people want to see on pictures out curiosity....I myself searched many things on google that I want to see such as people that have plastic surgery, before and after weight loss surgery etc...

What a wonderful tool to have love my sleeve ♥

Ewwww. No thanks.

Fear will do amazing things. I routinely have patients that will worry about the most rare of diseases while not paying attention to obvious dangers as not using seat belts, smoking, excesive drinking, routine immunizations, yada yada.

I told as many people as I cold that I was having surgery in Mexico. There reaction was priceless. As far as my family was concrned I told them that I wasn't asking for permission' I was just letting them know what my plans were. i'm still in Mexico, 2 days post-op and feeling remarkably good. Heading home to STL on Tuesday.

One month down. Sometimes I ask myself what took me so long.

I just had my VGS on Sept 25 2013. I had my surgery at the hospital Jerusalem with Dr Almanza. It was amazing. The whole staff is so nice and caring. They were so clean it was amazing. Even the shuttle drivers were well groomed and polite. I went all by myself and they made me feel right at home.

Plenty of sagging with this 57 y/o but I'm of the "super obese" group and definetly will need panus removal due to repeated infections. My face is wrinkle~free so far but I expect that will change. I have so many problems caused by my obesity and feel so much better I can handle wrinkles. I still can't weigh myself on a regular scale so I don't weigh myself very much. I'm so glad I had surgery and am happy so many younger people are having surgery before their health is ruined. Hooray fo us 50's.

I also hate eating. I eat a child sized portion and I still end up filling up too quickly.

Okay, so I will be 4 weeks out tomorrow and have lost about 28 lbs thus far...a pre-op pic and a post op pic from about a week ago...still looks waaaay better!

I also researched weight loss surgery over a long period of time. I entreated the insurance company and wrote letters. I finally turned to going to Mexico and paying for it myself. I researched this route for over three years. I am glad that I did it and I only wish I had done it a whole lot sooner.

I also researched weight loss surgery over a long period of time. I entreated the insurance company and wrote letters. I finally turned to going to Mexico and paying for it myself. I researched this route for over three years. I am glad that I did it and I only wish I had done it a whole lot sooner.

Ten years (yes, ten years ago) I started researching weight loss surgery! I finally decided to proceed and was approved in June. In mid-July I started a 4 week pre-op diet where I lost 20 pounds. A few days before surgery I started doubting my decision...was this too drastic?...would I be successful?...would I be able to handle this?...what if something went wrong?...should I give dieting ONE MORE TRY? Thank goodness I did it! I am now 6 weeks post op and am down a total of FIFTY POUNDS!! Am I excited? Heck yes! I set a goal to lose 50 pounds by my birthday in November and reached it 5 weeks early. My next goal is to be down 75 pounds by Christmas. I did not tell my parents about my surgery and can't wait to surprise them when we go to visit. I am so glad that I finally decided to do this and now I keep wondering why I waited so long! What WAS I thinking? Better late than never. Good luck to all sleeevers---your stories are inspiring!

Boarding flight. Excited. Nervous. Want to get past the surgery part and climb the next mountain

I did. 7/1/11. the surgery went very well and there were no complications, still none. it does not look like a typical hospital (more like a strip mall). It is basic but clean and likely has a lot fewer super-bugs than you would find in a multi-service hospital. for recovery, you will likely be in a house with roommates. I liked the company...not like any of us were perky, but there were people to walk with (you will be walking a lot, to get rid of the post op gas). and there was terrific clear Soup and popsicles on the second post op day . the only thing that I would suggest you consider is to have a post op md or nurse lined up in the us. first of all, it is important to have someone to call if there is an emergency. also, unless you are very personally un-squeamish, you might need help taking out the post op sutures. I ended up doing it myself, because no doctor or nurse here would do it for me. Also, you might want to consider having the folks in Mexico send you a list of the post op meds you will need and then seeing if there is a way to get these in the US. I did not have any problems with this, but on another (terrible, horrible and awful) trip to Mexico for dental work, the anti-biotics they gave me were not effective... I found out that the ones you get there may not always be top quality. One final thing, remember to follow all pre-op instuctions. If you can get on a liquid diet now, you will reduce your risk in surgery, heal quicker and feel a LOT better than you will if you dont. most of all, don't worry ...congratulations on making a good start toward feeling better about yourself and your health

I researched going to Mexico and I researched local surgeons accepting self pay patients for many years before I start decided that the time had come to make it happen. I decided to go to Mexico in the end purely based on the finances. I do not regret it at all. I have now lost 60 pounds that I hope to never see again. I already feel better and I am so much happier than I thought thought I would have thought. I love my sleeve already so much. It is the best gift I have ever given myself.

WELCOME TO THE LOSERS BENCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know the liquid diet is a very daunting prospect. However, you can do it. I didn't think I would be able to do it and whenever I thought I was just going to go crazy with hunger I buckled down and had a hot cup of Decaf tea or bullion and got through it. The reasons for the pre op diet varies from practice to practice. Mine was to shrink my liver and decrease some of the abdominal fat that could cause complications during the surgery. Honestly, I wanted to improve my chances of success by doing anything I could.

I was sleeved there 5 days ago. On the morning after your surgery they come in and ask if you want to shower. There was soap provided and each room has its own attached bathroom with sink, toilet and shower. After your shower they will ask if you want to put your own clothes on or a clean gown. I brought a cotton, soft nightgown and a bathrobe and crocs for my feet and changed into these. The nurse will come in and change your dressings after the shower. Basically all you will care about is getting up to walk periodically, sucking on ice chips, and sleeping. I was VERY proactive in asking for the pain and nausea medications in my IV every time I woke up, as walking made me nauseated. Some people wished they had brought their own pillow because the pillows are very firm and the first night you cannot sleep on your side due to pain. I just slept without a pillow. I had my Gas X strips next to the bed and took them often. I brought an extension cord and kept my IPad plugged in on the tray table. The call button for the nurse is NOT the one on the side rail, it is a separate blue button attached by a blue cord.
I brought a sippy cup for drinking Water and this was useful mainly back at the Marriott. I also brought a hot beverage cup with lid Thad I used for the broth at the Marriott. Some people brought a heating pad, but I didn't and didn't need one.
Basically, you feel like dog meat the first night and day, then on the second night you can sleep on your side and are much more comfortable and on the second day it gets better and better. The only dressing you will need to apply on your own is the one where they take out the drain right before you leave the hospital. They put one on you and give you a gauze packet but be sure to ask for the tape or snitch some. I only redressed it twice after showering and since it looked closed over and no blood ever showed up on the gauze I left it open after that.
I hope this helps, and good luck!

I'm so excited we finally heard back from my Husbands work and he got the time off for my surgery! We leave November 13th and I'll be sleeved November 14th with Dr. Garcia in TJ.
So now it's on....my husband is a huge planner....he has been trying to find a good packing list.
What were some things you're glad that you took to Mexico with you? Or what do you wish you would have packed?
Thanks everyone!