Diana82

1 week post op. Finally got some decent exercise in. 2.7 miles walked! Feel great. As always getting my Protein in right now via shake. Rule of thumb when y'all start walking or any exercise protein after!!! Helps recovery time! Anyhow....y'all will heal and get on your feet. Listen to your body and when ready Start Moving! We all didn't go through this for nothing. Remember it is just a tool! If you don't start changing the thoughts in your head to help change the patterns in your life. You will be right back where you started before making this decision sooner than later. I wasn't always overweight. Graduated high school a normal 130lbs. Bad decisions mentally physically and spiritually put me at my hw of 260. Don't get me wrong. I gotta kick my arse out the door at times to do it but it is so worth it! We can all do this!!! Hang in there!!!!

I am writing these things down, because I am sure there will be times early post op when I wonder "why did I do this?"
This is why:
1. Having to shop from a limited clothing selection. Eff you , size 20, you suck.
2. The feeling of my fat middle squooshing out when I sit down.
3. swolly feet
4. Feeling like the fattest person in the room
5. Being the fattest person in the room
6. Feeling invisible
7. Feeling self conscious and size conscious
8. My stomach touching the table in a restaurant booth
9. Not fitting comfortably in a movie theatre seat
10. Looking at myself in pictures
11. Feeling ugly
12. Body aches, knee aches, hip aches
13. shoes that used to fit, and now are too tight
14. Low energy
15. Not turning heads
16. Looking in the mirror naked
17. clothes that no longer fit.
18. Not being able to wear my rings
19. Being afraid to run into people I haven't seen in a while
20. Not feeling pretty
Ok, I only wrote 20. I'm sure there are more. Help me out. Why do you never want to go back?

Good luck to all those awaiting surgery this month. I had mine on 9/3 and am feeling almost back to normal. I took two weeks off work and am going back on Tuesday, even though I could have gone back after one week. I have enjoyed the extra rest.
A couple of things to expect. First, they fill your abdomen with a gas that enables them to see what they are doing better. That is what is uncomfortable when coming out of recovery. You feel pressure in your chest and hopefully they will remind you that it is normal because if you didn't know it, you would worry. It is uncomfortable.
I wasn't allowed even ice chips until after the GI to make sure there were no leaks. I thought that was very uncomfortable also. I was given mouth swabs though.
I had a tube in my nose for the first day and that was uncomfortable. It wasn't horrible getting it removed but it burned for a minute.
Getting up and sitting up seems to really help get you on the road to recovery. I had a morphine pump and frankly, I don't remember that much about the 2 day hospital stay. I had no complications which I'm very grateful for.
I went home with a drain tube and got it taken out at my first appointment which was 7 days post-op. As soon as that came out, I felt great and could move so much better without soreness.
Now, after 11 days, I'm 14 lbs down and able to drink without feeling burpie and no discomfort.
I can't say I was ever in any serious pain. There were just parts that were uncomfortable. I don't think I have any huge pain tolerance or anything. I've had two children and my gall bladder removed in my lifetime and I would say it was mildly worse than the gall bladder surgery and not as bad as a c-section. (I don't know if that helps puts anyone's mind at ease a little, but I hope it does.)
Good luck again!

I found out my insurance approved me for surgery today! Now just need my doctor to schedule it!

My surgery is Sept. 19th also. I can't believe its a week away. I feel excited and nervous at the same time. I am on 2 Meal Replacements a day and have to have clear liquid the day before.

So my surgery went well yesterday.... Still in the hospital resting.. My tummy is pretty sore and extremely swollen. Walking around has been pretty easy, the worst part is trying to sit down or get back up.... Luckily the hospital beds make it easier to lift you up. I have not administered pain medicine very often and they turned my auto med thing off so if I need pain meds they will brig them to me. I did take a shower on my own.. It's just a little difficult getting dressed without any assistance. Good luck to everyone else doing their surgery... Remember don't over drink your liquids cause you will feel miserable.

I went today for my nut class. I have to start liquids on Sunday. Surgery time is 1:30 pm. The full liquid isn't as bad as I thought. Going shopping Saturday to get my Greek your. Was surprised that you can eat oatmeal. Have to have less than 10 grams of sugar per serving. Also bought peach wey protien to mix with soy milk. We can do this

Yeah...I hadn't looked into what types of Protein Drinks to buy as I wasn't expecting to get scheduled so soon. Last night, I read the reviews of Protein drinks and ordered some necter off Amazon which will be here Thursday morning.

My doctor wants me to take B12 after surgery. Not sure if that's what you need to do. Where did you get Unjury?

Today is 14 days post op, and this is my first post since surgery.
8/20 I was the last patient of the day scheduled at 5:30, didn't go in until 7:30. When I woke up the only thing I could feel was fire. I was expecting pain, but it literally felt like my insides were on fire. Not pleasant. It was a VERY long night, but I managed. I was discharged the next day at noon.
The first 3 days were very rough, pain was bad, gas pains were brutal, my stomach was very inflated and I couldn't get comfortable to save my life. Forget laying down flat. The pain in my chest and stomach just trying to swallow Water was excruciating. I managed.
By day 4 the pain was minimal and I was up and about doing normal household things, but I tired easily.
By day 5 I could drink a little better without so much discomfort. But god forbid I take a sip and then laid down. In fact, sometimes the only way I could stand to drink was walking around. Being vertical felt much better than horizontal.
By day 7 the swelling in my stomach was greatly reduced and the pain was gone, except the occasional twinge. I started walking regularly a couple times a day just around the yard and neighborhood, and have tried to stay active, stretching and moving some small weights around with upper body, no problems there. Again, I just tire easily. I've followed the liquid diet to the letter, and week 2 I started full liquids. Soups hurt if I'm not careful. Water goes down easily now. I'm basically living off Protein Shakes and Isopure clear drinks, broth, and the occasional Soup with unflavored Protein added.
I'm never really hungry, but I do know when I need to feed my sleeve - I start to feel slightly nauseous in my tummy or an acid feeling. A little bit of protein, it goes away. Im managing 60-80oz liquids and most days I hit 70-80 grams protien. I am so glad I've done this, but the first week was hard! Harder than I expected and I thought I had a grip on the situation!! lol, the things we tell ourselves....
So I got on the scale today and I'm down 17 pounds. I almost freaked. I re-weighed myself a dozen times, and the number was the same! I also took full body pictures of myself, which I had not yet had the bravery to do.
So today is a great day! I feel really good physically and mentally, I know I'm doing what I'm suppose to, and the weight is coming off. Its a beautiful feeling!!

My approval came in today. Sooo excited. September 16th. Here we go!

Nope, not even for a second. Then again, my surgery was flawless and my recovery has been great, no pain, no nausea, nothing. Like I mentioned in a different response, everyday I just wake up overwhelmed with how happy and positive I am for the first time in a LONG time. No regrets whatsoever!

http://imgur.com/a/ldVZI#0 (Note: potentially NSFW, incision pics are pics of my bare tummy)
^ Some pictures from Tijuana, both the hospital and hotel, and of course some pictures of my incisions!
Between the two week pre-op diet and the two weeks post-surgery I'm down 28 pounds and LOVING the sleeve so, so much.
Also, if any of you want to see the part of my stomach that was removed, well...
http://i.imgur.com/CbipMcy.jpg

I wish I would have been kicked off a ride. instead the lady running the ride had my son & husband move so I could get in the bigger part of the ride, & she had to pretty much stand on the bar to get it to latch, in front of everyone to see. That is the day I made the decision to do something. it's taken me a year, but Sept 9 2013 I will take a huge step to be able to enjoy my life. I will never forget that day, crying in the bathroom & having to act like nothing was wrong for my family & friends. needless to say I had a lot of time to think & reflect.
to solidify my knowing I made the right choice. my husband forgot about the year before & so I got to sit a couple weeks ago while they rode the rides. I had already been making my way through the process to do the surgery. maybe next year I will be the one to take the park by storm! I knew I was not the only person going through this. I am so sorry for everyones story. the good thing is we can all look forward & know where we want to be & know not to go back.

That happened to me last week for the first time. My kids and I went to six flags. It was my older son's first time to get on a big roller coaster. We sat down and the belt wouldn't buckle and they said I had to leave. The look on my son's face was heartbreaking. I cried for the next 15 minutes. I'm excited to go on all the rides next year with no restrictions other than fear!

Wowza! Just looked at my VST profile and I am no longer obese on the BMI chart. I am now just 'overweight'. It is laughable to be excited about being overweight but I am! I loathe the word obese and now it no longer applies to me. Yeah!

I'm the same. I lost a lot of weight, was doing great. I tried a few of the "skinny me" moves I did at my smallest, and thought I heard a round of applause. Then realized it was just my rolls. LOL,.. I can't wait to break those moves out again....

Tijuana Sept. 9-14 and surgery is the 10th!!! Marriott Hotel and 2 day hospital stay....see y'all soon! I am only worried about my heart bc I had 1 stent placed March 2012. Im 225 now but 5 ft. Seriously....I am ready to stop carrying my granny style medicine container with all the freaking pills. Ive been wearing a girdle since 6th grade and I will have a bonfire with all undergarments/shapewear!!! Lol!

September 23rd! I will be released on my birthday, 9/25! Happy bday to me!

Where should we all hook up and talk about how we are doing after surgery? This site? I am Sept 10th with Dr Alvarez in Mex. Anyone else on Sept 10th with him? I know he only does a couple of them a day, anyone on the 9th or 11th with him? I am so looking forward to this......my "fear", nausea, vomiting and a leak. I only hear good things about my surgeon and with great outcomes. I am praying!
My benefit? Let me count the ways....for one, to get back out in the world and feel good about myself, instead of going to work and back home. To wear the clothes hanging in my closet. To socialize, to travel with smaller clothes that i can mix and match easily. To go visit family and feel proud instead of not going because "I don't have anything to wear". To look forward to going places instead of dreading it. To being more active, get into a excercise routine. To getting out of bed on my days off, to being more healthy and being present in my life and live it!
I could go on and on about the benefit. I think about that more than looking at "what food I don't get to eat and the quantity that i eat" anymore. I hate it every time I drive thru to get Cookies to eat at work and hide them so others don't see me eating them. The shame of getting bigger and bigger. My scrubs getting tighter and tighter. My bras getting tighter and digging into my back. The good certainly out weigh the "bad". I am ready to get out of bed and come out of the closet.....or back into my closet and be able to wear what is in there! I want to be honest some day about the secret hell I have put myself through, hope to help others come to terms with their "hell"
And praying that we all will have great outcomes, no leaks, minimal nausea, pain and minimal tears.

I'm anxious that I'll go through all this and not lose weight or experience issues as a result of the surgery. I'm anxious about having surgery - never fun, but I don't think it's going to be that big a deal really.
All that aside, my excitement outweighs everything else. Everyone I've talked to who've had the surgery all say they wished they'd done it sooner. I'm ready to take my life back. I am fortunate because I am active and can do most things I want but I am looking forward to having stamina - getting down on the floor and not groaning when I get back up. Getting off my high blood pressure medicine, not worrying if I'll fit in rides at the amusement park. Most of all...I'm excited to fit in cute clothes. (I don't care what you say - large sizes are made to make you look...large & dowdy)