jbrown

Hello Texas Calico, I am 63 and scheduled for surgery 09/04. I think it is so worth it!!!

Hi y'all, I'm Debbie and I just saw my doc for the first time today. Kinda looking forward to this but kinda scared too. Why am I doing this? Well, in 2002 I broke my tailbone and crushed my lower back. By the time I was fused 13 months later, the surgery failed. Called "Failure to Thrive". Basically means I'm in chronic pain. Because of the way I landed I was told I started a domino effect which is causing my discs to disintegrate known as Disintegrating Disc Disease. All my discs have failed. To help with this I have had 2 Neurostimulators implanted. Yes, I am a Borg. Lol. A few years ago I was seeing a doctor 3x's a week for spinal shots and he unintentionally overdosed me with Vitamin D, which I am apparently allergic to in high doses. Go figure. Well, I ended up with Hashimoto's Hypothyroid Autoimmune Disease. Yay me! Like the back wasn't enough I guess. Yeah. Hashimoto's see's the thyroid as a foreign object to be attacked by the immune system. Unfortunately, I gained a bunch of weight. (55 pounds!!!). On top of already being chubby. and it won't stay controlled or stabilize!! I either sleep all the time or I'm awake for days. I had lost 65 pounds just before all that happened. It's just about broke my heart. Anyway, I went to my pain management doc for more pain shots. But because I told her I was having chest pains she told me I had to see a Cardio doc first. I told her my a Endocrinologist said that was normal with Hashimoto's, she's like nope. Heart doc. So I went. The first thing the Cardio doc said was a Gastric Sleeve to control the thyroid. Boy. What a moment. What a thought. Who knew?? So where I am, 10 days later starting my 6 month journey to surgery. So glad y'all are here!!!

I cannot wait to see my SIL on turkey day. We have not spoken nor have we seen each other since January. At the time, she was about 35 pounds lighter than me and LOVED to gloat about it in a not so subtle manner.
She would give me her clothing rejects with a casual, "These may be too small for you, but you are dieting, right?". She loved to commiserate with me about our mutual attempts to follow whatever diet we were on but loved to point out that her points/calories/units were lower than mine because she was lighter.
Our last conversation was her snickering about another overweight acquaintance's failed weigh-in, laughing that she did SO MUCH better and me asking if she talked about me as nastily as she did everyone else.
She didn't like that. My bad...
Fast forward to Thanksgiving and me being at least 90 pounds down from our last visit. I would bet any amount of money she is up at least 10 or 20.
I can't wait!!!!!
Who do you look forward to seeing during this journey?

Okay it's 199, but the first time I have seen a number lower than 200 in like 25 years. In the past I would get down to the 220s then start back up.
So that's 58 pounds in 5.5 months. Granted most of that was in the beginning, and my weight loss has slowed to about a pound a week. But at least that's in the right direction.
Oh, and off all diabetes and high blood pressure meds. That was my original goal. Now my goal is WORLD DOMINATION! No, seriously, now my goal is 25 more pounds to get to "normal."

Hi Yoly. I am also having surgery Nov 8. Everything is going to be good. I understand being nervous for your first surgery but I'm sure your surgeon is well qualified. Leave it to him/her to take good care of you. So let's join the rest of the sleevers here and start our new journey! Good luck and keep us posted on your progress.

My husband can't stop shopping online for me. I have no idea why but clothes keep appearing at the house. So he bought me two tiny looking size 14 dresses. I wanted to let him see how they were still waaaay too small for me. I love dresses but they didn't look good with the excess weight so I was very nervous.

But they fit!

And even though I say it myself, dang I look good in them! I have to admit, I didn't recognize myself in them. I didn't realize I am "small" enough to fit into them.

I used to read about others who said they didn't realize they were in a smaller size and it made no sense to me. Today I understood that.

I'm exactly three months out today (sx aug 2nd), 39 lbs down and in another pound I'll be half-way to goal. I've gone from an 18w or 20 to a misses 14.

For those of you who stress about stalls(I.e., me too)? Just know that in 3 months I've had 3 stalls that lasted 12 days, 12 days, and 15 days respectively. So out of 90 days, I spent 39 days stalled. And still got these results overall.

So grateful for the sleeve today. I have a thankful heart. Thanks for listening to me dance about with happiness

the picture on the left was after waking up and walking around and the picture on the right is me down 29 lbs in week 2!!

it's so weird both my close family and I can hardly notice but people I haven't seen in a while are like BOOM :/

Wait for your doctor to advise you to move to the next level.

Yes, hiccups will happen when eating to much, too fast or both together. And different people have different reactions. You hiccup. I burp. Others have runny nose, slime or plain throw up. Regardless of what your reaction is, one thing is clear: your body is talking to you. Slow down take smaller bites, chew tons and keep doing that. Usually, it is best to eat to a feeling of satisfaction and not to a full feeling. This takes a while to learn how to listen to your body, a lot of trial and error. Good luck.

Edited to say: 1 month photos on page 5 of replies
Well, i went to Mexico to Dr Sauceda and had fairly extensive work done. I started with 7 drains and am now down to 1. I still have stitches in. So far, my results look great and I am very pleased, but it takes 2 months to see your final due to swelling etc. I still have a bit of a poochy tummy but I think it will be flat once the swelling goes down.

I was very pleased with the surgeon and his care team. I loved the 3 nights and 4 days of clinic supervised recovery - excellent pain management and nursing care. Then, I was released to a hotel were I was bandaged and checked daily by a nurse and the doctor visited each day as well. For me, this was the only way to do it as the level of care I needed post op was fairly high in the early days.

His way of doing anesthesia and working with a partner means he could do alot in one surgery safely... however, no joke - this was alot of surgery at once. I had the lower body lift, breast lift and augmentation, arms and "small" thigh lift. That means no incision down the inner thigh, just along the groin. My recovery has so far been textbook. I saw my PCP and she was overwhelmed with happiness at how good things look, the incisions look good, all signs so far are of excellent healing.
I am far from out of the woods though; complications can still happen so I am diligent about taking it easy (this is killing me as I am normally so active), getting in even extra Protein and wearing the compression garments from hades.

The surgery was NOT painful and the incisions have never really been worse then kind of sore. The very worst part is dealing with the tight garments, the forced inactivity and of course the drains. There are certainly discomforts.... of the 6 drains pulled so far, two of them hurt.

Taken today, two weeks out, I am sorta hiding the two drains still in the mons area:


These photos were recent, pre surgery. As you can see, I had worked out and had some "toning" under all that skin.


I will get better pics when that last drain comes out... it is quite literally a drag on my style!

To round this out, i decided to add a pre VSG photo so you get the gist of how much I have transformed!

Today is my 5th day after surgery I feel so so much better. I struggled so much my first 3 days as I'd I did not make t he right decision. No pain meds for me today at all . I went out the home for the first time and i walked with ease. I am having trouble getting my Fluid intake in I am only up to drinking 20 oz. Of Water and not much of anything else. Today I was able to eat a sugar free Jello and 1sugar free popsicle. I am so looking forward to this experience. Sleevers this site has been a blessing to me. Thank u all for all the info and experiences shared by others!

For me, it is not, and was never about "will power." No amount of will power seemed to be sufficient to shut off the part of my brain that demanded that I eat as much as possible, as often as possible.
For me, the surgery dd much more than just "force me" to adhere to a careful diet program. It forced me to learn to accept small portions and small meals as a "good amount" of food. After eating those small portions, I feel a sensation of fullness unlike anything I ever felt before the surgery. For me, that was the difference I needed to finally start to eat small meals instead of suffer and feel hungry all the time.
There were times, historically, where I used to suffer because I would succeed at short-term weight loss, but would be hungry all the time, and it was really tough for me. That doesn't happen anymore with the sleeve.
My favorite thing about the sleeve is this: when I'm hungry, I eat!!! I swear, I've already lost over 40lbs and I had surgery about 2 months ago. And my "secret" is that I eat when I'm hungry. Eating high-protein foods can still taste really good to me!!!! I like all kinds of things like chicken and fish (not fried) and I also enjoy some of those "veggie" options like Boca Burgers. So when I get hungry, I eat food. And then I'm not hungry anymore, but I know I get to eat again the next time I feel hungry.
Never in my life could I have possibly imagined that I could experience true health in a way where I didn't have to feel hungry all the time. I assumed it was just my burden to deal with as a "big person." Not any more. That's why I am glad I had the surgery, and my only regret is that I didn't do it sooner!!!!

I have to agree with Southernsoul, I could never have lost the weight on my own, I did try every diet and exercise program out there, but with the restriction that the sleeve provides I feel full after I eat. That is a totally new sensation for me, I was always hungry but with the sleeve I'm not constantly looking for my next snack/meal. And I don't know about anyone else but if I had enough will power to just eat less I would have done it,.... but I couldn't and this is what's working for me when nothing else did.Good luck to you!

I'm sure you will get responses from folks much farther out than me, but for me personally this has been the best decision I could have made. I was 320 at my highest, right before the start of my 2 week preop diet in June. I was sleeved on June 19th & I'm down about 73 lbs so far. I have mobility issues & I used to be in pain every day. Now I can walk and move much better. I have about 70-80 more pounds to go, but the difference is already quite significant. I enjoy the foods that fit into my high Protein, low(er) carb eating plan. I feel full & satisfied after I eat, and I'm very surprised at how much I am genuinely enjoying exercise. There is no way I could have lost this much weight in the amount of time on my own. My ongoing progress keeps me motivated & keeps me mostly on track, food-wise. It is absolutely a lifestyle change...and one that was very much needed in order to improve the quality of my life. Good luck to you!

Hello pretty girl! I see you figured out the posting thing
Ok why the sleeve, good question. Yes we do kinda have to measure things out especially in the beginning or there can be some unpleasant consequences..
But another reason is with the reduced capacity it becomes all that more important that you get adequate Protein, Vitamins, etc..
So measuring, weighing your food and recording Proteins is most important.
Now as you get further out it becomes easier to keep track because you have your go too Protein sources. For instance right now I'm eating my Greek yogurt at 20 grams so bam 20 down forty to go today..
This is actually my first meal of the day because I'm not hungry (it happens sometimes ) and I've taken three bites and I'm writing this to give a myself a rest because I'm full!
The sleeve makes it easier to stick to these rules.
Some of us still have hunger and I still have my days that I struggle mentally. But the sleeve has given me time and space to work on those additive traits.

Hang in there. It will get better.
I promise.
The first couple months after are hard but you will be losing weight so it will help. You will be able to eat anything after a while, but it will always be important to get the Protein first.
It will be totally worth it. Really.

Just had pureed Progresso Artisan potato, kale and sausage, and it was SOOOOO satisfying!!! Had the Masai Butternut Curry yesterday, and added a dollop of yogurt and pureed chicken, Also delish! Today's had 8 grams of Protein, and goes down sooo smoothly!! They come in 2 serving boxes, and would be great for taking to work.

Exacly what I'm talking about. Lol

I had to choose between being a smooth, puffed up dead guy and a wrinkled up, saggy, healthy butt kicker. That fact that I am still here illustrates my choice.
The skin doesn't hinder anything important. Adjusting the mind is worth the effort.

I hiked in a cave today. For an hour. And then I swam in it. And then I walked 2 miles wearing a wetsuit and the heaviest life jacket ever. And then I walked another mile.
YESSSS!!!
This was not any old flat cave. This was a very uneven cave floor in a very dark cave, with some of it under Water and the rest above and I hiked through it for an hour.
I haven't shared this before but two years ago, I ended up in a wheelchair due to a very incompetent doctor. I was in it and bed-ridden for three months and it took me 3 months to learn how to walk again, by which time I had significant damage to the cartilage in my knees. For all of last year, I wasn't able to do stairs at all, and was reduced to using handicapped elevators if there were a ton of stairs. I couldn't sit on the floor comfortably and couldn't fold my legs in half and it took me months before I could climb in and out of a bath tub.
But today, I did all that. I hiked up and down some very rough terrain, I fell, I scraped my knee, I used a big stick to balance myself. I stepped sideways, forward, back, up, and down big ledges. I had to fold myself in half as I walked, and I had to fold my knees in half. And I enjoyed every freaking minute of it.
I was probably the least well-balanced person of our group. As I said, I had to learn how to walk again, and I don't think I'm as well-balanced as I used to be. I can no longer stand on one foot for any length of time. My husband made me take a walking stick and took me to keep me company (because on my own I'm too damn macho to admit I need help).
I was so worried about today. I was sure I would peter out before everyone. I was worried I wasn't a strong enough swimmer. i was concerned I"d hold everyone up. Well, everyone else there was much younger than us, but I'm happy to see we did not bring up the rear.
Yes I struggled, but I finished it. I love my sleeve, and I love the October Challenge on this forum that got me to the point I could do this today.
And btw, my husband is freaking stud muffin. The very-fit instructor dropped his flashlight under Water. He tried to dive for it, couldn't get it. The younger guys are standing around half-heartedly offering to go get it. My 60-year old man says, here, I'll do it. Off comes his helmet and his life jacket, he dives down and gets it with no fuss.
I almost jumped his bones right there
I also now know beyond a shadow of a doubt what I want in my life. If it's a choice between being skinny and lying by the pool looking gorgeous vs. hiking in a dark, dusty cave, I'm choosing hiking.
VERY LONG post! Thank you for reading. I'm just very excited about all of it

I'm now 2 months out and I've lost 32 lbs. I guess that's good. I think I expected to lose a lot faster but I haven't really exercised much only walking/jogging 3 times a week. My incision is still open and leaking so I don't do heavy things. My fiancé is bringing my treadmill up from the basement so I can walk more often. We'll see how things go then. I really wish my incision would close. but other than that surgery was really easy

I haven't been on here in a short while. I attended my seminar last week and already got a call yeaterday. I have my appointment in Boise for a consultation next week. so very excited. I hope things get rolling. the lady who called me said I have EXCELLENT coverage from my insurance. hopefully things will move along fast. I already hit my deductible for the year. I'd like to get it done before the year is up. because it starts all over as of jan 1, 2014. crossing fingers. a friend of mine had hers done 3 weeks after her consultation due to her having awesome insurance. here's to good vibes!

Woke up this morning and weighed in at 199. Never thought id be so happy to say im almost 200, but not quite! Hahah

I don't really usually like attention from people but I have felt kind of sad about nobody commenting on my weightloss. Tonight a lady I don't see often said to me "you've lost weight" and I said "a little" and she looked me up and down and said "no, not just a little, you look great". Boy did it make my day! I was in the early part of my last breaktime walk and I added 4 or 5 flights of stairs, up & down, in the middle. Plus I was wearing a clingy sweater that I thought made me look fat AND a coat!
My husband and my best friend tell me all the time but no one else ever mentions it, until tonight. I've lost 2 sizes and over 50 lbs so it should be at least a little noticeable.