AZDesertRose76

So I checked my weight for the first time in a while. I have officially lost 75 pounds since surgery, and 102 since I started trying to lose weight! I am stoked!
Just thought I'd share.
I'm happy with my weight loss, even though I've lost slower than some due to one of my medications making life difficult on that front. I'm going to have to buy jeans soon because I do not own a single pair of ankle length jeans that fit right. (I live in Florida, so it's just now starting to cool off enough for full length jeans. I've been in capris and shorts for months because it's just been too warm for long trousers.) I think I may be able to buy size 20 jeans, because the size 22 capris I have are starting to get loose on me, and the size 24s are almost unwearable because they're so huge in the waist on me. I'll post again when my clothing size starts with a one and not a two. I doubt I'll ever get below a size 12, because I never really have been, even in my early 20s when I was thin. I'd actually be pretty happy with a 14, but to see size 12 again would be really awesome.
Have a good one, y'all.

I'm down 60 pounds since surgery and 87 altogether. I'm not losing as fast as some, but I take a medication (Abilify) that is probably slowing things down. I go to the gym pretty much every other day, and I feel SOOOO much better than I did before surgery. My back rarely bothers me now, although I have several herniated disks in my lumbar region.
Thanks for reminding me to check in!

I'm down 60 pounds since surgery and 87 altogether. I'm not losing as fast as some, but I take a medication (Abilify) that is probably slowing things down. I go to the gym pretty much every other day, and I feel SOOOO much better than I did before surgery. My back rarely bothers me now, although I have several herniated disks in my lumbar region.
Thanks for reminding me to check in!

So I haven't weight trained since my VSG on January 8, because I didn't want to do it until I'd gotten clearance at my three-month post-op checkup, which was last week. (I've been swimming and walking for exercise since surgery, but no weight training.) I got clearance from my surgeon to resume weight training last week, so I went to the YMCA (where I work out) today.
The YMCA has a computer system called ActivTrax that will generate weight-training workouts for you so you don't work the same muscles all the time or get bored, and I wanted to have a trainer re-evaluate my ActivTrax weight stats before I just went back at it willy-nilly.
I did the re-evaluation today, and I am right where I was before surgery. The last time I weight trained must have been December sometime, but I guess the swimming helped keep my muscles strong, because the trainer didn't have to adjust any of my weight levels. I can pick right back up where I left off. I am so happy I haven't lost any strength. I love weight training (cardio bores me but I do it anyway), and I am just tickled pink that I can still do what I was doing pre-op.
YAY!

Cool. I had mine done at St. Vincent's Southside (used to be St. Luke's). Best wishes on your journey!

I'm also in Jacksonville. I was sleeved on January 8, 2014. There's actually a dedicated Jacksonville area thread somewhere in this part of the forum, but I can't find it right now.

Thanks! It's 8:30 pm my time, so I can't really call my psychiatrist now, but I'll phone her in the morning and see what she has to say.

Thanks! It's 8:30 pm my time, so I can't really call my psychiatrist now, but I'll phone her in the morning and see what she has to say.

I don't enjoy taking my Vitamins either, but I make myself do it because I DO NOT WANT to end up deficient in anything. I'm only two months out; I've got to have bloodwork run before my three-month followup appointment to make sure I'm not deficient.
I second the recommendation for the sublingual B12 tablets. I get a cherry-flavored one from Wal-Mart and it's not bad.
What I really hate is crushing my Calcium tablets so I can take them. The resulting powder tastes like chalk.
Best wishes!

Well, my surgery got delayed because my insurance company is good but slow. I got my sleeve on Wednesday, January 8th, I'm just now trying full liquids today after Clear Liquids on Thursday and Friday.
I think I'm doing well. I'm tired and sore, but that is to be expected.
Best wishes to the rest of the Jacksonville area people!

Hi, y'all.
New to the forum, but also in Jacksonville. I'm pre-op, looking at possibly a December surgery date (not set yet), and Dr. Uchal will be my surgeon. I've met him a couple of times, once at the seminar at St. Vincent's and once at one of the support group meetings where they did "Ask the Surgeon" and he was the surgeon in question, and then also at my initial consult.
Nice to see so many Jacksonville people around.

That's odd. The hospital I used let my mom sit with me in the preop room and let her give me a hug before they wheeled me out to the operating suite. I'm sorry they won't let you have your daughter with you.

I had my sleeve done on Wednesday (8 January) and came home on Thursday, after my leak test and after sipping liquids and proving to the nurses I could urinate on my own. (Sorry for the TMI.) I'm still pretty sore. Taking my pain meds every four hours as prescribed.
I've been walking as much as I can stand to; my mom walks with me around the cul-de-sac my parents live on, although I don't walk very fast yet.
I haven't been hungry, but I've eaten a little Jell-O and some applesauce to carry certain medications that I can't swallow whole.
I feel pretty good, all things considered.
I hope everybody else has as easy a time as I'm having so far.

Yes, I did the leak test early Thursday morning and went home from the hospital Thursday afternoon. I had to wait to go home until I could urinate enough to make the nurses happy. I did have the patch behind my ear but no drain. I'm not a stomach sleeper, but I miss sleeping on my side. I really can't do that right now, but once I'm healed up a little more, I should be able to sleep on my side again. I haven't slept more than four or five hours at a stretch yet; normally I sleep at least eight, but if I have to get my rest in naps for now, that's fine.
I hope you're having a good one, too. Thanks for the well-wishes.

I had my sleeve done on Wednesday (8 January) and came home on Thursday, after my leak test and after sipping liquids and proving to the nurses I could urinate on my own. (Sorry for the TMI.) I'm still pretty sore. Taking my pain meds every four hours as prescribed.
I've been walking as much as I can stand to; my mom walks with me around the cul-de-sac my parents live on, although I don't walk very fast yet.
I haven't been hungry, but I've eaten a little Jell-O and some applesauce to carry certain medications that I can't swallow whole.
I feel pretty good, all things considered.
I hope everybody else has as easy a time as I'm having so far.

I'm two days post-op now.
The pain to me feels like not-too-bad menstrual cramps, just in the upper abdominal area instead of the lower abdomen.
Nope, no underwear.
They put a Foley catheter in me at first, and they wouldn't discharge me until I urinated on my own, but I was able to get to the toilet with minimal help.
The trick to getting up is to go slowly and use your legs and arms to help lift your body. Try not to use your abs or back, because they will protest.

I have my surgery date, January 8 at St. Vincent's Southside (formerly St. Luke's and half the city still calls it that). I'm both excited and nervous.
My mom gave me a lovely Ninja blender for Christmas for making Protein Shakes. I had been making do with an immersion blender she gave me years ago when she upgraded to a nicer one, which is how I have half my kitchen implements.
I start my preop diet in the morning.
Best of luck to everybody, and I hope y'all had a good Christmas if you Celebrate it.

Hi, I'm new around here.
My name is Nora and I'm 37 years old with one daughter in college. I am single and have no pets at the moment; I live by myself for the first time in my life, and it's great! I am going to school to be a medical transcriptionist.
I've always had to fight my weight, but in recent years, it's just gotten ridiculous and I'm tired of it. I shouldn't feel this old (physically) yet, so I decided to go for the sleeve. (I didn't want RNY because I take naproxen for arthritis, and I didn't want to have to give it up forever, and I didn't want the band because I'm not comfortable with the concept of something being left inside my body that doesn't absolutely need to be there.)
I miss having pets, though; once I'm finished with my transcription school and working, I plan to go to the animal shelter and adopt a cat. (I live in a high-rise apartment building, so I don't want to get a dog because there's no place in the apartment for it to run around, and also I am more of a cat person than a dog person, although I don't dislike dogs by any stretch.)
Anyway, that's me. Glad to be here.