McButterpants

Even though I was self-pay, I did waffle back and forth during my decision making process and even after I decided to have the surgery. I kept asking myself, "Have I tried hard enough?" "Can I lose this on my own?" "Should I give it one more try?" I think it's perfectly normal to go back and forth. I almost backed out the night before surgery and in admitting on surgery day. While in admitting I said to myself, "You can walk out of here right now and only be out $500." I was so scared. I looked over at my husband and I knew this was the right thing for me. He didn't say anything to me, he didn't even look at me. I just knew I had to do this and I couldn't let fear get in the way. That was 9 months ago. I can tell you, short of marrying my husband and having my son, this was the best decision of my life. This changed my life. When I think back to what my life was like a year ago, it's like I'm looking at a different person. I don't recognize the old me or the behaviors that made me that way! I'm an active mom and wife and I'm happy - so much happier and energetic than a year ago. Only you will know when you're ready - be prepared, gather all your information, talk to you family or friends. This isn't easy - it's harder than I ever thought it would be. But, it's so worth it! Best of luck to you!

HI there. Congrats to you! You're doing great. Hold on to your hat - you're in for a wild ride. Fair warning - you may run the full spectrum on emotions in the next few weeks. Just ride it out - embrace this change you made in your life! Check in here often - there is a ton of support here for you! Best of luck.

I will add...take your measurements and take selfies. Those will be a better gauges than the scale.

I'm 9 months out - I'll share my perspective with you...I complained about stalls to my doctor. She said if you chart your weight loss, it will look more like a stair step rather than a linear downward line. That's exactly what mine looks like. Early on, I would stall for 10-14 days, then drop 3 pounds overnight. Then steadily drop for a couple of weeks, then stall again. I haven't lost anything for the past 8 weeks - yes, 8 weeks. That's a long time, but, I just keep planning and following the plan. I know the scale will move again. The scale doesn't rule my life any longer...many wise people on this forum cautioned me to not weigh every day. My husband hid the scale and brought it out once per week. It helps. I have realized now, that this process, this journey is about so much more than that number on the scale.

I am 5'3" and my high weight was 256. I've been over weight since my 20's and am 44 now. My skin is holding up better than I thought it would, but I do have excess (bat wings, inner thigh skin and tummy sagging). I embrace it. It's my payment for allowing my life to get out of control. It's my badge of honor - I worked hard to get this saggy skin! Hours at the gym and hundreds of miles in the past 9 months (about 700 to be precise). I am doing what I can to tone and do some weight training. Started yoga and am seeing the benefits. Things are tightening up. I will always have the saggy skin and that's OK - I would much rather have some saggy skin than the life I had a year ago. I'm happier and healthier now than I have been in 20 years.

I had to be caffeine free 2 weeks prior to surgery - I tried to go cold turkey about 4 weeks prior to surgery...that was not a great experiment. I had to ween myself off for about one week and go to just decaf coffee before my 2 week pre-op diet began. I continued with decaf after surgery and at my 6 week post-op visit asked the doc about coffee...she made me pinkie promise to not go back to my old ways of 5-6 cups of real coffee per day, she approved 1-2 cups of the real stuff. I do have 2-4 cups of the real stuff per day, but had to find coffee that isn't acidic on my stomach...I have tried different blends and have found a couple that tastes great and feels good on my tummy.

@@Summer Rain - I felt like you about a year ago. I was in a bad place. I basically became a shut in. I was disconnected from my family and my life. I was going thru the motions...just doing the minimum to get by. I lost contact with friends. I avoided the grocery store right by my house so I could avoid the change of seeing someone. Fast forward to now...I just started hot yoga, I go to the gym, I talk to total strangers, I've reconnected with friends, and I am enjoying my life. I am much more engaged with my family - the other day my son said, "You don't get angry like you used to. I'm glad you had the surgery." I am learning to become content - something I haven't been in years. This has become so much more than the number on the scale - I want to lose more, but my life does not revolve around my scale any longer. I hike, I bike, I walk, I exercise and I love it. I got my life back. This is not only a life changer...in my case, it was a life saver! You're starting down a path that will be so rewarding - you will be frustrated, you'll be angry, you'll get down on yourself. But just wait, in a few short months, you'll start blossoming into that person you are supposed to be. Trust me - it's all worth. Best of luck to you! Keep your chin up.

@lisaabrumfield...Most docs do a great job at pain management. Honestly, I took 2 pain pills in the week after surgery and those were mainly so I could sleep at night, not because I was in pain. Was there discomfort? Sure, but pacing and walking helped greatly with that. My doc used an anti-nausea patch behind my ear. It stayed on for 3-4 days after surgery. I have did not have any complications - I haven't vomited since before surgery. You're going to do great!

Hi there! Great job - putting verbs in your sentences! You're doing great - keep your momentum. Don't let guilt get in your way - the few hours you're going to spend away from your daughter while you're at the gym will give you big pay off in a couple of short months. The Jump Start programs at the Y are awesome - they have a lot of different programs, machines, etc. You won't get bored. Give some of their classes a try - don't let your insecurities get in the way. I recently reconnected with a lifelong friend of mine and she took me to a 5:30 am hot yoga class. I was so worried I woke up at 4:00 am worrying about the class and how I was going to be perceived, not just by my friend, but by others in the class. I went that morning and OMG - what a treat. It was hard. I sweated a lot. It was hot and uncomfortable. I had to take more breaks than anyone else in the class. But you know what? I went again two days later and I'm planning on going again tomorrow. I don't know if I'm going to continue on with it past next week (the hot part of hot yoga may not be for me - I may end up doing yoga), but I'm going to give it a try. Again, congrats on your commitment - we'll be here along the way! Keep up the great work!

3 months...that was OK'd by my doctor. You should always follow what your doc says. I've read some docs want you to wait 6 months or a year to start consuming alcohol. I wasn't a big drinker before surgery, but I did enjoy a drink every once in a while. My drink of choice now is a vodka cranberry with a twist of lime. I can only have one at a time because I can feel the effects right away. I'm a cheap date now!

I walked since the day after surgery - it made me feel better. I hit the gym at 6 week as OK'd by my doctor. By week 12, I was cleared for all exercise. Honestly now, at almost 9 months, I feel bad when I don't exercise. It has become such a big part of my life - I made a goal for August to move my body every day...whether it's yoga, walking, biking, Pilates, etc. Just move. Set goals and follow thru - soon, it will become a part of your new life. Excuses are part of your old life!

I just ran into an instance this week...I telecommute full time and had to go to the home office this week. I ate out most lunches and dinners with people that didn't know I had surgery. I'm very private - 6 people know I've done this. So, here are my examples... I ordered a cheesesteak sandwich at a pizza & Pasta place - there weren't many choices that were sleeve friendly, this was the choice I made. I ordered it without the bun and my coworker looked at me a little odd. I said, "I'm cutting carbs." He shrugged and continued to eat his pizza and we talked about work. I didn't feel the need to elaborate. At dinner one night we had lobster - where they deliver the whole lobster to you and you have to work for your food! LOL My friend said, "With all this weight you've lost are you going to eat a salad?" I replied, "No, I'm going to order the lobster and enjoy every bite of it!" When I was finished I said, "That was rich! I love it!" And we started talking about something else. After lunch one day, we asked for to-go cups for our beverages. The waitress asked, "You didn't drink your tea. Do you want me to get you something else? Was it OK?" I said, "It was great, I just don't drink a lot with my meal." I also find it's good to cover your plate with a napkin - this hides the fact that you ate very little. I have found that if you are engaged in conversation, enjoying your time with friends, people really don't pay attention to your plate. Go out and enjoy yourself. Savor the great food! Have a wonderful time!

Surgery date 11/14/13 (almost 9 months out) High weight 256 on 08/20/14 - decision day to have surgery Surgery weight 238 Current weight 183 Do not compare your weight loss with others...it will lead to disappointment and unhappiness. Your path is unique as was your path to your decision to have weight loss surgery. I went into this wanting to lose 106 pounds - I don't know if I'll get there, I hope I do. But I can tell you, 70+ pounds down from high weight feels amazing! Best of luck to you!

I loved plain water before surgery - drank it all the time. I would have no issues drinking it now if it didn't feel like liquid sandpaper in my mouth. I drink other waters, though - not calorie laden drinks. Propel Zero, Vitamin Water Zero, Splash, etc - all waters and all zero calorie drinks.

Here's my take...what you're doing is not sustainable for the long term. Only you can decide if you can do it without surgery. Even though I lost a lot of weight prior to surgery and on the 2 week pre-op diet, I knew it wasn't sustainable and if I didn't have the surgery, I would go back to my old ways as I had in the past and gain that weight back.

Hi there. Congrats to you! This is a life-changer. I'll tell you my story...My recovery was seamless. I was lucky. I had no nausea and little pain. I took two pain pills and that was mainly to get better sleep, not so much for the pain. I'm not saying it was sunshine and lollipops, there was discomfort and at times I was frustrated, but it was no worse than recovering from my c-section 14 years prior. I had my surgery on an outpatient basis - I was in at 6:00 am and out at noon the same day. I was able to recovery in the comfort of our timeshare condo. I paced a lot those first few days - it was the only thing that helped get rid of the gas. I had a pain in my left shoulder which is normal - when I walked it dissipated. I set the timer on my phone to chime every 5 minutes to remind me to sip Water. I didn't get my minimum water or Protein mins in those first few days, I just did the best I could. I realized quickly that I didn't like plain water any more - it was like drinking liquid sandpaper. I had to switch to Vitamin Water Zero or Propel. I still can't tolerate plain water at almost 9 months. As for work, I telecommute full time doing work on my computer. I was had my surgery on Thursday and went back to work 1/2 days on the following Monday, working a full day that Tuesday. If I had to go back to an office, I would have waited a full week. I got tired the first week easily, so I took many breaks during the day. I flew back home 8 days after surgery and had no issues - again, I got tired. There were times the day before surgery that I thought about backing out...In fact, I almost did in admitting the morning of surgery. I thought, "I can walk out of here and only be out $500." I am glad I didn't. There were times immediately after surgery that I had buyers remorse thinking "What the hell did I do to myself." But now, I have no regrets or 2nd thoughts at all. I am so glad I did this. I have so much happiness and joy in my life today - I'm glad I didn't let fear overcome me that day. Sure I've had bad days, but I have had many more good days and they keep getting better. Best of luck to you!

I loved plain Water before surgery - since the day after surgery, I can't drink it. It's like liquid sandpaper. No idea why. I drink a lot of Propel or Vitamin Water Zero. I can drink some of the Crystal Light drinks, but not very often. I will say - it's totally worth it, even with all the sacrifices I've had to make.

I was in the recovery room and they were trying to wake me up. I asked, "Is the surgery over?" The nurse replied, "Yes, you did great." I obviously didn't feel any different, because I said, "Are you sure I'm already done? Are you sure they performed the surgery?" She sounded a little annoyed and said, "Yes, honey, do you want to see the incisions?" My reply, "Oh my god, no, I don't want to see the incisions!"

I just celebrated my 17th wedding anniversary - so...I have absolutely no advice for you, other than I advise you to let us know how things go. I need some sort of excitement in my life and I want details!!!!! Best of luck - look forward to hearing how things go.

At my three month appointment, my doc said, "no restrictions"...My body says something different. I'm almost 9 months out and still have problems with lettuce - I can eat about 1/4 cup of finely (very finely) chopped romaine lettuce. I can have strawberries or blueberries in my shakes with no issues. I'm OK with some cooked veggies, but raw is hit or miss - some days I might be able to eat some carrot or tomato and another day, I can't. This time of year cherries are a local favorite...I ate 10 cherries the other day and was in excruciating pain. I can have one or two at a time, that's it.

I had to introduce new foods very slowly...only 1 or 2 bites of something new at a time. Fruits and veggies are a wildcard for me even at 8.5 months out. There are a couple of go-to veggies for me - bell peppers (but not green ones), broccoli and cauliflower. I can do some fruits in my smoothies. I thought I would be able to do Flathead cherries that are so great this time of year...I ate 10 of them without thinking and was in excruciating pain for a couple of hours! Also, if you try a new food and it doesn't agree with you, try it again in a couple of weeks.

Try not to compare yourself with others...it's going to lead to disappointment. We all got to our high weights differently, we're all going to lose it differently. My metabolism is different than yours - I may lose faster or slower. We may have different activity levels. Some people that lose very fast don't work out and they may be losing their lean muscle mass - others may be working out vigorously and retaining their muscle mass, but losing inches. I know it is hard to not compare. I know it's hard to not step on the scale and hope to see a new lower number. In a "had I known then what I know now" moment...I would have stayed off the scale. It's bad for your soul. I take more pictures and take my measurements more. I've hit the exercise really hard in the past week - I can already feel a difference in my body, even though the scale isn't moving. I think you're doing great! Enjoy this ride - embrace the changes you're making in your life. This process has become so much more than a number on a scale. This has been a life changer and life saver for me. I have my life back - I'm more engaged with my family. I am happier. These are all things NOT related to that number on the scale.

I can eat at Subway - I'm 8.5 months out. I will order a 6" turkey. I take 2 bites with the bread, that's all I can tolerate, but it's nice to feel "normal"...I then eat the insides. I can't eat a lot of raw veggies, they are hard on my tummy still.

Reminds me a story...I went to the orientation meeting with the surgeon that I ended up dumping. We walked in sipping a Diet Sprite from a straw. At the start of the presentation, he mentioned he was a gastric sleeve patient himself - I thought, "Wow, this guy went thru what I'm about to go thru. This is cool." Then came the part out post-op living...he mentioned that we will have to give up soda and drinking from a straw AS HE IS SIPPING HIS SODA FROM A STRAW! HIs response when asked about that was, "It doesn't bother me." Interesting.

I found that decaf green tea helped me when I got hungry. I drank a lot of it. It was on my approved list - you may want to try it. Also, from my experience the first few days are the hardest on the pre-op. It got easier for me on about day 4 - like I found my groove and my body stopped revolting! Just know that this is a means to an end...it will be over soon. Best of luck to you! Hang in there.