KeeWee

Baltimore City, also for Averbach at St. Agnes through Kaiser

I mean, I'm 33 and it took most of my life to learn to love myself as I am and believe that I am beautiful. I had to like most people, accept myself for who I am and build confidence and self esteem over time. With a new body, a new face, a new look, yes, I may love the outside look and feel of it all when it comes to what's on the surface but do those insecure emotions ever set in? I've been loving my big beautiful shape for a long time and my chubby face with dimples, it's gotten me a long way and I never had the urge to be small and never ever skinny, I love my hips and thighs but this is all for my health and preventative measure due to family history. What if I don't like what I see? I love the attention I get now, what if I don't like my new shape, no butt, no boobs, no curves....ugh. I don't want my face to get all saggy like the rest of my skin will be... Did this become an issue post op for anyone or is being skinny enough?? Honestly!!!

Wow, I should have been working but from the beginning, your story was intriguing. Unfortunately, a story to me was real life to you. What a journey to live and what a story to tell. I mean seriously, I would have read this in book format all the way to the baby details...and for someone like me who has been trying for over 15 years, your story was filled with trials and tribulations but mostly triumph and victory and I needed to read it!! Thanks for sharing... Amazing!!!! Oh and congrats on your success and your bundle of joy!!

WOW!! Thanks for the hope...U actually looked like someone I knew, then I see you're from Bronxville, NY...I'm from Tuckahoe and went to school in Eastchester but congrats on your success fam, we were like neighbors!!

I hope to be able to have the patience to wait at least 1 year but I might start trying after 8 months or so. I just want to know if its possible and if I can, I will have it and then continue with my losing goals. I need to get that out the way soon...I'm getting up there in age and don't wanna push my luck or wait until I reach my goal and then retract all my hard work. Good luck to you...

Sorry for your loss. Been there, it's nothing nice but your body will heal and your heart will follow.

I had one child in '98 about a year off the Depo shot. Since then I've had hormone issues and what seems to be a never ending period that can last anywhere from 3 days up to 8 months at one time. It's the worst because my husband and I always wanted another after our first. Some say they got pregnant surprisingly, unexpectedly and immediately after surgery...any good stories to share?? I'd like some glimmer of hope... Thanks in advance!!

I just can't wait to be able to answer this question....ugh, 3 more months to go before I can even get an approval. and my Nutritionist wants me to stick to this diet now when i just want to eat all the foods now that I plan to say good bye to...but good luck to you, the worst is almost over for you!!

Awesome blog!!

You guys are right. This is not a rational fear for my daily life. I should have mentioned that this scenario was only brought up after watching the movie ALIVE. That movie is based on a true story and I'm sure none of those people on the plane expected to be in that life or death situation but yet...they were. It was just a thought...the young lady never thought it could happen to her either but it did. So the possibility just made me freak a tiny bit...

I am not here to put fear in anyone else but I learned something this week that is scaring the crap out of me. My husband says to me, "well, if we ever get stranded at least you will outlive us since you can eat so much less"..well, that thought had me thinking of what I know about our organs. I know that if you don't eat, your stomach will shrink and without Water, it will shrink and shrivel up which is why the nutritionists is involved in this process. We need to know what to eat to nourish the obstructed organ and how much water will keep it moist and healthy. So my concern came in when I read a story about a girl who had to have emergency surgery to open her stomach up because while she was sick with the flu, she was unable to eat for a few days and became extremely sick and lethargic. She later learned that her stomach had completely closed up on her since she hadn't eaten and couldn't even hold down liquids. My fear came in when I thought about that earlier discussed "stranded scenario" and I realized, with most of our stomachs already gone, our chances may not be so good in that situation. I may actually be okay if the problem was portioning the remaining food but I realized if there was a lack of food at any time, I would be in serious trouble. I need to make sure to prepare for any snow storms and really keep food on hand at all times. This is pretty scary, please follow your diets people!!! Has anyone experience anything so outrageous??

Best of luck!! Go you!!!

Go girl!!

Ok so I guess I should prepare ahead also if there's a possibility of the sleep apnea. I never knew we could take that at home..thanks for that info. I will ask my Nutritionist about that at my next appt. Nov 5 is my 4th month and 3rd appt. I hate that they stole a whole month from me by making me retake a class in error due to scheduling problems. Now im a month behind..SUX!!!

Thanks...me too!! She's keeping me grounded because I have experienced really strong negativity. I was extremely surprised. I thought someone would have related to my happiness but most just said..You don't need it, you can work that off....most don't believe I weigh as much as I say but I just carry it well. My mom says enough for me to shake them off easily, I told her she's great motivation. She helps me focus on me being healthy and happy and her advice to anyone who doesn't like me changing my life for the better is to tell them..."Kick rocks, you don't pay my insurance!!!!!!" Gotta love her...lol

I know this is off topic but can someone please tell me how to start a topic such as this or start a forum question....I don't know how but I must be overlooking it and have so many questions..Please help!!

But my mom wanted me to add her 2 cents..lol She says, you should always ignore comments made in ignorance. If people don't know you had the surgery they will naturally think your sick or on drugs. She says WLS causes major changes and you can look completely different from month to month. She says don't be offended by their lack of experience with WLS results. She says when they ask if you're sick, you should ask if they're stupid...well, they're both equally disturbing questions....I "mskeekee01" disagree with this statement.. Mskeekee01 says always smile and always take the high road!!!

Wow, that would bother me tremendously. I mean really...smh. I sure hope I don't experience that but either way, don't let it get you down...YOU know you look good!!!

Yes, that is true, it's good to just enjoy the conversation and the company. I would usually sit down and grab the menu in the same instance. Then count the minutes until the food arrives. I would drink so much I could only eat half my food anyway and then eat so quickly that I would be done and asking for a to go bag before anyone else even made a dent in their plate.... I'm so looking forward to these changes and as I can see, the complications experienced are truly patient specific but still always outweighed by the successes I've heard.

Wow, reading your comment, I was wondering if I wrote it myself. That is exactly what I have to go thru verbatim. I was also told that I wont see a surgeon until my 5th or 6th month so I was hoping they wouldn't tell me at 6 months that now I need to loose weight. Whew...I'm currently in my 3 month also and the time seems to be dragging but I set my appointments and count the hours it seems...smh. I've done the mental health screening which was a 6 to 7 question phone interview. I did the class in person and online just because, attended the seminar and support groups. Now I have another class in December and 2 more nutritional appointments and I hope that's it. I keep hearing about sleep apnea tests and GI testing and chest x-rays and loosing 10% of your current weight before the surgeon will even touch you. I soooo hope that is not part of Mid-Atlantic's plan!! UGH, what a process but I will make sure it was all worth it!!

Oh yes, my husband and I joke all the time about how things will change. He says I will now be a cheap date since I will eat less of my meal then I won't desire desert. Then with shopping how my clothes will then be normal sized which means we don't have to pay extra $$$ for the 2x clothes. Also how I plan to make fun workouts my hobby instead of shopping...he's completely elated by this...lol. Looking forward to all this change and for him best of all is I will finally move back to his hometown in California, which was never an option at 280lbs...all that sun, heat, beaches and skinny people would've driven me nuts..lmao, but now...it's in the plans 6 months after I meet my personal goals!! God is GOOD!!

Good Morning!! I haven't actually had the surgery yet but this is another reason why I am....I am so sick of eating. I would never eat again if it were up to me. I don't crave any food, I don't have any desire for food. I am 5'4" 280 but I eat once a day only to not be weak. I hate to eat because I never eat the right thing it's just enough of the wrong stuff to meet a certain calorie intake and that's usually only around 800 now and to see the destruction caused by this is disturbing to me...I usually only drink liquids during the day anyway. Since my doctor and I can't seem to build my appetite, I figured this surgery will be great for me. I'm glad you don't miss eating because my fear is to NOT be able to eat it and the wanting to...lol. Now my small meals will work in my favor!! Super excited to meet my perfect match!!

Thanks, this is exactly what I was looking for. So did they tell you it's a 6 month process also? How long has it been for you