L-in-NJ

One year ago I gave myself the best Christmas present ever. I was sleeved on 12/24/12, and even though I spent xmas eve, and xmas day in the hospital, it was SO WORTH IT. I had my one year checkup with my surgeon yesterday. When I signed up for the program, I was 288 lbs. I was 277 day of surgery, and I was 149 in the office yesterday, clothes on THAT MAKES 139LBS lost!!!! I lost almost 50% of my body weight. HOLY SHIT that sounds crazy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I lost 100% of my excess weight. Haven't taken a Vitamin since surgery, all my levels were great! (Do not do this, take your Vitamins, I suck for not) The only thing I was moderately low on was Vitamins D and B12. He scolded me for not taking them, but was very pleased to see how balanced I was just from diet alone. My surgeon referred to me as petite, and they asked me to come speak at the seminars for people who are thinking about surgery.
I'm sorry if this all sounds quite braggy, but honestly I don't care!!! This has been LIFE CHANGING and I (and all of you) deserve to celebrate!!!!
My surgeon gave me such a big hug when I left that my feet actually left the ground a little lol!!
Merry Christmas to you all, thanks for all of the support and wisdom provided over the past year

At first it's just a very delicate, full-time coordination dance. Eat, then drink, then eat again, and it keeps on. I used a timer to tell me when to eat, and I think I ate at 8, 11, 2 and 6 or something at first. An hour after I ate, a timer went off and I started drinking.
I'm four months out though and many days I still need to get 2 shakes to get all my Protein in because I too can't yet hold that much. I know that once my sleeve relaxes, I will be wishing for the days I couldn't get that much in so I try to enjoy it
I'd say if in doubt, get your Water in first. Dehydration is no fun but being a few gms short on Protein won't kill you as fast as the dehydration will.
keep at it and just know it gets easier.

Had to share, I just received these magnets
I know what I need and I ask for help
I am capable of change
I reward myself in healthy ways
L-in-NJ Its been helping me being on this site. I left a message to my pysch telling her how I feel, I have an appt to see here Tuesday.

Nancy just take each day at a time. Thank you for your honesty. Sounds like you are still pushing through and that's wonderful. Try going for walks or finding an activity to keep your mind off food. This isn't an easy journey but the results are well worth it. Keep posting and reading the post on here if it helps you get thru. We are all here because of similar struggles so we know what you are going thru and are willing to support you any way we can. #teamNancy

The pain isn't as bad as you think. Of course everyone has different experiences but you can check with the surgeon and hospital to find out their pain management system. I am 11 days post op and I don't have any pain at this point. I stop taking pain meds the next day. I can sleep on my stomach and side again. I'm still cautious with my activity but no pain. Don't let fear stop you from doing what you know will give you the opportunity to live a better, healthier lifestyle.
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
2 Timothy 1:7

I did good yesterday and so far I am doing good. my mind only thinks about food 24/7 and I just have to keep doing something else and keep asking myself why I want to have the surgery.
by reading these post has helped me a lot,
thanks

I wrote the post about the unfortunate patient who ate the chicken. I wish she was the only one who ended up in trouble due to noncompliance. So if you aren't ready then take a step back and work on whatever issues you have.
I did gastric sleeve because I am just like you, a volume eater. I can go all day without eating and be fine but one bite and I'd eat whatever. No off button. Both of my friends who chose sleeve were the same way. I'm just day two, but both guys are several months out and did great. The sleeve is your off button signaling you've had enough. But you have to be totally committed to following the post op plan because to not is dangerous. I will tell you I have no desire to eat post op and the pre op diet was a struggle for me too.
Maybe set up an appointment with psych and talk about your fears.

I have lost 195 pounds - I was sleeved in September 2012. I have about 20 pounds to go
SW - 173kg (I think this is about 385 pounds)
Current Weight - 81kg (About 180 pounds so I think this is 195 pounds lost)
Goal Weight - 73kg (About 20 pounds to go)
Cheers, Liss

Getting on rides with my sons is something I'm also looking forward to as well. I'm almost 2 weeks post op and yesterday I went to my son's school winter concert. The seats had always been a snug fit but yesterday I sat comfortably. I was amazed at the difference already. It's ok to be a but nervous but it sounds like you see the big picture. Good luck on your surgery, recovery and new journey.

Hello everyone. I am scheduled for December 4th. I was approved back in August but due to family health issues and the start of a new position at work I had to push my date back but I'm all set. I just found this site a few days ago while going revisiting information about the surgery. I'm grateful for all of your posts. They have been very insightful. I was feeling somewhat disconnected because of the delay of my surgery. I went they all my clearances and weight management program from March - July and since then I haven't really have had any real significant contact or activity regarding the surgery with anyone. I have my nutrition class and pre admission testing on the 21st of November. I had fallen off the weight management a bit since my last appointment in June but I have placed myself back on it and am using the tools I've learned. I will have to go thru a pre op diet once I have my appt. so no thanksgiving for me this year but I'm very okay with that. I'm really looking forward to my day in December.

I'm staying in a hotel in Seattle with my mom and sisters for a girls night out. We've shopped, eaten out, and have had a great time! What really made me feel good we're all the NSV's one right after the other! First, I brought PJ's that didn't fit me last month, and they fit perfectly now, size xxl! Second, I bought my first pair of size 16w jeans at Macy's - all the way down from a size 26-28. Third- I went to Old Navy and I was able to fit in size Xxl or Xl depending on fit- I've never been able to shop the store before for clothes- just jewellery and dog toys. I went a little nuts in the clearance section because I needed replacement clothes for the ones I donated cleaning out my closet! Fourth- dinner at Cheesecake Factory, and I sat in the wicker chair instead of the booth- (fit easily- 1st time for that) & ate one Thai lettuce wrap for dinner. Fifth- went swimming at the hotel and used the hotel provided robe to cover up- it fit and tied up & I heard an angelic choir singing! . It was a great day and so encouraging! I had surgery July 2nd 2013, highest weight 330, surgery weight 289, current weight 219, size 16-18. Keep going newbies- you CAN do it!

I was sleeved today. Everything is well. I had a hernia that they repaired. I'm in no pain. You know that feeling that you feel when you do alot of crunches? That's how I feel but no pain at all Thank God. I just finished walking and I feel a whole lot better. God is good!

GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE WHO HAS SURGERY TOMORROW 12/17/13
Dec 17 Shelly70
Dec 17 Serenah
Dec 17 ginnie290
Dec 17 kat1548
Dec 17 birdbutch
Dec 17 princesstami
Dec 17 Clexie
Dec 17 HarlemLoser
Dec 17 overdue
Dec 17 Soonergirl101
Dec 17 Baeball Mom
Dec 17 QueenCityGal
Dec 17 Ken
Dec 17 Magtart
Dec 17 browneyedwoman
Dec 17 HealthierKee
Dec 17 dreamscometrue
Dec 17 kerroney
Dec 17 MsButterfly

So I CLEARLY was BORED , and added up all of us December Sleevers and there is 206!!! WOW ...

The best revenge is living life your own way. You will be the one still on the healthy path when the holiday is over; they will be continuing their self-destructive habits.
I agree with L-in-NJ wholeheartedly: ...be firm when they insist on you breaking your diet. Just tell them you're committed to it and you would appreciate if they didn't try to deter SABOTAGE you.

My nervous are taken over!!! I just received the call to confirm my time for surgery tomorrow. OMG, this time tomorrow I will be a sleever!!!

It's funny how we view ourselves or feel our bodies.
I was absolutely sure I wasn't getting smaller - it just didn't feel that way. I'm in the same jeans I was in pre-op and I'm down almost 40 pounds (I guess I was in denial pre-op about needing to buy larger jeans - they are very loose now).
This morning I was brushing my teeth and I realized I was standing closer to the sink than I normally do - it wasn't that I was trying to stand closer to the sink it's that I CAN stand closer to the sink. I am not getting in my own way.
Have a great day, guys!!!

Positive thoughts for tomorrow's sleevers! Hoping for a smooth recovery for everyone!
Positive thoughts to Andrew. Hoping is bleed is found and fixed easily.
My recovery is going better than expected. I hope the same for everyone!

Positive thoughts for Andrew. He posted a topic that he was taken to the hospital and they found a bleed.

Girl are you high?? this thread is like three years old!

Why are you letting someone who's in the same situation as you make you feel bad about your brave decision to do something about your health? I wouldn't give a second thought to whoever it was. You're not doing this for people. You're doing this for YOU!!!

Hi everyone! Thanks for the well wishes. Surgery was yesterday morning at 9. I was so tired before that from going to bed so late (work) and getting up so early to get to the hospital.
The hospital and staff were amazing. Even though there are closer hospitals, given a choice, I will go back there!
Surgery went well. He found out that I have a congenital birth defect! I have a diaphragmatic hernia (hernia/opening in my diaphragm. He said he could only do one or the other so he did the sleeve and said I would need to get the hernia fixed at some point.
Due to my previous terrible recoveries I made sure they did all they could do. I took the emend when I got to the hospital, then they gave me of ran under the tongue and patch behind the ear. I still woke up a bit sick but nothing like before and it didn't last long. I have 5 incisions. One on my right side where he pulled out the stomach hurts the most. I was on dilaudid at the hospital. I was in no pain as long as I didn't move! I had some gas pain just in mid chest. I did take a gasx. Not sure if that helped or if it just went away on its own.
I peed all night long, almost every hour. I was able to do it all myself but needed help reconnecting the SCD boots. I would get up, go to the bathroom, quick walk down the hall, pee again and then get back in bed.
I am very fortunate in that I can drink pretty easily. I have to stop myself because too many sips causes a bit of pain in my chest but I'm even able to drink my shakes. I hated everything they gave me as it was all sugar free. I tasted all of it just to see if I could tolerate it, and I could.
When I got home, I made a shake with a dose of Miralax as I want stay on top of that. I'm pretty much staying put in the recliner in my bedroom. I only take the dilaudid when I have pain while not moving. No catheter, no drain.
I don't know when I will be able to add the new people to the list. If someone wants to copy and paste the most recent list into a new reply, they can also add the new folks.
I hope everyone is doing well on their preops and postops!

It's better to quit now then have surgery and try to eat past your sleeve and risk serious complications. I remember reading another post where someone who was a nurse told the story of someone a week out of surgery eating a half chicken then dying from the complications. This is a serious lifestyle change and if you're not ready to commit then don't do it. I wish you all the best of luck in whatever journey you decide to take.

I was 319 feb 25, 2013---- today--- 199!

It's better to quit now then have surgery and try to eat past your sleeve and risk serious complications. I remember reading another post where someone who was a nurse told the story of someone a week out of surgery eating a half chicken then dying from the complications. This is a serious lifestyle change and if you're not ready to commit then don't do it. I wish you all the best of luck in whatever journey you decide to take.