Lissa_S

Oh my God Lila!! You look awesome! Can you believe your transformation in JUST 6 MONTHS??? I'm stunned!

I know it was rough start (what an understatement!) but thank God you got through it. And now you are totally transformed (both inside and out!) Just amazing!

Congratulations!

Dana

Thanks Dana - I can't believe it myself most of the time

wow you look smaller than 242 lbs!!!

Thanks I am pretty tall which helps and I get that quite often which is nice!!

OMG I so relate to this. My story is a little different though - I made home made spaghetti just like I used to (from scratch the whole shebang) - from beginning to end, it took hours. I used to do it all the time and it was the first time I had done it since the surgery. Now, this would be okay if I didn't LIVE ALONE lol. So I cook this feast, eat a few forkfuls and am full.

But do I stop? Hell no. I decide to have "just one more bite..." - cut to me puking my guts up for the next 30 minutes. I kept heaving long after I had gotten rid of all of the content from my stomach.

As you can imagine, it has cured me of my sketti cravings. For good

What are the secrets to your success ?

I was quite big to start with and I think that it helps promote big weight loss initially. But it has also been a lot of trial and error. I don't deny myself anything but am always thinking about the nutritional value - so for example, if I have that piece of cake will I be able to eat what I NEED to eat that day? It helps me to think like that however some days you just really want that piece of cake!! The other best advice I got was to eat regularly. Some days it can be every few hours. Today it's really hot here (I live in Australia), so I haven't really eaten all day just drinking all the time. It's a balance. I think that I am coping better with this the longer I have the sleeve. When I first started it freaked me out. Now I realise I need to listen to my body. If it needs fluids, I give it fluids. It'll let me know soon enough when it needs food!

Best of luck to you on your journey!!

Wonderful job!

Thanks Karen

Hi Lila,

I really appriciate your list of mistakes. I am going from a lap band to a sleeve on 12/6. I am very concerned about the possibility of leaks. Do you mind telling me how you got a leak? How you knew you had a leak? Most importantly, how soon after surgery did the leak develope? I am especially concerned because I have to travel for my surgery so once I am released from the doctor in Tiajuana MX, I will be returning to Washington state, USA. This means I will no longer be under any doctor supervision. How will I know if there is a problem BEFORE I go home?

Hugs, indigostorm11

Hi Indigo Thanks for your response! That was why I wrote this blog - not to encourage bad habits but to say it's okay to make mistakes if we're learning from them (which I hope I finally am!)...

With regards to the leak, I had quite intense pain following the surgery. Pain meds didn't seem to touch it. I couldn't stand up straight. I was cold but sweating so badly that it was dripping off the end of my nose and running down my face. I was really pale. I couldn't even walk down the hallway of the hospital. My heart rate was about 160 beats per minute and I had an irregular heart beat. This all happened within two days of the surgery. I think you can ask for a leak test to check before you leave which may give you peace of mind. It's hard to do (tastes gross) but you can clearly see if there is a leak or not. They did one after emergency surgery for me (a few days later) and you could clearly see the leak. They redid the test 8 weeks later and it was healed *yay*.

Good luck with your surgery and I am sure you will be fine. Be cautious in your recover but don't panic - my experience was the exception not the rule...Cheers, Lila

Thanks Pinky Sounds like these might be American brands - I am in Australia and I haven't heard of these but thanks for the suggestions I do have yoghurt fairly regularly and love raspberry too. My dr has me cleared for all foods now so I can get away with the little seeds. Best of luck to you!!

Please help me to understand: you had a leak which can lead to death. I am happy to hear that it is healed. Did this not SCARE you enough not to indulge in forbidden foods? Soda and breads. This type of behaviour can kill you........please go back to why you had the surgery in the first place don't treat it like it is nothing.

Your weight loss is fantastic and I am sure you have a lot more to lose, please continue wisely.

All the best

Wow that felt super judgemental. Firstly while I was in hospital, the dr and NUT had me having ginger ale and lemonade to help with very low blood sugar and nausea. They were okay with this therefore, so was I, in theory. And I am sure that there are other people that have had "wobbles" post surgery to old habits. I have lost 40kg in three months so obviously I am doing something correct.

I was hoping to share this so that other people that experienced similar "wobbles" wouldn't feel so bad or so judged.

i understand, i've been through hell, imagine a 15 years old boy with a leak, that is just isn't right but thank god i healed i can never forget having a leak.

Wow I can't imagine going through this as a teen. And then having complications on top of it. I hope you are well now and enjoying your new life with the sleeve!

It's great to hear you are feeling better. May God continue to look over you.

Thank you so much!!

I want to wish you the very best with your upcoming surgery.

Happy thoughts!

Thank you so much Can't wait - so close now...

I went through that when I was banded and I felt grumpy all of the time! I am getting the band removed and doing the sleeve in 8 weeks. I am not looking forward to going through this detox again!

Yeah it is quite the little trial but do try to remember that it does get better! I kept reminding myself of that (and it wasn't helping lol) but then I got to day 5 and it was a bit of a relief I hope things go well for you and you have an easier time of it than me!!

I am on Day 3 (of 14) of my pre-op diet too I really hear you about the headaches etc. I feel a tiny bit better today (yesterday was terrible) so I am feeling a little more positive! Good luck for the rest of your pre-op diet!

Sounds like detoxing - aka the carb flu, which is horrid and why it is so hard for us to stop eating them. I am not sure what kind of pre-op your surgeon has you doing (mine was Atkins induction with clears 24 hours prior to surgery) but it gets better. Just remember to drink as much non-caloric fluid as you can get in ( I highly recommend chugging, as you will not be able to have the opportunity to do this again for a long time - I can do a mini-chug now at 3 months post op.) The fluids always seemed to make me feel better.

Just remember the purpose of the pre-op diet - to shrink your liver for optimal surgery results with fewer complications - soon enough you will be on the other side!

Thanks - I think you're right. It probably is just the rubbish being flushed out of my system. I am feeling a little better today so hopefully it willget a bit easier from here!

I had a headach for about 3 days, it got easier!!! I think the second thoughts are how many times have we tried to diet and never worked.... That was my biggest fear, that this would not work for me!!......... I got over it by reading all the stories I could about sleeve and the positive side. The pictures, how happy people are now. That in 5 months or so you can eat "normal" if you wanna call it that but just very small portions!!!

Good Luck!!

I think you're right! Thank you so much! I only have to do this pre-op diet for two weeks so I know intellectually I can do it, but wow it's hard Feel a little better today though so hopefully things will get easier Thanks for your kind response!

I am 5 weeks post op. And no I dont have headaches or nausea. The pre op diet is hard, however after day 3 it gets better. Hang in there it is worth it in the long run.

Thank you so much! I was having a bit of a meltdown last night lol. I am already feeling a little better today so hope that things have turned around

Good luck Lila!

When is your surgery?

It's September 3 Can't wait...the countdown is definitely on now!

Good Luck on your Journey!!!

My surgery is this Wednesday the 22nd of September!! I had a 30 day pre-op diet and I'm glad it's about over! LOL

God Bless you!!!!

Oh my gosh, good luck on Wednesday! And a 30 day pre-op diet - you're a champion!! You'll be in my thoughts on Wednesday - be sure to let us know how you go!!

I love this!! Good luck with your pre-op diet. If you start feeling moments of weakness and want to cheat, pull out this letter to food and read it! You can do it!! When is your surgery?

LOL thanks My surgery is on Monday 3 September - two weeks from today! I can't wait and thanks for your response!

Thanks Scotty - will do They were great at WLSA and I am sure you'll have a great experience! Will definitely keep updating !

LOL I LOVE your entry You sound very happy and very lucky in your choice of husband. Me and all my friends are role players, we gather together for hours on end fighting imaginary hordes and we LOVE it. I love the celebration of your inner nerd!

BTW - if you're looking for good Sci-Fi from the Star Trek era, I strongly recommend Babylon 5 I much prefer it to Star Trek (although do have an ongoing love of Captain Picard hehehehe even though he's old enough to be my grandfather!!)...

Viva le nerd!

I HAVE TO CALL TODAY FOR THE EXACT SAME THING. One guy told me to call today to find out if the medical director approved it. i already called twice this morning but i dont think they open until 9. ahhhhhhh!!! Ive come a long way and im so proudd of myself for being so persistant. God is on myside. Ive complleted 6mnths nutrition, psych elav, surgery consult and not to mention all the damn calls ive had to make to make sure that everyone involved in my process has done their jobs and called, received faxes, sent faxes, entered information etc. My mom says that all this work should go on my resume. lol.

Hope all goes well for you! Let us know how you got on!!

LOL so apparently he didn't mean to call at 9am this morning I will wait and call back later on today .... ugh, the waiting blows !! I guess it's all part of the process...

It sounds tough but perhaps it would help if you reminded yourself that you're doing everything that you can do given the limitations that you have. try to celebrate the small goals and to cut yourself some slack...you've just had major surgery and you don't need to get everything 100% right from the beginning...Mokee is right - this is what this site is about, to vent and get rid of what you're struggling with. Stay strong and know that you're not alone in this!

Wow, congratulations! It is so good to hear a positive story about the sleeve - as my surgery date gets closer any negative story seems more "real" so it is nice that there is another side too It's important to hear both sides! Congrats again!