Shell88

I asked the nutritionist yesterday if she knew my dr's position on the drain, and she looked shocked. Told me there should be no drain and to just listen to the nurses and move asap so they don't have to use cuffs or stockings

I'm at 27 days and counting @@sportygurl107 lol

@@sportygurl107 I'm actually going to st barnabas for mine on Dec 11th... insurance didn't cover any of the ones by us :-

@@DoggieMama - things doctors don't tell you from day 1 lol

@@tfarr This whole journey I've thought about how this will benefit my daughter and how I'm doing this for her. Never once did I think about being mortal. It's tough when the thought gets brought up and you realize that you feel conflicted - you are doing it to be with them longer, but what happens if it does the complete opposite? After reading your post, I definitely will be sitting down the day before surgery, and write my little girl a letter. I need her to know what I am doing for her and know that in no way was it out of vanity, but love. God forbid it backfires, she has this. If it doesn't? The she will know the hardwork her mommy put in for her. Your story reminded me of a conversation I had with my coworker a few weeks ago. My daughter lives with my parents currently and I am in the process of moving to a new place for enough room when she comes back to live with me. My coworker asked me if I really wanted a two bedroom apartment even though my daughter wouldn't be there with me for an indefinite amount of time. She told me how devastating that will be. It wasn't something I ever thought of because I was more excited with prettying up her room and having somewhere for her to go when she visits. In the same way, my friend wasn't trying to make me think of the worst, but look out for my emotions because it's how SHE would feel. In that way, your friend wanted you to think of the risks because that's what she would do....

@@sportygurl107 hi!! you're over in my neck of the woods!!

@@Elode I'm sorry, I just got coffee all over my work computer screen from that first line! LOL @@Mel13 - I could not get you more right now...... I currently live with 3 people that only eat once a day and it's normally chips, yogurt raisins, or fried chicken. One of them is my fiance and I will be moving with him in a few days to our own place - only for him to complain that he wants bread with his eggs and why can't he just have his bag of chips. I go to my parents' house 5x a week for my daughter to eat spaghetti with ALOT of grated cheese, and my dad to order pizza when he doesn't want to cook, and my mom offer me chicken nuggets instead cause she "knows I'm off bread". I could not understand the difficulty any more at this point lol. But as I keep getting told by every one of them - they want to support me...... but they already put their foot down with changing everything for me. Which is fine - it's more self control needed on my part. You've got this! Just ignore them lol

Hey @@Courtneyxo17 ... my biggest piece of advice to you is research, research, research. I went into the info session thinking I wanted the lap band and came out completely discouraged from it and deciding to do the sleeve. My surgery is Dec 11th and I'm super excited! Review this site as much as you possibly can. I spend boring nights and mornings at work surfing the pages, especially the recipes I have received more information from this site and the awesome people on here than from any of the medical sites or even my doctor. It is beyond helpful and everyone here is like a huge family - extremely supportive, loving and encouraging.... but along with that comes the brutal honesty. At first I was upset with how blunt some people got, but then I realized - they are only looking out for you. They don't want you to not have the same information they have or make the same mistakes they did. If you have ANY questions, post them! Start a new thread or put up a status.... it's how I've gotten through some rough Patches this journey, and how I have connected with some great people on here. It's such an exciting journey - I wish you all the best and hope you get the surgery you are hoping for <3

@@Dianne A keep me updated.... good luck tomorrow!

Hey 26 year old with a beautiful 1 1/2 yr old in North NJ here. Getting my surgery Dec 11th.

Well... these are now questions for my final meet with him before the surgery..... I don't do the whole panty hose thing outside of surgery, let alone wanting to wear them right after lol @@pinkbunies

@@DoggieMama I'm at work, and I literally laughed out loud when I read not to punch the nurse in the throat...

OK.... lets compare this to child birth and pulling out the placenta.... anything similar? lol

I am exactly one month to the day away from my Gastric sleeve surgery. This Thursday I finish my pre-surgery testing including the full bloodwork, venous doppler scan, and my last appt with my nutritionist. Friday is my clearance appt with my general Dr. But now that I'm nearing the end of this initial journey toward surgery - when does the stress become too much to handle? Friday, Saturday and Sunday (following my clearance), I will be moving into my new apartment. That, on top of this crazy/stupid full time job I have (crazy doesn't even begin to describe it.... a hotel with hookers, drunken idiots for 4 days, and a schizo welfare woman who thinks every black male who works in the hotel is out to get her, is just the icing on the cake), my daughter in foster care with my parents (so my direct support and encouragement is a step back because of the situation), constant drs and court dates and visitation days, and whatever else has to be done in preparation for my surgery and time out of work..... I'm just feeling massive amounts of stress. At a few points during the journey, I questioned if it was all worth it. Is it worth the time and effort? Will it be worth feeling crummy for a few weeks? Will it be worth not being able to hold and carry and change my daughter for a few weeks? Will it be worth the time from work? Is there not ENOUGH going on that I needed yet another major event in my life right now? Then I remember the pain in my feet from working at a hotel for 4 days straight. And then the throbbing in my back from holding my 27 lb beauty. And then the rough sleep from not being able to breathe at night, or the difficulty of carrying a box up 2 flights of stairs and feeling light headed when I get there. The memory of Dorney Park with my daughter over the summer still burns - being told my the ride attendant that I can't stay on the teacups with my 1 1/2 year old if I can't get the stupid seat belt on. And then I kneel down at night to give her a bath, and I get shooting pain in both of my knees from all of the weight..... So is it worth it? I think so. I think if I was able to maneuver the other things in life a little better, I wouldn't find this time to be so rough. I think if I could figure out how to even out all the other random difficult things, this event and journey wouldn't be as difficult. It actually is the only thing that is a piece of cake (absolutely no puns intended on that one) out of all the insanity that rules my life. And it's for her. And it's for me. When will doing something for me and something that will make me happy in the long run be my main goal? This is my time. This is my time to shine and make things a little easier. Just need to get past all the fluff.

Thanks ladies... jsut one of those too much stress days, if ya know what I mean hahaha

OH......my...... goodness.....

Oh yay! Can't wait for this one.... lol

Ok, ok.... drain removal? Drain coming out? Someone please explain - panicking over here with surgery in exactly a month LOL

So, I'm not going through the thinking phase - oh boy where do I start?! First off - I'm going for surgery 6 weeks sooner than originally planned. I was excited to get it done after the holidays because it meant I wouldn't have the issues or discomfort of sitting at holiday dinner with my big Italian family. I will be on liquid. There goes the antipasta, lasagna, and ham. AND! My birthday is 4 weeks after surgery! The lifestyle of drinks with my friends, Red Lobster as a birthday dinner, and some awesome flavored cake is done-zo. But this is stupid little things that I know I'll get over and beyond all doubt get through. I have faith I can make it through the insanity. I am worried about my relationship though. He didn't like the idea of the surgery in the beginning.... or even 2 years ago when I was first contemplating it. (Just a little background : my fiance is a chubby chaser, as were all of my exes). I'm afraid that no matter what he says, and though his fears were that I would be the one to leave him, that he will lose attraction once I start losing mass amounts of meat from my bones. With all that I have put aside for him, and the bs I've sucked up and dealt with, and all of the things I've looked past for him - I don't think he'll have that ability to just accept my weight loss. And I fear my ultra confidence and new vanity will give me that slight boost I was looking for to leave. \ I have read a few people say they see people get these surgeries for vanity reasons that they won't admit to. I was actually fine with living how I was and looking how I do. I enjoy my curves. I knew I only attracted guys with BBW fetishes. But I was all good. I was happy. I knew I could and did get guys. But then I had my beautiful little girl. For her, I want Mommy to be healthy, and able to run after her, and pick her up without back pain, and be around for decades to come without some sort of mortal complication. So it's not always vanity - but I know I will look damn amazing, even if not attracting the same guys. Which I'm fine with. As long as I can spend eternity with my pride and joy.

@@ready2B you couldn't be more right! food isn't our enemy, a friend - just not a person! I wish you all the best with your surgery tomorrow.... it must be incredibly exciting..... I know I am counting down the days!!!! My surgery is Dec 11th - 1 month, 2 days away :-)

@@chylamarie thank you :-) it's nice to know there are people proud of me, whether they know me or not.... i think we're all doing such amazing things for ourselves and the ones we love

@@Mami5Boys thank you so much for the feedback! That definitely cleared my head more about the surgery which is officially a month away. Congrats on the recent surgery - it must be so exciting! Keep me updated.... And thank you again for the great report :-)