imnursesabby

Sitting in pre-surgery, got my surgical gown on, vitals taken, iv going, this is real! It's really happening. I get my life back! I get to be the mom I've always wanted to be, to have the energy to go ride bikes, to play in the park, to play tag and be able to keep up. Life is amazing. <3

Well, I am looking forward to all of those things as posted above, but right now, being the summer temps here are always 90 and higher, I am REALLY looking forward to getting rid of this enormous, hot, miserable, twisted, tight, size 46DDD BRA!!!!

You are stronger than me. My feeling would be: If I cheat now, when it's most important, then I'll probably end up cheating later, defeating the purpose of all of this.

If wishes were nickles...

What's more important? Doing the right thing or having a few drinks? You are a grown up. Only you can decide.

I'm heading to California to visit my son and meet his girl. My husband cannot go as he started a new job and has no vacation time. I've never left New England except when we went to my boy's graduation from boot camp at Parris Island. And I've never been away from my husband EVER, not once in 32 years. And I'm a country mouse. What terrifies me most is collecting my rental car in San Diego and then driving all the way to my hotel in San Clemente. I'm leaving on the 24th. God help me!
I am bound and determined to have fun! It will be a great adventure! :-)

I see everyone talking about wanting to keep their boobs. I definitely want mine to shrink but I'm worried they will look like pancakes. I am a 42DDD right now...

it hasn't been long but I can sit in a booth and I have room in front of me that is so amazing I feel more confident I actually like the attention Im getting from others I thought peoples comments would bother me but they don't I feel proud of myself. We went shopping at a Wrangler store for some jeans for my hubby and the lady looked at me and said "we have a nice variety of jeans for ladies as well" it might not be much for others but no one had ever told me they had my size so I felt like I fit. She made my day I felt good.

I went shopping with my girls and went into one of those teeny bopper stores (OMG that makes me sound so old), but you know the type of store I'm talking about. I tried on a pair of jeans there size 15/16 and THEY FIT!! I didn't like them at all and didn't buy them but I was so excited that they fit. I also stood in front the mirror at the gym the other day and I didn't want to gag!! HA HA, yeah I know that's cruel but I felt closer to average and didn't feel like the one fat girl at the gym. It was amazing!

I am an extremely happily married women ....but sex got better!!!
I look people in the eye at restaurants now instead of feeling guilty for eating like a heffer
I catch men checking me out (not that I care but hey....it's flattering)
I can wear clothes at the store...like normal ones. Affordable ones. No more lb
I have more energy and appreciate my curves
I can feel my bones again (been buried for 5 yrs)
I. Am. Happy.
Best decision I've made hands down (besides marrying my hot hubby)

I can pray on my knees and get up afterwards.

I have become very aware and sensitive to people I am close to who still struggle with these issues. My brother and my best friend are both considerably overweight. When I'm out with either one of them I make an effort to ask for a table instead of a booth so they'll be more comfortable. I remember what it was like to not fit in a booth!

See..... this is the difference between men and women. If a guy friend noticed I lost weight, he'd say.....What's up dude.....you been working out?? And if I answered, "some, and I got weight loss surgery too". Then he'd say ...."hey, whatever works dude".....!! That would be pretty much IT.
Oh, I forgot to add.....if that same guy happened to notice a female it would typically go the same with one little addition....."Wow girl you look good, wha'cha been up too?" girl responds: I had WLS.
guy answers: "Damn, it sure worked....you look hot!!"
See....being shallow does have it's upside....

Hello All!! Just wanted to share my story this far... I started slightly over 300 pounds, day of surgery I weighed 294. Today, 1 year and 4 months out I weigh 138. Ive lost over 160 pounds. I feel like I have leveled off, hoping I have atleast. I had a few bumps but all is okay! Any questions ask them!!

I personally find that I do not lose as well when I don't hit my Water minimums. I also need more than 64 oz a day because I live in the desert. Dehydration is bad stuff and I don't see why anyone would even consider risking it, but that's just my opinion, and I am not a doctor (I'm not even "in the medical field" teehee). If you want to go through all this effort, time and money for your sleeve to screw it up by not drinking enough Water, go for it. No judgement here.
Personally, if I'm going to screw up, it's going to be over something huge and wonderful and preferably involving alcohol and/or chocolate, not something lame like water LOL

Had to add a few to the list:
I won't miss having others assume I am dumb because I'm fat.
I won't miss trying to make myself small so they don't notice how big I am.
I won't miss hating myself all the time and blaming all things on weight when I know it's not true.
I won't miss feeling invisible.
This was hard to write but I'm glad I did...

I won't miss...
-being out of breath from tying my shoes.
-my chins. All of them.
- under the boob sweat. (Classy...I know)
-the indentations left in my skin from too tight jeans & socks.
-lifting my stomach up to button my pants.
-wearing black everyday.
-granny panties
-dreading hot weather...tanks, short sleeves, bathing suits, shorts. Ugh!
-hiding behind others in pictures (ie...my profile pic!)
-feeling like I want to just sleep all day.
-the guilt after every meal.
-walking like a 90 year old up & down the stairs.
-fear of sex with the lights on.
-my mother saying the words " Now you just need to stick with it!" ( Nails. Chalkboard.)
-blood pressure medication
-making excuses.
-crying in fitting rooms
-the disappointment I have in myself
I'm sure there is more to add, but I needed to write it down so I can look at this when I'm in pain after surgery, or if I ever question my decision and remember exactly how I felt. I need to remember so I never ever re-visit this kind of lifestyle again.
I deserve to treat myself better. I am done slowly digging my own grave.
Like Garth Brooks says, "I'm much too young to feel this damn old!"
Fingers crossed that I can schedule a surgery date at my visit tomorrow!
I'm ready! Let's get this Protein party started!

What I won't miss?
Like you, wearing black. My partner once told a friend that my favourite colour was black. That's only because that's all I wear! I HATE black and can't wait to wear bright yellow
My thighs rubbing together when I wear a dress or skirt. Hence I haven't worn either in 10 years. When I lose the weight, I am chucking out all my trousers and am buying a wardrobe of lovely feminine dresses and skirts.
Sweating and feeling hot all the time and blaming it on hormones.
Seeing my reflection in a window and thinking how ugly I am
Fearing intimacy.
The self loathing
Not being able to cross my legs
I definitely won't miss not being able to walk along a beach comfortably without thinking everybody is looking at me and wondering what the heck somebody 'that size' is doing at the beach.
I won't miss being the biggest person at work.
I won't miss fearing my next blood test wondering if I now have diabetes.
I won't miss waking up and being grumpy.
I AM looking forward to loving me, and learning to appreciate what I had in my early 20's.....the fact that I may never be skinny, but at least I will be healthy, happy and confident.
Bring on 20th May!

Who gives a s***, Suzy? This is your big insecurity, not anyone else's.

I've been a nurse since Noah built his arc and I can just say this form of snobbery is what we like to refer to as RNitis. SERIOUSLY????? As stated, its still the medical field.

Why aren't CNAs in the medical field? As long as they aren't pretending to be nurses, I'm cool with that answer. I LOVE my CNAs. I wouldn't be a great nurse without them.

a CNA is a nurse aid, which makes me working in the medical field.
I get you saying that people lying is dumb, but saying a CNA or MA aren't working on the medical field is some real bullsh!t.

I respectfully disagree. I am and RN. I have a bachelors degree. I've been a nurse for 18 years. Prior to that, a monitor tech, a unit secretary and an admitting clerk. I'm currently the nurse manager of a 30 bed tele floor, 2 10 bed CCU's and a small IMCU. I consider anyone who influences, touches, helps heal, encourages, treats, diagnoses, facilitates discharge, provides security, nourishment -ALL THOSE PEOPLE PROVIDE MEDICAL CARE. It doesn't mean I'd ask the phlebotomist for advice on my cardiac meds, but it's unfair to say they aren't in "healthcare". Healthcare is a broad, broad term. One of my CNA's can connect with patients and bring comfort better than some of my new grads and even vets. I may be misunderstanding you, but it takes a ton of different people to make up "healthcare". My husband has been an X-ray tech for 30 years. He knows more about bones than me. If you mean people give unqualified medical advice on these boards and shouldn't? Yup. It's the internet. Everyone has an opinion.

I dont work anywhere near the medical field, but I don't understand the snobbery. Seems to me all levels of nursing are valuable. Still, not sure its relevant in any discussion. I only care about a nurses expertise if I'm getting direct care from them. We could all go around touting our educational achievements at every opportunity, but that would get old, real quick.

A medical assistant works in the medical field. I'm a medical assistant and I assist with many medical skills, you said you are a nurse so you should know. I went to a medical
Assistant school for 10 months in Southern California. So please don't say that a MA is not working in the medical field. There is different levels of jobs. But they are all in the medical field.

What this has to do with this forum? Who cares if you are a nurse, doctor or CNA etc? We are all here to help and support each other. And no way can give a medical advise, we can all share our experience, but people need to follow their own Doctors prescription and directions!