Roostertail2

whoopie!!!!!!! Just got off of phone with Dr office...I am on the schedule for August 5th! SOOOOOO excited - and also ready to throw up because my stomach just flipped as soon as I hung up! lol

Well said KWhite! Though I totally understand how dkell feels as I have been struggling with same issue. I am actually waiting on the surgeons office to call me TODAY with the surgery date! I am excited but also kinda scared. Not about the surgery itself - but about failing. I still struggle with the reason why I am fat now. I dont binge eat - I eat way less than my skinny friends..I have throid issues - but gained most of my weight after my hysterectomy when I was 32 (cancer). I look in the mirror and curse myself for allowing me to get to this point! I know this is the best solution for me - but I am surprised at all the emotions I have been going through! I feel like I am going to run off all my friends for talking about it too much - but I cant stop myself. I wish I had someone close by who was going through this that I could just walk to their house and talk for hours about it all! I am sure my friends wished the same..lol

My mother always said I had calves only a momma cow could love! They are large but muscular - really no juggle to them at all. My question is - will I lose weight in them? I dont want to end up with a small top and popeye legs! Anyone else out there that had same problem but lost the calves as they lost weight??

Getting ready for surgery in August - really would like to have a buddy (or two) who are having surgery around that time so we can do this together! Also interested in someone who just had surgery who can perhaps help guide me through this!

It is amazing how such small things that most people take for granted are our dreams! I am so tired of being tired. I am tired of not getting to enjoy my soon to be 3 year old son because I cant seem to find enough energy to make it through the day. By the time I get home from work I feel exhausted. I am tired of always making sure I am not in pictures. We were going through pics the other day and I was ashamed that I wasnt in ANY of them. We recently went to washington DC and you would never know I was even on the trip because I made darn sure the camera was never pointed my way. If something were to happen to me my son would never even get to see a trace of me in his life! My mother passed away a few years ago and I have only a few photos of her and it really makes me sad. I think I am looking forward to being able to have pics made of me! Ones where I am not hiding behind other people, or making sure that my hand is covering my chins!!! I know that this will be a tough journey - but hasnt life already been a tough journey for most of us? I have NEVER been slim. I was OK in my younger days - but I was still always the biggest girl in the group. I want to be able to walk into a room and not feel as though I am an outsider because of my body. I want to buy clothes that dont have huge flowers on them..and what is that all about anyway? We are already "seen" so the clothing industry thinks we need big flowers on our shirts to make us stand out even more??? And once a shirt goes beyond a size 16 they also think that we no longer need cleavage or style. That we just need a sack with sleeves??? Yet they make spandex pants in white in a size 50???? I swear that if I ever get the opportunity I will start a clothing line for larger people - a line that allows people to have stylish clothes!

Thanks so much guys - it helps to know I am not alone in the way I am feeling. Do you have any other advise on what to expect once I have the surgery? When did you actually start seeing the weight loss? I know it is one thing to see a number fall on a scale - but when did you actually FEEL like you had lost weight? I have been larger than I should be all of my life. The smallest I have ever been in my adult life was a 14/16. I am now in a 20/22 - though I tend to always wear shirts even larger than that so they dont cling to me - as though people cant tell I am fat! lol. Oh lets put on even bigger clothes to hide the fact!! I am afraid of the Water thing - I dont drink enough liquid now - dont know how I am going to be able to get down 64+ ounces a day! I drink a cup of coffee in the morning and then maybe a glass of tea at night - I am just not much of a drinker at all! How did you make sure you were/are getting enough water?

I am preparing for Bypass surgery the 1st week of August. I am soooo excited about it and have been very open to my friends and coworkers. My problem is I almost feel like I have talked about it too much and people around me are tired of hearing about it. No one has said anything - but we have all had that friend who perhaps broke up with someone and wont shut up about it? I dont want to be that person..lol. Does anyone else feel that way? I am really afraid of how much I will talk about it AFTER the surgery! Also - Does anyone else out there feel all alone? Even though my BFF is right there beside me - I still feel alone..I have so many fears like I am going to be the 1 person this doesnt work for - that I will drop 20 or 30 lbs but it will take 6 months....That I will never get to taste a cupcake again...That my hair will fall out - I will look 20 years older and have all this skin hanging from my body... I also wondered if anyone had any comments on their calves? I have large but muscular calves - will they get smaller or will I have popeye legs?

What about CT scans and such? With having staples doesnt this mean you couldnt have one in the future? Wonder how that would work if something happened that caused you to need one? I can see your point -

Sorry if this is stupid question - but I am new to all of this ( have not had the surgery yet) - why would you need a medic bracelet?

1) Also never have to shop in Lane Bryants again 2) Be able to buy tight fitting clothes instead of ones that are too big so they hide my rolls 3) Keep up with my son 4) Not feel like I have to make fat jokes about myself around people just to feel comfortable 5) Taking a picture of my whole body - not just my face (and only from above) and posting it on FB! 6) Not being afraid of my side profile! 7) Enjoying the outdoors! 8) Wearing a bathing suite without a cover up! 9) Perhaps having a sex life again 10) Having a longer/healthier life!

I am also getting prepared for GB sugery. Had gone in wanting the sleeve but Dr feels my reflux has a 50/50 chance of getting worse. I also have a lot of scar tissue from other surgeries so he really is unsure about which procedure I will get until he actually gets in there so it will be a surprise. I am more afraid of the bypass just because you are messing with intestines - something I had to have surgery on before because they kept twisting - I am also so afraid of something happening and losing my job and not being able to get the shots I would need for the rest of my life. With sleeve I just felt more comfortable and confidant that I wouldnt need AS much after care as you do with the bypass. May be totally wrong about that - but either way I am doing this! I am in fact waiting on the Dr's office to call to scedule the procedure. Looking for August for it to happen and cant wait!