Summer Rain

I have been reading these boards for about 3 months. I thought I would say thank you to all of you who take the time to post your before and after experiences. I know I have learned a great deal from your experiences and I can't wait to be able to pay it forward and help new members out someday also.
I am just getting started in the process. I have my first appointment with my surgeon 08/14/14. I have already gone to my information seminar. I also have already met with the NUT, bariatric nurse, and the psych person. I am in month 3 of my 5 month supervised medical weight loss program. I joined WW and see my PCP monthly for a weigh in.
Good luck to everyone and I hope to get to know you all better.
Summer

I thought sleeve patients did not "dump" but that sure sounds like what I have read dumping is like. I am sorry you had this experience. Hope you are feeling better now.
Summer

I have been reading these boards for about 3 months. I thought I would say thank you to all of you who take the time to post your before and after experiences. I know I have learned a great deal from your experiences and I can't wait to be able to pay it forward and help new members out someday also.
I am just getting started in the process. I have my first appointment with my surgeon 08/14/14. I have already gone to my information seminar. I also have already met with the NUT, bariatric nurse, and the psych person. I am in month 3 of my 5 month supervised medical weight loss program. I joined WW and see my PCP monthly for a weigh in.
Good luck to everyone and I hope to get to know you all better.
Summer

Welcome and congratulations on taking the steps to have a healthier life.

I have had very very few pictures taken the last 15 years. When I look at pictures from the past I realize why I thought I was invisable. I made myself that way. I still shy away from pictures but I am taking pictures ever few weeks in the same outfit to record progress. As for mirrors, I hid most of mine. 45 lbs gone, I am checking out my butt a lot. I am losing in my legs and butt big time.

I have a weird relationship with pictures and mirrors. I have to make sure my hair is just so and make up is on and I am stating a certain way.. but I don't hate pictures. I don't mind a selfie either. I can usually make my face look skinny enough. I will post all of my professionally done wedding pictures for anyone to look at because I looked cute. LOL! I don't allow anyone at work to take any candids of me. Those are always unflattering. Nope.
I'm really vain though. I'm always looking in the mirror at my face and pores and wondering if I am starting to get wrinkles and crows feet. Sometimes I will look in a mirror and be all like "Hey girl, you look good" and sometimes I'll look in that same mirror and be all like "No, Andrea, no.. put something else on!"

I've lost over 60lbs and I still see a heffer. Sometimes I feel good. Sometimes I don't. Sometimes I don't recognise myself in the reflection of shop front windows. Sometimes I don't know who I am, physically, any more.
The picture I posted on here recently, I posted on Facebook. The response was fairly overwhelming. People saying I looked 'fabulous' (code for 'sheesh you've lost some weight'). I still can't really see it. I wish I could, but I don't. I feel happy. I know I'm thinner - my clothes say so. I feel healthier, but goddamn it this body dysmorphia thing is a real problem.
Hopefully some time this century I'll finally see the difference with my eyes, rather than blindly recognising it through the numbers on my new clothing.
Photos? I'd generally prefer to be water-boarded.
Still waiting for that elusive 'butterfly' moment....

I used to hate pictures and rarely took them. Had my daughter take my before picture for me because other then a few from my sisters wedding a few years back I had really been avoiding cameras. I feel bad when I think that my kids wont have very many pics with me because of this. I have since started taking a lot more to the point that I think I am annoying my kids with random selfie shots of me with them etc that hopefully they will appreciate someday

You can respectfully ask them to not use your pictures. My office has a horrible habit of taking pictures of people randomly, especially during potlucks and more times than not there will end up being a picture of me shoving food into my mouth and I hate it. I always delete the pictures of me off of the shared drive, however they do still exist. Our PR person started using our random photos for various things such as slide shows she was showing people to advertise what we do, and then wanted to create a collage of photos to put in our reception area and I finally told her that I would appreciate if it was possible for my pictures not to be used and that I knew others felt that way as well. She hadn't even thought about it and emailed everyone and asked them to let her know if she had their permission to use their photos for advertising, etc and several people said they would prefer she didn't. She didn't even realize how insensitive it was to just use our pictures, especially some really bad ones without even asking us.
But yeah, I HATE candid photos of me. I don't spend much time in the mirror except to get ready for work in the morning.

I get hiding from the camera, but I'm part of the generation that LOVEs having my picture taken. I may not be a fan of the photo but I like it anyway. I've read that before pictures are really important so that you can look back later and see where you've come from. Definitely stop hiding and embrace it! Once you've lost all the weight you'll regret not having those pictures to compare.

I used to avoid cameras like the plague. So much so that as I started losing and I wanted a "before" picture I had a really hard time finding one! This too, shall pass. You WILL feel differently next year!

On another note but still regarding pics (MistyAnnMoon829's comment above made me think of this) I got up yesterday morning and my 53-year-old husband was sitting on the patio drinking his coffee and taking selfies to post on FB. He is just too cute! He was so embarassed when I came up behind him and asked him what he was doing lol.

I avoid mirrors and being in pictures as much as possible. Avoiding being in pictures is pretty easy I just volunteer to take the pics. The mirror is not always so easy. I have become adept at just looking at whatever I need to focus on and not pay attention to the rest of me -- like my hair in the morning when I am drying/styling it or the eyebrow area when plucking, etc. If I happen to look in a mirror as I pass it I am always kind of shocked at the person looking back at me lol
Anyway, yesterday my boss showed me some pictures that she had been taking around the office for some online advertising that she is doing...and oh my gosh she has one of me and I can't stand knowing it's going to be out there for people to see. I know I shouldn't feel this way! I guess it's just one of those things I will have to smile and say it's fine go ahead and use it. I just have to keep reminding myself that this time next year I will look like a totally different person.
I don't know...Anyone else avoid mirrors and pictures like the plague?

Hi everyone just reading some of these threads and it's a great deal of help. I decided today at my weight center appointment that I am ready for surgery. Meeting with the surgeon on 8/28 to go over both options RNY and Sleeve. Not sure which is best for me .
I have diabetes on insulin
PCOS
Fatty Liver
IBS
Body aches and pains
5'5. 249lbs
My quality of life is horrible I'm only 40 and I'm so sick of living like this... Hubby is a little nervous about this but will support my decision. Any info or advice is welcomed. Thank you all. ????

Had my sleeve done on Monday, the 4th, and will be discharged from the hospital in a couple hours. For me, the gas pains and nausea have been the worst of it. The PCA pain medicine made me very nauseated, almost to the point of vomiting, but my nurses have been a wonderful support and help. Switched to a liquid narcotic painkiller and that did the trick with the nausea. Gas is still inside me, and that's been a struggle to get rid of, but doc said it should go away in the next day or so. Fingers crossed! My surgeon was wonderful and has come to check on me frequently after the procedure.
So glad I did this, and the procedure is finally done. Now looking forward to the weeks/months ahead.
Happy to answer any specific questions for anyone with upcoming dates. Will be posting my progress along the way as well.

So today was my first appointment at the surgeon's office. It went really well and if all goes smoothly with my clearances, I could be having my sleeve done in 2 months! I need to make appointments with a cardiologist, pulmonologist, psych, get an endoscopy, and bloodwork. I am required to have 2 nutritionist appointments and attend 1 support group meeting. After all the clearances come in, they will submit and I have to attend a class on learning post op nutrition and Vitamins and will get my date! With all that going on, I am hoping time will just fly by!