Elode

I have to say, I read this thread back when I was still pre-op and it scared the crap out of me and nearly convinced me not to go through with the surgery. Thank God I did. Now 13 months post op I haven't regretted it. Now that I'm pretty much at goal weight, the struggle is real, for sure. I actually just wrote a blog post on this topic yesterday and how the real work really starts when the first year or so is over and you realize that you STILL have to work at it and your weight loss problems didn't solve themselves. But with that being said, while I bounce around between the same 3 or 4 pounds up and down now depending on Water weight, time of month, etc. I've been maintaining with careful watch of what I am eating, sticking to the basics as far as Protein, water, and carbs, and exercising.
So if there are any pre-op peeps reading this and getting scared crapless after reading through it like I was, don't get discouraged! Does the sleeve help you lose a lot of weight quickly, YES! Does it keep it off in the long run? NO. But you do, your choices, and your strategy of using your "tool" - the sleeve - long-term and your daily lifestyle changes.
Just my two-cents.

This weekend, after 12 weeks of training, I completed the Hershey Half Marathon and came in 30 seconds under my goal time!!! That means I ran -without stopping- 13.1 miles!! That is just crazy to me, seeing as before my sleeve I never ran even a city block.
Around mile 12 I really wanted to walk, but I just kept thinking "the girl I was before couldn't have done this, I'll finish for her." I pushed through & did it and outside of the birth of my kids and my wedding, it was the best day of my life.
As a side note, we went to Hershey park the day before the marathon with my teen daughters & I rode every single roller coaster. The last time I was at that park, I tried to ride one with my daughter, but couldn't fit. It was the most humiliating moment of my life, so it was pretty fitting that a year later I returned there to ride all the rides AND run a 1/2 marathon!!!
This is just an example of how working with my sleeve to reach goals has helped me transform my life. ....and now I'm registered for my first full marathon in a few months!!

Note to self...ask for a binder!

I was there for two days after my surgery and I took a shower both days. I had a binder too. The nurses threw it on the bed while I was in the shower, I had no idea what it was, my husband said the nurse said I could wear it if I wanted. So I didn't wear it until I got home. Big mistake I should have to it on immediately. It is a God send. I wore it at least two weeks maybe a little longer, it helped sooooo much.

Malabsorption of Vitamins and such and the fact that with the sleeve, the digestion process isn't changed drastically were all big factors for me.

I'm scheduled to meet him on Nov 7th I hope he helps clarify things more for me ☺️

I don't have to do the 2 wks liquid diet...thank goodness. Doctor does surgery on Mondays so all liquids for 2 days before. I am very excited. Insurance company told me I should have my approval no later that the end of the month so really hoping Nov 17th date is a go for me. So ready for this but also have a lot of different things going thru my mind. Thanks for your input & have a great day! =)

Ok..so what's a binder?

@@bikrchk Lol! They don't get to send my a@@ home I paid extra for that lap of luxury so I'm staying! I won't be thin yet so good luck dragging my big butt out of there!!!

@@bikrchk That's funny and horrible lol! Ok in that case I would want to leave too. I pray I won't have a roommate and if I do at least a decent one. I have ear plugs, a sleep mask, and spray and I'm not afraid to use it!!!!

Yes, they came in the next morning and asked when I wanted to shower. They used glue in all if my incisions, so I was instructed not to scrub my belly, which I didn't want to do due to the discomfort, but got to wash my hair and put on deodorant after. I also asked them to let me change back into the clothes I came in after my shower because I found the gown so binding and with cords and tubes everywhere I didn't need more physical restrictions, and they let me.

AElode, oh hells no! I was READY to get outta there! They had me in some weird anti-bedsore bed that had a life of its own! Had air floating in it and as soon as I'd get comfy, the damn thing would fart and move me just enough to disturb me! Then my room mate was up ALL NIGHT LONG pooping on the portapottie and watching Golden Girls on full volume. To say I wanted out... Understatement of the year! I hope your hospital experience is more relaxing than mine! LOL

Hi guys! I still haven't decided on the sleeve or bypass any suggestions on how can I rule one out? I was leading towards the sleeve I just want to make sure it's the best choice for me!????

Thanks Elode...did you have your approval before the Oct. 21st date? Congrats on getting your day & wishing you a speedy recovery!

@@bikrchk Lol! They don't get to send my a@@ home I paid extra for that lap of luxury so I'm staying! I won't be thin yet so good luck dragging my big butt out of there!!!

Yes. They let me shower the morning after surgery. Then the sent my a$$ home a day early!

I was not allowed to shower, I had a 2 day stay and with the drain I wasn't allowed until I went home ????. It felt great once I did though, tell you that much!

Well I'm just about ready to leave to the hospital for my vsg, its about 90 miles away so we have to leave extra early. Yay I'll be a post-oper after today!!

this is me 11 months post op I've lost 140 pounds and loving the new me!! Never ever going back!

Not to sure about posting pictures. The little thumbnail looks really weird but I guess by clicking it you see the normal picture. 4/15 is my 6 month. I'm down 73 since surgery. Not bad considering the plan was to drop 85 total.

I wore my binder for two weeks. It helped a lot. It was easier to get food/drinks down with binder on..if I didn't have binder on it seemed my stomach "talked"more, with gas, burps, noises.

@@KMCarlson Had c-sections and worked on the maternity floor too so that's what I was thinking! I am also Requesting a binder!

Yes. They let me shower the morning after surgery. Then the sent my a$$ home a day early!

I wouldn't see why not. I'm a mother-baby nurse and we let our c section patients shower 24 hours after delivery. Just be sure you dry your incisions well afterwards--bacteria love warm, moist environments!

I wouldn't see why not.. they usually want you to use a antibacterial kind of soap or just Water on surgical areas though, at least with my C-section it was that way.