GingerDiane

Before and a year after surgery, ...????

I remember when I had my endoscopy I was pricked 7 times by 3 different people! And they finally got it on my right hand. I was so bruised a coworker asked me if someone grabbed me by the elbows lol.
I'm hoping this is NOT the case the day of the surgery lol

Yes, they always start with my right arm, figure they can't find anything, so they go to my left arm, can't find anything, then go back to my right arm and are eventually successful. One person actually used the top of my hand with no problem. If they are experienced, they can usually get a vein.

I try not to take too much offense at folks who make these kinds of flippant remarks. What I think a lot of them don't realize are the very real physiological reasons why many of us aren't/weren't successful with traditional diet & exercise means as a way to lose weight. Unless we're very open about ourselves, (which I'm not) it's probably not public knowledge if you suffer from diabetes, sleep apnea, food addictions, or any number of other things that stand in the way of losing weight through diet and exercise alone. That's not anyone's fault. What is important is that we realized we needed help, we realized that bariatric surgery could be a tool that can help us reach our goal along with the diet & exercise. Easy way out? Please. This is the hardest thing I've ever done.

Don't you want to slap someone when they say this regarding our WLS??
There is NOTHING easy about what we have done. Not only have we had our guts rearranged but eating, as we knew it for our entire life, has changed. We have made the ultimate sacrifice and will continue to do so for continued success. I have had people tell me this, and the others tell me they could never do what I have done because they are not ready to give up the old way of eating. We still have to count our calories, get exercise, make wise choices etc.
I have a sister that I finally told about 7 months out. She has just lost 30 lbs, and commented to me that she "did it the old fashioned way".
GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
Precisely why I told so few people.

I saw that it's been almost a week since you talked about this heaviness in your legs. Have you called your doctor about it? I think a week with a strange feeling should be justification enough to warrant a call.

Hi again y'all!
Hit my one year surgi-versary on Wednesday & I'm now down 100lbs! Feels surreal. This hasn't been easy but I'm thrilled with my progress thus far.

2 months post op and 45lbs gone !

Surgery date 9/25/13, height 5'1, Weight 238lbs

After: 130lbs

Best decision I ever made!

Jan 28th as well super excited and nervous on the three of my liquid diet

Anyone January 28th? For surgery?

Every one looks great

Ladies I completely understand. I truly had to keep myself busy during the two week liquid diet. I painted several rooms, cleaned carpets, changed bedrooms, organized cabinets, and anything else to keep me from focusing on eating. I lost a total of 15lbs during this time and I have to be honest there were a few days that I didn't succeed and managed to eat a small salad. I didn't go nuts, but I couldn't resist the need to eat something. (i know, bad me)
Surgery was on Monday and went well. I'm extremely tired from the anesthesia, and morphine prescribed, but I'm slowly but surely coming around. Having gas was the worse part of surgery and learning not to swallow more than I should is a new experience. Other than that, I'm looking forward to this new lifestyle. I'm on high Protein diet now to help with healing, and I"m hoping that goes well also.

@Ready_For_Me_13 Congrats on your surgery. Happy to hear you are doing well. Thats awesome in regards to your pre-op diet. I am going to take it one meal at a time line @@Jana64 says. My nutrionist said the same thing oe meal at a time.
@@Jana64, I just bought a new puzzle that's what I do to clear my head. I know that sitting for long periods will not be so good after surgery so I am going to pick up some books for post op recovery. Post a picture of one of your paintings would love to see one.
Thank you ladies for sharing with me.

This was me 2 days ago! I'm a nurse so sometimes i feel like I know too many of the things that could go wrong. I have bad heartburn too so I had my EGD yesterday. It was so quick and easy! I felt nothing and don't remember anything after they gave me the sedation. I was loopy all morning and felt fine. No issues at all. I feel silly now but I was just nervous like you. You will be just fine!

I've lost 40 lbs. Better but not where I need to be, started at 334 so it's still a ways to go. Hopeful that by summer I'll be unstoppable!!!!

Well...been for all my pre op tests today...after 6 days on milk diet ive lost 10lbs! Very happy... ive come home with my tablets to take night and morning before surgery and one injection to do myself the night before...im so focused I just want it done now

you are spot on!! Its like saying to an alcoholic or a gambler " oh you look a normal non addictive person..you dont look like an addict" those words could ease anyone to think " you know what shes right im ok.....lets go have a drink and have a gamble" just one word can make me go into flashbacks.

Mine is February 4th. I have UPMC insurance through my husband's work, although they tripled our deductible this year. My surgery is being done at a UPMC hospital in Pittsburgh and we live in Pittsburgh. So no travel, it's just eight miles away.
Sometimes I just find myself thinking, "What the heck are you doing?"
Then I remind myself of all of the reasons that I need to do this.

Thanks GingerDiane! You are so right, and I do think I'll complain. When I began considering VSG I started seeing a food therapist. The self examination of that process was what made me realize that I'm truly an addict. It was so hard for me to come to that realization. I felt like such a failure for not being able to control myself. One I moved past that point, I began to feel better because I finally began to understand that I needed to approach a solution as an addict, and also to realize that I'm not alone in my addiction. That nurse momentarily brought back my feelings of shame, and self punishment. It is a vulnerable time before surgery, and the nurses especially need to be supportive, and kind.

Msnicnic how was your surgery..bern thinking of you. X

Oh my!! That nurse has no right to "Judge"..its very unprofessional..if that was me I wouldve complained ...as you may of panicked ..not had the surgery and ate yourself silly..people do not realise how deep our issue go and our history is different from others. ...It couldve undone all that hard work you put into it...this nurse may say this all the time and no one saus a thing. It was the same with me but with the psychologist that kept holding me back..said she "understood" my pain as she sat back showing off her size 00 figure! I complained as these people play with our lives...i must say not all are like that..but this woman thought she had control..within 3 weeks if complaining i got my surgery date which is in 2 weeks!! Stay in control you have come such a long way! X

Awww thanks so much for those kind words. I really appreciate it. I've been trying to keep myself as busy as I could today so I wouldn't have much time to sit and panic. It's good to hear that yours went wonderful and I accept the vibes and will pass mine on to the next person just as you did. :-) It's good to have someone holding my hands and I will remember you Paula! Thanks a bunch and I will check in when I can afterwards.

My surgeon recommends 5 mini (and I do mean small, petite, tiny) meals per day. I was advised that eating small portions was#1 success factor and although I screw up at times I work hard to eat small, while eating enough to satiate hunger for a out 3 hours so you don't graze.
During loss phase I did settle on 4 meals a day. I lost 160#so I guess it worked.
At 10 weeks out, eating small is way more important than staying with 3 meals a day in my opinion.

Im thinking of you from my home in England! I will pray for good fast recovery...im sending thoughts of Healing!! Mine is in 2 weeks! You go girl!