Sherrylinn

I'm scheduled for November 5th with Dr. Altamirano in Mexico. I'm so excited to start my new life!!

I think when you tell anyone about going to Mexico for surgery everyone's normal reaction is to freak out. People that have never gone to Mexico have no idea how clean, safe and beautiful it is there. I have my surgery scheduled for the end of February and I'm not telling anyone because I don't think that anyone understands. I have researched this for over a year and I'm sure you have to. Good luck!

You're 12 days out, just in time for your first stall we all had (dreaded 3 week stall). Totally normal.
Never satisfied, make sure you're taking a PPI for stomach acid or just not experiencing head hunger. Both mimic real hunger. Totally normal.
Can eat 4 Oz of food because your nerves have been cut in your tummy, and your "full" sensation is probably skewed because of that. Also, once you start healing and eating honest to goodness real food, you will feel more restriction. Also totally normal.
Just breath. You've got a long road ahead of you, and if you're ready to throw in the towel at only 12 days out, well I'm afraid you're going to struggle. Just know that all the fear, frustration and everything else you're going through is normal and is only temporary. Then it will be onto the next stage and different challenges.

That is rough, although probably not without basis. I was told that as soon as I could get the required 64 oz of Water, I could begin having coffee again, and I did so without delay. The ban is due to the fact that caffeine is a diuretic and removes water from your body of which after surgery, you can hardly spare.

So, my one year surgiversary was in August and I've been thinking of how to Celebrate the success of the past year with my Bariatric Pal friends. What can I add to what hasn't already been said? What were my experiences that can inspire and help newcomers? What were the challenges I faced and overcame? What makes my story so much more special than anyone else's? I came to the conclusion that the answer to all of those questions is, everything and nothing. For all of us the journey is unique and it's our most special accomplishment, but all of our journeys are very familiar and the same for many who came before us. But if I left this post right here, you'd say he lost his enthusiasm along with his weight, so let me tell my story (I promise to keep it short but sweet).
I've been overweight most of my life, I made countless attempts at getting it under control, I'd lose 10- 50 lbs. and slowly lose ground only to gain it all back. Sound familiar? In the meantime life went on, career, marriage, kids, house, bills, you know, right? Being young we feel invincible, yeah I was heavier than fit people but I could handle the weight. Of course, I was more of a spectator than a participant but I always figured I'd take care of it some day. Family, job, good times and bad times,there's always something that took priority over losing just a few pounds. But time rolls on, and occasionally I'd try another perfect weight loss answer, but ultimately it wasn't permanent and it was just another failed attempt. When I hit my fifties I noticed more muscle pulls, back injuries, knees were aching more, out of breath sooner, heart was working harder. So in my mid fifties I was put on meds for elevated blood pressure, shortly after statins for cholesterol. At sixty I was put on a CPAP for sleep apnea, and meds for pre diabetes. It was getting real, I was seeing the damage of carrying all the extra weight, but my doctor was keeping things under control, no worries. Then my hips began failing, I could hardly walk, I needed a cane to get in and out of chairs, I didn't want to move. I went to see an orthopedic doctor and he said the pain was from compressed cartilage caused by my weight, so I asked what we could do, he said "nothing, the damage is done". I think that's when I said enough is enough, I'm destroying my body and my future was heading towards life as a sick and handicapped old man. So I had a serious talk with my PCP, looked at my options, did research and made my decision to go with WLS at 62 years old. On my day of surgery the surgeon asked if I was ready, I said "let's do it", and I never looked back.
Here I am 14 months post surgery, no more meds, no more CPAP, no more diabetes, I walk miles with almost no pain,and otherwise feel fantastic. I'm now doing things at 63 that I wouldn't have tried doing at 53, I went from feeling like an 80 year old to feeling better than I ever remember. I was in size 3XL shirts and pants with waist size of 46", today I can wear large to medium shirts and 34" waist pants, now I can shop off the "normal" racks. I've gone from the sidelines and into the game, I'm stronger and I have more energy, I can walk, run, and climb, and play, I feel young again. I'm still not used to the face that stares back at me in the mirror, there was a heavy guy looking back for the last 40 years or so, now I see a leaner more vibrant looking man, it's strange but I'm getting more used to him.
So that's what makes my journey a special success to me, yours may be similar and it may be different, but it will be your special journey. I'm still learning to live with my sleeve, you can't erase years and years of lifestyle overnight, but after a year it's becoming more normal to listen to my sleeve and pay attention to what and how much I eat. If I can offer any wisdom, its to make your decision and then own it, go ahead and commit 100%. I know a lot of people regret not doing something sooner, but we can't change the past, we can only change the future. Best of luck to you all and thank you for your stories and experiences, I have learned and still learn from them.

Here is some data from Jossart and Cirangle's 5 year data
Breakdown of %EWL by BMI
 35-45 Kg/M2 – 82.2%
 45-55 Kg/M2 – 73.4%
 > 55 Kg/M2 – 52.1%
This shows that the lower your BMI was to begin with, the more likely you were to lose a greater percentage of your excess weight. if you want to see the powerpoint, here is the link:
http://www.ssat.com/video/2008/SSAT%2049th%20Annual%20Meeting(3)-Cirangle.htm

i have two children as well. You dont have to listen to me, me I thought I should tell you the truth. I've heard all the news as well.
I, too, am knowledgable about the news. I was worried until I did my research and spoke with many who have gone before. Surely, you do not think we would keep flocking to Mexico if half showing up missing

Just thought I'd post a little update. June 5, I was at my heaviest 410 pounds. I felt like DEATH...literally. I had SEVERE sciatica which caused me to go onto disability after working for YEARS...I couldn't walk. I couldn't stand. I couldn't sit. All I could do is LAY THERE and cry because of the nerve pain down my left leg and lower back. It was either back surgery or weight loss surgery. Since I also HAD high blood pressure and PCOS plus VERY obese and the severe sciatica...I thought weight loss surgery would be my best bet. Plus, healing would be 2837739354928 times harder if I were to under go back surgery at my weight. Dr's told me over and over again that losing weight may or may not help my bulging disc which was in turn causing the sciatica but I went for it and just hoped for the best. Day of surgery 9/2, I was 367 pounds (I went on a damn strict diet) and today...I am 314!!! I am also BACK AT WORK with no more sciatica pain what-so-ever!!! I'm off all meds for high blood pressure and I'm feeling fanDAMNtastic!!!!! I love the way o feel and more so, I LOVE ME. I've never been one to post pics....but here we go. Not ready for the whole "body shot" because this girl is under construction but here goes nothin!!! Top picture is day before surgery...the collage pic on left is last month and on the right is yesterday! I drink 64oz+ Water each day...and always try to get 90g of protein...even if I finish my day with a premier protein!! Alot of you girls and guys on here don't know how many of us look forward and look up to your updates and advice...@Babbs...@Elode...@InnerSurferGirl...all 3 of u girls I look up to and I cannot wait to keep on keeping on. Thank You from the bottom of my heart!!! -Vanessa

My NUT approved ALL light/low fat Soups (just pureed) during the full liquid phase. In fact, she recommended an organic chicken noodle Soup and it was the only thing that didn't make my stomach turn at that point. It's fine to offer advice here and to share what worked for us or what our fears are, but it's not fair to judge or preach or shame each other. As we see time and again in these forums, there is not a consistent or single post-op schedule. A lot of surgeons and NUTs do things a little differently.

Do you have to let your ‘fat self’ go?
You are still her.
She is still you.
You’re the same, real person.
Her memories are your memories.
Her fears, your fears.
Hopes, dreams, likes, dislikes…
All shared.
That part of you hasn’t changed.
What’s changed is your ability to do something about those fears, hopes, dreams etc…
Fat is what you were, not who you were.
Fat didn’t define you.
It may have ruled how you were, but it didn’t rule who you were.
It may have influenced your decisions, but it didn’t have the final say.
It may have been what held you back, but it wasn’t what held you down.
It’s only your shell that was fat. Your outer layer. Your physicality.
Your brain wasn’t fat.
Your mind…
Your soul…
Not fat.
These things remain the same.
What’s changed is the vessel in which these things (and more) are contained.
Old you versus new you is old shoes versus new shoes.
The old shoes are comfortable but they’re not functional.
They’re easy to put on and easy to take off but they provide you with no support.
The new shoes are clean, shiny and look really good.
They’re not tarnished with years of wear.
They don’t have the mark on them from being kicked and trodden on repeatedly.
New shoes take a bit of getting used to, but with a little patience, their true value quickly becomes apparent.
Of course, there’s always the option to go back to your old shoes…
But when it comes down to it, you know that your heart now belongs to your new shoes.
They're the same shoes...
They just look different...
Of course, this may all be the rambling jibber-jabber of a crazy man…
Or I may be using this as an excuse to get some of my own thoughts or insecurities out in the open…
But maybe, just maybe, I’m onto something…
I guess time will tell…
And @@bellabloom
Time is something that you've given yourself...
Apologies if this entire post makes no sense...
Kinda..

You turned around my post about men being obsessed with my weight and looks and made it my fault. It's ME that's obsessed with my weight and so therefore I attract men who are.
That's just nuts. I'm online dating. I go out with a wide variety of men- different types and different backgrounds. It's a fairly random selection.
I was doing the online dating thing at 160 pounds not that long ago. And no one mentioned my weight or looks, what I ate (I ate even less then) and I feel I got a lot more men interested in who I am than what I look like.
I'm not wearing a flag that says "skinny obsessed men here" and I NEVER bring up weight on a date!! I have a rule never to discuss exes, weight, or health problems on a first date.
It's the men. They look at me like I'm some rare type of zoo creature escaped that they've won the lottery to be out with. I just sit there eating my dinner while they go on and on about weight!! If I have to hear one more thin guy tell me about how he needs to lose 20 pounds!! Maybe I need to get better at shutting down the subject when it comes up. I need to come up with some lines that stop them from discussing it.
I am not feeling much sympathy for what I'm going through. I've just lost 125 pounds and I find myself in a body that is totally foreign to me. I never expected to look like this. And men are treating me different because of it. I am not obsessed with my weight- I'm going through a huge adjustment and this forum is where I post on that subject. So yeah! I talk about my feelings regarding weight a lot!!
What am I supposed to talk about? The price of rice in China??
I am very self confident- I love myself and I carry my head high.
I am finding out that men, especially white men, in California, are super attracted to very thin women. And some of them are fixated on it to an unhealthy degree. I literally get the 10nth degree from these guys or they just can't stop commenting on my looks and it's so uncomfortable. They launch into complaining about their weight and then I just feel so awkward.
It's not something that is my fault. It just is. I look like a model (well, an old one!) and I'm getting the attention of men obsessed with looks. It makes sense. It's new for me. It's weird. I don't like it. But it's a reality I'm dealing with. Their comments about other people weight and shortcomings piss me off!!!
I'm also meeting men who care about more than that. Thank goodness.
I'm looking for support on here and telling me I post too much on any one subject hurts my feelings. You don't have to read my posts if you don't want to hear what I have to say. You don't always have to agree with me or sympathize but at least don't make me feel I can't open up about things in a place where we all should be able to talk openly.

At this point I would consider my surgery a success.
Heaviest = 245 lbs
Day of Surgery = 228 lbs
Now = 174 lbs
Wow. it seems like a lifetime ago I was morbidly obese with a BMI of over 36. Now I am officially at a "normal" weight and under 25 BMI. I think I still have 10 lbs more to go, but I am a whole new person.
A few interesting notes:
Its clear how bad my posture became from the weight. This is still not good, and I would like to address it. Dont know how, but my posture is still one of an obese person. I am just less hungry. I dont make good decisions all the time, but I clearly eat far less. It seems like Protein Drinks in the morning is the biggest help to keeping hunger down and losing weight. I find myself making better choices with food, and dont crave junk food in the same way I used to I don't think my sleep apnea is cured, but I have a very wide neck and am likely physiologically predestined to keep my apnea. Overall I cant recommend this surgery enough. It is a real solution. Like everyone else I wondered if this was going to work for me. I made mistakes after my surgery, and still am not perfect, but I have no doubt in my mind this is a permanent change.
Thank you to everyone on this board who contributed and inspired me to take this step and make this change!

I thought everyone might be interested in seeing these. I've kept track of my progress throughout my weight loss, with weight and measurements.
I'm pretty much at goal now and you can see the difference from start to finish. I literally have lost half my size.
I started at 250 highest weight, I would like to stay between 115 and 120 now. I'm 5'6 and 35 years old.
  

I'm scheduled for November 5th with Dr. Altamirano in Mexico. I'm so excited to start my new life!!

Nice I'll talk to u soon ok

Sounds good message me on dr. A's Facebook page. We can set up a time and chat. sounds like fun. My name there is sherry Reid bells

Man I totally agree. Target just makes me MAD!! I love the goodwill or thrift store shopping. I'm gonna stick to yoga pants for a while:) we should go shopping together at Seattle goodwill it's the best:)

So last night I took my teenage daughter (14) to the movies. We were in the process of getting ready and she starts freaking out! She says " MOM!!! What the heck?!" I being in shock was like "What , what happened?!" She says "You're wearing my freaking underwear!!" I immediately flipped the tag over and sure enough they were hers! She bought the same ones as me only two sizes smaller. I, being thoroughly amused started doing the booty shaking victory dance. She however was not near as amused as I was. That's ok though because I got a new NSV AND I inherited a new pair of undies!! For some reason she insisted that I keep them! So when I say "funniest" what I really mean is funniest for me. Ha!! Winning!!!

Here is me before and now. Almost to goal weight
 
  

I've been looking through this thread off and on all day. You all look AMAZING. It is really inspiring. I'm scheduled to be sleeved on 10/5 and right now this all still seems like a completely unattainable fantasy to me. I hope to have the kind of success I'm seeing on this thread. I'm excitedly nervous for some big changes to come Hopefully in a year from now I'll be posting my own successes!