Megan1973

August 16th, Dallas TX
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August 16th, Dallas TX
Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I had my sleeve 10/21/14. Never regretted my decision. I am constantly worries about regain. I know I could do better than I am. I have to be more accountable.
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Hello everybody,
Never posted on this forum before, but like I'm sure many others are, I'm a long-time lurker
Decided to have bariatric surgery in December 2015, after having switched PCPs and going through a full physical with my new doctor.
I'm 5'4", 32, have 3 young kids, and at the beginning of this journey (and actually also my preop weight) was 285lbs.
Essentially my new doc told me I'm 100% healthy. Great blood work, excellent blood pressure, no problems at all. I expressed to him that I was concerned about being so overweight, and having been this overweight for more than 5 yrs without any success keeping it off. He suggested I look into bariatric surgery. I told him I was not comfortable with the idea of rerouting my digestive system, and then he brought up vsg. He showed me some research and numbers that proved, in long term studies, vsg patients are as successful in keeping the weight off as gastric bypass patients. I was intrigued and began my own research into vsg.
In December I decided to have vsg at the Cleveland Clinic with Dr. Matthew Kroh. After going through the countless pre approval appointments and meetings in order to get insurance to cover the surgery, I was finally approved and given my June 22nd surgery date.
Honestly my main concern before having the surgery was not the procedure in itself, but what would my life be like afterwards?! How would my recovery go?? Would I be able to take care of my kids, since my husband could only take a week off of work to help out. I was stressed about it.
The 2 week pre op diet was not too bad, I cheated a little bit and had a bite here and there of things, and then went completely liquid 5 days prior with no cheating. I lost 10 lbs before my surgery day. (Prior to that I went on a total eating bender during the month of May, skyrocketed up to 295lbs, since I had convinced myself that I would never be able to eat again - ha!)
Day of surgery (Wed) I was nervous. Mostly about anaesthesia and the normal surgery worries. Everything went smoothly and my surgery took a little over 2 hrs.
When I woke up in pacu, I was suuuuuper nauseated and throwing up. But I was also super foggy and medicated and it was all just a blur of throwing up and being given ivs and anti nausea medicine, going in and out of sleep etc.
By the time they got me to my room in the bariatric recovery unit that afternoon, I was less foggy but still nauseated and with a pounding headache. My nurses said they thought it was from the anaesthesia. I pretty much slept all day, got up to walk the hall in the evening when my husband came to visit, and then crawled right back into my hospital bed and slept again. When moving around it felt like I had really sore abs, not much else. I had a lapro procedure and the incisions were covered with surgical glue. No drain. The large incision where they remove the stomach was the most tender. Really nothing bad at all though.
The next day (Thurs) I was allowed to drink Water and it went down fine. My horrible headache was still there but not much nausea. I also ate a sugar free popsicle, which was a little relief to my headache for some reason.
Because my head was hurting so bad I was just taking the wimpy way out and asking for pain meds just so I would be knocked out and wouldn't have to deal with it lol. They were giving me percocet every 4 hrs since the liquid oxy that is initially prescribed was making me nauseated and gagging. It cut the headache but never really made it go away entirely. They also gave me immitrex for headache but that didn't work either. I walked the halls a couple times but mostly just laid in bed and tried to sleep. The nurses would check on me with how much Water I had drank, and I was able to drink a couple oz. every hour, so I met the requirements. It really wasn't hard like I expected - I thought I would have to take these TINY TINY sips, but I was able to take a medium sized satisfying sip without a problem.
On Friday, the 3rd day, I was able to go home. They told me I could start a full liquid diet (phase 2.) I wore an abdominal binder, which is GREAT, I highly recommend you ask for one before you leave hospital. My husband drove me home, we stopped at cvs for prescriptions, and then I crawled in bed again. It was a rough night, still dealing with ridiculously awful headache and nausea, taking percocet so feeling foggy etc. At about 5am I asked my husband to grab me a premier Protein shake from the fridge and I sat up in bed and drank about half of it: HEADACHE GONE!!! #hallelujah!
Once my head stopped pounding, I was able to stop taking the pain meds so frequently, and by Sunday I was completely off of them.
Honestly my experience has been a dream. I went in on Monday for a post op checkup and I drove myself, I seriously forgot I had had surgery only 5 days prior. I was told by my docs that if I tolerate phase 2 perfectly fine, I can slowly start integrating real foods in like flaky fish, soft cheese etc etc. I tried mashed potatoes: nope, felt like a rock going down. Little pieces of cheese, thumbs up! Salmon, went down great. Just have to chew chew chew and remember to take small bites of everything.
It is AMAZING how little I need to eat to feel full. I mean like 3 bites? Maybe? It's unbelievable really! I was always somebody who could put down a large pizza, no problem. I couldn't finish a slice of cheese yesterday
Anyways this has been an amazing experience so far, and like so many other ppl, I only wish I'd done it sooner. I went for a long walk this morning and can't wait for longer walks, and maybe even long runs!
So far I'm down 12 lbs from my original surgery weight of 286, and just 12 lbs makes a difference in how my clothes fit. Now I'm just impatient for the rest to come off!!
Will update on progress. Good luck to you all!
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HW: 289.7
SW: 256
CW: 223
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Well guys, I am almost two months post op (July 9th). I truly believe surgery was a saving grace for me. Before surgery I was 20 years old and 16 pounds shy of 300 pounds. I wasn't happy, I wasn't living life, and I certainly was not going to live a full life at the rate I was going. I started dieting February 6th & by my surgery date of May 9th I was 236 pounds! I had lost 48 pounds all by myself in 3 months. Never had I been successful before in losing. Surgery went incredible & I feel even better. I was stalled for about 3 weeks after surgery and then the weight started coming off. As of yesterday I am officially 205 pounds! A whopping 31 lost since surgery & 79 all together! It's such an incredible feeling. I really want to be 199 or under by my 21st birthday which is July 10th so let's cross our fingers that it happens. But I am so close to my overall goal of 150 that I have no patience left! I'm so excited and happy for the first time in a long time. I am so happy I got this surgery when I did & I will forever be grateful for this opportunity. Anyone thinking about surgery, my opinion is to just go for it. ❤️

I decided to have surgery to help me with my weight loss. I went to my first appointment on June 18,2015 and attended my first nutritional class that same day. I weighed in at 464 lbs. I could not believe I weighed that much. I began to exercise and eat healthier. I had to do 12 months of nutritional classes for my insurance. My doctor required a 2 week liquid diet pre op. I had my sleeve on 6/14/16. The day of surgery I weighed in at 371 lbs. That is 93lbs. I lost on my own. The day I was released from the hospital I weighed 379 from all the fluids they were pumping in me. Today makes 2 week post op and I weighed in at 345 lbs. I cannot believe I am down 119 lbs since this journey began. I have an awesome family who encourages and supports me 100%. I WILL SUCCEED!!!!!!!
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Down 30lbs. Feeling great!

I am thankful for health insurance coverage that allowed me to make a life change 3 years ago! Yesterday was my 39th birthday and I worked out twice! I love my sleeve and all the opportunities that it gives me!
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On June 28th,2016 I am getting sleeved. On June 16th, 2015 I had a massive heart attack. I gave myself a year to lose the weight, I only lost 27 pds. I decided to do the surgery to get healthier and try to live a longer life. Night before surgery I'm sitting wide awake a little nervous but I am very surprised I'm not a basket case. Lol. My highest weight was 311, my surgery weight is 293. My goal weight is 170. I'm so ready to say goodbye to this body, looking foward to seeing the new me.
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Had my post 3 months follow up with my surgeon.
I'm happy and he is happy!
I lost 50% of my excess weight My labs are now Perfect! (only exception is my Thyroid, an ongoing issue for me) Prior my op, I was heading towards Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. Now my liver is happy too Prior my op, I was getting to a pre-diabetic stage. Now my Pancreas and blood sugar levels are also happy My cholesterol levels are getting healthy My hair has thickened and growing like crazy Although I no longer have reflux, due to Nexium PPI, I was told I need to stay on it for 12 months. I follow all the guidelines and recommendations from my surgeon, my dietician (NUT) and my bariatric psychologist. Sometimes it is hard for me to get all the Protein and calories, only when I get stressed. I was told to force myself to eat, and keep having regular meals I still battle/deal with my Graves Disease. Once my weight stabilises, hopefully my life will be easier in this respect My favourite exercises are dancing and walking My face is now defined, and I can see my waist coming back I laugh more The New Chapter in My Life has started, and for that I am very, very grateful I had to wait 9 months for this surgery, due to my thyroid auto-immune disease. I was supposed to be sleeved last July 2015.
Finally sleeved 8th March 2016.
No regrets, just massive gratefulness

Gosh I love these!!! So today is my 10 month post op surgiversary. I'm down 142 lbs so far and feel so much better. But these pics make rainbows and glitter shoot from my heart!!! Loving how I'm starting to look. My skin is an issue but it will not take my happiness from me. I've come a hell of a long way and I'm damn proud of myself. Please post all your pics, I love seeing all you beautiful people!!!!!

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I am a very covered type girl. Never shorts, long sleeves. 12hrs after I got to the hospital I didnt care if my butt was flashing every horrified onlooker. I hurt, felt dirty from oozing out of my big incision leeking on my hospital robe, being poked, examined, couldnt sit for long and on and on. You wanna see my vajayjay? Hanging boobs? Have at it. ????
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Hi everyone! I'm Victoria and I'm 40, living in Mississippi, and three days until surgery! Excited and nervous! I discovered BariatricPal about a week ago and I'm thankful to have this resource.
My struggle with obesity didn't really begin until I went to college. Growing up, i was fairly average sized, and when puberty hit I did struggle with more weight, but not to an obesity level. When I went to college, had to fend for myself (i.e. shop and cook and make good choices in the dining room LOL) and then got homesick, the weight started piling on.
After a marriage and then divorce, I was trying to juggle being a single parent, going back to school, and working. Long story really condensed, I made it to about 300 pounds and my weight kind of stayed around that mark.
For about 17 years, I've been around that weight. I've done so many diets and failed at them that I literally felt defeated and kind of "what's the point" these past two years.
Of course you can't be 150 pounds overweight for that long and not feel the effects. First came the high blood pressure. Went on one medicine. Worked for a while, then it got worse. Now I'm on three different medications to control it. In the meantime, I went from pre-diabetic to diabetic. I had always had issues with blood sugar, even at a healthy weight. I would have hypoglycemic episdoes (diabetes runs in my mother's family). I went on different medicines to control it...I guarantee I have been on pretty much every non-insulin diabetic drug out there, since I couldn't tolerate metformin. About a year or two ago, my A1C went to 9.8 and my internist basically said he didn't know how to treat it and I needed to see an endocrinologist.
The endo wasted no time in telling me I needed to be on insulin. I cried. Definitely a breaking point for me.
When it came to the surgery, my first thoughts about it were "Wow, that is so dang drastic." Seriously drastic. How could you choose to do that?
Then as time went on and my diets failed and my health declined, "Hmmm. I wonder if I could do it."
Then after the insulin, I realized that if I didn't do the surgery, I might not be around in ten years. Huge wake up call. All of a sudden, the drastic measure was looking like the best chance I had.
I began the process back in October and now my surgery is in 3 days. I am blessed with a supportive family and I have several coworkers who have had it. Two had it this past spring.
I'm nervous--lots of whatifs in my head--but mostly just so ready for a healthier me!

Boots
Wearing clothes for my age, not my moms age.
Being in pictures. My husband looks like a single dad in all my scrapbooks because I just hate to be photographed.
Not being the fattest one in the room, always.
Shopping with friends I always head to the shoes and purses.... Being able to just shop like a thin person.
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Boots
Wearing clothes for my age, not my moms age.
Being in pictures. My husband looks like a single dad in all my scrapbooks because I just hate to be photographed.
Not being the fattest one in the room, always.
Shopping with friends I always head to the shoes and purses.... Being able to just shop like a thin person.
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Boots
Wearing clothes for my age, not my moms age.
Being in pictures. My husband looks like a single dad in all my scrapbooks because I just hate to be photographed.
Not being the fattest one in the room, always.
Shopping with friends I always head to the shoes and purses.... Being able to just shop like a thin person.
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8 months out and 80 pounds gone. Life is good!!
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Not always being in pain (knee, back, ankle, hip)
Coming off meds
Feeling good physically and mentally
Not worrying if I'll fit in a booth or a seat at a venue (concert/sports)
Not appearing as though I may die after any activity
Wearing clothes that look good
Better sex life
Etc...
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Definitely heels! And Jeans! Not being hot and sweaty all the time! Feeling sexy!!
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I plan to make my own clothes again - in just the style I prefer. blouses, suits, coats, trousers, skirts, dresses, pretty nightgowns.
I want prettier things, and better quality than I can get off the rack.

I think about this all the time now...
When I'm thin again...i look forward to....
- Wearing high heels again
- Wearing boots!
- Wearing Jeans!! (I havent worn those in 4 years)
- Not always being out of breath
- Being in a photograph (won't get my pic taken)
- Not noticing yet again that i'm the largest person in the room
- Not making sure that my arms are always covered.
- Not having to catch my breath just walking up the stairs to go to bed
How 'bout you guys??

Thank you.
And you are very welcome.
Please don't let things like this stress you during your walk towards surgery date. It's a great process and one that can be filled with self-discovery.
Things can really be quite simple once we get out of our own way.
You are gonna do great. Remember to keep taking deep breaths and stay relaxed. Nothing to worry about except cleaning out your closet and getting ready to have a justification to shop, shop, shop for new clothes. Fun stuff.
You are going to see so much new energy and enthusiasm. Life is good, but sleeved life is better.

I was very up front and honest with my children 17 & 23 at the time. I also told them not to share my private medical information with anyone , if anyone would ask to send them to me. I also explain to them my medical was a very private matter and I only plan on sharing this information with love ones. Also explain to them people would ask but they where just being nosy and I would handle it. It's not not lying everyone is in title to their medical being a private and nobody has the right to ask such personnel question. It's RUDE !!! Lol now I do the tell some people now that I'm 11 months out and some of these people have even ask me how much weight I've lost. If I could go back wouldn't have told anyone but my husband and children. Good luck

Love the picture!
Thank you for that. I try to be very up front with them also and I know that's why this was bothering me so much. I was actually devising ways of getting around the truth to hide it from them. It was making me sick. You are all right, I just have to do it, the good, the bad and the ugly.
Thanks so much.
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