AprSleever

I'm bearing my soul and body here. I couldn't be more proud of how my body has changed.
I've lost exactly 70 pounds since my surgery. Today marks exactly 24 weeks ( 6 months ) since my VSG surgery.
There's good, bad and ugly about VSG. A lot of days, I cried and wondered why in the hell I had this surgery, and what in the hell ive done to myself. Throughout this process, I haven't been able to REALLY see the changes. In my mind, I always see a 268 pound fat girl. Granted, I have seen the changes, seen the smaller clothes sizes, but still struggled with my self image in my head. But today that all changed....
I realized today as I was getting dressed that I had on the same exact underwear as the day I took my pre-surgery pictures. Then I realized that today marked 6 months since surgery. So, i decided to take pictures.
I haven't taken pictures in this process because of the absolute shame and disgust I feel towards myself. Shame and disgust are understatement words for how I feel about myself. Until today...
Today, I feel proud. For the first time, I can honestly say that I don't see "that fat girl" in the mirror anymore. It may not be pretty, it will never be perfect, but it's mine, and today I'm owning it, and FINALLY for once in my LIFE, I'm feeling proud.
It's NOT an easy decision to post these photos of me in my underwear. I feel absolutely vulnerable and exposed. Please be kind. It took all the courage I could muster to do this. The current pictures are not the best quality but the best I could take of myself at the moment.
All you new VSG-ers, stay the course and have faith. If you have body image issues as I do, there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and you are not alone in the dark!
Much love from me to you all! ️️️
 
DOS: 12/13/16
HW: 268
SW: 256.6
CW: 186.4

Just want to inspire someone! Didn't think I would be here and happy that I'm finally at 147lbs!!! Still working and toning but grateful:)
Congrats on this decision and you are on your way to the best you too!!!

Down a total of 190 pounds, sometimes I still can't believe it!

Surgery was 3-16-17, starting out at 239 now I'm 195. I still get tired pretty easy but for the most part feeling good  
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Hernia repair? Gallbladder removal? They both have similar incisions.

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I'm a nurse who works 12hr shifts, on my feet for most of my shift. I'm getting sleeved on apr 13 in mexico which is next week. I only managed to get a week off after and I'm back at work on the 23rd. To all my fellow nurses and other professionals who are walking for a long duration of your shift, Is this possible?
Also to note, I have not told ANYONE about the surgery. No one at work/hr, no friends, and not to my parents or to my boyfriend. The only one who knows is my brother (who I know will not blab) and I only told him just in case I die out there or something lol

I'm a nurse who works 12hr shifts, on my feet for most of my shift. I'm getting sleeved on apr 13 in mexico which is next week. I only managed to get a week off after and I'm back at work on the 23rd. To all my fellow nurses and other professionals who are walking for a long duration of your shift, Is this possible?
Also to note, I have not told ANYONE about the surgery. No one at work/hr, no friends, and not to my parents or to my boyfriend. The only one who knows is my brother (who I know will not blab) and I only told him just in case I die out there or something lol

I'm a nurse who works 12hr shifts, on my feet for most of my shift. I'm getting sleeved on apr 13 in mexico which is next week. I only managed to get a week off after and I'm back at work on the 23rd. To all my fellow nurses and other professionals who are walking for a long duration of your shift, Is this possible?
Also to note, I have not told ANYONE about the surgery. No one at work/hr, no friends, and not to my parents or to my boyfriend. The only one who knows is my brother (who I know will not blab) and I only told him just in case I die out there or something lol

I'm a nurse too. I took 3 weeks off, but it will be 3 1/2 the way my rotation worked out. I go back on Monday and will let you know how things go. I do 8 hr shifts, but literally stand the entire day. Surgical-wise, I think I'll be ok. My incisions have healed well. I'm a little worried about my energy levels as I'm still not eating many calories. But, my main concern is fluids. I can't drink when I'm in the procedure room.

I am also a nurse who is planning to have the sleeve next month. I don't have my surgery date yet, I will finish my pre-op appointments on the 20th of this month. I have told my nurse manager who is really cool and have planned to take two weeks off. I am looking forward to seeing how other nurses are doing once they go back to work.

[emoji1374]for us all

I'm an RN in a very busy L&D unit. I was sleeved a year ago. Just had my surgiversary on Tuesday! I took 4 weeks off and glad I did. The issue for me wasn't pain or mobility. It was being able to get 60oz of Water and 60g of Protein in. For the first month we can eat/drink so little at a time it requires frequent food/hydration breaks. I knew I wouldn't be able to do that on my busy unit. So I took the month. That's what worked for me. But I've seen other people with desk jobs take off only a week. Whatever works for you. Just be sure to get your protein and water in!!

I'm getting sleeved on the 12th in Mexico! My pre-op diet has been a Rollercoaster. I'll be so good for the whole day and I'd breakdown at the end of the night and would snack. I'm hoping surgery would curb my appetite.

I'm a nurse in a crazy ER. I was just sleeved on 3/31 and I'm scheduled to go back on 4/9 so we're kind of in the same situation. I'm hoping I'll feel energized enough since I'm finally getting some Protein in I'm sure there are lots of people on here with more insight but I can definitely follow up once I return this weekend!

Nurse here too and I haven't told anyone either. Rny for me so [emoji1374]only need like 2 weeks off

I'm a nurse who works 12hr shifts, on my feet for most of my shift. I'm getting sleeved on apr 13 in mexico which is next week. I only managed to get a week off after and I'm back at work on the 23rd. To all my fellow nurses and other professionals who are walking for a long duration of your shift, Is this possible?
Also to note, I have not told ANYONE about the surgery. No one at work/hr, no friends, and not to my parents or to my boyfriend. The only one who knows is my brother (who I know will not blab) and I only told him just in case I die out there or something lol

You are going to be in pain. Quite a lot of pain. If you're being medicated with morphine, you will drift in and out of consciousness a lot and have weirdo dreams nearly every time you close your eyes. Your belly will be HUGE with the gas they used to operate on you laparoscopically, and that will hurt. They will want you up and walking as soon as possible to get that gas moving around and out of your body. Your goal in life is suddenly to fart a lot. Putting warm blankets or a heating pad on your belly will help with the pain and the gas, but the walking is key. It will be hard to sit up because it uses your abs. Try rolling onto your side, then pushing yourself up sideways, using your back and shoulders to lift your body instead. When you walk you may feel a "pulling" sensation on your incisions, or like your belly is going to fall off/open. It's not, but it feels that way. Walk with a pillow held to your abdomen, or just straight up carry your belly around with your hand to help alleviate that feeling. You can also try a post-surgical binder or control top underwear/shorts. Your mouth will be very very dry and you may or may not be allowed anything to relieve it. Try asking for mouth wetting sponges from the nurse, just in case. You will not get to eat or drink until after you pass your swallow test, which is where they make sure your stomach has no leaks. You will have to stand and drink for that procedure. My technician gave me a straw, but I did not use it because in our clinic we are not allowed straws.
Your sense of taste will completely change when you get your first meal. Things will taste too sweet. Eat and drink veryyyyyy slooooooowly, but make sure you're getting your fluids in so they can get you off the IV fluids and you can go home. Experiment with Water temperatures if you're having a hard time drinking it.
Nurses will come in and take your vitals frequently, and also give you MULTIPLE injections of blood thinners. Those shots leave a hella bruise, but after the first one they don't hurt nearly as much for some mysterious reason.
Stay on a pain med schedule. Ask the nurses to write down when your last dose was and how often you can have them. It's a good idea for the first night to ask for meds (or use your pain pump) as soon as you're due a dose instead of waiting for the pain to make you ask. If you stay ahead of it, you hurt less. If you're sent home with codeine, use it as necessary but try to taper off as soon as you can because codeine makes you constipated and the last thing you want is to be constipated, TRUST ME.
Within 5 days, if you don't have complications, the pain will massively subside. I am 13 days out and only rarely hurt.

SW: 244
CW: 150
GW: 140
I still sometimes think someone's playing a joke on me - after 10 years of feeling awful, my body finally feels really healthy and I'm loving what I see in the mirror.
Best thing I've ever done!

Hi I'm from Winnipeg and going to Mexico March 16th I am going through alighterme and Dr Ortiz is my surgeon I am nervous but excited.