Neversaynever

Hi fellow May sleevers! I am so glad to see so many of you doing well. For those who mentioned struggling, have things gotten any better?

Weight loss has been on the slower side for me, but I’m personally okay with that. I had surgery on May14th, and to date have lost 37lbs, 20 of which was the first 2 weeks lol! But I am happy with my results. For me it’s more about how I feel. And how do I feel? AMAZING!

I have NO pain. No knee pain, no back pain, it’s all gone.

I’ve joined a gym. An intense gym that kills me. Kills me so bad, but I keep going back!

I can do lunges and squats and still walk afterwards. I may have trouble sitting the next two days but I make it work.

I can shop in REGULAR people sections :) still an 18 but not an 18w! There is a difference!

I can ride a bike without feeling like my oversized bum swallows the seat LOL.

I can run without dying. Or knocking myself out with the rebound of my chest! I don’t even have to wear two bras anymore!!!!!

I’m consuming about 60-75g Protein depending on exercise, and 100-110oz Water. My face is slimmer and my wedding band fits again.

All in all, life is good 😊

And you can do it and do it well! Remember I was on liver-shrinking for 5 weeks, all of August and the first 4 days of September. Trust you are doing well otherwise. Me -pfft-not so you would notice.
Yesterday I underwent an EGJ at OSU with Dr Noria, Dr Needleman's partner presiding. And I was correct I do have a stricture, a moderate one. What i, and she, I suspect was 5 new ulcers around the stoma area and on the back wall of the jejunem. So now we have doubled up the omeprazole, which I have absolutely NO faith in and added Carafate every 6 hours. See I was on omeprazole when Hector my tiny gastric ulcer was discovered. We know what caused Hector, excessive NSAID usage. Remember the movie Gremlins? Well Hector is Gizmo, these new step-brother ulcers are Stripe and his family, not bleeding or perforated YET! But not nice to know you have. And in 2 weeks or less I have another EGJ to see if inflammation and swelling down enough to attempt stretching the stoma again. It is a good thing I live in Central Ohio, because if I lived close enough I would do harm to the Campbell's and Progresso Soup factories. Beginning to think I will die with Cream of Mushroom breath. But continue with Vitamins, minerals Zofran and don't rock the boat! Meanwhile all my Surgery twins are on soft and regular foods. Wah wah💦But I am a stubborn old chick🐣 I will see it through to the bitter end!

OH NeversayNever and group, HE355, lost 15 pounds the month of August, and 24 since my surgery on September 5th. When I ended up on October 1st in our local community hospital ( aka the Band-aid station) they claimed my blood work showed perfection except for mild dehydration. Fluided me up by IV until I could give them an urine sample before going home. Why do I go there at all? Its closer than my Bariatric Facility 48 miles away. And rumor has it local yokels have found a general surgeon who wants to institute a Bariatric program, so like a purple spotted giraffe, everyone wanted to talk to or at least look at the strange beast there. They knew a little about lapband, a few about VSG but nobody seemed to have ever seen a live RnY bypasser, ended up lecturing a tutorial. Really didn't feel like doing a free one, but one serves where they can.
Another bari-pal says the Friday EGD may leave me sore, NBT I'm there already. Not sorry for the surgery, the experience not even the surgeon, only sad my body is healing in this way. Just a minor blip in my recovery, I'll be putt-putting🚕 down the road again, you know I started out So Good!

You can find our own on this calculator too
https://www.obesitycoverage.com/weight-loss-surgeries/gastric-sleeve/gastric-sleeves-how-much-weight-will-i-lose

Before and after, long hair, short hair!

Just watched a video on Youtube by someone who had thinning hair and she uses a product called Toppik.
You can watch the whole thing but its interesting and relevant from about 4 minutes in.
Heres the video, very inspiring -
Googled it and I bought a 27.5g for £3.98 delivered. I am sure people from other countries will be able to find one on their own Ebay sites or maybe Amazon?

I think about another 70ish lbs but to be honest, I will see what my body thinks and go with the flow. I want to lose at least another 50lbs so fingers crossed!

So I started at 304lbs ( 21' 10 ) for the uk'ers and blimey did I feel every pound!
I have lost steadily and I am now 245lbs (17' 7!) so very chuffed, and cannot believe how much my life has changed.
Here are a couple of before and afters, one at my heaviest and the other, two days ago for clarity.
I can't really see a massive difference myself but others have told me they can definitely see it, can you?

@PrettySmartChic
some OP have sad/bad results during/from surgeries it is "good/ok to hear those problems.
its true that everything is not all roses. BUT there are many OP that write how happy they are
unfortunately, the bad stories frequently stick/stand out to OP.
OP don't always write about the good - many more OP write their bad situations to vent/tell their
stories/look for advice - and just want a couple of ears to listen to them.
In my case, as a 6+ year GOAL/vet - life with my weight goes terrific. NEVER had any issues.
no revision Fluctuate/maintain - but all is good. 105 lbs down I had my sleeve one month before
i was 58 years OLD. Now i'm 64 years YOUNG. As most OP - I wish i had my surgery years earlier.
Don't dwell on the bad stories - sooooo many people are happy and thriving
good luck to you - follow the rules - you'll be successful/happy too
kathy

Thank you everyone for all of your suggestions and encouragement!!!!! I took a bit of advice from each one of you and things are finally on the move, since Tuesday of this week I have lost 4 lbs. I too believe I am carb sensitive, I have limited carbs to about 40-45G a day. I am also eating more calories. I am 5'8" so I don't think I was eating enough consuming only 750-780 calories a day, now I am consuming about 1000. I am still working out every day, but to see the scale move (down) for the time in a month, has lifted my spirits again!

Shopping in regular sizes! My Mom wanted to go shopping at Dressbarn. I wasn’t really looking for anything as I have a mountain of clothes to go through first. While she was in the plus size side of the store, I figured I’d wander over to the “regular” side of the store. Great sales this week so what the heck! I found a really pretty crocheted top with 3/4 sleeves on clearance in an XL. I figured I’d fit in it soon anyway so I bought it. When I got home I decided to try it on and see how far I had to go before It fit. Holy krap, it fit!! I started pulling the XL’s out of my closet and most of them fit. That was two days ago and I’m still smiling.

And if anyone wants an update, I did finally get my RNY. On September 5th 2018 my very own Precious Pouch was constructed by my surgeon Bradley J Needleman. It was 3 weeks ago, and PP and I have an uneasy truce. She likes liquids, she usually likes Protein Shakes, but then there are the pureed foods. She is selective about these, sometimes it is Happyville, sometimes she plays Elevator " Everything Going Up" next stop the Outside World!
And one day, "Hmmn So Good," next day "Nothing Going Through" But everyday I grow stronger and I think she will too.
Life is a life-long Book, if you thi,k you understand it all, someone goes and turns the page#

And if you want or need,a Bariatric GodAunt or even GodGrammy may I offer me? I am in Middle America, Ohio is about as middle road as you can get. I saw,on another forum thread , someone,thinking if I can. go back to my 20s and be thin everything will be perfect. Ain't no guarantee! I have lived until 72 years of age and I can tell you,there is no one age perfect, just like there was no good old days. They were different but,also not prefect. As an example I had a friend who,had partial. paralysis from polio. We have preventive liquids and shots now , back then our parents lived in fear every summer we would get that sickness. There is no free lunch in life, yes I am philosophical goes with my age. You do the best you can what you have. Now in July I will have my surgery, a Rny bypass and I believe it will enhance my,life, but make it,perfect? No I have arthritis, weight loss. will calm it down but it always will have influence. I have 2 knee replacements, less weight will help with,pain there but I never will be the baseball catcher, yes the boys had to let me play, ' cause there weren't that many guys in our neighborhood to field a team, besides I had a good arm and was willing to spend time crouched down when I wasn't batting, and I was a switch hitter, that is of value on a team, I also played basketball, tall enough,to play center, but preferred power forward, nobody challenged me to a game of horse, after I beat all my boy cousins as well as the guys in the hood. It was let Frustr8 play, shoot pick her for our side, she's hard to,play against. Now my knees wore out and needed replaced. But was it worth it, think so. I am about your size and height, used to be 6 feet but women skrink,with menopause. Its less healthy at my age than yours, but did my doctors tell me I had to do it? They might have mentioned dying pretty soon in passing, but this was my decision and although sleeve is an option for some, many of my friends are sleevers, it wasn't for me . I have GERD, bad enough I am on a top of the line PPI from my gastroenterologist, I have sleep apnea wear my jet pilot mask every night, as I said severe arthritis, I need the quicker weight loss bypass gives, the next step after my joint impairment is a wheelchair,no I prefer going through life at a fast lurch, and although at this point I have dodged 3 of the biggies, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer, when you weigh as much as a. redwood tree there are no guarantees there either. Many surgeon's won't do their magic,on people over 60 years old. I am here to prove them wrong, I am as healthy as many 45 year olds, strong-willed, committed to success and don't take no for an answer. I have outlived many family members, most more slender, and I have , given the chance many more miles in me. Don't count out Frustr8, count on me instead. Here are my stats if anyone reading this doesn't know them.
HW355 October 2017
CW321 flubbery pounds
SW to be determined
EDS July ?? 2018
Bariatric Facility Ohio State University-Wexner Medical Center
Columbus Ohio 43210
Surgeon-Bradley Needleman MD-😷cheif of Baiatric Surgery-when Frustr8 plays, she plays for keeps!
Nuff Said? At least, join me on this journey, the rewards will be lifelong and the Best is Yet To Be!😝

I feel great!

So many small victories, too many to mention but I will never regret having this surgery, it has saved my life.

I have gone from a size uk 26 to an 18! really chuffed with that and even better, a friend of mine has just given me a load of brand new size 18 clothes which look fab on me, for my holiday to Greece next week

I feel great!

So many small victories, too many to mention but I will never regret having this surgery, it has saved my life.

I have gone from a size uk 26 to an 18! really chuffed with that and even better, a friend of mine has just given me a load of brand new size 18 clothes which look fab on me, for my holiday to Greece next week

I bit the bullet and had mine cut two days ago.
I got my extensions out 4 weeks ago for a neck/face lift.
A week later my hair started coming out in hand fulls (right about the 4 month sleeve post op mark). I’ll try to post a before and after cut. The before will be without extensions or Neck lift! :). The after will be The day of cut and 4 weeks after neck lift. :)

I just got my baby fine, thinning hair cut yesterday. I was waiting to have my extensions put bacon but there just wasn't enough left so...here it is...

How did you get on @Frustr8?

I feel great!

So many small victories, too many to mention but I will never regret having this surgery, it has saved my life.

I have gone from a size uk 26 to an 18! really chuffed with that and even better, a friend of mine has just given me a load of brand new size 18 clothes which look fab on me, for my holiday to Greece next week

I feel great!

So many small victories, too many to mention but I will never regret having this surgery, it has saved my life.

I have gone from a size uk 26 to an 18! really chuffed with that and even better, a friend of mine has just given me a load of brand new size 18 clothes which look fab on me, for my holiday to Greece next week

Before and after, long hair, short hair!

Before and after, long hair, short hair!

Wowsers it is really you? You gave me hope on a dismal day, sitting here wondering,if I even am losing weight, 2 week follow-up tomorrow at doctor office, perhaps Dr Needleman will be gratified , I still feel sore, knobby , blobby, bruised and with my 6 air vents half-healed. Just had a lovely repast of strained blenderized Soup, WMMDL(why me my dear Lord?) . Alert just came over cellphones, dude up to no good escaped from adjoining county, escaping in my direction, said don't attempt to apprehend, just call 911. I'll flash my belly at him, the sight of its bruised mottled self will stop,him in his tracks long enough to have police/sheriff catch up,and take him back,into custody.🚑🚠🚓

I feel great!

So many small victories, too many to mention but I will never regret having this surgery, it has saved my life.

I have gone from a size uk 26 to an 18! really chuffed with that and even better, a friend of mine has just given me a load of brand new size 18 clothes which look fab on me, for my holiday to Greece next week

Chapter 2 continued.
At 6 days post I was advanced to Stage 3, thats okay, it gives me much more food options. But still pretty rare to happen so early.
Now What I Consider Bad
Every since Dr Needleman yanked, jerked, removed, whatever you want to call it, my steri strips , and the air hit I had had pain, the kind I should have had from the beginning, and,it hasn't stopped, Norco does deaden it but at what cost? Dopeiness and Constipation risk? My groin attacking knee did twitch a little when he relentlessly was tugging and folding up,tapes.
I have a list of foods I can in theory eat, either I do not like them or I don't have the money to afford them Don't tell me to go to good pantries, the ones around here pass out Kraft,or Generic Boxed Mac and cheese not bariatric friendly foods.
Meanwhile, Big Red, the largest and I suspect deepest of my right side ones, Bypassers have ours on the right where the Big Guns go,in, sleevers on the left where they pull your stomach remnant out.
He and Precious Pouch,are taking turns being crabby. I have not,amused either physically but they are doing the organic equivalent,of muttering.
Yesterday I had had it. I was uncomfortable, bills piling up around me, Jerk Mc Gurk somewhere in the wings, I was about ready to,make a bowl of mashed potatoes and start eating,until Precious Pouch either made me barf or she exploded. See,i was not feeling or thinking straight, I just was hurting so bad. Then Joann, the Aftercare Nurse-practioner/ Coordinated called. I had about been ready to call HER, nobody else cared, Tomkitten had closed his ears to me, everyone else who knew would say You asked for this, yeah I asked for my health to be repaired , I asked for a chance to live longer, I asked for something to stop me from drifting toward 400 lb 500 lb and a guest episode on My 600 lb Life and Dr Now, and I don't like him, I like my Dr Needleman! I did not ask for incisions I could hardly stand clothing on!
She asked How are your BMs doing ? BM I haven't had one of them since late the 3rd or early the 4th, but I haven't been worried, no actual colon pain and I'm living on Protein Shakes, Protein Waters, no cal waters and my slew of multi vites and minerals. Maybe too soon for solid 💩? No silly you should at,least be having liquid poo if you are taking Miralax each and every day, and I had been. So I am full of something besides sunshine🌝and flowers🌺🍀🌸, 2 Miralax today, a full dose of MoM tonight and I want,notified Thursday if nothing has happened, well I don't want to make a quick trip to Columbus with this condition nor do I want to go to the local BandAid Station staffed by Sargent Peppers Lonely ❤Band. so late last night I took my dose,of Cherry MOM, oh Precious didn't like it at all, I called her a female dog, said I own you, you just think you Own me, you Will keep that down!
Finally this AM I had results, not black,merely dark brown ,but Water won't flush it down. Just sticks there. Relief , not so I can notice, just feels like the rest is heavy in my colon, but no urge to pass.
Now I have to go out and pawn my portable electronics, tablets and DVD to have enough ready cash to pay the almost $50 water bill and buy a few groceries so Tomkitten can eat, I can fall back on 3 or 4 protein shakes daily to get by but he doesn't deserve to be punished. Next week maybe his portable TV so I can at least pay my life insurance, that way SS does not have to pay for a $255 unceremonial cremation. Funny this is not the life I Booked for,! but the sun still shines and thanks to Dr Needleman I'm still alive.😥