GeTnBackuP

Trixie,
I wish I could help, but I'm on the Big Island. I know there are several bandsters from Oahu on the Forum, you might want to send them a PM and find out where they are. Good Luck!
Phyl

Hello...
I am 55 and just getting started so I will be 56 by the time I have surgery. The common sentiment I hear from everyone here is that they are sorry they waited so long and they'd do it again in a minute. I don't think we're too old at all. 1. We deserve a good life and 2. We will be extending our life.
I'm still learning my way around this site and look forward to meeting new friends. The journey is better with support.
PS: How can I get a ticker like so many others on here?

I am 55 and three weeks post surgery today!
Had absolutely NO problems from the surgery. No vomiting, nausea or reflux at all!!! Feeling younger every day that the scale shows a loss. My knees are already feeling better too!
I only wish I had did this years ago because I am worried about how much flab will be left on this big body. Oh well, my insurance would not pay for this procedure and we had a daughter to raise. LOL! Now it is my time!!

I was sleeved on 9/20 and I have been very cautious about not drinking too fast so that wouldn't be uncomfortable. Today I have been taking larger drinks without discomfort, so I was wondering if I am not feeling the full sensation. Right now, I'm still having gas pains and incision pain, and a lot of gas movement/sounds so maybe I can't get a good idea of what it feels like because of everything else going on? Thoughts? Similar experiences? Thanks!

I’m a little over 3 weeks away from surgery and trying to prepare. What kind of Vitamins did everyone like best? What did you eat in the liquid phase post op? What about purees? I’m a bit of an OCD planned and starting to panic a bit because I don’t have anything prepared.

One day at a time and small goals at a time...that's how you'll meet your goal.

I am just curious obviouslly its different for all, i have 80lbs left to lose and it feels like .

a. it will never happen seems like such a big amount.
b. it will take me 5 years so not point thinking about goals now lol just curious!

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

Wow, what a great job you've done!!! Very inspiring, thank you for posting.

My surgery is October 17, nervous and excited.

Questions please! How tall are you and your SW/CW/Goal. Our starting body shapes look pretty similar. How are you coping with the loose skin issue? You look great [emoji4]

Finally time for my 6 months before and after pictures.
I have lost over 90 lbs.
A week ago I completed a Nordic Walking half marathon.
I have prevented a second back surgery, and life is pretty good.
I have under 15 lbs until I have a normal BMI. I started at 42.

I had gastric bypass 5 years ago. I had tried getting insurance to cover my lower stomach hang 2 years after surgery to which they denied saying it was not that bad so it would be cosmetic. Even though it still hung over the pubic bone. I think I could have appealed it but I just let it go.
april of this year I got a rash... I was told it was a yeast rash. They have my cream and powder..
may came and I still had the rash and it became worse. They said it was infected and gave me antibiotics and a new steroid cream.
June and July arrived and I still had this rash. By this time this rash that started in one small spot under my stomach hang it spanned completely across of stomach, down my left leg, and started actually going up my stomach. Through the 2 months, I began taking various antibiotics and again a new creams. My doctor in July finally said she would refer me to the plastic surgeon to have my skin removed, but due to the area I live in I couldn't get in with her until September 7th.
In august I finally went to the ER because it was so painful. Not only did I still have this stupid rash but it has turned into cellulitis because it was so infected. I did finally meet with the surgeon who said If they denied me this time she would help me appeal it (she's awesome and that's what you want in a surgeon!) luckily I have a better insurance company now who approved me in 4 days.
i share this story because A) in super excited to finally have this hang removed!
and B... it can be so hard to prove why you need something that you need but don't ever give up and I wish I would have fought harder the first time and I wouldn't be going through all this pain. Also really make sure you are seeing someone that cares about you, not just your money. The first office I went to were clean, overly qualified, and I know I would have been fine... but didn't listen to anything I had to say about what I wanted or needed which is why I think I got denied. This is your life and you body so don't let any doctor push you around!

October 17th....so friggin excited [emoji12]

October 17th....so friggin excited [emoji12]

I'm not an expert. I was sleeved August, 2016 after a lifetime of diets and eating/exercise programs. My weight fluctuated my entire life. I was an obese child. My first diet began at age 9 after being teased unmercifully at school. I struggled to maintain a "close to" normal weight as I entered my teens. Thus began a lifetime of eating disorders that included bulimia and anorexia that lasted well into my 50's. I took pills, shots and filled my body with anything that promised a quick solution and weight loss. All this to say I've had a lifetime of experiences being overweight. I know many people on this site have very similar experiences.
I feel compelled to post about my surgery because I fully expected my life to be very different post surgery. I did lots of research and read many stories from many people who had not only sleeve surgery but also bypass surgery and lap band surgery.
I needed a drastic change. I didn't want to spend the rest of my life waking up and going to sleep with my weight dominating my thoughts. While I'm certainly still adjusting I am learning to listen to my body. I'm aware when I've had enough to eat and it is well before I'm "full". If I don't listen to my body sometimes one additional bite can cause me to feel nauseous and throw up a portion of my food.
I made a commitment when I had the surgery to stop eating when I'm not hungry any longer. Feeling full is no longer enjoyable for me and I'm happy my body doesn't tolerate it very well. Things are very different. Meal time is different. What I eat is different. How people react is different. But I expected these changes.
If people are concerned about how much or what I'm eating I compare it to an alcoholic worried that I'm not drinking enough [emoji4]To my friends I usually say "why don't you worry about what you're eating and I'll worry about what I'm eating".......with a smile.
This is lots of reading for a very simple thought and my very humble opinion. Your life changes after sleeve surgery (or bypass or whatever). It's a permanent change and you will eat differently, you'll feel differently about food. The hard changes are about how we use food, how we think about food and what food we think we want or need. That doesn't go away overnight. The sleeve is a tool. It will work beautifully if you use it correctly. If you don't make the necessary changes it will fail. You still can't eat anything and everything you want in huge quantities. You still can't use food to heal emotional hurts or make you feel rested if you're tired. You still need to make good choices and eat things that will fuel your body instead of your emotions.
Many people on this forum have said over and over again that "head hunger" is a problem and we need to work on it everyday. Surgery doesn't make it go away. I had never heard the term before but believe it's true. Food is never the solution but perhaps counciling and/or a good support group can help.
Any type of bariatric surgery is simply a tool. It is not a magic cure for being overweight. If you think your whole world will change as a result of the surgery I'm afraid you'll be disappointed. It still requires commitment, dedication, sacrifice and a willingness to work hard. I absolutely believe it's worth it!

17 months out and closing in on my personal goal! From 429lbs down to 197lb.

Ah, yes, I have seen some of those posts and honestly, they're too painful for me! It's the encouragement and inspiration I come for. Take what I need, offer what I can and leave the rest....

Ah, yes, I have seen some of those posts and honestly, they're too painful for me! It's the encouragement and inspiration I come for. Take what I need, offer what I can and leave the rest....

Stuck at work second Saturday in a row and I'm gettin me some good B-Pal time in!!
All I can say is WOW WOW WOW THANK YOU Your stats are blowing me away. You are all so amazing and I want to be a part of your losers club!! Your commitment and suggestions and gentle direction are exactly what I need to read to keep this thing going. My surgery is 10/17 and some days I'm smooth as silk and others I'm a freekin basket case and I can always find exactly what I need here to pick me up when the stress of it all gets me down.
What a lifesaver this place is. Thank you and happy day

Ah, yes, I have seen some of those posts and honestly, they're too painful for me! It's the encouragement and inspiration I come for. Take what I need, offer what I can and leave the rest....

Stuck at work second Saturday in a row and I'm gettin me some good B-Pal time in!!
All I can say is WOW WOW WOW THANK YOU Your stats are blowing me away. You are all so amazing and I want to be a part of your losers club!! Your commitment and suggestions and gentle direction are exactly what I need to read to keep this thing going. My surgery is 10/17 and some days I'm smooth as silk and others I'm a freekin basket case and I can always find exactly what I need here to pick me up when the stress of it all gets me down.
What a lifesaver this place is. Thank you and happy day

Someone came up with a clothing exchange for our local monthly WLS support group. It's been a great help to a lot of people!!! We bring in what we don't want and take home what fits win-win

I was thinking mainly for the pureed stage to supplement Protein Shakes but, yes, I did forget about our credo: Protein First. Thank you!!

Ah, yes, I have seen some of those posts and honestly, they're too painful for me! It's the encouragement and inspiration I come for. Take what I need, offer what I can and leave the rest....

Stuck at work second Saturday in a row and I'm gettin me some good B-Pal time in!!
All I can say is WOW WOW WOW THANK YOU Your stats are blowing me away. You are all so amazing and I want to be a part of your losers club!! Your commitment and suggestions and gentle direction are exactly what I need to read to keep this thing going. My surgery is 10/17 and some days I'm smooth as silk and others I'm a freekin basket case and I can always find exactly what I need here to pick me up when the stress of it all gets me down.
What a lifesaver this place is. Thank you and happy day

I was thinking mainly for the pureed stage to supplement Protein Shakes but, yes, I did forget about our credo: Protein First. Thank you!!