Virginia B.

I am nine days post-op with a 22 lb. loss so far.  The sleeve procedure is making me re-evaluate my life and the way I look (and eat) food.  I am still learning how to register being full.  Twice now I've thought I knew when I was full but within 10 minutes, the hiccups started and the uncomfortable feeling at the junction of my throat and stomach let me know I ate 1-2 bites too many.  

A little about me:  I was never overweight until my late 20's (even after 2 children).  My weight then went up to around 180 lbs. which is a good bit for someone who's only 5'4" tall.  I finally had my 3rd child when I was 29 and my weight went unchecked after that.  I ballooned up to 356 lbs. in the 1990s. At that time, I had already tried a lot of fad diets and finally found the only thing that worked for me..an item the FDA has now banned-ephedra.  I managed to drop 140 lbs using this around 2001.  I finally thought I had the weight problem licked and was really having a great time without people saying "you would be so pretty if you managed to lose some of that weight."  

I met my husband in 2002 and we got married on my birthday-November 23rd. Now the weight started to return.  Fast forward to 2019 and I finally decided enough was enough and began researching surgeons and programs in my area.  Began the long process of qualifying for the sleeve procedure.  Just before my approval came through, my husband had to be placed on hospice.  By this time my weight was holding steady at 288 lbs.  Once he was set up with regular nurse visits, my surgery date came through-November 18th.  Going forward, I now get to celebrate my birthday all week long beginning on my new birthday, November 18 and rejoicing through to November 23rd!

I know I still have a long, difficult road ahead of me to learn my new normal and make the transformation that I know is possible.