deedee

I'm glad you are feeling better. The best revenge will definitely be being your stunning self, both inside and out! I found this black dress in my closet that finally fits and think I'll wear it with a witch hat and hold a broom.

I really love Lily Pulitzer clothing and a few years back they stopped making size 16. I was upset, but went ahead and bought a dress in a 14 at the end of one season (when it was like 60% off) with the goal of being able to wear it after whatever diet I was on at the time. I never once have been able to get it zipped, when I got really heavy last year, I couldn't get it around my hips. Well, this dress sort of served as my carrot. Every weekend since I started my pre-op diet I have tried it on. This weekend I had another big closet clean out where I try everything on in my closets, dresser, and under bed bins. I got to this dress and told myself that maybe in another couple of weeks it would fit perfect, but guess what...IT ZIPPED! I was so ecstatic!!! I had told myself that it would eventually fit, but to actually be able to zip it up was WONDERFUL. I had my husband take some pictures, I'm going to try to post one here and in my profile. The funny thing is, I don't really like the dress that much now that it fits, but it is such an accomplishment that I will always keep it. Edited: cannot figure out how to put a picture here, so it's just in my album.

Thanks Tiff, that's the dress.

Oh, yes. I didn't mean to scare anyone. You can crush pills as long as they're not time released from what I remember. And I know a lot of people choose this surgery because they are basically the same as before surgery with just a smaller stomach, so that would include taking your pills. I've read of many people taking pills a lot earlier than I am right now. It was at my 2 month check up and I asked the nurse if I can take pills (forgot to ask the surgeon and didn't want to wait until he was done with the patient he was with) and she said that he likes us with staple lines to wait until 3-6 months out. I cannot remember why now. Since I do not HAVE to take any pills, I wasn't too concerned. I have been taking my Bariatric Advantage Vit. D since I returned home from the hospital because they told me it dissolves before hitting the stomach. Just ask your surgeon, or maybe someone more knowledgeable will jump in here.

I can't remember what my surgeon said about how long it takes for the staple line to completely heal. My post-op diet was as follows (this differs somewhat from the guidelines my surgeon provided before surgery because he was concerned after surgery due to my hernia repair): -full liquids from day 2-14 -mushy/soft food from day 14 until 7.5 weeks -solid food (but still does not want me to swallow pills) from 7.5 weeks

I am a teacher as well and I think I could have gone back with the time frame you mentioned. As others have mentioned, you may be very fatigued. I don't know about your situation/level, but I'd make sure that you're not scheduled for any extra duties besides teaching your classes (morning, bus, lunch, etc.) for the first couple of weeks after you return. Maybe even talk to administration about being excused from any extra meetings for a week or two so that you can use any time during the work day to keep up with your classes (planning, assessing, cleaning) because you will probably not feel like working a minute longer than your scheduled work day to keep up with these things.

For myself, experience and trust played huge roles, but since I was self-pay, I also was very concerned about the cost of possible complications. Part of the reason for pursuing this surgery was to be healthier to live a longer life and be able to start a family. We were worried that costs of complications could possibly make both of those things much more difficult. In the end I did find a surgeon 1.5-2 hours (depending on traffic) away from my home who I felt was extremely skilled who also was able to offer complication's insurance through Blis. Good luck with your journey! If I had a different sort of husband, I probably would have pursued Mexico as a possibility due to the experience.

Congratulations! November 3, is right around the corner.

Oh Tiff, my fingers I crossed for you as well. I truly hope you feel better soon!

Congratulations on your surgery date! I have learned, and continue to learn, so much from this place both pre and post op. You've gotten some good advice/words of wisdom from others on here in regards to your husband. Good luck!

A little background... So a big reason for me to have WLS was to be healthy enough to get pregnant. A year ago this month I had my first appointment with a fertility specialist. At that time my cycle was anywhere between 55-80 days (I think). I remember that they gave me medicine in November to bring on my period so they could do 3 day blood work, and it still took 11 days before my period actually came. They determined my fibroids were so large (as well as small) and numerous that I needed to have them removed before proceeding with treatment. I was also diagnosed with PCOS (although my PCP had diagnosed it 2 years previous as well). I had the open surgery to remove the fibroids in Jan. 09 and my next 2 cycles were fairly normal (around 36 days). Then I started really packing on the weight and had an 80 day cycle. I began researching weight loss surgery (there were other factors as well). Well, for the NSV... This month I had a 28 day cycle! After the last two years, it is just so amazing. I actually recorded the date I thought I ovulated and it was exactly 14 days into the cycle. I am so excited and hopeful that this will continue.

I'm so happy that you are doing better. I'm also not doing better with my calcium right now...I only do about half of what they want me to do and only about every two days. I'll be interested in seeing your review.

Happy belated birthday! It sounds like you had a great time (well not the vomiting part). Also, yay for your weight loss!

Oh, I am so sorry...whine away, that's what we're here for.

Well, I just wrote a thread about a couple of successes and then went to change my ticker. Guess what? I am no longer obese. My BMI is now 29.8!!! I cannot believe it...this sleeve is amazing. I am still a work in progress when it comes to this new lifestyle, but every week I get better. Food is no longer an addiction, but I am falling back into some addictive shopping behavior patterns that I worked hard throughout my 20's to overcome. I did much better this weekend with my shopping and didn't spend nearly as much money as I had a few weeks ago in part because the clothes I bought a few weeks ago are already starting to look frumpy. I'm convincing myself that I do not need cute clothes at every size and also think I'll buy more dresses that I can wear through multiple sizes. Unfortunately they do not have very good thrift stores around here and the consignment shops (that I have found) only take really high-end clothing and I'd spend much more at them than at discount or regular department store sales. Did I mention that I LOVE MY SLEEVE!

I've been busy with out of town guests over the last few days and actually didn't have a chance to jump on my scale and weigh. Well, this morning I stepped on the scale and it read 179, I finally broke out of the 180's! Also, yesterday we all went shopping and I was actually able to button up some size 12's (a little tight) and actually bought a size 10 dress. Now I know that these things all run very big because I still have 14's in my closet that I can barely get into, but it just makes me so happy to see these awesome results when just a few months ago I was wearing 22's-24's. Lastly, at jazzercise I had to use my 5 lb weights because I couldn't find 8 or 10 lb ones, and they were so light and easy for me to use. Six weeks ago when I started back, I couldn't even use weights and then I started with 3 lbs. and moved up to 5, which were so hard for me to use at the time. I LOVE my sleeve!

What great accomplishments! Congratulations so far!

Thanks Susan, I'm just so excited because although I've read how well people do with their sleeves and have been very pleased with my results, I always had a doubt in my mind that this might not work as well for me. Well, I now weigh less than I have in my adult life and feel like I can work this all the way to goal.

Yay on your recovery. Remember this clear liquid stage will be over before you know it. You're doing great so far!

Congratulations!!! I brought a slip on dress (mine was in summer) to wear home. For the hospital, I brought my slippers (you should walk as much as possible), chap stick, toothbrush, and lotion. This was my second surgery in life, the first one Jan. 09, and I learned that I did not like having a lot things at the hospital. If you haven't already done so, you might want to post on the pre-op forum for more ideas. Good luck!

I ordered this from bariatriceating.com about a month ago and over this past week it has really begun to grow on me. I mix it with about 6 oz of Water in a shaker cup before leaving for work. It takes about 15 minutes for the fizz to lessen and then I sip it on my 45 minute commute. I make a goal to finish before I go into work. I do a second one after I workout at night. My first month post-op I had difficulty finding a Protein powder I could/would tolerate. I don't know if this one is so much better than others I tried previously or I'm no longer looking to food so much as a source of joy so I'm willing to drink/eat things that I wouldn't have chosen before. Whatever the reason, this one seems to really work for me. Nutrition information: Calories-123 Carbs-1 g Sugar-0 g Protein-30 g

It was a great weekend and today was terrific. I spent yesterday having some girl fun--got my hair trimmed, a little shopping (got a couple girdle style undergarments), and got my colors redone for make up (a mini-makeover). Today I spent a great morning/afternoon with my husband-we tried going to the zoo, but with school/people out it was kind of crowded and we ended up walking around Woodley and Cleveland Park areas and eating at a good Mexican restaurant. Tonight we were supposed to go to one of my favorite places to get steak, but during lunch (that was not planned) I ate a little much, so we are going to put off dinner until later in the week. On the food front, I was just thinking that with each diet I tried I always knew that one of my big problems was that I treated most meals out like it was my birthday...I always got whatever I wanted and ate as much as I could (I mean I was paying for it). It's kind of funny that today is actually my birthday, but I'm not worried about eating my "favorites" and as much as I want (although I decided not to count my carbs today and had some tortilla chips, but then couldn't eat even a quarter of my chicken quesadilla). I'm not doing cake or dessert AND it doesn't matter! That's one way the sleeve has helped change my outlook on life. This morning I swung by my mom's house where she had to take my picture and called me skinny! I know I'm still considered obese, but this just kind of made my morning. She was not such a great supporter of the surgery (she wanted me to try Jenny Craig or the Serotonin plus diet "just one more time"), but she was there through all parts of pre-op and post-op and it's nice to see how she's very proud of the weight loss and my following the plan. Well, I've spent the last 9 months not looking forward to this day, but I have to say, it's been wonderful. I told my husband that next year's birthday I'll either be skinny or pregnant (with surgeon's approval). :cursing:

Congratulations on all of your great test results! I hope the dizziness stays away.

Great job! It's a wonderful feeling to meet our goals.

Thank you ladies, it was a terrific day!