Malaika

I grew up in Greenwood, Indiana - just south of Indianapolis. My ex-sister-in-law used to live in Evansville - visited there often.

We DEFINITELY had a great time and as soon as I have a spare minute to upload the pictures, I will post them here. Hopefully next time those that weren't able to make it, will and it won't take us 6 months to plan. I had to rush out because I had another appointment, but I sure wasn't done yakking!!!

When I had that in both feet, my ortho gave me a sheet with all types of stretching exercises on them and I had to do them 3x a day for 4 weeks - he also gave me cortisone shots in both feet (2 different times - and yes, hurt like hell) between the shots and the stretching, it went away and has never returned. If I can find the sheet, I'll scan it and PM it to you. I'd either see an Ortho or ask your doctor to send you to PT.

You're not our step sister - you're our half-sister (or our honorary sleeve sister). You will be in my thoughts and prayers and I'm glad your head is in the right place. Another thing I did when I started on mushies, aside from eating with a baby spoon, was to buy some really small bowls (.99 @ Target) - that way the small amount I could eat didn't seem lost in the bowl/plates I had -- I also quit using my large dinner plates and switched to the salad plates when I was able to eat more than 2 oz. We'll look forward to hearing about your journey when you're up to posting.

If they didn't give you a pre-op diet, then don't worry about it - I know some of us had to do one with Dr. Aceves and others did not - be sure though not to eat or drink anything (other than water) the day of your pre-op tests. I quit eating by 10 pm the night before the pre-op tests and only drank water until after they were completed - you need to drink water though as they do a urinalysis, so you need to be able to put something in that cup!

Joy - Welcome to our VST Family and congratulations on getting insurance to cover your surgery - I too was a self-pay so can't help you in that regard. You will lose way more than 10 lbs. in a year and you will keep it off if you use the tool (Sleeve) properly and stay positive and focused - you can do this and you will get rid of all of your comorbidities and add years to your life. Keep us posted on your progress!

Hi Marilyn - You are so sweet to say such nice things - Thank you very much. It is nice to know I am able to help others. I lived in Greenwood, just south of Indianapolis - it was pretty, but not as nice as Northern Indiana - however, we also didn't have the terrible winters (generally) they they get in Northern Indiana. Good luck on your upcoming surgery - you'll do GREAT! Enjoy the visit with your family, too!

bbell - all I can say is WOW what awesome scale and NS victories - keep it up - you are kickin' some big time a$$!

Where in Indiana does your brother live? I lived there from the time I was 11 until I was 38. As for the peacock poops, they only last a day or 2, three at the most - you might be finished with them before you even leave the hospital - everyone is different. Mine started the day I got home (Tuesday) and ended on Thursday. Wasn't too bad and I had ample notice so didn't have any "colored" pantaloons. You'll be fine!

Bob - haven't you learned yet to be careful what you ask for around us women, or you just might actually get it -- like the pic Tiffy posted for you? LOL:001_tt2:

Millie - how nice that you can take 3 weeks off and miss all the temptations that show up around the holidays. You are right - it will be difficult being on liquids and being around all of the treats that everyone brings in or vendors send over. I try to avoid the breakroom at work as much as possible during this time of the year. It will be much easier for you to be at home while you work through the clear liquid and full liquid phase and when you return to work you'll be on mushies and won't feel quite so deprived if that makes sense. Plus how fun to be home over the Christmas/New Year holidays!

Welcome LapGyrl to VST and congrats on making the decision to have the sleeve - we'll look forward to following your progress and are here to support you with your post-op journey.

I don't think either one keeps you from losing weight - I eat cheese every day and I continue to lose weight - and it doesn't bind me up as many say it does to them - when I was early out, string cheese was a lifesaver for me. I haven't been able to tolerate yogurt since surgery - it's a consistency thing for me - but Bearded eats a lot of yogurt and he's losing weight too.

It diminishes with time - don't rush your healing - stick to your post-op diet to the T - it's short term and you can do anything that doesn't last forever - so just know that there is a reason for it and that it won't last indefinitely - you'll be able to eat normal food again, just not now while your new stomach is healing.

I agree with Norma - I knew Ruthi was going to be there, but didn't know CYates until Lucy said "there's someone else from NV here too" and so I just knocked on her door and introduced myself.

I agree with burnout - how long after your surgery are you travelling? I had surgery on a Sat and rode home 6 hours on Tuesday - I was fine to do that - just leaned the car seat back a bit with a pillow under my head. It's not something I would have tried the day after surgery, that's for sure. Give yourself a few days before jumping in a car for 5-6 hours - and stop a few times to get out and stretch your legs.

WOO HOO ... Merry Christmas to you ... SF Pudding is WONDERFUL after 10 days of clears ....

Thanks for sharing Tracey - lots of interesting recipes on that site!

fromheadtotoe - Welcome welcome welcome - we are so very happy to have you join our ever-growing family and will be here for you anytime you need us. If you have any questions or concerns, or need to vent or rant, please feel free to IM me anytime - my family wouldn't have been supportive either, so I just never told them - so I know what you're going through on that end. It is great you will have a close caring friend with you for your surgery. Keep up the good work and keep us posted on your progress.

Not a bad idea Tracey - I'll talk to Susan and Alex and see what they think and make a new forum for different areas as members request -

Thanks Tiff, I'll let Alex know.

We love you Tiff!

DaliteDesigns (love that name -- and your ticker too!) - Welcome to VST and congrats on deciding to have the sleeve surgery -- quit beating yourself up over not being able to do it yourself - you're probably like most of us here - you can lose the weight, probably have a lot of times, it's keeping it off that is impossible -- so let go of the what "IF's" or the "Whys" and look forward to your surgery as a new lease on life and a healthy mom for your children! Keep us posted on your journey!

Bigdd - congrats on your surgery and your weight loss thus far - hang in there, every day everything gets easier -- you'll be thrilled with the results!

Mine actually look better at 5 months out than Tiffs picture of her's at 6 months -- I use Prefer On Instensive Scar Management Therapy (WalGreens - $9.99). Don't know if that is what helped or not, but doesn't seem to have hurt anything - they are very faded.