i1Linda

Thanks! I just wish I could get the girls to stay up there all the time and not sag to my belly buttom. Tummy tuck or Lift - I just can't decide. In the mean time I will have to use lingerie to help with the illusion.

Happy New Year Dee Dee!!!

Thanks for the compliments. We had so much fun last night and I LOVED not being the "fattest girl in the room" - not even close. BTW - that's my $15 top with my $74 bra. LOL:)

Barbara -

Today's the big day! Cyber hugs and well wishes being sent your way. Prayers be sent up to the Big Guy with your name on them. Things will go perfectly. Keep us posted and let us know if you need anything. I'm in Dallas too and nearby. Linda

Longhorn - sending prayers up and well wishes your way this morning. Things will go perfectly. Keep us posted on your progress when you can. We will be waiting. Linda

Hi Barbara -

I was just thinking about you this evening and your surgery just around the corner. I know you are nervous (I was too) but I know it will go PERFECTLY. I hope you LOVE your sleeve as much as I LOVE MINE. Good luck and I will definitely send some prayers up with your name on them. Keep us posted on your journey.

Linda

Oh, that is getting close. Just keep doing your best on the pre-op diet and you will be fine. I did pretty well while on it, but I can honestly say, not perfect. Fortunately, I am all ready for the Holidays. I had to be. I had knee surgery last Wednesday and am still crutchin' around. Fortunately my recovery on this knee is going a lot smoother than my other knee - I wonder if it has anything to do with not lugging an extra 74 lbs around?? My weight went up this past week (3 lbs) and I am ticked off. I know it is the swelling in my knee and the bloating from all the pain meds but I just want to kick my scale across the room I vow to stay off it until Christmas. Keep us updated on your progress. Merry Christmas!

Barbannn -

When is your surgery?

I believe either 34 or 36 french bougie. I think some doctors use 32 (a little smaller) but I can tell you, I like being able to eat something - just not much. I get frustrated sometimes (like this evening) when I really like the food and can't eat much of it. If my sleeve was much smaller, I would have a difficult time. I still like the taste of food. I eat about 800 calories each day (sometimes a little less) and feel satisfied. I hope this helps.

WTG Girl! I love my sleeve

As for Dr. Nick. I really think he is great. His PA and staff are wonderful too. When I went to his seminar he was very personable. He almost tried to "talk you about of it" in a way. He was very honest about what to expect and really didn't push any one type of surgery. He said they each have value for different individuals. Our seminar was over 3 hours long because he stayed to answer every question.

I really liked several things about the sleeve: I like eating what I want and not having a list of "forbidden foods", I like not having a foreign object placed inside me (I'm a constant worrier and know I would always worry that something was wrong with a band), I like not having grehlin and not really being hungry - I do get hungry sometimes, it's just different, manageable, I am never "starving".

FYI - I have heard really good things about Dr. Davidson also. Some of my "neighbors" while in the hospital had Dr. Davidson for their surgeon and seemed pleased also.

Thanks Barbara! It feels good to let someone actually take a picture, willingly. Are you having your surgery up here in Dallas? Dr. Nick?

Thanks Judy!

DeeDee - I didn't recognize you in your new avatar photo. I was thinking to myself "who is that skinny girl posting a comment on my blog?" Wow - do you look great. I need to post new pictures. I guess the fat girl in my is still shying away from the camera. I need to get over it. Have an AWESOME day. Linda

Hi Anna -

Congratulations on your decision. I know it can be difficult deciding on surgery and then picking a surgeon. I love Dr. Nick and his staff. I like that they are close to home and after going to his seminar, I felt very confident is his competency as a surgeon. He didn't try to sell WLS or any one type. He just gives you the facts and lets you decide. He is very passionate about helping people. When I started having back pain 2 weeks post op, he did not hesitate getting me into his office immediately and then downstairs for a CT. I continue to call his office for this and that. His entire staff is so helpful and accommodating. When is your surgery? Keep in touch and good luck..

Linda

Barbara,

Let me know how the seminar went tonight.

Linda

Hi Barbara,

I didn't purchase supplemental insurance - I didn't even think about it. In hind sight, probably would have been a good idea to cover complications if there were to be any. I did use CareCredit - I elected to do the 18 month no interest option.

Barbara,

I think if I were you and couldn't be on solids before the Holidays, I would wait until right after Christmas. A week should be fine to recover. I will still tired the second week but was able to make it through each day. On day 15, it was like someone flipped a switch and I was back to my normal energy level. I wouldn't wait much longer knowing what I know now. I wish I would have met Dr. Nick years ago.

FYI - tonight we went out for burgers after a late soccer game (remember, I'm 3 months out). My husband ordered a burger and cheese fries. I ate about 1/10 of his burger and few of his fries. I am still stuffed and satisfied. Technically, I cheated, but only ate about a tenth of what I would have eaten prior to surgery. That's what I love about the sleeve, I can still have it just not much of it.

I am stuck in a little bit of a stall the last 10 days. My body is not cooperating with my plan this week. It is not possible to consume so many fewer calories than you burn and not lose weight, but apparently my body is defying the laws of physics. No worries, the scale will move, it can't help but move.

Good luck with your decision. I once saw someone write that they were not removing part of a perfectly good stomach, it wasn't good, it was too big. They instead were having the doctor correct a birth defect. The Lord made their stomach too big and the Dr. was correcting it to the perfect size for their metabolism. After having the surgery and living 12 weeks with my sleeve, I couldn't agree more.

Keep in touch,

Linda

I too was willing to go to MX to have surgery but my DH was not. He was more than willing to put out the extra $ to have me stay in Dallas. Before I went to Dr. Nick's seminar, I was all set on the Band. After learning about the sleeve and hearing others problems with the band, I thought the sleeve sounded like everything I every wanted in a WLS. I was right. I am almost 12 weeks out have lost 54lbs. I can pretty much eat whatever I want. Just not much of it. I am satisfied with just a couple oz of whatever it is my family is having. Of coarse I have to get my protein in first and my water, but there is nothing really I can't have a taste of. Recently, I have come to the realization that I am a CARB junkie. If I start eating carbs, I want MORE - even though I am not hungry and often couldn't eat another bite. It's really a brain thing, brain and stomach are SOMETIMES NOT on the same page. Lesson learned,for me, limit carbs.

(cont)

Hi Barbara -

Welcome to the forum. I would be happy to answer any questions you have about my experience. I am doing really well. No regrets at all. In fact I wish I had done it years ago. Dr. Nick and his staff are wonderful. Surgery was easy for the most part. It was way easier than a c-section, a little more painful than my gall bladder being removed. At 2 weeks out I had a scare. I was having unexplained back pain. I called Dr. Nick and he had me come in right away just to check things out. Sent me down to have a CT where I got to drink the "yucky stuff". My sleeve was perfect. Back pain ended up being from back spasms - some of our abdominal muscle wrap around to the back. They were still stressed from the surgery ( I went back to work 5 days after surgery) and started to spasm. But Dr. Nick was great and it felt great to know my sleeve was in perfect health.

(cont.)

I was able to start solid food at 6 weeks. I have been doing really well with it and can each pretty much anything, if I eat small bites and don't eat too fast. I still start my morning with a protein drink too. Liquids seem to go down much easier than food in the morning. Today, I tried a protein hot chocolate mix with my morning coffee. 15 grams of protein in my coffee. Gotta love it. I also ordered the protein latte, can't wait to try it. I just finished working out, I'm off today and will drink my Nectar Protein drink in a bit. I have been bad the last couple weeks with my exercise. I have been working long hours on a project for work - just not enough hours in the day. Luckily, project ended yesterday - back to my normal routine. Good to hear from you. I enjoy reading your posts and following your progress mirror my own. Take care ad have an great weekend. Linda

Hey Bob!

Just checking in. How are things going for you? 2 months post-op - I am loving my sleeve. I hit a stall this week (I know I shouldn't way everyday, but I just can't help it). Other than that, all is well. My friends tell me I'm melting away. Gotta love it.

Hey DeeDee!

Glad to hear things are going well for you. I am still on full liquids until Tuesday. My mind sometimes wants to eat real food, but even just after a couple bites of yogurt my stomach reminds my head who is in charge. It's funny, prior to surgery, I could get in 120g of protein and 12c of water in daily-no problem. I didn't understand what a challenge it would be post-op. Now, I struggle to get in 6c of water and 60g of protein. I get hungry once in a while, take a few bites/sips and am fine for hrs. It past noon, and I'm still trying to get in my protein shake I made for breakfast. My weight is falling off quickly so that helps. I just get concerned that I can't continue to live and be healthy on 400 cal a day. I am sure it will get better once my tummy heals and I get to start solids. I do have my first "mushie" meal planned. I want refried beans with melted cheese, light sour cream and pureed salsa - I'm from Texas and I miss my Mexican food. Take care!

Hey! I'm in Dallas too. Who is doing your surgery? I had mine last week (9 days post-op).

Linda

Hey Bob!

I am definitely getting stronger every day. I have been walking every day, although is wears me out (why I nap every day). Pain has been manageable, just taking liquid Tylenol (gag) during the day and the Lortab (gag) at night. I still have my drain until Wednesday - can't wait to get that removed. Yesterday, for some reason, I was hungry all day (or I thought I was), today, not at all. Maybe it was gas. Haven't had any problems in the BM department, liquid in, liquid out. I got to start on blended cream soups today. Yummy! Doesn't take much to get filled up, I get to start cream of wheat, cottage cheese, etc, Wednesday. I go on the scale this morning, I have lost 7 pounds in a week - I'm sure I'm dehydrated. I am supposed to go back to work tomorrow, I might need to work from home. Glad to hear you are doing well, take care and keep in touch.