Helen the Cat

Congratulations on starting your journey! And welcome to the "loosers bench"! I can so identify with your problems at the airport. I flew (by myself) back to California from Iowa after my surgery. Had to go through O'Hare in Chicago, which is an old airport, with no "moving sidewalks", trams or such. I walked from one tereminal to another to catch my connection. By the time I was done, I had walked for almost an hour! I was so upset with myself that I didn't think ahead to book a wheelchair for myself. By the time I got to my gate I was so tired that I fell asleep waiting for my connection!

Take care of yourself, and best wishes!

Kathy D (alias Helen the Cat)

You look FANTASTIC!!! Keep up the great work. I am almost 8 months post op, and have lost alm ost 100 pounds. It is such an exciting journey! Keep going, you are doing great!

Great to hear that you had a good report at the doctor's office. As far as the Plavix, listen to the cardiologist! He is the expert on this! And as to the Lexapro, I would say that is up to you! You are the only one who knows how you feel and how you are doing mentally/depression wise (I assume the Lexapro is for depression or some similar condition.). I was on Lexapro, and wanted to come off it, and my doc wanted me to stay on it. I insisted that he couldn't "jump inside my skin" and know how I was feeling, so when I said I didn't feel that I needed it anymore, I felt I was the best judge. He finally agreed to help me taper off of it.

Congratulations on your 48 lb loss! That is FANTASTIC!!! Big changes ahead! Best wishes!!!

Kathy D (alias Helen the Cat)

Good job! Great for YOU! I too have been in some situations where I was made to feel that I was being "stuck up" over what I ordered. Stick to your guns, and always remember that you did this for yourself! I keep telling myself "I did this for ME, no one else!" when I am in a situation where I am made to feel uncomfortable because of what I am eating, whaat I am not eating or what I ordered or didn't order. Keep telling yourself, it is for YOU!

Thanks everybody for all the nice remarks. My mom used to say "nothing tastes as good as slender feels!" I was never able to identify with her words till now! And boy, do I identify now! I love it!!!

Sunday evening, the 22nd

Tiffanye,

So glad you posted how you are doing. I have been thinking about you and praying for you these past days. I had to work the last three nights, so haven't had time to check these boards. I work 12 hour shifts (am a Labor & Delivery nurse), and when I work two or three nights in a row, all I have time to do is travel home from work in the morning, shower, sleep, get up, get ready for work, travel to work, work my 12 hours and start all over again! I commute almost two hours to and from work, so I literally don't do ANYTHING I don't have to when I am working several nights in a row.

So glad to hear the pain isn't bad. I didn't find it horrible, and my doctor did not prescribe any narcotic medication AT ALL. I was nervous about that before the surgery, because I am a wimp when it comes to pain, but I didn't think it was all that bad. And once I got rid of the gas, I felt pretty good.

Today my hubbie and I drove to Des Moines (about 2 hours south of where we live) to go out to brunch with some friends. It was icy and snowy, and I am a chicken about driving in bad weather. But we did well. We went to a restaurant where our son is the executive chef. They served a breakfast brunch buffet, and it really tested my will power not to over eat! I feel I was fairly successful though, and came away without being in pain, which happens still if I overeat. So I have to count today as a victory. They had Salmon parfaits, which was flaked smoked salmon on a bed of diced hard boiled egg and either creme frech or sour cream. Was really yummy, and since eggs and salmon are a good source of protein, I didn't feel at all guilty about eating it! And I LOVE salmon!

I imagine you are on liquids now. Soon you will be progressing to mushies and then solids. Take it slow and enjoy the journey. I will keep you in my prayers. Post again soon so we all know how you are doing!

Love and Hugs and Prayers!

Kathy

Tiffanye,

Here it is Thursday morning (amost noon actually) and your surgery is probably over by now. I got up at 6:00 AM (Iowa time) to pray for you and your surgery this morning. (Actually, I went back to bed after I prayed Hope you don't care.)

I hope all went well, and you are back in your room by now, waking up and comtemplating your spot on the "loosers bench"! Remember to get up and walk A LOT! Walking helps to get things moving again internally and helps you to get rid of the gas that they use to inflate you insides when they do the surgery. So walk, Walk, WALK!!!

I remember I practically wore a path in the hallway the first night after my surgery, Since I had slept the majority of the day, I couldn't sleep that night, so spent most of the night walking in the hallway. I will continue to pray for you.

Be sure and post how you are doing so we will all know. And remember that you are being thought about and prayed for continually.

Love and Hugs and Prayers!

Kathy

Tiffanye,

It is normal to be nervous! I remember feeling the same way. I am seven months post-op today! And I look back on my surgery as the best thing I ever did for myself! And I did it just for myself. I wanted to look better, but my main goal was to improve my health status!

I have been overweight since the day I first drew breath! I weighed over 9 lbs when I was born, and just kept getting bigger as I grew up. I can't remember ever wearing kids clothes. I was 12 years old and wearing a size 16! My Mom made most of my clothes cause we couldn't find clothes to fit me when I was a kid! I grew up with all the kidding, being made fun of, etc that goes along with being an overweight child.

For years I struggled with going to Weight Watchers, Over Eater Victorious, Over Eaters Annonymous, Jenny Craig, Diet Center, etc., etc., etc. FINALLY. it is over! I eat 6-8 bites and am full. Some days I do better than others. I still struggle with eating sweets. I love to cook and bake and it is hard not to eat what I make. But I am trying.

My cholesterol is down to normal, WITHOUT medication! I have been able to quit all my anti-inflammatory medication, my joints don't hurt anymore cause they aren't stressed with extra weight. For some (unknown) reason, my allergies have improved also and I have been able to quit my allergy medication. Also I have been able to stop my blood pressure meds as my blood pressure is totally within normal limits now.

But best of all, I look good! I love being able to say that I wear a size 8! (I love it SO much, I'll say it again, I wear a Size 8!) The day of my surgery, I wore a 22/24 pant size and a 26/28 top. Now my pant size is 8 and top size is 12 or 14. I weighed 258 pounds when I went into surgery. Today I weigh 160. My goal is 150. Some days I weigh 158, but today is a "fat day" and I weigh two pounds more than my lowest. Tomorrow it will probably be 159.

I wouldn't take anything to change back to where I was pre-op! My life is totally differnt, and I love it. My husband was afraid that I would change in my feelings toward him if I lost weight. It has been a struggle to convince him that I love him, no matter what! But I think he is finally starting to believe me.

Back before Christmas I was doing some of my Christmas shopping and a (male) store clerk tired to pick me up! Which has NEVER happened to me before. While I was absolutely NOT interested in "going out for coffee" with him, it did wonders for my ego!

In conclusion, try to concentrate on the end outcome, not on what is going to go on in the next few days. All the discomfort, aches, pain, etc will soon be gone and you will begin to live your "new life" on the "loosers bench" ! And try to remember what fun that is going to be! Concentrate on the end outcome. You will get through this! I'll be praying for you tomorrow!

Kathy

Libby,

I had a Vertical Gastric Sleeve 7 months ago today. I weighed 258 pounds prior to surgery, and today I weight 160 (and struggling to loose the last few pounds!). I love my sleeve. My cousin is a bariatric surgeon, and he was the one who convinced me to do the VSG instead of a Roux N Y procedure. He has had bariatric surgery, he had a Roux N Y about 10 years ago at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. After his surgery, he did a fellowship at Mayo Clinic and then started doing bariatric surgeries himself. He lost over 100 pounds and has maintained it very well. He was my inspiration to do something. I went to see him in consultation, and he convinced me that the VGS has far less complications than RNY, less problems like dumping syndrome that many with a RNY experience, no malabsorption problems, etc. So i went with the sleeve, and wouldn't trade it for anything. The day of surgery, I wore a size 26/28 top and 22 or 24 pant size. Today I am a size 8! (I love saying that, so I'll say it again "I wear a size 8." Gee that makes me feel good!)

I don't have words to say how happy I am that I had my VGS. It is a non reversible procedure, so you need to be sure of your decision if you go with a VSG.

When we crossed the boarder back into the United States (I had my surgery in Mexico) one of the gals riding in the van responded to the boarder guards question of "do you have anything to declare?" with "No, but I left my stomach in Tijuana!" So funny!

No matter what you decide, Best of luck on your surgery!

Barbara, I am seven months out today, and am struggling with the whole maintenance issue. The weight loss period was a breeze compared to trying to maintain the loss! I have lost 98 pounds, and am 10 pounds from goal, but with my lousy eating habits, I have gained and lost the same 2-3 pounds for over 2 months now. I am also struggling with trying to buckle down and work out on a regular basis. I bought into the theory that WLS was "the easy" way to deal with weight loss. Well maybe the loosing period was easy (it really was!) but maintenance sucks!

Seriously though, good to hear from someone who is farther down the line than me! Can't wait to see your post op pictures after your plastic surgery!

Kathy

How much hair do you think you are loosing? I started losing mine between 3 and 4 months post op. By 5 months post op I was scared, I could see my scalp all over my head. When I showered, there was hair in the tub when I got out, when I slept, there was hair on my pillow when I got up, when I blew my hair dry, there was hair in the sink! There was hair everywhere but on my head! (I have a LOT more sympathy for men with comb overs than I used to have!) I spent hours in front of the mirror, trying to cover the balding spots before I went to work. I finally gave up, and bought a wig. And since the hair loss kept up, I finally decided to shave my head. I now have five wigs, all different styles, but still similar. All are slightly different color, but close to the color my hair has been for the last few years. I love my wigs and I love how I look in them, especially with my new (thinner) body! I think the wigs look very natural, and I don't think anybody that I work with even suspects that I am wearing a wig. So far, my hair has grown out to about a half to 3/4 inch in length, but it is still to short to tell how much is growing back. Am drinking protein supplements, taking multiple vitamins, Biotin. B vitamins, using Nioxin and Minoxidil, and trying to eat as healthy as possible. Am hoping for the best with re-growth of my hair. BUT if worse comes to worse, I will continue to wear my wigs and be happy. I would rather be thin with a wig than fat and hairy!!!

You don't "owe" anyone an explanation about your personal, medical history! Although I have told many people about my surgery, I didn't tell my mother. I knew that it would worry her to death. She is 90 years old, and although very healthy (still in her own home) she would worry about it. So I just told her I am trying to lose weight and am doing it with portion control and exercise. And guess what? That is THE TRUTH! I can't eat as much now, since my sleeve, so I am controlling my portions! And I exercise more to facilitate my weight loss. So when anyone asks me how I am loosing, and I don't feel like telling them all the details, I say "portion control and exercise"!

Congratulations on your sleeve! I too had many people tell me I didn't need to have surgery, but I felt in my heart it was the right thing to do for ME. I weighed over 250 and had lost 50-75 pounds multiple times, and never been able to keep it off. I am so happy that I followed through and had the surgery! I am 5 months post op yesterday, and have lost 90 pounds so far. The weight loss has slowed down considerably in the last two months, and I still have another 25-30 pounds that I would like to loose. BUT if I never loose another ounce, I am happy, thrilled and perfectly satisfied with how I look and feel now. I have NEVER been this thin in my life, and I am loving it. I went from a size 26-28 to a 12! My goal is to be in single digit sizes (8; 6; 4? would be wonderful). But if I never loose another ounce, I am happy! Even better than how I look, is how I feel. Most of the time I have loads more energy than I did prior to the surgery. I have been able to go off my cholesterol meds, my high blood pressure meds, my arthritis meds and my allergy meds (I still don't get that one!) and my diuretic. I am left taking only Nexium for acid reflux and a stool softener. I feel great. I swam all summer for exercise and am now starting a walking program since it is to cold to swim. Take heart. You WILL feel better soon! I think we all had some buyer's remorse initially. BUT it get SO much better! You're in my prayers!

I was interested to read you blog entry, Would you mind if I commented on several of your points?

First of all, the vitamin thing. Post op bariatric surgery patients need to plan on taking a multivitamin every day for the rest of their life, not just during their childbearing years. Because the VGS severly limits your food intake, it is hard to get 100% of all the required nutrients. So the vitamins are not just for your CHILDBEARING years, but the rest of your life.

As far as acid reflux is concerned, my surgeon put me on Nexium twice a day for two months. After the two months, he told me to stay on the Nexiiium if I had any symptoms of acid reflux. I am three months out, and am still taking one Nexim a day, and have had absolutely NO symptoms of acid reflux. And I know what acid reflux is, I had been on Nexium (before that Prilosec) for the last 15 years.

As far as surgery risks go, do your research. Ask questions. Find out the individual surgeon's complication rate, his infection rate, ask to talk to some of his prior patients who have had the procedure you want to have, and get their take on what they think of the surgeon, how their surgery and post op course went, how responsive he and his office staff are to your needs, concerns, etc. Make sure the hospital the surgeon practices at is JACHO approved. (The Joint Commission for Hospital certification is the Gold Seal of approval as far as adhearing to medical standards.)

And go with your gut. I was all set up to go with one surgeon, and then got some "bad vibes" from him and his staff. I (hesitantly) cancelled my surgery and went back to researching other surgeons. I was very happy with my final choice.

Best of luck to you!

Garden Diva, TOO, TOO funny! I love it. thanks for sharing! KathyD49

Kamay1234, what a FUNNY story! I laughed till I cried! I love to bake, and I am still baking LOTS, just not eating any of it! I take every thing I bake to work and feed it to my fellow workers. Several of them have complained that they are getting fat from my getting skinny! Thanks for sharing! KathyD49

Am sorry to hear that you are feeling so low. I have to concur with the other gals that have posted, maybe you need to consider an antidepressant to help you feel better. Also know that you have friends here on this board. I have put you on my prayer list, and will be praying for you everyday. I too have suffered depression in the past, when I felt abandoned, and felt that no one cared about me, felt that I had been forgotten by everyone that I cared about. It took me a while to get past my feelings of abandonment, but the antidepressants helped a lot. Don't go through this alone! There are tons of people out there who care and want to help! Seek them out. Do you have a church, can you talk with your pastor? Call your local Mental Health institute. What about Employee Assistance Programs through work? All of these places care and want to help, you just need to reach out. Please investigate some of them and let them help you! And please keep posting so we know how you are doing! I am sending you Love and Hugs and Prayers tonight! KathyD49