Helen the Cat

Hey BarbieB,
You wondered how to put the weight loss ticker and the other neat stuff on your posts? Lil MisDiva has a tutorial on it. The web address is:
www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/13516-ticker-tutorial-for-vst-lbt-with-pictures/
I am computer challenged, and I figured it out from Irene's (LilMissDiva's) tutorial. Hope this helps.
Kathy D (alias Helen the Cat)

GULP! I just tried clicking on the link that I posted just above in my previous post, and it takes you somewhere really weird! Not the tutorial. BUT if you copy the link and put it in your address bar at the top of the page, it DOES take you to the tutorial. Sorry about the hassle~!
Kathy D

Congrats on being sleeved, and Welcome to The Loser's Bench! Keep us posted on your recovery, we all want to know how you are doing!
Kathy D (alias Helen the Cat)

Dear SkinnyCow,
Was Great to read of your experience! I too was sleeved by Dr. Rod, but in Tijuana, not Juarez. I was sleeved 8 months ago, and at that time, he was doing surgery in both places. Don't know if that is still the case or not. It sounds like he has added a lot to the experience since I was done. He had no psychologist to meet with patients when I had my surgery. Also no chest x-ray pre-op, just blood work and an EKG. Also sounds as if the Juarex hospital facility is far superior to the one in Tijuana. My room was a dinky little room. with no chairs at all, no couch. They had what they called a bench bed. It was a built in bench that ran along one wall. It was about 2 feet wide and around 6-7 feet long. It had a foam pad on it that was about 1 1/2 to 2 inches thick, and Bill (hubbie) had to sleep there. He kept falling off the "bench bed" since it was so narrow.
Also the staff in Tijuana wasn't as great as the one in Juarez sounds. The one and only time I put my call light on, a nurse came in and Yelled at me "WHAT?". She grabbed the call light out of my hand and put it far back on the bedside table, where I couldn't reach it without getting out of bed. I told her I was hurting and would like some pain medication. She didn't say Yes, No or Boo. Just turned on her heel and exited my room. About two hours later, someone else came in with something in a syringe and when I asked they said "Well you SAID you wanted pain medication, here it is." I am a nurse, and if I was rude like either of these individuals, I might as well pack up my stuff and head out the door. It wouldn't be tolerated here I know. However, overall, I am still very pleased with my outcome. I have lost right at 100 pounds. I am 8 months post op, and still loosing VERY slowly.
Thanks so much for sharing your experience. It was great to hear from another of Dr. Rod's patients! And welcome to the Loser's Bench!
Kathy D (alias Helen the Cat)

Dear andkel30 and Malyss,
Both of you are in my prayers tonight! Hope you can both rest easy and get some sleep for your big day tomorrow. Please update us all as soon after surgery as you feel up to it! And welcome (in advance) to The Losers Bench! you are our newest members! Love and Hugs and Prayers!!!
Kathy D (alias Helen the Cat)

I am SO happy for you. It is the greatest feeling isn't it! I absolutely loved it when I crossed the line from 200 to 199! It is just fantastic! Congratulations! I am now 8 months post op and have lost 100 pounds. Am 8 pounds from my goal. Can't wait to get there, but the last few pounds have been SO slow! But reading everybody's success stories here keeps me trying! Again, Congratulations! It is a "one"derful feeling!!!
Kathy D (alias Helen the Cat)

One year (minus 21 days)
I am doing my one year sleevaversary post a couple weeks early because I am going to be very busy with travel and projects over the next month. So, here’s what the last 344 days have been like…
If you have followed my posts, you know I was a band to sleeve revision. I was a low BMI (31) and my original goal was to lose about 60 pounds. At this point, I have surpassed my goal and lost 67 pounds. In all honesty, it is probably even a little more because I didn’t weigh myself the week I went in for surgery. But, who’s counting? :-) Weight progress to-date: 195 (probably closer to 200 in reality) to 128.
The first 2 months, I was so exhausted I could barely hold my head up. It was bad. No real pain after the pesky drain area healed up. However, I have never had a Protein drink through this whole process. Just couldn’t do it. And I probably suffered for it. Energy didn’t get back to normal levels for several months, but the first 8-10 weeks was seriously bad. It was depressing on a lot of levels. I ate a lot of mashed sweet potato, yogurt, ricotta cheese with mashed chicken in it, runny oatmeal, cream cheese with deli meat, mini-brie bites from Trader Joes, and TONS of cottage cheese.
Another deficiency on my part: never drinking enough Water. I still don’t. It has tasted terrible ever since surgery. At this point I drink Arrowhead sparkling Water almost exclusively. Something about the bite of the bubbles is very refreshing and easy for me to handle. I burp a lot, but it is the only way I get any fluids in. I drink about 30 oz of Fluid a day.
Around the 5th month, the hair started falling out. I had cut my hair short because I was too exhausted to hold a blow dryer, so no one could notice the difference. I have very thick hair. I only noticed because I had tons of hair coming out in my hand when I washed it. It has stopped without any supplements or change in diet.
I took a PPI for about 6 months and then stopped. Haven’t needed it since
I took Vitamins for about 4 months and then stopped - I am Vitamin D deficient and the MD wants me to take Vit D tabs. I do my best :-) All other bloodwork is consistently good.
Although I moved on to more normal foods over time, I found that I couldn’t eat just anything. Right around the 9 month mark I found I could eat whatever was in front of me (bread, rice, Soup, etc). This has been great for me because I used to have a lot of anxiety about needing food and not being able to find something.
My daily eating habits are a bit different from most of the folks on the board, from what I have read. I still have to eat 6 or more times a day to get in enough calories to function. I do not limit myself on sugar, carbs, or anything – but I do have certain foods that make me feel better. I always have Protein because I feel good when I eat it. I keep myself from getting low blood sugar that way. However, I do eat a dark chocolate covered graham cracker from Starbucks most days as well. I get a tall mocha / no whip with 2 packets of sugar in the raw most days too. The sugar doesn’t seem to bother me, but I do always have Snacks / meals with protein throughout the day.
Things that surprised me after surgery: my taste buds are COMPLETELY different. I used to hate dark chocolate, now I love it. Never drank coffee before, now I have a daily mocha habit. Most sweet things are way too sweet. I can’t really eat spicy food anymore because it makes my tummy feel bad, which sucks because I love spicy food. I used to be a vodka martini gal, now I only drink wheat beer or anything with rum in it. Weird.
Things that I will not eat: ice cream or Peanut Butter. I tried ice cream a few times over the past several months and, boy did I regret it. I got the sweats and felt like I was going to throw up for 30 minutes or so after eating it. I have no idea why. Can’t be the sugar content because I eat sugary stuff every day, in some form. Can’t be the lactose – ½ of my diet was cheese and yogurt for months. Whatever it is, the reaction was so bad that I am not even tempted to eat it again. Peanut Butter (by itself) gives me the worst gas / stomach aches. Like, doubled over, feel like I am being stabbed kind of stomach aches.
I don’t like to eat rice because it expands in my tummy and makes me uncomfortable. I can eat a giant bowl of tortilla chips (major slider), and it doesn’t bother me a bit. I still have to remind myself to wait a minute or two after I take a bite because I don’t really know how a certain food is going to feel in my stomach until it makes the journey. I do still have the “one more bite” compulsion and it is still very uncomfortable.
What else can I think of? I want to be detailed for those of you just starting out…
I haven’t vomited once since surgery, for any reason.
At 5’6” and 128 pounds, I wear size 8 pants and size small / 4 top. Bra size is 32 DD/DDD, but the boobs are pretty sad when I take the bra off. Most of my excess skin is in the pregnancy areas. My stomach is a mess and my boobs are pretty sad. But, I can finally see my c-section scar without assistance, so that is pretty good J
On a more personal note, I can say that this journey has totally been worth it, even though it was difficult mentally. The hardest part for me was feeling like I was fragile. I felt like I was vulnerable about what I could eat. I also was exhausted a lot of the time and I still have a fear of vigorous exercise because of it. I still get anxious if I don’t have food around because I am afraid my body will get “empty” and that feels terrible. I don’t have real hunger pains or rumbles. I just feel empty and if I wait too long, I start to shake and get light headed.
I finally feel like myself again. I am the same weight I was when I was in my early twenties. Looking at my body comp, I could probably lose another 5-10 pounds (I weighed 112 in high school and was perfectly healthy). I am not looking to lose weight. In fact, I was happy at 150. At this point, I don’t think I could gain weight if I tried. I literally eat all day long and stay the same or lose .5 to 1 pound a month. We’ll see how I am holding up in another year…
My advice to fellow sleevers: Don't weigh yourself every day!!!! Seriously, once every week or two will do it. I only weigh once a month now. You will drive yourself crazy with the scale, and you don't have to. Also, keep coming to this forum. There are some great people here that are very supportive.
Good luck to all of you. And, especially for the former lap band folks: keep your chin up. There is hope after that band fails you. I know because I have been there, walked through it, and I am really happy on the other side.

well its been 15 months since my surgery pre op weight was 438 my health was horrible borderline high cholestrol high tryglycerides moderately high blood pressure and my diabetes was out of control i was takeing three shots of insulin a day and two different pills avandia metphormin, 6 week preop liquid diet i lost 30 pounds i weighed 408 day of surgery. surgery went well for me i was up and walking right after surgery liquids went down and i was released first out of my group i took two weeks off but i probaly could of gone back work in 4 days got my walks in everday, first 6 months were great got down to 345 had some platteu times were id lose not much in month but after first year i was down to 318 was excersiseing alot lifting wheights kinda fell off the wagon this past nov dec excersised alot but ate horribly through holidays nov december gained one pound my weigt as of jan 1 was 319 got serious again realizeing prime weighloss period for weighloss is first 2 years i am know below 300 pounds im at 292 which was my one year goal to be at but better late than ever i can tell you my life has drastically changed i lift weights 4 times week i do cardio 4 hours a week my health has drastically improved my cholestrol is low blood pressure is like it was when i was twenty 118 over 78 my blood sugar is normal no more insulin down to 1 metphormin a day ive gone from a 52 waist to 40 i feel like new person i have 52 more pounds get to my goal feel like i will do it well befor my 2 year anniversary i can honestly say the sleeve has given me my life back its best decision ive probaly ever made to improve my quality of life

Dooter,
Big congratulations on getting through the surgery OK! And welcome to the losers bench! Am sorry to hear that you got off to such a rocky start. But it does get better. Be patient and take it one day at a time. Easy to say, tough to do, I know!
Hope everything goes well, and the rest of your post op course is smooth sailing all the way. Keep us posted so we know how you are doing!
Best wishes, and again, Welcome to the Losing Side!
Kathy D (alias Helen the Cat)

Ruth,
Welcome to the BEST site on the web for Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomies! You will find a wealth of experience and advise here. Everybody is friendly and really knowledgable about the VSG, both pre and post op. Whenever I have had a question, needed to vent, or just wanted to talk, I have always been able to find someone here who could help. It is a fantastic site! We hope you will be a frequent poster! We are so happy you chose to join us!
And a BIG CONGRATULATIONS on your weight loss. You are doing awesome, fantastic, fabulous! I am 8 months post op, and it has taken me that long to lose 100 pounds. You have done it in just three months. You Rock girl!
Please be sure and come back tomorrow after your doctor's appointment and let us know how it went. We are all interested. Keep up the Fantastic work! rock that sleeve!

Alana,
I am 8 months post op, and down 100 pounds. Everyday I struggle with the thought that I might gain it back. I am scared to death that I might gain. And somehow, my old friend--- food--- always pops up to comfort me. I struggle not to eat junk food when I am worried about weight gain. Doesn't make sense does it? I am trying so hard to break the habit of turning to food when I am stressed. It is a life long habit, and SO hard to break!!!
I was 258 pounds at my highest. I am now 158 or 159 depending on the day. But some days I actually go up to 160 or 161. Those are the days it is hardest to stay away from the foods that have always comforted me. I tell myself over and over that I shouldn't eat ___________ (you fill in the blanks, it might be Twinkies, HO-HOs, mashed potatoes, ice cream, etc. But for sure it is a comfort food.) But somedays I just can't stop myself. It makes me worry about my long term success. Every one says how well I have done, but they don't know I am scared spitless that I might wreck it and eat my way back up to 250+ pounds.
The main reason I continue to frequent this forum is that it helps me keep my determination to stay where I am and continue to lose. I am so thankful for the wonderful people here who encourage me to keep on this path I started in June. Best of luck on yur journey!

It is funny how your tastes change after the surgery. Even from day to day after surgery. I mentioned, quite casually to my husband how much I like the additive "Mio" that you put in Water to flavor it, and he went out and bought like ten containers of it. A couple days later, I couldn't stand the taste of it anymore, and haven't used it since! Tastes WAY to sweet for me. Best tip I can give you is to experiment..... try drinking your water iced, if that doesn't sit well, try room temp water, maybe flavored water, maybe some kind of fruit juice. Or iced tea, there are so many flavors of tea now. Just keep trying different things and you are bound to hit on one that your sleeve will tolerate and you will like soon. I ended up drinking sugar free Lipton Citrus flavored Green Tea. It still tastes good to me 8 months after my surgery! But it took me a couple of weeks trying different things to get there. And remember, it is a journey. We don't get there the first day or even the first week. It is a whole new life style, one that I struggle with some days, but still an exciting journey!
Kathy D (alias Helen the Cat)

Thank you all for your words of wisdom! You all have given me so much to think about.
When I re-read my original post, it dawned on me that I might have painted Bill as the entire problem. And he isn't! He is such a good man! He has ALWAYS been dependable during the years of our marriage, a hard worker, someone I could always depend on. He has NEVER been a drinker, gambler, womanizer, etc. He has always put our family first. He has been a wonderful provider, and always generous to share his time, talent and resources with me and our children.
I have always been SO proud to call him my husband! So these last 8 weeks (since I moved home) have really thrown me for a loop.
I am so thankful for all of your responses. I was uncertain if I should post here about this topic, as it is SO personal, and Bill would probably kill me if he knew I was sharing something so personal on a web site where anybody can read it. However, from frequenting this board for the last year and a half (I was a lurker for months before I joined this site!) I know you all to be compassionate, caring, loving individuals, whom I trust to give me your best advice.
And you have given me SO much to think about. Sandyd, you pointed out that we have probably grown apart, and I think you are correct. We both got used to doing whatever we wanted to do, when we wanted to do it, without taking the other individual into consideration, since we were apart and could do just that. I think we both need to start considering the other person before we make plans; before we make decisions; before we do things; especially things that potentially involve both partners.
Bill has undergone so many changes in his life in the last five years. He retired from a life long job of driving a truck for the same company for 35 years. He has had two heart attacks, a stroke, was diagnosed with diabetes and high blood pressure, got another job after he retired, changed to a different job, and then his wife starts traveling around the country without him for months and months on end (sometimes years) without him. And then to top it off, I go off and "remakes" myself over into a totally different looking woman. (Although deep inside, I am THE SAME person I always have been.)
When I look at it from that point of view, he has had a tremendous amount of major stuff to adjust to. I guess it would stand to reason he might be a little depressed!
Thank you all again for your wonderful advice. I am going to talk with Bill about going to his next doctors appointment,which will be in the next 1-2 weeks for his diabetes check up. Am going to ask the doc to evaluate him for some anti-depression medication, and also ask him for a referral to a counselor, if Bill won't go, I will go by myself. We will just HAVE to find the $$$ to pay for it! Also am going to try and convince him that we need to start trying to "reconnect". I am NOT going to let go of this marriage after all these years without a fight. I have loved this man since the day I first saw him, and my feelings have only intensified since then.
Again, thanks to all of you who have read and offered your thoughts! God Bless you all.
Kathy D

Alana,
I am 8 months post op, and down 100 pounds. Everyday I struggle with the thought that I might gain it back. I am scared to death that I might gain. And somehow, my old friend--- food--- always pops up to comfort me. I struggle not to eat junk food when I am worried about weight gain. Doesn't make sense does it? I am trying so hard to break the habit of turning to food when I am stressed. It is a life long habit, and SO hard to break!!!
I was 258 pounds at my highest. I am now 158 or 159 depending on the day. But some days I actually go up to 160 or 161. Those are the days it is hardest to stay away from the foods that have always comforted me. I tell myself over and over that I shouldn't eat ___________ (you fill in the blanks, it might be Twinkies, HO-HOs, mashed potatoes, ice cream, etc. But for sure it is a comfort food.) But somedays I just can't stop myself. It makes me worry about my long term success. Every one says how well I have done, but they don't know I am scared spitless that I might wreck it and eat my way back up to 250+ pounds.
The main reason I continue to frequent this forum is that it helps me keep my determination to stay where I am and continue to lose. I am so thankful for the wonderful people here who encourage me to keep on this path I started in June. Best of luck on yur journey!

Jewels, I think what the others above have posted addresses your issue well. I personally have been sleeved for 8 months.
There is nothing that I CAN'T eat. BUT there is lots that I CHOOSE not to eat. I don't routinely eat lettuce salads anymore, because my capacity is so limited, I need to eat my Protein first. If I have room after I eat my Protein, then I eat my veggies (with the exception of potatoes, I don't usually eat potatoes).
If I can eat my protein AND my veggies (very rare) then I will nibble on something with lots of carbs, like bread or potatoes. But I usually don't have room for anything after the protein and veggies. Also when I say "nibble" that is exactly what it is, a nibble. One or two bites is usually all I can manage after I have eaten my protein and veggies!
When my hubbie and I go out to eat, we have started sharing a meal. If the restaurant gives a choice in the size of the entree (Lots of restaurants will let you order a Steak in 8 oz, 10 oz or 16 ounce) we will order the large entree to split (although we split somewhere like 30/70, with me getting the 30% of the steak). Bill then eats the bread, the potato and the salad. Usually just the meat is all I can handle. Once in a while I will have a bite of his potato or bread. Sometimes I will order a dish of cottage cheese to go with my entree. But it is all about getting enough protein!

Alana,
I am 8 months post op, and down 100 pounds. Everyday I struggle with the thought that I might gain it back. I am scared to death that I might gain. And somehow, my old friend--- food--- always pops up to comfort me. I struggle not to eat junk food when I am worried about weight gain. Doesn't make sense does it? I am trying so hard to break the habit of turning to food when I am stressed. It is a life long habit, and SO hard to break!!!
I was 258 pounds at my highest. I am now 158 or 159 depending on the day. But some days I actually go up to 160 or 161. Those are the days it is hardest to stay away from the foods that have always comforted me. I tell myself over and over that I shouldn't eat ___________ (you fill in the blanks, it might be Twinkies, HO-HOs, mashed potatoes, ice cream, etc. But for sure it is a comfort food.) But somedays I just can't stop myself. It makes me worry about my long term success. Every one says how well I have done, but they don't know I am scared spitless that I might wreck it and eat my way back up to 250+ pounds.
The main reason I continue to frequent this forum is that it helps me keep my determination to stay where I am and continue to lose. I am so thankful for the wonderful people here who encourage me to keep on this path I started in June. Best of luck on yur journey!

Alana,
I am 8 months post op, and down 100 pounds. Everyday I struggle with the thought that I might gain it back. I am scared to death that I might gain. And somehow, my old friend--- food--- always pops up to comfort me. I struggle not to eat junk food when I am worried about weight gain. Doesn't make sense does it? I am trying so hard to break the habit of turning to food when I am stressed. It is a life long habit, and SO hard to break!!!
I was 258 pounds at my highest. I am now 158 or 159 depending on the day. But some days I actually go up to 160 or 161. Those are the days it is hardest to stay away from the foods that have always comforted me. I tell myself over and over that I shouldn't eat ___________ (you fill in the blanks, it might be Twinkies, HO-HOs, mashed potatoes, ice cream, etc. But for sure it is a comfort food.) But somedays I just can't stop myself. It makes me worry about my long term success. Every one says how well I have done, but they don't know I am scared spitless that I might wreck it and eat my way back up to 250+ pounds.
The main reason I continue to frequent this forum is that it helps me keep my determination to stay where I am and continue to lose. I am so thankful for the wonderful people here who encourage me to keep on this path I started in June. Best of luck on yur journey!

Jasleeve,
Today was your appointment with the therapist wasn't it? How did it go? Was thinking about you all day and wondering how it went with the therapist.
Kathy D

It sounds like you are doing great! Be sure and post tomorrow after your doctor's appointment, so we know how that goes.
And remember, it is a journey that we all take one step at a time.
I can remember when I was just a couple of weeks post op, and in a hurry to get all my weight off and "be done with all this". It finally dawned on me that it will never "be over". That I will always be a post op VSG. That although the day will come when I will eat more normally, I will always be limited in how much I can eat. I will always (hopefully) eat less than I used to, but the other side of the coin is that I will weigh less than I used to also.
In short, it is a new life style, one that will help me be healthier, happier and hopefully live longer. Best of luck tomorrow at your doctor's appointment and congratulations!

Hey, BIG congratulations! And March 5 isn't even a month off. Will be here in NO time! Be sure you keep us all posted, we want to know how you are doing. And we love to hear success stories! Welcome (in advance) to the Looser's Bench!

I am one of those people who went to Mexico to have their surgery. So haven't seen my surgeon since June, when I had my surgery. And to my knowledge, there is no support group in my geographical area. BUT I love this board, and it takes the place of a support group for me. I read it almost every day, and have learned SO much from the posts I have read. A BIG thank-you to everyone who was sleeved before me, and has posted about their experience. It has been a learning experience for me. I am SO happy with my sleeve experience! It has literally changed my life!

Glad to hear you are feeling better. I was just thinking this morning that there are definitly days when I have "buyer's remorse"!
I don't usually do Fast Foods any more, but this morning I was starved cause I didn't get a lunch break at work last night. (worked 12 1/2 hours with NO break at all) I have almost a two hour commute to and from work, and thought I CAN'T wait two more hours to eat, so went through the drive up at Mickey Ds. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE their Bacon Egg and cheese Biscuits!!! In my former life (before VSG) I would eat two of them on my way home from work every morning.
Well, I can only eat 5-7 bites of one now (about 1/2 to 2/3 of the biscuit), so I got one. It was fresh out of the oven, or whatever. The biscuit was tender and fluffy, not hard and dry. The bacon was crisp, and very flavorful, just the way I love it. The cheese was melting and gooey. The egg so fluffy and tender. In other words, a PERFECT Bacon Egg & Cheese Biscuit!
After my sixth bite, I knew I was full and couldn't eat another bite or I would be very uncomfortable (read that to mean IN PAIN!). And I was SO SAD. I mean I REALLY WANTED THE REST OF THAT BACON EGG AND CHEESE BISCUIT in the WORST way!!!
And then at Noon, my hubbie and I went out for brunch with another couple. Our son is a chef and his restaurant serves a Breakfast buffet on Sundays and we went to try it out. I SO wanted to eat more than I did. They had so many yummy foods on the buffet, and I wanted to try them ALL!
But tonight, I am happy that I only ate 6 bites of the biscuit. And even happier that I didn't overeat at the buffet. I came home and still weigh what I weighed yesterday. I wasn't uncomfortable and didn't have to feel guilty all the way home thinking that I had AGAIN eaten WAY to much! Buyer's Remorse ? Yep, for sure! Change and go back to having my whole stomach and weighing 260 pounds again? NO WAY! I will live with my occasional buyer's remorse as I put my size 8 jeans on, and as I save all kinds of $$$$ since I was able to come off 5 or 6 different medications that I no longer need since I have lost 98 pounds!

I already announced my big news on my blog today, but just had to tell EVERYBODY! When I got up this morning and hopped on the scale, I was thrilled to death to see that I had lost a total of 100 (that's right ONE HUNDRED) pounds! I lost 20 pounds prior to my surgery, so that makes my surgical weight loss 80 pounds for a total weight loss of 100 lbs!

I have to say, I am LOVING being down 100 pounds! I NEVER thought it was possible. I never expected to get fantastic results like this from my VSG! I love it! I love it! I love it!!!
Would put a new picture on this if I could figure out how, and if I had one to put on here. Actually I just figured out how to add a photo, and so I added one of me, my sister in law and a friend. I am the one in the middle. Pretty sad isn't it? We all needed (despartly) to loose some weight. My friend on the left HAD Roux N Y surgery about 10 years ago. Lost a bunch of weight and has gained a lot back. Gal on the right is my sister in law. She is a Weight Watchers participant. Has lost over 100 lbs on WW several times, and gains it back each time. She is going to WW again and has lost about 70-80 pounds since this was taken. (Photo was taken in March of 2011 on occasion of my Mother's 90th birthday party.) Second picture is a head shot of me that I took to use for my Facebook profile picture, about 15 pounds ago. Wish I had a full length photo of me. Will have to get my hubbie to take one of me so I can post it.
Anyway, just want to encourage all of you out there who are still making the decision to have or not have surgery, and to you who have had it and are not as far along as I am. (I am 7 1/2 months post op, surgery was June 18, 2011.) It is definetly worth the effort, the hoops insurance companies make you jump through, the pain, everything you have to do. I am SO thrilled! Just couldn't be happier if I tried!

Kathy D (alias Helen the Cat)

Sunday evening
Tenna, Just wanted to drop you a note to encourage you and to assure you of my prayers tomorrow for both you and your family. You are correct when you say you are starting a journey. It is the journey of a life time, as it is truly life changing! I am 7 1/2 months post op, and have lost around 98 pounds (it varies a pound or two either way depending on the day). I went from a size 26/28 top to a 12/14 and 24 pant size to a Size 8! I am SO thrilled with how I look, but even more thrilled with how I FEEL! Some days I have a little "buyers remores" when I am eating something really good, and have to stop after just a couple of bites. I am really sad some days, cause I want to eat more of what ever it is that is tasting so good. But I know that is how I got into this situation in the first place, and my sleeve is my tool to help me overcome my problems with food and overeating.
Anyway, prayers coming your way tonight and tomorrow. Be sure and post to let us know how you are doing!!! Best wishes, love, hugs and prayers!!!
Kathy D (alias HelentheCat)

Thank you so much for posting the details of your experience. It was very interesting and quite similar to my experience. I to opted to have my surgery in Tijuana, since I was paying for it myself. (Our insurance company cover NO type of weight loss procedures/medications, etc.) I am now 6 1/2 months out. I weighed almost 260 when I started and am now firmly in the mid 160s. I have to say, I am THRILLED to death with my results. I went from a 3X or even 4 X in tops to a large. My pants size was 24-26 prior to my surgery. I now wear a size 8! (I love to say that! So I'll say it again; I wear a size 8!) I am in my mid 60s and thought it was to late to have the surgery and lose weight, but so far, so good. Keep going. You will be thrilled you did!