Randgalt

3 weeks out today. Every day is better than the last. Somes ups and downs. I'm still on liquid, I want to swim, I am just now able to get on my side, but flipping back to my back hurts. I am walking even more and I can sit on a couch and lift weights with my arms but I can't stand and lift because it strains my tummy too much.
I am drinking plenty of fluids, I still can't get in 80 grams of Protein and that's okay too. I take my Vitamins 4 x's a day and I remember the first day trying to chew this big thing that was so chalky. It felt like it would take me an hour to get that pill down.
For a while I hated my Protein shakes that I used to love, I'm tolerating them now, but I'm not loving them.
Sipping is more important than you realize. Taking in a lot of air when you drink can be painful.
The most important thing to remember is to stay positive and every day is better than the day before. Hopefully you have used your pre-op time wisely to get your mind set for what is ahead and you FULLY realize that the sleeve is only a tool and it's still up to you.
Know that not everyone loses a ton of weight really quick. Everyone's body is different. People that didn't lose a lot pre-op may lose more Water weight.
Know that right after surgery, when you come home you may weigh MORE than the day you had surgery. Don't freak, it happens. You are swollen, you have IV Fluid to get rid of, your stomach is swollen inside and out from the surgery. It will eventually go away. Try to avoid - I'm a failure posts here. If you try to stay positive it will make some of the negative things less hurtful.
Realize stalls happen and it's how you deal with them that is important. About a week after surgery or two you may have one or two days that you are emotional, that is very normal.
Each day does get better.
My stomach is 2 inches bigger today than it was on May 25th. The sides are smaller but larger portion of my tummy is still swollen 3 weeks out. I have lost about 30 pounds give or take 5 since then but I have lost a WHOLE lot of inches all over the place.
Your stomach will take time to heal.
Sip, sip, sip, walk, walk, walk, gas-x and smile cause it gets better are the most important words you need to know going into this and coming out.

IT'S FINALLY HERE!!!!!! TODAY'S THE DAY!!!!! I am anxious and now nervous. I have to be at the hospital at 11:30. Bags are packed and I'm ready to go! My mother, sister, and 2 oldest children are going to be there for support. i have been up all ***ht trying to keep my mind clear and not have an anxiety attack. Sending up prayers for all of us that are up for surgery today!!!! Congrats and I will post once I get in my room.

I want to Celebrate and shout from the rooftops! I made my surgeons goal on my appt day! I didnt even know he had a goal for me and he turns to me and says, "Congratulations, you made goal!" I said what??? I made up an arbitrary goal of 135 because i remember weighing that in college. I had no idea what my goal was supposed to be... He said "see, your ideal weight is 138 and I weighed in at exactly 138! Wow.. I thought I had missed it by three pounds but it was so refreshing to say that I finally made A goal. I always fall short but not this time! My wonderful hubby made a great slideshow of the whole process, starting from our Brazil vacation spring of 2011 to now. Its been quite a ride!!!!! Woohooo... I cant believe I made my surgeons goal in exactly one year!!!!! Wooop! enjoy the show..
http://animoto.com/play/a5Pa3Hpgm8GSDxDYkhPFuA?utm_content=main_link

I definitely get the full feeling, and after a very small amount of food, but my issue is I never lost my hunger (and no, it is not acid, which is what everyone likes to blame it on). I am hungry again anywhere from 2-4 hours after eating, so I eat small frequent meals. As for what you can eat, the sleeve was never a promise to control WHAT you're eating, only how much. You have a fully functioning stomach and pyloric valce, so dumping is usually not an issue. It is still up to you to choose what you put in your mouth. And since it's such a small amount, it's best to make it count nutritionally.

Most of them...? There are a few -- a very few -- denominations that believe that all that is required is faith (and even here I'd differentiate "faith" from "pretending to believe in something because you're scared of being wrong"), but most of them have lots of rituals you have to do, specific moral codes you have to adhere to, holy books you have to read and/or memorize, regular worship you have to practice, and more, if you want to get into their version of heaven. When you add up all the things you have to do to be a good (Christian, Muslim, Jew, Hindu, Buddhist, Shinto, Zoroastrian, whatever) it's a fair amount of work.

See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pascal's_Wager
The idea is that if you believe in God and he doesn't exist, you've lost nothing, whereas if you DON'T believe in God and he DOES exist, you burn for all eternity. So, you should believe in God.
Problem with the argument is that the two sides are not equivalent; you don't just have to believe in God to get into heaven, you have to go to church, live by a particular moral code, dress a certain way, act a certain way, and so on. Many people are willing to pay the price, but getting into heaven is certainly not FREE.
Similarly, you have to weigh the LIKELIHOOD of God's existence vs. the cost/benefit. If -- like me -- you think it's very, very, very unlikely that God exists, then that "burn in hell for all eternity" thing is ALSO very, very very unlikely.
Finally, the ultimate rebuttal to someone who's reformulating Pascal's Wager is simply this: okay, I'll believe in God... which one? You see, there are dozens -- hundreds? -- of religions, each claiming to have the One True God, each claiming he has to be worshipped a certain way, each threatening some horrific punishment if you don't comply, and each completely incompatible with the others. It's simply impossible to believe in/worship all of these gods, who each claims to be the One True God, so no matter which one you choose, there are far more possibilities that you'll choose wrong than that you'll choose right. So, without knowing which god to choose, how can you make a choice based on logic?
No, Pascal's Wager SOUNDS good, but it's actually just nonsense. Believe or don't believe, folks, but don't try to pretend that your belief in God is logical. It ain't; it's called faith, either you have it or you don't, and in God -- I don't.

Hello! I'm new here. I would like to thank you for sharing your stories and experiences - it has helped me ask the right questions, find a good doctor, and decide about what is right for me.
I am an emotional eater. I'd like to start using some techniques now to help after the surgery. What has worked for you?

I am happy to report that I am free of diabetes!!!!!!!! Hallelujuah. Thank you Jesus!!!! I just came back from my endocrinologists office and I do not have to take anymore insulin. I am going to continue to check my sugars once/twice a day just as a safety precaution but otherwise I am done. I am so happy!!!
For all of the diabetics out there there IS a light at the end of the tunnel!
POOF IT'S GONE!!!!!!!
FYI: I was sleeved July 17th... It's August 1st. Now how do you like them apples!!!? *Happy Dance*!!!

I had mine with the gallbladder also worked by a sculptor and glossed over with a shiny gold metallic paint. It's mounted over the fireplace.
JUST KIDDING!!!!!

Three days ago, before I "officially" started my pre-op diet, I went ahead and splurged one last time. Me, My husband and my daughter went to Outback Steakhouse and I went all out on my favorite food - A bloomin' onion (we all shared) Fettuccine Alfredo with chicken and Shrimp (I could only eat half before I was full) and even a "sample" size of the chocolate Thunder from Down Under which was actually more like a normal size portion instead of the shareable one. It was absolutely scrumptious and so worth it to me. Now I'm 100% sticking to my diet until surgery in two weeks. I think it's normal to have a little bit of mourning before surgery..food has been our friend and companion for many years and it's hard to imagine life without that crutch. Just try to remember how great you'll feel in a few weeks when the weight starts melting off! Make a commitment to stick to the plan from here on out, the more you get off before surgery the easier it will be afterward. Good luck!

No, I don't think so. I was a high BMI (48) and my doctor only had me do the liquid diet 48-hours before surgery. He said the whole 2-4 week liquid diet is just torture and so long as you can adhere to a high-protein/low carb diet and lose 10-15 pounds before surgery. Which I did.

OK, maybe gross, but I asked my doctor what they did with it, so you are not alone! I was told that they incinerate them, so you could think of it as cremation for your stomach!

So here are some photos almost exactly 1 year apart. ( I hope I can get them on here LOL)
The first is me before surgery and then about 8 weeks after. The other two were taken last week, 13 months post op.

OMG I'm so excited. Aug 23rd is my day . Yeeeeee hawwwwwwww. What kind of freak looks forward to surgery lol. MEEEEEEEE

QOTD
Name- Teresa A.K.A. Sunny
Age- I turn 33 on August 2nd
From- Middle of nowhere Alberta, Canada...I mean that quite literally lol we live in the wilderness
Highest weight ,Current weight, Goal Weight- 243,218,110? I am only 5'2 and I haven't seen the lower 100's for so long I don't even know how to type them lol. But, my doc says shoot for it. So what the hell, I guess that's good enough for me
Career- I work with special needs children as a educational assistant at a local school. I typically have a specific student assigned to me who is in kindergarten or lower elementary. I was a stay at home mom full time for ten years. I headed tons of committees and volunteered for EVERYTHING! This year, I QUIT! I am only staying on as a part time Sunday School teacher, and a leader for one of my daughters clubs. I quit parent council (P.T.A.), I quit women't group, I quit the children's theater, I quit volunteering on Thursdays at my daughters school. This year, I am joining belly dancing, curling and Zumba. I am going to smoosh my children's cheeks, and play board games with them. I am going to take pictures of them and take long walks after supper with them. I am going to PLAY with my kids and hang out with my darling hubby. I won't be rushing off to board meetings, I will be drinking a cup of Decaf earl grey and at the end of a day, just being happy sinking my heart into my family and find my Qwan!

Soo happy I decided to have the surgery. I'm four days shy away from my 2mo anniversary 61 lbs down and went from a size 26 to a 20 it feels AMAZING!!

Hi im having my sleeve on aug 28 also, good luck, keep me posted how it goes

Here are a few of my journey pictures.....
    

My surgery is August 16 at 7am. I start my pre op diet on August 6. I am cooking all my favorite things tacos, apple turnovers, grapes everything!!! Is this happening to anyone else?! I see the nut tomorrow and have my pre op physical...I bet I've gained 4 pounds! I also had a cheeseburger last night! Damn

Here's a tag! Name the top 5 things you will not miss or will be glad to say "goodbye" to forever post op! Here's mine to start
1. The stares from people. Followed by the whispers. I can still hear you when I have literally just walked past u and u say to your friend "look how big/fat she is"
2. The sweating. I'm 25 years old...I am not anywhere near menopause but omg being overweight gives me a glimpse of what night sweats and hot flashes are gonna feel like.
3. The smell...I don't know how else to put it. But ever since I started gaining weight there's that smell that comes with being overweight...tmi perhaps but it's a foul odor from my folds..and especially under my breasts (im top heavy)
4. The disappointment at clothing stores. You know when you see something and you think of course that's gonna fit! But I'm gonna try it on anyways...and it's way too tight? Not gonna miss that! Or worse when ur too tired or annoyed to try it on at the store and u go home to try it and realize its too tight..go to return it and when the cashier says "was there something wrong with it?" and u say yeah it was too big/lose when the truth is it was the opposite but u were too ashamed to say.
5. Being out of breath after the smallest things - walking 10 stairs to the 2nd level of my house..are u kidding me? Then having to sit for 5 mins So I can catch my breath! Forget sports or running or just being able to run around with little kids..I can't even walk without feeling winded!!

Nobody has been tracking the results of the sleeve as a WLS that long yet. Give it a bit more time. I'm not certain but when I was researching I think someone posted a five year study - you might do some searching and see if you can find anything on VST about it.
Regain is possible with any surgery. The big benefit the sleeve has over bypass (what most people are probably thinking of when they talk about regain) is that there isn't a honeymoon phase or window where loss is easiest. Once you're sleeved and healed, your capacity only increases a small amount. Unlike a short window where malabsoption is guaranteed, or a pouch that is likely to stretch (or a band that requires fills and unfills, for that matter), your sleeve is going to restrict you immediately after surgery and for the rest of your life.
I am two years out and maintaining beautifully. I'm currently pregnant and while I have hormone bloat and the start of a rounded tummy, I'm not having a problem with weight gain (nothing more than I'd expect at this point) despite the fact that my capacity is increased now that I'm pregnant.
All surgeries come with the risk of regain. Using the sleeve like a diet that will someday end is the biggest cause of regain I've seen - people just stop being diligent at goal and fall into denial about bad habits, ones they didn't fix while losing in the first place. That said, I have seen very few regain posts in the three years I've been here. I've seen plenty of "I got out of control over the holidays and gained a few but took it off quickly" posts, though. If you weigh daily in maintenance and actually learn how to eat like a healthy, normal person during the first few months post surgery, there is no reason you can't reach goal and maintain for life.
~Cheri

Last bit of blood work and an EKG and I am all set for surgery. Who all is getting sleeved on the 17th?

Or, people could stop being such jerks to one another and realize at one point we were ALL obese, all have/had an obvious food issue and all are HUMAN. Just sayin.

Don't get on here much anymore but I wanted to share my success with a before and now bathing suit shot. My friends don't even get to see this but y'all can cause I don't know any of you!! I still have about 45 more to go but I'm happy with my success so far. Good luck to all of you in your journey!!
Sent from my iPhone using VST

This is the first major goal I've been waiting for. I'm almost halfway there now. This dress will be WAY too big when I'm done!
Oh YES I did!!!

Maybe we should renew our vows while it still fits!
--danielle