I think I've finally worked up enough courage to share my story. I have not been sleeved yet, but am looking forward to my new beginning soon. I don't think my story is special. We've all been there, done that. I was a chubby kid in an obese family. Growing up in "the fat family" is never easy. In high school, I became anorexic. Even as a skeleton, I still saw myself as a fatty. My period stopped, my hair fell out, and I fainted on several occassions. I eventually turned to Bulimia, but once my teeth started rotting and my voice was getting froggy, I stopped that real quick. I eventually settled into the over-eating thing I had done since childhood, and from then on it's been yo-yo heaven (no, I mean yo-yo hell). Fat to trim to chubby to skinny to really fat to chubby to trim, and now at super-oooober fat.To this day, I still struggle with chronic depression and am on medication for bipolar disorder.

When I met my husband, I was in a good place. I lost a lot of weight on Jenny Craig and Weight Watchers. At 5'9" and very broad statured, I was 175. I felt really good and that's when I met the love of my life. Two years later, we married. But something unexpected happened. I got depressed and I guess went through the newly-wed syndrome and let myself go. Now, two years later and 24 years old, I am at my heviest weight ever, 275. Stress played a big part too. I was paying myself through college (and commuted an hour away from my home for college) and working (I'm a music teacher); I was a newlywed and just bought my first house, so I added wife and homemaker to the mix. Personal tragedy, money problems, you know, those things that grown-ups have to deal with. Well, being the emotional eater I am, it didn't take long for me to get to where I am.

I am a very blessed person. There are so many things in my life to give thanks for. My husband loves ME the WAY I am, and the more I hate myself, the more he loves me! (How I snagged him I'll never know). I just graduated from college and am blessed with a job I LOVE (teaching K-8 music education), I recently bought my first house, and I am the mother of four goofy dogs. Things are going so great for me, yet, there has always been that one thing that has been like a dark cloud over my head- and that is my weight problem. Sometimes I feel so guilty for allowing myself to be sad over my self-image when I have so many good things in my life.

Well, it wasn't until recently that my family's obese ways have finally caught up to them. My mom is now diabetic, my grandpa died of a heart attack, and my aunt (who is in the 400lbs range) has such a long list of health problems I cannot count. I am still young, but I see myself headed to where they are now. Yes things are great in my life, but how can I enjoy it if my health is bad? Right now I'm okay, but it won't stay okay for long being obese. That's when I decided it's time to conquer my life-long battle once and for all. That's why I decided to take this drastic action. I want to go hiking with my husband or travel places and not feel ashamed in my own skin. I want to break the obese curse of my family and not be "the fatty" anymore. I want to be in my 60's and still be active with the "granny power-walkers". I want to have kids one day, and be able to run and play and be healthy. I want to look in the mirror and finally see someone I like. May God be with me in my journey and may God be with all of you during your journey.

Thanks for listening.

Rose

I have a hard time knowing when to stop. I can't go by how full I feel. I had a half a piece of pizza, but just the toppings and one chicken wing yesterday. I didn't feel full, but I knew it was time to stop. Then half an hour, I felt over stuffed. I have realized that I need to stop before I feel full.

I'll be 3 months out soon. I can drink as much as I want at one time. I drink

24 oz of Water before I go to work in the morning. That takes probably 10 minutes at the most. I seem to be thirsty when I get up.

Edited July 28, 200917 yr by Oregondaisy

I have a hard time knowing when to stop. I can't go by how full I feel. I had a half a piece of pizza, but just the toppings and one chicken wing yesterday. I didn't feel full, but I knew it was time to stop. Then half an hour, I felt over stuffed. I have realized that I need to stop before I feel full.

I'll be 3 months out soon. I can drink as much as I want at one time. I drink 24 oz of Water before I go to work in the morning. That takes probably 10 minutes at the most. I seem to be thirsty when I get up.

I do well to get down 1/2 a cup of coffee in the morning - then when I get to work, I make a hot tea and I usually drink about 1/2 of it - but it takes me about an hour each time -- I guess if all I did was sit with my cup I could drink more at one time. After that I switch to ice cubes and water and try to get in a V8 or Ensure before lunch. If I try to eat anything before about noon, I get stuck -- generally by lunch time I'm able to eat something moist - like tuna or Soup. After lunch, I go back to ice cubes and water and try to finish the Ensure if I haven't done so already. Generally by dinner time I am able to eat a little more than at lunch and I try to get in a few more liquids with ice cubes, water or SF popsicles. I have noticed in the past week that I am able to take a little bit bigger swallow than I have been before and am able to eat a little more (generally at dinnertime) than in the past -- so each week is getting better. I do have the spasms still; however, it seems that if I stick to warm in the morning, it doesn't seem to bother me as much during the rest of the day -- how weird, but so true.

Hang in there Skinny -- patience is the key in this journey I am finding.

Patience must be the key. I just had about 1/8 cup cream of tomato soup and now I am nauseated. I am having an awful time with food right now. It's very frustrating. I'm beginning to not want to eat. This doesnt sound good. One day at a time I guess.

Welcome, Rose! Thanks for sharing your story. Do you have a surgery date yet? I'm still pre-op...awaiting July 7 for my VSG. I call it "my Independence day"! I'll Celebrate my independence from obesity. :smile1:

Jenn-

Funny that you call it your Independence Day! Me too!

xo

Independence Day

ps - How's it going with your mushies?

The more I hear about folks having so many problems with reflux, nausea, vomitting and other gastric type issues the more grateful I am for how uneventful my surgery and recovery were.

I have had zero problems with any of those things and was pretty much able to drink with no issues early on and progressed through the different stages easily.

I am not the most patient human on the planet and am not sure I would have handled these problems as well as most of you seem to be handling them.

If I were many months or years out and still took 45 minutes to eat 4 oz I would be seriously annoyed but many of you seem to take this in stride and as a normal part your surgery/recovery journey.

Patience must be the key. I just had about 1/8 cup cream of tomato soup and now I am nauseated. I am having an awful time with food right now. It's very frustrating. I'm beginning to not want to eat. This doesnt sound good. One day at a time I guess.

I totally understand that feeling -- it's getting better for me though and I am sure it will for you too ... just keep at it - eat what you can when you can.

I went to the fair today and had beef teriyaki on a stick. I was very happy I was able to eat it and not get too full or start sliming or foaming. I think I am finally getting the hang of eating solids.

I feel really bad for all of you that are having so much trouble eating and drinking. I would go nuts.

I went to the fair today and had beef teriyaki on a stick. I was very happy I was able to eat it and not get too full or start sliming or foaming. I think I am finally getting the hang of eating solids.

That's great Daisy -- I hope you have finally figured it out.

I feel really bad for all of you that are having so much trouble eating and drinking. I would go nuts.

Yeah, it bites big time. I want to be to the point that I can tell someone they're going to love having their sleeve ... so far, I can't say those words because I don't feel that way myself. I hope the day comes when I do feel that way and I hope it is sooner than later.

It really and truly does get better guys! At nearly four months out, I have very few, if any problems and absolutely love mine. The key is listening to your body. Stop eating when you are no longer hungry, don't wait until you have that full feeling because you will probably end up being uncomfortable later.

It really and truly does get better guys! At nearly four months out, I have very few, if any problems and absolutely love mine. The key is listening to your body. Stop eating when you are no longer hungry, don't wait until you have that full feeling because you will probably end up being uncomfortable later.

I am 3 1/2 months post sleeve and I have had NO problems with eating or getting my fluids in; however, sometimes I miss food. Example...We were out with another couple Saturday and it just hit me all of a sudden as to how much I missed eating and enjoying food. I can only eat 2 oz of hard Protein and then maybe 1/2 cup steamed veggies at a meal. I had ordered a side of crab stuffed shrimp and ate 2 of the 4 and was "at my full". I got real teary and had to have a private talk with myself.

I know and believe all the... this is what I HAD to do to live and get my health back, I love having lost 65 # in 3 months, I enjoy the conversation when eating with others, I can eat 2 oz of anything that I want except maybe some beef etc, etc BUT I do miss food terribly. I know is a mental thing however it hurts. Carol

In the beginning hot did go down easier. It must relax the muscles. Hang in there. It gets better. Now I can drink normally except for the protein drinks which take a lot longer to get down.

I can sooo totally relate to that feeling. I was/am such a foodie and I am grieving the loss of being able to eat and taste as much as I want. It is most definitely a mind thing. I just keep telling myself that I can have more, just not right now. Sometimes that works but seriously sometimes I just want a couple more bites when my stomach says NO. It just comes down to acceptance of my choice and what is more important to me. Nothing tastes as good as being thin feels.

I do get frustrated when I'm eating something that will do me good because it contains so much Protein. I fixed 1/2 of a small filet last night and could only eat 1/2 of it.

I tried tuna salad for lunch again. It was such a staple on my presurgery diet and suffered for hours after that. It looks as though that is off of my list for a good long time to come.

There are lots of frustrations with this surgery, but I keep hearing that it gets better.

All of you amaze me. I just wanted to say that. You have so much strength to eat a few bites and be done.

I can understand the loss feeling. When I quit smoking I felt the same way. I have no idea if this will be the same or not but I know the feeling of longing for a cig went away. I have a feeling this will be the same for many in this thread for food.

It doesn't require a lot of strength. You take one bite too many and you suffer the consequences.