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

Rosey, that is wonderful! I agree with VA, we need pictures! It is amazing how losing weight can completely change our perspective.

Hi everyone,

Its been a while since I last posted. I've been doing okay; I have okay days and not-so-okay days. I started working full time again about a month ago (I'm a teacher). Let me tell you, that kicked my butt. I'm tired all the time and feel neauseated and sick a lot. But I do believe that I'm still healing and adjusting from a huge surgery- although it feels like a YEAR ago, its only been two-and-a-half months since my surgery. And I'm down 51 pounds!

I looked in the mirror the other day and saw my collar-bones again. That made me feel good. My fatty fat fat fat clothes are falling off of me, but I still have to make myself try on some of my smaller clothes to see if they fit. I guess I don't want to because I still think I'm too big to fit in any smaller clothes.

I have a hard time with eating. I still eat too fast or too big of bites. And unfortunately, I do not enjoy food much any more. There have been some days where I soooo wanted to just eat and be comforted, but I couldn't, and it made me sad. But I knew this would happen, and I just dealt with it- but it is hard! Like I said, I'm only 2.5 months out, and I believe this will get better, so I am just trying to do the best I can until then.

Believe me, it does get better. Most of the time, I totally forget that I even had surgery or have the sleeve.

Whoo Hoo!!! Way to go Sleeve Sister!!!! I'm so proud of you! I, too, get nauseated at times. It can only get better. I'm down 38 pounds now. It's unbelievable, isn't it! This is the best thing we could have done, for our health, our lifestyles, and our self esteem. Don't regret it for a second!

Doing good Rosey - actually - doing GREAT! Keep up the good work. Thanks for letting us know how you're doing!:party4:

Hi everyone,

Down 59 lbs :-). Yesterday was my 3 month anniversary. I got really sick with the flu for a couple weeks, but I feel much better now. My fat pants don't fit anymore (in fact, they fall right off buttoned-zipped and everything), but at the same time, any smaller pants I have don't fit quite right either. I think it's my sagging stomach skin. Anyone else have this problem?

Another question for you all. Has anyone experienced bad mood problems. Lately I have been really irritable. I get mad very easy over stupid things. I heard that mood swings tend to happen after surgery because of hormonal fluctuations. Anyone else have this? Thanks.

One more thing. Sorry to be so graphic, but my bowel movements are terrible and anything but normal. I'm LUCKY to get a movement once a week, and when I do, it is very painful. The cramps and contractions I get are tear-wrenching. Anyone else get this. What can I do to regulate my BM. Thanks.

Hi Rosey,

Yes on the mood swings especially in the beginning. I'm approx. 7 weeks post-op now and down a total of 51 pounds (inc. pre-op 26 pound loss.) As for the constipation issues, you need to either drink more fluids or add more fiber to the diet, or maybe both. Laxatives are not the answer because they take water from your body to work, so up your fluids and increase fiber (fruits, veggies, bran, you get the idea) and should help you a lot. You probably got dehydrated when ill, so make an extra effort now to get your 64 oz. of fluids and increase fiber. Should make things much better.

My band doctor and my regular doctor recommend Miralax. It's not a stimulant laxative. I take it every other day and I have no problems at all. It's great stuff and after a few days that you're on it, you will have normal bms. Make sure you drink lots of Water though. It puts water in the stools to make them soft and normal. Sorry if that's graphic.

I know it used to be a prescription and my mothers doctor prescribed it to her.

One more thing. Sorry to be so graphic, but my bowel movements are terrible and anything but normal. I'm LUCKY to get a movement once a week, and when I do, it is very painful. The cramps and contractions I get are tear-wrenching. Anyone else get this. What can I do to regulate my BM. Thanks.

Rosey,

Happy 3 month anniversary sleeve sister! Wow! Great weight loss! 59lbs! Thats awesome! I'm at 44lbs down. Isn't the sleeve great! I had the same issue with BM's. There was a thread about this, and someone suggested magnesium supplements. As a matter of fact, I think it was Vegas. (sorry Vegas, if it wasn't you). I researched magnesium, and not only do they recommend it for constipation, they highly recommend it to people with IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) for regulating BM's. It also helps to lower blood pressure, which is a real bonus for me. I started taking it last week, and along with 1/2 dose of Miralax every other day, I now have regular BM's daily with no pain, and no straining. I hope this helps you. I, too, was only having one difficult BM a week. As they say, been thre, done that, no thanks! It took about 3 days for the magnesium and Miralax to work for me. Try it, its easy and it works. Keep up the good work.:thumbup:

I am still pre surgery, but, to get enough water down I have been adding the Strawberry/lemon CVS brand fiber. tastes fine and really helps in the end>LOL.

Rosey - that is so great - not sure what to tell you about the pants -- wear skirts maybe until you can get into your smaller pants? Or a belt on the others with a long top over it maybe?

As for the magnesium -- that was me that told Skinny about it - it works for me -- if two doesn't work, the doc said take 3, try that a few days and up it if it still didn't work -- you can't OD on magnesium - your body will burn off what you don't use. However, I like Skinny's idea of the magnesium and 1/2 a dose of Miralax every other day. As for me, if I eat a salad, that will move things through in about 1 hour!

Keep us posted on your progress and you best be posting some pics soon girl - new hair-do - new body! WOO HOO.

Happy 3 month Sleeveaversary to Skinny, Rosey & my honey Bearded. My 4 month is tomorrow (10/12)

That is the hardest part of the surgery. It is a big problem for me too. Do you buy magnesium tablets? Where do you find them?

That is the hardest part of the surgery. It is a big problem for me too. Do you buy magnesium tablets? Where do you find them?

I got mine at Target - weren't expensive at all - I think they were 500 mg. - I was taking 2 in the am and 2 in the pm before surgery.

Thanks. This is the pits.