I noticed a few July folks posting on other threads and thought there might be enough of us to start our own thread (rather than hijacking whatever threads we find with a July surgery in them) - so I invite anyone with a July surgery to post their story here so we can support each other and share our experiences.

I'm C and my surgery is scheduled with Dr. Aceves on 15 July. I'm 29 and married to an Army man - we're currently stationed in Germany. We have two year old boy/girl twins. I'm choosing to self-pay because Tricare does not currently cover VSG and none of the overseas military facilities do the procedure at this time. To complicate matters, our next assignment is (as of right now) in Yerevan, Armenia. Getting this surgery in a remote location like Armenia isn't even a possibility. I'm not willing to wait more than two more years for this surgery.

I started my research in the summer of 2008 when my doctor diagnosed me with Type II (I developed gestational diabetes with my twin pregnancy and it stuck around afterward) and suggested the band. After much research I decided the sleeve best suits my needs.

I'm 5'1" (and some change), 240 pounds and I would be happy with any weight under 160 pounds. I haven't weighed less than that in more than ten years and I have been plus-sized since high school.

Please, hop in and share your own stories so I can share this journey with others instead of doing it alone! If I am successful my mom would like to have the surgery, too, but she's very nervous because she has never had surgery before.

~C

Coops: I am sooo sorry to hear you've been sick. Poor thing. We had a bout of the flu here that went round and round until I got sick THREE times, but luckily we got out of it before it got so bad. I'm glad you realize it's just your body trying to keep you well. I'm sure that once you're completely well again you'll drop more weight. I know it's frustrating and disheartening, but you'll get through this! You've been slow and steady the whole way, and you'll get back to that once you're well again. You're looking great, and doing a fantastic job!

Kathy: Thanks a million, billion for the kind words. Isn't it so amazing to see that our men can be insecure, too? I think deep down my husband is afraid that I'll go looking elsewhere, too, since his first wife found herself a new husband while they were still married. I tell him that I can't believe he would think that. I'm married to a man that loved me AND my body madly at this size, all the way up to 275 when I was pregnant with our twins. He's been constant, faithful and just plain wonderful. I would never risk what I have on someone new, someone who would only be attracted to me physically, anyway. Men are so silly! I wish you the absolute best with your relationship. All you can do is keep proving to your boyfriend that you're here to stay and that he completely rocks your world! I'm sorry about the reflux. I do understand that fleeting regret about one last binge. I don't forbid myself anything anymore. I'm losing slowly, but I'm still losing. If you're still thinking about that cheesy pepperoni in a day or two, kill the crave with a small homemade cheese and pepperoni pizza or by buying a single slice. Eat a little bit and get it out of your system. I was craving frozen custard like you would not believe - I was having dreams about ice cream cones! I finally broke down and had some...I wound up eating two bites, finding it too sweet and splitting the dish between my kids instead. It's one thing to eat a junky treat in moderation and another to actually binge. Binging would be impossible now, and so long as you won't find yourself fighting an evil, two-headed carb monster afterward I don't see that indulging once in a while is a problem. We need to learn to eat like normal people, and normal people DO indulge once in a while. Just my opinion! I'm not encouraging you to be bad or overindulge, just to cut yourself some slack when you really want something.

Lou: Now you know about wardrobe! Only buy one or two things in each size, or you're wasting money! I'm glad to hear you're doing so well with your diabetes. Mine hadn't progressed very far yet, and I'm completely off meds and normal now. It's wonderful. I bet you'll be here in no time. Just think of the years you're adding to your life by getting that horrible disease under control. Diabetes is very dangerous and getting mine under control was my biggest motivation. Thanks for the tips - I'll have to make sure my husband sees that there are perks to this skinnier me! I definitely think something a little less "matronly" would go a long way for him, so great idea.

Well, folks, I'm glad for the updates we've had and I hope everyone is doing well. Stay safe during the holiday season and remember to use moderation when it comes to the yummy treats people throw at you this time of year, but don't deprive yourself of the things that will make you feel normal.

~Cheri

Thanks ladies, I am sorta losing a pound a week over the last two weeks, so at least that is progress... the whole 3 weeks with no loss was seriously doing my head it... I need to up the exercise to what it used to be, I had to take it steady for a while but I do feel really well now. I have my follow up appointment on Xmas Eve and once the specialist has given me the all clear I get get back on the exercise as I used to and crank it up a gear or two...lol

I have been tempted to post some before and after pics... what I have decided to do now, is to post when I reach the half way mark, which is 7lbs away, and am hoping that this will give me a little more motivation too!!

Have a great christmas holidays... I am not going to deny myself cos i know that after a mouthful or two that will be enough... happy days!

So we all got our surgeries in July 2010. Now almost two years later (March 2012) how is everyone doing? What is life like two years post op?

I got married last year and had my first child in Dec 2011 (I didn't think I could have children). I am 30 lbs heavier than my lowest weight before my pregnancy but I am seeing a specialist the beganning of May to see what we can do to help me since my stomach got larger in my pregnancy. I'm sure I'll have the weight back off in no time. At least I'm no where close to my highest weight. I still am glad I had the WLS. If I could go back I would have gotten the VSG instead of the Super Sleeve but WLS was the best thing I ever could have done for myself.

Hey there, checking in. Had surgery July 14, 2010. Went from 287.5 down to 152lbs and a size 8. I am maintaining well and finding it almost effortless. I exercise several times a week and now able to be very active. Before I was pretty much handicap and not able to do much at all.

I want to attach a recent pic but I'm on iPad and the site requires flash. Oh well.

I hope everyone out there is doing as well as I am.

I love my sleeve!

Hi there,

Got sleeved by Dr Rodriguez in Juarez July of 2010 too. Starting weight was 240lbs/size 20........a lot of struggles, stalls,loose skins and a recent tummy tuck w hernia repair later, I'm currently stuck at 170lbs/size 10 and just found out am also 10 weeks preggos.Dat was a total surprise!

I must admit, the results justifies the pains and I will do it all over again in a heartbeat if I need to.

Good luck ladies.

Hi All

It will be 2 years for me also in July. I went from 265 to 180. I stay within 85 - 90 lbs lost. All is great - no regrets. I am always hungry but still can only eat a bit then have to wait. I turn 63 in a few months but do not feel it at all. My exercise: 5 days a week – take off weekends… get up @ 2:45 (I know crazy) – 50 push-ups, 0 sit-ups – then I alternate – one day – 30 minutes on the elliptical – some weights exercises – then 15 minutes on the treadmill. On the other days it is 20 minutes treadmill first then 20 minutes elliptical.

I have a hard time dealing with the death of my doctor – Dr. Radulescu. I recently read that it was a suicide. He was very depressed and reports from his doctor said he worried all the time about making a mistake and hearting one of this patients. He was a great doctor. The report goes on to say that he poured gas on himself and light it. WOW…

Some stages that I went through and curious if others had the same …

When I eat too much – I need to blow my nose

I only started to belch after ` the first year which helps a lot to free up “space”

I can eat anything – some more than others

Lou, thank you for your post. I haven't been sleeved yet--just finished all my pre-op tests. I appreciate hearing from sleevers who've kept their weight off for several years. Are those darling children in your pic the grandkids? Wishing you continued success!

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