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450 pounds, 23 y old, TERRIFIED!



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Emma, Excellent attitude! You may want to try out different Protein mixes while you wait and find one you like beforehand and start getting use to drinking all day long. For me the crystal lights have been a godsend. Also if you can start a walking routine that will help with your recovery. And start taking your Vitamins now to build up your system.

Nancy

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Hi again. Forgot to mention what I have found inspiring given all the weight I need to lose snd that is the weight sspecific vsg support group which I think is the first link under the support groups section on the home page. There is one for folks with 150+ and 200+ lbs to lose. Some of the stories really inspire me.

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Hi Emma, you will do great. The sleeve is an awesome tool. It is great that you are doing this at such a young age. Best wishes!!

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Hi Emma,

Welcome to the forum and hello from over the Water in Hampshire, UK.

I understand your concerns as its hard not to discount the worries of surgery. Don't forget that your surgeon will be high experienced and also the whole operating team with be specially trained to deal with larger patients. Try to think of the possitives and how you life with change so much over this next year. I haven't had surgery yet but will be soon. I will be thinking about you and hope you post some updates so we all know how you are doing.

I'm sure you will be a great success!!!

Take care and keep smiling,

Sue

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Thanks for the great tips lunarose and Roseib. I'm on day 2 pre op and all going pretty well so far, bar the headache and slight nausea. It'll all be so worth it in the end. Thank u all so.much for welcoming me and offering your kind words of support. You guys have seriously changed how I'm feeling about the op. I'm now starting to get really excited about it all. This really is a chance for me to get my life back and stop sitting on the sidelines watching it all pass me by. I'm so glad I've finally faced the reality of my weight problem and am doing something positive to change it.

All of you waiting on surgery, I wish you the very best of luck. I hope we can help and encourage each other along the way. And to all post op, congrats on your amazing bravery and I wish you all continued success.

love Emma x

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Emma, I wish this had been available when I was your age I am a little jealous of all the doors that will open for you.

Nancy

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we all have our fears; understandably. but to hopefully re-assure you, a close friend of mine had the sleeve procedure a year ago August. her surgery date weight was 433 and she is now 270. she had many pre-surgery issues: diabetic, high blood pressure and edema to name a few. some meds have been cut or she's not taking any of some of them.

i say the decision is up to you which month you have surgery. and only your doctor, basically , has the last decision if the surgery is right for you at this time.

as for your cpap, be sure to use it every single night.

Hi all,

I'm brand new to this forum but have been looking for somewhere like this for a long time. My names Emma and I'm 23 years old, from Ireland.

I've been reading through all of your posts and just want to say congratulations to everyone on such amazing weight loss results.

I myself am booked in to have a gastric sleeve done on the 22nd of this month. I have all pre op testing done and passed everything with flying colors, except for my sleep study which revealed sleep apnea so I am using a CPAP machine for that. Basically I came here just looking for advice and support. I am terrified that something will go wrong during my surgery because I am so big. I am starting my pre op diet tomorrow so hopefully should have lost 20 pounds by my surgery date.

Are there any members out there who were as big as me and have a success story to share? I guess I am just really looking for reassurance because I'm suddenly filled with doubts since getting my surgery date yesterday.

Anyway thanks everybody for reading, I hope I get to know more about you all on this site.

Love Emma

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Hi Emma!! You are in the right place!!! You will do great!!! You are soo young! That is a great advantage!! I just started my pre-op too! My surgery is Friday! I'm nervous & excited! There are soo many people on here that have such great success stories! I know you will be one too!!! Glad your here!!! :)

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Emma! I think it's so great that you're taking control and getting this done at an early age, instead of wasting years and years with all the "someday" stuff most of us have gone back and forth with. That's awesome. :D

I so totally agree with this!

Hey Emma,

I'm also 23, and totally freaked! My surgery is 2 weeks from today and I've started my pre-op diet. It can be scary especially if you're like me and you've never had surgery before-- I'm really scared of the anesthesia. Just try to focus on the wonderful, exciting aspects of the surgery... think of all the lovely things it will enable you to do, and forget about the scary stuff!

These forums definitely help too, please stick around, we need eachother :)

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we all have our fears; understandably. but to hopefully re-assure you, a close friend of mine had the sleeve procedure a year ago August. her surgery date weight was 433 and she is now 270. she had many pre-surgery issues: diabetic, high blood pressure and edema to name a few. some meds have been cut or she's not taking any of some of them.

i say the decision is up to you which month you have surgery. and only your doctor, basically , has the last decision if the surgery is right for you at this time.

as for your cpap, be sure to use it every single night.

Thanks for that info blaqbeary. I'm glad your friend is doing so well since surgery. My cpap is very annoying but am being very vigilant and very it every night. I find it very hard to get comfy with it on but hopefully it isn't long term and my safety is worth being uncomfy for.

A little update for everyone. My pre op is going ok. Very light headed and nauseous but otherwise I feel fine. The head hunger is the worst part of it but I'm feeling good and positive about the end result.

Thanks everyone for your ongoing info and support.

X Emma

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I so totally agree with this!

Hey Emma,

I'm also 23, and totally freaked! My surgery is 2 weeks from today and I've started my pre-op diet. It can be scary especially if you're like me and you've never had surgery before-- I'm really scared of the anesthesia. Just try to focus on the wonderful, exciting aspects of the surgery... think of all the lovely things it will enable you to do, and forget about the scary stuff!

These forums definitely help too, please stick around, we need eachother :thumbup1:

Hi!

It's so great to hear from someone my age and who hasn't had surgery yet. This place is really great for meeting people who are in the same place as u.

How are u feeling about your surgery? I'm getting excited now I must admit.

Keep me updated on ur progress.

X Emma

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Thank you for the kind thoughts Emma! Hang in there! We will make the journey around the same time. With the liquid diet if your surgeon allows it - Soup from a Chinese restaurant is amazing after 8+ days of just Protein drinks. hehe. :confused1: Make sure to strain it, some restaurants will do it for you.

Wishing you the best possible!

Papillon

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Hi roseib, must admit the pre op diet is so tough. I felt like crap for two days. Would have killed somebody for a bowl of mashed potato. All I want is carbs but I know it'll all be worth it in the end. Can't wait for surgery. It can't come quick enough.

Xx Emma

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Hi roseib, must admit the pre op diet is so tough. I felt like crap for two days. Would have killed somebody for a bowl of mashed potato. All I want is carbs but I know it'll all be worth it in the end. Can't wait for surgery. It can't come quick enough.

Xx Emma

Glad to hear it is going well. Your cravings are typical. I was lucky I could have a palm sized amount of lean Protein and veggies for dinner. I still lost 19 lbs in two weeks and apparently my liver was ok for surgery since it went fine. The good mews is that after surgery you won't be hungry so the postop liquid diet is a snap! Hang in there.

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    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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