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African American Sleevers



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Hi there! AA wife and mom to five. 5'3 and 259-260lbs. Previous surgeries, gallbladder removal and a tubal ligation. I was approved, yay! So excited, this is a bday gift to myself...a lifestyle CHANGE.

Looking forward to being able to run again!!! Go up and down stairs with no knee pain. And not crush the little girl holding my foot up when I get a pedicure! :-P

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OMG..I am actually sitting on the side of my bed in tears right now...so excited to see this thread. I had wanted to know if ethnicity created different issues especially as it relates to Hair loss. I AM so appreciative of this thread. Not that we are all not created the same, but just to hear the journey from a personal perspective from a AA is so awesome to know that this site offers. I AM sure after I read through the 200+ pages I will have some specific questions for many..I will send personal messages if that's ok.. (SO EXCITED)

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I do agree with you. .I found this site last night and almost screamed lol. .. glad there is something here for us. .. not that it's a must but nice to see. .. I've been investigating this survey for 1 year and finally decided to go with it. .. now im patiently awaiting the insurance approval but it's driving me crazy! !

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Hey AA Family... I haven't post to this thread.. But I want to tell allll the newbie getting the surgery that after the surgery it get easier. I started pre-op on jun 25th and was sleeved on July 10th. I'm almost 3 months out..and feel great! After the surgery you might say.. What the heck did you do?! But it's worth it! You will ask herself why it took me so long?! Everyone have blessed day!

Felicia

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Hi everyone. I was sleeved Sept. 10th. I already have days that I question what I have done but I know it was best. I am now on puree/soft foods until Oct. 10th. My only concern is my hair. Im taking Biotin 10000mcg max strength. Im ready to perm my hair and chop it off bc im natural but scared that Hair loss might hit me later on. How did yall hair hold up thru this process?

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Hey AA Family... I haven't post to this thread.. But I want to tell allll the newbie getting the surgery that after the surgery it get easier. I started pre-op on jun 25th and was sleeved on July 10th. I'm almost 3 months out..and feel great! After the surgery you might say.. What the heck did you do?! But it's worth it! You will ask herself why it took me so long?! Everyone have blessed day!

Felicia

Thanks...Assan. im going to start my exercising today. 2 weeks out...feeling great. Im dropping more inches than pounds. Can you share about your hair and progress so far?

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Thanks...Assan. im going to start my exercising today. 2 weeks out...feeling great. Im dropping more inches than pounds. Can you share about your hair and progress so far?

I haven't had a hair lost yet.. Can't speak on that yet.. Because I'm wearing braids.. didn't want have excuses to not work out. Ahaha. Haven't had a perm since 2003. I make sure that I have a Protein Shake once a day .. And eat my Protein first before eating anything . I will be taking my braids out shortly.. And will give you an update.

I also started exercising 2 weeks after surgery. I committed myself to 4-5 days a week. I want to capitalize on the weight lost for the first year since I have a lot to lose. I weigh 348 at pre op, after pre-op 339 and now 298. At first I was being inpatient because I thought I would lose the weight quicker.. But just think..I lost 50lbs in 3 months since pre-op.. Last year I was on weight watchers from march 2012- August - 2012 started at 348 and end 322. It took me 6 months to lose 22 lbs.. And gain it back. With the sleeved process I lost 50.. Give me a break.. I had put that in perceptive . I have lost a lot of inches.. Some people at work are noticing .... All I can say is that the weight will come off..better slow.. Than fast so it will allow your body to heal properly. Those that have been sleeved this year will be talking a different tune .. And will be happy with our results and encouraging others next year.. Just my two cents. :) Felicia

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I haven't had a hair lost yet.. Can't speak on that yet.. Because I'm wearing braids.. didn't want have excuses to not work out. Ahaha. Haven't had a perm since 2003. I make sure that I have a Protein Shake once a day .. And eat my Protein first before eating anything . I will be taking my braids out shortly.. And will give you an update.

I also started exercising 2 weeks after surgery. I committed myself to 4-5 days a week. I want to capitalize on the weight lost for the first year since I have a lot to lose. I weigh 348 at pre op' date=' after pre-op 339 and now 298. At first I was being inpatient because I thought I would lose the weight quicker.. But just think..I lost 50lbs in 3 months since pre-op.. Last year I was on weight watchers from march 2012- August - 2012 started at 348 and end 322. It took me 6 months to lose 22 lbs.. And gain it back. With the sleeved process I lost 50.. Give me a break.. I had put that in perceptive . I have lost a lot of inches.. Some people at work are noticing .... All I can say is that the weight will come off..better slow.. Than fast so it will allow your body to heal properly. Those that have been sleeved this year will be talking a different tune .. Antd will be happy with our results and encouraging others next year.. Just my two cents. :) Felicia[/quote']

Thx, Felicia. Maybe I should just braid my hair until I progress. Ive been natural for a while and usually can manage until all my hair is out for days...I go crazy! It is thick! I started at 242 hw, 225 preop, and now 200 post op two weeks. I dont mind losing slowly bc I heard its best for your skin and health. I have about 60 pounds to go...im 5ft. Im currently on lots of meds so thats my motivation...medication free living. 50 pounds is good for 3 months. My doc told me to aim for 50 pounds in 6 months but look at my inches. Thanks for your response. I greatly appreciate it.

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You have done so well.. By the time you and I blink we will be at goal. :)

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Hi everyone. I had my surgery on Sept. 10th in Tijuana. Everything went well and I am back home watching TV.

Glade to hear all went well. I'm set for Oct 23, currently on day 4 of my 4week diet. Feeling good so far! Please keep posting on your experiences.

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Hello all, 38 yoa black male getting sleeved Oct 23rd starting weight 397 with BMI of 58 down to 365 with a BMI of 51. This will be my first ever surgery. I'm not as nervous as I thought I would be but have concerns that most overweight people have. I'm currently doing my 4 week pre- op liquid diet (day 4).

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Hello all' date=' 38 yoa black male getting sleeved Oct 23rd starting weight 397 with BMI of 58 down to 365 with a BMI of 51. This will be my first ever surgery. I'm not as nervous as I thought I would be but have concerns that most overweight people have. I'm currently doing my 4 week pre- op liquid diet (day 4).[/quote']

Hey. GYTN! My sister has had brain surgery, kidney transplant, high bold pressure and deibetes .. And had this surgery and she is walking around. She had the surgery in 2011.. You will be ok.. It's nerve racking the wait for surgery and the the dr. Wheeling you into the operation room.. But you will be just fine.. Chilling watching TV like coco... Lololol

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Day 3 of my preop liquid diet and have already lost 6 pounds.... I have not cheated at ALL... I drink Water all day and drink 4 Protein Shakes throughout the day.. Its tough but I know what I want so Im fighting for it... GOD is really giving me everything I need to make day after day.....

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    • Doughgurl

      2 days until I fly out to San Diego to have my Bypass Surg. in Tiajuana Mexico. Not gonna lie, the nerves are starting to surface. I don't fear the surgery itself, or the fact that I'm traveling alone, but its the aftermath that I'm stressing about the most, after this 8 week wait. I'm excited to finally be here, but I am really dreading the post surgical chapter. I know its going to be tough, real tough and I think I'm just in my head to much now that the day i here. Wish me luck, Hopefully I'm one of the lucky ones, and everything goes smoothly. Cant wait to give an exciting update,. If there is anyone else have a June bypass or even a recent one, Id love to have someone to compare war stories with. Also, anyone near San Antonio Tx? See ya soon with the future me. 💜
      · 1 reply
      1. Phil Penn

        Good Luck this procedure is well worth it I am down to 249.6 lb please continue with the process..

    • 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.

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