Surely you are someone outside of your surgery and struggles with our weight. You have interests and dislikes and families- jobs and hobbies. And honestly- yes it is exciting to have this stool and to be on the journey- but hasn't there been enough focus all our lives on just our weight?

I know VST is dedicated to our VSG stories, but I sort of think that who we are makes our VSG surgeries that much more meaningful.

So I'll go first...

I'm Danielle. I'm 27 and I have three sisters and one nephew. I am unmarried and have no children. I work full time running the office for a respiratory company. This semester I am also attending college full time via online classes. I'm now also trying to squeeze in going to the gym three times a week.

I suffer from PCOS and had this surgery to help increase my chances of having a family of my own one day.

I am a TOTAL girly girl! I love the color pink, I like Hello Kitty the way others like Betty Boop or Tinkerbell, and I HATE HATE HATE spiders! I'm not much of an outdoorsie person- my idea of roughing it is five girls and one bathroom. That being said I do love to garden and can't wait for spring.

I love anything to do with 16th century european history and am a total fanatical nut when it comes to Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn and Elizabeth I. My favorite movie and book of allllllllll time is Gone With the Wind. I love watching old movies with my mom- our favorites are Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, anything with Doris Day and the Tammy movies. We also make a point of watching A League of Their Own together whenever it is on tv. I'm close with my Dad but sometimes I feel like we don't have anything in common.

Prior to surgery I loved home cooked food! (Along with chinese and pizza hut haha) I still enjoy cooking for my family (One sister, my parents and I all live together for economic reasons) and resumed cooking them meals within a few days of coming home from the hospital. I have a dog, she is a chihuahua/yorkie mix. Her name is Gypsy and well... she is sort of a monster!! I <3 her tho!

Now it's your turn!! Tell us who you are!

Hi everyone,

I'm new here, but I've been on it every day for weeks now, ever since one morning I woke up and decided to research gastric sleeve surgery. I live in Japan, and a couple of years ago another member here wrote about his experiences of getting the sleeve done in Japan. He didn't pay much, but that's not an option for me now, because I'd have to pay full price, which is similar, if not more, than what it is the States. So right now I'm researching doctors in Tijuana, as that's probably where I'll get it done once I save enough money and am on break from work.

This is an amazing site and I'm so glad to have found it!

I'm Chavon. 32 year old, single mom, of two boys. I reside in Cleveland, Ohio.

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I just had my surgery on July 19th I am still very swollen and very new to this I am also feeling like maybe what I've done was too drastic and maybe I should have done this on my own the pain is ok at this point when I find that I am feeling hungry and then I am still a bit gassy I am hoping that by seeing results I'll start to feel better about what I've done to myself I guess that is part of the mental battle bad they want you to deal with prior to having the surgery but that's not possible being as you have not been cut at that point now that I have I feel like I have lost something

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I had my surgery 2014 with know complications I wish I could have surgery too get rid of my stomach, I wished I have gotten the gastric bypass I did lose a hundred pds am wearing a size 13 u used too wear a 23

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Great idea!

I'm new here, just logged on for the first time today.

I am 49 years old and mom to 11 kids. Five are adults are on their own, 6 still at home. The 5 youngest were all adopted internationally over the last 5 years. All 6 kids at home have Down syndrome. I have 5 grandkids. Two years ago I arrived home from Serbia with one of our newly adopted kids, and the next day went for my routine mammogram. I ended up being anything but routine, and I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I ended up having a bilateral mastectomy and going through chemo. I had 14 major surgeries in 20 months. In my spare time I ride my motorcycle, unfortunately it hasn't left the garage in two years. I was hoping this would be my year, but life is still in the way. I love to do crafty things, like clay sculpting and oil painting. I'm not very good, I just like doing it.

Chemo did a big number on my body, but through it all my weight has stayed pretty much the same. I've gone up a little, but nothing exciting. I just can't move anymore. I have chemo-induced arthritis through my entire body. But my cancer is estrogen fed, and fat holds/produces a small amount of estrogen when I don't what a single cell of it in my body! My oncologist wanted 60 lbs gone as soon as I could do that in a healthy way. Unfortunately the stress of being told I "have to" lose weight sent my scale the wrong direction. I just finished 6 months of the dietician visits my insurance requires, and received approval from the psychologist. Now I just need insurance approval and hope to be on the surgery schedule early November.

So who am I? I am am wife, mother, grandma, biker babe, breast cancer survivor, warrior b***h!

Edited August 30, 20169 yr by seeingme

@@seeingme

What a beautiful story. Your courage is inspiring. I wish you a wonderful journey. It sounds like you are someone who is not easily intimidated by obstacles!

Hi, I'm 39 single, never married biracial black and Thai female with my BA in human development from UCSD university of California. San diego. I focused in sociology, psych and neuroscience. I've spent a lot of time volunteering at various places such as the local children's hospital and arthritis foundation. I've had multiple health issues all if my life including chronic pain since age 5. My weight started at around age 10. I'm facing spinal surgery and need to loose a lot of weight so after a year of deliberations, I finally decided to get the sleeve. I was originally going for roux en y however my surgeon felt medical history is to complex for it. I'm also a published poet and wish to write a book of poetry. I also paint and do some crafts.

My name is Tamalyn. Queen of the Tamazons is a jokey nickname given to me by my sister. She says I stole her inches (she is 5'2 and I'm 5'10).

I am 36 years old. I have been heavy all my life, but this is by far my heaviest at 385. My goal weight is around 180, but that is based on how i feel and not a set number.

I am recently married. My husband and I got married on 10/31/15. We have been together 7 years, living together for 6. Weight has been an issue for both of us for several years. We actually met through Medifast. We are both getting sleeved, me on 10/5 and his following a month or so later depending on ins approval. We started this process together 18 months ago.

We have three dogs who are our children, not in the creepy obsessed person way but in the we are planning to be childless way. Kodi, an akita pit bull, is 7 years old. Midget, a 120lbs (!!!) german shepard, is 5 years old. Our baby girl, Bebe, is a border collie golden retreiver and 3 years old.

I am in the process of getting my degree in early childhood education with the goal of teaching. I currently work for a solar company as the accounts payable department. I really like my job, and my coworker are like family... cranky family but awesome.

I love movies. Comedies, rom or otherwise, are my favorite. I am a huge fan of tv procedurals and murder porn (south park reference) as well as scifi and comedies. I love to craft. I paint, crochet, bead, can, and bake. I am a halfway decent cook, mostly because i know how to read directions.

I am an avid reader, particularly of romance novels and "womens fiction".

Thats it for now. 64oz of liquid is making itself known. Lol

I had my sleeve surgery Tuesday. I've been running really high blood pressure since the surgery. Did not run high before. Anyone else experience that?

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Hi I'm jen. 50 years old. Married for 20 years. 6 months ago we quit our jobs, sold our house and moved to Florida. Just bought a sailboat and ate getting ready to take off for a few months.

I had lost 100 pounds on. My own in 2012. Diet and exercise. But due to medication, prednisone and an illness. I gained back 60. So I decided to have the sleeve 3 months ago. It wasn't easy. But now I wish I had done it 30 years ago!

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Hi, I'm dawn, single and 47 years old. I am a nurse manager working for a derm surgery practice for 17 years. I have 2 brothers, wonderful sisters in laws, and a beautiful/handsome niece and nephew. I have struggled with my weight for years, yo yo dieting and gaining back more than I have ever lost. Started gaining when I was diagnosed with severe PCOS in my teens. My dad died of cancer after a 8 year battle in 2014. 2 months later my mom was in the hospital, 6 months after that my grandmother died, 6 months after that my mom had a stroke and 6 months after that I ended up in the hospital. During that time I focused on everyone but me and my weight ballooned to 297. Being in the hospital scared me and I started on this journey. Surgery date December 30th as long as I get insurance approval. Very scared, but my family is supportive.

I love to read, craft, swim, hike and kayak- though haven't been able to do the last 2 because of my weight. Really looking forward to getting healthy and having some energy again. Thank you all for your inspiring stories and help on this journey.

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Hello Everyone,

My name is Shi. I'm 35 yrs old, I've been married for five months November 6th. I have four children three girls 16, 9 and 6, one boy 16. I was at my highest weight of 324lbs pre-op gastric sleeve. November 30th I will be three month's out and down to 281lbs. I work for the government. I can honestly say that for the most part Thanksgiving went over waaayyy better then I expected it to. But I also can admit that I don't enjoy food the way I used to before sugery. There is only one thing that I have absolutely no problems with eating and that is unsweetened apple sauce 4oz cups. No other fruit, vegetable, meat or anything else sit's well on my new stomach. Every time I think that I've stalled I go in to the doctor and I've loss more weight. Funny thing that I've noticed on this journey is that people see the weight that I've loss more then I do looking in the mirror. I have never been a shopper type. But lately it seems that I have no other choice, it is such a surprise when I put on clothes today because nothing fits...I was in 3X's and 26W comfortably....And is it me or does anyone else have that one family member that has to snap a picture of your most worst dressed day?

Today my husband seems to have put on the weight that I once had and is feeling a little down. Bad part is truthfully if it weren't for this surgery I would be right where he is...Can barely breath, wanting to eat everything in sight and all without cause. Just because I see it or smell it. My biggest task in the stages allowed is ???? bread yes it has always been my biggest weakness... Mostly because it was always made homemade fresh in my home...yeast rolls here, loaves there, fresh from scratch cinnamon rolls there... Now when offered any I feel sick to the stomach...Even thinkingbof certain foods get under my skin... Is anyone else having this problem? Also when I told my nurse that I wasn't including any sugar in my diet she asked why? Well because I assumed that since I was on a sugar free everything mentioned that meant no sugar at all she stated that was when I got out of the hospital and the first and second stage so who here has added sugar to there diet and how much have you added? I have not added any still since my last appointment out of fear...Only equal, and sugar free or unsweetened items...Suggestions welcomed....

I am 56. I am director of a program that provides services to senior citizens and people suffering from substance use disorders, and have two grown kids, three dogs, two cats, a garden, a lot of houseplants, and a loving husband. I traveled a lot when I was young and my dream is still to go hiking in the Himalayas, but I'd rather do it without all the excess weight! I am hoping to take some time off with my husband for this in the not very distant future.

I love my work. I live in a high need community and enjoy finding creative ways around the system to actually help people. I get a lot of pleasure from unravelling bureaucratic knots. I also love working with other programs to make collaboration easier. I am not planning to retire anytime soon, but when I do, I think I'd like to join the senior peace corps, and spend time overseas doing the same stuff I do here.

I'm Tabitha this is my first post, my surgery is scheduled for Jan 6th and I'm totally excited and a little scared. The last time I spent the night in the hospital was to give birth 12 years ago

I can't wait to start this journey but I'm also trying to be prepared

I found a handy gadget for Christmas called Yonanas - it makes ice cream out of frozen bananas with no dairy needed. I made the first batch tonight and it was awesome and totally on our diet plan

Probably can't have it every day because you are eating 2 bananas and whatever other frozen food you add but it will be a nice substitute to yogurt or popsicles

Anyway I look forward to my journey and all this great stories you have shared continues to motivate me

Thank you

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