Are you a nurse? I am starting a support group for nurses that are contemplating, undergoing or are now 'old pro's' with their sleeves!

By way of introduction, my name is Jana & I live in the DFW area and am currently undergoing the approval process. I have been a RN for 38 years--18 years in Surgery & 18 years in Case Management & as a Manager for a major health plan carrier.

So feel free to jump on board!

Hi Jana, I live in the South Chicago 'burbs, I've been an RN for 18 years, 3 in Med/Surg, 15 in Labor/Delivery. I'm currently finishing my BSN while I'm also preparing for my sleeve! I don't have a surgery date yet, and I'm still working on getting my pre-op tests/consults done. I saw the cardiologist today-and despite no previous history and a clean EKG he wants a nuclear stress echo. The next available appointment for that is August 13! Oh well, one step at a time!

Good luck on your journey!

Brigitte

Hi

I am a Nurse Aide in Michigan I had my sleeve done in March I am down 55 have been in a stall the last few weeks. It seems like when I went back to work things slowed down with the weight loss. I think it because I know I dont get alot of food in when I work. Or water for that matter you know sometimes you can pack a lunch but you have no time for lunch. I eat on the run. So make time to eat and drink at work I have been making myself take that 15 min to get something in.

Hi Deanna! I know you work incredibly hard--I started as a CNA & it was brutal. I haven't had surgery yet but try to remind myself to get in all my water. Otherwise how else am I going to get rid of all this? :-)

I'm a nursing student in Michigan, just sleeved on the 26th. Does that count? =)

Hi everyone, I am a RN, for 7 years now..... I did ICU, Long Term, Cardio/Pulmonary, Dialysis and for the past 5 years have been in Home Care where I am the clinical supervisor....I also started out as a CNA years ago and I have never worked so hard in my life!!..CNAs are worth GOLD!!!...I am getting sleeved in Tijuana Mexico on August the 21st and I can not begin to describe my excitement!!.....My highest weight ever was 247, I have done every diet in the book. I just lost quite a bit with HCG but gained most back, I weighed this am and I am now at 224...goal is 140....I start preop this Saturday...I am ready to start living again. Everyone says "You arent that big"....They are NOT living in my skin!,,I have not dated in years because I am so uncomfortable in my skin, I run from cameras and everyday is just pure hell to me.....I have not had any second thoughts about this, no jitters, nothing but EXCITEMENT!!!!

I'm a nursing student in Michigan, just sleeved on the 26th. Does that count? =)

Yes....That counts!!.....being a nursing student and going thru this....YES!!! you need a good support group!!!

I'm a nursing student in Michigan, just sleeved on the 26th. Does that count? =)

Please share everything with us...and I pray you are doing wonderfully!!!

I'm a nursing student in Michigan' date=' just sleeved on the 26th. Does that count? =)[/quote']

You bet! You are soon to join the ranks! How are you doing so far?

I'm glad that I can be a part of this group =) So far I'm doing really well. I am still taking the liquid lortab that they gave me, but not nearly as often. I am up and around the house a lot. Been walking outside quite a bit.

The hardest part has been fighting dehydration, especially when your stomach is still swollen. I think mine has started to go down, because I can finally take in some decent Water, but the last few days it's been sip sip sip all day long and still a little dehydrated!

It was my first surgery and I was really nervous going in, but I was pleasantly surprised because it really wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.

Let me know how the pre-op approval and diet and everything go. I didn't have to do a pre-op diet, though I did a full liquids one for a few days on my own. Figured it can't hurt to lose a few pounds and hopefully shrink my liver a little.

I have not dated in years because I am so uncomfortable in my skin, I run from cameras and everyday is just pure hell to me.....I have not had any second thoughts about this, no jitters, nothing but EXCITEMENT!!!!

I feel this too! I have dated on and off, but it's frustrating being 25 and having a hard time getting dates because of my weight. It's not one of the top 10 reasons I had the sleeve, but I will not at all mind the extra male attention once I'm down at a healthier weight =p

Ohh so glad to have found you all:) I am a L&D RN for 11 years now, I was also a CNA for 2 years prior:) I was sleeved on July 24th so day 9 post surgery, my surgery was at Madigan Army Hospital in Washington State we are retired military. I was one of the lucky ones to have horible nausea for about 24 hours finally I refused all narcotics and felt much better about 24 hours later. My doc would only give me one dose of Toradol though preop he had said different. He said he had concerns about my bleeding though he was giving me lovenox. Hmmm..... Well it took me til day 6 to be able to drink enough to get in all my protein and water. I still am taking zofran occasionally. I would say the pain was minimal sore but tolerable, actually the removal of the JP was the worst pain I had, but that was because it was stripped right before it was pulled the resident was not willing to wait for it to release. Ughhh..... Ohh well. I am actually very worried about going back to work. I am actually research menus and going to right out a plan to eat. Where I work getting a 30 min lunch is rare let alone a 15 min break. My plan is to eat at 5pm then goto work at 7pm have a snack during report 10pm another snack 1 am lunch and 5am dinner and a snack on ride home. Snacks will be protein of course. I am actually considering having a cooking day and freezing my meals for the week for me and my family. Right now I am having to let my kids know the ways they have ate the most of there lives is wrong. I do not want them being overweight and it is starting to happen to them. LOL Here I am on medical leave and awake at 0200. I am off to take an ambien and get some sleep. I need to try to convince myself you can sleep at ***ht for awhile.

Ohh so glad to have found you all:) I am a L&D RN for 11 years now, I was also a CNA for 2 years prior:) I was sleeved on July 24th so day 9 post surgery

Welcome! =) It sounds like you are doing well. I'm sorry to hear about the JP drain...that sounds painful! I think your plan to get in some Protein at work sounds good. Just have to make it a priority. Your health is non-negotiable!

I think cooking ahead of time sounds like a great idea. That is on my list of things to start doing as well. It will be annoying on the day I have to cook everything, but I know I will be ever so thankful on the days that I just have to warm things up.

Keep up the good work!

Hi ladies!!! I'm a nursing student also!! I'm 2 hrs from the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. Only 2 more semesters of nursing school left then I'm up in there!! I had my surg ery May 11th in Mx, down 35 lbs and loving it!! Glad to be a part of this group!!

Hi everybody!

My name is Kim and I am 36 yrs old. I am an ACNP (Acute Care Nurse Practitioner) and will be starting a RNFA (Registered Nurse First Assistant) program the day after I get sleeved. Yikes! I was a CST (Certified Surgical Tech) for 4 years before becoming a CNOR (Certified Nurse of the Operating Room) for the last 8 years. I'm a single parent of a special needs daughter, who will be tuning 16 on August 4th. I've been busy planning her surprise Sweet 16 party, so between shopping for pre-op Protein shakes and what not, I've been shopping for the party. I'm excited at the possibility of not being in so much pain everyday, plus no more HTN or DM.

Glad to see people are still finding their way here. The app for the iPad and iPhone is not working so it does not let you see when someone posts. Will have to check it at home on the laptop tonight!