In 2000 I was 240 pounds and lost 70 pounds. I was married to a man who wanted me thin but nothing was ever good enough for him. He was verbally abusive and my self esteem was terrible. I got the courage and got a divorce. I kept the weight off for many years but managed to gain back 30 of it. I was still over weight.

I got a new job and on that day went to my primary care dr. He said I had not dieted for a year and would not support my decision. What? I was crushed. That same day my dr did a lunch seminar on gastric sleeve. I talked to him that day and made an apt the same day. I bcbs and only had 1 physc eval and 1 nutrition visit, I had to do EGD, stress test, and sleep study. I found out I had a hital hernia.

My family was supportive although they do not live here. I was really hurt that my sister had the same week off on vacation and chose to go on vacation but didn't come spend time with me during my surgery. I got very sick and had a reaction to the antibotic. I had severe nausea and none of the medicines worked. I work for an airline so there's no charge to fly. She is a nurse and I needed someone with me in the hospital. She had the nerve to call and yell at me in the icu! Thank god I have great friends and neighbors who came and saw me.

I had a really hard time drinking Water in the hospital. I could only get down ice tea. I was so weak I could barely walk. I did it so I could go home. The funny thing is - I had NO PAIN. They kept saying your in pain your bp is up. I was like I feel nothing. I only took tylenol at home none of the pain meds. I am telling the surgery was a piece of cake. LOL

I got home and things went great. I drank my Protein shakes, walked for 2 minutes every hour on my treadmill.

I am almost 4 weeks out.. I have lost 22 pounds ( maybe more I am not weighing till my one month date), I walk an hour a day on my treadmil. I feel great! I also went back to work 1 week after my sleeve.

I feel great!

It is so encouraging to hear of a great result like yours. I too left an abuser after ten years of being isolated from my family ten miles from the nearest town, down a 1/4 mile gravel road out between the corn and the beans. I come from a family of 400 pounders but was always the skinny one until I had kids. Then it was divorce then another divorce then menopause, two knee replacements and a stroke. Any excuse will do, I guess, but the point is, in my old age I am catching up with the family tree. Already at 235 pounds, my legs do not want to hold me up, and I don't want another stroke. With a 53 inch waist, I am almost as round as I am tall. I am in the midst of the nutrition appointments and will probably have my surgery in November. Thanks for the encouragement. I know there can be setbacks, but your experience shows that it can go well.

Thanks for sharing! Congrats on your weight loss success so far