Alright December Sleevers, I'm hoping that this title brings more people in so we can follow and encourage each other through our journeys.

I am 40. I'm 5'4" and about 308 right now. I'd like to get to a healthy BMI which would be around 145. I'm hoping for a December 4th or 5th date with Dr. William Johnson.

Everyone introduce yourselves!


So far as of 11/02/13

• Dec 02 Krysta03
• Dec 02 gaslimgal
• Dec 02 jess9395
• Dec 02 Annadette
• Dec 02 sookie
• Dec 02 Nurse_Bonnie
• Dec 02 doopa
• Dec 02 Jerzygurl
• Dec 03 Tasha420
• Dec 03 SouthernCharm
• Dec 03 redilla42
• Dec 03 skinnynewbecky2014
• Dec 03 Sinderelly
• Dec 03 missmee
• Dec 03 Browneyedgurl
• Dec 04 L-in-NJ
• Dec 04 Healthbound
• Dec 04 Katdrox
• Dec 05 Blondiee
• Dec 05 Lioness813
• Dec 06 kyholder
• Dec 06 harleychic
• Dec 09 De-jo
• Dec 09 AshleyMidwife
• Dec 09 Sweettart702
• Dec 09 MShell
• Dec 09 Carlotta
• Dec 10 hopecomeswithtime
• Dec 11 liciamarie
• Dec 11 KaminaBlue
• Dec 11 Only1likeme
• Dec 11 soul2bleed
• Dec 11 Volfan
• Dec 11 dencob1
• Dec 11 MnWin
• Dec 11 onedaycloser
• Dec 11 Scraglycat
• Dec 12 amills
• Dec 12 kellymoon
• Dec 12 honeylove
• Dec 13 Mommie4
• Dec 13 amduc (and husband!)
• Dec 13 Under1star
• Dec 14 Sleevin It
• Dec 16 slvrsax
• Dec 16 elhudge
• Dec 16 Mfs
• Dec 16 MGR1852
• Dec 17 Shelly70
• Dec 17 Serenah
• Dec 17 ginnie290
• Dec 18 Sns513
• Dec 18 Nona337am
• Dec 18 gemgirl
• Dec 18 mija1980
• Dec 18 Teachamy
• Dec 26 ReEstDec2013
• Dec 27 Carmen1963
• Dec 30 elsnanny

No date yet:

• AtlantaRed
• beansmomma
• HoustonTexanFan
• AngiD
• fpmr96a
• SueRN
• Simpley_ke
• Vixey
• macman
• MonisNatural
• fmpr96a
• Tarheel79
• SeniorMoment
• Coachk
• kan7525
• caligirl3
• Besleeve It

not regretting it, but it has been tough for me to eat and drink liquids. When did you have surgery? It gets better each day I promise. The first week I was getting in maybe 20oz of water and now I'm up to the 64oz. I just have a water in my hand at all times lol

I had surgery on the 11th. I feel like I'm getting no liquids at all. I know it'll get better with time. Time just needs to come faster lol.

I have a question. Anyone regretting their decision? No one has said anything so I was just wondering. I'm having a problem with drinking. Doesn't matter how small the sip or how slow I can feel it go through my sleeve and it gurgels (sp?) At me every time.

Oh I felt that way for several days...every swallow was a struggle! It gets better day by day. My surgery was Dec 2nd and I can sip easily now. Can't gulp or anything but the sipping is fine.

not regretting it, but it has been tough for me to eat and drink liquids. When did you have surgery? It gets better each day I promise. The first week I was getting in maybe 20oz of water and now I'm up to the 64oz. I just have a water in my hand at all times lol

I had surgery on the 11th. I feel like I'm getting no liquids at all. I know it'll get better with time. Time just needs to come faster lol.

. Oh give it time. It will be very hard for the first week-2 weeks. Hang in there!

Are any of the early December Sleevers exercising yet? It's been snowing here so I haven't been able to get out for a walk so I've considered going to the mall or Target to get in a half mile or so. My Dr. only have restrictions on lifting weights so I supposed I could hop on a treadmill too if so desired.

I went walking around the mall yesterday for exercise. It's way too cold to be outside in NJ. I'm now 10 days post op.

So I just told someone about my surgery coming up on Monday and I got the rudest response which is making me really upset. They said, oh no that's terrible. You couldn't do it on your own? Meanwhile, SHE was huge herself! I'm feeling a little discouraged

Oh my goodness. That is incredibly rude! But you are too close to a major goal accomplished and there's no time to think too long about this person's words. I think sometimes people just don't know what impact their words actually have.

Making my hospital list of items to bring on Monday 12/16….

I have had recommendations for the following:

1) Your own pillow - also heard this helps cushion the seat belt against your tummy on the way home

2) Tooth paste/brush

3) Hair brush/comb

4) Night gown - some say yes, some say no?

5) Robe - is it a good idea to bring a robe (I assume your butt hangs out otherwise when you are up walking)?

6) Slippers - are you in hospital socks and if so, are slippers needed? I have sock monkey slippers!

7) Someone mentioned a throw for comfort- don't they give you more blankets if you need them?

8) GasX strips - do they let you use these in the hospital?

10) Chap stick

11) Your own drinks - don't they give you sugar free drinks? How much are you drinking anyway?

12) Do they let you - or are you able to take a shower?

Would appreciate anyone else's perspective on what they brought or wish they had.

Getting excited to get this underway. Not sleeping that well, I keep waking up wondering how it will be. May be waking up from hunger though, LOL!

I'm on my way home. The only things I used were cell charger, chapstick and glasses. Had a very comfortable bed so didn't need my pillow. They had a robe and grippy socks.

Why are u having trouble breathing?!? Who did ur surgery?

I think it is because I am sore. So taking deep breaths hurts. Dr says I am doing great though.

I did have regrets right after I awoke from anesthesia on Thursday night ... The pain was indescribable for me due to unexpected hiatal hernia repair

On scale from 1 to 10 I said pain was 900-- no lie -- I thought they woke me up too soon and I wanted to go back to sleep so the pain would go away magically

I'm back home (2 nights out) and still need pain meds but I'm hoping the recovery process goes super fast --- I'm not hungry but I do think about food a lot so weird

Cold water hurts my new belly so I drink tea or room temp water... Can't wait to get to full liquids and then mashed up purée foods

I'm hoping weight loss is significant and I have a problem free future with my sleeve

I also had regrets the day I came home. I cried like a little baby saying "why did I do this to myself?" Nearly two weeks later I'm feeling 100x better and more confident in my decision. However, If I had to do it over again I would have spent a second night in the hospital. I definitely wasn't ready to go home the next day.

My surgery is Dec. 18, 2013 in San Antonio, TX with Dr. Seger! Very nervous and excited!

My surgery is Dec. 18, 2013 in San Antonio, TX with Dr. Seger! Very nervous and excited!

Welcome to the 18th club !!!

Happy Saturday All,

As many of us are newly sleeved, or on pre- op diets, or patiently waiting to start I thought I would share a post I found that contained a WONDERFUL excel sheet to track you weight loss. Just as the surgery is a tool, there are other tools we will need in our arsenal.

Here is the link, and the link to the excel sheet is at the very end : http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/264421-measures-measures-measures/?hl=%2Bgeek#entry2969647

barebfeet

3 days post op and started shakes again. I hate them, all flavors, and don't know how I am going to get through the next 2 weeks.

There are other ways to get your protein in. Buy some of the protein shots or Isopure drinks and dilute them with water and just drink it that way. I'm doing that now, I buy the protein shots, raspberry and apple are my favorites, and then grape. I take the whole shot and dump it into 32 oz of water and finish it off... it's 42 grams of protein. You can make it stronger or weaker depending upon how much water you use. I've used less too..and it works just as well.

There are other ways to get your protein in. Buy some of the protein shots or Isopure drinks and dilute them with water and just drink it that way. I'm doing that now, I buy the protein shots, raspberry and apple are my favorites, and then grape. I take the whole shot and dump it into 32 oz of water and finish it off... it's 42 grams of protein. You can make it stronger or weaker depending upon how much water you use. I've used less too..and it works just as well.

Jerzygurl may I ask which protein shots you are using? I've tried so many and wondering if there's some I missed. Thanks!

Hi everyone! Thanks for the well wishes. Surgery was yesterday morning at 9. I was so tired before that from going to bed so late (work) and getting up so early to get to the hospital.

The hospital and staff were amazing. Even though there are closer hospitals, given a choice, I will go back there!

Surgery went well. He found out that I have a congenital birth defect! I have a diaphragmatic hernia (hernia/opening in my diaphragm. He said he could only do one or the other so he did the sleeve and said I would need to get the hernia fixed at some point.

Due to my previous terrible recoveries I made sure they did all they could do. I took the emend when I got to the hospital, then they gave me of ran under the tongue and patch behind the ear. I still woke up a bit sick but nothing like before and it didn't last long. I have 5 incisions. One on my right side where he pulled out the stomach hurts the most. I was on dilaudid at the hospital. I was in no pain as long as I didn't move! I had some gas pain just in mid chest. I did take a gasx. Not sure if that helped or if it just went away on its own.

I peed all night long, almost every hour. I was able to do it all myself but needed help reconnecting the SCD boots. I would get up, go to the bathroom, quick walk down the hall, pee again and then get back in bed.

I am very fortunate in that I can drink pretty easily. I have to stop myself because too many sips causes a bit of pain in my chest but I'm even able to drink my shakes. I hated everything they gave me as it was all sugar free. I tasted all of it just to see if I could tolerate it, and I could.

When I got home, I made a shake with a dose of MiraLAX as I want stay on top of that. I'm pretty much staying put in the recliner in my bedroom. I only take the dilaudid when I have pain while not moving. No catheter, no drain.

I don't know when I will be able to add the new people to the list. If someone wants to copy and paste the most recent list into a new reply, they can also add the new folks.

I hope everyone is doing well on their preops and postops!