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My sleeve journey



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So it all started June of 2015, I weighed myself for the fist time and realized how much I had let myself go. I had always been a chunky kid but growing into a "fat" adult is hard. So I did my research and found the perfect doctor. I proceeded to make an appointment for July, they told me that I was a candidate and went to my first class the next day. I finally felt a wave of relief. The next few months were challenging but I finally had my final class as well as a surgery date, which was supposed to be December 29th. However, there was an error made and I was denied by insurance. I was heart broken because I felt like it was not realistic for me to get the sleeve, one because I had a whole new deductible in January and two because I just felt defeated. Well I resubmitted any ways and ended up I couldn't pass this down. I was on Monday the 4th of January and my surgery date was the 11th of January. I was so excited and ready for this journey that I was about to start.

The 11th rolled around and my nerves didn't kick in until I was in the pre op room. It took 10 different tries and 4 different nurses to get the IV in my. I am a baby about needles as it is so of course my nerves started to kick in. The next thing I remember after signing the consents is waking up in recovery in the worst pain I had every felt in my entire life. I could actually feel where my stomach was gone, soon after that the nausea kicked in. The next 4 days were filled with being poked with needles, vomiting, being woken up to walk, and not being able to eat or drink anything. I had the support of my family, and my boyfriend was there helping me every step of the way. Helping me to the bathroom, helping me in the shower, getting nurses for me. Without him and my family I wouldn't have made it through this.

On the 4th day I was released from the hospital and had a 4 hour drive home. It was awful. The next two weeks consisted of still vomiting, lots of tears, and lots of regrets. Finally at week 4 I started to feel normal, I was not longer nauseated and I could keep everything I consumed down, including Vitamins.

I am sitting at exactly a month post op and there are so many things I've learned.

1. It is worth it

2. Regret is normal

3. Listen to your body

4. You will feel normal again

Of course this is very trial and error, I am figuring out what I can tolerate and what I cant.

I have lost 35 pounds and I feel happy again. Of course this surgery isn't an easy fix and its just a tool, but so far, I've never been so sure of a decision I've made than I am at this moment.

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Great post! I know it is hard for people to believe and trust that it truly does get better every day! I never really had any regrets, just remember feeling so run down. Listening to your body is so very important and I still have to remind myself of that today at eight months post op. If I listen, I know when I cannot take that one last bite and have to throw it away or I will be throwing it up!

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    • 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!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • 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.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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