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BlueMoon~T's Blog
 

NSV - Well Kinda

I had a 12 lb loss last month! I had a Dr appointment with my PCP due to my continued back problems this week. I wont bore you will All of those. Anyway- my blood pressure was 120/70. Unbelievable considering it was 160/111 the last time I went to my PCP. I've lost about 89 lbs. I watch very closely what I'm eating and the quantities. Having the LapBand has been the best decision of my life. OHHH. Plus. My mom bought me an outfit 4 sizes smaller than what I was wearing prior to surgery( as incentive) and guess what? IT FIT ME! My Mom and my two daughters where jumping up and down and screaming with me!! Best Christmas present ever!   Hope everyone is enjoying the beginning of the New Year!
BlueMoon~T

BlueMoon~T

2
Ariella's Blog
 

Post first appt

I had my first appointment with my surgeon 2 days ago. In the days leading up to it I had dreams of getting a date during the visit and nightmares of psych evals that deemed me crazy because my mother died two years ago. I was filled with a lot of feelings at that appointment. Me and my boyfriend Michael went in knowing a lot, but not realizing what exactly would happen.   I met my surgeon, and she was almost ecstatic to have me as a patient. I don't have any road blocks, or pescky insurance companies to deal with. (Sidebar: I am so thankful I am able to be self pay, and my heart really goes out to all of you guys that are dealing with the a*****e insurance companies) I was given the list of the 2 tests I needed done and a sheet for my PCP to sign to give clearence. She also gave me my pre op diet. I was not given a date, but the timeline of once all the tests are in, about 3-4 weeks out. For some reason, even after all of my dreaming this was now real and immediate.   I am still partially in shock and close to overwhelmed that all of this is happening and happening so quickly. I am trying to sort through all of my anxieties and finding new ones that focus on failing post op along the way. These are ones I wouldn't dare to speak aloud, I feel like if I give them that much credit they will come true. I want this so bad. Losing this weight will mean so much for me. I will no longer be inhibited by my own body. I should have a surgery date by next week. I am thrilled and scared and excited. The journey is beginging. I'm like Frodo heading out of the Shire to lands unknown, on journey with a far away goal and countless unknown obstacles ahead. "Mordor, Gandalf, is it left or right?"
Ariella

Ariella

1
fotogrphr's Blog
 

5 days pre-op

Well it's only 5 days to go now. I am doing really well on my liver shrinking diet, and am having no trouble at all managing on what is allowed. I can have 2 shakes a day, plus a Lean Cuisine meal. If I am hungry I can have a yogurt of 100 calories or less, a boiled egg, or a salad with 1tbl of dressing, SF popsicles, SF Jello, or clear no-carbonation SF beverages. The first three days I was ready to eat the packaging, but it became easier and easier after that. The trick to this whole thing seems to be cleaning sugar from your system, including carbs that turn to sugar. I am a sugar addict, and that was tough for me. Since doing it, everything is easier. I just have to stay away from them to keep from sliding back into my old habits! It took 3-4 days of no sugar to get me feeling better. It is worth it though if you are really serious about losing weight. You need to give up Carbonation and Caffeine BEFORE surgery and even before your pre-surg diet! It is hard enough to deal with cutting down on calories without dealing with the other stuff too. I weaned off of caffeine slowly to avoid the headaches. Coffee is my vice of choice, so I began by making half-caff for awhile. Then I would rotate half-caff with decaf and finally all decaf. I can't tell the difference now. Sodas were easier as they weren't my favorite thing anyway. I did drink them occasionally, but don't touch them now. Crystal light is a good substitute for them.
fotogrphr

fotogrphr

0
BillieG's Blog
 

1 Week Post Op

Mkay I suppose this is a good place to track my experiences and maybe look back on them at some point? I am one week post op and I am feeling better than expected. I have a lot of gassy stomach discomfort, but continue to follow the liquid diet as instructed. I get to have full liquids tomorrow which I am quite excited about! (yay) Surprisingly I am not starving like I thought I would be, but it may be because I am so bloated. I am constantly drinking something and I have this "Belly Gas." So far this week alone I have lost 9.3 lbs! I do realize that is because I am not eating any real food, but I will take the victory anyway. I still have some discomfort and continue to take my pain medication - though stretching out the times I take it. I also use a heating pad on my stomach which is very soothing. I am excited to move on with this journey and hope I keep the strength and determination to do what I am supposed to do. I would love to be at a comfortable place (weight-wise) by October when I go on a cruise. Haha! I know it is one day at a time, but it is still a nice thought Will try to remember to update this blog next week... to update on my weekly progress/thoughts.
BillieG

BillieG

1
Gastric Sleeve Surgery - An Unexpected Journey
 

Quick FAQs - What Was The Last Straw?

Frequently Asked Questions - What was the last straw the made you choose weight loss surgery?   I was at my lowest point physically and mentally in July 2012. I knew that my health would continue to deteriorate and I'd only become more and more depressed if I didn't make a change. Some people claim that weight loss surgery is the easy way out, but I needed the extra help from WLS to dig myself out of the hole I was in.   It's kinda funny that society ridicules you for being overweight and then ridicules you again if you don't lose the weight "the right way."   If you like/dislike my videos, please thumb up or down, and leave a comment about how I could improve the content. Your input helps me become a better Youtuber. :-)   Keep Pimpin' that Sleeve!   Google Plus https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/102076899634252886094/102076899634252886094/posts/p/pub   Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Frankensleeve-Vertical-Sleeve-Gastrectomy-VSG-Community/289332951205311   Twitter https://twitter.com/frankensleeve
joatsaint

joatsaint

0
Leepers' Blog
 

Starting From Zero

Today I would like to talk about exercise.   First, I would like to say that if your doctor or bariatric team has set an activity plan for you, you should do your best to follow their plan. This blog entry is more about those who are out there who have not started exercising and have no plan. Maybe you have never had an exercise regimen in your life, maybe you have tried exercise before but hated it and couldn't stick with it. This is just one girl's opinion and it probably goes against anything a personal trainer would want you to do.   The thing is, I'm talking about starting from ZERO. So many times, the people who are telling us where, how, and how long to exercise are probably not people who have started from zero. They may have never been overweight. They may not know what it's like to be obese and have very little activiity and very little muscle.   Now, you may look at my profile and say, where does this girl get off, just four weeks after surgery, weighing 270 pounds, acting like she knows something about exercise? Well, O.K., I'm not a personal trainer. I did, however, lose about 70 pounds 12 years ago. I got up to the point where I could jog 3 miles! I had never even jogged a mile in my entire life. This blog entry is to let you know how I did it back then. How I found what worked for me. And how I am pretty much approaching exercise the same way this time too.   About 12 years ago, I found myself at what was then my heaviest weight ever (250). I decided that I had to do something. Being a young single woman, I just wasn't ready to go on a food diet because I had done those before. I decided I would try exercise. (Watching what I ate came later after I was seeing the success of exercise.) Don't try that with WLS. Please, watch what you eat!   I thought about what had kept me from being a successful exerciser over the years. A few things came to mind: being the fattest, slowest, person at the gym; starting out gung ho and having sore muscles that made me not want to exercise the next few days and therefore falling of the wagon; doing things I didn't enjoy.   I decided that I was just going to get out and walk. I didn't have a length of time. I didn't have a set distance. I wasn't going to be concerned with how fast I was walking. I wasn't going to be concerned if I got my heart rate up. I didn't need to have exercise outfits. I was just going to walk around the neighborhood. I was going to take a stroll. Look at the houses. Check out the neighbors. Get away by myself and give myself time to think. Time to work out my issues. It was wonderful. I didn't go home exhausted. I went home happy. I was happy that I did SOMETHING.   I kept doing this for a few weeks. Eventually, when I was ready, I decided to walk a little faster. If I got tired, I slowed down. I didn't push myself. I was new to exercise. I wasn't gonna be Florence Griffith Joyner. I reeaaallllly eased myself into exercise. And every now and then, I upped the pace. After a few months, I measured out a mile around the neighborhood and I walked the full mile. And so on. Until miraculously, about 9 months later, I could jog 3 miles!   Why do we feel impelled to push ourselves so hard, only to fail? I'm sorry, but C25K (Couch to Five Kilometers) is not for people who were really laying around on the couch. Unless those people were not overweight and had underlying muscle tone.   Find something you enjoy. Don't feel like you have to spend money on a gym membership that you might not use. Walking is free. Hiking is free. Riding a bike is free (if you have one). Spend just a little bit to join the Y. They have a pool. Do a little swimming. Dancing to music in your house is free. Some cable companies have cardio and yoga sessions on demand. Hell, youtube has everything you could ever possibly want. Start in the privacy of your own home if you're worried about being embarassed about coordination. And if you can only do that video for 10 minutes....that's fine! Only do that video for 10 minutes for the next two weeks. Then up it a bit.   Another thing I did, early on, was focus on my breathing. A lot of people who don't exercise are very shallow breathers. While you are walking or even lying in bed at night, practice filling your lungs to capacity when you breathe in. Feel not just your chest inflate, but your abdomen too. Increasing your lung capacity will help you get that vital oxygen to your muscles when you decide to up the activity. I also focused on breathing with a rythm. Sounds funny, but it really helped me keep from getting out of breath. I would inhale with so many steps and exhale with so many steps. It really made a difference to me.   You'll have good days and bad days. But it will start to get easier and maybe, hopefully start to be enjoyable. That satisfaction from having done SOMETHING. You feel good about yourself. It shifts your mindset.   You don't have to push yourself so hard. You're already worried enough about WLS and changing your eating habits. Just find SOMETHING that works for you. Do it at least three days a week. Plan it and do it. Your self esteem will love you for it.
Leepers

Leepers

0
fit2Bme2014's Blog
 

First Appointment with my Surgeon

Please forgive me. I really need to get all of this out of my head, however, I'm emotionally exhausted after my appointment today, and this is probably going to be long and rambley. It's more for me, than you anyway, but if it helps you, great!   After a sleepless night, I met with my Surgeon this morning at 9am. A one hour appointment lasted almost 3. They weighed me (350.4 ), took my height (5'8" ) and before photos (glad I did my hair and makeup, because I certainly didn't expect that ).   Side note: when I was younger, I had surgery to correct scoliosis; after surgery, I was told I was 5'7 3/4". As an adult, I'm usually told I'm about 5'6", and assumed shrinking. Today, they measured me at 5'8" on the dot. I felt the thingy on the top of my head, lightly, but unlike usual, I really tried to stand up straight (and proud). Though I'm rather dubious about this, I'll stop saying I'm 5'6" and go back to saying I'm 5'7 3/4".   Anyway, about the appointment. A nurse took down all my stats, bp, pulse, temp. I questioned her over my bp and pulse; both were remarkably NORMAL, which couldn't possibly be... I could have sworn my heart was going to beat out of my chest, I was so nervous about the appointment. Then she proceeded to log all the meds and vitamins I had brought in as per their request. The majority of the vitamins I don't take on a consistent basis... maybe if I did I would be healthier. When the nurse was done with me, the surgeon came in.   I'd met her briefly before, at the orientation several weeks before. She shook my hand and sincerely asked why I looked so familiar When I told her I went to the seminar, she remembered me, which was surprising because there were well over 25 people in attendance and I didn't speak with her after as others did, I just thanked her and handed in my application. That simple act put me at ease though. I forget how the simplest acts can often mean the world to others.   She went over my medical history, why I was considering surgery, and we talked about the enigma of obesity and how researchers are getting closer and closer to understanding why some struggle with it and others don't. She says they are right on the cusp. Which is exciting, and nice to meet a doctor who really understands this is more about more than just 'will power', I mean, hell, I'm one of the most stubborn people you'll ever meet, cut my nose despite my face, so I know will power, I have will power... just not always over food. And, I don't know why. It's like a switch.   She examined me, and felt up my liver. I was amazed she could feel through all my chub, but she said she could, and she was impressed it isn't as enlarged as she would expect it to be for my size, and because of that, I don't need to lose as much weight before surgery as she originally thought. She says 20#. I told her I wanted to lose 50# before surgery. She said, "Ok, 25#"! Lol! She also commented because I carry my weight 'all over' (not an apple or a pear) I'm relatively healthy.   I ended up having well over 30 questions, and really thought my surgeon was going to be seriously irritated with me. She was just the opposite, saying she appreciated the questions, they were smart, and being better informed will help me have appropriate expectation. She actually remarked she felt I was intelligent and highly motivated and should do well with the surgery.   We discussed what my weight loss is expected to be. It was a little disappointing. She said, based on their calculations which include height, age, current weight and ?? I am only expected to lose 60-70% of my excess weight at the one year point. That would put me at 220#. She did say she would like to see me below 200# and it would be hard. She also said I should lose 50% of my excess weight in the first 6 month, and after a year, you really don't lose more weight, it becomes about maintaining the weight you've lost. A bit disappointing. I have unrealistic dreams of being 135#. Lol!   So what comes next? Well, because my BMI is over 40 and I have co-morbidities (high bp and sleep apnea), my insurance doesn't require I go on the standard 6 month weight loss program prior to surgery, as soon as I get through all my pre-op appointments, lose my 25# and am medically cleared, I can proceed to surgery!!   They gave me a very informative notebook I need to take to all my appointments: Labs
Treadmill Stress Test
Venous Duplex Test (looks at legs for clots)
Mammogram
Upper Endoscopy
Psychological Evaluation
Nutritional Consultation (my ins. doesn't cover seeing the Dietitian beyond this appointment because I am not diabetic)
Evaluation/Clearance from my PCP
The Upper Endoscopy will be interesting. I have gerd and if there are any changed to the tissue of my esophagus or if I have a hiatal hernia, they wont do the sleeve. Due to physical issues, I use a LOT of nSAIDs, which with the RnY, you can NEVER take again. So it's imperative I get cleared for the sleeve. All I can do is take a deep breath and keep moving forward.   THE END.
fit2Bme2014

fit2Bme2014

2
fit2Bme2014's Blog
 

My Story

I’ve had weight issues my entire life. I’ve dieted and exercised successful... for short periods of time, before the cycle began again, bringing with it depression and self loathing. There are so many reasons I overeat. It’s a distraction, tasty, comfort, protection… and it’s killing me. This is the second time I’ve considered wls. The possibility of death scared me away. This time around, I realize that If I don’t lose weight, I’m going to die anyway, and it will be slow and painful, not to mention, the life I’m living now... it’s not living.   I went to a wls orientation a few weeks ago, and this coming week I have my first appointment with a surgeon. From there, I'm not exactly sure where this is going to go. I know there are evaluations, approvals, insurance approvals, procedures that I have to get through before I can have surgery. Right now, I'm just trying to learn as much as I can so that I can make an informed decision for myself and if I do go forward with surgery, I wont be so horribly surprised by what happens after.
fit2Bme2014

fit2Bme2014

0
Mission Slimpossible
 

T minus 2 days

T minus 2 days....   Wow, am I dragging ass right now & it's only 7:15pm. I've had nothing but liquids today: Crystal Lite Strawberry / Lemonade drink, SF jello, SF popsicles, and chicken broth. Mind over matter. Mind over matter. Mind over ... you get the idea...   So, tomorrow I have my pre-op & physical appointments. I'm guessing they'll take my weight, blood pressure, maybe EKG & blood work?, And, of course, I'll find out how much this is really going to cost me. The lap band should be covered, but I think only at 50%, whereas the revision will hardly be covered. I'm looking at something like $12 - $15K out of pocket. At this point, I don't even care. I know I'll be paying it off for years & years, but its ok.   Looking forward to a permanent healthy lifestyle.
Domika03

Domika03

1
hayllyn's Blog
 

My Personal FAQ about my Lap-Band

So recently on a different blog that I run (which can be found here, but warning: it is slightly not safe for work and also not WLS-specific) I was asked this question by one of my followers:   " Hey sorry I disappeared! I ended up passing out last night and was busy today. (re: lap band). It's something I've been thinking about getting one myself. Are you happy you had it done? Has it made a big difference in your life? Were you scared of getting it? Lol sorry I'm bombarding you with questions."   I thought that my answer might be beneficial for this blog, as well, so here was my response!     For those of you just joining us, this ask is about the Lap Band procedure that I had in June. All opinions and information expressed here is my own personal experience, and anyone that has experienced differently (or similarly!) I’d love to hear from you 1) Am I happy that I had it done? Absolutely. 2) Has it made a big difference in my life? I cannot tell you how much this has improved my self-worth and my self-esteem, and how my overall sense of self has skyrocketed. I’ve started wearing dresses again and showing off my legs (which is the area where most of my insecurities are focused - I hate my thighs more than any other part of my body). This has impacted my life so positively that I can’t even begin to tell you. 3) Was I scared of getting it? Honestly- not so much. I’ve never been afraid of medical procedures, though. More than anything, I was excited about how I knew my life would improve once I’d had the procedure, and how much happier I would be with myself once I’d seen steady progress.   I have spoken to several people since who have expressed interest in getting it, and to be honest, while I would love to immediately answer ‘YES DO IT’ to everyone, there are a lot of things to keep in mind:     It’s incredibly expensive. The surgery was $16,000 (this included pre- and post-operative care and post-operative check-ups and band fills). However, you may be eligible to have it covered (at least partially) by insurance. My insurance, however, did not cover it for a variety of reasons. Firstly (and most importantly), my insurance specifically excluded bariatric procedures of any kind. Second, I did not have any co-morbidities. I was ‘morbidly obese,’ but my health showed otherwise. I don’t have high blood pressure, no cholesterol issues, no heart problems, etc.. Medically, aside from being overweight, there was nothing wrong with me.     Once the band is fully inflated to your comfort point, you can only eat about 4 ounces at a time . This can be incredibly awkward at dinner parties, or going out to eat with clients, or with friends who don’t know what you've done (I didn’t want to tell EVERYONE that I know). It severely limits your food intake, as well as the types of foods that you can eat, and this is not something that’s easy to handle. I had resigned myself to that fact a long time before I actually had the surgery, and I have been pretty accepting of this fact, and sometimes I’ll be pretty upset that I can’t eat certain things, but I keep reminding myself that it’s worth it, and that eases the longing (a tiny bit). Certain foods that you love now will make you sick once you have a lap band . I can’t eat bread, I can’t eat anything too heavy or that has a breadlike consistency (cakes, pancakes, etc). I can’t eat pork now. I can’t reheat meats (they become too dry and get stuck).     There is a device inside your body . When I lay a certain way, it pulls on my stomach and my muscles and it hurts. When I stretch my body a certain way, I can feel it. When I lay on my back, I can feel the port and when something pushes on your stomach, it hurts. You will always feel it there. It becomes a permanent part of you — they don’t remove it unless you have a second surgery. This isn’t a decision to take lightly— I got the lap band because I know myself, and I know that I cannot regulate myself when it comes to eating, and I needed that constant medical intervention.   You will have scars . This isn’t an issue for me, but some people are more sensitive about scars on their body. Personally, because of my body type and the way that I carried my weight (mostly in my butt and thighs) I was eligible for a ‘Spider’ type of procedure, where they make only 2 incisions (One inside your bellybutton and a tiny one under the breast to inflate the stomach cavity). The incision inside my bellybutton is pretty obvious, but the tiny one is pretty much gone (I’m happy to show you a picture of what my bellybutton looks like now, but keep in mind that I just scar very badly. Like— I just do not heal well, so my results are atypical). If the spider procedure is not an option, then the laproscopic procedure will leave (I believe) between 4 and 7 incisions over your stomach (please do not quote me on this— I do not know the specifics and from what I could find online, it looks like there are anywhere between 4 and 7 incisions made). If your stomach shows, people will ask you about the scars because people are shits.   You need to commit to exercise. This is something that I put off as long as possible (mostly because my weight made it so that when I exercised I felt like absolute **** and my joints hurt and it was just an all around bad decision to try and exercise when I was heavier. But as soon as I started exercising… the weight just started falling off. Seriously— I went from losing an average of 7 lbs every 4-6 weeks to losing 15 lbs in 6 weeks. It was a great feeling, and the fact that I could exercise and NOT feel awful about myself afterward was pretty fantastic. You may be able to get by without exercising for a while, but you will plateau and the only way to get past it is to exercise!   It will be the most difficult decision, but can be absolutely the best decision of your life. As I mentioned earlier, I can’t even tell you how much it has meant to me to feel like I have my life back and to have confidence again. I’ve lost 2 pants sizes and 3 dress sizes, and I get excited now to exercise and to go out and dress up. It really just puts a whole new spin on life. For me— I’ve always been heavy, so other people may have different experiences, and for others it might be that they’re getting back to how they once were. Either way- I’m the healthiest I have been in years, and I’m smaller than I have been in years, and I have more energy than I have in years.   If you have any other questions, please PLEASE feel free to shoot me a message ! I’m pretty much an open book when it comes to this kind of stuff. I would love to be able to help other people who are going through what I used to go through.
hayllyn

hayllyn

1
After the Knife - Jill's WLS Journey
 

How did this happen?

As with many, many people, my struggle with weight started long before I new anything about counting calories and carbs. I was overweight by 3rd grade and "fat" (according to the kids in school) by 5th grade. I was heavy all through school. Sure, I have lost weight here and there, but have always been far from the elusive "ideal" weight.   My sister had a Gastric Bypass many years ago (maybe 15) and she was very sick and is now just as big (if not bigger) then prior to surgery. I always told myself and others "I would NEVER have surgery." Well, as they say, never say never! Now here I am 8 days from going under the knife.   What changed? Several things. There have been new developments - new surgeries and techniques - that were not in practice 15 years ago. I have or am dealing with many issues medically. I have support in my life that is greater then any I have ever known. I could probably go on, but the best answer is that time changed my mind for me.   For the last several years I have struggled medically. I am lucky that I do not have many of the typical problems associated with obesity - high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes. I was, however, diagnosed 3 or 4 years ago with Lupus and Fibromyalgia. The pain can be debilitating on some days. I am on many medications for all of this and all of them have the side effect of weight gain. I have talked with my PCP as well as my Rheumatologist on several occasions about loosing weight; by loosing weight I will take pressure off of my joints and muscles possibly buying me some much needed relief.   This has been an uphill (or stagnant) battle. No matter what I tried there was little to no weight loss. My final attempt was suggested over a year ago and I did not want to do it due to the financial aspect of it. I began taking a prescription drug, Qsymia, that cost me (WITH INSURANCE COVERAGE) $200+ a month! I was on the drug for 6 months, costing me over $1200 dollars, and lost 17 lbs! I worked so hard; I exercised through the pain, I ate 1500 to 1200 (more often less) everyday and I lost a pathetic 17 lbs. ! What the hell?!?!   During this time my PCP told me at several visits that he thought Lap Band was the way to go for me. I am still admit that surgery was not an accepible option. At the end of the six months on Qsymia, I was heartbroken, defeated, and beaten. I called my PCP with tears in my eyes and asked for a referral for Lap Band and wanted to meet with him to talk it over some more with me and my husband. I went to the visit and I had been off the Qsymia for a couple weeks and had gained about half of the 17 lbs. back. He told me that he did not think that UVA would let me do that Lap Band because I am too obese. I burst into tears because I was still not sure about Lap Band, much less getting anything where they cut your organs and stitch you back up (for some reason a foreign object in my body seemed safer). My PCP gave me the referral for Lap Band anyway (probably because he was tired of my crying in his office).   On November 7, 2013, my husband and I went to UVA for the class/consultation and the first words our of the nurse's mouth were "I am going to convince you NOT to get a Lap Band." My husband and I just looked at each other with surprise and confusion all over our faces. I whispered to him "No. I am not going to have any other type of surgery!" Well, as you already know, I did not hold to true to that statement. She described in detail all three surgeries that they can do; band, sleeve, and bypass, and the post-op instructions for each. Then the nutritionist came in and discussed diet for the surgeries. After this, we had a break before we saw the surgeon. Immediately we sat down and looked at each other and started asking what the other thought in the hopes that we each felt the same way; the sleeve was the right way to go, but we have more questions for the surgical team. We went into the room to meet one on one with the surgical team members and told my story, expressed our concerns, and asked questions. Everyone on the team agreed that the sleeve was a much better choice in my situation then the band. I was fighting against too much and that I need to be able to change my body's chemical makeup (this will happen naturally when part of my stomach is removed) in order for there to be significant change. Final decision made: Gastric Sleeve.   Within the next two weeks, I had my psychiatric evaluation and had hospital records from an Endoscopy sent to UVA. The insurance authorization processes for Bariatric Surgery had begun before I even met the surgeon. Now all I could do was wait. It took every bit of three weeks to get the psych eval results and four page document stating at the end that "...bariatric surgery is recommended..." was sent to the insurance company and UVA. Two weeks after that I was called with insurance approval and set a date to meet with the surgeon one more time and to have an gallbladder ultrasound. The appointment went very well and all of my presurgery labs and x-rays were done, we met with the anesthiaology nurse, and a date was set. On January 20, 2014, I will have the Gastric Sleeve, a Hiatal Hernia Repair, and my Gallbladder removed!   Every day it gets closer and every day I get a little bit more nervous. I am not scared. I am just anxious. There is so much to do; train someone to do my job at work (I'm a total control freak over this and it is not easy to let go); get my house and finances in order; get my important paper work in order (you never know what could happen); buy all the necessary post-op stuff; etc. It will all get done (I hope!), and if not, it will just have to wait till I recover enough to do it (again, hard to let go)! Friday they will call me with the time to report to UVA and time of surgery. As anxious as I am, I could not be more excited!
JillC878

JillC878

0
BobbieKatie's Blog
 

Still nothing.

So I've called my doctors, and they still haven't got any idea what's happening, not much faith. So now I'm planning on emailing my actual surgeon to see what's happening. March last year was when I last saw him, hopefully I can get at least the slightest answer/piece of hope. I will not give up, I refuse to. On other news, I'm doing great on my diet!   Also, did anyone also have worried relatives? My sister seems to be trying to.. change my mind in a way. I know everyone's worried of someone they love having major surgery, but I have been fighting for this for 5+ years and It'll change my life for the best.   Just wish others could see the way I do.
BobbieVSG

BobbieVSG

0
LadyDiva618's Blog
 

Yeah... I am at a plateau

Yeah I am at a plateau..... I am not to upset about it but damn it! I am so close to my high school weight it not even funny! I also found out that my Wii Fit has been lying to me as well this difference is 3 pounds but when I used the quick weigh option it will acturate. I will a little disappointed at first but then I realize that this has been the lowest I have ever been in years!   Okay confession time I admit I haven't been making the best food choices and lately I've been adding wine as a food group. However I've been working out either 45 to 1 hour each day.   My plan of action Stop drinking wine every night and cut it down to twice a week.   Change my workout routine.   Review my fitness pal diary to review my eating habbits.   Start planning my meals through out the week and remember Protein Protein and Protein   I need to get to ball going anyway I have to train for my first 5K run in April.   I am still happy with my weight loss and I know for a fact I will never weigh over 200 pounds again! This is a promise I made to myself   God is good and I still love my band!   Thanks for reading!
LadyDiva618

LadyDiva618

6
Blog 85448
 

A Month Out from Band Removal

It's been so refreshing not to be bent over the toilet at least once a day - and it's freed me from way too much tooth brushing and having to carry eye drops with me at all times!   First couple of weeks weren't that rough. Wasn't very hungry and often it seemed like I was a computer with a glitch. I'd have what felt like the start of a hunger pang, but instead, I'd have a wave of nausea. It took awhile for me to return to being "regular", which I wasn't from about the time I started having problems. Surgery and painkillers can really add to the problem, so finally being back on schedule is great. Nothing worse than heading out to the office feeling like you're carrying a bowling ball in your...ahem...   Hadn't eaten meat/poultry/fish in so long that I have yet to crave it. I made a beautiful standing rib roast for our New Year's Day party. Once was one of my most favorite meals. Smelled great but I ended up only eating about a one inch square piece and just found it to be okay. Same deal with bread and pasta - the only exception being my mother-in-law's homemade rolls which were so fabulous I had four!   Made baked swai(fish) last night for dinner and just smelling it as I was plating for me and the hubs made me nauseous. Maybe in time.   Pills are still a bit tricky and I'm not sure if it's psychosomatic or physical, but with enough water, it's doable.   So what am I eating? Never been a breakfast person, so I go the route of a late breakfast or early lunch - brunch! I've been combining Weight Watchers with a great cookbook I found, Hungry Girl's 300 Under 300 by Lisa Lillian.   Today I had a Very Veggie Egg Mug with spinach, mushrooms, onion, tomatoes, light Laughing Cow cheese and egg substitute(188 calories), a glass of OJ and coffee. I'm not hungry and I feel good. Will likely have some coffee, string cheese and fruit as an afternoon snack, a Lean Cusine and salad for dinner(hubs out-of-town = Jill off kitchen detail), some yogurt or maybe a half cup of ice cream for dessert.   Yes, I've had some - okay - ALL of the forbidden foods since having the band removed and the truth is that as good as they taste, eating that way tends to make me feel sluggish and sets up a chain reaction of me needing a nap, then staying up too late and not getting enough sleep, then eating a fast-fix i.e., carbs or junk food to power up, which then leads to a post-sugar crash and then we're back to square one.   Not exactly sure what has changed in me. I was always a stress eater and not having that as an escape during the past couple of years may have broken the habit. It may also have been just how negative the whole experience was for me(no knock against anyone else's choices or success) and realizing how long I've let my weight dictate my life, that is forcing me to, for lack of a better word, parent myself into better eating. 90% sure I do not want another WLS and it's likely that if I continue to lose, I wouldn't qualify. Sure don't want to go through what I did the last time when I was encourage to "gain a few" to make sure to "seal the deal" for insurance coverage.   The big question - Have I gained? No - actually I've lost five pounds since the surgery and finally broke the two year plateau! 70 pounds lost. 30 with the band. Only 68 to go!
RavenClaw779

RavenClaw779

3
betternowthanever's Blog
 

Confidence is within us all

Destructive thoughts within our minds can keep us in despair... those doubts and insecurities are not worth the pain they bear.   It's sad to carry baggage that causes grief and shame... and in time we come to realize we have ourselves to blame.   We can choose our way of thinking and ask God to give us peace... as we pray for a healthy attitude, our negative thoughts will cease.   These human hearts are fragile and sometimes we can't see... it takes some effort on our part to find worth and security.   Don't let those demons haunt you and keep you in the dark... just know that God, who formed you, loves you just the way you are.
betternowthanever

betternowthanever

0
Gastric Sleeve Surgery - An Unexpected Journey
 

Weight Loss Surgery Tips (VSG) Why Its Good To Be Number 2

Weight Loss Surgery Tips - Why it's good to be #2. I realized it's not always good to be the 1st in line for surgery.   My WLS surgeon had 6 surgeries scheduled on the same day and began at 7am. I felt pretty good about being his 2nd patient for the day. It meant that he had time to get warmed up and in the zone for surgery. But he hadn't been working so long that he was getting fatigued.   If you like/dislike my videos, please thumb up or down, and leave a comment about how I could improve the content. Your input helps me become a better Youtuber. :-)   Keep Pimpin' that Sleeve!   Google Plus https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/102076899634252886094/102076899634252886094/posts/p/pub   Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Frankensleeve-Vertical-Sleeve-Gastrectomy-VSG-Community/289332951205311   Twitter https://twitter.com/frankensleeve
joatsaint

joatsaint

0
HumbleMom's Blog
 

Why I'm Here

Hi there...   HumbleMom here. Am Pre-Op RNY - waiting for insurance approval. Most likely will have surgery next month (2/2014.)
Was born and raised in Memphis, TN and am still here.
Have been a wife for almost 21 years ~ looking forward the next 21+.
Mother to 3 children, one of whom passed away at 8yrs ~ more about this in future blogs.
Am happy in general ~ my life is full of love and laughter, family and friends and all those little positive intangibles we tend to take for granted.
My faith is intact, meaning my relationship with God has weathered the death of my son. God and I are good ~ I have MANY questions for Him, but I also have to thank Him for all He's done for me and for all He continues to do for me.
For financial reasons, I dabble in cybersecurity. For fun, I read, cook (sometimes healthy, sometimes not), needlepoint and am learning to play Bridge.
We have three dogs, all different sizes, all rescues, all quirky and all amazingly lovable.
You can see from my profile that I'm a big girl. Like just about everyone else here, I didn't get this way overnight.My weight crept up on me over time, over pregnancies, over typical stress, over unbelievable stress and over many a wonderful meal shared with good friends.     Also like just about everyone else, I'm a very well educated obese person. I KNOW Weight Watchers inside and out and have been very successful with it over the years, having lost (and regained) myself several times over.
Jenny Craig and I have been good friends, albeit never for long.
I've tried Nutrisystem and Medifast ~ ordered the products, received them, organized the cupboards to house them, tried them for a few days and then promptly sold the remaining items on eBay.
I've walked, done couch-to-5k, done pilates, attended exactly ONE Bikram yoga class (WHAT was I thinking??? If you are a Bikram fan, my hat's off to you!), used a personal trainer, worked out in a members only gym, worked out at my office gym, walked some more and then walked even more.
And like just about everyone else, each new this-will-change-my-life endeavor has proven successful (except the Bikram yoga!). I've lost weight, I've toned muscles I never knew I had and I've increased my endurance more than I ever thought possible. UNTIL… I wasn't losing or toning anymore because I'd stopped. I'd stopped because I ~ well, that's part of this puzzle. Why DID I stop? I don't know. I seriously need to find a counselor who can help me with this strange dance of mine with food, exercise and health. Know of anyone in the Memphis area? Please share!     So, long story short, I'm hoping this surgery will be the missing tool from my arsenal of knowledge needed to become a healthier me. While it will be nice to look more attractive, I'm here for other reasons. I want to be able to hike and climb volcanoes with my sons. (True story ~ more later!)
I want to quit the daily meds for cholesterol, blood pressure, GERD and depression. Or maybe I should say I want to trade those meds for vitamins, calcium and b12 supplements!
I don't want my family to bury me because I literally ate myself to death. Much better to perish on the side of a volcano, right?
I'm tired of walking into a large department store filled with beautiful clothes and being relegated to shop from the Women's sizes hidden away in the tiny corner of the basement. I mean, come on. NOTHING tastes that good! I have 'eaten' my way into that corner and I'm tired of it. Those clothes in the other 90% of the store are much, much cuter! I want to shop from THOSE racks. Actually, just knowing I have the choice to shop from those racks is enough for me. I'll probably end up at the consignment store anyway.
 
Well, that's me in a nutshell. Obviously a fan of lists! I need to get to know others here. I need support and I want to support you! I need to know I'm not the only one who can't stand a certain type of chewable bariatric vitamin!   Won't you please be my neighbor?
HumbleMom

HumbleMom

2
Gastric Sleeve Surgery - An Unexpected Journey
 

Quick FAQs What Vitamins Are You Taking Post (VSG) Weight Loss Surgery

This Frequently Asked Question addresses the need to take vitamins and calcium post-op weight loss surgery. How to pick'em and why you need'em.   My surgeon wanted me on a multivitamin, calcium and B12 post-op. His office carries the Bariatric Advantage brand of vitamins, but said any good brand of multivitamins were suitable post-op.   Just be sure to wait a few hours between taking a multi with Iron and calcium. Iron inhibits the absorption of calcium.   If you like/dislike my videos, please thumb up or down, and leave a comment about how I could improve the content. Your input helps me become a better Youtuber. :-)   Keep Pimpin' that Sleeve!   Google Plus https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/102076899634252886094/102076899634252886094/posts/p/pub   Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Frankensleeve-Vertical-Sleeve-Gastrectomy-VSG-Community/289332951205311   Twitter https://twitter.com/frankensleeve
joatsaint

joatsaint

3
Mission Slimpossible
 

Band to Sleeve

5 days & and counting...   I started this journey at my highest weight of 245 pounds. I got my lap band in Aug of 2012 & have lost about 90-95 pounds since then. My current weight is about 155-156. It's gone up since my band only has 1cc in it right now.   I started experiencing discomfort with my band in April of last year. They took fluid out, then put it back in a month later. Then in August & October, same thing. The last straw was when I was on a mini vacation in NYC in Dec. I wound up in the ER for 15 hours. I'll spare you the details but it was confirmed that my band had a partial slip. They gave me morphine 3 times then dilaudid (something like that) for the pain. It finally worked many hours into my stay there.   I had my band placed by a reputable surgeon in Aug of 2012, but am now under a different insurance, Kaiser Permanente of CO, and will have my revision done through them. As it stands right now, since the sleeve is being considered "elective" I will be paying about $12K - $15K out of pocket. Don't get me started because my husband is unemployed & no longer receiving unemployment benefits. Not sure how we'll handle this, but we will. No point in getting upset, though it does rather suck. Have to keep our head up & move forward staying positive.   So, after my appointment last week, I found out on Friday that my revision date will be Thursday, the 16th, done as a rush surgery because of the pain that I have with the slipped band. It's not severe but constant. Dr gave me liquid vicodin, which I take once or twice a day, only as needed.   My band will be removed at the same time as the sleeve is done. While I was anxious about getting the band back in 2012, I'm even more nervous about getting the revision to the sleeve.   Would appreciate any feedback from previous banders to sleevers. I'm trying to read up as much as possible on what to expect so I'm ready. I hope to post on here the day of surgery then a few days later. My goal is to document this journey & potentially help any way headed on the same path.   Talk to me people. How did your revision go? What did you drink the first few weeks? Sounds like I"ll be on liquids longer than I was with the band. Oh, I'm definitely anxious. Could use your support.   Thanks! Fran
Domika03

Domika03

0
Leepers' Blog
 

Leeper's Story

Helllooo!   Twice, I spent at least 20 minutes swiping out a blog entry on my phone and then I couldn't get it to publish. So here I am to try again on my computer. The other entry was about a couple of embarrassing situations that helped lead me WLS. I think though, that I'd like to give a little introduction about me and how I got to this point.   My name is Leigh (rhymes with eeeee) (One time I had a guy ask me if my name was pronounced Lay because if you put an "S" on the front of my name it'd spell sleigh.) I am 40 years old. I live in Louisville, KY. (Yes, I wear shoes. No, I don't own a horse.) Louisville is a mid-size city. They like to boast that it's the 16th largest city in the nation. Whatever. I have been married for 8 years. I have been an RN for about 5 years. Before marriage and my nursing career, I was a diligent party girl. But, I've settled down in to a cozy little, mostly drama free, life with my husband and our two fur babies.   I had various times growing up where I was chubby, but I don't remember ever being made fun of. In high school, I ran around with the popular party crowd and I generally had a good experience. The only thing was I always felt like I was different on the inside than those people I ran around with. By the time I graduated high school, I was in a size 14 and I thought I was fat. Man, lookin back on pictures of me, I was perfect! But I was 5'9" and all my friends were 5'4" and a size 4. Plus, for reasons I can't fathom now, my mother was always trying to bribe me to lose weight. I'm sure some of it was out of concern, maybe some was to try to help me when I complained I was fat. I don't know. I always felt like she was so concerned about appearances (still is) and that somehow she was ashamed of me.   I started gaining weight as soon as I got out of high school and over the years I went from a 14 to a 22 by the time I was 30. I probably weighed about 250. I had pretty much always embraced my curves and didn't worry, but when I reached 250, I decided to lose weight. (I had done various other diets over the years.) That time, I lost about 70-80 pounds. I got back into a 14 and I felt great! That time, I just started walking one day. I didn't walk fast, I just took a stroll. Eventually, I worked myself up to where I could run 3 miles. It took me about a year. After a few months, I watched what I ate. It was a great time. I felt empowered. I felt beautiful. But then, life happened. I got a job with a different schedule that wasn't conducive to exercise and I also got into a long term relationship (hubby) and got lazy. And then, over the next ten years, I blew up to a whopping 295 pounds. (Side note, I have known the hubby for many years, so he knew me before I lost weight. He has always loved me, no matter what size I am).   Over the last few years, my size really started to affect my life. I didn't want to go out, because I hated my clothes and I hated the way I looked in them. When I was in nursing school, I was also going through a big depression and went on antidepressants which helped me gain the weight. This last year, though, I spent a lot of time mortified by my size. It really affected my self esteem. I knew I had to do something about it.   I'm an RN at a big hospital in the city. I have always worked in cardiac areas and I see, every day, the effects of weight on humans. It is bad. Every time a 300 or 400 pound person came in and we put them on the table for a procedure, I would see myself on that table. I have a very strong history of heart attacks and diabetes in my family. Every day, in front, of me was a reminder of what I was doing to myself.   I had thought about Lap Band surgery for a couple of years, but could never get myself to ride across town to our sister hospital and go to the seminar. This last May, I had a couple of very embarassing experiences when I went on a convention trip with a few of my coworkers. One involving the seatbelt on the plane and the other being talked into hiking up the side of a mountain. It truely mortified me. Something. Had. To. Happen.   One day, this past September, I got on the website for the Bariatric program and lo and behold! You could watch a video of the seminar instead of having to go in. So I did. And I filled out the info below. Two days later, they called me. I was lucky to have it so easy from there. They sent me a packet, which I filled out and returned. They called me a week later, said my insurance was approved. I had a 10 minute appt with the surgeon on October 15th. About 2 weeks later, I had a 5 minute appt with a psychiatrist. They made an appt for me to come in for labs, a barium swallow, and education on Dec 6th. I had one more 10 minute appt with the surgeon on Dec 11th. Then, on December 18th, I was banded!   I had quite a bit of discomfort after the surgery and it took me a good couple of weeks to feel normal again. But now, about 4 weeks later, I feel great. I do feel that I have some restriction right off the bat from the surgery. But, is it really restriction? Or can I just not eat as much because I kept to the prescribed diets, watch my protions and calories, and have been practicing getting to know the difference between hungry, not hungry, and full? Maybe a little of all.   My husband has been at my side this whole time and we have completely turned around our eating habits. We threw out all of the junk and most of the carbs and have been eating a mainly high protein diet. He has been exercising a lot and I have started walking on the treadmill 4 days a week for 30 minutes. Most of all, we are staying away from sweets and NOT EATING FAST FOOD. We were really bad fast food junkies.   I've lost 20 pounds since I started the preop diet. I'm feeling really good. Today was a small setback because I have a really bad head cold and I don't know if I have the energy to walk. But I'm not going to let it bother me. If I feel good tomorrow, I will walk tomorrow.   People get to down on themselves when they "slip up" and have something sweet or high calorie. I say, don't let this get you down. You have to "treat" yourself every now and then. Just don't let it become a habit. Make your new habit to be eating healthy and feeling good about yourself. Plan the times you get to eat what you want. For instance, I love to go out to restaurants. We are going to go out every other Friday. When I'm there, am I going to eat fried foods and carbs and desserts? No. I will make a sensible choices. But it will still be fun and nice not to cook. It will be a reward for staying on track for two weeks.   I can't believe that I didn't do this sooner. Why did I spend all those years miserable and overweight? Well, I guess we all have to reach that point where we are ready to take control. If you're not ready and not truely comitted, success will be much harder. I have also accepted that my band, Brunhilde (that's her name), is only a tool. I have to make choices that are good for me. I have to committ to change.   And things like this website and forum. Visiting and reading other people's stories and advice. I know it will lead to my success and help me keep on track. Do your research. Know what you're getting into. And when you're ready, make the step toward taking control of your life. It's the best thing I have ever done, and it will be for you, too.   And to all of the veterans, thank you! Your success and advice make this a place worth visiting.
Leepers

Leepers

3
Christian Zaccone's Blog
 

Food Inake.

I have been extremely focused on this. FYI my schedule is backwards cause i work third shift however a typical day for me consist of 900-1000 calories max.   - 3am turkey sandwhich on petridge farm light oatmeal or wheat bread ( maybe a slice of tomato 3-4oz turkey and 1 oz cheese ) - 10am granola Bar or 2 poached eggs on 1 slice of same bread with a little shred cheese on top. - 7 pm 6 OZ of chicken or Beef with maybe a little Brocoli. Midnight - when I get in work I have a medium Iced Coffee with 1 creme and splenda.   I drink about 60-80 ounces of water. Workout 6 days per week.   So if im eating say 1000 calories but im also working out 500 of them.   Christian Zacconechris@yahoo.com
Christian Zaccone

Christian Zaccone

2
Christian Zaccone's Blog
 

Workout. Routine

I believe in Body for Life by Bill phillips. I have always followed that workout program and it works for me. Essentailly 6 days in the gym but not an extensive ammount of time.. 3 days cardio and 3 days weight lifting. I have made it Iterative. I do my cardio then he requires and I do ABS every day. But other than that if your looking to spend no more than 45 minutes per day in the gym this is a great plan!!   Christian Zacconechris@yahoo.com
Christian Zaccone

Christian Zaccone

0
Christian Zaccone's Blog
 

My Story

415 to under 235 I had to do this twice so Never again and Never forget!   About 8 years ago i found myself over 400 lbs. I wont put blame but I do have to say I was in an abusive relationship with a women that drank.. So I ate and ate and ate some more. I Decided one January morning that everything was going to change. I advised her unless she stopped drinking it was over. SImple as that and i walked out the door of my home in NH and started walking.. Every day i walked and walked a little longer every week i would increase my walking . Well come May I had done away with her and it was all about me at that point. I ended up getting to about 250 lbs on my own. No surgery this time.. I was happy but had a ton of excess skin. I did my legwork and found a plastic surgeon who did 2 seperate surgeries. My Upper body and my lower body. I will say the upper body surgery was not to bad to remove the "man boobs". The Lower Body the Pandectomy procedure was something I would never do again and glad I dont have to.. Very painful procedure and a scar all the way around my body. Im glad I had it done and im glad the second time around my tummy went back to being flat as a board. So back to my story.. I had both surgeries feeling good no issues and then one day out of the blue, and ill never forget it was a couple of days before Thanksgiving I stopped going to the gym.. Dont ask me why I have no clue why i did this. I was invisible. I was working out 6-7 days per week and felt good and i just stopped! The weight started going back on. You all know the struggles of a YOYO person. Up and down and up and down. Well soon after that my father passed away. Very very mixed emotions and a heavy heart. I balooned back up to 415lbs + or -.. I stayed that way for the last couple of years.. At almost 45 years old I didnt know what to do. I knew I needed help. I didnt think i could do it on my own again. I found Dr Jiser the chief bariatric surgeon at Lowell general Hospital in Ma. He advised me I was a great candidate for the "Sleeve". he said i would see amazing results and the sleeve was slowly catching up to the bypass as far as results go, So I went for it. I started in April at 415lbs. I got down to 372 on Surgery date June 24th 2013. I kissed my wife and my mom and said lets do this. i was dedicated. I worked out and walked and walked and walked and then started lifting weights again. Well here we are Jan 11th 2014 9 months after taking the initial step in April.. I weighed in just the other day at 232lbs. Thats -183lbs in 9 months. Amazing. Even Dr Jiser said i was so far ahead of schedule. i went from a 52inch waist to a 34. I went from a 4x shirt to a large. I am off all medications!!! I will never ever go back. I am happy. all the frightening stupid things that "NORMAL" people can do I can now do. We all know how frightful it was to get on an airplane or go to a show. Nothing worse then needing an extended seat belt or wondering if you would fit in the movie theater seat. Well No More. never ever again will i be worried about having to get an aisle seat so i wouldnt bother the person next to me. i recently went back to Aruba. We go everyyear and the reactions were funny and amazing. Hardly anyone knew who I was. It was funny but it showed me i was such a different person. The weight loss has also opened my eyes to the discrimination we all face or faced. We all know that people looked at us "heavy" people differently.. I have noticed so many people have a different attitude towards me. It is for the better now but it also shows me how my weight before made people discriminate against me. Well here I am about 20lbs from my high school weight. I want so badly to be able to take this and help others. Id love to start a support group.. Id love to be a counselor at say a weight watchers but amazingly enough to do that I would have to weigh about 180lbs. Yes that is not happening. I have never been that low and will never get that low. I would look unhealthy. Im trying to break through and figure out ways to reach out to people in similiar situations and help. This weight loss has changed my whole life. I will never look back but I will never forget!!   Christian Zaccone Zacconechris@yahoo.com
Christian Zaccone

Christian Zaccone

3

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