iegal

OMG...I made it to this glorious thread! I have read so much during my journey from all of you. I feel like a kid standing on the ball field with a bunch of superstars, only to realize I have on a team uniform too. Keep up the posts, you have no idea how many of us never posted but read and read and read and reread posts of the pros. Amazing! 5 month sleeve anniversary today, weigh in tomorrow though, so my ticker will be updated with final goal weight.. Now...about maintaining. Um, I have to watch myself like a hawk to eat enough, take my suppliments, drink my liquid. My complaints, if any are happy whining, like new clothes are needed, I get stopped by TSA upon occasion because I am 25 lbs under my DL listed weight and 70+ from my picture and how do you eat enough to stop loosing? I add in junk food just to get calories. Yes, I still drink protien shakes once a day to follow guidelines and my hair is falling out rapidly now even following guidelines. Dang, thought I had missed that curse. I am so proud I made this decision to get the sleeve, even as a self payer in US. Saved me from me. New me is healthier, smiles more and found out she can reach goals. Thanks to my mentors again.

Excited for you!! Just keep reading boards, check out post-op too so you know what to expect in "after" Also in General Surgery Discussions, there is an offical "what you need for surgery thread". Wish I had known about the heating pad prior to surgery for the first two days at home would have been much more comfortable. Recommend drinking g2 gatorade, drinking at room tempature (i kept chilling my water/g2) or drinking luke warm decaf tea for hydration. Start taking Vitamins now, especially Biotin. http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/10081-the-official-what-you-will-need-for-your-surgery-thread/ I have no regrets. Today is my 5 month sleeve anniversary - I think I am at my goal, already surpassing surgeons goal. Weigh in tomorrow.

That is not a small NSV but a huge victory. SMILE You must have been so smug. I am just off my second leg of a business trip off a commuter airplane and no longer spill into the other seat. I love my sleeve.

While I can not speak for everyone - I am now loosing hair.at 4 1/2 months out...well hair is thinning dramatically yet does not come out in clumps. Used to say "I have too much hair" My hairdresser used say the same thing. My ponytails were thick. Now, I pick hair off of my clothes constantly, out of the dryer lint trap, washing machine, furniture, shower, sink, and hairbrush. I took the Biotin, zinc, 70 gm of protien daily, even pre surgery. No luck avoiding hair loss from what I have read on this board. BUT - I love my sleeve and have no regrets. A little hair gone a very small price.

Hello Newmoo; 4+ months out and thought I had dodged the hair loss bullet everyone talks about. DARN But, I clean more hair off my clothes, out of my hairbrush, sink, drain, floor, vaccum, washer, dryer lint trap than is on my soon to be DH head. Have taken right Vitamins & bioten whole time. Not happy to hear this gets worse until 7 months out, yikes. But, I would rather be bald than the other option (presurgery). Let me know if you find a miracle.

Good luck tomorrow. Will keep you in my prayers! Tomorrow is the beginning of a new you.

Not one regret and I was a self pay in US. Okay I had one fleeting episode in front of a HomeStyle Buffet (of all places) crying over not being able to gorge. Wish I had cried over a good steak joint rather than the senior specials. You too will soon be here saying "no regrets". No more hungries all the time, no more stuffing myself only to still be hungry, no more hatred cycles. I love my sleeve!

Hello Pom Mom; No tubes, no drains, no pain pump, no catheter, IV only during surgery & PostOp recovery. Hit surgeons goal in less than 5 months, hope to hit my goal (10 lbs less) by end of this month. PS - I was an outpatient too. Love my sleeve & surgeon.

Christa; You are right on with this post. Support groups keep us accountable. I just came back from my surgeon's weekly support group, which I admit, I do not attend weekly. Helps for the reminder of what was and what is now. NUT was giving seminar tonight. Encourge all of you to attend. No regrets.

My mouth is still hanging open. Shocked by a person's lack of decorum. Stay strong and best not to engage with idiots or fools.

Thanks for sharing - you look sassy and wonderful!

I had to look twice at your pictures to even recognize you. Huge difference all around. Congratulations on making the sleeve work!

Hello Sizzling Sept. Sleevers; Wonderful reading about everyone's victories, challenges and determination. Amazing women (and men) here on VST. I am almost at my personal goal less than 5 months out. Followed my doctors/NUT guidelines and watched how others on VST & how they mixed things up to beat a stall. Slow and steady loss the last several weeks. So excited about how I feel - emotionally and physically. Sleeve has given me the chance to win the ugly weight gain cycle of lose a few, gain more back. Soon to join maintenance group. I say this with full faith - I have no regrets even as a self pay in US. A lot of money spent but I saved myself from medical issues, poor eating choices, lack of energy, self loathing and more. This forum gave me courage to step out and make sleeve work. Encourage you to keep sharing, newbies and "old timers" like me pour over your posts. Thanks!

Wow - congratulations on such a big upcoming event. But a heck of a way to loose pounds going into the hospital for the complication (leak) and illness. Yikes, stay healthy!

Welcome. I too found this site less than 2 weeks before surgery and all of the posts/memebers were very helpful, friendly and informative. Now I was not calling my surgeons office four times a day with "little" pop up questions. Do not lurk - search through the many venues here. There is a great thread for what you will need right after surgery. http://www.verticals...surgery-thread/ I was much happier after using heating pad and drinking slighly warm liquids rather than cold liquids. G2 gatorade helped me stay hydrated when liquid was an issue. Never needed to use any pain meds...and I was an outpatient for this surgery. Hugs to you and good luck!

Congrats on your success already. Remember, you are learning about your new body, so be patient. In time you will learn fullness and now is the time to measure everything. Eventually you can eyeball what you can and can not eat. Even at 4+ months out I sometimes forget and fill my plate, laughing "who am I kidding?" You will learn fullness by your body response. Sometimes I get excess siliva (gross) or hiccup when eating to quickly. Best wishes on a speedy recovery and more success!

Self pay in US. Once I had all my tests done (physc eval/ labwork/ EKG/ upper body Ultrasound/ clean mammogram) very quick to surgery date. Less than one month but I was held to availability of surgeon or I would have been 2 weeks earlier. No regrets. Good luck to you!

Hello Cheri; Tons of good thoughts and prayers being sent your way! Will be thinking of you.

Hello - what do you fear? Surgery or the fact that you are changing? Want to echo previous thoughts - it is much harder prior to surgery. Those nagging doubts, what if I fail again, it costs so much (I was a self pay in US) the other what ifs... What other options do you have to take control of your life? VSG will change the way your live. I was happy before VSG, but now my happiness is magnified. I move more, I laugh more, smile more, walk more, socialize more and take care of myself more. Decide to make yourself a priority. I am healthier, happier and more productive in so many ways. No regrets - amazed at results at under 5 months out surpassing surgeons goal, less than 7 pounds from my personal goal. Good luck on breaking away from the old and becoming the real you. The only thing we have to fear is fear itself...Franklin D Roosevelt

I love it! That truly is a non scale victory. If I tried that, my legs or back would break. Worse I can imagine getting stuck face first in the flooring. Thank for sharing - made me smile BIG.