PlannerGirl

When my surgery was done on November 18th, it was discovered my fibroid tumor was way way bigger than we knew. (I confess……it had been a couple of years since I had gone to the OBGYN) So, on March 1 I am having this football size mass removed and the doc will perform a complete hysterectomy. But here's the good news! Have you ever grabbed the overhang on your belly and said "if they could just cut this off" We'll that's what I'm doing. I am having a panniculectomy at the same time as the hysterectomy. The doc estimates the tumor weighs about 7-10 pounds so that will be a nice little instant weight loss as well. They expect I will look dramatically different. If I wasn't carrying this extra weight, the doctor says I would look pregnant as my uterus is the size of a full term pregnancy. Couple that with my belly overhang going away and I'm guessing I'll go down a couple of pants sizes. That's the silver lining I'm going with. You all have been such wonderful support for weight loss I'm selfishly dipping into the well again and asking for your good thoughts as I approach this big surgery. Thanks!

I never thought I was scared before my surgery but in retrospect, I was a raving b***h so that must have come from nerves. I also must have been very distracted because I had a car accident two days before on my way to a pre-op appointment with the surgeon. All that is over and done with and my sleeve is the best think I think I've ever done for myself. Get through the next couple of weeks and it will all be smooth sailing after that.

SN................Starting Wt........Current.......Goal.....Lbs to Goal Avilda......................275.................187..............177..............10 BlackBerryJuice.........208..........149..............145..............4 Brendasgonnalose...335............233..............225..............8 Cherice95405.......248............... 177............ 164..............13 Chilo1.....................216................160...............154..............6 Cludgie................235................220...............209..............11 Coops ...................238................191...............177...............14 Cwalker.................250.................180..............170...............10 Daisy......................237.................138.............130...............8 DJackson..............229.................222..............215.............7 HollyW...................259..................233............215..............18 Ibejjo.....................249..................249............229................20 Juliarh...................230..................217..............215...........2 Kimmes................239..................222..............200............22 Kgremmy.............225.................210..............199..............11 Laylasmojo.........242.................180...............170..............10 LeslieH..................212..................212.............199..............13 LilMissDiva...........235................227.2.............220............7.2 livelovelaugh.. ...236............ ....207........ .....189..............18 Mellifrits...............210.................132..............125..............07 Meriteri................240...................187.............170...............17 MichelleLee..........252..................222................199..............23 MINI-Me...............203..................124.6............125..............0 & holding! mlr777...........200.8...........174.6............160.............14.6 Mommy2Girls.......275.................240..............228..............12 Moniluv.................190.................190..............178..............12 MRSKOUBIK........317..................266.............255..............10 pattimomof3nj......203.4..............160.9..........155...........5.9 PlannerGirl………..…327…..……..…..266……..……..255…………..11 Sailorgirl.................240.................220..............200..........20 Secret Surgery34..........205.........174...........165...........9 Seniorsleever........290.................279.............260............19 Sleeve 4 me.........166..................163.............156...............7 Sweatinitout..........245................170..............160...............10 tlang262 - Texas.....240..............240..............230..............10 Yolanda240...........236.................203..............170..............33 22 days left and 11 pounds to go. I need to get to the gym!!

For carbs, I've always loved oatmeal. It's real stick to your bones, makes you feel full food. Not eating it now post surgery as there just isn't the room. For a really filling and healthy carb and Protein I've made this: In a blender put egg whites or egg substitute, dry regular oatmeal, granulated splenda, vanilla, and cinnamon. Whirr it in the blender for a bit then cook it like a big pancake in a nonstick pan. This really is quite tasty and and will help you feel very full.

Here's the thing. During my surgery we found out my uterine fibroid is significantly larger than we knew. I've been to a new gyno and he tells me my uterus is currently the size of a full term pregnancy and as I lose the weight I will look pregnant. (Which is so ridiculous at my nearly 48 years of age). We plan on a hysterectomy when the weight comes off and will have a tummy tuck at the same time. I'm really frustrated. I want to see my stomach shrink. I am one of those "apple" body types and all my weight is in the middle. I know, once I have the surgery, it will be a night and day difference, I just want those little victories along the way. Besides, this thing is giving me tremendous lower back pain. In addition, my husband and I have a huge 3 continent trip planned for November. I want to have the surgery by first week of August to give myself adequate time to recover. I feel a lot of pressure to get the weight of quickly and even though I've lost 36 pounds since my surgery two months ago, I'm not sure it will happen. So…..so do y'all have any words of wisdom? Thanks!

The third week stall is very common, keep up your good work and the losing will happen again soon.

Hi, I'm also in Dallas and I had my surgery 11/18/10. I did not use Dr Nicholson, so I can't give you feed back on him but I did use a surgeon in Plano named Dr. Cribbins. I was referred to him by a friend of mine who is also a surgeon. I trust her with all my Dr referrals and she hasn't let me down yet. I was extremely pleased with him and my recovery was incredibly easy, which I in part credit him with. I had my surgery at Baylor Frisco which I initially thought it was a pain to go so far from home I was thrilled with the hospital. It's new, it looks like a hotel, and they treated my husband and I like royalty. If you'd like to know more, send me a message and I'll answer anything you want to know.

Thanks to all of you for your words of wisdom, I really needed them today. I so appreciate the support of this group. You're terrific. ---Deborah

I'm sure that's fine, just check the nutritional information to make sure you're not too high on fat, sodium, or carbs. While you're at it…..you might want to throw some unflavored protein powder in there and get some of the good stuff in.

Just my two cents of it's ok. I would do the WLS prior to the knee surgery. Being lighter will make the rehab for the knee so much easier. As for the sleeve as a WLS choice. When I started thinking about WLS I talked to a friend of mine who is a urologist. She is also obese. She had been considering WLS and told me after what she had done her researched she would only do the sleeve. She referred to it as the new "gold standard." I especially trust her opinion as she is a physician and understands the information, but has no biases.

I was always a straw drinker….I just really like them, don't ask me why, I don't know. At my last appointment with my surgeon about 6 weeks post op, I asked if I could ever use one again and he laughed and said yes, use one now. He told me they discourage it right after surgery as you tend to drink more and faster with a straw but that's not an issue any more. If your drink of choice is something that could stain your teeth, you'll be thankful for straws as it helps the liquid bypass your teeth all together.

I didn't have a cath at all and I am so glad, as that freaks me out. Two hours after surgery with a little help from the nurse I walked to the bathroom and went every two hours after that for about 12 hours. (They were pumping me full of fluids) I was glad to get up and often used the opportunity to take a walk in the hall. I also didn't have any pain from the gas, so I think the walking really helped.

It's so natural to feel apprehensive, but try to power through it. I promise you, in a couple of months you'll think of this as the best decision you've made in your life. Just for an example of how normal life can be, I'll tell you about my dinner out this evening. I am 7 1/2 weeks post op. My husband and I plus a friend of ours went out for sushi tonight. We talked and enjoyed one another's company and all the while I enjoyed two pieces of salmon sushi and 2 pieces of albacore sushi without the rice of course. I was eating, just like they were, I was just eating much less. I took my time between bites and had far more opportunity to chat as my face wasn't always stuffed with food. I left feeling satisfied, full, and happy to have had a lovely dinner out. Oh, and by the way, my friend doesn't know I had surgery and never once questioned what I was eating. It was all very very normal. Try and remind yourself that the not being able to eat at all period is short. You will have the rest of your life to live in a healthy body and that is sooooo worth the effort. Good luck to you!

I'm a big fan of egg white omelette. I use 2 egg whites for 34 calories and 7 grams of Protein and I add 1/4 cup of kraft ff cheddar for 45 calories and 9 grams of protein. All totaled you get 16 grams of protein for less than 80 calories. A lot of bang for your buck. Sometimes…..if I'm feeling daring, I add some jimmy dean turkey sausage I've crumbled in my mini food processor. Less than one sausage patty.

Sounds like the notorious week three stall. I suggest you stop weighing your self for a week so you don't go crazy. I know it's hard to do….put your scale somewhere inconvenient to avoid the temptation. This will pass and the pounds will fall off. Just keep following the instructions and it will happen.

My,my……what a tumultuous year and a true example of alls well that ends well. You'll end up with a sleeve (which my bias thinks is better than a band) and you got all of this accomplished with so much going on in your life. Good luck to you!

Apparently pre op diets are as varied as post op. My pre op diet was two weeks for no meats or fish and very limited simple cars.

This morning I spent some time trying on clothes in my closet that until recently no longer fit. What a pleasant surprise. I have a bunch of things I can wear without having to go out and purchase "temporary" clothes. About 6 years ago, I lost just over 150 pounds, then 4 years ago I quit smoking and found the weight again. Because the weight gain is fairly recent, and over a relatively short period of time, I have clothes in various sizes. In fact, I have jeans in 7(!) different sizes. There's such a temptation to buy new clothes at every new size, but I am going to try and be patient, save the money, and do major shopping when I get to goal!

I promise you, when you start to really see results and those reasons you had the surgery start to happen……days like today will be nothing more than a faint memory. Hang on, it'll be there before you know it!

I always find if you tell a man it's "woman issues" they tend to shut up fast.

SN................Starting Wt........Current.......Goal.....Lbs to Goal Avilda...................275.................187..............177..............10 Cherice95405.......248...............177............164...............13 Coops ...............238................191.............177................14 Cwalker...............250.................180..............170..............10 Daisy....................237...................138.............130...............8 DJackson.............229.................229..............215.............14 HollyW.................259..................233............215..............18 Ibejjo...................249..................249............229................20 Juliarh...................230..................230..............215...........15 Kimmes................239..................222..............200............22 Kgremmy.............225.................210..............199..............11 Laylasmojo.........242.................180...............170..............10 LeslieH..................212..................212.............199..............13 LilMissDiva...........235..................234.............220..............14 Meriteri................240...................187.............170...............17 MichelleLee..........252..................225................199..............26 MINI-Me...............203..................124.6............125..............0 & holding! Mommy2Girls.......275.................240..............228..............12 Moniluv.................190.................190..............178..............12 MRSKOUBIK........317..................283.............267..............16 pattimomof3nj......203.4..............167.1..........155...........12.1 Sailorgirl.................240.................220..............200..........20 Secret Surgery34..........205.........179............165...........14 Sleeve 4 me.........166..................166.............156..............10 Sweatinitout..........245................170..............160...............10 Yolanda240...........236.................203..............170..............33 PlannerGirl………..…327…..……..…..275……..……..255…………..20

I'm very interested in learning more about this 5 day pouch test but I can't find much information without buying their stuff. Can any of you provide an overview? Thanks

Stories like this make me insanely angry. There are certain time in life when a person is supposed to keep his or her opinions to oneself. I'm sure this is a decision you have not made lightly…..in fact, the insurance hoops one has to jump through ensure that can't happen. When a person makes a life altering decision such as this, I believe it is a families responsibility to support the decision. You are trying to make your life healthier, more fulfilling, and all around better. Who doesn't want this for the people they love? You may want to remind your MIL if there was another organ in your body that was basically killing you, all would encourage you to have it removed. Until a person has struggled with weight the way a morbidly obese person does, they have NO true understanding. And….I think the answer to "is your husband taking off work?" should be "Yes, he's my husband, he loves me and he supports me. Of course he'll be there with me." Just my two cents. Go forth with your head held high and do what is best for you. Good luck with your sleeve, when all is said and done you'll be so glad you did this for yourself.

I own an ice cream maker and this hadn't even occurred to me. I'd be very interested to know what recipes you come up with.

The difference is so obvious! Congratulations to you! You are beautiful.