MlkPas

Ricky, I don't think everybody who qualifies for WLS is, as I put it, a "full-on, PRACTICING food addict." I think there are a lot of people, including myself, who have dealt with their food issues to one extent or another, but have done such damage to their bodies that they (we) can't maintain a normal weight without WLS. But if it pleases you to label us all as addicts, be my guest. :thumbup: As I said, I have been and will continue to work on my own issues, whether or not you approve of my method for doing so.

I think you make a great point, Ricky. I don't participate in 12-step myself, but I've been in therapy for more than three years and it's helped me tremendously in dealing with that "rage of issues." My therapist is all for the surgery and we are going to be working hard on the issues that arise as my weight goes down and eating isn't a self-comforting option any more. I sometimes worry about people who get their surgeries without having to have ANY psych consult or clearance at all. I can't imagine how tough it would be to be full-on, practicing food addict and all of a sudden find it physically impossible to overeat!

I'm on Day Five and I've been amazed at how little pain I've had. I've also had zero nausea, which has been a huge blessing. No incision pain, either. Just a bit of gas pain the third day -- first day home (slept through the first day -- the day of surgery, and had IV pain meds the second day), which was easily handled by gas-x and the liquid tylenol prescription I got to take home. I haven't had any pain meds since the third day. BY FAR the worst part of the whole experience was waking up with a drainage tube in my nose -- it was rubbing against the inside of my nose and REALLY hurt. Fortunately I was able to sleep most of the time until the nurses could contact my doc and get permission to remove the tube (the removal hurt like a sonofagun, but it only lasted a moment). I'm just amazed at how I'm sailing through this whole thing. I have next week off work, but if I had to, I could totally go back to work tomorrow and do fine.

That's awesome, Nikki! I love the idea of a 24 year old taking charge of her life like that! I'm 51 and I am SO SO SO sorry I told my mom, because she has been worrying herself sick about it for absolutely no reason. She and my dad are both having some health issues right now and if I had it to do over again, I would totally have kept totally mum about the whole thing because I hate to have her worrying about me. Ugh.

You might also want to look into some counseling during this six months. There are tons of issues all whirling around in your head right now -- wanting to have a baby, losing weight and dealing with all the changes that will bring, wanting to make your family happy but also wanting to be an independent adult. I think ANYBODY with that much on her plate would really be doing herself a favor by talking to somebody who can help get it sorted out. I know I've been in therapy for three years and it's been a total lifesaver for me. And it's another one of those things that it's better not to delay until you're my age! LOL And I'm sending more hugs, too!!

I love weighing every day. Down another pound this morning already! I know it won't go this fast the whole time, but I plan to enjoy it while it lasts! Also, in the past when I was gaining weight, I'd avoid the scale like the plague. So it feels healthier to me to step on it than to avoid it.

I had my surgery on Wednesday, March 17, and I can't believe how smoothly it's all gone. I've had no nausea at all, and virtually no pain from the incisions. As others have said, it's more of a soreness, like I've done a million situps. I checked into the hospital Wednesday morning, had the surgery around noon (it took just 35 minutes), slept most of the day Wednesday. Was up and walking by 7 p.m. Came home Thursday afternoon. My doctor's post-op diet instructions are to eat whatever I can tolerate, so I've had a little Soup, one ravioli, some Protein shakes, and so on. Yesterday I managed to get in 450 calories and 55 grams of protein, which I thought was pretty great. Oh, and I haven't had any hunger at all since the surgery. It's now Saturday morning and I'm feeling fine and best of all the scale is down 2.2 pounds from my pre-op weight! Bottom line: Life on the loser's bench is great!

And may I just add that five years is just that -- five years. I lost 60 pounds and kept most of it off for almost 15 years by making it my number one priority in life, but the minute I started back to grad school and couldn't work out every day and didn't have the time or energy to prepare diet meals every day, the weight came back on. The reality is that diets and exercise work while you're doing them, and not one minute more.

Lynda, honey, stop and take a deep breath! You've had most of your stomach removed, you can only eat a tiny fraction of what you ate before, and it's virtually IMPOSSIBLE that you won't lose any more! In addition to the suggestions you've already been given, I suggest you look through these boards for posts that are similar to yours, and look at how well the people who made those posts have done! What you're feeling is very common, but I don't think there's every been anybody in the history of VSG who stopped losing after two weeks! Hugs to you, and wishing you peace!!

Dandimples, when I read that you've lost 84 pounds in less than 7 months, I want to go "DAMN, GIRL! You GO!!! You're doing great!!!" Seriously... in what universe in that "a slow weight loss?" Sounds to me like you are totally rocking your sleeve. If you are continuing to do what you've done all this time, the weight loss WILL resume. I know it's hard, but from everything I've read (I was just sleeved four days ago so I don't have first-hand experience yet), the best advice for you is "keep doing what you've been doing, and try not to stress out!"

Congratulations on your surgery! I hope the nausea clears up for you soon!

Congratulations! You are so beautiful and the two of you make a gorgeous couple!

Kara, I'm gonna give it to you straight -- this is YOUR life, and YOUR body, and YOUR money. YOU and your husband are the only ones who get a vote. You are not a little girl any more and your mom and your aunt don't get to call the shots for YOUR life.

Carla, I'm 51 and am getting my sleeve TOMORROW!! I'm planning to be at goal by the time I'm 52! Better late than never, says I!

I confess that I have a midterm in class and two papers due tomorrow night and I can't seem to do anything but obsess about my surgery (39 hours and counting!) and click back and forth from this board to OH. :001_unsure: Somebody needs to smack me upside the head...

That does sound like a reasonable price when you describe everything you get -- it's in the ballpark of what Drs. Cirangle and Jossart charge. And I also LOVE that my surgeon is 15 minutes from home. How many nights in the hospital?

LAN, my hubby travels a LOT on business, and he always brings a magnet from wherever he goes. That's been going on for more than 12 years now. And we like to add to the collection when we go on vacation, or to an amusement park, or a show (we have a "Cirque du Soleil" section, a "Broadway musicals" section, a "concerts" section, and so on), and now friends and family have gotten into the habit of picking up magnets for us on their travels, too. And then there are magnets for the schools we've all gone to, and so on. It's an awesome collection because magnets are cheap (even the MOST expensive ones are $10 or less), they don't take up space in your luggage, and if they're up on the ceiling, they're not taking up space or gathering dust elsewhere in the house! :kiss2: Tiffy, I'm hoping my little magnet collection will keep me from shopping TOO much before I hit goal! :scared0:

Kara, I am happy to hand out all the hugs you need, any time! Here's another one from my whole family: :scared0: And a motherly smooch for good measure: :kiss2: Yes, my son knows about my surgery. In fact, he's going to be in town for a couple of job interviews so he'll be here for a week or so while I'm recovering. My hubby had to go out of town for a few weeks this morning, so my BFF is taking me to the hospital and will stay overnight with me at the hospital and also for a couple of days at home. So I'm in good hands. I don't really think it's all that dangerous. Certainly not as dangerous as being morbidly obese! And I have to agree that it sounds like you are spending an awful lot of money. I'm private pay and I'm paying $12,000 plus the cost of labs and psych, which were covered by insurance and were another few hundred bucks.

My date is Wednesday, March 17. Can. Not. Wait!!! Still not anxious at all about the surgery. Just anxious about getting from here to there. I have to work tomorrow and Tuesday, plus I have a midterm exam on Tuesday evening. So I will be very glad when it's time to drink the magnesium citrate and relax! LOL

Sounds great! Congratulations on a successful surgery and good luck as you continue on your journey!

That's the spirit! I had my first and only child when I was just short of 27, and now he's 23 and I'm 51 and I feel like I'm still young and he's all raised, and I still have the best part of my life ahead of me! Hugs from your VST "mom!"

My surgeon isn't requiring me to do a pre-op diet, but I've decided to do a 4-day liquid diet anyway. I have a gigantic supply of samples of just about every kind of Protein powder, but I've been pretty apprehensive after reading posts about how nasty they can be. I started this morning with a Smart Forme Meal Replacement shake, and I am pleased to report that it was not only bearable, but pretty darned good! I'm totally psyched to be on my way!! My DH had a great idea -- he suggested making a spread sheet of all the different protein powders and whether or not I liked them, so I'll know which ones to order more of. So that's my project for today. Five days to surgery... can't wait!!!!

Kara, I don't know how old you are, but I sure wish this option had been available to me 20 or 30 years ago! I have tried EVERYTHING, and I do mean everything. Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, personal trainer, acupuncture, psychotherapy, Optifast, liposuction, you name it. I was never able to get really slim, and I was never able to keep myself at what I considered an acceptable weight unless I absolutely made a career out of it. And I have better things to do than exercise and obsess about food all the time. If you need a supportive fiftysomething mom, I'll be it!

Thanks for the heads-up! I had heard that before so I only tried one that I have a few of, so I can try it again post-op. Isn't there a pill or something you can take for lactose intolerance?

I'm just one day clear liquids before surgery, too. But I'm doing full liquids starting today (Sunday) before my Wednesday surgery, just for the heck of it!