Redheadedone

Hey Katrina! I was sleeved on the 26th. How are you doing and feeling? My name is Wendy and I live in Jackson.

Excellent!!!! Keep me posted and if there are any questions i can answer i am happy to!

Like oatmeal Do you have a date for your surgery yet?

This posting was a blessing. I called my sleeve sister a little panicked earlier this evening because I find I can drink a good amount of water much quicker than I anticipated (not gulping it just frequent sips). The constant reflux is a major drag and I too thought it was significant hunger pangs. So much to learn about this now that it's done. All of you are so wonderful to jump in and offer advice. I am two weeks out and feel so thankful to be able to come here and get feedback on just about any subject I need.

What a nice post. I was the same way when I found this site and it has become such a great source of information from me. On the day of my surgery, people I had never even spoke with sent me such nice messages. I wish you great success on your journey. You will learn so much here!

I had half a sweet potato this evening. I am two weeks out and was told i could start mashed potatoes this week but like many have said here I can eat mashed potatoes like it's my job. Another thing I discovered years back was butternut squash. If you bake it then mash it with a little light butter or margarine it is amazing!

You know, I have to say I actually paused for a second and had to think. . . .would I be OK with the hair loss as long as it came with a 62 pound weight loss? Oh I am amazed at the crazy thoughts I have. . . . .lol. I know there are pre-natal vitamins that my friends have taken with amazing results in their hair and nails. I hope the loss of hair stops soon and big congratulations on the huge weight loss!!!!

Thank you so much for posting this. I am 12 days out from my surgery and adjusting to life without constantly eating. My Mom is amazing, has always been so health conscious and good about maintaining a health weight and my issues with food are completely foreign to her. Unfortunately, we have a history of alcoholism in our extended family and when I tried to explain what food addition is like I asked my Mom if she would give one of our cousins a bottle of Jack and a shot glass with the instructions that they were to have four or five shots a day but no more and once they did that they had to stop for the day. I think it was then that she began to understand. I almost wish the addition had been to drugs or alcohol because those things you can truly live without. When I got back from Mexico I found myself shopping for handbags, a huge love of mine. After finding a few I liked I said. . . . . .that will be enough of that! I get on the scale every day and marvel. I am going on a cruise next year and for the first time in my life i feel confident that I'll be able to do all the things I have wanted to do on vacation and it makes me so happy and thankful I did this. You look like a completely different person and I'm sure you feel like one. I'm so happy for you and appreciate all that you mentioned.

Hi, I was sleeved on the 26th. I have started taking the post op antibiotics and the reflux pain and pressure was so bad I have been up all night. I have to take this antibiotic for over a week and don't know how I'm gonna keep taking these pills every 12 hours. I so do not want to sound like a wimp but I have literally been up all night and fly home today. Did anyone else run into this problem and have any suggestions?

Hello ladies, the antibiotics were just a normal part o the post op protocol. I did call the surgeon, turns ut I was not supposed to crush the pills, I was to swallow them whole. I did that with some watery yogurt and it went down with no problem. I also picked up and OTC reflux med and I am 100%!

As I type this I am the next one up for surgery. I have chosen Dr. Almanza and do not regret my decision thus far. All the rumors are true, the place is small but the care is great and I am doing just fine. One thing I didn't realize is how long the wait would be from the time I got here until the actually surgery. God is so good because the young lady I have been in the pre-op room with is very sweet and her family has been in and out all day making me laugh and helping the time to pass. I came by myself, a choice that I am now glad I made. That may not be the best choice for everyone but for me I feel better knowing my Mom is safe at home and not having to entertain herself all day while I sit and listen to Spanish programming. The flight here was great! As soon I saw a priest was on board I knew I was good to go!! I chose to stay at a different hotel and got a great rate through Hotwire but another lady here today stayed at the Hampton Inn and said it was fine. I pray for success for everyone going this week. I am ready to be in recovery!!!

I am flying out to California tomorrow for surgery on the 26th (all prayers appreciated). I have heard many people talk about going shopping and hope I'm up to do some while there. I saw one person post about Coach bags. Did anyone find any decent bargains and if so on what items? I'd like to bring back some treats for my family. Thank you and blessing and good wishes to all of you!!

Ladies after reading all these posts I have to say what an amazing group of women you are. I think fear is something natural to go through and after a lifetime of being heavy I would imagine it would be very scary to see weight literally fall off you. I am having my surgery on Tuesday of this upcoming week and while I am very excited, part of me wishes I didn't have to go to such an extreme measure to get my health back on track. At 41 I see many people come in to the hospital where I work with more and more obesity related issues that are my age. We can't worry that others feel shunned because we want a better quality of life. God did not send His Son to die for us to have us sit in isolation or sadness and certainly not to feel less than. I read a quote once that said never dim your own light because others refuse to let theirs shine. This is a wonderful arena to express ourselves and be honest. Shame on people who give others a hard time when all they want to do is let their feelings out. I am very happy to have found this website because many times I have come here with questions that I didn't think I could ask others so I send out a group hug to every one!!!

Hi there, this may have already been stated but in addition to the staples and the sew over, they also use dermabond surgical glue. I think it's the trifecta of closures :-)

I am having my surgery next week and will be out of work for a month. Personally, I am not making grand announcements but have not told all those around me. Because of the amount I have to lose I'm wondering if in that month I will see a significant change by the time I go back. I think as the weight comes off and people ask how I did it I will look them right in the eye, smile and say....hacksaw. If people are genuinely interested in surgery I will not hesitate to discuss what I did but so often people ask then turn around and talk smack behind your back so the hacksaw comment may be the first line of defense.

That is fantastic! I bet that was one of those things you didn't even think ab out when considering what life would be like after. I let you know when I see mine.....

[Thank you so much! I love my Noo Yawkahs! No matter where you go, the bond is always there :-) Where are you in your journey?

Good morning ladies! I live in Atlanta now but grew up on Long Island and will die with this accent! I am goin g for surgery 7/26 and am so thankful and excited to be getting this done. My prayers and best wishes to all of you and look forward to getting to know everyone.

Hello everyone. My surgery is on July 26th. I am seeing so many posts where people are losing anywhere from 10 to 40 pounds pre-op. How is that possible? Are most of you doing this in one to two weeks? I am amazed!!!

I am out done by some of the comments all of you have gotten. I remember having lost a good bit of weight a long time ago and someone said essentially the same thing about how I was now "so beautiful" so I turned to her and said. . . ."yet you still have no tact". Kind of cracked me up to see her face. I have to say, having lost my younger sister to illness (not obesity related) when I was younger my Mom was happy I was doing something to get healthy and was even on board about Mexico so I am very blessed in that way. Wouldn't you know it in the last week there have been news reports about troops going in to Mexico for violence (not in Tijuana which is where I'll be) and some lifetime movie about a woman dying during surgery in Mexico so needless to say I know my Mom is a little freaked out. I told her we have to have faith that God is in control and He will work it all out.

Hello to everyone! Many, many moons ago I went on Nutrisystem and went from 294 pounds down to 184. At 5'10" I thought I was bad business back then. . . . . .lol. I have always been extremely outgoing and am told by many that I am very funny. Several things struck me when the weight came off. First, men started treating me like EVERYTHING I said was suddenly SO funny, witty, insightful etc. I was in my 20's at the time, didn't have to pay for a drink, open a door, lift anything heavy and was actually kind of amused at the some of the behavior I was seeing. As someone who has always been overweight I enjoyed it but think, like many of you have said, was not really mentally ready to handle all of that. I also took a look at myself this morning in the mirror. Now granted, I work 16 hour shifts at a hospital on Saturday and Sunday but since I having regained 60 pounds of previously lost weight I realized, I don't bother as much with make-up or making sure my hair is cute or anything. Don't get me wrong I don't walk around looking awful but it's almost as if I feel like. . . .why bother. Conversely, when I was losing weight, I'd put on make up to fill my gas tank because I felt AMAZING! Not cocky, just much more confident so I have to wonder if that plays a role in the attention as well. Amanda, I have to respond to what you posted about you and your sister. Growing up it was always "Jennifer got the looks and Wendy got the personality". My sister was beyond beautiful, she was always athletic, stayed in great shape and had hair that basically looked amazing wash and wear. It took a long time to break out of the mindframe that all I got was the personality. I think I'm finally ready to see where all this brings me and pray to find the right man that appreciates what's on the inside as much or moreso than the outside.

Hello to everyone. I will be having my surgery on Tuesday July26th. I can't begin to say enough how happy, excited and thankful I am for this to be done. I have started the liquid diet just so my brain doesn't go into complete shock with the new eating plan and thankfully it has not been bad. Having said that I am about to go to NY to visit friends and family so I won't be so quick to announce my victory lest I fall flat onto some dirty Water dogs or NYC pretzels (my New Yorkers will know what I mean). I have met such a wonderful woman who has quickly become my friend who will having her surgery the day after me and will will both be traveling alone, kind of a WLS Thelman and Louise! I have been obese nearly my entire life. I can remember as far back as 8 years old having a school nurse announce it and I had no idea what that meant. It's amazing how things stay in your mind. Until this surgery came into my life plan, I truly had given up any plans of being a "normal" weight and just prayed I could get enough weight off to keep my blood pressure from killing me. I know that sounds crazy but if you can't bottom line it here you can't do it anywhere else. I have an amazing life as is. I have a career in a field I genuinely love, I have wonderful people in my life and am so blessed it almost seems hard to imagine. The weight is my "final frontier". That is not to say I operate in a state of perfection in all other areas. But I have a calm, drama free life and am a positive and happy person. Now, here's the thing that caught me off guard. I find that just as I am thrilled for the "new" me to arrive, I find myself mourning the loss of the "old" me. I don't know how to truly describe it but I almost feel like I'm abandoning her. Don't get me wrong.....to get this weight off has been a dream and I know these feelings will pass but if anyone even remotely understands what I'm trying to say I would love to hear from you. I don't ever want to seem unappreciative of this gift, just didn't expect to be feeling this. The food, oh yes, I thought I'd climb the walls but it's almost freeing to know I will only have to drink my meals. No binging, or trolling the cabinets and refridgerator, just fire up the blender and dinner is served! Regardless of responses or not I want to say that this message board is such a gift and all of you are so wonderful to share your love, support, funny stories etc. I can't count the number of times I have laughed out loud, by myself, and had people look at me like I was bananas. I wish all of you the dreams and desires of your heart. Wendy

Thank you ladies!! You are wonderful! Sandra. . . .mi Brad Pitt y su Brad Pitt! In thinking this through a little more I will say that next week I will be reunited with my three younger sisters (second marriage for my father) with whom I have not seen in 10 years. There have been many ups and downs but we are all doing well and thankful to have time to be together and strengthen our bond. That having been said, my younger sister (same Mom and Dad) passed away and while I am thrilled to be seeing my younger sisters I find myself very sad about the fact that Jennifer will not be there. It's just a lot to go through at one time and I think many feeling from her death are just resurfacing. What has been an incredible observation to me is just how much I have allowed food to fill voids thinking it would fix things. I am doing amazingly well with the liquid diet (shout out to my fellow NY jasleve!!) Ultimately I know God is so awesome and He will get me through all of this. Thank you again for offering support. Sandra I absolutely can NOT wait to see you!!!!

From one Wendy to another who also has a July appointment I hope your sugery went without issue and you are feeling better.