Lissa

My comorbidity list was as long as my arm: pneumonia, asthma, sleep apnea, borderline diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, blood clots, pulmonary embolisms, etc. I can't even remember all of them! I had to have a filter installed before surgery to prevent blood clots from traveling to my heart and lungs, and then removed afterwards. That filter saved my life because it caught several clots! At almost 14 months out, every issue has resolved except the sleep apnea (major improvement) and the asthma. My EKG is fantastic, blood pressure is down, stamina is up and I feel like a whole different person!

You sound just like me! I say I was invisible before, too! I'm amazed at the people who respond positively to me now. It's amazing and sad at the same time, isn't it?

Well, thank goodness you got pushed to next Friday. I'd have been MIGHTY ticked to wake up with a band instead of my VSG!! Good luck! The wait will be worth it!!!

Amazing! That's a wonderful transformation!!

You need to see a doctor asap. I can't believe you've waited 3 months to see a doc. Get to the ER or to your family physician immediately.

Congrats!! 100 pounds is AMAZING and AWESOME!! Celebrate how far you've come, don't worry about how far you have to go... It WILL happen!

I'm having a tough time adjusting to being visible again. I felt invisible before surgery and now that I'm not, I am sometimes astounded by who talks to me. I went out with friends last weekend and felt like the belle of the ball, but I was in a secure environment where it didn't freak me out. One of my guy friends ran interference for me, which was really great. I'm trying to enjoy the attention without letting it send me into orbit. I'm learning the power of just saying "Thank you" to a compliment. And "No, thank you" to a come on.

I doubt your sleeve is stretched, but it is definitely completely healed. I still can't eat bread or a hamburger bun, but I could definitely eat most of a hamburger patty without hurting. How have you done on your weight loss? If you're at or near goal, one time of eating a whole hamburger isn't going to hurt you as long as it's not an everyday thing. If you're not, you probably need to dial it back some on the eating and get back on track with your Protein and Water goals and remember not to drink with meals. I believe it was PDX Man who posted that he can eat much more when he drinks with his meals, and I can too. I just have to remember not to wash the food through my sleeve when I eat. I stay satisfied longer and lose weight more consistently. Good luck!

Monica, There's definitely a requirement to do the head work that goes with this surgery. Addiction runs rampant in my family, me included. I just chose food instead of drugs or alcohol. I was told that I WOULD be an alcoholic by my psych evaluator, so I fight that prediction daily, although I've avoided it so far. I think therapy and exercise are the two most important things to do for oneself both before and after WLS. Good luck!! The fact that you're thinking this through tells me that you'll be successful.

I have a card that says I've had bariatric surgery. I seldom use it..as a matter of fact, I think I've used it once at a buffet with friends. The manager let me pay for my food by the pound, which was really cheap, LOL.

I'm finding that I feel more like 26 than 46 these days and many of my "old" friends (both in age and duration of friendship) look at me like I have two heads when I suggest getting out and doing things. My energy level is extremely high these days. I feel like I'm "un-aging". I guess being fat conserved all of the energy I should have expended in my 20's and 30's. LOL

Mini Mo, What you're experiencing is pretty normal, I think. I lost interest in a lot of flavors and textures after surgery. I think it might be related to the loss of ghrelin and the trauma our bodies have had, but rest assured that you will get your mojo back. Once the weight loss kicks in and starts really happening, you'll get excited again, but it's common for folks to be a little depressed and let down after any much anticipated event. Good luck!!

I never really socially isolated myself, but I'm finding out now that I was, for all intents and purposes, invisible before. Invisible to men, invisible to the job market (self-employed), and invisible to my kids, all because I was so fat that I let myself not count for much. I'm really seeing the difference now, even though I've still got 50 pounds to goal. Dealing with the changes is very tough. I'm more self-confident, which means that I won't allow people to treat me badly or ignore my needs. I'm finding that as I express myself more, though, people respond more to me. I've expanded my business into new areas and started culling relationships that don't serve me at this point in my life. As for what to do now? What did you like to do before? What did you wish you could do that you couldn't or wouldn't do before? Make a list and then do them. If it involves changing or expanding parts of your life, so be it. This is a mental journey every bit as much as a physical journey. Even if you have to start your list from the negative, i.e. I don't want to xyz, you've at least made a start. Once you're started, you can turn those negatives into positives, i.e. I want to xyz plus abc. Good luck to us all. Our futures are so bright, we need to wear shades.

I'm certain you didn't spring the idea of WLS on him after you got married, so he's not being supportive of you as his wife. As your husband, he should want the absolute best for you, even above himself. If he's using the religious view of marriage to try to keep you from having surgery, you need to tell him that the rest of the verse is that a husband should love his wife even as Christ loved the Church. Meaning, hubby should be willing to lay down his life for yours. Tell him to put that in his pipe and smoke it.

I love stir fry these days. I buy a bag of stir fry mixed veggies, heat up a half cup of those veggies with a little stir fry sauce and throw in some shrimp (5-6 usually) and that's a meal for me. I usually can't finish the veggies.

Determined, You will make it through this. That pre-op diet is tough and it's not going to get lots easier until your mind gets in line with your body. Having the sleeve finally made me understand why I'd never felt full before (physical) and why I craved food like it was a drug. It's because I was using food as a drug... if I was upset about anything I ate. My sleeve has helped me tame that beast. It's not completely controlled, but the physical restriction helps me with the mental work I have to do to make goal. YOU are on a tough journey, but you WILL make it!! Good luck!!

YOU are truly an inspiration for me!! I LOVE that you are enjoying the journey and remaking your physical body to match your joyful spirit!!!

I don't know who that couple on the left is, but that couple on the right look like folks I'd like to hang out with!

Please don't let your dream end. There are MANY fine, competent surgeons who will take on a self-pay patient, even ones who have complications from the band. I'm reading your post as if your dream is over because of financial issues. If it's over because of medical issues, I'm so sorry. I do remember reading your saga a few months ago and I wondered what had happened for you. I will keep you in my prayers that things work out for the best for you. Please keep us, or at least me, updated. Good luck.

My husband was unsupportive before surgery to the point that he told me to eat less and exercise more. Now that I've lost over 120 pounds, he's the first person to sing the praises of WLS. He's still a huge jerk and will soon be my EX, but he did come around on that issue. Don't let your hubby keep you from doing this for you!

Have you talked to a counselor? That will help some with the body image issues. I still have parts of me that I don't like, but that's true for ANY woman, not just WLS patients.

I haven't, but PDX Man had his surgery in Vegas (baby). Perhaps he knows of someone who used Dr Umbach.

Yay!! That's a great NSV.

You will BOTH lose weight. YOu'll lose so much weight you'll be astounded by yourself. If you manage to work through the head issues and exercise too, you'll be even MORE astounded at yourself. I look in the mirror every day and thank God that I had the opportunity to have my sleeve.

Great NSV from your daughter... and give her a break about being totally honest with you now. I think it's amazing that she managed not to say anything before you lost the weight! Most kids aren't that diplomatic.