Smoggy

Me too!

47- OLD?? Look at people like Meryl Streep - or Madonna, she's 56 and rocking it - no way would anyone DARE say she is too old! If it makes you feel better about yourself- more beautiful, more confident, more sexy, just go ahead and flipping well DO IT. You only have one life, your choices that lead you towards happiness are yours to make. Who cares if others think you are too x, y or z - don't give THEM that power - take it back, it is how YOU feel that matters.

I've been trying to stay on top of a low- carb diet (my choice, my surgeon has not requested anything other than upping my protein)for the last couple of weeks and keep falling off the wagon :-( anyone else struggling? I've got the "one more time" disease .....

I have been cackling away at this thread - thanks for the belly laughs folks. BTW if you get some arnica tabs, it is amazing for speeding up healing from wounds, chafing, bruising, etc hope your junk gets better soon ... :-D

Good luck- you'll be a losing sleever before you know it!

WOW Good for you and good luck!

I am going to be sleeved on July 2nd and apparently will be home from the hospital on day 3. I live on my own a long way from home and I'm worried I may need some hands-on help in the first few days. My lovely Godmother has offered to fly here to be with me but I'm unsure if I really will need someone around, and I don't want her to make the trip only to find I am fine without her. This may be a "how long is a piece of string" question, but I'd love some input from those of you with experience. Will I cope on my own? Should I have someone staying with me?

Hi Sweetsusie I'm being sleeved on 2nd July (we'll be sleeve sisters!) and the in last few months I have put on weight - I have times when I see a type of food I like (which is many and often LOL) and just HAVE to have it one last time....which has not been the best of things to do. I'm in counselling and she says this is a totally natural reaction and not to beat myself up about it. I have recently lost a few pounds and I'm upping the Protein and slowly phasing out carbs, but it is HARD! This is never going to be easy- we are all riddled with food issues and we just do the best we can. One day at a time and all that! I am SO looking forward to it- the time can't go past quick enough!

I've told a very small group of other teachers who are friends and a couple are taking me to the hospital and helping me during the first week. I am definitely NOT telling the admin in our school as they will not be supportive because this is elective surgery and if it affects my work life that is my "fault". This happened once before where a certain member of staff had plastic surgery complications and they would not allow her sick leave- it had to be unpaid leave. There are a fair amount of staff who I think will be judgemental too.I am being VERY circumspect about who I tell. I'm also concerned about bathroom breaks, trying to get my Water and food in while still doing the zillion things we have to do, and tiredness. I'm also waiting until the July holidays for my sleeve (July 2nd!) so I have the time off to recover and time to get to experiment and know what will work with liquids, Protein and food for me.

I will have my period when I'm scheduled for the op - also freaking out! Aaaargh! HATE the idea of dealing with it on top of all else....

Hell Corinna, I have my surgery in July- and I'm nervous now! My psychologist says if I wasn't nervous she would be worried- it is a huge, life-changing event that will require a complete about-turn with all sorts of habits. It is also major surgery- and not to be taken lightly. We put our trust in our surgeon and whoever and whatever higher power we believe in and we hope like hell it will all go smoothly. It doesnt hurt to be as physically and mentally as ready as we can be but whatever happens we are taking a BIG positive and proactive step in changing our lives for the better. Good luck!

I'm not! I am surmising that for some people, especially those who are who are self-pay, Mexico is way cheaper and many of the most reputable surgeons there have a huge amount of sleeve experience so the combination of these two factors makes it attractive. Just a supposition.

Oh Heck that sounds just awful! Sorry you had a bad time, but glad you're on the road to recovery... I do hope going to work is not too soon....

I dare you to take a really frank "just before op" pic! I'll bet you'll thank me when you are svelte and have a comparison photo that's hard to beat!

I know upping calories can work- seen anecdotal evidence of it everywhere, but I'd love to know HOW it does! Anyone know? Chigga77- you are doing great! 70lbs is brilliant. Well done! keep plodding on....I'm sure it will start coming off some more.

So it is 58 days to my surgery, and I am finding the time is just dragging, I am so eager to be sleeved by now I think I'l just bounce right into the operating theatre. It is frustrating that these days are plodding past. I've been seeing my psychologist more frequently than I was to help me deal with food issues as I am determined to try and make this work on all levels long-term. This week we talked about some things that have surfaced, and I had an 'AHA" moment about the fact that I've been subconsciously making myself "invisible" over the years. Being a fat person, for me, means that I tend to do things to sort of fade into the background and in fact piling on the pounds has been a part of that behaviour among others. Ring any bells people? Seeing the psychologist is costing me an absolute FORTUNE and I end up crying at nearly every session. I've never done anything like this before and I so hope it will clear out all of the nonsense that is my judgemental daily inner voice. Yuck, such a delightful self-defeating inner dialogue- and I've never really been that aware of it. Actually I'm quite simply ashamed of myself for thinking this way for so long. Any one else talking it through with a professional and getting help that way?

How much milk of magnesia do you take for this?