CCWriter

Mambomama ... What an interesting life you've had ... and an interesting life to come!! Congratulations to you for taking charge of your life and weight. I'm so looking forward to hearing how things go for you. This community of "losers" is wonderful and I hope you take full advantage of them as a resource. I've traveled around about every continent except South America and Australia, so I'm aware of many different cultures. I'm fascinated with your's. My husband works in West Africa, so I spent a lot of time going back and forth and we're still using that as a jumping off place for exploration. Please come visit and post often. There are many international members here and I think you'll be a great asset to the community. CC

Debi: I don't have as far to go as you do, but my own pile of mistakes looks like a mountain to me. I'd love to be buddies though. This is going to be a transforming year for both of us. Take care and hang in there ... CC

I found that making homemade broth helps a lot -- makes you feel like you almost have homemade Soup. I got a bunch of fresh herbs and tied them up with twine and cooked that in. One of the things I did was take the leftover rib roast bones from Christmas and made beef broth. It was so much better than the canned, high-sodium stuff you buy in the stores. Most of us didn't get this way by being bad cooks. We might as well use our skills to help ourselves now. I feel like I can make darn near anything palatable if I'm creative about it. Congrats on the surgery date -- you're going to do great!! CC

Congrats Candyman ... My husband was extremely nervous and even talked about kidnapping me from the parking lot of the hospital on the morning (Dec. 27) I had surgery. He didn't, however, and I'm so glad he didn't. Can you imagine what kind of issues we would have had if he'd done that? He seems to be coming around really fantastically ... I blogged about it at Takin' A Load Off, and it's been great. You have a great adventure in front of you. Enjoy it!! CC

Fox ... congrats on your facelift. I'm 58 and had my sleeve Dec. 27, and one of my big concerns is going to be extra skin everywhere. Best wishes for your recovery and keep us posted on how you're doing. CC

I would second Dr. Gregory Walton in Edmond, Okla., who performed my sleeve Dec. 27. His office is awesome front to back and I felt well cared for. Personnel at the facility, Summit Medical Center, was just exceptional. Rooms were comfortable and even the small ones (mine) were cozy. They were great dealing with hubby, who was very nervous, but supportive. Great experience.

I'm still pondering a name but nothing has come up and hit me in the head (or tummy). It's darn hard to hold your own with Sleevie Wonder, which I adore. And I had thought of Sleeve McQueen, which probably only about 10 of you have even heard of the reference. Steve McQueen was a hunky actor who died too young. I wouldn't mind having him mess with my tummy however, if I wasn't very happily married. This thread is HILARIOUS. Loving it. I'm not naming my little Sleevie anything else until I'm hit with a bolt of lightning. Maybe in the middle of the night. Look forward to a post at 3 a.m. or so.

Pammie ... so excited to hear your news! Seventeen pounds is fabulous! Congrats! We were sleeved almost on the same day -- I got my sleeve on Dec. 27 -- and I'm also in the Dallas area (Shady Shores, just N of Denton.) I have my two week check-up Monday and get my soft foods Tuesday and I can't wait. Take care and look forward to hearing your progress! CC

I was approved through Aetna, and they did require a 5 percent weight loss. I have co-morbidities of sleep apnea and high blood pressure too, and I'm not sure how all that factored in. They gave me a case manager (Paula), who has been checking up on how I'm doing. She was very encouraging before the surgery about how many of the people she works with get off their meds and CPAPs. My co-pay turned out to be about $2,000 total for the hospital, surgeon, etc. Best Christmas present I've ever given myself. CC

I'm coming up on the mushy stage and I can hardly wait ... I think I'm doing a little happy dance just thinking about it. I'm planning on lots of scrambled eggs and cottage cheese unless someone scares me off on it. I love tuna salad, but I'll be watching out for that. Thanks for the warning! CC

Hooray for you, Crawford!!! Off to the races for all of us! Thanks for sharing your story -- loved it. CC

Congratulations Paul!!!! You've accomplished great things and I'm so happy for you. What a great story -- it gives hope to a newbie like me. Thanks so much for posting it.

Fern ... you have so much good company -- my heart goes out to you. I know what it's like to have a goal either snatched away or moved. OK now. Deep breath. Rewind and reset. The goal was fantastic, but it's doable at a future date. Doesn't mean you won't get to do it. Just maybe not when originally planned. Maybe it's time to reset lifestyles also and make some decisions to further pull back on anything you can. Sounds like family business meeting time to make a new budget. So glad you're doing great on your other health goals. I see you're nine pounds past your weight goal and I'm just starting on my journey. Hang in there! CC

Hi folks: I'm a 58-year-old native Oklahoman and adopted Texan (I married one.) I had my laporascopic gastric sleeve surgery Dec. 27, with Dr. Gregory Walton of WeightWise in Edmond, Okla. So far it's gone great, except for that pesky little problem about no weight loss. I'm 5'6" and my pre-op highest weight was 273 pounds -- the day of surgery I was and am at 256 pounds. I realize there is still some swelling, but I would have thought the losing would have started before now. It makes me a little concerned, because I've been following guidelines to the letter. I made the decision to have WLS because I have REM-related sleep apnea, high blood pressure, rotten old knees that I'm told need replacing, and fatique. I think the straw was when I couldn't get my rings off and I also couldn't wipe important parts (excuse the graphic nature of that comment.) The doc has taken me off HCTZ for six weeks after surgery, but left me with taking Benicar (both blood pressure meds.) He said he was concerned the HCTZ could cause me to be more dehydrated. I'm sipping fluids like crazy. The CCWriter btw, is an old reference to the song CC Rider, because my maiden name initials are CC and I'm a freelance writer. Here are some lyrics: "Well now see, C.C. Rider, Well now see what you have done." It was recorded by greats like Fats Domino, Elvis Presley, Animals, Chuck Willis and the Grateful Dead, and references an ungrateful lover. And the pic is a weight I'd like to see again in the not too distant future. I was in my late 20s at the time and trying to channel coolness. My brother snapped that of me photo posing at the Ranch-O-Tel in Wetumka, Okla. along State Hwy 9 (it's no longer there.) I always thought it had kind of a Last Picture Show, Larry McMurtry vibe about it. I'm so glad I found this forum and am looking forward to sharing our stories. Best, CC

Kimmr ... my heart goes out to you, but I totally agree with Dorrie. You wouldn't hesitate if this were any other kind of malady. Just because it's elective, doesn't mean it's not extremely important. I had to put off my Nov. 29 surgery date (to Dec. 27) when my 86YO mother broke her leg in two places and then we had horrible trouble getting her to surgery because she kept stepping on it and dislocating the broken bones before surgery. But we got it done and she's on the mend. I was staying with her almost 24/7 until she got a hard cast on about a week after surgery. She's in skilled nursing now getting rehab and we're hopeful she can move back to her assisted living apt. soon. I was thinking of putting off Dec. 27 too, because I was concerned about the lifting, but you know, I just decided I would let other people do the lifting and this too would all work out. I just had to let it go, but it was hard. You need to take care of Kimmr FIRST, or you can't take care of anyone else!!! CC

Y'all are HILARIOUS ... and gave me the best laugh since my surgery. I'm going to have to work on a name and I'll get back to ya. Hmmmmm. Scratching head. Rubbing tummy. It'll come to me. It'll come to me. It'll come to me. CC

Thanks Lisa!! Especially loved the "all your body knows is that it was attacked by knives" quote. I got up this morning and a whopping five pounds was gone. Woo hoo and exhale. I don't look any different. I don't feel any different. But there you have it. Sure was a mental boost though -- I have to say I'm smiling a whole lot more today. I know that won't happen everyday, but it did today and I'm thankful. CC

Hey there Julie ... We sound like we're on the same trajectory. I hadn't lost an ounce since my sleeve Dec. 27, and then got up this morning and five pounds were gone. Go figure. I'm happy, but wary of the scale. I don't feel any different. I don't look any different (I thought maybe I'd see something in my face.) These folks are right about not weighing every day (although I sure am glad I did today) and measuring yourself. And I think they're right ... if we just work the program, it will come back to us. Hang in there girlfriend!!! CC

Thank you guys so much. I feel a whole lot better about it. For some reason, I expected to be the marvelous melting woman from Day One. Feedyoureye and Bionic Broad, I will definitely be measuring at least once a week. Lisa, I'm definitely walking like crazy. I love it -- the Big LOSER'S Group!! And I appreciate everyone's compassion and sensitivity. It's hard when you put your life out there, trying to make a life-saving decision but not knowing if you are doing the right thing. This helps a lot. Best, Carol

Thanks Fox and ... too late, I'm already nuts. But hopefully a good kind of nuts. I do feel swollen. I guess I just expected too much in the very beginning. You read all these people saying they "lost 12 pounds in the first two weeks" or other amounts that sound wonderful to me and I'm just so ready to get this show on the road. A police chief I used to know told me not to pray for patience, because God would give you some reasons to really need some. Ready to rock-n-roll ... CC

Hi Nance: We share the same surgery date!! I'm doing great, but haven't lost an ounce yet. Otherwise, I feel pretty good although my left side is extremely tender still. Fortunately, I've only had brief bouts with nausea. I'm so glad to have found so many people with the same surgery date and realize that all of us are so individual and will lose at our own paces. I'm following the letter of the law on the liquid diet guidelines and feel like things should start moving soon. Thanks for your post and am looking forward to sharing with you!! Carol