robin33

My name is Robin and I am a weight loss surgery patient. I have struggled with weight my whole life. I blame it on my paternal grandmother's genes, haha! Honestly, I remember my mom always having snacks after school but she limited them to one serving. I CRAVED more! I would sneak and get toast and put sugar on it.....skip the cinnamon and go straight to the white sugar.....and now I know why it's considered as bad as cocaine! I controlled my weight by being active. BUT, when I got married right out of high school my weight started climbing. About 2 years later when my first son came I think I gave up on ME. I totally gave my family every ounce that I had. My husband would play ball with our son after work and I sat on the couch....I was exhausted. I was always tired and exhausted. Fast forward to 11 years later, we decided to have our 2nd son....after that amazing child was born, my weight skyrocketed! I have tried every diet known to man. Sitting in weight watchers was humiliating; sitting at the ball field while the boys played and being so miserable and exhausted was humiliating; going on vacation and wearing shorts instead of a bathing suit was humiliating....I can go on and on...you all know the drill....covering it all up with a smile and lots of clothes.....and a tan! After my 2nd son was born I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Before that I always joked that I was the healthiest fat person ever. I always thought of arthritis as being an old person's way of complaining about being old. Boy did karma hit me in the face. I was 30ish and after researching RA, I realized that this is a very dangerous disease. The inflammation in my body could actually kill me! Then comes steroids, disease modifying meds....then high blood pressure, restless leg syndrome, anemia, horrible menstrual cycles and I FELT LIKE A FAILURE! In 2012 I was introduced to a program that my husband's employer had in Costa Rica and I could have weight loss surgery FOR FREE! 2012 I had gastric sleeve and immediately started losing. I started walking afterwards, then running, then biking, then triathlons, then half marathons, then long bikes and I started gaining weight! WTF, gaining weight while doing all this crap.....I hit a LOW! More research......I found that I had to learn how to be successful......Just having the sleeve doesn't solve all the pre-surgery issues we have with food....see, all that crap I was eating still went down really easy.....So here I am again re-learning 6 years post op. I did not reach goal weight (YET). I am, however, losing again after 6 years and getting stronger than EVER! Best thing is.....I no longer have high blood pressure, restless leg, anemia, and my RA is under control. I am down to 1 medication for that and only steroids when a flare comes! I AM TAKING BACK CONTROL OF MY LIFE...even at 52 years old! If anyone here needs support, I have a private facebook group where we are starting a back on track challenge (free). Please look me up on Facebook.... Robin Englehardt Benson and send me a friend request with a message to be added.

I noticed some of the monthly forums have "super secret facebook pages." Do we have one in June 2012 sleevers? Or would someone want to start one? I would love to join if someone started one....... https://www.facebook.com/#!/robin.c.benson

Hope everyone is doing good! Our anniversary dates are just around the corner....June 29 for me! Down 103 lbs and doing great! Ran my first 5k 2 weeks ago and doing another this saturday! I love my sleeve and the new life it's given me!

Tomorrow I will be 5 months post surgery and I have not experienced hair loss. I actually had my beautician use the thinning shears this past weekend. So, yes, it is possible not to lose hair. I am not taking biotin or zinc or any of the other remedies that people talk about. I try to keep my protein and water intake where it should be.

June 29 was my surgery. I hit 52 lbs lost today! Sent from my iPad using VST

I was sleeved on 6/29/12 and stalled in weeks 2, 3, & 4. Then the weight started coming off. As long as I get my protein and fluids I lose the weight. I have only stalled one other week and that was last week when I had my monthly TOM. Then got on the scales and had went down 3 lbs in one day. It will happen. Your body has been through a lot and is in shock!

Awesome loss! I wish I was losing that fast. But I will take what I can get. I am from Amory, MS and went to a seminar with Dr. Pinson. However, my insurance would pay 100% plus give me money back if I went to Costa Rica or India to have it done. I chose Costa Rica and am so proud I did. I'm down 40 lbs since my preop diet started. Very happy. Nice to see a fellow Mississippian.

It's a super secret page so no one unless they are in the group can see the page. Here's the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/156092007856941/#!/groups/156092007856941/ If it won't let you add fro that link, friend me and send a private message and I will add you to the group... My link! https://www.facebook.com/groups/156092007856941/#!/robin.c.benson Best wishes to all! RB

Suzi, I don't remember getting a friend request from you. Try again.

MinaT is taking back over the thread. She will keep up with the names on the June Sleevers Compilation. This is the link to it http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/39508-june-sleevers-compilation-good-luck-well-wishes/ - it's June Sleevers Compilation Good Luck Well Wishes! Please help her out as she is recovering from her surgery and has had a very hard time with it due to some complications and preexisting medical conditions. Pray for each other. I will be very busy at work trying to get caught up for my 10 day trip to Costa Rica for surgery. If you see someone not listed, you can send me or MinaT a direct message and we'll have it fixed. ******************************************************************************** MinaT is having surgery today along with all the other June 4 Sleevers. She will be back on friday. Until then I will keep a list of all our sleevers. Good luck to all today. June 1, 2012 BigGirlVee -- Dr. Coirin, Modesto, CA 2thenewme -- Dr. Jose Rodriguez, Mexico AChristie -- in Juarez SouthernDonna45 -- Dr. Alvarezta ta1020 and comfortably numb - Dr. Kelly June 2, 2012 Dizzle Ready2Bthin -- Dr. Aceves Mexicali June 4, 2012 ptprincess93 DcMak72 Furby036 -- Emma Patterson Portland,Oregon 6-4-12_sleever Karenb4729 Teasha1 -- dr. Ponce de leon, Mexico Tlaff79 -- Dr. Blaine Nease Angelakay2 -- Dr. Brad Waggoner IrishSoul -- waiting on okay from insurance Dkna2 -- Dr. Garcia, Tijuanna MamaM -- Removal/Revision Mina T -- Dr. Paul Stanish labubakari Ready for the new Lay-Lay -- George Woodman, Memphis TN Sallyincincinnati -- Thegoddesszili Calicolea June 5, 2012 shereebarb Chichis77 Bubblesbgood -- Dr. Michael Nusbaum Kstalvey -- Dr. Nick Nicholson from Plano Miss scarlet Back­­~To~Amy -- Dr. Nick Nicholson from Plano ShannonK Aznoel -- Dr. Stephen Burpee New_Hope -- Dr. Stowers, Decatur, Tx. txdee -- Dr. Nick Nicholson Amom2twins -- Dr. Aviv Ben-meir raindrop Erica E Cat Scratch Fever Redbottoms82 IlyssaDel newnin - Abington, PA Dr. Fernando Bonanni June 6, 2012 Sunshine08 -- Atlanta, GA Kmaskery SylviaMom -- Dr. Aceves – lap to sleeve MadisonPA kfitch Soon2bhotmama -- Dr. Ryan Heider Pooh Krystina kiki green June 7, 2012 Giselle3264 -- Dr. David Kim, Dallas LULU TAT justsleeveme23 -- Dr. Minkin, St. Louis Lovingmeforever -- Dr. Almanza butterflylegacy -- Dr. David Kim MsYoYo -- Fl. Alp50 -- Dr. Kelly Debbiesclipper Bigzoe32 TCBunny - Atlanta GA Jennifer SoFla June 8, 2012 Mari6257 Cristal602 -- Dr. Jaime Kelly Jenz531 Crystalaine -- Dr. Kelly TinaP -- Dr Jose Rodriguez Moms3boys June 9, 2012 cissiesue June 11, 2012 PEvette Vanb0052 -- Dr. Svendsen, Methodist Hospital in Minnesota! Readytobeslimxoxox -- Dallas Blondeej Dr. Aceves, Mexicali -band to sleeve revision KamloopsMom -- Mexicali w/sister surgeries Healthy Mama Kat1 -- Dr. Garcia Pam2011 -- Dr. Orlando Icaza bogeydog blackdahlia -- Dr. Clark celticharpist -- Dr. Brock Borderlon Detroit_Tom cindyandhersleeve - Houston karrina-D cissiesue June 12, 2012 Eager12 -- Dr. Robert Wegner, Memphis Iwant2Bthatgirl need2change -- Dr. David Kim Dayo -- Dr. Robert Casillas Denalisa -- Dr. Wittgrove CRosa -- Dr. Pavlos Papasavas glsun0612 Wolfgirl1978 -- Dr. Keith Chung Joy00 Newme_38 - Dr Babak, Maryland June 13, 2012 Gene1970 JRoybal Slimwithin DuranFan1969 -- Dr. Christopher Hart, Atlanta New Orleans Lady -- Dr. James Redmann, Slidell / Covington, La SweetSusie1 -- Dr. James Davidson NJHANIBAL rherrera Kiloalphatango - Australia Wolf3749 - Dr. Patterson, Portland OR ZoobDude - Dr. Lopez June 14, 2012 Ssilian -- Dr. Anthony Terracina, VA Karma84 Finding Myself -- Dr. Kelly in Tijuana Mexico Goofycathy -- Dr. Kelly in Tijuana Mexico thinmymind -- Dr. Kelly Estrovan - Dr. Bauman in Charlotte NC Pdubbaya23 - June 15, 2012 TLC223 HolyCow1234 Territravel -- June 16, 2012 june16 -- Dr. Jorge Daes, Columbia, SA June 18, 2012 ChrissyDeex3 VeronicaH Pteri -- Dr. Srinivasan at Emory innerme Naturals -- mommieof3 Kymwalla June 19, 2012 Sunshine25 -- DFW area DadTo2 -- Dr. Nicholson, Dallas, TX Littlebits Zoobdude -- Dr. Almanza Lehg520 - Dr. Kristin Noonan at Abington June 20, 2012 Ready! Set! Brandy Riggen nmg4unj5 JRoybal - Dr. Garcia June 21, 2012 Angie_Musgrave Skinnytata - Dr Le at Kaiser South San Francisco MDZNCSLIM June 22, 2012 June 23, 2012 MirandaK -- Dr. Almanza, Mexico June 25, 2012 Looking Ahead Ready Rudy Artichokes -- Dr. Lautz Brigham & Women’s in Boston Jubjub07 -- Dr. Aceves anais02 -- Dr. Garcia Skane10 -- Dr. Garcia Janedeaux3 Lose4good2012 -- Dr. Billy (may use spider surgical tool) aled carolinagirlz 136HereICome- Lawerance hospital in NY ChristianMomma7 CRichard1107 June 26, 2012 locoladi Trista1975 -- Dr. Almanza-reyes, Mexico JTmoas s.ledbetter17 -- Dr. Edwards and Lane – mcg. Nardelkn cherryseven chuckles -- Dr. Keith Gersin Misslorlor MsPerry 1920-Zeta tumblersmom glocks90 June 27, 2012 herewegoagain Edward Mun -revision GivingItMyAll pkehrer mcsleevy - Dr. Sherman Yu in Houston, Tx Joyce Ellis-joy686 - revision MoreganK Praldous - Saranac lake NY Dr.Hill Carlashooter- June 28, 2012 kkm23 -- Dallas Iwannabslim -- Dr. Jaime Ponce – sleeve revision Sleevertobe Mina05pit - Philadephia, PA Apricot1119 June 29, 2012 EileenFrances -- Dr. Subhash Kini Robin33 -- Costa Rica tonibugg -- Dr. Rod Juarez SunnyCox - Dr. Kelly in Mexico TinaP - Dr Rodriguez June 30, 2012 lil lee -- Dr. Aceves in Mexicali Mrslittle -- Dr. Alvarez

Thank u to ur family for ur husbands service and ur family's sacrifice. Please stick around here and we wi all b here for u. This is a great group of people and u will find lots of support. Think how great u will look when ur hubby returns home. Sent from my iPhone using VST

I don't believe it is. Sent from my iPhone using VST

First day home (day 9) i chewed up my Bariatric Advantage Vitamin and swallowed and my stomach started doing all kinds of things!!!! It was 1 week before I got the courage up to try that again so i bit off a little and swallowed then drank some Water..ok..another bite....then yuk, same sensation with my stomach. Currently, I don't know what I'm going to do about Vitamins. Anyone have suggestions?

my surgeon had me wear the support stockings until after my flight home at 8 days post op. I did wear flip flops with them because the toes were open in the stockings. As soon as I touched down in Memphis and got in my son's car...those hose came off! I hated them but also know they are necessary.

My advice is to take as little as possible in ur carry in. Sent from my iPhone using VST

My husband and I just flew united to costs rica for my surgery. They had on demand direct tv for 7.99 for flights longer than 3 hours. We did not have to open the laptop just take it out of our carry on to scan. Had to take off shoes etc to go through security. The limitations above are for carry on. The bottles of shampoo and stuff are fine in your checked baggage. Please be prepared for your trip back with some Protein powder u can mix with Water. I could not stomach what I took and airplanes and airports r not friendly to recent bariatric patients. My husband walked all over Houston airport to find me chicken noodle Soup so I could sip the broth. I was 8 days out for my ride home. After 4 hours from costa rica to Houston and 3 hr layover then 1.5 hours to Memphis and going through customs and immigration I was exhausted and blacked out. I have never felt so bad in my life. Hope some of this helps u. Sent from my iPhone using VST

I was 10 days post op and I can tell you I had absolutely no energy. Came back on Monday and it was Thursday before I made it all day. I had a pillow in my chair for a couple of days because of back pain (don't know what was up with that ). Good luck to you!

Someone suggested that we start a thread so we could keep up with the June 2012 post op people. After surgery, come back and check in here. We all want to hear how you are doing! Good luck to all!

Yes, it is a private (secret) group. No one can see anything you post in it unless they are a member.

Got sleeved on the 29th. No pain meds today. Just walking and sipping trying to get my liquids in. Just gas right now but it's bearable. Hate these compression socks. How long did y'all wear them? I have to wear until my post op check on thurs with my dr. This is beautiful country in costa rica mountains for my recovery