carolyn24seven

Welcome and good luck on this journey. I am so very happy to have my sleeve "tool". I love my life now. I have so much energy and my poor knees are so much better. I do not have to use the "riding cart" at the stores any more. I can walk. Take Tiffy's advice she is just the best. (((((hugs))))))

yaaaah DeeDee! 150! you are my heroine! I will wait to weigh in until I go to the gym later. I don't know if I want to be in One~derland or not. I will have to set a new goal if I am. It is almost like too much is happening too soon.(?) Gheeze, last week I posted I was not waiting, now, I am the opposit. Good heavens the emotions with this are crazy/scattered. Anyway, I will be at the gym today and post later.

If you Email Dr, Betencourt abot having someone from staff do it,be sure to tell him you only want them to film the operation and you will do the rest. You are only asking for about an hour of anyones time. You are going to do the rest yourself, right? I still may be able to come and do it. I am still thinking about it. I am only two hours driving time away. I just think for a four hour trip to shoot one hour of film is kinda not a really good use of time. Maybe you will meet someone going at the same time that will shoot for you? Anyway, I am still considering it.

Definately make the call. Could be something simple and has a simple remedy. No need to suffer in pain and doubt. Take care, please post back results.

Welcome to VST. Your parents will be so supportive of your decision to take back control of your life. You are doing a positive thing for your continued healthy life. Stop with the shame/blame. This is not something you can do "by yourself" . Please start thinking of the sleeve as your new "tool" in the quest for a healthy life. Unless your parents have weight issues, and are the jealous types, you will most likely find them so supportive of your decision. Make the decision for yourself. Do not be bullied into this. The Dr.s tough love talk can be a catalest for action, but you must make this decision for yourself. Give yourself no excuses. Be very positive. Yes, there will be some fear and doubt, but, get past that, head up, clear on the goals ahead. Forward and downward! (scale joke) Confidence!

I live close enough. I am thinking about it. I do not have a squemish stomach. I just need some time to think about this. As an alternative, could you have one of the people on staff hold the camera? Not one of the nurses of course, one of the support team. Or, if you are going to Dr. Almanza, maybe Dr. Betencourt would film the surgery. I mean you are only talking one hour of filming. So, maybe you should enlist their help? just a thought.

Welcome to the VST boards! Please continue to do your research until you are satisfied with your decision. I was on these boards for 3 months lurking and 3 months actively posting before I could make up my mind. This is the best thing I could have done for my healthy life. I was so tired of dieting and loosing only to re-gain and FAIL all the time. I needed this tool. I needed it to be permanent. I needed to be in control of whatever I did. My weight loss is amazing to me. I have soooooo much energy. My life is so good. Granted I am only 3 months out~~but, I am in such a better place now. I know I will never go back to that dark place again. I have the confidence to go into my life, healthy and cheerful at my great prospects. Yes, there are some tough/rough times in the first 6 weeks. They are all worth it. The two weeks before surgery are difficult also. (more mentally than physically) again, all worth it. All just part of the process. I never got the slimmies or foamies. I never threw up at all. I never had huge gas pains. I am eating 1/4 of what I used to eat. I eat what ever I want. I am very healthy. My husband is just amazed that I do not need much food to stay as healthy as I am. (He, of course is a naturally thin man) {wonderful, but, thin man} I have had that "cross" to bear all my married life. I have struggled with the shame of my weight for so darn long, I cannot tell you how great it feels to be "doing something about it" that is a permanent solution. It will take me working the sleeve as my tool to accomplish this life I want. Having the sleeve on "my" side is the answer to my prayers for control of food issues in my life. It is almost the magic pill we have all been dreaming of. Keep reading the posts here. Go thru as many of them as you can. Please take the negative ones with a grain of salt. Search your own heart for the right answers for you. If you are finally fed up with your situation, be positive in your actions, for a better life. I wish you the very best. You are on a great journey into yourself no matter what you decide. Enjoy.

I will make a suggestion here. ONLY since you are going to have to stay 2 extra nights before you go home. Instead of staying in SanDiego, Stay in TiaJuana at the Marriot. Dr. B can get you a GREAT rate (about $80) The staff there is very used to WLS clients. Your room charge covers your food. Teas popcyles, Soups. TV in english. Have Sevier come over and give you a massage. You will feel very secure there I walked the halls anytime I was awake, in my jammies and robe. NEVER a problem or did I feel "out of place". The staff at the Hotel was soooo nice to me. My last night there I went to the dining room for dinner, they treated me like a Queen. I am sure Dr. B will help you with the arrangements. He is a dream to have on your side! One other thing to add to your list of things to take. extra panties. and pads. You will want to change often. My Bag was at the recovery house. Darn it. My Husband thought to bring my toothbursh and paste, but, he could not remember to bring my jammies and undergarments. So, for the two days in the hospt, I was in hospt gown and hand washing my panties. haha now. not so fun then. minor inconvience, but, one that can be avoided. Hope you have a great experience. I did.

Yaaaay! Welcome to the loosers bench, sleeve sister! Take it slow and easy. Give yourself plenty of time to rest and get strong. Go slowly into your brand new life! Exciting! Congrats

You poor girl! Onward and downward! We all have to learn our limits I guess. Your learning curve was a bit rougher than expected. Hope it all goes well in the future. At least you were in a fun place, and could be distracted from the event.

Hi Laurie, welcome to VST! Great to have another sleeve sister on board. What an exciting journey you are on. I am just 3 months post op. I am soooooooooo happy with my weight loss. (see stats below) You will be so pleased. Have patience, especially with the diet afterwards. It is only 6 weeks. That is not that long for life time results. I am so glad you can do this at 36 and have the "best" of your life to look forward to. Congratulations on your decision. Can't wait to have you on our loosers bench!

Lan2K: God Bless you. You are certainly going thru a ridiculousy tough time. I wish I could help you. Please know I care about you and want the best outcome for you. It is so good of you to post, to let everyone know that this surgery is not the answer to/for happiness. It is a great tool for weight loss, but, can cause sundry problems for some. I believe it helps to go into any venture(surgery for one example) with all the knowledge available. Your side of the story is most valuable. Thank you for telling it and continuing to help us all understand a completely different side to WLS. I am the first to admit I was not understanding of your situation at all in the beginning. I am sorry for that. I am enlightened now and will never view/judge anyone again about their "issues". Keep us posted on your progress. Be strong, be well friend.

When I went to tuna, I could not get it down. I did like chewing it to a "wad" and then spitting it out. There was just no way that "wad" was going to go down. Slow down on your food advances. This phase will be over soon. You will be able to eat everything soon. In small/tiny portions. Pureed soups will be your life line for awhile. Come to think of it, I kinda miss my pureed soups. They were tasty. Think I will make one today. :}

Chancie: what protein do you put in your coffee? Just vanilla flavored powder? Coffee flavored? I tried to mix some coffee flavored protein in hot water it gloped up on me and looked/tasted awful. I would really like to get some protein in first thing in the AM, so, share please your method. Thanks!

My waist has come down dramatically compaired to my hips thighs. I seem to be loosing inches from the top down. I am still riding my bike like a crazy woman. I have started the weight training for upper body. Hope my skin catches up with the weight loss soon. Wow, am I ever flabby. Yuck. Look good in clothes though, lololol Because of my knees I cannot do the running or leg exercises. I wish I could. I would rather do some stuff outdoors, I am in an area that is perfect for it. I am going to try to find a way to ride outside, maybe find a rental place. There is a 15+mile bike trail from Huntinton Beach to Yorba Linda, so, maybe I could get some outside exercize in that won't hurt the knees and will help the thighs.

Wow That is an awsome schedual. Good for you! I am trying to go 3 days a week. I am loving my gym time. I let too many pressures at home distract me from that time. Sounds like excuses huh? I will work on more ME time. Thanks for the inspiration!

Amanda: new picture please. I think I agree with you, I saw a pict of myself at Christmas and I cannot believe it is me. I look so young. In all my picts of the last few years I look so old. Just the weight off takes the age off. Even though close up you can see the wrinkles, it does nto matter. Initially, you think young. That is a big deal for me. I do not feel old now. I am full of energy, and no where near so achey as I was 50+ lbs ago. Wish I could post pictures. I am gonna figure that out soon. My own NSV for today: I crossed my legs at the knee. I did not even know I was doing it. My Husband noticed and commented. Woowzaaa!

JJJ & Chandra: you guys are great! Ya just keep me motovated. T H A N K S !

Mrs Sasaki: thank you for your answers. I like your attitude. I will try to incorporate some of that in my life. I agree with you about how rude people can be. When I was fat I heard over and over I could be soooo pretty if I would loose weight. Sheeze people shut up! Now they all want to know what I am doing, and, the VERY next thing out of their mouths is: "don't loose too much weight". Are you kidding me? Good heavens people make up your minds. I think I am threatening to people now, they cannot put me down anymore. I feel like I have much more power now. Power to speak up and power to walk away from really negative people/things. I know, I always had the power, I just could not use it. Loosing weight is allowing me to use the power better. Thank you again Mrs. Sasaki.

OH yeah, swimming. The pool at the gym is salt water. ??? Maybe that has caused it? I will get the gold bond. I have never had this before. Could be age related? Anyway, the cream is working, it never got smelly, just a little itchy that is how I even noticed it. It is much less red today, kinda pink only. and not itchy at all. Funny the problems that pop up. Thanks for the answers all!

It was a long time ago. I did it in gold. I think it was $120.00 for two bumps. It was more to keep the ring upright and not flopping around. Look in the drug stores for ring sizers. I am going to have to do this too. My rings are starting to flop around.

Congrats Kai. God speed your recovery. Welcome to the loosers bench sleeve sister.

Tiff, A is very cute and will look good on you. Be sure to get the right products to keep the hairstyle up at home. Do you have a flat Iron? To everyone with the thinning hair problem: There are "bumps" that add volume. Make the most of what is left. Get a shining product that stays in the hair. It makes your hair look healthy. You can put it on like a color treatment. Get what you have left trimmed. a cute cut is a must. Honestly, at this point, you need to treat yourself if you can afford it. Find a stylist that deals with thinning/damaged hair. You will feel so much better about yourself. I am using a product called, Morrocan Gold. It is a great smelling oil. I have longish blonde (treated) hair. I use it daily on the ends and top surface. Work with the stylist for the best product for your type of hair.

Good for you! Getting it all done at one time makes a lot of sense. Glad your surgeon agreed. Sounds like we have a place in the US to go to for WLS. Of course, if you are self pay~~~then Mexico is still the option. Take care, walk and breathe. and sip!