SParkle

Bonbon - welcome to the board and congrats on making the decision about the sleeve. I only told my husband and my best friend, as like you I think family may not comprehend the reasons why I have made this decision. They love me for who i am not matter what and I hide my weight and the emotional issues I have with it from them quite well. I'm sure you have made the right decision, and the timing will be perfect for your wedding... you'll make a wonderful bride. Good luck in your journey and i know this site helped me thru the decision making stages so I am sure it will you as well. Kathy

Sounds like you have been thru it all and then some! Congrats on being sleeved tho - I'm only at the start of this journey but there are plenty of experienced sleevers on here who I am sure will help out with loads of info. Good luck Kathy

I'm so glad you enjoyed your day. How about using famous people who aren't all the ideal media size for your kids too..... Oprah springs to mind, Ricki Lake is another - and Barry White of course (such a fab singer too!!) Just think of all the extra calories you burned up too at the pool. Kathy

Sorry if I misled, but I didn't fly anywhere, we live here in Spain, about an hour and a bit from Valencia, so we drove up. I take my hat off to all that do a long journey as I was worried about throwing up on the journey home in the car today as it was! Luckily I was ok.....I also can't wait until I feel more normal.... take each day as it come eh?! Good luck with your recovery - we were on the same day weren't we? Kathy

Texas chick - sounds like you're doing fine hun. Has anyone tried warming up the 'cold' protein shakes ? Can you make them with warm water or milk?? Just a thought, surely someone has tried it. My Optifast does come in a creamed veg variety but I didn't fancy it pre op, but i have some clear cup-a-soups which I can use for a savoury hit. Kathy

Hey Surgery buddy - hows it going? Good to hear from you. I took a nap at home today and managed it on my side but needed time to adjust before getting back up again with my drain site being sore. Drinkwise I think I will just have to have something on the go the whole time!! I've had to draw up a chart for my drugs!! lol Good luck Kathy

Maybe we should tell the worlds media - all the hype about the size 0 supermodels, the message is getting through but not enough and not loud enough. Kathy

I wasn't given a strict numeric guideline either, but will use the sample menus given from my dietician and combine them with info on here. I have realised the most important thing is fluids - and have told my hubby to have a go at me every time he sees me without a drink attached to me in some way! LOL Kathy

I think you're doing a fab job Angie - sticks and stones is right. Do they know about your operation? Can you sit them down and explain that you're not happy and you've done something about it, and you don't like what people say either, but in a few months time because you are getting out and doing something like swimming it'll help with your muscle tone so your legs will be toned and then they'll have nothing to shout about. Chances are those shouting the comments aren't so wonderfully perfect either. This world of media pressure really annoys me that people are expected to conform to a certain mould. People are people, all shapes and sizes, we all have hearts and souls and should be judged for that.. I think all of us have had comments in our lives.... hey ho... I know I am a lovely person inside no matter what size I am on the outside... and its their loss if they judge by that. You go for it babe....21.5lbs down.... you're doing great!! Kathy

I'm just on the start of this journey but I made a note of The World According to Eggface blogspot which someone else here posted. She has some fab recipes using Protein powder in everyday cooking.... not so obvious to everyone else, but still means you can get your protein in.....worth a look maybe? Well done on your 65lbs!! Kathy

Hi Jenn I used this list when I saw mine - and have added a couple since surgery of things I didn't think of. Its compiled from others lists on here and some of my own... hope it helps: Questions to ask Pre Op /The Op If self pay - What does your fee involve? Is there some follow up care thrown in there, like labs at 3,6,9 and 12 months? Pre op diet – what to eat/drink and how long for? Do I get a nutritionist/psychologist? What size bougie is used? Do you oversew the staple line? How many incisions do you make? Do you go in thru previous scars? How many nights in the hospital – is there facility for someone else to stay in my room as well? Do they need to be with me 24/ during my hospital stay? How many leak tests do you do? How many sleeves have you performed? Complication/leak stats? How many if any deaths? Who do I contact if I think I have a problem (most places give out an emergency number)? Is the hospital equipped an ICU and blood bank in case of complications? If complications do happen to occur, are these complications/additional surgery/days in hospital covered by the original quoted price of the surgery? Would you remove my gall bladder at the same time if needed? Can you give me some patient testimonials or do you have any before/after pictures of your patients that I could read/look at? Is it standard operation procedure, ie: no nail polish, no body jewellery? Do I need to stop taking any particular medication pre op? (Take a list of what you take and dosage) Post Op How often are the post op check ups? Where are they? – is price included? What supplements/anti acid drug would I need to take and for how long? Do I need labs done post op? – Are these checked with you or my local doctor? DO I get a dvd of the operation? Post op diet? How much weight would I be exepected loose? What if I loose too much, how to maintain? Do you use heparin? How soon after the op can I……drive, swim, work out? Good luck Kathy

It was delicious (Cherry and cinnamon).... and went down very well thanks! Kimber - I feel like poop too.... we have 34 steps up to our house, and at the moment I can walk around the garden, but don't want to face them again just yet, having only arrived home at midday. Tomorrow I shall talk the dog out down the road on the flat and see how i get on, as around the block for us involves a steep hill....so either can be up or down depending which was you go... but theres no way I can contemplate that yet. I am looking forward to each day feeling an improvement on the last - and remember we are in it for the long haul.... you don't want to push yourself too far too soon. Kathy

My surgeon says 10 days clear, then 10 full..... at the moment its taking me an hour to get a Protein drink down (allowed in my clears at its Optifast with water).....but I'm just going with how my body tells me. Must get my Fluid intake up tho..... off to get more juice!! Kathy

Good luck and hope its all gone well for you..... post as soon as you can, and take it easy on the journey home - I don't envy you a 14hr drive at all.... I felt quite nauseous at the thought of 1.5hrs!! Kathy

What a great post!! Revel in your reveling bones!!! Congrats!! Kathy

Congrats!! Good to hear you doing well. Sounds like your meds must be better than mine as theres no way I could go walking for that long yet.... but it'll happen.... keep up the good work Kathy

Thanks to you all for the messages - Its finally starting to sink in I think!! The op went well.... despite the fact they expected hubby to stay with me for 24/7 for the first day or so - over here the care is a bit different, and while the hopsital is fully equipped in case of emergency, they don't check on you so often, apart from when they want to stick you with something or give you more drugs!! For me the worst part was my reaction to the antibiotics - I have always thought I was only allergic to penicillin, but it seems I have an intolerance to strong antibiotics, as I threw up as soon as they hooked me up to one post op... not a pleasant experience! The day of the op I threw up 4 times in fact, which I hate doing at the best of times, but I suppose in the scheme of things it was a small price to pay. Day one (the actual day of the op) passed fairly slowly and I didn't feel like doing anything, reading, tv, books, nothing could hold my interest - even day 2, I was preferring the peace and quiet to anything else. Today, Day 3, I have come home. Yesterday I did a leak test in the morning - my first liquid which wasn't in an IV.....woopee!! And boy it tasted disgusting! I don't know if maybe others are lucky and get a flavoured version, but mine was rank! But I passed, and was put on Clear liquids all day with a Protein drink in the evening. There was only one choice - pineapple with grape juice - which I soon tired of! This morning I had another leak test, passed again, and had the drain removed. That is SUCH a weird sensation, and not pleasant, but I was glad to be rid of it. Now the only discomfort I have is from that drain wound, and the gas inside. I don't have the luxury of a pain pump, but do have a stack of drugs, pills and potions to take at various times of the day, and heparin injections as well.... so I feel a chart coming on, as I bet I will forget something. One good tip I read somewhere is to take a soft unwired bra with you for post op - normally I only wear wired bras, but this has helped protect the top wound a little from being rubbed. Today I can shower and remove all dressings barr the drain one, which can come off tomorrow. I have weighed, but weigh the same now as i did before my pre op...which I expected but not sure why I bothered getting on the scales, but i know they will fall sooner of later. So - Here I am, at home, fending off the dog from my lap and just glad to be back here, even if I am bored here, I hate being in hospital. Bring it on!!! LOL Kathy

Glad to hear it all went well....I'll be joining you very soon!! Keep posting to let us know how its going. Kathy

To my surgery buddies..........Tbarnes18 and Nsalex75 - good luck for today!! I'm right there with ya!! Kathy

Glad to hear it went well and you're doing ok. If covered by insurance then I would stay for sure! I'm due to be in for 3 days 2 nights if i can get my liquids in, otherwise they will keep me in another night to make sure. Enjoy the peace and quiet, you'll probably end up doing too much too soon if you go home. Good luck with the rest of your recovery Kathy

All sounds great - well done. Keep up the great work - looking forward to joining you on the losers bench very soon! Kathy

Hi there I asked the following - compiled from a list that I got from Tiffykins and various others and also some I thought of myself thru sheer curiosity. Some they answered during their talk about the procedure, and the rest I asked afterwards. You can never have too much information - its a big decision to make. Pre Op /The Op If self pay - What does your fee involve? Is there some follow up care thrown in there, like labs at 3,6,9 and 12 months? Pre op diet – what to eat/drink and how long for? Do I get a nutritionist/psychologist? What size bougie is used? Do you oversew the staple line? How many incisions do you make? Do you go in thru previous scars? How many nights in the hospital – is there facility for someone else to stay in my room as well? How many leak tests do you do? How many sleeves have been performed? Complication/leak stats? How many if any deaths? Is the hospital equipped an ICU and blood bank in case of complications? If complications do happen to occur, are these complications/additional surgery/days in hospital covered by the original quoted price of the surgery? Would you remove my gall bladder at the same time if needed? Can you give me some patient testimonials or do you have any before/after pictures of your patients that I could read/look at? Is it standard operation procedure, ie: no nail polish, no body jewellery? Do I need to stop taking any particular medication pre op? (Take a list of what you take and dosage) Post Op How often are the post op check ups? Where are they? – is price included? What supplements/anti acid drug would I need to take? Do I need labs done post op? Post op diet? How much weight would I loose? What if I loose too much, how to maintain? Do you use heparin?