MicNic

I am 4.5 months out from surgery and have lost 97 lbs. People keep asking me what my goal is and I feel the same as you... anything under 200 would be great (I have a ways to go for that) but what is most important to me is to start living again! I have 3 kids that I have been "watching". Watch them play and watch them ride bikes but not being with them, just sitting watching. I want that to change and it already has! I bought a new bike and have went with my kids a couple of times (weather isn't cooperating!) and I find myself being more active and ready to go. My self-confidence is boosted! I didn't realize how much my weight was holding me back. Now in the morning I just grab a pair of jeans, a shirt and a sweater ( I am always cold) and I go. I never fuss with my shirts, I never worry about if I look ok.. I just feel great! Like I said, still have another 100 lbs to lose but with the sleeve I know that it is possible and I am getting my life back! Good luck to you!

Hello! I think it would be hard for anyone to tell you what you can expect exactly from the surgery. I spent 2 weeks on my coach pretty sure that I was going to die there from the pain in my abs. All I did was sip Water and take liquid meds! I am 7 weeks out now and while I do not feel like my "old" self I am feeling much better. I get tired pretty easy (probably lack of appropriate nutrients!) but I have also lost 60 lbs since I started my the pre-op diet in Sept. I would like to suggest that you do not get the lap-band just because of the recovery time needed for the sleeve. When I was in the hospital after my surgery, there was a girl in the bed next to me that had the lap-band system in for 2 years. She said she had lost 50 pounds total. She was there because the band had eroded (spelling) into her stomach. On our first night there she was tranferred into ICU because after the band was removed there were issues. I remember thinking right then- Thank God I didn't make that mistake! You never know how your body is going to handle a foreign object in it and for how long. On the sleeve, I would like to tell you something that I just didn't get when I was waiting for surgery. When they say you are going to eat less, what they mean is you are going to eat about 5 bites of food before you feel full. I am lucky and I don't get hungry. I do however get "empty". When I eat, I make my plate and I still put way to much food on it. I can eat about 2-3 oz at a meal. I still eat way to fast and so I miss the cue that I am full until it is to late. Then I feel sick and just want to go lay down. Now I associate eating with feeling bad and I have a hard time actually eating anything. I must admit tho, I do love bacon! it is the one thing that doesn't make me want to puke. I can't drink the Protein shakes right now or eat cottage cheese or yogurt. My best explanation of this is that the 2 week pre-op and 4 week post op diet ruined it for me. I am sure with time it will be fine but right now just looking at it makes me feel sick. It is a tool and I am learning how to use it! Also, my sense of taste and smell are way off. I had some m&m's the other day at the movies and they tasted terrible. I had about 5 and then I was like- why am I even eating these when they taste bad? And I think that most things smell like a hamster cage. Weird, I know. Anyway- hope that you are able to work it out so that you can have the surgery and not feel like your job is on the line. Good Luck!

Treequeen, I, too, was pretty nervous about telling people about my surgery but now, almost 2 months later- I feel like I tell everyone! Everyone at work was concerned when I took time off and because I didn't want to lie to my friends and co-workers, I told anyone who asked and of course- word spreads. I have been blessed with tons of encourgment from family and friends. They can't believe how great I look!! No one has tried to make me feel bad and I guess the worse thing I have heard is- "So that is all you will eat for the rest of your life?? I could NEVER do that". I just smile and say, well you haven't had weight issues like me so you are lucky and move on. It was truly the very best thing I have done for myself and my family. I will start working out this week at the gym and I know that this time, the weightloss and toning is not a temp thing. How exciting is that?? Good luck!! MicNic

I had my first hep shot right before surgery. I was so upset because no one mentioned that I would be getting a shot in my abdomen every 8 hours while I was in the hospital. I HATE shots and honestly freaked out and made the nurse wait while I "got ready" to get the shot. I told her ok, she put the needle in and it was out in no time and honestly, didn't hurt at all. None of the heb shots did and they were all in my lower abdomen. Like everyone else, I am a month out and I still have a few bruises. I am glad I had the shots, wouldn't want a blood clot! Also, the first day they took my blood sugar every 6 hours to ensure that I didn't need insuline (I didn't). On those, have them do the needle in a different finger each time and on the side of your fingerpad. When they do it in the middle of your fingerpad it hurts afterward when you use your fingers. Good luck with everything!!

Thanks! I have read on here that in the losing phase people eat between 600 and 800 calories and then move up to 1200. Who knows. What I do know is 53 pounds are gone!!!

Well, tomorrow is officially the 4 week mark. I am feeling SO MUCH BETTER than I did the first 2 weeks! Went to the DR yesterday. Everything is going fine. I lost 20 poounds from my one week check up to yesterday for a grand total of 53 pounds since Sept. 2010 when I started my first pre-op diet. I have LOTS to lose so unfortunatly, 53 pounds doesn't show much on me but I can tell a little difference and it is nice just knowing that it is only going to get better from here! I have been horrible at eating and at getting my protein. I know, my hair is going to fall out in CLUMPS but I think the DR and I figured out why eating was making me feel horrible (eating to much, to fast) and today I have slowed way down and eaten much less. She said that 1 piece of shaved lunch meat will probably fill me up right now. I don't like eating now (eat to live, not live to eat!) and food doesn't taste good so I do notice that I try to get through my stuff pretty quick and because I don't really want to eat again- I was eating more trying to get in at least a few calories and some protein! For example- The nurse asked if I was getting all my calories- I asked her how many I was supposed to be getting (I didn't think anyone had ever said anything about an amount) and she said 1200 a day. I was like.. umm... yeah.. no. She said, well what did you eat yesterday? I said.. an individual serving of mashed potatoes and gravy from KFC. And she said ok, what else. I said, ahh- that's all. She was like- oh, I see. So you aren't eating nearly enough! I am just hoping that now that I am off pureeds and mushies, I can start getting in protein! I LOVE LOVE LOVE chicken and turkey. I LOVE Cheese! All high in protein! Now if I can just keep from over-eating, eating to fast and forgetting to eat I will be golden! Hope you all are doing well! Take Care!

I just can't wait until I can but matching bras and undies that have lace and bright colors! I currently wear a 48 DDD and the only bra I like is at Lane Bryant. I have black, white and beige.. there are no other colors in my size with the bra I wear so I can not wait!

Someone told me it was due to hormones being released when the fat was being used. I had them for the first week and a half but I haven't had any in a while so it must have evened out. I would cover my body with a blanket and then turn the fan on to my face. I didn't get hot all over but my cheeks would turn bright red! Glad that is done!

I am SOOO tired of them! Someone did tell me to get a cup with a lid (think travel coffee cup) and use it with the shakes so you can't smell them.

Where is the burning? I have the worst pain at the top of my left ribs today. I am not sure what I did but it hurts!! The pain almost goes away when I lay down and tonight I took some pain meds just to take the edge off. I am hoping I just pulled a muscle or something that isn't a leak!