BZButterfly79

Glad you enjoyed, she is very transparent and as you saw has no shame about her surgery, in one of her videos she says that she decided to tell everyone she had the surgery because it cut the gossip right away, people no longer had to come up with theories or speculations she flat out said: "Thanks for the compliment, I had weight loss surgery!"

Good night Cinderella can't wait to hear all about how it went. Prayers.

I vented about this very issue before and to me it basically comes down this issue, this weight, this surgery being a cross I have been carrying, no one at least in my surrounding offered help, there was plenty of criticism so I feel that this belongs to me and of course the friends I have made here because I truly feel that the only person who understands a fat girl is a fat girl or ex-fat girl. If you are fat then you stuff yourself all day according to people, if you are thin then you must have an eating disorder...get it? You can't please everyone so you got to please yourself.

The bariatric nurse I spoke to recently said that not everyone does, but a lot of people do and she claims it has to do with people following their recommended intake of food and protein, she said many people don't follow the protein rule. I have read though from most who have had the surgery that month 4-6 it happens. I have had PCOS in the last 2 years and I experienced hair loss due to it not noticeable BUT I know...I had a lot more hair, part of my weight loss surgery is to do with my PCOS. My doctor said age is a big factor and how people react to the weight loss the younger he said the better they bounce back, hair, skin, etc. I have my surgery on Dec.8 so I will let you know how it goes with the hair, though I have started on vitamins already mostly I wanted to get used to taking pills everyday and so I take a Multi and Biotin. Can't say what it is doing...but I will say my hair not falling like it was a month ago due to PCOS. Good luck.

Hi welcome and I hope you will find as I have(also a Newbie) support and information to help you through this transitional period as well as encourage you to keep heading towards the finish line. It sounds like you are in good hands at Duke, I have military insurance and therefore cannot speak for the one you have but my surgery is on Dec. 8 and I am also scared, excited, there is even some feeing of relief. Everyday of my life for the past eight years I have woken up praying that this is a nightmare that I am not as fat as I look and that I will wake up from this bad dream, of yo yo dieting, self-punishement, and whatever else other psycho bable word you can add to the equation. I have a chance now, I have a chance! Good luck to you and as Bob Marley said: "Every little thing, is gonna be alright!"

There are times I love Sarah Palin and then there are times I reaaaaaaaly don't like her, I mean our country is an embarassment when it comes to obesity what is Michelle supposed to do...sit on her bottom all day, I think her agenda is unique and needed.

I am sitting here filling out all the questions in order to get paperwork ready before my surgery and I have to say I am super super uncomfortable, the questions they ask on the will are so sad...have any of you created one before? I did not expect it to be so uncomfortable, for one I don't even know where I want to be laid to rest or where...I guess these are all questions that remind us we are only here temporarily but I stopped in the middle of it to come in and post my feelings about this. How about you, have you done one of these?

LilMissDiva, I am laughing so hard over here because I have also started to tell people that I am eating VEGAN!! RAW FOODS!!!! LOL well at least when I start looking like ghost they'll go: "SEE I TOLD YOU SHE IS NOT EATING ANY meat THAT"S WHY!!!"

Interesting question, I have not had the procedure yet but it is hard not to tell when you see the someone slimming from the top to the bottom, I have seen people who had these big tires in the mid section and the legs were like super super loose skin almost folding over, it just made me think they had it done. Hair is another one for me I for some reason associate little to no hair with WLS and then some people to me look completely anemic, they might not be at all but some really do have this ghost look. These are all subjective observations of mine and I may look just like the people I describe here once I get my surgery, I don't expect to pose for swimsuit magazines after it. Tiff, it must be so freeing to be open about surgery hopefully one day I will get there for now I am taking the "It's none of of your business" approach.

I am getting my sleeve in 2 weeks, but to answer your question AWFUL! Not only was I in a food comma I got my entire family in it as well! There is a difference between getting the sleeve and the end of the world, I had a meal as if it was my last...RIDICULOUS! Someone sent me a message with a pasted section from Urban Dictionary which stated that the definition of Thanksgiving is...another excuse for Americans to spend the day eating!! Well...I cannot argue with that imagine what it would be like if in order to be thankful we would have to "fast" that day!!!

Tonight I read the post about to tell or not to tell. For awhile I have been in that same place, wondering, planning, who, when, and where to tell. What will X, Y, and Z think when they see me having lost so much weight(I am pre-op), will they lift up my shirt to check for incision scars...they will not possibly believe I could have done it on my own(notice self defeating talk). If they ask(whomever they might be) do I admit it or just say: "I took charge of my life and hired a trainer!". Well, this is so difficult for one I though of having this procedure while my husband was deployed next year as a "welcome home gift" I certainly don't want him seeing me looking like death after surgery with drains on me, eating baby food and I don't want to have to explain to my kids that I had so little self control I had to be operated on... I decided to tell my husband because if something happened to me since he would be raising our kids he deserves to know and hopefully he would want to support me, the kids I have not decided on yet they are little not sure if it is a talk to have at this time. That is my immediate family then there is everybody else and the friends and co-workers. So this is what my post is really about. Who do I OWE that to...such an intimate and very painful end and new beginning of my life BUT to GOD and myself. I just don't feel like I need to be treated like ham at the deli or cheese for that matter. The only thing want to focus on is the rainbow the yellow brick road, because nobody who dares to ask me about my weight has truly been there or walked a mile in my 10 1/2 wide shoes(try finding that). Nobody felt the lack of air, the sleepless nights, the looks and stares, the feeling of my self defeat after my next cool diet failed. They certainly weren't there when making love with my husband I prayed my belly wouldn't get in the way, that my back would stop hurting. I can't forget the times when I attempted to play with my children only to feel like bricks were on my chest and I had to keep smiling so they wouldn't see my pain. Hiding in photos, hiding from photos, hiding from myself! Is there a more degrading to self way to live? I don't think believe there is and I don't owe THAT to anyone. I hear about people who after the weight is gone they become part of the skinny world and suffer from selective amnesia, every person who like myself is overweight deserves to know where I came from...and that hopefully a light at the end of a dark cold tunnel showed up and I certainly will want to share. I will not forget where I came from because it is too easy to go back there are too many people suffering because of this slow creeping dark disease which is obesity. They DESERVE to know all others I am giving them something to talk about...a little mystery to figure out.

I was wondering as you are going down in sizes what ways did you use to save money, I am concerned I will have to fill my closet up with very size and not stay in them long enough to be worth it, how did you manage the changes in size and when do you start shopping is it when you stall? Thanks, just getting ready for what's coming.

Tonight I made smoked mesquite chicken breasts on the grill for the family, then as I am clearing the plates and preparing a lunch tupperware for him, he says honey that's so good but that's how you ass got so big eating this kind of stuff(grilled chicken). Do any of you smell the ignorance? My reply was: "Well... at least I know I can lose this ass being ugly is so much worse!" LOL He came up behind me and gave me a hug, sometimes I wonder what screw is missing but I am not the therapist I am the wife! I should really have corrected him because it was all the cookies and cakes and whatever sugar cane derived element I could get my hands on. But my sleeve sisters....all that matters is that tomorrow I see the surgeon!!!!!WHOHOOOOOOOOO I just thought I'd share something extra with you guys since you have given me so much support, over the weekend we went shopping for stuff for the kids in a mall where there is a GNC, my husband told me to go ahead and start looking he would be right there...then later on in the car I find rolled up in a plastic bag tightly you will not believe what ladies....FAT BURNER from GNC...interesting because my husband does not have a weight problem I asked him about it and why he was hiding it from me and he said he wants to have a six pack again. Like I said before I am not the therapist just the wife but I wonder if this surgery is starting to cause fear and insecurity. I just wanted to throw this out there in case you have a situation similar to mine or just wanted to get a kick out of mine. Can't nobody hold me down oh nooooooo...I got to keep on moving!

You guys are **wonderful** and so creative, I am being a good student and taking notes, this is certainly a very big issue that without knowledge could cause me to walk around looking less than socially acceptable. Thank You once again. The support here is amazing!

http://www.muschealth.com/weightlosssurgery/original_shopping_list.pdf

Has anyone come across a good list for things to buy and stock pre-op so that when we get back we have what we need. I ran to the store today and added some things not sure if this is all correct but so far here is what I have in a little corner of my pantry and if you can add some things I should get that you have enjoyed to help me get through I would really appreciate it. Chicken Broth Rositas refried fat free black beans Coconut water Sugar Free Jello Frozen vegetables(I am going to boil and make a great pureed soup and freeze) Sugar Free Popsicles I have my multi vitamins and Nioxin, I know I will need sub lingual B12 and calcium correct? Should I get some PJs that allow me to shower easier I am not sure how soon before I can wear my regular clothes due to drains and such. Thank you!!!

I also found this video, 16grams of protein in this yogurt, I don't think Walmart carries it but I will look. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lM9blxTY-jE&feature=related

I get my sleeve on Dec.8, and the only thing I can tell you is that if I had to listened to what everybody said or says or thinks then I would continue killing myself slowly with this drug called food. I decided when I told my husband that I did not need his or anyone else's opinion to finally ask for help to finally admit that my lifestyle was going to give me as a gift a possible heart attack, being a diabetic, and worse of all feeling trapped in this body when the smaller person inside is suffocating...literally. You have to decide whether you want to live your life based on the opinions of others or on what is best for you. So research says 50% fail...well that gives me 50% chance to succeed and by myself without medical intervention...100% failure, so I am willing to take the 50% and do everything in my power to get that smaller person dying on the inside to come out and have a fighting chance in this life, a chance to be who she was meant to be and a chance to give those who love me the best of me. None of us choose this based on vanity, we are not going in for a face lift, our lives are or were in jeopardy. I was drowning and someone has thrown a rope and I am grabbing it whether people around me think I should live or drown. Good luck to you and last I want to share with you that I made a life list(things I want to do in my life still) and there were almost none that my weight didn't keep me from doing...some very basic things. Good Luck. Headed for change finally!

Meeee I am a Dec sleever Dec 8!!

Your sista heah is getting a sleeve under the x-mas tree on...DRUMROLLLLLLLLLLL Dec. 8, 2010 Thank you all for everything you have shared with me and also for your never ending support, I realize this is not going to be easy(though I try to tell myself otherwise) and that this forum will continue to be my "couch" for therapy and anything else I need if you already had your surgery you know what awaits me the good the bad the ugly but I know you are there by my side even those of you who lurk around and refuse to register, thank you.

I'd love to check out a support group but I am not sure there is one in this neck of the woods will have to check with the clinic.