TracyKwe

One Year Sleeve Anniversary!!!!! Hooooray!!!! Had my sleeve done one year ago Feb. 25th 2011. Feeling great and 136lbs down at my last weigh in a week ago. And yes,I am celebrating with Abdominoplasty this year on Feb. 29th! And yes, I am very excited and very,very,happy to be here! It's sorta surreal being here today,a year later, and facing this next procedure. I will admidt that this one is an exciting deal though. Yeah, it's a big deal getting this much done to a body but Wow! the outcome is gonna be sooooo worth it! With all I am reading and hearing from my docs, this is gonna hurt like nothing I have had before.And ya would think the three c-sections would have counted more;but I hear this one is much tougher.I'm ready though. Doc said... "Your gonna love me for what I am going to do for yo but you are going to hate me for how much pain your going to be in." So yeah, now I'm getting ready for it. Getting the house done,gathering all my hospital gear,preparing the Family,on my pre-surgery diet and healing therapies and so on....One week till Surgery....Bring It On! :ph34r: I would love to hear from anyone that has gone through this type of procedure.I am very interested in what others did to help with recovery and any tips or tricks anyone might know about this particular surgery and what I might expect afterwards.Especially if you had a sizable pannus.( I was 376lbs before my sleeve. ) Looking forward to reading your replies..Thanks for sharing.

My heartfelt condolences go out to you and yours during this tough time. Be sure to take good care of you through all that you'll go through in the next little bit. A loved one's passing is never easy to walk through and I will be praying that Creation watches over you and helps you with everything that is heavy and hurtful. May many blessings and peace come to you,your loved ones and your home and may your hearts heal happy. ((((HUGS))))

Thanks Cristin! I appreciate your kind words. I will for sure get back here and let everyone know (and maybe even see...thinking about actually posting pics after this one! ) how I'm doing as I get on. Besides,I hear I'm gonna have some serious down time what with all the pain coming with this procedure...Figure I won't be able to do much else but try and relax,read,breath and heal for the first little bit so yeah, I guess the old computer will be in there somewhere!

Hi DebiC! Yes,I had an original weight goal of 150lbs and if I reach that I will be very happy I am sure. But after the sleeve surgery I am more focased on how I look and feel in my clothes.And this procedure is going to help me with that. I will be having a fleur de lis Abdominalplasty with a full torso, corset- type muscle tightening and hernia repairs. There are alot of different insurances that require different criteria for them to cover this type of procedure. My hernias, along with the weight loss (1oolbs stable 6mos post-surgery was my particular insurances criteria) as well as having my primary caregivers and Bari surgeon's written approval and recomendations were ALL required before I was approved. I was told that I more than fit all the criteria and all the Docs involved in it say that they expect a good result. Yes,chances are that I may need a nip and tuck here and there later,but for now, I have to get this pannus off! Like You, it is beyond my privates and is now causing more problems for me than I am able to keep ahead of. I am already disabled with a very serious back and this is just not helping.I got out of my wheelchair and I am NOT going back! My surgeon is all for using this as a tool to keep me mobile and on a good path to full recovery.I have to say that I am so ready for this right now and with good compression and support undergarments for continued binding therapy, they expect that I will be able to keep it all realitivly tight even with another substantial weight drop.And if not,my thighs and arms will have to be done anyway..... .....so here's to hoping that the work can all get done somehow! Hahaha!

Hey there and Hello! Just turned 41 in May. Married for twenty one years, this July, to the most wonderful, loving,caring,compassionate Man I could ever hope for.We have Three wonderful Children together and we share a beautiful step-daughter that has Blessed us with three Perfectly Wonderful Grandchildren. We are a part of a huge,loving,strong extended family and live a very Traditional Native American Lifestyle here on the Rez.I was sleeved on Feb.25th 2011 and am well on my way to a much healthier Me.I have lost 70 lbs so far and am starting to feel a nice difference in my own skin.I get here to the site every so often and enjoy reading the progress stories and similar experiences that others here are sharing.I wish all good things for everyone that comes here and my hope is that we all find our way through our Journeys safely and walk our paths to our futures in all good and healthy ways.... Peace and Beautiful Blessings to everyone.

Here from the U.P. Livin' on the Rez and doin' alright after gettin' my sleeve on Feb.25th.Was one of the first patients here in this new medical center (going on to be a center of excellence) that they have here. Hope to see more of us here soon.

12 days and I'm rollin' right along. Still got hard esophigeal cramps when I forget my meds, but I'm on my way to that sweet time. Feeling good about my choices and got lots of good thoughts about where I'm goin'.Didn't like the upper G.I. I had this morning but really looking forward to my Dr.s appointment tomorrow.Gonna get weighed and 'm happy to do it. Huh,very different for me. Hope anyone and everyone that comes here has a great day and a happy time on the weight loss trail.

Was sleeved Feb 25th and all is well. Having esophigeal cramps and some back issues but other than that I am right on track. Had my first upper G.I. just this morning and I'm heading in for my first Surgical post-op visit tomorrow. I'm happy with my choice and I feel that this was just what I needed to get where I want to go.At last weigh in (as I left the hospital 4 days after surgery) I hd lost 40 pounds total. Actually excited about my weigh in tomorrow! Wonder what happy numbers I'm gonna see....

I was sent home with a script of Levsin for esophigeal cramps.Couldn't live without it. Cramps would grab me ALL the time without it. I was told that it was very normal and would gradually subside. I hope you get to feeling better soon.

I was sleeved almost two weeks ago and I took everything I brought in home with me. I had no problem with the hospital when letting them know what I wanted. But yes,there were cultural issues with me.I live a traditional Native (Anishnabe) lifestyle and requested my parts for tradition and ceremony and was quickly accomidated. You'd think if we can get them just because we ask anyone ahould be able to.

Thanks Paul! It was good of you to drop me a word like that.I like what you had to say and appreciate the effort. Going in tomorrow morning for my surgery and I'm really feelin' it today. But I hold my resolve real close and I know I will get through all this just fine.Your advice about the support group is good stuff. I agree for sure that those of us going through this need that BIg Time! They set us up for AFTER surgery but so far nothing for before around here. I think I'm gonna get on that myself actually.Maybe that kinda work will be good for me and help keep me motivated and happy after. Nothing like doing for others to keep your mind off yourself. Figure to try and keep busy as soon as I am able to get busy..(after I heal a bit of course) Hahaha! Thanks again... Take care!

Going in tomorrow morning FINALLY! Nervous,excited,and HAPPY to get on with it. Not looking forward to all that is uncomfortable and scarey but this chicka ain't scared o' nuthin' so bring it on Docs Lets roll!!! ( talkin' trash and laughin' hard and happy! )

Congratulations and all good wishes for all the best things today! I'm right behind you... (getting ready for mine tomorrow) ...Good Luck!

Feb.25th Here! *Almost time !!!

Hello. I'm a bit new here myself. Been scanning the forums and whatnot for a little bit now and I'm finding soooo much that is helpful to me here and I am VERY thankful for that! I have a VSG surgery date of Feb. 25th with Dr. J Adair in Michigan's U.P. I'm 5'3"/375 and ready for my life to change for the better. I am a Wife and Mother and active in my Traditional Native American community here. I'm feeling excited,scared,nervous and maybe even a tiny bit ready to chicken out today. But I know that will pass and excited will rule me again and I'll be all set to walk this path all the way through regardless of today. I know it's more than likely getting at me more just now because I have to go back to the sleep study folk for another sleepover tonite.They want me on a machine for surgery so I got bumped up to try and get it all arranged in time YAY!! (NOT!!!) Oh well. Ain't nothin' I won't do to get through this. I know in my heart this is what I need to do to actually live the future I envision daily so I'm up for this fight. My only wish is that I had a true friend to walk with me through it. My husband is my best friend and he is a wonderful,compassionate,charmed man and loves me very much. But it's a bit tough not having that woman-to-woman or friend-to-friend support.I'm not in a support group and I don't really talk to anyone about what's really going on with me much. I do have a sister in-law that is looking at getting the lap-band but she is a very private kinda person (same as me usually) and so I'm careful not to talk about too much or say anything that might scare her. I want the best for her and would just hate it if I said or did something that would make her change her mind about her surgery.She isn't well and needs this too. Anyway,just thought I would drop a line or two about myself here to try and get aquainted with everyone. Hope all that are here and walking this path find true peace and wellness with their choices and that we all find ourselves on the other side of this journey happy and healthy forever! Miigwetch and thanks! T

Finally the Feb.25th 2011 date they threw out there at me stuck and was confirmed yesterday. There will be a few extra folk in the room...My Surgeon,an assistant,another Doctor from NY,and this cat that will be a "Proctor" for the surgeon. Yay! A Party!!! Oh well, whatever! I wouldn't care if the whole dang hospital staff,their friends and a group of folk from the cafeteria were in there as long as it all goes well and I get through the day. I figure if I can get a good result from all these folks then I can take it from there and pull this whole life change gig off. I'm excited,scared,anxious and a little dizzy from all the twists and turns my head takes through the day,but my heart is strong and up for anything that gets thrown my way. I'm not a person that gets scared and runs, but I can see how some people can get to a place where they would re-consider this choice.All through this process I have had times where I have had to call upon some serious inner strength just to get to the next step and I now get just what it means to "Breath and Keep Going" ! ! ! To all of us that have found that inner strength and used it to take another step in the right direction..."CONGRATULATIONS!!" We can do this and we can do what it takes to get to the other side of it too. Keep breathing,keep walking the healthy path,keep up ALL the Good Work!!!

Thanks TijuanaPlication and Smillzee for the kind words. It was nice to find them here for me. All the best to you both as well! Had my proceedures and save for the polyp biopsy that was needed,all went well. Biopsy = benign.YAY! Got my surgery date... Feb 25th. Feels strange to have that date to look at on the calender; good but strange. Anyway,all else is good so far. Started the pre-op diet and upped all my supplements. Yummy...Not! I can see that already this has been a long journey and it's only just beginning. That's alright though,......I Can DO This! Blessings to everyone T

New here and just thought I would leave a word or two. Today I am well on my way in the process of getting my VSG. I have completed all nutrition and Phyc. and Dr. visits and have had all the pre-op tests save for the EGD and Colonoscopy that are happening tomorrow and an abdominal ultrasound that's being done on the 11th.(gonna get another look at this umbilical hernia I have. Already had an Cat-Scan.) Final Surgical consult is on for the 14th and then I guess I'm on the list after that. Was told that they are trying to work me in for sometime around the end of January or the First part of Feb. YAY! Excited,scared,anxious,happy.... Yeah,Got alot of emotions with it all, but for the most part I am well and pleased with all that's gone on so far and hopeful for all the rest that's coming. The plan is to come here on a regular basis and gather more info and support.So far everything I have seen has been encouraging.I'm thinkin' I'm gonna be glad I found this place.Best wishes to all that stop by here. May your journies bring you peace. :heart: