KellyL

oops, I must of cut off some of my list, I thought I also had YMMV = your mileage may vary on the list lol.

Thanks Rootman, and yes SF = sugar free is a must for the list, I could of swore I had that on there! I agree, this would be a good sticky. Felicia: RTD = ready to drink is a good one!! Hopefully others will think of more.

WOOHOOOO!! That's wonderful! Congrats!! :cheer2:

Wow, congrats!!! It sounds like you are happy but maybe in shock? lol I know you have a lot of questions, and I am sure your questions will be answered by those experienced with pregnancy and the Sleeve. I just wanted to congratulate you and wish you well.

Yes the drivers are crazy so be careful!! I left a day early so I didn't get to go shopping with the others, but Trish did take them to the area where you can shop and I know my sleeve sisters companions went to a mall to shop and also went to the movies. But I didn't venture very far from the hotel myself. Good luck to all of you that have surgery dates with Dr Kelly soon, he and Trish are truly wonderful.

:welcome: Hi, and welcome to the forum! Wow, you have accomplished so much, and done so well with your weight loss, congrats!!! Yes, I know what you mean, we always tend to think our weight is the root of all our problems, but when we lose weight, we find out that things are still difficult, we can still suffer from self-esteem problems, and losing weight doesn't magically make everything perfect. There are going to be struggles no matter what size we are. We still have difficult emotions to deal with, and it's a big change to find other ways to deal with these emotions and stress. You said it motivates you to go to the gym, and that's great, not only for helping with the weight loss and your stamina, but a great way to relieve stress. Your story is very inspiring, thanks for sharing. I hope you enjoy this forum as much as I do!

I'm glad it's getting better for you and the eggs are helping!! I am sure you were happy about finally getting to eat something instead of drinking fluids all the time too.

Flying back was no big deal for me at all. But I had an extremely easy, practically painless recovery. I didn't even have to take any pain meds, but Dr Kelly does send you home with some if you need them. I just sipped on water on the plane and in the car ride home from the airport, which was about a 2 hr drive/ride for me. I wasn't hungry or uncomfortable at all. Don't forget to check your bag on the way back, because you really don't need to try to lift anything. I used luggage on wheels also. Good luck!

I'm lost?? What part of your journey are you hating? The burping/belching? Sometimes burping is our sleeves new way of telling us it's had enough food and we should stop for now. Sometimes it's due to acid, are you on a PPI/acid reducer? And as far as hating the smell of whey protein or milk, then just don't worry about it and try to get your protein in from regular foods. Some people are lactose intolerant in the beginning. It may take a while to start getting in the minimum amt of protein, but some is much better than way too little. Maybe you're having the "buyers remorse" that some people talk about having in the first month or two? It's hard for me to grasp this, as I didn't have it at all, not one second of regret or remorse. But I know we're all different. It definitely takes a while to get adjusted to eating protein regularly and all, so I understand, and you are still fairly early out. It does indeed get easier, the further out you get. You kinda find things you can easily tolerate to eat, and you get in the routine of eating small amts of protein all thru the day. Your health problems sound like they have greatly improved, you're doing great on the weight loss, even though you view it just as a bonus. I can relate, as I has surgery to improve my health and mobility first, then looks/weight second. But I will not deny that looking better feels great and has improved my self esteem and confidence. I wasn't extremely unhappy with my weight either and had come to accept it til I felt I was becoming housebound and unable to do the simplest things without pain, such as shower, grocery shop, walk up my stairs in my home. I am an extremely slow loser (not any fault of my sleeve, i knew this going in) but the difference the Sleeve and the weight loss have made in my life is extremely positive. I am very happy with my new sleeve. I hope you can reach that point in your journey soon and start enjoying your life. You came to the right place to get a lot of advise, ideas, and support.

I started Biotin a few months before surgery, and it was helping then, because I had a lot of new growth coming in. I wanted to get a jump on things. Most vitamins I have been able to take ok, but I had to switch a couple of times on the multi, some gave me a queasy tummy. I prefer liquid softgels when I can get it in anything I have to take. I am using Nature Made Multi Complete with Iron Liquid Softgels.. It also has vitamin D3 in it. I got it at Walmart for a fairly reasonable price, it's probably available other places also.

VST = Vertical Sleeve Talk WLS = Weight loss surgery EWL = Excess Weight Loss-Percent of excess weight loss BS = Bariatric Surgery COE = Center of Excellence Onederland = When you get below 200 into 100's BMI = Body Mass Index TMI = too much information NSV = Non scale Victory SV = scale victory PPI = Proton Pump Inhibitor = acid reducer such as prilosec FF - fat free RF - reduced fat LC - Low Carb LF - low fat OP - on program OT - Off topic OWL - ongoing weight loss WOE - way of eating WOL- way of life BIL - Brother-in-law DB - dear/darn boyfriend DD - dear/darn daughter DH - dear/darn hubby DS - dear/darn son FIL - father-in-law HTH - hope this helps IMHO - in my humble opinion LMAO - laughing my *** off MIL - mother-in-law PITA - pain in the *** ROFLOL - rolling on the floor laughing out loud RU - Are you...? SIL - sister-in-law SO - significant other BF = Boyfriend GF = Girlfriend BFF = Best Friend Forever SS/DD= same sh*t, different day TIA - thanks in advance TOM - time of the month TTFN - ta-ta for now TTYL - Talk to you later WTG - way to go YKWIM? - You know what I mean? FYI = for your information MYOB = Mind your own business TGIF= Thank God It's Friday BTW = By the Way

:welcome: Hi Alex, welcome to the forum!!! Don't stress too much about the scales right now, just focus on getting your fluids in. You're gonna lose weight, don't worry. Good luck with the first op appt with your surgeon!!

I had a drain, and it was removed 48 hrs after surgery and right before release from the hospital. It didn't bother me much and didn't hurt at all to be removed. Not all surgeons use a drain.

I know all of us are different, but I had no nausea or throwing up at all. In my research I found that it happens sometimes immediately post op, but I don't think 11 days out or especially 3 wks out is normal. It's very difficult to stay hydrated without nausea and throwing up, so please take care to keep your Dr's involved and get IV fluids if needed. Anti-nausea meds help some people, but I'd also get on a PPI/acid reducer if you're not already on one. Good luck to you and I hope things get better for you soon!

Congrats on reaching a normal BMI and you look terrific!!

Wow, you have done an amazing job, congrats on your success!! Love the pics, and what a compliment that your surgeons office had you do a photo shoot!! You are beautiful and your pics are very inspiring! Thanks for sharing.

You look wonderful, congrats on your weight loss success AND to feeling more comfortable being photographed. I'm like that too. Happy Anniversary!!

I love the pics Tif, you do look radiant and beautiful. :preggers: A little over a wk and Tatum will be here, how exciting!! Congrats!

Group Hug!! Don't stress, you're family loves you despite their disapproval of the surgery or MX. It's just because they haven't done the same research you have. We're here for you! :grouphug: :welldoneclap: :party4:

Awesome video!! Wow, congrats on reaching your 100 lb goal, you look fabulous!! Thanks for the inspiration and sharing the video.

Wow, the pics are great and definitely show your transformation. You have done an absolute fantastic job and your after pics you can't even tell you ever even thought about having weight issues. You look so healthy, happy, and confident!!! Congrats to you, and thanks for sharing your experience. You may not be at goal, but you certainly can't tell it by looking at you!! Beautiful smile too. Congrats to you AND your hubby and how wonderful that y'all are on this journey together and you both have the Sleeve. That's awesome! Thanks for sharing the pics, truly inspiring!

Hi Yecats, It's not like a diet to me at all, but like you said, we are all different. I have seen a couple of people complain that it feels like a diet to them. In the sense that you need to track your protein to make sure you get in the minimum, and keep up with your water/fluids to make sure you get it all in, then I guess that part could seem like a diet to some. Especially if they didn't read/research a long time before making their decision to have surgery. Because it doesn't take a lot of reading/researching on these forums to realize that there are many lifestyle changes and the sleeve is just a tool. We are still responsible for making the right choices, tracking to make sure we get the correct nutrition, and even though the tool does most of the work for us on the portion control part of things, a lot of us do restrict carbs. I've seen some people say they don't really restrict the carbs, but some of us who have had Type 2 diabetes or insulin resistance still have to watch those things to lose any amount of weight. Another thing is the exercise. There are a few who say they lost weight and got to goal with little to no exercise, but in general, most people do have to form a habit of some kind of exercise into their lives to really kick in the weight loss, and help get them to their goal quicker, and even maintain their weight loss. But on the will power part, things are much easier for me on that and feeling more in control where food is concerned. I am not ravenously hungry all the time and want to eat only certain things that I crave. And with the sleeve, no I've never been full but still be hungry. You are completely satisfied after eating a tiny amount. It's not like a diet, where you only get to eat certain things and small amounts, but you feel like you're still hungry or deprived. Now, I am not hungry a lot but I eat because I know i have to fuel my body and keep my protein up. I won't say that things don't look or smell good or that I don't ever want things I shouldn't have, I still choose not to bring things into my house because it still makes it easier if things aren't so convenient. So if it's not in my house, I don't really think about it or want it.. Generally I actually want and have the taste for the proteins that I know I am suppose to eat. I have taken 1 bite of a dessert to taste once or twice, but was completely satisfied with just that one bite. I didn't have the desire to have a whole piece of pie/cake or whatever. Having said all this, I feel I was pretty well prepared for the lifestyle changes. I had been researching and reading for 7 yrs and knew I wanted surgery so I saw people post constantly about tracking foods, having to restrict carbs, so none of the changes were a shock to me. I have not yet for one second regretted my decision to get the Sleeve. A lot of people have buyers remorse sometimes immediately post op or for the first month or so, and I understand why. Cause no matter how prepared and how happy you are to be sleeved, it is STILL a big adjustment to your eating and lifestyle, because it isn't just changing how or what you eat. It completely changes your relation with food, and changes your familys relationship with eating and socializing and a lot of family activities that may have revolved around food, can't happen as much, or as easy. You just always have to keep in mind what you're eating or snacking on everyday, plan it, take stuff with you everywhere you go so you don't get stuck in a situation where you have nothing good for you to eat. So it still is kinda like your life still revolves around food to a certain extent, but only because you are planning, preparing, tracking healthier food instead of like before where our lives might of revolved around food cuz we were always hungry, craving, planning on eating out, etc. It's just we're trying to become healthier now and get skinny rather than be out of control and keep getting fatter and our self esteem suffering, our health suffering etc. The thing for me was, I had been diagnosed Type 2 Diabetic(this was AFTER I started researching WLS too), and I knew if I didn't do this, my health would only get worse and I would die from some form of obesity related disease. So I did it more for the health benefits than anything. Type 2 Diabetes was the final deciding factor that I finally put my foot down and said, come hell or high water, without insurance, despite money struggles, I AM going to have this surgery, even if it's self pay in MX, despite how others felt about it. I had researched enough that I was completely comfortable with it and and had learned thru research that the Drs had done a lot more Sleeves anyway. I was more afraid to NOT have the surgery than to have it, if that makes sense. Oh, and I know I have mentioned a couple of times about all my research, but I read about hair loss, stalls, and all the things that freak us out post-op. And even though I KNEW those things were common and would most probably or likely happen to me, It is STILL difficult to go thru these things when it's happening to you. I still freak out about both even though my hair loss really only got bad for a wk, my hair was already thinning before. And I'm afraid it's not over and I'll still have more fall out. And the stalls, I swore I would not let get to me and I wasn't going to stress or whine about it everyday on the forum lol. Well I may not have started topics on it, but yes the stalls bother me, really bad. I am like many people that I think, omg, am I gonna be the only person that this surgery doesn't work for? I know it's not a good idea to compare my weight loss to anyone elses, but it's really hard NOT to. But I know I'm not finished losing weight. I know I am much healthier and will continue to improve even more. And I am VERY happy with my sleeve and the choice to have it, because I have NEVER lost this much weight in this amount of time or kept it off. It's changed my life for the better in so many ways, and I am excited and looking forward to more improvements and changes. As someone else said, it's natural to worry about having surgery, and it's also natural to worry about post-op life. But most peoples biggest regret is not having it sooner, whether it was because it's only been offered for a few yrs, or they couldn't make up their mind, or because insurance wouldn't cover it. And even most of the people that have a rough start or complications, still say they don't regret it and would do it all over again, even with the complications. Good luck to you and I'm sorry I got long winded!! haha And I hope I didn't miss a question. Shoot me a msg if anything I said was confusing or didn't make sense.

I love the buffalo chicken too, I use chicken (sometimes chicken breasts, rotisserie chicken, or sometimes canned) and add the hot sauce/wing sauce, plain greek yogurt, and a little bleu cheese dressing. I also love rotisserie chicken or smoked chicken with hidden valley ranch dip mix made with greek yogurt or the hidden valley ranch fiesta dip mix.

I am so sorry to hear of your complications and all that you've been through. I am glad you are receiving the care and treatment you desperately needed, and sending you prayers and positive healing vibes and hoping you are on the mend. You are a very strong person for all that you've been thru! Please keep us updated!