KellyL

:welcome: Hi and welcome to the forum! You're already doing great! Congrats on the weight loss and your decision to have wls. It's all very exciting!

While most of us will think of your roommate as bitchy, jealous, and unsupportive, she is correct. It depends on how she said it I guess. But at any rate, it is a good idea to look into therapy, a support group, or just some soul searching and self realization if you can't do therapy for insurance or $ reasons. Do some reading on self esteem and self worth. You can find a lot online. But this journey is definitely an emotional, mental, and physical one. I am hoping by working on all of it, that it will decrease my chances of weight regain later.

Yes i can totally relate! I don't feel on the inside, the way I look on the outside. A thin person trapped in the wrong fat body. I also feel younger and even act younger than my age. It's strange!

I have slight hunger if i go a long time before eating but it's completely different than before surgery. I know acid reducers have already been discussed but sometimes one kind doesn't work and when the person changes meds it helps. I have seen others say nexium doesn't work as well. I have nexium and prilosec. I ran out of the prilosec once and used the nexium and it did not help as much. I had more stomach rumblings. So i got more prilosec and it worked better for me. It might make a difference on when you take it or if you take it on an empty stomach. I did take 2 before bedtime to protect my stomach during the night when it gets empty but now that I am out this far I am going to try just 1 and see if it's enough. It might be worth it to try the prilosec just to see if it's better for you. I would absolutely hate feeling hungry all the time! Good luck sweetie!

Will do!! Please update us when you're able!

Lol!!! It is a fairly small tube coming out of an incision in your tummy and hangs down. It has a little bulb thingy that collects fluid from around your sleeve. They measure and collect this off and on. Its not that heavy. It sounds way worse than it actually is!

No cath but yes on the drain. It didn't hurt me at all when he removed the drain. I was surprised cuz I was expecting it to a little. He told me to take a deep breath, hold it, and it was out!! After that, the slight soreness (feels like i did a bunch of sit ups) was gone too! Dr Kelly really is great!

Good to hear from you!! Thanks for the update and I'm glad you went in. Hopefully this will turn it around for you and you'll feel better!! I'll be sending you healing energy!!

:welcome: Hi, congrats on being sleeved!! It's wonderful that you had an easy recovery. This forum really is so helpful, glad you joined in!

Glad everything went well, congrats!!

Sorry to hear this, I'm surprised it happened this far out. I hope it clears up quickly for you!

You probably still have a lot of swelling, so go easy with smaller sips. It shouldn't be permanent, everyone is different on when the swelling goes away. Also you need to wait 30-45 mins after you eat before you drink anything. Unless it is just a tiny sip or 2 to wash something down if you feel like you're choking.

I add the Fage greek yogurt to just about everything, using it like sour cream. I also add hidden valley ranch dey mix to it then use it as a dip for meat.

You sound dehydrated, please go to the ER and get fluids via IV. While there if possible go ahead and see if they will do a leak test just to rule it out. It may just still be swelling, but just to be on the safe side. I am really hoping you feel much better soon!!

Good luck to everyone!! Having sleeve sisters there is awesome! Griselda, meepmeep17, and I were all there at the same time and it was so great meeting them and hanging out. If you're unable to find anyone however, you are in great hands and they'll take good care of you. Keep us posted!

There are a lot of people who do not focus on the scales as a measurement of their success with the sleeve. It depends on a lot of things like which dr and program you use, on whether they make you come in for weighing and how often. Of course the first thing they do to qualify you for surgery is weigh you to see what your BMI is, because the insurance companies go by this to verify that it's medically necessary. There are other ways of knowing whether or not it's working, such as measurements or clothes size, how you feel, improved mobility, your blood glucose number, your blood pressure, whether or not you can fit in a booth at a restaurant, whether your fibromylagia is improved, etc. Scales are ok for most, but you are not alone in not liking or wanting the scale to define you. I have experienced and read here where many others get too caught up on weighing. It can affect your mood, self-worth, self-esteem if it isn't constantly moving downward. And "stalls" are a huge topic of interest on the weight loss boards. A lot of times they aren't even true stalls, it's just our body's way of losing weight. It's hard to do, but it is best to just not weigh, or that often, because we all normally have a lot of weight to lose and it's gonna take some time, and we all lose so differently. People who have 200 lbs to lose normally lose a really big amt of weight in the first 3-6 months, then someone who has 70-80 lbs sees this persons loss and can't understand why they've only lost 30-40 lbs in that same time. We just don't need to compare ourselves. Anyway, i commend you for your therapy and the success you've had with IE. Self-acceptance is so important, no matter what we look like or what we weigh. I had come to terms with my weight too and decided I was meant to be fat. I was diagnosed with diabetes, Fibromyalgia, IBS. I was tired all the time and having extreme mobility issues. Obesity was contributing to all my problems. I was tired of my weight holdinng me back from so much, and it was holding my family back too. Everything had to be planned around me and my issues. It was time for me to take control of my life and health. I had been researching wls for yrs. There were many roadblocks to overcome, 3 different ins companies I had excluded wls, I tried to look into self pay but again, had problems funding the surgery. Finally, things came together and I was able to have surgery 5/16. My diabetes is gone already, or in remission. I haven't had a flare up of my Fibro. I am already feeling so much better mentally and physically. I have more confidence. I wish you luck in your research. It's not an easy decision and one to not take lightly. It has to feel 100% right for you, but scales shouldn't define you, nor should you let them deter you from a proccedure that can change your life in so many wonderful, positive ways.

Way to go on taking the first steps to a better life for you and your family!! Fear is part of the process, you'd be abnormal if you didn't have anxiety! But when all is said and done, and you weigh the pros and cons, the sleeve will win everytime. The pre-op liquid diet will be rough, but you can do it!! Lean on us for support cuz we've all been there, and we are here to support you!! Keep your eye on the prize my friend, you're gonna do great!!

I would tell her lets do a little survey: lets compare my weight loss success with your other overweight customers who don't have surgery and see who meets their goal. She's probably worried that people will be successful and stop coming to Curves because they lose the weight with the surgery and don't need it cuz they are busy and active in their life and having fun!! Don't worry, ignorance is all around us! That was seriously unprofessional of her. She works at Curves and suddenly she's an expert at weight loss. Haha. Funny! How dare she advise you against a medical procedure that even medical drs know we need to be healthier and cure or prevent diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, etc. She's full of herself!

Wow you look fantastic!! :cheer2:

I am not crazy about protein shakes, but the atkins vanilla ready to drink was not too sweet or too strong of a protein flavor. They are great to grab out of the fridge if you don't have time to prepare or eat before you leave to go somewhere. I hope things get easier for soon!

Omg, that's crazy and scary!

Sounds great to have as an on the go snack to keep in your handbag or even a snack to take to the movies. thanks for sharing!

Yes it's a normal stage most of us go thru. Update us soon!

Don't forget to also used the bored, eyes glazed over stare as you repeat how lovely, how great lol!!! I also do a lot of subject changing around people like that. Good luck!

You look great! Congrats!