Caradina

Please ignore. Wonky double post on the mobile app.

LOL I've been hitting my E-cig here and there. It doesn't harm the lungs at all, but it gives nicotine.... uh oh... LOL

I'm not an addict, but my body gets physicaly addicted to opiates like WOAH, almost immediately. I plan to avoid any narcotics after the surgery. If they give me Morphene (likely) I'll just have to deal with the withdrawl symptoms for a week or so. I know some do well on Tramadol, which is a non narcotic. I'm not an addict, but my body gets physicaly addicted to opiates like WOAH, almost immediately. I plan to avoid any narcotics after the surgery. If they give me Morphene (likely) I'll just have to deal with the withdrawl symptoms for a week or so. I know some do well on Tramadol, which is a non narcotic.

My pre-op diet is no carbs or sugars, but I was told to eat meat. I can have eggs, cheese, meat, green veggies... It's not liquid at all. So weird how different all of the different doctors are in requirements.

My doctor requires a 2 week pre op diet to shrink the liver. It is not a liquid diet. The requirements are basically no sugar, and less than 30 carbs daily. He said to eat mostly lean protein, like the Atkins diet. I'm followign it religiously... and I'm gaining! Fast! I also am constantly hungry and have constant heartburn from all the meat and eggs. I'm also exhausted and retaining water like mad. Ideas? I'm tempted to just drink protein shakes and nothing else until I go next week, because this diet is making me feel horrible.

I'm so excited/nervous/scared!! I'm headed out Thursday morning to fly to San Diego. From there, I go straight to INT Hospital for surgery later that same day. I'm seeing Dr. Rodriguez through Belite. I am 33, starting weight 267, though down to 258 on pre op diet..... Goal is 150. I'll update when I have more to tell! I'm hoping my experience in Tjuanna is as good as the many I have read. I'm traveling alone, so the most disturbing thing about all of this is dealing with the airport. I hate crowds and flying...

I'm thinking that the wheelchair is for sure a go. I'm packing so light, it's not going to be an issue. Bare bones minimum, clotghes to wear home, and one set of PJs. My Kindle and my phone, and their s=chargers. I didn't want to have to deal with a bunch of stuff. I also got aisle seats for the ride home so hopefully that will help.

My research shows it at about 50/50. The reason is that if there is a leak, the stomach may be too swollen to show it until later on. It's just a doctors preference.

Great point about wheelchair... I may just do that. I just saw your post too! Good luck and yay for both of us!

I'm getting sleeved in 2 days, and I am 33. I wish to all the gods that have ever been worshipped that I could have had this surgery at 20, and saved myself the last 13 years of struggle, diets, tears, health issues, missing out, feeling out of place, self loathing, and missed fashion opportunities. I wish my 33 year old skin were 20 year old skin so it would bounce back so much faster. I wish my relationships haven;t always been strained by my horrible body image, and many many health concerns. I'm doing this now, so that the rest of my life will be free. You should do it now, if you're mentally ready, so that you have a long life of health and freedom.

Hello Ladies! I'm looking for a sound off from ladies who had had a total hysterectomy BEFORE VSG, and who were on HRT. I'm only 33, but I lost all of my reproductive system this last summer due to aggressive cysts. I've had all sorts of hell trying to get a hormone replacement that worked and didn;t make me horribly ill. I finally found something that (mostly) works, but it's a tenuous success. It's also a low dose birth control pill. I've read that women sometimes have trouble with the pill after, and that terrifys me, because I've tried Patches and shots for HRT, and they all made me miserable. Has anyone successfully stayed on their HRT regimine after losing ther weight? I know that they say that the less fat you have, the more estrogen you need, because the fat stores it. (Which worries me too, because as my fat start\s melting away and releasing stuff, is it going to mess me up?) Please sound off if you have any expereinces even remotely related to this. I'm really scared about it. I'm a BEAST when my hormones are out of whack and my poor DH doesn't deserve another round of that!

I'm headed to Tjuana to see Dr. Rodriguez this week, Thursday! From all of my research, the staples won't rust, so that's not a worry. The stomach eventually heals over the staple line anyway, so there isn't really a "bursting" risk, unless you overeat to the point of insanity, and then you'll probably puke first. I chost Dr. Rod because he works out of a real hospital, that I will be in until I leave. The coordinators at Belite have been so far very communicative, prompt, professional, and downright cheerful, even talking with me on a Sunday so that i could nab a last minute great flight deal. I have no complaints so far. I plan to do a full update on things when I get home on Sunday, so stay posted! I'm so excited!

Coops - Are you on both estrogen and progesterone? If so, it may be part of your issue. I had about 3 months of no ovaries but still having a uterus. It was HELL! The progesterone made me insane, and I spotted constantly the whole time. I also packed on weight. They eventually opted to remove my uterus because I couldn't tolerate it, ad it's not safe to do just estrogen when you have a uterus. So long story short, your HRT could very well be causing your issues. Also to think about: Do you have fibroids? Fibroids can feed on HRT, and grow like the dickens. So you may be losing, but gaining fibroaids, Fluid and other unpleasant lady things that are causing the scale to not budge. Isn't being a woman fun?? LOL

Knee high boots that have no stretch panels, lacing, or stratchy material. Leather!

Sorry you're in the same boat as me, but I'm relieved that i;m not the only one gaining on this diet. I think in my case it might just be a TON of fluid. I feel like even my face is swollen. Ugh. I only have to deal with this for 6 more days.....

Oh I hear you. I'm just so tired of being exhausted and achy from being so overweight. I'm tired of never looking good and feeling uncomfortable when I realize that I am larger than anyone else at a party - even the men! I'm tired of watching and feeling my health slowly failing as I gain and gain and gain... in spite of trying to diet. I'm sick of being constantly hungry and never ebing satisfyed by a normal serving. I'm sick of spending half of my salary on medications..... I'm leaving all of that behind too. I'm going to keep that in mind while I pick at my meal and watch others eat and while I sip water while my boyfriend drinks his beer. It's worth it. The mountain that we're leaving behind is immense compared to the few positives we will lose.

I'm headed to Tjuana alone next week. I'm going through beliteweight.com with Dr. Rodriguez. So far, Belite has been awesome! I'm hoping the trip lives up to its reputation, because if it does, I'm in for better care than I'm used to here in Detroit for sure.

I'm going in on March 22... I'll be thinking about you on the 20th! We can do this!

You look how I want to look... that is to say... amazing! I would say you don;t need to lose more, just concentrate on toning.

I'm in Michigan, near Detroit. I'm keeping my mouth pretty shut besides on this board, so it's become my funnel for my nervous energy. I've been unable to share with most of my friends and family because they will not react well if they know that I'm going to Mexico and self paying for the surgery. (No insurance.. there is no such thing as a steady job here right now...) I'm very excited about Mexico and I'm confident that the care level is going to be fine, if not better than some of the horrible experiences I've had here in Detroit. Everyone I've talked to about it just freaks out though. I decided that the negativity is bad for me, so I'm just keeping it to myself for now and when the weight starts to drop off and people aske me, I will tell them about my wonderful Mexican adventure. LOL

I'm still pre op, going next week. I'm very paranoid about this too though so I am making sure my skin is in top shape going in, and I have compiled a few things I did in the past when I lost around 50 lbs (half my goal) and had NO skin issues. My theory is that if I can get through half way without issues in the past, I might be able to have minimal issues at goal... Hopefully. ..I mean, my chest will probably still deflate and be horrible, but one plastic surgery I can do... not 4. So here are my ideas: 1. Water, lots of it. Hydration helps the skin immensely. 2. Firming lotion. I use either Nivea or Mary Kay's Target Zone. They both work amazingly well, and smell good. They are both equally expensive, but worth it. I put it everywhere after a shower, and on the trouble zones again at night. 3. Dry brushing. I brush my skin with a dry skin brush every night before bed and every morning before my shower. The idea is to brust with firm strokes from the feet up to the ribs, in circles on the stomach, and then from the hands in, all going toward the heart. I find it keeps my mild eczema at bay, and makes my skin feel like glass. It has helped some of the bumpiness on my thighs so far... but I haven;t started to lose so its hard to say if it's going to do much. It feels amazing though, and several people have said they had success with it. So there it is, my crazy skin plan. LOL

I'm right there with you, but I go a week from tomorrow! I'm so incredibly ready to be free from this prison of a body though. I was almost a normal BMI for 6 magical months after a massive weight loss before my weight skyrocketed back up. Moving was like a gift. I just hang onto how good it felt to dance, hike, and all sorts of other things at that weight. Then I realize that the weight I was is about halfway to my goal. Find your thing, your wonderful thing that you want. Either you want it back, or you never had it but you want it... and then realize that no matter how scared you are, this is the road to getting that thing. It really helps. I will say that I have never experienced so many conflicting emotions at once as I have in the last few weeks as I started this process. It's getting worse by the day. I can't wait to get it done and join the Losers Bench!

I use Ebay alot. I've had good luck there. I've even sold some of my nicer things for more used than they were new! Go figure, it's confusing. I recommend lots by type and size. ( 10 pair pants, size 16...) It'll eliminate the having 60 auctions thing. I only Ebay clothing that was of good quality to begin with and which is near new, but I've even sold bras this way!

I rough camp, monthly, starting in April and going until October! My first year, sleeved, "in the woods" will be interesting.... I plan to just bring what I know I can eat, that way I always have things, and if I can partake in group meals, I will.

Excederin is literally the only thing that knocks out my headaches. I'm really hoping they aren't lost to me. I'm not sure what I would do!