mysunflower621

Hi Everyone, I just joined VST and I'm looking to gain some support, make some friends and also gain some input on your experiences with the sleeve! I'm 44 and I'm sick and tired of this weight up and down yo-yo I've been on for close to 30 yrs. I've been blessed with 3 beautiful children and a hubby who loves me just the way I am... problem is I don't love me just the way I am. I'm so upset with how I look its almost an embarrassment for me to be anywhere but home, but unfortunately, that isn't an option for me, so I'm just beyond self conscious. I was originally going to get the lap band and after fighting with the insurance company, I finally got approved 2 weeks ago, however after serious consideration, I decided that wasn't for me. I have PCOS, Insulin Resistance (and totaly inability to lose and maintain any weight loss as a result of the IR), high bp, high cholesterol and overall hatred for how I look. I've gone up and down since I was a teenager, but now it's become impossible to keep the weight off. After talking with my surgeon he introduced me to the sleeve and agreed lap band was not going to be as effective for me. Now of course, I have to get my approval changed to the sleeve, but that is ok, I have time. I'm traveling very heavily between now and Nov 10th both personal and work, so we decided it was best to wait as I can't really be traveling across the country and just have had this procedure done. Waiting is both good and bad for me. I want to lose the weight NOW... but I've fought it for 30 years, what is 3 more months in the grand scheme of things? I'd love to hear from folks who just had it done and your experience with it so far. I want to know everything you care to share with me! How was the pain after surgery? How long did it take? How long until you felt good and were up and mobile? What is the one thing you weren't prepared for or expected? Any complications?? I'm always a "needs to know" kind of person! I'm also scared of cutting 1/2 of my stomach off... doesn't seem natural, but I know it's the best thing to do if I want to lose this weight.... For those of you who are a few years out, how are you doing? How do you feel? Any regrets? Any long term effects or problems you are now experiencing? This is permanent, so I want to hear it all! I've spoken with a lot of people who wish they never had the band, so I wonder how folks feel about the sleeve. The band can be removed, the sleeve can't! I also know a close friend who had the by-pass and one who had the band. Those aren't for me. Anyone who has PCOS who has had the sleeve, please please share your expereinces as well and let me know if it's helped to maintain the weight loss and with the Insulin Resistance. Thank you so much for anything you are willing to share with me! I'm scared to death, but know I need to do this. Now the wait until Nov begins! Karen

Hi! Just wondering if anyone has had any experience with Dr. Michael Nusbaum in Morristown/Livingston NJ? He is who I plan on using and so far his entire office staff and Dr. Nusbaum have been very nice, patient and accommodating. He hasn't rushed me out of his office to see someone else and they take the time to talk and answer your questions and concerns. Has anyone had their surgery done by Dr. Nusbaum? I'm looking to just gain some other insight and perspectives from folks who have had him perform their surgeries. Any problems before, during or after? Thanks! Karen

Hi Everyone! It's been a while since I posted but today is my 1 year anniversary of my surgery! It's so hard to believe that a year has gone by already but wow what a year it has been! I can honestly say this has been the best decision I've ever made for myself in my entire life. I have absolutely no regrets. This morning I woke up and just went wow, what a difference a year can make! I can honestly say it's been a year of transformation, a year of learning and discovery and a year of reflection. One year ago today, I weight in at 219.5 lbs at just about 5'2 (if I stretch!) and I was wearing a size 18 pant and a 1x or 2x in tops and sweaters. I hated absolutely everything about myself, I felt there were no good redeeming qualities about me at all. When I would have to get dressed each morning, I'd agonize over what to wear, staring in the closet aimlessly, knowing nothing I put on would look good. I would change my outfit at least a dozen times if we were going out or had company coming over because to me, nothing ever looked right and I didn't want people to talk. I was taking blood pressure medications, asthma medications and high cholesterol medications at the time of my surgery. I was embarrassed for my family to have to be seen with me, I apologized to my husband all the time because he had to admit and tell people I was his wife. To his credit, he has always loved me just the way I am and there was never a day that went by that he did not tell me I was beautiful and how much he loved me... I just never believed him.... I couldn't, this was not loveable.. I was disgusting in my eyes, I was not worthy of being loved and definitely not beautiful! Today.. one year later, I am happy to say that I am now a new person, mentally and physically. I now 142 lbs only 9 pounds away from goal, I have lost 77 lbs and I am wearing a size 4 in pants and a small or medium in shirts or sweaters. I can fit in my 13 yr old daughter's clothes!!! I am not embarassed to be seen anymore and I don't apologize to my husband for having to be seen with me either. I have had so many compliments about how I look and how much I lost that I have actually learned to say "thank you", which has taken me a whole year for me to beleive that I could say Thank you and not insult myself in the process. I feel great and I'm so happy with where I am today. I am off of the blood pressure medications and most of the asthma meds. We are working on the cholesterol as well (hereditary) but my numbers are improving! I am also thankful to have made a great friend that I met through this forum and we helped each other through this journey together, supporting each other the entire time. I have a close friend who is scheduled to have surgery next month and I have supported 2 co-workers as they went through their surgery as well! I am learning to say I CAN instead of I Can't, Thank you instead of insulting myself to others and have started to believe that Yes, I am worth being loved as I am a good person inside and out. It's been such an amazing journey that isn't over yet and will continue for the rest of my olife, but gosh, looking back today and thinking of standing on that scale a year ago to now, it just blows my mind. I do not miss the foods I personally have chosen to give up forever and I have found other options and choices that work for me. When I think back to what I would have said to myself a year ago, I probably would have said, hold on, you are in for the transformation of your life, it will be hard at times but so worth it in the end! I have so much to be thankful for as we approach the holidays this year but most of all I'm thankful for the unconditional love and support I've had from my family and friends. I'm also thankful for the opportunties I was given to have this life changing and probably saving surgery and for all of you on this forum who have helped and guided me along the way with your encouragement, support and answers to my millions of questions! For those of you considering or about to have surgery I wish you all the best for this is truly a life changing experience and one I will never regret. Karen

Hi! I've got a question for those of you who have had the endoscopy done before surgery. I am having the endoscopy procedure done on Wednesday and I was told by my doc office that I could either be put under or be away with a numbing spray. Since I'm driving myself and have to go to work after I said I'd do the numbing spray. Now several people that I've chatted with are saying it really needs to be done while you are under. So, here I sit, 3 days before the procedure and I'm scared and not sure what to do. My husband can't drive me because he has to get our kids on the bus and like I said, I'm supposed to go right to work afterwards. I plan to call the doc office tomorrow, but has anyone else done this with just the numbing spray? What can I expect? I've never had this done before and I'm a little scared. Thanks!!!

How is everyone doing?? I was sleeved 11/15 and have lost 58 lbs so far, but have hit a stall for the last month or so, losing and gaining the same 2 lbs. It's so frustrating. I've joined a gym, I hired a personal trainer about 2.5 weeks ago and still NOTHING.. I don't understand.. WHen I dieted before I always got to this point and never was able to lose any more and it seems as soon as I started exercising the weight loss stopped and here we go again. Granted I have PCOS so that doesn't help matters but still! I always get between 165-157 and stop losing and here I am at 162 and NOTHING for a month. So frustrated.. I still have 37 lbs to go (but the doc says no more than another 25-30 but I don't agree)... I'm thrilled that I've lost 58 lbs so far, but gosh, I was hoping to be much much further along by now, I had been losing about 10 lbs per month until May hit! I'm not over eating, I get in my Protein and Water for the day, haven't cheated at all... UGH! LOL Hope you are all doing well!

I'm right there with everyone too! I was sleeved 11/15 and lost about 10 lbs per month consistently until now, I've been stalled for a month and I go up and down the same 2 lbs. I wasn't exercising much besides walking and had just started to up the anty and walked 40 miles in one week and lost NOTHING. Now I joined the gym 2 weeks ago, I'm taking classes and hired a personal trainer 2x per week and you know what? STILL NOTHING!! I"m so frustrated and I have lost 58 lbs but still have another 37 lbs to go to my goal weight (although the doctors don't want me to lose more than another 25-30 tops.. um NO)..but I'm afriad that I won't lose anymore.. Whenever I was on a diet I'd do fine until I started to exercise, then I'd stall and that was it.. I was never able to lose anymore and funny but I always stalled between 165-157 lbs and here I am at 162...stalled. I do have PCOS which doesn't help but still , I'm so frustrated. I don't eat a lot at all but get in what I need to protein and water wise most days. I just don't get it and certainly hope I'm not going to remain stuck here, I'm doing all I can to kick start it.

Wow you guys are doing great! I still feel like a failure on this you guys are the same as me. I was 219.5 day of surgery and I'm 5'1 1/2 or 5'2 depending on who measures me... today I'm only 172... I'm so frustrated it's not even funny. I do everything I'm supposed to... ugh.. my goal is still another 47 lbs away, I feel like I'm never going to get there...

Hi Everyone! Gosh I feel like a surgery failure!! I'm only down 47 lbs since my surgery on 11/15 and I have followed EVERYTHING to the letter. Not one deviation, not one miss on anything. It's so frustrating. I've been consistently losing, but it's a pound this week, half a pound another week etc... I'm so frustrated with it all to be honest! I see everyone losing massive amounts of weight and here I am plugging along I don't feel like I'm ever going to make goal. All doc says is yeah, it's slow but thats ok... UM no, it's not ok.. I lost faster with Medifast 2 years ago! By the 4 month mark I was down over 55 lbs! Oh well, I guess better down then up right? Does anyone else notice that the way they are losing is weird? I have lost all the inches/weight in my legs, butt and upper body, but my waist is still not losing as fast so it makes buying/wearing pants a challenge. this has never happened to me before, I've always lost equally. SO, while I can get into a size 12 petite slacks/jeans, they fit great everywhere, but are snug in the waist. If I wear the 14s I look like I'm in clown pants they are soooo huge on me, but the waist though loose still is managable. It's crazy. Never had this happen before. A friend of mine who had the surgery (and is now a size 4 grr... LOL but she was only 140 when she had the revision so I can't compare) said her friends are having the same thing happening with their losses. Weird! LOL

I can't say the pain was bad at all. I had pain meds in the hospital, but it was because they were giving them to me, not because I asked for them. I went home the next day and never took any pain meds again. It's really quite tolerable. Some soreness, but nothing awful. Granted, everyone is different, but they will give you pain meds to take home if you have a lot of pain. Just remember and I know a lot of folks will agree, it literally does get better every single day! Good luck! It's probably the best thing I've ever done for myself.

Hi Gyn1120 and Cyndra321: I'm also in NJ and had my surgery on 11/15. Happy to connect with anyone looking to share stories and for support!

I ordered some very low carb/sugar/fat free soft serve that I make at home in an ice cream maker. It's quite yummy and I don't feel guilty having it. I ordered it here: http://healthsmartfoods.com/healthier-soft-serve.html

Oh how sweet! There is nothing better than a puppy to cuddle with! Best of luck with him/her.

It's natural to be scared, I was crying on my husbands shoulder minutes before they took me in for the surgery.. all out of fear and the unknown. I had my surgery in November and I think it's the best decision I could have made for myself. I tried all the diets, I lost the weight, regained the weight plus more so many times I lost count. In the end, for me, I realized that all my reasons for wanting the surgery (not all that dissimilar from yours) far outweighed all the reasons that made me doubt getting the surgery. You have to decide what is more important to you... drinking 7 or 8 beers with your friends and eating huge portions of steak with wine, or being here for your children and family, not dying young and not getting the diseases you mentioned that plagued your family. If you stay as heavy as you are, you know the answers to all those questions.. you know what could happen... Is all that worth the 7 or 8 beers or huge portions? Only you can decide that. Yes, there is a risk with surgery and anyone going through this has to be aware of that and complications do happen, it's true... but which is more riskier? Again, only you can decide that with your family and doctor and determine what is best for you. You will still be able to go out and instead of 8 beers, maybe you have 1 beer, but I wouldn't recommend that, it makes you gain weight.. instead of a huge steak, you will eat some and get to save some for later or another day... just think you will get 2 or 3 meals out of one! All things in moderation and you will learn how to still enjoy all the same things, just on a smaller scale. Bigger does not always mean better. I've been lucky, my surgery went well and I felt good. I had no real issues other than a muscle soreness. I haven't had any issues eating smaller portions and I actually do not feel hungry at all. I have to remind myself to eat sometime and as you start out slowly, eventually those cravings will go away and by the time you are eating regular foods again (about 3 weeks out) you will not be thinking about those huge portions.. they may actually disgust you. I found that things I enjoyed before, just totally repluse me now I wouldn't want to eat that if I could! Hang in there, I bet you are doing the right thing for your health. You will have a whole new life. Again, only you can make the right decision for what's best for you and your family! Good luck!

I had one too and it was extremely painful for about 8-9 weeks. Sometimes it was even hard to walk, sit, bend, twist, get up..moving in general was excruciating and it would come and go and I had no clue what would trigger it, even the skin in the area was extremely sensitive, I couldn't put any clothing on that area that wasn't super loose. To me, it was stabbing and felt more like a muscle tear. CT and MRI scans were negative so the doc thought it was very deep. He pressed extremely hard on the area one day when it was very tender over and over again and that is when he said it was a hematoma. It was so sore for over a week but now, knock on wood, it seems to have gone away... THANK GOD! I'm not sure if all of his pressing on it made it break up and asorb or what but it seems to be ok right now. Good luck, hope it clears up soon for you!

While you should always contact your doctor if you are having a strange pain and worried about leaks, but I will tell you my experience. I too had a pain on my left side that was stabbing and went between the center and left incision. Every time I moved or twisted in the wrong direction, OMG.. the skin even became sensitive and I couldn't have anything around my waiste. It was on an off and when it was on, OMG I could barely move. Turns out, they believe it was a Rectus Muscle Hematoma which can happen due to the meds they give you to prevent blood clots. Now, mine lasted quite a long time.. about 8-9 weeks, but that does not mean this is what you have. I'm just telling you my experience. The CT Scan and the MRI showed nothing but the doc felt a small lump that he said was the hematoma. He pressed on it so hard omg, he really hurt me.. it was almost sadistic and I was begging him to stop.. HOWEVER, I think he broke it up because that week it was the worst pain ever after he did that, but since then, almost a month now, the pain is pretty much gone. It's much better now (knock on wood). Always consult your doctor!! Let us know how you are doing.

Good luck! You're on your way to a new you! God's blessings, you will be fine!

Glad to hear all went well!! The gas will subside after about a week or so, Gax Ex strips are a wonderful thing, if you don't have them, I recommend you get some, it does help!

WOW you look great!! Congrats and keep up the great work! I'm down 33 since my surgery on 11/15. I think that is pretty good considering I can't exercise yet due to a complication I had. Not with the stomach, but with a muscle, they think I have either a muscle tear or what they are calling a rectus muscle hematoma...or a muscle hernia. Unfortunately all the tests done so far show nothing. Very Frustrating, but at least I'm losing! Down from a 18 to a 14.

I drink the EAS Advantage chocolate shakes that you can get at Walmart or some supermarkets. They also come in Mocha, strawberry and vanilla. They have 3 different kinds, with 3 different levels of Protein. One is 17 g, one is 20 and the other is 42g. The 42 g of Protein shake is very thick. They taste quite good. You can also mix it in a blender with crushed ice and make it the consistency of a frosty. Another trick I learned when I tried Optifast a while ago is you can take some Diet soda.. Cola, Cream, Orange,Root beer, Grape etc.. whatever you like and mix it with the Vanilla flavors with a blender. They actually aren't too bad that way either and gives it a much better taste. DO NOT use regular soda. You can also use some flavoring like Vanilla extract (they have all kinds of flavors such as rootbeer, raspberry, strawberry etc.) to mix into a vanilla shake. There are also tons of shake recipies on the forum under nutrition. Good luck, you will get them down! Think of your end goal.. Your health!

I feel the same way you do.. I'm 10 weeks out, stuck at only a 30 lb loss and haven't lost anything in 2 weeks and I'm following and doing everything I should 100% and nothing.. 2 weeks now, nothing... I have PCOS which doesn't help, but gosh I did better on other diet programs losing 70 lbs on one and 55 on another before I hit a stall... I can lose, I can't maintain.. but if I can't even lose on this what was it for?? So frustrating.. I see everyone losing a great amount of weight too and I feel like this isn't working for me. Granted, I have a complication from the surgery that doesn't allow me to exercise at all yet, but still!!! Hang in there, I hope it gets better for you, I'm sure it will but I have heard about the week 3 stall.. I didn't have it, but many do! Good luck!

I am 10 weeks out, 30 lbs down and had my first stall last week. I'm hoping when I weigh in tomorrow I see something lost! I can only eat a little bit at a time.. such as a sweedish meatball size of meat, chicken, beef, whatever... or one little cheese square at another sitting or a cheese stick.. or one egg white with cheese melted in to hide the egg taste (LOL) that I usually don't finish or a 5 oz yogurt.. that's the extent of what I can eat in one sitting.. ONE of those options above.. never could I eat more than an ouce if that of meat or veggies at one time. Perhaps you are eating too much? Doesn't take much to fill me up.. I get hiccups and that is how I know the tank is comfortably full...

Hi Everyone, I will try to make this as short as I can, but I need some assistance from anyone who is going through this. I had surgery 10 weeks ago tomorrow. For the last 8 of those 10 weeks, I've had a stabbing, ripping, burning pain on the left side between the left and center incisions that runs up and down. It runs from the waist band up to about an inch above the belly button, again, between the two incisions. There are times it's so sore that I can't move, bend, twist, get in the car and even clothes laying on the skin is extremely painful. It can go from excruciating (child birth was easier!) (and I have a high pain tolerance) to bearable, but never really goes away. You never know what will trigger it either to be excruciating. Yesterday I was standing still, went to fix the button on my pants (only my hands moved) and wham.. the pain was unreal. I have been back to my surgeon about this about 4x.. he does NOT beleive me. Sent me for a CT scan and it was negative!! How could that be? So I went back again for a 5th time and he was VERY condesending to me and although I told him to please please be gentle when he pressed the area he was brutal. I've never been treated so roughly.. he kept pressing so hard my feet were coming off the table, I had tears in my eyes, I begged and begged him to stop and even tried to move his hands, but he kept on pressing and telling me to stop it...I could barely get off the table, driving home was a blur because the pain was so bad from what he had done. He told me he feels a lump so he thinks it's a Rectus Muscle Hematoma...when I asked him what that meant he smirked at me and said, bleeding.. Hematoma?? Like I was an idiot. He said sometimes it happens from the blood thinners. I asked how we fix it and he said well you really can't. I asked why after 8 weeks he is feeling it now and he said it happens. I don't know that sounded strange to me... He said the only way to be sure is for him to "OPEN me back up and put me under and take a look but if it is a hematoma, I have to live with it, there is nothing he can do"... agian, very smirky and condesending then he walked me out and said, "it's not an emergency, but you say it's "so bad it imapcts your life" so you decide when you want me to go in..." I have never ever been treated like that. This is NOT the doctor I talked to so many times prior to my surgery, the doctor that had a great reputation, credentials and was so compassionate that I chose him over others... I tried to get a second bariatric opinion, but nobody will see me.. "Doctor's Code" apparently is more important than helping patients I've learned...So.. I went to my primary and he's sending me for an MRI to see if that shows anything but if not, I may have to go back in for more surgery to figure it out.. UGH... Question is, has anyone else ever experienced a Rectus Muscle Hematoma or symptoms like this?? The weird thing is sometimes its fine, others it's not.. no warning either.. It's so stabbing that I often wondered if he left something in there, but of course that would have shown up on a CT! If you have had this , what was the treatment? How long did it go on like this?? ANY info anyone can share will be so greatly appreciated... I'm so frustrated, upset and just at a loss... I'd appreciate any insight you can share! Thanks!

One more question on the hernia you had.. was it your right or left side? Everything I read so far on it says it happens mostly on the right side and mine is on the left. Thanks!

Oh thank you for that bit of informaiton, I will mention it to my primary once we get the insurance company to approve the MRI! I never heard of that kind of hernia before. What was the treatment of it?? My primary had said that he thought it would be best to have the surgeon who did my sleeve do the "search" surgery if it's needed because of the sleeve being so new. He wasn't confident I should use a general surgeon.. Hmmm will have to talk further about that once we get more answers!

Well, I thought about reporting him, but sinve I may still have to get surgery to view what is going on, I didn't want to rock that boat just yet because he would have to do it. I saw my primary, he's ordering an MRI... insurance denied it because I had a CT... well gee, if they got the info from the CT that they needed do you think I'd be sent for a MRI? Politics with these ins companies is ridicilous.. so now he has to send in a note saying that the CT was inconclusive and he reviewed it.. hopefully then they will approve it. This is so unreal, I mean REALLY??