hsirk

There are times where I would like to say "yes! they are supportive now!" But I think I would probably be telling a lie. I am not married and I don't have kids. When I speak of my family, I speak of my father and two sisters (one older, one younger). I know that my father is happy that I am starting to turn myself around and is happy that there is less imminent danger of my premature death. I am still stuck in that unrealistic belief that I have to make him proud, even at 27 years old. My little sister is very happy for me. She has never known what it has been like to be overweight so she is blindly accepting of the changes I have been making. My older sister, however, is not so supportive. I told her of my milestone on Friday night before we attended a movie and I got a shoulder shrug and a change of topic. Not what I was expecting, but what can you do? Thank you all for being so supportive. This forum is a lot of the reason I have been so successful thus far.

I had the vertical sleeve performed by my surgeon on Monday, October 1st, 2012. That is a day that I will always remember, because I know it has changed my life. At my highest weight, or at least the highest weight that I ever saw recorded, I was a total of 413 pounds. I was losing my life because I couldn't get the weight off, no matter what I tried. I had been previously diagnosed with lymphoma cancer in my lungs, I had been treated for chronic lung issues, and then there was the issue of my immune deficiency that was causing me to spend a few days in the hospital every year with pneumonia. I literally was fading away every day. Surgery was not a popular decision. My family refused to talk about it whenever it was brought up into conversation. They would tell me to work harder. They would tell me to eat less. They would tell me that my inability to lose weight was my own fault for just not trying hard enough. That really wears on a person to have to go through that. It was just ridiculous to know that I wasn't supported by the same people who I loved with all of my heart and supported with every bit of my soul. The best thing I ever have done? I learned to block that part of what they were saying to me from reaching the cognitive part of my brain. I didn't care what they had to say anymore. I went through with surgery for me. Maybe a little bit for them, too, but mostly for me. What is this major victory I allude to in my topic title? I sit here, a little over 100 days after surgery, and I am 100 pounds lighter. I still have a LONG way to go, but I have come so far that I am strengthened to continue on the journey. I hit 100 pounds on Friday by the scale at the clinic and I was so excited to see the number that I probably could have hugged my nurse. The moral of my (so far) story? Listen to your heart. Outside sources be damned. Do it for you, because in the long run, "you" is what really matters most. I hope all of my sleeve siblings are well! <3

I thought that Christmas was going to be a challenge for me because i went to Grandma's house. EVERYONE should have a grandma like mine, unless of course they have issues with their weight... LOL! I had a great time, though! Before I left last Friday, I went to the clinic just to be weighed. The lady at the counter thought I was nuts for asking to use their scale, though. haha! I don't trust my scale, so it was worth the trip and skeptical look! I had lost 93 pounds since 9/9/12 at the start of my pre-op diet. 43 of those pounds were since my surgery on 10/1/12. I got home last night and before showering this morning I hopped onto my home scale. Even though I don't 100% trust it (I should really go get me a new one...) the scale reflected a lower number than when I left! Unfortunately, I don't have another clinic visit for about 2.5 weeks. I am going to have to just suck it up and deal with waiting! Hopefully I will have lost 100 lbs by the time I go! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday! We have so totally got this!

I don't know if I am just having dumb luck or what, but I lost 50 pounds pre-op and have lost almost another 40 since (10/1/12)! I don't feel like I am ever doing it right, but I seem to be putting some numbers up there! I go to the NUT tomorrow for an official weigh-in! Granted, I started out with a lot more than some people here, but I just feel so good about what I have seen so far!! HW:413 SW: 363 CW: 333(ish)

I talked to my NUT about the gum/straw issue today. She said that the reason their office recommends against the gum is because it can create air pockets in the stomach that make you feel full, but then dissipate and you will then graze more which will counter-act the reason for the surgery. She said some people can tolerate straws just fine, but there is less instance of air pockets and nausea/vomiting if you don't use them. I say to each their own - we have to make the mistakes that will determine what is right and wrong for us. I, however, am going to follow my surgeon's instructions because this is just too important to my life in the whole to mess it up with a piece of gum here and there. I hope you all are feeling good and dropping pounds!

I am three weeks out from Surgery today! Saw my Nutritionist this morning and we made a plan to progress on to pureed foods for this week and then she feels as if my surgeon will progress into softs next week. I was so happy to go to the grocery store and buy something non-protein shake related!! So, cottage cheese, scrambled egg, greek yogurt, and pureed soups are ahead of me now! Makes me happy!! haha! I hope that all of my sleeve-siblings are faring well. From what I have been reading most everyone has gotten away with few side-effects. Thanks again for being my support through this all!!

Sorry it took so long to respond! I have been chasing a fur ball around my house for the last coupla days! I got an 11 week old shih tzu female. She is adorable.

I am almost 3 weeks post op (Oct 1 surgery) and I have been feeling really great up until these last few days. Looking over recent posts, I realize I am probably low on the VitD, as well. Guess I better start that up again! I am in Montana, and during this time of year, natural VitD is a little hard to come by... haha! I went to the clinic for a non-WLS related visit today. 70 pounds down, on the dot, since I started my liquid diet about 40 days ago. It is so crazy because I still see myself as a fat chick. Others around me have been very positive in their feedback. We shall see if I can get into the right frame of mind to recognize the differences. I am pretty excited to go back to work, as weird as that sounds. I am ready to get out of the house! Plus, I have a puppy on the way home to me tonight. I am pretty excited to have a walking buddy. I hope everyone here has a fantastic weekend. You are all fabulous!!

My doctor and NUT said no. Something about it creates too much air in the new sleeve. I wasn't going to chance it, just in case.

I had one of those moments the other day. I went on a road trip to see some family and I picked up a pack of gum I have in my car specifically for the purpose of keeping myself busy on the trip... Only to realize that was a big "no!" for my newly sleeved tummy. Old habits die hard, but imagine how wonderful everything else will be as you start losing all those pounds! Good luck!

I am also tall, so people had a hard time seeing my actual weight, too. However - you are on the right track. I will never, ever be 140 pounds, but anything in the 100s would be great with me. I am sorry to hear about your twins. Losing someone you love with all your soul is so hard, I couldn't imagine losing a child, let alone two. Good luck with everything. You got this!

OMG! I was thinking the same thing myself today! I have been able to drink a 16.9 oz bottle of flavored water or green tea with no problems. Two or three days ago I KNEW if I took too big of a drink, but now I can take larger sips and it seems to go down faster. I am pretty sure I am going to ask my surgeon if he actually took the stomach out like he said he did...LOL! I am still on full liquids - no yogurt or soups or puddings. Here is hoping for that restriction! (And, I am really glad to know I am not the only one!! )

Oh, Eggface is going to be be a valuable asset once I get into my solid foods stage, for sure! I am especially going to look forward to the protein icecream. How much more perfect than that can you get? LOL! Here is the one I was thinking about: http://gastricsleeve4me.blogspot.com/ Also, There is another one that I liked that can be pretty easily adapted to our sleeves: http://www.emilybites.com/ Emily Bites has a lot of little protein power-house bites that look amazing! Have fun!

I have had trouble with water from the day after surgery. I have found success with flavored waters, though. So, maybe try crystal lite, Gatorade G2, Propel Zero, Mio - anything to help get your fluid in! Good Luck!

NSV= Non scale Victory. I think they are the best by-product of WLS. You go girl on not hiding the size! I am waiting for that day!!