Delena2/11

Greetings All, Boy there have been many straws that have been stacking up on that poor camel's back. 1. Went to see the show. I could not fit comfortably in my seat. My hubby and I stood in the back. 2. I had a nice gelding that I ended up selling because I could not ride anymore. I had him for 12 years and it broke my heart. 3. I love to travel but I wont because I am embarassed to deal with the seating. 4. Went recently to a horse training thing to be certified as an equine facilitated learning equine specialist. One of the participants asked me if I was comfortable around horses. They assumed that because I was heavy I wasn't a horseperson. 5. I am embarassed because I take the elevator up at work. I walk down but huff and puff going up so I rarely do. I pass much older folk taking the stairs up to get to the elevator. 6. Seat belts! 7. My son realizing I am heavier than many other adults. 8. I want to go riding with my horse friends. They go to sweet camping trips and trail rides that I cannot do anymore. 9. Clothes! 10. chaffing! 11. aching ankles and knees. and the list goes on!!! Looking forward to starting my processes!

Hope things are going better for you Elle. I know what you mean about working in an environment of landmines. Do keep taking care of yourself by taking time for yourself! We ladies are really good at taking care of everyone else.

Hi Faith, I haven't had my surgery yet but I have been to Cancun. It is beautiful! I see you sipping Protein shakes on your patio as you recover! Looking out over the blue ocean. I wish you had someone to share it with you though. Best of luck to you! Dee

You have to be careful with things that are sugar free as they generally make up for the loss of flavor with fat:(

Hi All. I'm in the same situation. I have my Psych eval this Friday and God knows what next. They said that it may take up to two weeks to get the results. Once the results are in the nurse managing my case will call with further instructions. CBD I too have time off of work around the holidays and I hope I can get surgery during that time. It does see that for most people this is a 3-4 month process. Best of luck to you all! Dee

Me too! My eval is this Friday. I'm nervous about it. I tried this all before years ago and I was actually diagnosed with depression. I failed the eval and was not approved for wls. I have been treated since then. I think it really was a blessing as I feel so much better emotionally. Plus, the sleeve really was not popular then and it seems the best choice for me. I really need this surgery in order to get on with my life. It is so difficult to manage the depression when I cannot get this weight off. All the yo yo dieting. Working, fighting and trying again and again with no long term success. I know it is not a fix all but I do need this tool in order to manage my weight. Very excited! Good luck to you! Dee

1. A halling ass gallup on a horse 2. Shopping for cute clothes in a regular store! 3. Dancing! I would love to learn some country dances and drag my hubby (and I would totally have to drag him!) 4. traveling to Australia, cruising to Alaska, boating, skying, snowmobiling, camping with our horses 5. short skirts and high heels (I'm sure I'll get over the high heels) 6. Racing around with my kids and winning! 7. swim with dolphins in a cute bathing suit sans old lady skirt! 8. better sex life with hubby, less inhabitions and more confidence! 9. Singing again 10. getting my new horse and learning western dressage 11. Teaching my dog agility now that I can run along with him! 12. Taking the stairs, always, and to be still breathing at the top. 13. Go to concerts and fit in the seats! Lots and lots of concerts dragging hubby again. 14. Learn to sort cows and maybe do some reining too (horses again) 15. Go to Montana and ride in the mountans (yup, horses again!). Maybe go on a cattle drive! That would be a blast. 16. Get moving and never stop!!!! Enjoy that new body and use it to it's fullest. Take care of it and respect it and never take the above for granted again. And I could go on and on..... Thank you for this topic!

That was great! Good for you for turning the other cheek. IT is hard to take the high road but you were smart to do so. People are definately ignorant and jealous and mean spirited at times!

I haven't had the sleeve yet so I am not much fun there. Any new foods, soaps, dressings on your surgical wounds etc? Medications?

How funny. Here is what I wrote in 2010. I too failed but I will not fail this time! Ride Again 2010--And so it begins… I wear my Ariat boots proudly as I feel they identify me as part of a special community. I recognize others in this elite community by their footwear, by their muddy late model trucks and SUVs, and the hay chaff that inevitably sticks to clothes and hair. As each pair of boots ware out I buy another, foolishly hoping that new laces will secure my membership in this adopted family. With each pair of boots the laces get tighter and my membership within this family feels more tenuous. But still, I am a horsewomen. I am an equestrian or, as my husband calls me, a “horse jockey.” I am willing to go without that new car to pay for my membership. And damn it, I have earned this membership. I have a good understanding of equine behavior, equine needs, and a thirst for knowledge regarding anything that has to do with the horse. I love the people I have met within my community (or most of them anyway) and enjoy the presence of barn dogs and cats more than most. I am an equestrian although, in truth, I have not been on a horse in years. I am an equestrian and I do not ride because I weigh 356 pounds. I write because writing gives me a leg up. It is my hope that I land in a saddle that will take me closer to my lives purpose. I hope to document an incredible journey, a journey toward health, happiness and horse. This voyage will often be uphill and painful and wrought with challenges. It is an expedition that, at its end, will bring me closer to family, friends and ultimately my true self. Because regardless of my weight, I am a horsewomen and I will no longer deny myself what is essentially my life’s blood. ! I am coming back to the fold, or in this case, the herd. At the end of this journey I will be on a damn horse

Hello TMorgan. I agree, time to see your doc. I have depression and have experienced exactly what you are speaking of. I also have times before my period when I am not myself. Perhaps you should talk to your doctor about this? Good luck to you! I know that some docs prescribe antidepressants for just that time of the month. Maybe that would help you. Check this out. http://women.webmd.c.../depression-pms

You do look wonderful! You go girl! What about "You have SUCH a pretty face!" Well thank you very much. I hate that too. You bring up an important fact that this life change not only changes our lives but our friends and family too. Not sure how my hubby will react to it. I hope that he pokes me in the ribs (gently) too!

Be strong and best of luck to you! I am not looking forward to the preop diet. I am sure that I will be evil too;). Dee

Woot Woot! I hope my process moves as fast. I go for my psych eval next Friday. Fingers crossed! Best of luck on your journey. Dee

Thank you so much for sharing your story. I think it is great and inspiring to read all of the good things that the sleeve has done for people but we also need to hear the set backs and learn from them. I have a question. I understand that the stomach can stretch. If sleeved and the patient does not follow diet it can stretch. I wonder if it is dangerous for the stomach to be stretched for sleevers. Does the stomach become stressed or thin with the potential for leaks later? I'm preop and really just starting the process and this has been on my mind. Thanks for reading! dee

Take it! You didn't put it on overnight (me either!) so don't pressure yourself to lose it over night. Think of it as steady wins the race and gives your skin a better chance of shrinking with your new body! Good luck!

Good for you PhotoHappy! Best of luck on your continued success:)!!!

May all go well for you during surgery and may you recover swiftly and lose lose lose!

Hi There. Congrats on the 10 pounds. That is great! Do you mean your gallbladder? I did a liquid HMR diet and messed up my gallbladder by going from low fat to fatty foods. Just wondered. Good luck to you! Dee

Hi Looking. I'm outside of Detroit near Port Huron, Mi. How are you doing and where are you in the process? I'm just starting.

Hello I live in Michigan with my husband and two kids. I'm interested in the sleeve surgery because I seem to have tried everything else. I wish I could do this by myself but I've just learned over the years that I just can't. It's not something that I can do without this kind of tool. I haven't really talked about this with my family. My husband is on board but my mom and my sisters I'm sure will have a lot to say about it. I'm not really looking looking forward to listening. I wonder how a lot of you have handled this? I'm not the only one that had to deal with people that were not terribly supportive or understand what it really is like to have to lose this much weight. I'm 40 years old, maybe I'm having a midlife crisis but I think that if I don't do this now I wont have much of an active future. I have horses. What fat lady needs horses? I want to ride again. I want to go dancing. I want to feel sexy. I want to go and be able to pick out clothes and not go to a fat girl store. I want to feel more like a women and not like this extra weight defines who I am. I have plans and being fat just does not work with those plans. I want a future and I want to be the one that is driving. I don't want to let this addiction drive anymore. Sure, I'm scared as hell to have this done. I think I shouldn't have to have this done. But I know that I do because I've tried everything else. Actually Im more scared not to have this done. What else is there? I've read so many success stories on this site. I've seen so many videos on YouTube. It's amazing what this tool can do if you are brave enough to use it. I'm so excited. I stopped drinking pop. Southern folk that would be soda. In Michigan it's pop. I'm going to start trying to do little things to get prepared for this new life. I can't wait to join you sleevers! Currently I am waiting for HAP approval. Hope to have good news soon. I weight my highest now, 357. I lost about 5bs last year but it's back! Looking forward to reading more of your stories!