tannak

I grew up in a normally dysfunctional family my mom and dad were both overweight and occasionally dieted. It was not an obsession for them. I was one of six kids born right smack in the middle and the only one overweight as a child!! My brothers and sisters all struggle with weight as adults but none of them but me experienced this as a child!! And I am the largest of all of them as adults . It sure will be nice to reverse things for once in my life!! I would love to be the smallest of them all . With the sleeve this just might happen

I remember years ago when I was dating my husband I felt compelled to tell him that I was really a fat girl in a temporarily thin body! Previous to meeting him I had dieted and exercised my way down 100 pounds! He didn't care and still doesn't and we are happily married even though my prediction came true!! I am so excited to get sleeved and to lose this weight hopefully for the last time but I wonder if I will always self identify as a fat girl in a temporarily thin body??? Does anyone else have worries like this?

My self identity has always been that I am a "big" girl. One of my earliest memories as a child at the age of 5 was worry that I was too big for my dad to pick me up and carry me into the hospital when I was hurt and needed emergency attention! Why in the world would I be worrying about my size when I was so young and hurting!! I need a therapist to figure all this out . I just know this has been a lifelong demon of mine that I would like to finally be rid of!!!

The next support group meeting will be March 19 at 6:00 pm. It is on the 7th floor of the health sciences pavilion. I hope to meet all of you there!!!

Hi my name is Tanna. I am 44 years old and have been married to my sweetheart for 15 years. We have 4 children who are my joys!! I am currently a stay at home mom but have worked for many years as an elementary school counselor! A profession I love and hope to go back to someday when my own children don't need me quite so much!! I had the lapband almost 10 years ago and am now going for a revision to the sleeve!! I hope this works!! I am scheduled for surgery on March 27th!!

If you decide to come try to find me! I enjoy the support groups! I love meeting and talking with other people on this same journey!!!

I watched a YouTube video diary of a girl that was sleeved during my research for this surgery and she admitted to taking bites of her former favorite foods and chewing a bit then spitting it out just to experience those old favorite tastes again! I was a little disturbed by that and have been wondering if my own head hunger would be so powerful?? I haven't been sleeved yet. My date is the end of March!! I am excited to start this experience but I do feel sad at times at all I have to give up!!

I remember years ago when I was dating my husband I felt compelled to tell him that I was really a fat girl in a temporarily thin body! Previous to meeting him I had dieted and exercised my way down 100 pounds! He didn't care and still doesn't and we are happily married even though my prediction came true!! I am so excited to get sleeved and to lose this weight hopefully for the last time but I wonder if I will always self identify as a fat girl in a temporarily thin body???

Very cool Christy. My very best friend who I have been on this sleeve journey with is having her surgery that same day so I will be at the hospital visiting that evening!! I have to wait one more month!! I am so jealous!! I am ready for this NOW!!! Do you go to the support groups??

That is great busybeingme!! We will have to meet!! I did not go to the January meeting but I went to the Dec. and feb. meeting! I will be there in march!!

This has got to be the best sleeve story yet!! LOL!! I am sorry this happened to you but I hope you can laugh about it!!! Even with this happening I bet you don't regret your sleeve!!! Good luck to you

I was hoping to find some more patients of Dr. Gandsas, busybeingme!! Good luck on your upcoming surgery!! You are a week before me!! Do you go to the support group meetings at AAMC??

I am so glad to hear that Kelly. I have already run into several AaMC employees who have been banded by him. I think that is very reassuring that those who work the closest with him and know him the best are trusting him to do this surgery! That is a great reference for a doctor!!

Hi Melissa I was so glad to have it out of me too. My doctor said I had a lot of scarring and adhesions. The removal surgery took longer than he anticipated but he said he got everything cleaned up and ready for the sleeve surgery!! I wish he could have done the sleeve at the same time but he will not do that!! I feel great now and anxiously waiting for the next step!!

Hi All, I was banded back in 2003 and it worked well the first year! I lost almost 100 pounds. A few years later I had a couple of children. I had to have the Fluid removed from the band during one of my pregnancies and obviously gained a significant amount of weight back. After my daughters were born I tried refilling the band several times but could never regain any restriction in the band. The doctors could never find anything wrong with my band! It just completely stopped working!! After gaining ALL of my weight back I finally decided to do something about it!!! After living with the lap band for 9 years I had my band removed on Nov. 5 2012 and have a surgery date scheduled to receive the sleeve on Mar. 27, 2013!! I CAN'T wait!!

I am a patient of Dr. Alex Gandsas in Annapolis. He is new to this hospital but is a very experienced Bariatrics surgeon from New Jersey! I like him!! I am scheduled to be sleeved at the end of march! Are their any sleeve support groups that meet monthly in Maryland?

You look absolutely fabulous!! How much more weight are you hoping to lose???

Good luck Susie!!

I am scheduled for March 27!,, I can't wait! I am getting so excited!! I am so glad I found this web page!!