Vixynne

I think Sleeve Eve should be a formally-recognized holiday. Just sayin'.

I'm pre-op too, so I defer to the veteran sleevers on the forums to clarify this fully--but from what I gather, once you reach your goal, you move to an eating pattern that lends itself to maintaining your weight rather than aiming for weight loss. I might be wrong, though! Can some post-op people 'splain how it all works?

Laura's right! I have at least one or two people in my life that I'm SURE will tell me "ohhhh you can stop now, you look fine"--but their motives will be more about feeling jealous or competitive. More about "holycrap, she's getting too gorgeous, better put a stop to this ASAP". Notice I didn't call them friends, just people in my life. Hopefully nobody in your life would do that to you.

My vote is... ...that I don't get a vote. It's not my decision to make! What will make you happiest? What goal do you really want to reach? You look fantastic--I'm sure that's why your friends are telling you that you can stop losing weight now--but just as the choice to have surgery was yours, so is the decision about when you have reached your weight loss goal. Whatever you choose to do, make certain you can live with it. Good luck!

My surgeon has NO requirements for a pre-op diet. None. All I have to do is not eat solids after midnight the night prior to the procedure. Don't beat yourself up, Kelly--after all, listening to the judging/angry/"you're-not-worthy" voices in our heads is WHY some of us are in the predicament we're in. I don't know about anyone else, but a lot of my eating is self-medication against negativity. Cheering myself up with yummy Snacks. Eating to avoid dealing with my emotions, then feeling rotten about what I ate, giving up on myself--since it MUST be all-or-nothing to succeed, right?--and starting the vicious cycle all over again. Eat poorly, hate what I did to my body by eating poorly, punish myself with a mental lecture about being worthless, do a 180 and say "SCREW THIS IMMA EAT WHAT I WANT", eat poorly again. Lather, rinse, repeat. (Of course, the whole process above doesn't WORK and it doesn't make logical sense to stay in that cycle, but that never stopped an alcoholic from looking for answers at the bottom of a bottle of whisky. I preferred to search my way to both ends of a brownie pan or a bag of peanut M&M's.) So, yeah. Don't add your voice or anyone else's to the negative chorus of "this will not work for you if you can't stick to liquids". Right now, it's optional. For a lot of obese people with food addictions, all the good intentions in the world just won't get the job done when it's optional. We make excuses, we sabotage ourselves, we make bad food choices. It's what we DO. It's why we're choosing to be sleeved--to take the choice out of our hands (and stomachs). You're gonna be okay. You CAN do this. Your sleeve is going to make it possible, and you're going to be a success. Hang tough, girlie.

I am awed and inspired. Congratulations on your amazing success!

::waves from the SouthCoast of MA:: I'm down heah in New Behfid, the "ahmpit of Cape Cawd", will be having my sleeve done at Tobey Hospital in Wareham. As of yet, I'm still in the pre-op stages, getting my NUT appointment and a couple of others squared away in May. Most of my worries are about possible complications and recovery from the surgery; afterwards I know they'll shift to getting enough Water and Protein as I heal. Nice to see so many lovely ladies from the Bay State; wicked awesome!

I think Dawn hit the nail on the head. Life really is just one rollercoaster after another, when you think about it. And whether things are going perfectly or we're in a slump, the key is that it's always changing. Hopefully the "ups" are bigger and longer-lasting than the "downs". <---free hug, take one!

This is a decision only you can make--and you have to make the choice that will work for you. Not your mom, not your friends or other relatives; you. Make that decision without guilt and without regret. Don't be afraid. Our mothers and dads and spouses and best friends all want what's best for us, but sometimes they mix love with their fears, which creates a need to control, and that really doesn't belong (imho) in a choice that is about your long-term health and well being. And once you're sleeved, happier and healthier, I'm betting she'll come around. I can't imagine any mom choosing to be angry forever over choosing to love and accept her daughter, even if she makes a choice Mom didn't agree with. You're still a great daughter and a good person, whether you choose to share your decision or not. Good luck as you move forward!

...Just jumping in to mention that if anyone's sex life is lacking for other reasons, weight loss may or may not improve the sitch. I have more issues around sex than Playboy Magazine, and although I'm very hopeful that a better body image will help, I know that there are some glitches in the way my brain views sex that run deeper than my jiggle, and will need another approach to improve 'em.

The website http://bjsbariatrics.com can send you samples of their Syntrax Nectar protein for a pretty low price -- $15 for 11 packets, and you get to choose which ones you'd like to try out. I'm ordering some this week.

I teach middle school, and every once in a while, you'll see an 8th grader who is as tall and solidly built as a linebacker, with a mustache and five o'clock shadow after lunchtime. Then there will be a kid of the same age who is so short and slightly-built, you think they must have gotten lost on their way from 5th grade. I bet it's like that for nurses--they see so many patients in a month or a year, or multiple years--seeing someone who's on the lower end of the surgery weight scale might surprise them. Their idea of "normal size for surgery" can get skewed if they're used to seeing people much heavier. If I get those comments (I'm 238 lbs.), I'll take 'em as a compliment.

I don't think most people realize that asking "are you big enough" is almost like asking "are you smart enough for that?" when someone says they're going to college or learning a new skill. It seems like you handled it gracefully, though--good for you for seeing it as a compliment! I'd guess that their motive is either that they have no idea what our actual weight is, or that they think only people who get their own reality show or National Geographic documentary for being so obese that EMTs had to call for a crane and knock out walls to help them exit their home are really qualified for WLS. So think of yourself as a "sleeve ambassador" to people who have no idea. They're going to learn a lot from your experience!

You've made so much progress, good for you!! You look so much happier, as well as thinner, it must feel amazing to see your body changing after putting in the hard work all along the way. Thank you for sharing your pics--it inspires me and helps me stay strong when I get nervous about having the surgery. It WILL be worth it! Congrats and keep it up, you're doing awesome!

*clears throat, steps up on soap box* My post-op promise (for when I get there): Well, I *could* say I swear to forever and always give up sweets and carbs, but I know myself, and that's not realistic. One day, post-op, I will indulge in a nibble or two, and be able to step away from the sugars. I *could* say I swear to work out for two hours a day, 7 days a week, but unless I've fallen through a rip in the time-space continuum into an alternate universe, I'm gonna have to go with "nope" on that as well. But here's what I can promise. I solemnly swear not to be one of those post-WLS folks who feel so pleased with their own success and progress that they then look down on obese people who haven't made changes. I will never hate on any non-WLS person . What makes me say this right now? (Apart from the fact that I'm just not that mean?) I've been reading around the internet, looking at WLS blogs that are scattered across various sites, reading Facebook profiles that were linked to the authors of those blogs, and stumbled across someone's public Facebook photo of an extremely obese woman who was out running her errands (shopping and whatnot). This woman most likely had NO idea she was being photographed, and the picture is certainly not flattering. The caption mentioned how the photographer felt "sick to their sleeve" after looking at the obese lady. Wow. Now, I don't know the photographer from Adam's left ox; I just happened to stumble across them while internet-wandering, and they had publicly posted photos--the pics weren't hidden in any way. I clicked away from that Facebook profile feeling sad and disgusted that someone who bragged about conquering their food challenges and accepted lots of public back-patting for it would then skewer another human being who hasn't been able/brave enough/informed enough to take the same steps. So, I am publicly promising never, EVER, to be that catty and smug about whatever progress this tool brings my way. I will never, EVER judge someone else who isn't on the same path as my own. Weighing less won't turn me into a rude or obnoxious person, any more than being heavy makes me one. You can all hold me to it.

That's exactly how I feel about it, SpaceDust! I'm willing to bet that being unfairly judged by others was one of the reasons this person had the surgery to begin with--how mean and rotten to do the same exact thing to another person! It definitely shows a lack of compassion. Anyone can sling mud at a stranger. Karma will handle it eventually, I'm sure. In the meanwhile, it just makes my blood boil, y'know?

Proof that everything we hear about VSG not changing the patient's personality is true, I guess!

Maybe instead of a total and complete end to the love affair, the relationship is shifting to a "long distance" one; where you go for long stretches of not being together, then have a short, happy (and healthy) visit, followed by more distance, until eventually you are re-established on better footing. Congrats on your upcoming surgery, ladies!

A search of the 'net found me this info: __________________________________________________________ For Adults The recommended daily intake of Biotin for men, women and pregnant females is 30 mcg. If you have difficulty getting enough of this nutrient from consuming biotin-rich foods, such as eggs, nuts, whole grains, Beans, fruits and vegetables, talk with your doctor about adding a biotin supplement to your daily regimen. Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/410115-what-is-a-safe-dosage-of-biotin/#ixzz2Rhjc63lC For Biotin Deficiency If you have unusually low biotin levels, your doctor may recommend adding a biotin supplement to your diet. Depending on your health status, your daily dose of biotin may range between 100 and 1000 mcg. However, health professionals with the University of Maryland Medical Center warn that the safety of biotin has only been established for daily doses of 30 to 600 mcg. For this reason, larger doses of biotin should only be used if you're under the direct care of a physician. Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/410115-what-is-a-safe-dosage-of-biotin/#ixzz2RhjjczG0 ________________________________________________________________________________ Hope this helps!

Monday morning, give your insurance company a call. When I called mine a couple weeks ago to ask about any qualifying rules and expenses, the representative I spoke to was able to clear up all of my concerns in less than five minutes. By the time I hung up the phone, I felt much more prepared with information and expectations. My weight loss surgery seminar gave general statements about some insurance requirements, but there's no substitute for getting it directly from the source! Oh, and my surgeon's first consultation appointment included a questionnaire that allowed me to list all of the weight loss attempts I had made on my own--none of which were medically-supervised--and that was good enough for them. Good luck!

I haven't had the surgery yet, so I can't offer you my experience, but I would venture to guess that after only two days post-op you might still need time to heal in order to be comfortable at work. Everyone is different, though, and I'm sure there are many folks on here who feel they healed quickly. My advice would be to use caution and your own good sense--listen to your body, and don't push yourself too hard, too soon.

Hi, DiamondDiva! I'm doing very well, thanks! I have some more pre-op appointments all scheduled (dietician in about a week, then psych eval and also my ultrasound/EKG appointment). It's starting to move along pretty quickly! It makes me feel better to hear that you had a great experience! I knew that he was a skilled surgeon, but his first visit with me was just so fast, I was worried that he might not take time to answer my questions. One of my friends said "don't worry about his personality, that's just him--what you care about is his skill in the O.R., and he has FANTASTIC hands, that's all that matters". I guess she's right, I'm just a nervous pre-op'er who needs a little assurance. Can you tell us more about your experience and your friends' experiences? Are you in the follow-up five year program now? Thanks!

Has anyone else here had Dr. Kruger? Met him for all of two minutes in my consultation, and just want to see what other patients have experienced in his care. He seems like a very competent and friendly physician--it was just hard to get to know him very well in under 120 seconds, and he sure didn't get much of a chance to know me! I'm hoping that as surgery gets closer, there will be other opportunities for having a more in-depth discussion. What was your experience?

Hi, ladies--I'm 5'2", which is actually a whole inch taller than I always thought I was--maybe when I gained weight during my 30's, the soles of my feet thickened? I'm a new pre-op'er, have all my psych and nut appointments lined up for the next three weeks or so, hoping to take The Big Leap sometime this summer, since I'm a teacher and would appreciate having the time to recover. It's a scary, exciting, nervewracking time...it's good to find a gathering place for the shawty sleevers!