Katcloudshepherd

HappygoSusan, So happy for you to fit in a size 6!! WOW. I feel your pain in trying to find pants long enough. I am 6 feet tall and usually always end up ordering my pants on line. Once in a while I score a pair of pants and Goodwill or another thrift store. REALLY love it when I do. Blessings, Kathleen

TatorTot, Reading your post makes me so grateful I am blessed with a job with private insurance. I am a vet and am extremely grateful for that private insurance that allowed me to have this life changing surgery. Honestly, I don't know where to begin but to tell you YOU ARE WORTH the cost of this surgery. If my insurance didn't cover the surgery, I would have paid cash, taking out a loan if I had to. I was even looking into going to Mexico if my insurance didn't cover and I had to pay for it. Granted, I'm closer to Mexico and the traveling would have been easier for me. I went through the VA's so called weight loss program years ago. I've done everything to lose weight. Took Phentramine, (legal prescription speed) and lost 60 pounds. My blood pressure went so high I had to be put on blood pressure pills! Then as soon as I stopped--that 60 lost turned into an 80 pound regain. I absolutely HATE the archaic attitude at the VA. If being obese were so damn easy to treat and overcome--we wouldn't have to have 85% of our stomachs removed to help deal with being obese. I had a Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy, (VSG), to TREAT my obesity. I think what I find most offensive in the medical profession is this attitude that we just have to eat less and move more. This is a multi-faceted DISEASE. Just like cancer, heart disease or any other. It's NOT A MATTER OF CHOICE. Would anyone choose to be treated the way obese people are? By total strangers. My life is almost 180 degrees different than before surgery, or is that 360 degrees? I can't remember which one is a total turn around. I went through years of counseling to try and lose the weight, thinking it was attributed to childhood trauma. To fix my head, I HAD TO FIX my stomach. I can no longer stuff feelings down with food. I have depression and take Zoloft to deal with it. Since I've lost the weight, my depression has gotten much better. I will admit I went through a dark time when I had lost the weight and had to adjust to this new life but I AM WORTH IT. I used counseling, exercise and my faith to get through. PLEASE, PLEASE, don't give up the battle. Explore your options for self pay. I don't know if you want the surgeons at the VA doing the surgery. They probably don't do that many of them and frankly, I wanted someone who would be able to do the surgery in their sleep to do mine. I wish you luck and I'll keep you in my prayers, Kathleen

pinkbunies, YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So happy for you It's even cooling off in South Texas!!!! I wait all summer for this weather. When the heat index is 105, I so look forward to it ONLY being 80 degrees! That's something you hear in places like San Antonio and Lavernia--"it's ONLY going to be 80 today!" Warm for y'all in the north but comfortable for most of us here. Hang in there with the coffee. I went off caffeine two weeks before surgery and for three months after surgery. Now, I have to be careful because coffee is like speed for me! I'm sure it's because of the weight loss. I gave up sodas a year or two before surgery. Diet soft drinks are highly acidic. You can use them to clean your toilet bowl! That's how low the pH is. I saw a video on You Tube using regular soda. I know because of my job that diet soda is even more acidic than the regular chock full of sugar ones. I actually bought a cheap regular soda and tried it and cleaned my toilet! You pour the soda in the bowl and let it sit for about a 1/2 hour or more. Then you clean and flush. Sodas may be cheaper by volume than toilet bowl cleaner. I haven't done a price comparison. Blessings, Kathleen

JCP, Here in the South we have a saying that conveys compassion for those that are just too ignorant for their own good: "Bless their HEART!." You handled the situation well. Don't know if I would have had the class not to make a comment. CONGRATULATIONS on your success!!!!! Blessings, Kathleen

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Pkdvm, Happy Birthday to you! AND MANY MORE!!!!!! Blessings, Kathleen

RJ'S/beginning, Lady, you have outdone yourself! Beautiful writing and so very true. I wish you a healthier fall and winter. Blessings, Kathleen

I concentrate on eating Protein first. IF I have any room left, then I go for non-starchy vegetables. Carbs are now a dessert item for me. I can only indulge on an irregular basis. If I eat them---I CRAVE them. Don't want to go down that road. That's what made me have to have the surgery. Blessings, Kathleen

auntiemel, Great NSV! Haven't had a visit from "Aunt Flo" for going on two years Don't miss the broad either So happy for you!!!!!! Blessings, Kathleen

Comfy_Blue, I couldn't agree more with RJ'S/beginning. Since I've lost weight, the people I see every day at the six story office building I work at treat me so much better. One person however seems to have taken an extreme dislike to me. Don't know why and fortunately, I don't work with her so I could give a rat's pattotie how she feels about me. I think like RJ said, they do see you as a superior and they are subordinates and don't want to cross any lines which would bring distress. I hope you find a happy resolution to your dilemma. Blessings, Kathleen

QueenBeatrix, I am closing in on a year from surgery. My life has totally changed FOR THE BETTER. I used to take prescription Non Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs, (NSAIDS) TWICE a day. I used to dread having to stand in line at the grocery store because my back and knees would hurt like Hades. I used to be only able to enjoy watching TV sitting in my Lazy Boy. Moving used to hurt. The only way i could get any exercise was in a pool. i used to look at myself in the mirror and be disgusted with myself. NOW I have trouble keeping clothes on my ever shrinking body!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NOT a complaint. Just a statement of fact. I can walk around the parking garage on breaks and during lunch and ENJOY it I'VE BEEN CALLED SKINNY!!!!!!!!!!!!! for Pete's (or anyone else) sake! Men have lingering and much more lengthy looks at me . I have a husband I dearly love and HOPEFULLY he will have the surgery soon. It's not all sunshine and unicorn farts though. I went through some dark months adjusting to this new body. I used my faith, exercise and counseling to get through them. I'll say this--I'D DO IT AGAIN in a heartbeat to live the life I have now. I am now LIVING not existing from the time I shoveled food in my mouth to the next time I shoveled food into my mouth. All I can say is b-r-e-a-t-h-e. Take it one day at a time and have confidence in the medical technology we have in 2014. I truly hope you have a routine easy surgery and an easy recovery. Blessings, Kathleen

boccob81, I use it only on the areas I have had the Venus Freeze on. My neck, arms and right now I'm getting the treatments on my legs so I apply it to my legs as well. My skin seems to be firming on my legs--don't know if it's the Venus Freeze or lotion or both. Blessings, Kathleen

FABULOUS Article. Thank you so much for posting the link. I drink 1/2 bottle of Kombacha a day and it sure seems to help my depression. Psychosomatic? maybe. I'll just keep drinking my Kombacha. I think if our "gut" is healthy or unhealthy it has so much to do with our overall health. Blessings, Kathleen

That's a darn good question I'm going to need to get a colonoscopy soon as I am approaching the 1/2 century mark. Jeez, I never thought about how I'm going to swallow all the liquid you have to. I had a colonoscopy several years ago because of a family history of colon cancer. I guess I'll have to go slower in drinking the preparation fluids than someone with a stomach. I'm sure I won't be the first person who had VSG and then have a colonoscopy, so I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. Blessings, Kathleen

Susan909, Congratulations! I can't believe I'm closing in on a year from my surgery. Good luck with the surgery. I hope you have a routine surgery and an easy recovery. Walk, walk, walk after surgery. It helps get the CO2 gas out of your system. Blessings, Kathleen

Ladies I feel your pain. My girls have left for somewhere else. I need a "Border Collie" bra--it rounds them up and points them in the right direction I went from a 48 C to a 38 "L"--for long. They just sadly hang there, longing for the old fat days--pun intended. Seriously, I'll just buy the bras to lift em' up and deal with it. I can't go back to the old me. I look in the mirror and frankly I don't recognize myself. Who is this woman? I've been called "skinny" for God's sake! I AM NOT COMPLAINING. I feel so much better. My knees and back are so much more happy having over 400 pounds removed from them. Any weight you loose, multiply it by 4--that's how much stress you are taking off of your joints. I was told that by an orthopedic doctor. Should I have a party and call it: "Kat's fat woman funeral"? I could make a mock coffin with a big box and place copies of photographs of me at three hundred plus pounds on top. I wouldn't dress in black. I'd wear bright colors and adorn the fake "coffin" with black. Heck, if we didn't have a "burn ban" on right now because of the drought, I could haul the fake coffin and copies of photos into the back yard and burn it. I'll have to think about it. Blessings, Kathleen

Hi boccob81, The firming lotion was recommended by the technician who is performing my Venus freeze treatments. It is supposed to firm the skin if you use it every day. I'm willing to try it. I got it in the Post eXchange, (PX-store on military post). It was around 7 or 8 dollars for a large bottle. I use it religiously once a day. Blessings, Kathleen

I wasn't using a firming lotion until recently. I just started using Jergins firming lotion on my neck, arms and legs. Kathleen

CowgirlJane, I don't have a "flirt alert" capability either For me, that's A OK since I've been married for 22 years. I just don't pay attention to the signals. I was morbidly obese for so many years and didn't give it a second thought. Now, men are giving me lingering glances and I still don't pay it much mind because I'm not "on the market" so to speak. I'm so happy for you. Hope things continue to go well. Blessings, Kathleen

boccob81, I have had Venus freeze on my neck and arms. I am currently getting it on my legs. I am planning to have it on my stomach last. It costs me $1,000.00 per area. It worked very well on my neck. I have a friend who had the lap band and had it done on her neck but she wasn't as pleased with the results. She wasn't in a steady loss of weight though. The Venus freeze works better if you are still losing weight. If you gain and then lose, gain and then lose--it won't work as well. She was told this before the procedure but I don't think she was actively listening. I also use firming moisturizer EVERY DAY. I'm doing everything I can to avoid the expense of plastic surgery. I don't want to go through the pain either. I'm in no way denigrating plastic surgery. If you have that option---more power to you. My insurance will not cover Venus freeze or plastic surgery because I do not have skin issues, such as a rash from loose skin. Blessings, Kathleen

Ken, I did that in the first few months. I had a sudden surge of energy and started doing things and didn't pay attention to getting my Water in. PLEASE let this be a learning experience. Dehydration can be deadly. You're not that far out from surgery so give your body the kindness it deserves. Blessings, Kathleen

Andy810, Congratulations on your successful surgery! Glad to hear you are doing well. I'm hoping and praying my husband will be able to have the surgery soon. I would very much like him to have the same positive life altering experience I have had. Wishing you a quick recovery from the surgery. Kathleen

RJ'S/beginning,Sending you a {[(hug)]}. Of all the people on the site, you are the person who deserves better health. I sure hope it finds you soon. As for the idiot doctor--words completely escape me in describing my disgust for him. My mother told me never to wish bad on other people, because it will come back at you twice as hard. That being said, I'd like to be a fly on the wall if he ever got beotch slapped by karma. May you find better health soon, Kathleen

Congratulations on your success!!!! I'm very happy for you and hope at two years out, I'll feel the same amount of restriction I do now. Blessings, Kathleen

gpvegas, I had a WONDERFUL period of time where I had no desire for sugar or carbs. Unfortunately, it didn't last forever . I now have to be mindful of what I'm eating and not go crazy with carbs and sugar. I keep my Protein intake high and of course my Water intake to curb the desire. I do tend to crave savory foods much more than I did before surgery. I want non-sweet foods. I can't stomach the super sweet Protein shakes anymore. Blessings, Kathleen

CowgirlJane, Reminds me of that saying in an advertisement several years ago: "you've come a long way, baby." It was during the era when when were entering the workforce in the 1970s and were pushing against the then, social norms. Yes, I am old enough to remember that . I want to congratulate you. You are an inspiration to me in my journey. I recently took six huge garbage bags to Goodwill after a "closets flush". Now the clothes in my closet I wear to work are again getting too big. I haven't had time to go to Goodwill lately to see what they have. That's the thing, you have to go quite regularly to get lucky and find something that fits and is a good buy. I'M NOT COMPLAINING!!!! I've got some nice dress pants and I'm thinking about having them taken in. Wish I had the time to learn how to sew. I've been so active lately as a result of my energy level being up, I'm on the go, go, go all the time. Thank God and My Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy, (VSG)=------TG&MVSG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Blessings, Kathleen