LindafromFlorida

Wow, Max, proud of you. That is great not having to use the electric cart. My husband has to use the cart and he is not on oxygen, he just cannot walk due to pain and instability. Being able to walk for you is major, and at least you are moving. The weight does not magically fall away Max, you are doing great. I am so glad for you. I will bet you come off that oxygen!

Congratulations!!!!!!

I was beginning to think I had lost what little mind I had left. SMH.

Zoepoodle, You have had your share of heartbreak. We would never judge you for those feelings about your son. Breaks my heart for you. Stay strong. Prayer and hugs.

Chelcey, I don't claim they go to Mexico to save bucks, I KNOW they go to Mexico to save bucks and hurrah for that! I just told my daughter about it. I waited til I got Medicare to have surgery because I did not have the bucks. I had no idea people went to Mexico until my surgeon's staff recommended Bariatric Pal. I would go to Mexico under the right surgeon - no problem with that. So what is your beef with me? Are you keeping score here or what? I am for anyone doing whatever they need to do, I just do not agree with a doctor in Mexico using a man like Omar for bait.

Hi everyone. I hope you all are doing well. I am kind of stuck and not losing weight since the heat is keeping me inside. However I did just order a yoga dvd and low impact fitness dvd to get me out of this slump. How is everyone? Linda

Jewelski, this was just frightening for us to read. So sorry for sounding judgmental, but seriously, know the responses came from our hearts to warn you of the dangers!!! Please re-read the responses. We all have such an emotional connection to food. No one is perfect anywhere. I have eaten 2 Hershey chocolate bars in 8 months and it was absolutely wonderful to let that chocolate melt in my mouth. I eat more than my husband. We were both sleeved. These first few months are when you will lose the most weight, and you must take advantage of it. I have stopped losing weight at 6 months. I cannot exercise, otherwise I might lose more. My husband sipped a lot of bouillion when he wanted something. He has lost 100 lbs. in 8 months. Please go for the gusto and know that it will be worth all this!!!

I seriously stayed on pureed foods 6 weeks after I choked on a small piece of soft chicken at 4 weeks. If that candy or english muffin gets stuck mid-chest, you are in trouble. Not to mention stretching your sleeve so it will be as if you did not have surgery. If you are drinking sodas too, that is even worse. My question is WHY you are doing this? It is dangerous. We are only here to support you but as you can see, it is upsetting to us what you are doing to your body, your health and your loved ones. God Bless as you make the decision what your path ahead will be. You were given the directions from the experts here, who have been through this, heeded the warnings, followed the plans, and have reached success. You can join us or not.

Each one of us had different surgeons and different requirements. In the US you might have to have a cardiac clearance with a stress test, sleep study, bloodwork, chest x-ray, pre-op classes, pre-op diet, meet with a nutritionist and a psychologist, come off certain meds a week before surgery (especially blood thinners), fill out paperwork, etc. Good luck!

Yes, for everyone here who has suffered loss in any way, we all are on a healing path. New direction.

I hope everyone has a good PCP after surgery, because I have found we needed him desperately when the sleeve surgeon's office said "we don't handle that" even though it was directly related to the sleeve surgery, IMHO.

I am wondering why you are not following your doctor's diets? At 5 weeks I choked on a small piece of chicken. All I hear is that your foods this early out will stretch the sleeve. I went through too much for this. Please be careful.

Wen had no bandages, very little redness, just a little itching. When in doubt insist on seeing the doctor. You paid him very well!

Pets are family to some people and I understand. I have quite a few friends who never had children and they love their pets as their children. God Bless.

Zane's Mom, your son was still a jid and it is heartbreaking to hear, something so senseless. I wish I could have held your hand as you went through this. God Bless.

I just want to say good luck. My husband and I had several co-morbidities. I hope you qualify, because it is a shame you have to wait for the co-morbidities to develop before you can get healthy.

Good luck! My husband weighed 320 lbs and has lost 100 lbs. Your weight is not that high. The doctor's offices I feel, sometimes want you to know there is a possibility you won't qualify, when in fact there might not even be a problem. Keep us posted.

I am happy that you have moved past the sadness and found new happiness. I know it is still with you though. You are right, there are sad stories here, but sometimes you (or me, or all of us) might read a post, like some of these here, and count our blessings. I know I had a lot of anger when my son and my sister died. I have worked through it. I refused for about 5 years to even let my husband (stepdad) go to my son's gravesite with me. It was MY place. I cannot fathom the anger I would have if someone took a family member's life.

This is more of a reason for you to have this surgery with this high A1c. My husband's was over 12 and he was approved. The surgeon was very cautious the day of surgery and all the numbers and blood sugar had to be just right. I would suggest that you work on the pre-op diet recommended by your surgeon to start lowering that reading. Keep the faith! Even if you are denied you can get it down and then resubmit everything. My husband's A1c has dropped seriously since surgery. Bless you!

I thought it would not happen to me LOL. I sit and want to cry looking in the mirror. Even the texture of my thin hair has changed. Pitiful. I eat healthy, I took Biotin and great Vitamins. I have heard but not sure it is true, that if you use Rogaine, you have to use it forever. A very decent wig is the best thing I bought. It cost $150 but I wear it every day. It has been a lifesaver. Make sure you go to a wig store. I bought a couple wigs online and I will never wear them. You must try them on!

My husband and I are 67 and both sleeved 8 months ago. His lifetime of being obese broke my heart. We went to WL seminars so long ago, but it never felt right. A seminar in June 2013, the right surgeon, and the fact that we were both fighting diabetes and HBP, his heart problems, my joint replacement, and my asthma, was the right time. We both chose the sleeve. There is nothing hard about it. We have had no problem with the sleeve. I was at the grocery store 2 days after surgery, and at the mall 5 days later. I was in the hospital approximately 24 hours. I seriously wondered if I had surgery because I felt so good, and needed no pain meds at home. The neuropathy in my feet is gone. He is down 100 lbs. Once you begin having all the co-morbidities, you cannot undo them. You can control them with weight loss, however. I hold the record for the most money paid to Weight Watchers, along with my family. My husband was on the liquid Optifast diet twice in his life, for two 1-year periods, costing several thousand dollars losing 100 lbs. each time, only to regain it. We sat in our recliners prior to surgery, for a year, feeling like hell. We have just traveled from Florida to Kansas, then to West Virginia, a 7 day cruise to the Caribbean, and next is New Orleans next month. We are kayaking. We thought our life was reduced to the recliners, but the sleeve has changed that. Yes, it is scary, and your husband is scared. My husband was terrified but he followed me into it. Today he is thankful. He is happier than I have ever seen him. He has given away the 1X, 2X and 3X clothes he saved for decades (true!), and has a new wardrobe, fits in an XL. We would do it again in a heartbeat. Hope this helps.

Every death, losing someone we are close to, profoundly affects us. Definitely coping with grief can result in overeating or not eating at all. I would say grief and depression made me not care about my health and my body, even my life at times. When I hear someone has taken their life by suicide, I want to beat myself up, why didn't I see it, why didn't I do something. When someone you love is murdered or killed in an accident, it is crushing. Senseless. Such a loss. Thank everyone for sharing a piece of themselves here. We are indeed a family. In more ways than one.

InItToLose, I am sorry for the recent loss of your Dad. It is obvious he wanted you to be happy and healthy. Thanks for sharing that story with us. Death of our loved ones and dear friends has touched and impacted all of us throughout our lives. We are anonymous for the most part here, and I think it adds a personal touch to our weight loss journey to share our loss and pain, and know that others also have gone through hard times. Blessings, Linda

Good for you making this decision to change your life. My Mom and Dad were both smokers and died of lung cancer, COPD and heart problems. Growing up I learned to love those high fat food, biscuits and gravy. It is a new world these days, and getting processed food out of our diets should make a difference for future generations. I wish you the best, the absolute best. Your Dad would be proud of you, I know. God's Grace, Linda