VSGAnn2014

If I were depressed and a jerk to everyone, I hope someone -- a friend, stranger, whoever -- would suggest I did something about that. Chances are being depressed and acting like a jerk isn't a permanent condition you have to live with forever.

To the OP ... Honey (I'm 68 years old), you are NOT overweight. You're SLIM! You are also knock-dead gorgeous. If your self-perception doesn't change soon, you might want to work with a psychologist who's skilled in working with patients who have body dysmorphia challenges. Are there people in your life (friends, family, significant others) who are giving you feedback that you're still overweight or not slim enough or in any way don't look just great? If so, you want to seriously consider about how much weight their opinions carry with you. Very, very, very best to you. You have accomplished a wonderful thing.

Wow. That should all be up on a billboard somewhere! Thanks for sharing.

Gosh! Learned a lot from this thread. Thanks to the OP (sorry about your infection -- very best to you!). And thanks to Kindle and others who shared their experiences and so much info. So much I don't know.

IMHO, message boards are good resources when all members feel free to present, as forcefully as they wish, their own experience, whether it's in the mainstream or not. In the case of WLS, it's the diversity of WLS experiences that describe accurately what WLS can be like. I was recently on a thread where people were describing their post-op recovery. The reports ran from "Piece of cake!" to "Hardest thing I ever did!" Both reports are true. Members and lurkers get the best view of what WLS will be like for them when they see everyone's truest, personal experience. And more humor. Always more humor. I love the threads where posters are honest and raw about what they're dealing with. It's a gift when members are swept along on those parts of the writer's journeys, with them. Speaking of prayer, although some are religious and support other that way, others avoid that that scene. It's just a place where we're us. Different. Good moods and bad. It's a place where we agree, disagree, debate, correct, withdraw ideas, good and bad. If the place were only pissy or only saccharine, it'd be dull as dishwater.

Cassiopeia, My situation is different from yours. I've yo-yo dieted a lot, so I've been up and down -- both normal-sized and obese. When I've been normal-sized, I've just felt normal. In other words, it wasn't hard. Of course, I don't know what being normal will be like for you or how soon you'll adapt to it (in your own way, of course). Perhaps you could try approaching this as an adventure. (I hope you like adventures. ) By the way, I can't help but notice your choice of nickname here -- "Cassiopeia." You don't seem like a "vain queen," as Cassiopeia was. I am wondering ... do you think of normal-sized people as Cassiopeias? If not, I'd love to know how you came to choose the nick? Thanks.

@@Nursemandyrn, what a lot to deal with right now. You didn't ask for this or want it on your plate. But surely, your bariatric surgeon is right -- without all the attention to your esophagus of late this would never have been diagnosed and treated. Also, please let us know how we can support you further. One other thing -- my husband has had a hiatal hernia for probably 45 years. Because of my upcoming VSG (this coming Monday) and his visits with me and my surgeon, he's soon going to have hiatal hernia surgery himself.

I will say that I sure do appreciate the people here who can muster up their sense of humor in the face of WLS. Much appreciated, mensches!

Ah, those two old lies: 1. I can, should and will be a perfect person. 2. But since I'm not a perfect person, I'll leap off the cliff into total annihilation. Those old mouldy lies haven't been very helpful to us. Have they?

If I had a single body plastic surgery done, it would also be to my arms. We shall see ... we shall see ....

Congrats on getting these plastics done. It sounds like everything has / is healing nicely. When was your surgery? Isn't it likely that all your scars will fade considerably with time?

Glad to hear you're recovering so well. I will (resentfully) mention that my surgeon has his post-op patients on Clear liquids for two weeks after surgery. Then there are two more weeks of a broader span of liquids, including the nice Soups you're now enjoying. But there are no creamy soups or bits of broccoli (or bits of anything else) on my menu for a while. Enjoy!

ROFLMAO! That's very true.

Honest to God! I have no idea where some of this so-called "medical advice" comes from. And people who answer this question who are 6 weeks, 3 months out don't know how much they'll be able to eat in 1, 2, 3 or more years out.

Hmmm ... suddenly, lox sounds good.

NYC, oh, trust me -- outside the city centre everybody wants to know your business. You're expected to explain your life to complete strangers. It's ridiculous.

Congrats. You did it!

lolies ... I see lots of posts like yours: "I'm not losing. Please help me!" But without information about what you're eating, how you're exercising, what your support life is like, your Water, etc. it's hard for anyone to offer suggestions. Would you be able to provide more information here so veterans who see your post might offer suggestions? Best wishes!

@@treener7, whoa! That is a lot of bones! You really are big-boned.

Jessi, gotcha. Thanks.

Why are you persuaded by others to do things you feel are not in your best interests?

Wonderful post, and amazing transformation. You are your own fairy godmother!

I agree that WLS and post-WLS adjustment is a stressful time for many WLS patients. But most WLS patients' relationships, after surgery, do not "go to hell" -- even if there is a lot of talk online about relationships going south. For one thing, most WLS patients never post anything online. For another, WLS patients who do post on message boards tend to post about issues, questions or problems they are having -- NOT about problems they are NOT having. Yes, after WLS some patients' relationships do end. But research about how often that happens is sketchy. (Nonetheless, some journalists have made sweeping judgments about "more divorce post-WLS" based only on anecdotes about break-ups.) Some context ... 40-50% of ALL marriages in the U.S. end in divorce. That does not include non-marital relationships (obviously, that break-up rate is higher).

Congrats to all you new sleevers.

I think you're ready to be a bad girl. Are you positive you don't like and aren't willing to cook new stuff? (I'm not currently a big cook either.) But after posting all my food the last 3 months in MFP, I've learned that all takeout food is sodium-laden and not all that fresh. Plus, I'm sick of it. So I think cooking is something that's on my to-do list in a few months.