Fit4myFam

Hello Everyone! I am new to this forum, although I have been reading everyone's very informative and inspirational posts for many months now! As my gastric sleeve journey is about to take off, I thought I should finally introduce myself to the group as I hope to post here throughout my journey... About me... I am what you would consider a gastric sleeve 'lightweight', although I have never thought of myself as "light" in the past 10 years! I am 5'2" female and 210 lbs, making my BMI 38.2. I am a self-pay patient as my BMI is "too low" (under 40) for insurance coverage. I am "pre-diabetic", have borderline high blood pressure, and ahve a strong family prevalence of diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure. I want this surgery for my health. I used to be very fit. I was never an overweight child, but the pounds started creeping on when I went to college. Faced with buffets at the college diner and 24 hour pizza places, I gorged myself and the pounds slowly packed on. Eating became about "fun" and not nutrition, and I was tempted by sweets, fast foods, fried stuff.... I used to be very conscious about nutrition and have a wealth of information in my head about calories/protein/fiber of different foods. Somehow I am lacking the ability to translate that knowledge into my habits and hoping the sleeve will give me that missing tool I need. Fast forward 10 years later and I have never been able to "control" my weight. I have gained and lost 60+ pounds twice. My highest weight was 230 just after delivering my son... a weight that puts me at morbidly obese. Over the years, I have tried all sorts of diets--- phentermine prescribed by doctor (twice), weight watchers, atkins, medifast, slimfast, other physician controlled diets.... only to lose weight and have it come back. I am sure you are all familiar with this. I am looking forward to this surgery to get me back into a healthy range where I belong, and to give me a tool to help me eat nutritiously, and not purely for taste. My sleeve journey so far... I am planning to be sleeved my Dr. Tiffany Jessee at Suncoast Bariatrics in Tampa, FL. She has excellent reviews and very high patient satisfaction scores/very low complication rate. I met her at her informational session and am very confident in her. I have already attended the info session, nutritional counseling, and psych eval. Next up is my surgical consultation (next week), endoscopy and then pre-op diet. I am aiming to be sleeved n January. My support system is primarily my husband. He is amazingly supportive. He, too, needs to lose 30lbs or so, and I hope that with my smaller portion sizes and healthy choices (as I am the cook for us), this will also help his health. I also want to use these boards for support and plan to attend support group meetings. I realy don't want to tell anyone else in my lifea bout this surgery... I think they may hve a negative attidue about this and I am trying to surround myself with motivation and positive attitudes so I have the best chance at success here. I am really hoping I can get through the next few months fine (pre op diet, surgery and initial recovery phase) and get to a point where I dont ahve to think about the sleeve all the time and my choices are my "new normal". Thats what I am really hoping for out of this surgery. Does anyone have a similar circumstance to mine and want to stay in touch? (e.g., sleeved at the same time; similar starting stats; location in FL)? Good luck to all on your sleeve journey.... I can't wait to be on the other side and on the losers bench!

Did you have a hiatal hernia repair too withyour vsg? I did, and remember a similar feeling that I would describe as pressure or painful tightness below ny sternum. It was just normal healing and I am 6 weeks post op no complications. I had that pain for the first week post op and on and off in the second week. If it is really more pain than pressure/discomfort (or accompanied by any other symptoms), definitely call your surgeon. But as you have described it, I think its fine and I remember something similar.

HW: 220 SW (feb 3): 209.5 CW (6 weeks post op): 183 Loss from surgery to today: 26.5 lbs GW: 125. (I am 5'2")

Today is the day! At the hospital in surgery prep area! 5'2" and day of surgery weight 209.5lbs. Surprisingly not too nervous..... Feeling excited!!! My husband is here with me and he is my rock. So thankful for his support and good humor. See you when i am sleeved

Hi everyone... Just want to give a brief update!! Had my surgery on Monday 2/3. No complications and doing well (fingers crossed that this continues!!) I have general soreness in my belly like I dos too many crunches and its hard to get up from lying down or from sotting in a chair but it is getting better every day. In fact, since I left the hospital yesterday afternoon, i haven't tale any pain meds... Just gas x. Biggest challenges right now: GAS pains Fluids For me, the gas was the worst part of surgery. As soon as I woke up in recovery i had immense gas pressure in my left shoulder and across mu clavicle. Because of this and a hiatal hernia fix deep breaths that really expand my chest hurt... Using the incentive spirometer they gave me. Gas x strips seem to be helping a bit. Gas pains are making it hard to take on fluids. I should be getting 30 oz a day (through the little medicine cups... Yesterday which was post op day 2 i managed to get in 18 oz, mainly of gatorade g2, Because of the gas, everytime i take a sip or swallow, i have to let out a burp. If the burp doesn't come right away i have a strong pressure In my chest. Its taking me 3-4 sips to get the 1 oz cup down with burps in between. Hope this gas goes away soon! I cam home with an on-q pain pump and that may be why I have avoided pain meds at home. I have been diligent about walking every few hours, even in the middle of the night! I am not a back sleeper usually so nights are not comfortable since It hurts if i try to turn to my side. That coupled with gas pains the shoulder = not much sleep . Poor hubby to keep waking up at night to rub my bqck or shoulders. I cant wait for this part of recovery to be over!!!

Thank you for the good wishes! I will update later, hopefully in a few hours!

Surgery is Feb 3 for me... wow, only 4 days away! Getting real now! Zumbagal - you posted above that your surgery is in St Pete, FL. Me too.... are you using suncoast bariatrics?

Feb 3 in Tampa, FL Really excited... and nervous... but mostly excited! Sending good health vibes and positivity to all you other Feb 3/4 sleevers!

Feb 3 in Tampa, FL Really excited... and nervous... but mostly excited! Sending good health vibes and positivity to all you other Feb 3/4 sleevers!

Hi ggdrop, I totally understand! I have my surgery on Monday too and am also a mommy (my baby is 11 months old). This whole week I have been flip flopping between excitement/readiness for surgery and total freak out/'what if' mode. Most of my what ifs have been about 'leaving' my son or having some horrid complication that makes my life impossible. I understand you too about the fear of loose skin.... I really don't want to get to my 'goal weight' to STILL dislike what I see in the mirror bc of the skin, but hey, at least I won't be overweigh then! I think we have made a good decision to better our health.. a good decision for ourselves AND our families that will help us be more active, set better examples, etc. There will be always be a fear of 'going under' and giving up control to a medical team, but I have confidence in my surgeon and in this procedure. Sending good vibes your way.... I am sure we will both be great!

I have my consultation with the surgeon Monday (already did info seminar, psych eval, nutritionist). My surgeon offers the SPIDER method of surgery for band and sleeve where she operates only laparascopically through the belly button (no other incisions) and uses the SPIDER tool to actually do the surgery inside. I want to do this for my sleeve rather than have the 4 - 5 small incisions. I know that you have to qualify for the spider (e.g., torso has to be a certain length, no other scar tissue, etc.). Anyone have the sleeve using the spider technique? If so, can you share any insight into healing time and whether you were still very sore? I think it would be nice to have fewer incisions, but I have also heard that because the surgeon is doing everything in a tight area, they need to shfit things around more and you can be sore.

Hi everyone! My VSG is scheduled for Feb 3 (just 30 days and counting now!). I am currently nursing my 10 month old 3-4 times a day, but am looking to wean by my surgery time. I know i "could" continue to nurse him but I really think I will need my energy to recover, and selfishly feel ready to wean. I applaud all of you that continued nursing even after surgery! My question for you: any tips on how to wean him over the next few weeks? He doesn't like the taste of formula so I have been mixing half formula with some flavored juice or yogurt for his midday bottle (but he still drinks only 3 - 4 ounces). What is the last feeding to go - morning or night? I have also heard that my husband should give him the bottle so he doesn't smell the breast milk on me and refuse.... Also anyone see any issues with partial nursing through the 2 week pre-op diet? Any tips would be appreciated!

Hi! I love the idea of this thread! I am 5'2" with surgery scheduled for feb 3! I have about 75 lbs to lose (starting at 210). Good luck to all!!

My surgery is scheduled for 2/3. It feels so u real even typing that! All i have left is pre-op testing (egd, ekg, blood work). Preop diet starts two weeks prior and I need to lose 5 lbs. I need to seriously start stocking up on the liquids, food scale/measuring cups that I will need post op! Good luck to all of you on your journey!

Hayesa, good luck to you too! Lucky thar your insurance approved with low bmi! Self-pay here.... But hoping it will be one of the best investments ever!! Update: i got my surgery date... Feb 3!! Cant velieve that is only 6 weeks away!! I am going to be busy with pre op testing and like you, grtting my post op supplies (food scale, Protein powder, shaker bottle etc)! Lets stay updated on each others progress... Hope you fins oht your surgery date soon!

WOW! What a transformation! You must be so proud of yourself. You look great!!