CoffeeGrinDR

I think their threshold is a fever (as they wouldn't want to risk infection). Hopefully its just one of the quick bugs that have been circulating. Sounds like you're doing everything possible. Sleep, zinc, and vitamin C are your best weapons. Hang in there! We're with you!

Thank goodness for the internet of things!!

Much love and light headed your way!

Hey, it gets pretty overwhelming all at once...just take it one step at a time. The other good advice I've been given: Remember, you can't eat in the shower or when you are sleeping. If you're feeling stressed maybe try a hot bath or shower or a nap/rest? I try to keep myself distracted with books, etc. so I don't get overwhelmed. Or I come here and look for advice. Hang in there!

Getting the lapband out was worse than getting my gallbladder removed. It took me a long time to recover from that surgery even though I had an excellent surgeon, I just felt like the anesthesia was in my system for a LONG time. Also, I was forbidden to workout beyond walking around slightly. Not moving really slows healing. That was a rough two year period after the lapband of being severely anemic and sick and not having anyone know what was going on but not being allowed to exercise (to the point of not being permitted to go up stairs or lift more than 10 pounds, etc.). The ability to move and exercise is a gift you don't appreciate until you are forbidden to do those things. I'm SO oppositional defiant. Tell me I am not allowed to workout and it's all I want to do! Suffice to say I gained a lot of weight back (all 70 pounds lost on the band and then some) when I was sick. The weight gain leads to depression, the depression leads to emotional eating, vicious cycle...etc... Can't wait to get a fresh start in 2014 with you all! We got this!

Just catching up on the posts here! I actually had my gallbladder out well before the band or anything else...I had successfully lost 50 pounds through crazy diet and exercise. And THEN I had gallbladder problems. Gallbladder wasn't bad at all. I didn't even use the pain pill past the first night and that was only because of the noise outside, not the pain. But be sure to use the pillow to splint your abdomen when you cough or laugh!!

hahahaha...still laughing! Does nobody use the chat feature on this site?

Poohbear, you're an INSPIRATION! Thanks for giving us hope! Congrats!

The first successful gastrectomy was performed by Theodor Billroth in 1881 for cancer of the stomach. Do I have concerns about cutting out approximately 85% of my stomach? Yes. But I am more concerned about my life would be like if I didn't. The pain I have dealt with for 30+ years, the psychological suffering, the social loneliness, this can be nothing compared with some physical pain and the forebearance required by a 2oz stomach. I will take this path because there is something in the wiring of my brain that doesn't stop when it comes to sugar, there is no "stop" sign on hunger in my body. I don't need a genetic test to know that. I just need a fighting chance. That's what this is. There's nothing easy about weight loss surgery. Nobody thinks, "oh, sure" I can just take the easy way out. This is not easy. It is not easy to accept that you have an addiction. It is not easy waking up every day and feeling self loathing. It is not easy changing your emotional and psychological crutches. This is about living. And that is the hardest thing. So instead of buying a gun and putting it in my mouth I bought myself a vacation to Mexico. I'm not telling anyone, I'm telling you, whomever you are that if you're reading this I know how you have felt. I have cried after eating myself sick. I have looked in the mirror with disgust. I have thought of my life as an empty shell, a lifelong ticket for the sidelines. I want to play in the game, not just watch from the sides. I want to dance, not just wallflower. I want to live. And I'm willing to fight. But I need this fast forward, I need some jolt into success. I'm not asking for the easy way. I will fight. I will fight through the anesthesia, and the pain, and the stitches, and the burning stomach acid, and the gagging nausea, and the inability to swallow down meats that aren't pulverized, and the foregoing of old comfort foods, and no more big floppy pieces of pizza. Why? So I can sit on a plane and not feel mortified, so I can walk into a store and buy something off the rack (for the first time in my life), so I can ask someone out and not have to convince them I'm super smart and funny first, so I can go skiing in Breck, so I can go dancing and not have to drink my humiliation away, so I can play golf and tennis with friends, so I can hike, so I can kayak, so I can complete the triathlon I've signed up for three times, so I can sit on the ground and get up without an ordeal, so I can camp and not be exhausted or worried, so I can not be terrified of hurting my leg (again) because of ice, so I can not be ashamed to see family each year, so I can love myself, so I can be free, so I can go snowmobiling, so I can stop being scared of life, so i'm not screaming hateful words at myself everytime I meet someone new, so my life can be about living in the moment and not being worried about the weight. So my ex can see me and eat her heart out.

Before we get started... I grew up in an abusive household and I've done a lot of work with a therapist to get through anger issues but I haven't resolved my weight problems. I've gone through periods of losing. I have a cycle. I lose weight, I feel better, I meet someone, I get "comfortable", I gain weight, I get upset, I feel worse, I gain weight, the relationship gets rocky, I gain weight, I feel worse, I go through a break up. Repeat. I'm successful in my career but I have no doubt that I have faced "fat" prejudice in job interviews or with colleagues. I have no doubt that it has held me back in living my life; I have spent so much time getting out of potentially embarrassing situations its what I've lived my life knowing and excelling at: avoiding living. But when you are the weight I am you worry, you stress, you know that you might not fit in the chair, you worry that you'll bring the wrong seat belt extension; you know it will wind you to have to walk up the hill for the sightseeing, you avoid beach vacations, you would love to sky dive or ride horseback or even run, but you can't; you try to get to meetings early because you worry about having to squeeze into a row for a seat; you don't like being out of breath just from going up two floors with your colleagues when you walk back from lunch; you live in a state where people ski most of the year and you have no ski weekend stories because the thought of even walking in snow is exhausting. It is so tiring, so exhausting not living. And so when it is quiet and lonely but safe you are happy but not quite, so you grab that box of swiss rolls and the sugar and the pleasant set of movies make you forget about all the painful moments of being so aware of being the biggest one in the room but being invisible. But the temporary reprieve keeps us caught up where we are. I don't think I've wrapped my mind around what my life looks like "thin" it's more of: what is my life like? I have no idea. I have been on the sidelines. Yes, I got places, I do things, but everything is always buried in these extra 130 pounds and it is tiring. I've lived in three different countries, I've traveled around the world, I go out and yet I do so always aware of my size. So, it's time to start thinking differently. Or rather, to stop thinking "fat" and start thinking "worthy" or maybe just to not have to plan everything, control the environment, avoid embarrassment. It's not a secret but we never talk about it. It's the most obvious thing but it creates so many walls that make us invisible. I'm choosing to live. I think I am afraid of what that will bring. No more sidelines. And there will still be difficult days and tough times and lonely Sunday evenings. And then what do I do? Without the food to soothe and the weight to blame, what does my narrative become? It's time to start a new story of my life...

I won't say I know how you feel (because who can) but I will say I understand feeling the desire to please and having your confidence shaken by going against what those who love you want for you. I'm sure it is because they are scared and think that somehow their actions are protective. It comes from a place of love. But so does your action to get the VSG. You've done the work, you have gone through so much. This is for you and it is ok to do what is healthy for you. And they love you and will keep loving you and they will be there to Celebrate your victories on the other side. My thoughts are with you.

Oh! My surgeon only requires a week diet but I am going liquid 2 weeks before the start...I want to get in as good a shape as possible so I can heal well. Including as much walking as possible.

I am excited too! Got the prilosec and compression socks already...need to stock up on gas-x, buy a new heating pad, and get some more pillows. I've had gallbladder and lap band surgery so I feel like I am ready for this! I'm a bit nervous about flying after surgery but that's what the compression socks are for. I'm a little worried that I only have a week off of work but I can't complain - I will probably take half days. I don't work a terribly strenuous job except when I have to teach (then its 2.5 hours of being "on the ball" and on my feet!). I'd really like to stay in step with all of us getting sleeved in January. I'm going to need the support. I'm here for anyone - PM me if you want my skype name or anything. I just started a blog to be able to get all of these spinning thoughts out of my mind and out there somewhere. I'm psyched for this, 2014 is going to be OUR year!

When I read the original post on this thread I thought, wow, do you get it. I have to think we each, in our own way, understand the depths and lasting impact of some wounds we have experienced early on. I grew up in an abusive household and I've done a lot of work with a therapist to get through anger issues but I haven't resolved my weight problems. I've gone through periods of losing. I have a cycle. I lose weight, I feel better, I meet someone, I get "comfortable", I gain weight, I get upset, I feel worse, I gain weight, the relationship gets rocky, I gain weight, I feel worse, I go through a break up. Repeat. I'm successful in my career but I have no doubt that I have faced "fat" prejudice in job interviews or with colleagues. I have no doubt that it has held me back in living my life; I have spent so much time getting out of potentially embarrassing situations its what I've lived my life knowing and excelling at: avoiding living. But when you are the weight I am you worry, you stress, you know that you might not fit in the chair, you worry that you'll bring the wrong seat belt extension; you know it will wind you to have to walk up the hill for the sightseeing, you avoid beach vacations, you would love to sky dive or ride horseback or even run, but you can't; you try to get to meetings early because you worry about having to squeeze into a row for a seat; you don't like being out of breath just from going up two floors with your colleagues when you walk back from lunch; you live in a state where people ski most of the year and you have no ski weekend stories because the thought of even walking in snow is exhausting. It is so tiring, so exhausting not living. And so when it is quiet and lonely but safe you are happy but not quite, so you grab that box of swiss rolls and the sugar and the pleasant set of movies make you forget about all the painful moments of being so aware of being the biggest one in the room but being invisible. But the temporary reprieve keeps us caught up where we are. I don't think I've wrapped my mind around what my life looks like "thin" it's more of: what is my life like? I have no idea. I have been on the sidelines. Yes, I got places, I do things, but everything is always buried in these extra 130 pounds and it is tiring. I've lived in three different countries, I've traveled around the world, I go out and yet I do so always aware of my size. So, it's time to start thinking differently. Or rather, to stop thinking "fat" and start thinking "worthy" or maybe just to not have to plan everything, control the environment, avoid embarrassment. It's not a secret but we never talk about it. It's the most obvious thing but it creates so many walls that make us invisible. I'm choosing to live. I think I am afraid of what that will bring. No more sidelines. And there will still be difficult days and tough times and lonely Sunday evenings. And then what do I do? Without the food to soothe and the weight to blame, what does my narrative become? It's time to start a new story of my life...

Thanks! I'm mostly just looking for a drastic kick in the arse to get me some momentum. I am committed to the lifestyle changes but you all know what it's like when things move so slowly. With the awesome tool and my mindset (and an awesome gym and trainer) I feel like I am geared up for this in a way that means it isn't a question of if I will lose weight but HOW fast it will fall off. Positive thinking! My ex was really negative about WLS so I put off the sleeve even though the surgeon who removed my band said I may want to consider it. Got rid of the ex and am now making life choices for me. I want to succeed at this so badly. Thanks for all your support!

Thanks for your reassurance!

My surgery date is January 16th with Dr. Aceves, too. Flying in on Jan 15th and out on the 20th. Can't wait to kick off 2014 with a real commitment to my health! Good luck and good health everyone. Any other surgery day twins out there?

HEY! I'm also getting sleeved on January 16th in Mexico...by Dr. Aceves. Want to be surgery buddies? Let's make 2014 the best year yet!

Thanks for posting responses. I'm scheduled for Dr. A on January 16th! Any advice about plane travel right after surgery is welcome!