ayahbesleeved

You have this! My surgery is tomorrow too! Message me- let's do this! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hey everyone! I am getting sleeved tomorrow and I'm as nervous as all get-out. This will be my 6th surgery over all- when I was a kid, I had open heart surgery. Then I had a lap band in 2009. Two skin removal surgeries in 2013. And I had a lap band removal in 2014. Now, I'm getting the sleeve. I have this nervous feeling that my body wont be able to handle anesthesia for a sixth time. I know there are a lot of people who have had more surgeries than me, but my anxiety has to manifest somehow, I guess. I'm also excited, though. Here's a little bit about my back story: I was 385 lbs at 21 years old when I had the lap band in 2009. Lost 170 lbs and ended up being around 212 lbs at my lowest, after skin removal. I was a size 10/12, down from a tight size 28. In 2014, I had weird abdominal pain and swelling they couldn't figure out (turned out to be a kidney infection) so as part of the testing, they did a CT on me. When they did the CT, they found that the lap band had moved from its position. Explained the year and a half of upper abdominal pain I was ignoring and my weight gain. I had gained about 30 lbs by then. They removed the saline from my lap band and I instantly gained 10 lbs. So when I met with my surgeon, he gave me three options: (1) fix the band, (2) remove the band, (3) convert to a sleeve. He was pushing for the last option, but I was sick and incredibly gun shy about having another surgery. I was not ready to have them do anything else to my body. And my husband and I also wanted to start trying to have a baby, and I would have been postponed by at least a year. So I told him to just take out the band. I knew how to work out and eat right and I had worked my ass off before, so I didn't see why I couldn't do so again. Probably the worst decision I have ever made. I experienced injury after injury that led to more and more weight gain, compounded by the depression (triggered by a lot of things, not least of which was losing one of my biggest life accomplishments, weight loss). Two years later, I'm 322 lbs (as of today- my highest pre-op weight was 338, pre-liquid diet), I'm on a CPAP, my knees creak all day, I have a bulging disc in my back, I can feel my skin stretching around my plastic surgery incisions (which is another huge worry of mine- the plastic surgery recovery was far worse than the lap band itself, so I really don't want to have to redo it), I'm prediabetic again, my PCOS is back, and my life is basically on hold. My worry that I would postpone trying for a baby for a year became 2 years of weight gain that will lead to at least another year, if not longer, of postponing the baby. That's 3 years, instead of the 1 if I had gotten the sleeve 2 years ago. But hindsight is 20/20, I guess. And if I wasn't ready for the sleeve, then I wouldn't have done well on it. So I'm glad that I'm doing it now. And I already feel better after losing 18 lbs on the liquid diet. My clothes fit better, I don't hear myself breathing as loudly as before all day. It's only gonna get better from here. I can't wait to get back to working out 6 days a week. Besides the clothes and the confidence, the thing I miss most is being strong and working out. I was doing an hour of cardio 6 days a week, yoga 5 days a week, and strength training 4 days a week. At 212 lbs., I was fit, pain free, with a flat stomach and probably no more than 30 lbs to lose. I need to get back to that, and continue down to a lower weight. If you pray, please pray for me tonight. If you don't, send out good vibes into the universe for me. And if you need a prayer, I was taught that the prayers of the sick are closer to God, so I'm happy to pray for you during my recovery. Much love to you all, Ayah

As long as you're moving down or staying the same you're okay Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I definitely agree that finding a hobby is the answer. I'm a graphic artist and my surgery is on Wednesday December 14, and I know afterwards I will be trying to subdue any hunger in my mind, by being really productive writing and drawing. Don't look back, turn the page, and let your next chapter begin! . ME TOO! Dec 14 ???? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Yes definitely a hands on hobby. Coloring, drawing, knitting, woodworking, a rubiks cube, whatever. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I think this is my main struggle too. food addiction is hard to deal with bc it's like an alcoholic being told to have one drink a day. But I think exercise, writing, journaling, art, talking to friends. I think the main thing is recognizing your emotion when you're stressed or upset and want to eat and choosing to channel it. Just take a second when you're feeling the urge to eat and think about how ur body is feeling and how ur mind is feeling and parse out what the emotion is. If it's not actually hunger, think of alternative actions that u can take that aren't food. It takes a looong time to be able to do this consistently but keep at it Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hey guys, I'm having a real problem sticking with the pre-op liquid diet. My surgery is next week and I'm having a really hard time not eating. I feel like I'm doing this wrong. I last all day on a couple Protein shakes and Water and one serving of broth. Then I get home and I am starving, sick of protein, and wanting to eat. So I end up having some cheese or yogurt or crackers. Anyone have any tips on stopping this cycle? I'm really worried about not making weight for my surgery. Help! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Oh that's smart. I think I can have that Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App I think one of my main problems is that I like more savory things than sweet, and most of the drinks available are sweet. The broth gets old and gross lol Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Best of luck!!! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

My main thing for focus is keep in mind why you're doing this. Put a note in your phone (or an actual note on your night stand) with your reasons. Look at it every day when you wake up. Every day. Starting your day with "I'm going to eat healthy today and go one my walk because mom went through x y and z and I don't want my kids to experience that" and "when I lose weight I will be able to do a b and c" will help you stay focused. It's not fool proof but it puts you in a focused mindset! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I haven't been sleeved yet but I had the lap band before and I think the major thing is that you have to deal with others your emotional connection with food asap. Use the first few months while everything is still super tight and constraining to figure out your relationship with food and what your triggers are and manage it actively. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Isopure? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I feel you girl. You'll get through it. Just push through and keep yourself busy. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I had the lap band at 385 7 years ago. Lost 175 lbs. Took it out and gained back 100. Now 320 and getting sleeved in 2 weeks. You are doing great! Your self image will take some time with how long it takes to lose the weight but the way you feel will catch up with your reality- it's gonna feel great just don't be too hard on yourself! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Day one here. Doing broths, decaf teas, Isopure, Protein shakes, Water, and crystal light water. Also they said I can do sugar free popsicles and Jello so I'm waiting to do those later when I'm going nuts Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Stick w the protocol- Protein first, no drinking for 30 min before and after, etc. and see if that changes things. You tend to learn how to game the system as time passes- don't let your intelligence lead to your failure Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I'm so sorry for your loss. But you seem to be doing so well! You're young and you have a world ahead of you- God bless and good luck! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

This is normal- I feel the same way. You've got this; two weeks til surgery. You're gonna do great! Totally worth it! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Check with your insurance re what's required. Some will need as little as 2-3 months to do the requisite appointments, others as long as 6-7 months Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

The only other thing I can think of is that your body is resisting and you'll lose the weight in one fell swoop. Are you also counting calories? Your liquid intake should be between 800-1200 cal. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Thank YOU for doing this Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Are you drinking enough @@Military Ma? If not ur body could be holding onto fluids Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Not on the list- 12/14!

So I'm kind of a unique case- I had the lap band in 2009. Was 385 (I'm 5'4") at my highest, got down to 217 at my wedding in December 2013. Was working out 6 days a week, was a size 10-12, and had an ass you could bounce a quarter off of hahaha. But all of 2014 I was getting crazy stomach pain and gaining weight. I had moved and lost my gym routine so I thought it was that and jumped back into the gym and injured myself. Put on more weight during recovering from that. Then I had inexplicable back and pelvic pain (which later turned out to be a kidney infection)- during a CT scan for this pelvic pain they saw that my lap band had slipped, so that must have been what caused all that pain and weight gain. They gave me the option in Nov 2014 to convert to a sleeve but I was very gun shy and thought I worked so hard and I know how to lose weight, I can do it on my own. I don't want any more complications. So they took it out. I was 250 at that point. I ended up gaining 70 more lbs over the next two years. This was after I had gotten skin removal surgery (which sucks btw lol). I was incredibly depressed, gaining weight, unable to get in control of it, unemployed etc etc etc. So finally I in February of 2016 I thought I need to just bite the bullet and get the sleeve. I don't want to wait until I'm 385 lbs again to get motivated- I need something to help me now. So I started the process. I wavered on it a lot, which is why it took me 8 months instead of 6 to get approved- I kept going back on the idea of getting the surgery. Here's what I'm worried about: 1. What if I get a leak 2. What if I lose all the weight only to gain it back again 3. What if my skin sags so the horrible skin surgeries weren't worth it? I've got seams like a build-a-bear already- how much would it suck to be a build a bear AND have loose skin. All in all though, the pros outweighs the cons. Last time when I had Bariatric surgery I was 21. I didn't feel the effects of being obese on my body. Now I'm 65 lbs lighter than before and my back and knees and ankles kill. I have sleep apnea. My prediabetes and blood pressure are creeping up. My social life is suffering. My three-year-old marriage is suffering. The fears I have are far outweighed by the reality I live in. @@OhHeyMarina, you've got this girl. You will come out much healthier and happier. Don't worry about the loose skin. You may have some, but skin is an amazing organ and actually does snap back pretty well. If you're weight lifting and moisturizing well, you're gonna limit the amount of excess skin. And if not, you can always get it lifted. I'm telling you, nothing is not worth feeling thin and healthy. Wearing the clothes you want and feeling healthy on your body. You're making an investment in your life- ylure getting sleeved so you won't have the pitfall I had. Just stay on track and make that lifestyle change and it will be so worth it!

Definitely been having food funerals My birthday is on 12/6 so I had an early bday with my family today. My husband is worried that I'm having too many food funerals haha. I'm supposed to start my liquid diet Dec 1 so I'm gonna try to lay off crazy food starting now so it's not too much of a shock to my system lol. Good to know I'm not the only naughty kid in class.