Jane_J

I can't see my scars either.

Wow, I can't believe some of the responses on here. I think the medical profession need to do a better job of screening to only perform the op on people who are in the right place mentally. I hope no one who really really wants to lose the weight is put off by some of these replies. For me and many, many people I have talked to since early 2009 VSG has been the answer to our prayers. Yes hunger comes back but it's normal hunger, not the deranged stuff it down as fast as possible type. Yes you have to be sensible with what you eat but again it's a normal way of eating. Today as I approach my 4 year anniverary of my sleeve I had 2 fried eggs and 2 grilled rashers of bacon for Breakfast. For lunch I had a large bowl of homemade chicken and sweetcorn Soup. For a snack I had an apple. For dinner I plan on some roast pork and vegetables. I walked for 1 and a half hours in the woods so all of this will give me net calories of approx 800. I am trying to shed some weight I gained from partying too hard. I have been having a ball since I got down to a normal BMI. Jane

Mine are unnoticeable too. My belly is quite saggy though having had twins.

I'm afraid I struggle with booze as I can still drink. I used to drink too much before. Wine and eBay and Shoes are my nemesis. I think I have some degree of OCD too.

I don't regret it either, and if it had been available earlier I would have done it. As it is I was 51 when I had my VSG, I am jealous of those who can sort their weight out whilst they are still young

OK looking at this pro and con thing I can say this. My BMI was just over 41.5 when I decided to go for a VSG. I had no quality of life and hated myself. I felt I would not live much longer like that with my asthma so for me it was an easy decision. Staying fat and indeed getting fatter seemed to me like committing slow suicide and I felt I owed my family more than that. Dealing with life without the fat shield has it's own mental problems and they need to be dealt with. Also the dynamics in a marriage can and usually will change. I was lucky, my marriage survived and ended up stronger. As to the original question, if I had to I would do the op again. Regarding the lady who died after her WLS, it's sad. But how many of us that have had the surgery and have shed weight would be dead now though if we had done nothing? And how many of us would have died prematurely if we had done nothing? Jane

Hi isajck. I had over a years bad health after my surgery. I think it takes a while to adjust for some people. I took Vitamin D, Calcium Citrate and sub lingual Vitamin B12. Deficiencies in either of those rwo Vitamins could be causing your problems maybe. Any hows I hope you get back to tip top form ASAP! All the best, Jane

Unsweetened apple juice should be OK eventually. I rememebr drinking a little quite early on. That and very thin chicken and vegetable stock. Hope it settles down soon.

No regrets at all. It's hard for the 1st weeks to re-adjust but after that all good. I have got my life back thanks to the VSG.

Yes I am the same. Life will become normal for you, just believe that and hang on in there.

I was sleeved on the 12th May 2009, I initially weighed 254lbs and am 5ft 6in tall. I am now 133lbs. You have done really well. It's important that we tell those making this decision now what the outcome will most likely be, extremely positive.

I told everyone because I am a complete blabber mouth :-) I am now 3 years out and I still tell strangers if we are chatting and they mention a diet issue and are obviously in the range to be considered for the VSG. I wish I had known about the op earlier but it was quite a new procedure in Europ 3 years ago. My family and friends have been really supportive. I am still waiting for the critical comment because I will be ready with a comeback but it has never happened. I do say I was self pay (I was, £5,500) though as people in the UK are judgy of the NHS being used for this op. People are woefully ignorant about WLS, and our press seem to only understand the lapband and the bypass. I have written to journalists asking them to look at the VSG but I guess they don't want to write good news stories. Far better to scare the cr@p out of people!

Vanishing, I think you looked lovely to start with but you look even more lovely now. You are inspirational and I admired you. I am sorry you have had a rough year, I hope 2012 is much better and you reap the rewards of all your hard work. The body image takes a while to catch up with the body and it does play with your head but it all comes back OK in the end. Jane x

Oh really, I know you all lurve it, LOL!!!!

I know this comes under the heading of TMI probably but for me VSG meant goodbye Tena Lady, if that's any help to you guys xx

OK an illustration of the way I think now, which may resonate with how I was about food. Today I went back to our local Charity (Thrift) shop and found a Karen Millen silver dress I had tried on previously, and not bought, had been reduced from £30 to £15. It did look nice before so I bought it. There was a dress on eBay for around £40 I liked so on the back of saving all that money on a new and tagged Karen Millen dress (RRP £160) I felt I could justify a further £40 on the other dress. This is warped logic and I don't seem to be able to stop myself. Also it's impossible to just stop spending money as you cannot go cold turkey unless you get someone else to be in charge of your finances which would be humiliating. Aaaargggh!!

I got me old engagement ring and old bent wedding ring melted down and remade into a new designed by us ring, and I got a simple diamond eternity ring to wear day to day as my wedding ring when I reached goal. Kept the original husband without melting down and refashioning though

I can drink beer no problem now. So when you are at target and want to take the foot off the weight loss gas you can have a few beers.

Mine was 9 5/8 at the fattest and is now loose 6. I have hands like shovels though

Huzzah Cludgie, well done you!! I felt the same when I hit under 25 and I felt better when my BMI was under 22 and I was going to the gym a few times a week. But under 25 I stopped feeling officially fat which is nice xx

Good thinking there manxy! I like the unusualness of thrift shop clothes, the high streets all look the same to me these days, the same shops with the same styles, so these odd shops allow individualism.