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Welcome Linda! I wish you luck on your journey. Please keep us posted on your progress and ask any questions you have along the way.

That sounds like such a good idea...I think I might have to schedule a one!

I was on clear liquids only 2 days and was moved to full liquids when I left the hospital for two weeks until my first follow-up appointment. I then was cleared to start mushy/soft food (pureed) and remained on that for 5 weeks I think (that was not the norm discussed in my pre-op appointments, but due to a hernia repair I had to wait until my 2 month follow-up before I was cleared for regular foods). If you haven't been having any problems, you are probably okay, but is there any way you can schedule an appointment with your surgeon and/or nutritionist? It might help put your mind at ease to sit down and hash out a plan specifically for you.

Welcome Mburgs! Like you and Moutain_lover, I began with the idea of the lapband as well. After research and one consultation, I decided the sleeve fit me and my lifestyle best. I too never thought wls was for me, I was at my heaviest weight ever (241 lbs.) and knew I needed to do something so began looking into hypnosis for weight loss. Instead of information for that, wls websites kept popping up. It took me a couple of days of searching for hypnosis to finally click on a link for wls and once I began reading the testimonials I started to identify myself in those I was reading about. It didn't take long to decide this should be the next step for me. I'm glad you have also come to the decision, it has turned out to be one of the best decisions I've ever made. I have found this site to be so very helpful with very supportive and knowledgeable people, so ask all of your questions and post your concerns. Good luck on your journey!

No offense taken. You are sharing a story of what can happen when one doesn't comply and I believe it is very important that people are able to read all experiences with the VSG, because even with perfect compliance, complications can and do happen. On a side note, and I hope this doesn't offend you or your family, I hope and pray you guys are able to learn something from this experience as well. I always feel, not that I always do it, that if I have an area of strength (common sense) then it's my job to help loved ones who may lack in that area because I know that I have areas that I'm weak in (finances) and rely on others to fill in the gaps and point things out when needed. Maybe if something like this ever comes up again, providing support and doing research (not saying that you didn't) can help all of you because you then become part of the process and could possibly guide her through it so she is able to make the wisest decisions even if you don't totally agree. It was probably not easy for her going through this without family support. Again, not meaning to offend, but I am a very introspective person and believe every experience in life can teach us something about ourselves and/or others. Maybe that's why I love teaching so much:-) I wish you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving and upcoming Christmas. Thank you again for sharing your MIL's story.

I've been feeling a little sad this week and one way I know to lift my spirits is to set goals. I came up with a professional/career goal (well reaffirmed). I had already sort of set a weight loss goal (lose 100 lbs), but that will depend how I feel once I get further out. A clothing goal to get into a size 8 (the smallest I remember being was a 12 my sophomore year in high school, then pretty much a 14-16-18). Now I've been trying to come up with a fitness goal. I think this morning I came up with a perfect one for me. I'm going to try to become a Jazzercise instructor. I spoke to my instructor after class this morning and I really think it's a good fit for me. I've always liked dance and aerobics and after I get a little more weight off, I know I'll be able to do all routines full out without having difficulty speaking. I also like this idea because it will help me stay active in something for life. I don't know if I'll teach that often, but even just subbing would help me keep fit and together. So now that I've written it down, I'm committed to work towards it. Hopefully I'll be ready to try out this winter or spring. So does anyone else have a fitness goal? Any hopeful marathon runners out there?

I picked up my blood results today from my PCP's office. I'll be meeting with surgeon next week, so I'll be able to get his interpretation then. My PCP yesterday afternoon briefly stated that I was pretty much normal. I really like how the print out highlighted the areas that fell out of the normal range. RDW-15.5 % (normal is 11-15 %) high LDL Cholesterol-130 (normal 0-99) high, but all other cholesterol levels are normal including total cholesterol Iron (TIBC)-244 (normal is 250-450) low Vitamin B12-1679 (normal is 211-911) high Vitamin D-111 (normal is 32-100) high My pre-op blood work taken at the end of July found that I was low on vitamin D (18) and they had me supplement with 10,000 IUI per day. I'm going to cut back to 5,000 IUI per day until I meet with the surgeon. They also told me before surgery to supplement with B12 and I think I will just do it 3 days per week now unless the doctor tells me something different. My iron has been low or borderline low since about high school, but before surgery it was okay enough to not have to supplement (that might have to change now, I'll have to wait and see). I was told by the nutritionist before surgery to supplement with calcium, but I've been very inconsistent (not at all in the last 3 weeks), but my levels here are normal. My protein levels are normal. I can't wait until next week when I can sit down and have the surgeon/nutritionist give me feedback on what I need to be doing.

Tonight at exercise class we had to get on the floor for a leg routine and I had trouble getting comfortable because I FELT MY HIPBONES. I don't remember when, or if ever, I've been able to feel my hipbones like this. I was so excited!

Congratulations! What a great feeling that must have been.

Yay! I am so happy for you!!! Good luck on the pre-op diet, your surgery day will be here before you know it.

Welcome Danielle! I had my first surgery and hospital stay in January of 2009 and then my second (VSG surgery) in August 2009 at the age of 29. I was also terrified of the unknown, but it wasn't that bad. My VSG was actually quite a bit easier than the first surgery. Having this wls has been one of the best decisions of my life so far. It sounds like you have excellent support. I wish you lots of luck on the rest of your pre-op journey!

I can't wait until you are back and we are celebrating that date! Take care of yourself and enjoy the holidays. You will be missed.

Welcome Dan! Congratulations on your decision to become healthier, I'm excited to hear about your journey.

Hi Susie, Welcome to VST! I know Tiffykins who posts regularly in the blog section had a revision to the sleeve from the band, but she is visiting family this week. You may want to post this in the "tell your story" part of the forum. I have found these ladies and gents to be very supportive and super helpful. There are many that have revised from band to sleeve, there is even a board in the forum area regarding revisions to the sleeve. I just want to wish you luck on your journey!

Well, I guess I would have to call myself addicted to the scale. The last couple of nights I have been house/dog sitting for a friend and she doesn't have a scale. I have not been able to weigh myself since Saturday and have actually considered going to buy one at target up the road so I could weigh in tomorrow morning. This is absolutely ridiculous because it would not weigh me the same as mine at home, and really what does it matter, I obviously have scale issues:-) I really do need to have other things to focus on besides my weight. It's hard because I'm here alone with the dog and only had time to run a few errands and meet my husband for an early dinner before I needed to come over to take care of her. I now have the rest of the evening in front of me with no cable and my mind obsessing about if I gained or lost a pound overnight...it's a bit pathetic, but by writing this post I just managed to talk myself out of buying a new scale, so that's good.:ohmy:

I think I'm going to go in next Tuesday after my 4 month post-op visit. At this kitchen (from what I've read), you plan ahead by marking off the meals you want to make from their monthly menu. They will then have all the ingredients at your station when you come in. It says you can make substitutions/deletions of ingredients and it has very helpful nutrition labels for each meal and side dish available for the month. Once you have prepared your chosen meals, they have the storage containers you need to take it home and freeze it. I believe there is a label you put on each meal with cooking instructions, nutrition info., etc. I'm excited to see how this works. I've definitely learned to eat left overs with the VSG for days on end:-). Each week I'm usually eating off 3-4 "regular" meals total so I think it might work if I only make a couple of these meals per week. My husband eats a regular portion and then I could possibly eat the rest over the next couple of days. I've never minded having the same thing for 2 meals in a day, but I know I have to watch it so I'm also eating a balanced diet. Thanks again for the feedback!

EXCELLENT job!!! I'm right there with you on the clothing addiction. I've sort of always had a problem, but I see it growing worse each weekend.

I know a big part of my mom's issues before surgery was that she was scared for me...complications, death, would I be successful, etc. She didn't phrase it that way, but I know that was a big part of it. For me there was no way I couldn't tell her because I tell everybody pretty much everything, but that's just my style and I understand (especially in my large, very opinionated family) that not everybody is going to agree. But it does really suck when it's your mom who seems to not be on your side. Ultimately it is your body, health, and decision. If it gets to be too much, I suggest being firm and letting her know you are no longer willing to discuss the issue (of course said in a calm voice with a sweet smile:-). Good luck!

Congratulations! What a great way to celebrate the new year. I have never really understood the bougie sizes. You are going to do such a great job!

This morning at Jazzercise the instructor announced to everyone that I would be trying out in Feb. to be an instructor and invited me to come up front to get a feel for how it would be. I was less than thrilled, feeling tired, bloated, and crampy, but she wouldn't take no for an answer. I'm glad I had the experience. It is different having to do all the routines in a different direction and having people watch you for the way the movements are supposed to be done (it made me a lot more conscious of how I moved and did not allow me to get sloppy). It also reaffirmed how much better shape I need to be in before auditions. There would have been no way that I could have done the routines AND cued the movements today with the headset microphone...I would have been breathing so hard they wouldn't have been able to hear any of the directions:-) The best part actually happened after class. Many people came up to talk with me and I got a lot of positive feedback on both my movements and my weight loss. One lady actually said I was easier to follow than the instructor (it's not true, our instructor is FABULOUS, but it was nice to be told anyway). My weight loss has definitely slowed to a crawl. This week's total weight loss is -1 lb. It was a hard week in the beginning and now I'm on my period, so I guess I am just grateful for any loss.