thinoneday

What a wonderful story! I bet that made you feel so good about yourself. . . whenever that happens to me I grab a diet drink instead and it feels so good. . . most times your mostly thirsty anyhow. . .your breaking out of your shell about how you feel about yourself. . .how wonderful! I'm so proud of you! It feels good to actually start feeling like a normal person and getting pictures taken and all. . .it gets easier, . . i hated having my pictures taken, now it's not a problem at all. . . i still don't like it, but at least it's easier. . . good luck to you and the best of all things to you!

Like Cheryl says don't compare yourself to other people. . what size sleeve did your doctor put in there? are you doing dense proteins ok? ask yourself if your eating as much as before the sleeve. . . are you snacking/grazing? it's great that you can drink lots of fluids, now make sure it's mostly water or crystal light. . .just be patient as long as you were sleeved you will lose the weight. . good luck:)

There are days I'm REALLY embarrassed at our country's obesity rate. Then there is that Michelle Obamma person who herself doesn't look that great in a bathing suit. . did anyone see her and her daughter at the beach wherever they were?? . . at least she should have wore a 1 piecer. Want to talk about an EMBARRASSMENT!! . .Sarah Palin may be foolish in some of her ways but at least she is in shape and doesn't preach "do as I say and not as I do" philosphopy. . .

Yup and here is my experience as well. . . I started off at 350 lbs (a big mother!!) 4XL clothing ok. . i was always told i'd fail, that i wasn't good enough for anything. . emotional abuse was the norm in my family ok. . . i got the surgery and yup it's a tool alright but let me tell you it's a damn good tool !!! Best that i've ever owned. . . best investment i ever made. . .I'm 10 1/2 months out and have lost over 140 lbs . . I don't stay on any kind of "diet" I eat what i want to eat but i don't pig out all the time and i don't snack/graze all day long either. . . the stomach was removed (I have a 28/32F sleeve) but my hormone must have been produced in the pancreas cause my hunger was/is still there, but not as bad. . . i don't watch what i put in my mouth, but i'm aware of what i'm doing and it's easier to make choices. . .i still drink my rum and coke EVERY weekend (can only drink 1 or 2 but that is it) i still eat the odd chocolate and goodie . . girl I'm alive and living and have never looked back, I love this tool . . in the beginning I major hated it and wished i would have never had gotten it, but that was because I couldn't eat like swine and grunt and groan anymore. . . nope now i actually have to be a lady about it all. . . Good luck in all your decision making

whewwwww I knew California was over priced but almost had a stroke there for a minute! Today I am still feeling blah. . . I've had complete consistent nausea for the past 2 weeks. . I can't throw up so I feel really blah. . . but this too shall pass. . . too bad it's over the holidays but i will survive, I have a PCP appt next tuesday to get a check out, my electrolytes and cardiac workup. . . other then that I am FANTASTIC and slim!!!! will let you all know

HI! I had surgery with his partner Dr Ramiro "Sonny" Cavazos I don't know about Dr. Gonzales, but Dr. Cavazos is excellent. . .Dr. Gonzalez assisted him. . . since they work in the same place, I'm sure Dr. Cavazos would probably assist him too. . but they have had a perfect work record, no leaks, no complications, nothing . . . I had the best experience with their office staff and with the hospital stay. . (I was self pay) if you go with Texas Center for Surgical Weight Loss you will be VERY happy . . .

OH YEAH, well you tell him he may have the lower BMI but you have all the gadgets that boys can't do without! (BMI my foot) stands for Best Man Intimadated! big congratulations to you! keep up the good work!

HI! NOOOOOOOOO, self pay is the best way. . .costly yes, but you don't have to jump through hoops like a trained monkey. . . I was self pay, went to the seminar in late October, had my appt to meet doctor, nutritionist and do the psych eval in mid Nov and on that same day got to pick my surgery appt which i chose as 29Dec09. . . It was so fast, but be prepared to have the money available then and there. . .I had to write out a check for the physician the day of meeting the doctor and then when I went to the hospital i had to have the balance. . . so have that money available in the exact amount. . . good luck

Hi, I am so proud of you that you made the right choice. You are going to like the sleeve after you get used to it. It's a great tool, but remember that it takes gettting used to . . . I really hated that bugger for a while cause it prevented me from pigging out and now i have to be a lady. . . it's really strange because all our lives we eat whatever quantity we want get huger then life and suddenly bang! overnight it's all taken away and we have to start over, we need to retrain our stupid selves and undo what we spent so many years doing. . .it's tough and there will be buyers remorse, but you know what, I am happy I did it, I've lost alot of weight and can actually live a normal life. . . for the first time ever I was able to sit in an airplane seat, buckle the seatbelt have about 7-8 inches left over AND cross my legs while sitting there. . . I went from a 4XL down to a 16 have lost over 140 lbs all my labs are normal, I'm just livin life good now. . . good luck to you! and just remember to walk and sip after surgery, it'll help that gas pain. . . this was my 18th major surgery and i've learned that the quicker you get up and move the better it is. . . .

Isn't it amazing how beautiful we look thinner! Your lovely! Keep it up and a big congratulations to you!!!!

bless your heart, but girl how i can relate to you! It took 2 1/2 years just to get the darlin' to come to a seminar then 10 1/2 months after the surgery he starts rebelling, just read under the rants and raves under I'm Major P'O'd here. . and read what may yet be coming. . . but all in all, you get your surgery, you've come this far and like Tiff says change is a word most people don't like and your hubbie (as most men) is feeling rather insecure and probably thinks he's going to lose you. . . he'll survive, just like everyone else has. . . just keep on a going and don't loose your cool because of this, you'll get an ulcer and that isn't worth it. . . good luck!

hahahaha you guys kill me! I love it! Yes I could definately stuff some parts down the disposal tootsweet! hahahaha . . . love you all! Thanks, I feel alot better about all this cause i got it off my chest. . now just to get the nausea away and I'd feel 100% again. . go to my PCP on tuesday anyhow, will check it out then. . . love ya again!

Maddie, how very proud of you I am! You are an inspiration to this forum! You have defeated the negative of the world of fat and you have exchanged it with the positive . . that is so wonderful! Keep up the good work, because 17 lbs is just around the corner and girl you can do that! You've come all this way and by gummit you will finish the race!!!!

Don't you just love testy and nervous! Kinda lets us know were are still alive and kicking! Girl how did you do!!!! Are you doing your walking, sipping and walking???? Post us and let us know! Welcome to the losers bench! Your going to do great!

hi how did you do? your dream was funny, i remember having those dreams, i was actually beating a man with lead pipe cause he was going to steal my curry plate, then i held my plate up high and jumped into a culvert and slide down out of sight with my plate in grasp. . . funny how dreams are. . . i love going to bed just cause of the dreams. . . they are so neat even the scary ones! Let us know how your doing and remember to walk walk walk, then tomorrow sip walk sip walk and sip some more. . . you'll do great! It's going to be ok! YOU will be ok!

I am so sorry to hear that your having this problem . . and I can just imagine how very scared you are. . . but you'll be ok, they will fix it and you'll go on. . . but for now, just try not to worry too much, your in good hands. they know what they are doing and have probably had this before. . i'll keep you in my thoughts! keep us posted as to whats going on with you ok? Good luck! Your going to be fine. . .

ok, so heres the update on what happened here . . . so I've been going around all week stating "yeah well at least I don't lie on you" he just laughs this comment off but every now and then asked "how did I lie on you?" so yesterday i "gently" bring up the topic of having overheard him lie about the surgery. . . well didn't the shit hit the fan on his part. . . thank god i had had a glass of wine and was all mellowed out. . . I told him step by step very calmly what i heard and EXACTLY how it went. . .can you believe the bugger actually agreed that yes, he did tell daughter he wasn't supporting the band but was supporting the sleeve, and can you believe he agreed he did come to the bank, etc. . . but then he turned it around and said i went behind his back and secured a loan without him knowing. . .i "calmly" explained that i had to do that because i had to see if i could even get a loan for such a thing and that it was only good for 30 days anyhow . . . if i couldn't get the loan i wouldn't even had persuded the topic. . . i told him this was last october and the surgery wasn't till december. . the loan wasn't any good and WE had to reapply for a more expensive loan cause HE wanted the sleeve and not the band for which the first loan was for. . . well, I told him I didn't appreciate him lying on me AT ALL but that i forgive him. . . know what that bumbaclat said? "there is nothing for forgive here i did nothing wrong" and you know he is now giving me the cold shoulder and has not apologized at all. . . .33 years of marriage and it the love continues! He is an incredible stubborn jackass. . . . thank you for listening!

I was eating "normally" and had a stall for 3 1/2 months! Talk about frustrating. . but it eventally moved on. . your body just needs to catch up. . . dont worry for now just concentrate on yourself and your new tummy. . .don't eat donuts though. . coffee with milk and sugar is ok, but not the whole lb of sugar! hehehe. . . just be normal and don't try to defeat the sleeve, let it work for you not you against it to see if it'll work. . . your the one who has to work this thing, it won't do it for you. . . good luck!

OK, I'm in shock! You actually paid $112.00 for a turkey??????????????????

I am so sorry this has happened to you! I can just imagine how you must feel. . but if you believe in the "path of life" you know that for everything there is a reason. . .there is a reason why this has been canceled like this. you will get your surgery eventually but when your path is ready for you. Good luck and keep positive!

nita, let me tell you that your not alone. . .i really HATED my sleeve and had major buyers remorse for a really long time. . honestly i think it was for about the first 6 - 7 months. . I hated this thing, but look at it this way too. . .for so many years we were so accustomed to eating whatever and gaining weight and feeling so lowly and then suddenly it's all taken away and we have to relearn what to do with ourselves. . .no matter how prepared we "think" we were, you really are never prepared for this. . .it's sorta like the first pregnancy, you go to the stupid lamase classes, you learn to breath the pain away. . .then bang! the labor pain hits. . are you prepared??? I think not, do you just lay there and breath the F.... pain away? NO, you become the exorist in the flesh all from flying into the damn corner and spewing pea Soup, you didn't realize it was like this and you vow NEVER to do it again. . . well same with the sleeve, only this your stuck with for life. . .and you do get accustomed to your new lifestyle, I'm 10 1/2 months out, but i've gotten used to my new lifestyle, I still eat too fast sometimes, but am "reminded" of the fact really fast and start to slime! it comes with time, you won't get used to it immediately it takes time. . . don't get discouraged honey, just live your life one day at a time and readjust yourself. . . good luck!

OLDTIMERS!!!!!! Now i really feel the loose skin! Get me that walker! No wait a nursing home sounds better!

Yup, good old hormones whacked out! Had the problem myself until i helped solve it with benedryl and unisome (not together of course ) but after a while it does go away and you'll find you will sleep like a baby (without the 2 am feeding)

San Antonio has a fabulous doc. Dr. Ramiro "Sonny" Cavazos. He was my physician and he is the best. . never makes you feel insignificant or anything. . very loving, hugs all around. . professional and never has had a patient go "bad" . . he's done 300 + of these surgeries and is very experienced. . . but he doesn't come cheap either. . .let me know and i'll give you his particulars. . .

I'm 10 1/2 months out and can basically eat everything. I've noticed that my fresh fruit however has to be peeled and cored or i hurt alot. . salad took me a long time to figure out, but i can eat it now without pain, tomatoes still do a job on me, but if they are stewed it's ok.. .bread is really better toasted, goes down great, i can actually eat 2 slices toast alone, but a sandwich on plain bread is a bit of a challenge, 1/2 or 3/4 is ok, but i bloat up really fast and start to slime, rice is ok? does the same thing as plain bread, 2-3 tablespoons is my limit, depending on the day and if tummy wants to co-operate or not that day, tortillas? same as plain bread. . .same with spaghetti . . .beef (brisket, roasts, steak,) does NOT agree with me AT all, too stringy I guess. . .but these are my own personal experiences, your may be different. . . yup one of those trial and error thingys!