Fishnfool

Hey Guys I dont frequent the boards like i used too but just felt like i should share today with a few that are on the fence about getting the Sleeve. Nov 2nd 2010 i had the vertical sleeve done in Stratford Nj, after a few days of feeling queezy from drugs they put me under with i felt fine. within a week i felt minimal pain in the tummy area, dont get me wrong you felt like you had stomach surgery but i was up and moving around.. always remember drink drink drink..LOL it worked for me! My starting weight was 345lbs and today im happy to say in 225.4lbs 120.00 lbs gone forever!!! My goal was 220lb whick im still working on, but im so happy to be where i am today the sleeve saved my life. I had servere sleep apnea (used the machine) and had a small leak in the pulmonary valve that has since corrected itself. I went from a size 46-48 pants to a 36 and from 3-4xxl shirts to XL. I did stretch my skin out one too many times and im not a spring chicken so i have some skin sagging under the armpits, man boobs and around the tummy which i expected, but i feel great!!!! I was pretty strict the first 6 months tring to get as much off as possible and your body does adjust after losing that much weight and you will stall could last a day a week a month or 2 months so dont get upset slow and steady!!! i really havent lost much in the last few month's ive been right around the 223-225 mark all summer but i have to admit i didnt exersize at all, i did get out and moved around but i would say i probably would have lost more and toned with exersize... Never give up on yourself, we only have one shot in this world make the best of it! Its your Journey dont let anyone scare you or change your mind, you will have regrets i waited 2 yrs longer then i should have because i was told that they loved me for who i was and didnt care about my weight, lies lies lies... when your dead and in a box theyll say he should have tried to lose weight and i tried and tried and tried, i lost but gained it all back again plus more.. well i hope this helps even just one person move forward in there goal to get healthier, these boards helped me so much and i thank everyone who answered all my stupid questions and supported me through my journey. im gonna try and add a before and after picture .... hope it works!! Good Luck and Just Do It!!! JOE BEFORE AFTER (not best pics but i really dont have many new ones yet

If your thinking of having the Sleeve done id say go for it. It Saved my life and my wife has a new husband so to speak.. we do more now and i have more energy then her..LOL we rode bikes this summer which was cool and did alot more outdoor activities then ever before.. Its a big decision that has to be talked about with your family, me I went about it the opposite way I have a Italian/Ukranian families who love to eat and thats one reason i was Obese and i love food, they would never say you need Bariatric Surgery, they did say your fat but I know my family wouldnt want me to have Surgery, So i told Mom i was going to a hernia done at 42 still lying to my Mom, well when i came out of the hospital and was home for a week i have mom, grandmom and brothers over for dinner, I couldnt eat food i was just drinking a lil Clear liquids and made my family a nice dinner and just before we sat to eat i broke down and cried my eyes out one because i felt overwhelmed and excited that i knew my life was going to be different from here forward and two i didnt want to hold this back from my family anymore, i told them my story how i was feeling and hated my life and we all cried and were very supportive after, even thou my mother said she probably would have wanted me to look into other options, but this was the best option for me!!! Sorry for long winded story, but all the things im writing probably happened to may many other on this site, some had the surgery and other probably didnt, your family loves you but whats right for them might not be right for you! Best of luck... Youll Do Great

Thank You!!! and Best of Luck on your upcoming Surgery!!!

Keep Up the Great Work You Look Great!!! Good Luck with Your Journey also Joe

Kathy, i know how you feel i still love food, i found talking to a dietican or food consoler helped teach me how not to turn to food when i wasnt havent a good day, but food was my life, I still eat most foods i did in past but in very small portions now. Another reason i had my surgery done on Nov 2nd was so i could atleast have mush foods at thanksgiving (fat guy) always thinking.. LOL Its not easy believe me you have to get yourself saying I can do this, Food will not run my life anymore!!! If you stumble get back up and start the next day... But please follow what your doctor says you dont want any complications, i have read others eating different foods at different weeks, stick with what your doctor feels is right for his patiants.. Good Luck God Bless!!!

I spoke to my doctors nurse on Friday asking for a date for my Sleeve and i was figuring it would be late november or after Christmas, She looked at my chart and said we can do it Nov 2nd, i was kinda freaked out inside of such a close date and said i would talk to my wife and call back a little later. My wife would be home in a few hours and im not a emotional eater i either dont eat enough and have one big meal at the end of the day and im not goo with portion size (half a chicken isnt a normal acceptable size) i relieze now..lol getting back to my story i hang up the phone and go to the deli and buy lunchmeat and my favorite italian rolls fresh off the belt, i get home and laugh at myself because i was that worried about not having a sub samich ever again.... whats even funnier i havent had one in a few months. My doctor doesnt do a liquid and low carb diet before surgery, which i read most have had some sort or meal plan. Im thinking of doing a self imposed liquid diet or low carb to get used to what it will be like after the surgery. Right now im not eating enough i miss Breakfast and usually lunch and have a late meal say 2-3pm and dinner with wife at 6-630pm and my portion sizes were way too large the nutrionist said:thumbdown:, i gained most of my weight after a construction accident back in 2000 i went from 220 to big as 347 and im hovering right about 330 now, not active at all because of pain and have to say laziness, but hoping to get motivated after takin some weight off the back and joints. Im scared to death about the surgery and the work ill have to put in for the months to come but im excited to see what the future holds for a thinner and healthier me! Ive been reading this site for a few months and i see alot of good people on here and a few of you changed my thought of having the lap band done to the gastric sleeve... thank you

CONGRATS on losing the CPAP machine ive had mine for 4 yrs now and hate it, just like you said every morning my belly is full of air and had nasty reflux, the mask was making sores on bridge of nose and near my lip from rubbing thru the night. I had my VSG on Nov 2 2010 ........3 months later im down 61lbs and wife says i dont snore anymore when i dont use the machine!!!!! Im going to have another sleep study late spring after being 6 months out and see what the results are. I have to say the VSG saved my life..

Like everyone else said most of us are Foodies we love food and it was our best friend in times when we were sad or happy and it also was killing us slowly, its only been 10 weeks but now i EAT to LIVE i try and eat small portions 6 times a day usually get 4 or 5 meals in depending on what im doing. I had my sleeve done Nov 2 and went thru thanksgiving and christmas watching everyone gorge on food but i knew one day soon id be able to eat everything they ate just in small portions and i do now! but for me i hop on the scale every tuesday and see the pounds coming off that makes me know i made the right choice for me. By Sept you will be a new person with a healthier life. sorry im a old 43 ..lol Good Luck

Good Luck everyone on your journey.. I dont post much but wanted to say this was the best choice for me it saved my life i was dying a slow death being 345lbs sleep apnea, valve leak to lungs(stress from being obese) sore joints and back,chronic pain and depression etc. i looked into weight loss suregry two years ago looking at the lap band and after talking to the doctor i felt it wasnt for me and a year later while on you tube i found the Sleeve. I didnt tell anyone what i was doing and made a appt to see a doctor that did this type of surgery and went to a seminar also, i was nervous also but i knew it was time for me to take my life back! I just couldnt loose all the weight i gained and didnt want to die gasping for air (sleep apnea) or be in pain anymore. Nov 2 2010 i had the sleeve done, it wasnt as bad as i thought the incisions actually bothered me the most i didnt feel any different stomach wize (no pain ) but you have to be aware of taking sips of fluids after surgery cause you are full fast and dont want to get dehydrated. in two weeks youll feel almost normal and a month you will be eating mushy foods a few weeks later you can eat solids just in real small amounts, i wondered soon after having the sugery when youll know when you full well everyone is different and there is a learning curve for me i wanna say i burt a few times and stomach growls and of course i try and get another bite and over do it..lol Ive never been sick (vomiting) and i do eat to fast which im tring to slow down and now will read or get up and come back to food. Sorry for the long winded story i just wanted to say i was nervous also but after reading all the success stories on here and youtube video's i know i made the right choice, YOU just have to know for yourself try not to let anyone else make that decsion for you its your journey and dont you want to be happy and live a better life? take care and good luck! Joe

Best Of Luck.... Remember sip sip sip...walk walk walk One Day at a Time!! What a great holiday gift for yourselves!!! Joe

Question for you one month out>>>>>> do you have any gas or slight discomfort while or after eating, im only 2 weeks out and just started mushies and have had alot of gas(burps) and a slight discomfort while food gets to the stomach. hoping it gets better at a month out.. congrats for making it this far and good luck on the rest of your journey!! Joe

Your not alone i had and still have those same issues i did try Gas X strips last night but i still have to try after eating (im on mushys now) for the real test. so as far as i know its looks to be common and hopin as more time goes by with healing and swelling will go away. good luck and welcome to the loser side Joe

Im not sure if were feeling the same thing but i just moved on to mushy foods and yesterday tried 1 scrambled egg and as soon as it hit the top of the stomach i felt a slight "discomfort" that last 3-6 seconds and usually" burped" happened almost everytime i ate the egg but only happens when i eat, hopin it passes.. lookin forward to see if others had same? my surgery was Nov2

Thanks it was late and my thoughts were all over the place and didnt really proof read closer to a banana shape thou...lol

Two weeks on Clear Liquids Two weeks on pureed foods Two-three weeks on soft foods hopfully after that youll be able to transition to solids but the above isnt written in stone everyones healing and how there able to eat is different.You say it seems like a "erternity" Your going in to have major surgery and your stomach will be made small and will have trama, doc say 6-8 weeks for insicion line to properly heal. Im Morbidly Obese and eating got me here im doing what my surgeon says its not forever i know ill be able to have a "small portion" on one of my fav. foods down the road right now i want to heal. Some people who are thinking of having this surgery you have to remember this isnt a fix, you will lose weight you can cheat also and the smaller stomach will stretch a lil later down the road not much but a little. So if your already worring about when your going to eat that cheeseburger id suggest going to a therapist to help you focus on your new lifestyle. Good Luck on your journey looking forward to seeing you on the losers side what a great gift your giving yourself and your family a healthier YOU> Joe

Look at all the people who responded to this were all alive.... I had my surgery last Tues and was nervous but as most the doctors we all had zero deaths if anything its because of complications from something else. my surgeon has done 1200 and has no leaks let alone deaths. thats why your jumping thru hoops seeing all these other doctors to see if your a good canidate for " Surgery" hoping you are. As for worring about seeing your children i thought the same but i also thought i was dying a slow death being morbit obease also. When your done and awake say a pray thanking god for a new chance at a healthier life, its a pain but stick with what the doctor wants you to do in regards to your beginning diet for next few months very important for your stomach to heal. good luck and god bless Joe

Im 8 days out and it took me 4 days to do a #2 it was nice. As for" toots" go since im on liquids i have to say before the surgery mine had a terrible smell, right now no smell (gas from surgery) or not to bad depending how much Protein drink. tried to use nice words instead of my guy terminogly...lol

congrats Big D I had surgery last Tues (nov 2) i weight 334 and when i hoped on scale a week later i was 314 for 20lbs i havent seen my surgeon he was away on monday i see him friday but i was kinda concerned also of so much weight and im having a BIG problem getting in any clear Protein drinks, i figure this really cant be all that good but have one more full day as i see him early friday hoping to move to next purred foods and shakes. only issues are slight reflux and gotta watch getting dehydrated cause i cant get in more then 40oz of fluids. When i came home i didnt take any pain meds but didnt drive for a few days because of not feeling "sharp" from lack of nutrients. keep up the good work! Joe

My surgery date was Nov 2nd 2010 i was had to be at Kennedy hospital in Stratford Nj new Bariatric unit. You see a bunch of doctors and nurses an ask questions why your hear and for what and before you know it you have a guy putting some needle to relax you into your IV and you wake up a about a hour and half later with a new start to hopefully a healthier life. I had a hard time with the pain meds they made me sick and vomit so first 8 hours i didnt press the buttom after getting sick even thou the staff gave me anti nausia meds, well about 11pm that night i was using the breathing (thingy) for your lungs so you dont get pneumonia and the plastic taste made me sick and vomited again. well after that they tried a different anti nausia med and it worked, the pain isnt bad its more uncomfortable and comes in waves, but after clicking the button and getting relief enough to get some sleep made all the difference. Wednesday morning i waited for some docs to come around thinking i was going home only to have them say they wanted to be sure i wasnt going to be nausous and i had a slight fever of 101 and and pulse of 100 and felt clammy so another night i stayed and was given the green light to go home this morning but needed final go ahead from my doctor which took til after 1pm he was in a meeting..lol so i just got home a hour ago and while the wife is cooking chicken breasts i decided to hop on the computer and write this out hope most makes sence im not proof reading tonight..lol I havent told my mother about this she thinks i had my hyatil hernia done and unbilical which hes waiting for me to lose weight, all she saying is ill make you something a monkey cake, a meatloaf, in my mind im thinking yea thats one reason im fat...lol i love her with all my heart thou and know shes just being a mom. but have to tell her about this soon. I do have to say right after having it done i said what am i doing getting a perfectly good stomach cut in half, but today i know i made the right desicion seeing all the pictures of the "Losers" on the wall I cant believe im saying " I Cant wait to be a Loser" . Thanks for all your posts guys and gals, ive been reading alot and hope to post more once i get going on this journey for now its Sip,Sip,Sip,Sip, walk walk walk walk !! God bless Joe

Doing better today only few days out nice to be home, but i have to say i still think about food most of the time, but your not hungry its head hunger im sure and with ever other commercial being about food what a guy to do..LOL Its going to be all part of the process of thinking of food to live. one day at a time I was ready for this change i couldnt lose the weight on my own and this was it for me, yes i was scared and even thought about how much I MADE food rule my life, I now have to come up with other thoughts and things to make my life healthier. Other then watching more tv then i usually watch and sitting on couch and shifting to the NEW recliner my wife bought me my butt hurts..LOL I did take a walk around the block and it was nice i did feel weak but it nice to get out and breath some air and look at the outside world. thanks again for all your posts they help me everyday. JOE

I have been drinking the Powerade Zero .Ingredients: Water - Potassium Citrate - Sodium Citrate - Potassium Phosphate - Acesulfame Potassium - Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) - Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6) - Blue 1 - Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12).

Congrats on being the Next Loser!! I was nausous and had a slight fever also they kept me a extra day. Good Luck looking forward to seeing your progress !

God This hits home for me since i just had the sleeve done on Tues(nov2) and i told my Italian family i was having a hyatil hernia done and hopfully my umbilical hernia which i found out none were done..lol My mom has lymphoma so she couldnt come to the surgery thank goodness were close but shes a big gossiper and tends to make things worse then what they really are . So i opted not to give her the real reason (yet) so i could just go in and have it and not have a dozen family members at the hospital looking at me thinking (Why) all the calls and texts i recieved which i had to think was funny all said " i hope your feeling better" DID YOU EAT YET... thats how my they cope with food and i love them but, this is my journey and time for me to do something for myself. I will let the cat out of the bag im sure but when im ready and You dont have to give the exact prcedure your doing in the end its for you. god bless and good luck in days ahead Joe

I just got my sleeve on tuesday and have 7 incisions..

Good Luck , Im scheduled 1st 545am i have to be at admissions.. will be looking for your post when feel up for one.