Search the Community

@@Scylla I think i saw your nurse in the movie "One Flew Over the Cukoos Nest"!!! i talked to my NUT and family dr and they both thought the boards are a great place to visit this board is very helpful listening to stories/tales about other sleevers experiences pre and post op situations IS great certain questions regarding coffee/caffein/drinking from a straw/soda......... people will answer questions by telling what THEIR nut told them and pass that info along but its usually pointed out to newbies like you that you should always listen to your surgeon or NUT or nurse (even if THEY are alittle NUTS!!) sometimes you need to go to your doc about medical issues that we're not that knowledgable about (again except me!!! ) we are here to give each other support/advice/info we all LOVE to talk about our bowel movements/or lack of -head hunger, stallls, sex....many other good stuff!!! you'll hear the great things that happens to "us" as we succeed through our voyage NSV's like being able to fit into smaller clothes, crossing your legs, going on an amusement park ride i can tell you are a smart "cookie" because you decided to change your life by having the sleeve good luck with pending surgery kathy

About 7 months post op I was telling a story to some co-workers and using my hands during a demonstrative moment. My wedding ring went flying across the room landing on someone's keyboard. Oy ... At this point, nobody at my work knew I had the surgery (they all know now) but of course, they knew I had been losing weight. It was a funny NSV. The problem was, my wedding ring was titanium, which can't be re-sized. I basically went without a ring for a year as I didn't know where my weight was going to settle. I have since purchased a new ring and it works for me. I am sad it is not my "wedding" ring, but I do still have the original up by the kitchen sink. Stores can always order a ring in your size and if not, if it is a pliable metal, they can re-size it.

I got on a plane today. A Southwest Airlines plane. Any of you who have been over 300 pounds know that their seats are small and their seatbelts are even smaller. I FASTENED THE SEATBELT WITHOUT AN EXTENDER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And, I didn't have to have the arm rest up!!!! I am so frickin' thrilled!!!!!!!!!!!! Since the scale isn't moving for me, these NSVs are a true blessing and make me smile from ear to ear!

Hello, 3-17-14 150 lbs 3-23-14 150 lbs 3-30-14 149 lbs 4-06-14 149 lbs NSV Whoa! I'm able to fit in a size 5/6 jeans. I started in a size 18w. Yay! I can't believe it. Easter Sunday- I would like to be in the 140's. I hope everyone is doing well on their weight loss! Take Care.

What a great NSV! You look so good! I love what you said about your view from the plane, so happy you were able to enjoy that

Thanks for this post. I'm going to Italy in 5-1/2 weeks. My big wish is that I will be able to fly without the seatbelt extender, and keep up with all the walking on our tours. I will also see my oldest daughter that day for the first time since the beginning of January, when she left for a semester abroad. I miss her so much and Skype is great, but it's still been very hard. My younger daughter helped me during my surgery week and then went back to college. I'll see her over Easter. They are two of my four rocks of support, and I want to make them proud of me. My NSVs so far: Wearing blouses I haven't worn in a year. Walking 36 minutes on the treadmill at 3mph, adding a minute each day. Off NSAIDS. Off Prevacid. Off one blood pressure medicine (of two). Shoes are getting looser. Feet and legs are not swelling anymore. No back pain. Waking up energized instead of sluggish. Feeling in control of what I put in my mouth - priceless!

Beautiful observation of this NSV. Thanks for sharing this with us.

For more years than I can remember, I've sat in the aisle seat on airplanes. Some of the reason was because my arthritis made it easier to get in and out of the seat but there was also another reason why I sat on the aisle. I was so heavy that it made me very self-conscious when I lumbered over the seats as I struggled to get past them just to sit down or head to the bathroom. In order to not feel so bad about this, I told myself that looking out the window was just for kids and folks who didn't fly often and since I flew alot, I didn't need to have a window seat. Well...tonight I purposely sat in a window seat because I can move around on an airplane much better than I used to between the weight loss and easing of my joint pain due to hip replacement. I live in New York City as many of you know and for the first time in a very long time, I was able to see my city in all it's glory as we flew over it. I had forgotten how breathtaking and spectacular Manhattan is from a bird's eye view. I could see the Statue of Liberty and then the Freedom Tower below me. I could also see the Empire State Building all decked out in red, white, and blue. Plus I could see the Chrysler Building, the Citicorp Building, and the millions and millions of twinkling lights below. It looked like beautiful sparking jewels as far as the eye could see. All I could think of was how much I missed this amazing sight and how grateful I was that my band made it all possible again.

Congrats on your NSV! I bought my 1st new shirts this month - 15 months post-op. I was so surprised that I'm able to buy stuff that isn't "big and tall". :-) I used to buy all black stuff - pants, shirts. Now I can't stay away from bright colors - reds, blues, greens, and the brighter the better!

Hi Everyone! It is finally pleasant in NY so my family and I decided to take a trip to the city. While at Central Park I had the best time of my life. I was able to run around with my 6 year old daughter. We climbed rocks, we rode a carousal, and walked a lot! I was not tired and body felt great! It was just excellent. Furthermore, my daughter took a picture of me and when I looked at it I barely recognized myself! What a great, great day! Before and today. 3 and a half months later.

congrats, NSV are better than scale for me!

So, I've written in my blog about how I've fallen off track. I'm back now and am soooo excited to say that I've lost inches. In one month Hips -2 inches Waist -1 inch Thigh - .5 inch Chest - -1.5 inches My clothes are looser, I feel better!! 5 total inches gone forever

the hardest part is getting my Water in each day, and also trying to keep my Vitamins in check. I seem to have something different low each visit. For example my Iron was low in my first set of labs, then without adding iron to my supplements it was fine the next time. But my b1/thiamin was low, and even with taking 2 super b tablets a day, it was still low. I am now taking 2 super b tablets and 2 b1/thiamin tablets a day and I just had labs drawn this week, and will have results next week. I am almost never hungry, and I can't stand sweets anymore. When they remove the bulk of your stomach they also remove the area that produces the hunger hormone, and the part that makes you crave sweets. I can't even do the kids chewable vitamins, they are too sweet and make me gag. So I take regular tablets, and they go down just fine. I take a handful of vitamins a day, and I'm healthy, happy and have more energy than I have ever had. I just posted a huge thread about my very emotional NSV tonight. My surgeon that is normally very composed, and not very friendly just very to the point, told me how proud he was of me, and corrected my mom when she said I had lost too much, and called me perfect and compared me to a Barbie. I joked that I gained 20 pounds just from my head swelling. I was banded in 2005 and started at 244 I lost a grand total of 40 pounds with my band. Then when I had my revision I was 206 the morning of surgery last May. So I have lost a total of 129 pounds total, but 91 of those were with my sleeve. I actually lost the 91 pounds in 7 months. I have been at goal since before Christmas.

Flying for a work conference and had to actually tighten the belt instead of having it fully extended. Woot!!

My bariatric group hosted their first meet and greet, that was loaded with some great vendors giving out some nice goodies, and holding a few drawings for some cool stuff. Then they held an amazing fashion show using some of their patients that were willing to walk the catwalk in some beautiful outfits. They also provided some tasty Snacks, some healthy some not so healthy. (I will question that when I see him in the office next week). My mom, hubby, daughter, and daughter's best friend attended with me as my "support people" As the fashion show was coming to a close, I notice my surgeon standing in the back watching, and I slipped back to talk to him for a moment. I haven't seen him for 4 months, like I said I have an appt next week, he looked at me and seemed puzzled, he said I know you, but I don't know where I know you from. He thought I was a spouse of a patient. I reminded him that he did my surgery last May, and that I had lost 130 pounds, his mouth dropped open, and then it clicked who I was in his mind. He asked how I have been doing, and how I am feeling now that I am at my goal. I told him I feel amazing, I was so overcome with emotion that I just stepped forward pulled him into a hug and started to cry, on his very expensive suit. He hugged me back to my surprise (he is very professional, and doesn't have the most friendly personality, very to the point and blunt in the office) and said that he was just blown away with my success, and that he was PROUD of me, and wanted me in the next fashion show. My family had joined us at this point, and my mom made the comment that I was too thin, and he corrected her and said I was not too thin, I looked perfect. He said I looked like a barbie doll, and he wouldn't change a thing about me. I thanked him for saving my life, and he reminded me again tonight of something he said to me on the day of my surgery. He couldn't "fix me", but he was giving me the tools to fix myself. That has stuck with me, and when I start to think of cheating on my food plan, (I NEVER diet, I have a life long food plan) I think of the amazing tool he has given me, and how he told me it was up to me to make this tool work for me. I have worked my sleeve to it's fullest and I am proud to say that I have gone from a size 22/24 to a 4 yes that's right a 4. I am going to walk in the next fashion show, and I am not only going to walk, I'm going to strut my stuff. I am so proud of the work I have put into my new self, and I and forever greatful for the tool that Dr. Uchal had given to me. My life was changed on May 8th 2013, that will be the day I Celebrate my rebirth. I just wanted to share with you all, it was an NSV but seeing all the other women that had made the same amazing transformations that I have made brought me to tears. At the end of the show, they announced that the ladies that walked in the show tonight had lost a total of 2,200 pounds. Amazing. And my mother who needs the surgery told me that she was too old. Well tonight she met a woman that is older than her that was sleeved and lost 156 pounds. She looked AMAZING, and my mom asked her a ton of questions. I think she might actually look into being sleeved. This is something I have prayed about for the last year. My mom is diabetic, high blood pressure and high cholestrol, and she had to have back surgery, and now she needs knee surgery. I keep telling her the surgery would change her life. It would help her live longer, healthier and happier. She told me that she would do the surgery but doesn't want the excess skin, I told her I would rather have her with excess skin, and Alive, than bury her with tight skin. I don't want to lose my mom to obesity, when help is available. I think that actually sunk in tonight. I guess we will see what she does. I did my surgery to be here for my daughter, and I hope she is willing to do the same to be here for myself and my daughter. Tonight was a great night. It also made me decide to help set up a monthly meeting for my area. I posted in the local group area so I guess tonight not only made me happy, but also made me see that I have a lot of support and motivation to offer.

My insurance requirements were 6 months Dr. Visits. Psych eval. Amongst other things. My boss was the only person who knew. When I got my approval just after thanksgiving and got my surgery date. Day after Christmas. (Merry Christmas to me). I told my family the week of Christmas. Plus a lot of coworkers had found out. I am totally fine telling anyone. I workout at the local YMCA. So people have really noticed. Some ask others just compliment me. I lost 65lbs pre-op and as of yesterday. 14 weeks post-op. I have lost another 105 lbs. Total of 170 fine. I share it with many people. I am going to do an interview with YMCA and local newspaper. I also told surgeons I am willing to come their seminars to tell my story. I feel if I can help 1 person even look at the potential to get headed in the direction of better health. It is all worth it. I believe in sharing this journey with whoever wants to listen. I live the you took the easy way out. Then I go into education mode and explain what I had to do pre-op and what I have to do for the rest of my life. I love seeing their jaw drop when they realize just how much it takes. The look is priceless and my NSV for the day.

I was May 8th last year. May sleevers are the BEST sleevers. Good luck to you all!! I'm always here if you have questions, or want advice. According to my doc, I ROCKED my sleeve. The time will fly by, and before you know it, you will be rocking skinny jeans, and posting NSV's.

I had the sleeve done at the end of November, 2013. It was a band to sleeve revision. I was what I would have called a "slow loser" but found out some things I was doing wrong. So, I changed some of what I was doing - went to 1000 calories/day, added fruits and vegetables to my diet instead of just Protein and began walking and working out some. Now, I know you're going to say, "If you're working out you're adding muscle which weighs more than fat." Ok, I'm not working out THAT hard. A couple of weeks ago I had an NSV by getting into size 20 clothes from a size 26/28. I hit the 40 pound loss mark in 4 months. I was feeling really good. But things have changed. I'm still in a 20, which I'm happy about. But I'm losing my hair. The one thing that I have ALWAYS prided myself on. Even when I was over 300 pounds, my hair always looked good. It was healthy, bouncy and in really good shape. Then, pieces of it started coming out when I showered. I'd go to soap myself up and have to remove strands of hair from the bar of soap. I thought, "Well, that's the price of bariatric surgery I suppose." I started taking Biotin after reading some messages on here. I also made sure I got at least 60 grams or more of protein a day and have been averaging over 60 grams a day for over a month now. I thought it probably wasn't as bad as I was making it out to be. Then, I went to my hair dresser for a cut yesterday. She started washing my hair and said, "Oh my, you're really getting thin." My daughter is getting married in 2 months and my hairdresser said we may have to get a hair piece to help cover up some of thinness if it doesn't get any better. What?!?!?!?!?!? Are you frickin' kidding me? Oh, and it gets worse. I stepped on the scale this morning and was 3 pounds heavier!! WHAT?!?!?!!?!?!?!? I've been following my diet strictly and haven't gone over 1000 calories. I've looked at the snack cakes in my daughter's snack drawer and walked away. ARE YOU FRICKIN' KIDDING ME?!?!?!? 3 POUNDS?!?!?!!?!?!? And this is after a 2 week plateau. I'm ready to give up. I know this weight didn't come on over night but I really expected more than 40 pounds in 4 months. And, I know that we all have weight fluctuations but mine have only been a pound here and there. 3 pounds? Higher??? That's crazy. If I was cheating, sure, I can see that. But I'm not. I'm a bit fed up. I don't want to hear about losing inches vs. pounds and changing things up. I've done that. I guess I just want to bitch and complain. Has anyone else gone through this mental torture and how did you get your HEAD back in the game? I'm beating myself and my sleeve up right now. I need a mental kick in the ass. Any advice?

Well, my train zipped right off the tracks for a bit there, but I'm back now. Life you know! Yesterday was my first fill. Today I'm just slightly aware of it. Truly it was a piece of cake. A discussion, a weigh in, withdrawal of the fluid inside already and a re-add of the original fluid plus a HUUGGGEEEE .5 cc's of fluid. I needed the fill. I was beyond ready and I felt like I could eat a side of beef. I needed the contact too to slap me back into eating as opposed to eating slider foods. Since I've been eating regular foods, I've discovered there are foods out there I cannot eat, and that's okay. Beef is hard. Fish and chicken are easier. Vegetables need to be cooked until they are well done. I can't eat raw veggies as of yet. Bread - no, crackers - yes. Tomorrow will be measurements day - the 5th of every month for me. Some clothes just finally fit properly, others are a bit loose, so I'm hoping for a NSV or two. I have gained two pounds and I refuse to adjust my ticker until it's moving south. I am still walking, but admittedly less - no worries though peeps, I'll kick my own ass thanks! I've experienced all of the following - stomach cramps from not paying attention, feeling suddenly bloated by drinking too much too fast. Serious pain like an elephant on the chest and most days when I feel great. I'm enjoying that my body is talking to me, I just have to be aware and listen. When you've never paid attention, it's strange at first trying to 'hear'. The ice and snow are melting - temperatures are slooowwwlly rising and robins have been gracing my backyard. Spring is here at last. Happy Friday all PS - when I win lotto, the handsome one and I are moving here!

6 week checkup was today. My surgeon was very pleased with my weightloss. Had nothing but praise for me. My underwear fall off now, I guess that's an NSV of sorts. Lol I'm cleared to exercise with resistance now so I'm excited to work out my arms. It's funny, she said 45 min of a brisk walk burns more calories than running for 10 min. I'm def gonna do some fast power walking and starting yoga. Looking and feeling better each day. Still can't drink anything room temp, has to be ice cold. Water brings on major nausea. Ugh. Other than that I'm a happy camper

Agreed. STAY OFF THE scale FOR 2 WEEKS! Have someone in your house hide it from you if you have to. It is causing you to focus on a number that is false right now. Think about NSV's as you recover. Chart your nutritional intake in MFP.In 2 weeks, you will hopefully see a number that agrees with your expectations.

For personal reasons I chose not to share my WLS with anybody I work with. I've made no secret that I've been on a strict low calorie diet and I go to the office gym twice a day to walk on the treadmill and ride the stationary bike for 25 to 30 minutes each time. On Monday, one of the secretaries mentioned to me during our morning workout that a bunch of people on the 2nd floor of the office (I work on the 3rd floor) had been talking about me. I asked why and she said they were all abuzz talking about my significant weight loss and how good I looked. I was excited that they had noticed but I really hate being the topic of other people's conversations. Then I went to a meeting, and one of the men in the office said "Wow, you've lost a lot of weight, are you sick?" WTH??? What kind of question is that and why would a person ask that??? It completely negated the positive statements from earlier. I have really mixed feelings. I am excited to be losing weight, feeling better and looking better. I suppose its good to be noticed by others but I am uncomfortable being the topic of office gossip, especially since the jerk asked that stupid question. I suppose I have to take it all if I'm going to continue on this journey as I'm not going to stop losing weight and I can't help but be noticed in my office. I wasn't ready for this part.

NSV: I tutor 2 girls 13 and 10 I borrowed the 13 year olds hoodie and it fit!!!! It zipped and everything!!! my scale may not be moving as fast but the inches are!

Congrats on your NSV! Please post pics for proof.