female sleever from connecticut !!!!!

[NDN_RN 527]

HI IM SHANNON A 39YR OLD SLEEVER FROM CONNECTICUT ' date=' I HAD MY SURGERY ON OCTOBER 19TH 2011 AND WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A SLEEVE BUDDY OR BUDDIES FROM MY AREA ....PLEASE GET IN TOUCH IF INTERESTED IN BEING FRIENDS , GOD BLESS[/quote']

Waving to both of you!!!! Stamford here, moving back to Madison soon

Done Did It!

[kareese62 15]

Hi Shannon!! Wow awesome job!!!! Did you have any complications! I think that's my biggest fear! Any advice for this newbie?

[kareese62 15]

Hi Carol! Awesome job to you too!!.Can't wait to be sleeved!

[carolc 94]

Hi Carol! Awesome job to you too!!.Can't wait to be sleeved!

Thanks karesse.

This is the best decision I have ever made for myself...besides marriage and kids! Make the most of your 6 months, try to lose as much pre-op as you can. I truly believe that following all the doctors advice helps with the outcome of your surgery and how well you do both physically and emotionally.

Enjoy this chilly morning. Brrrr!

[kareese62 15]

@Carol, As soon as I left my first nutrition visit, I was off and running. I've lost 18 lbs.on my own so far! I wanted to start my life style changes now!

[carolc 94]

@Carol' date=' As soon as I left my first nutrition visit, I was off and running. I've lost 18 lbs.on my own so far! I wanted to start my life style changes now![/quote']

Fantastic! You will be so happy you did.

[Bella Vida 22 3]

I'm also having surgery next couple of weeks. I'm so nervous/anxious.... I've had surgery before but for some reason I'm scared........I've lost 20 lbs on my own since September. Flood of emotions :-/

[carolc 94]

I'm also having surgery next couple of weeks. I'm so nervous/anxious.... I've had surgery before but for some reason I'm scared........I've lost 20 lbs on my own since September. Flood of emotions :-/

Hi Bella,

I think I can speak for everyone...nerves are completely normal, I was a total wreck! Where are you having it done?

[Bella Vida 22 3]

Midstate.... Very comfortable with my surgeon but still very nervous

[mysparky 1]

Hi everyone from CT!

I haven't been on the forum in several months but decided to check in and read a few postings. I'm almost at my 2 year anniversary (10/26) and I remain thrilled with the decision to have this surgery. When I originally made this decision, I had trouble finding people in CT who had it. Now, I see in this thread that there are a few who had the same surgeon (Nadzam) as me.

Hope you are all doing well!

[carolc 94]

Hi everyone from CT!

I haven't been on the forum in several months but decided to check in and read a few postings. I'm almost at my 2 year anniversary (10/26) and I remain thrilled with the decision to have this surgery. When I originally made this decision' date=' I had trouble finding people in CT who had it. Now, I see in this thread that there are a few who had the same surgeon (Nadzam) as me.

Hope you are all doing well![/quote']

Hi mysparky! Nice to meet you.

How much do you LOVE Dr. Nadzam???

How is maintenance going for you?

[mysparky 1]

Hi CarolC! Thanks for the welcome! BTW, I love your signature. I was laughing to myself as I read through your list. Could relate to so much (although I still struggle with finding that pair of boots!!)

I liked Dr Nadzam very much. He was so patient with answering my questions, did a great job with my surgery and I just felt so comfortable with him. I haven't been back to the office in about 14 months because at my last visit I was told that I'm a "success" and don't need to return unless I feel that I need to!

Dr Nadzam's goal for me was to lose 70% (coincidentally 70 lbs) of my excess weight and I did that in 10 months. When I met with him in August 2011, I told him that my personal goal was to reduce by another 20 lbs. He said that was possible, but I would find it more difficult as my body would probably want to "settle' around that 70 lb loss mark. He was right - it's been a lot harder.

What has been the biggest "ah ha" moment for me, however, is that I've been able to maintain my weight since August 2011. How many diets have I been on in the past 30+ years where I gained back my loss in a matter of months?! I did have a rough patch where bad behaviors (eating LOTS of junk and eating too much late at night) crept back in and I gained 6 lbs over the course of about 2 months. I had really bumped up my normal exercise routine and thought that I was "covered", but I was not! I was also careless with allowing myself too many treats. I got back on track, focused on lean Protein, Protein shakes, balanced meals and I was able to drop that excess in about 2.5 weeks. An impossibility pre-surgery.

As far as this last 20 lbs goes (and I think that's what I want, but not sure...could be 15, could be 25), I'm taking it very slowly. Began re-focusing my efforts over the weekend and am going to work this 5lbs at a time. Without a doubt, it is now tougher to lose compared to the months immediately following surgery, but it is also easier than pre-surgery.

Absolutely ZERO regrets about having this surgery. I've been overweight since I was a kid and for the first time in my life I feel like I have control. Maintenance requires thought, but it is not overwhelming. I still go out for dinner, drink socially, and eat sweets, but my belly reminds me when I'm done. I couldn't be happier!

Tell me about your progress so far!!

[FDclerical 318]

HI IM SHANNON A 39YR OLD SLEEVER FROM CONNECTICUT ' date=' I HAD MY SURGERY ON OCTOBER 19TH 2011 AND WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A SLEEVE BUDDY OR BUDDIES FROM MY AREA ....PLEASE GET IN TOUCH IF INTERESTED IN BEING FRIENDS , GOD BLESS[/quote']

Hi Shannon!!!! To be sleeved November 6th by Dr Papasavas in Hartford CT there's not many of us CT sleevers on here !!!!

Sent from my Samsung Admire using VST

[mysparky 1]

Midstate.... Very comfortable with my surgeon but still very nervous

Bella - I was also very nervous. What would my recovery be like, would I have a lot of pain, would there be any complications, how would I feel post-op, etc, etc, etc. Truth is, I didn't feel great following my surgery. I was exhausted, definitely had pain from the surgery & the drain and once home, found it a tough to lie down and/or get up!

However, I could measure the progress I was making in my recovery each day. Exactly 7 days post-op, I was able to walk a mile, I had completely figured out how to get out of bed without help (!), and I no longer needed pain meds.

Congrats on your weight loss pre-surgery. That will help you. The one thing I'd strongly, strongly recommend is that you exercise (i.e. walking) pre-surgery if you aren't doing so already. Despite being 100 lbs overweight, I had adopted exercise into my lifestyle and I'm convinced that's part of the reason why I was able to recover quickly (back at work in 10 days) and why I felt the need to get out there walking as soon as I could. Exercise has been critical to my maintenance and although I am 2 years older than when I had the surgery, I'd have to say that Healthwise, I'm probably 10 years younger!

[Bella Vida 22 3]

Sparky, it awesome to meet such great and motivating people. I have very enthusiastic days and others were that scary feeling sets in...but none the less I'm 100% sure that this is going to be the beginning of my healthy life style. I'm 42 yrs old( just b-day 18th lol) went to see my orthopedic surgeon on the 18th where he told me my knees were loaded with arthritis ... Can barley walk. He's confident that with this bariatric surgery I will regain my strength and be as active as I should be.... Can't wait!! Waiting for call from surgeon with surgery date.... All pre-ops done. Will keep u posted.... Thanks again