My Gastric Sleeve Journey

[MissCK 55]

Hello,

I just put my deposit down and bought my plan ticket for surgery in Mexico for gastric sleeve in March 2014!!! I'm really excited! I did a bunch of research and landed on Dr. Lopez in Tijuana. I chose this route as my insurance doesn't cover these types of surgeries at all. $4,700 plus airfare and my passport renewal fee so right around $5,000.

I'm a 35 year old recently divorced mom to a beautiful, funny, and smart 3 year old daughter. She is the reason I made it through this hellish year with the divorce. I have a career that keeps me very busy along with being a single mom. I'm getting a little cash settlement from the divorce that is paying for my surgery. Hey he was good for something, lol! No I shouldn't say that. He's a wonderful father. Not a good husband, but a great daddy.

My current weight is 198 and I'm 5'5", BMI 33. I've struggled with weight my whole life and I'm just done with it. I know I have a lot of work to do in these next 3 months to prepare my self mentally and emotionally so I don't revert back to "eating my feelings". My divorce this year was rough and I put on 20 pounds. I gained 65 pounds during pregnancy and have had a tough time losing it. I was also diagnosed with fibromyalgia and I've got a bulging disc in my back and a tear in my shoulder muscle. Also suffer from anxiety. I'm in physical therapy and getting injections for the pain which is helping but losing this weight will really help me with my energy level and the pressure on my joints.

I've told my sister and my best friend but I'm terrified to tell my mom. I know she'll just freak out and judge me. She works out all the time and she's prettty obsessed with eating healthy and staying active. I feel like she looks at me with disgust sometimes. I get that she's going to worry that it's in Mexico, that will take a lot educating her on my part, but it's the judgement that I'm worried about. "Why can't you just watch what you eat, why don't you go on a hike with me, blah blah blah." It's hard because before I had my daughter I was in great shape. I was about 145 pounds but that took a TON OF WORK! That was hitting the gym for an hour 5 nights a week and eating 1200 calories most days. I just don't see how I can do that now with a kid and everything else going on.

Anyways, I'm super pumped to start this journey. First thing I want to start doing is being more active, but in baby steps. Not going balls to the walls at the gym for a week then hating it, or tagging along with my mother on an 8 mile hike. I'm talking walks with my daughter on the evenings and trips to the park on the weekend instead of sitting on the couch like a bump on a log. Where I live it's nice this time of year. I want to start living my life again!

[Sabredy12 55]

Good for u x

[Bufflehead 6,358]

Your mom will eventually realize that getting in shape after sleeve surgery does involve eating healthy and staying active. It's not like you are going to be on the couch eating Cheetos and Reese's Peanutbutter cups after this. You will go on hikes with her and keep your calories very low.

I know it's human nature for most of us to want the approval of our parents and to shrink from telling them things that will bring on their judgment, but I would encourage you to at least consider telling her sooner rather than later and using it as an opportunity not just to educate her but to teach yourself to be confident in your own convictions and not worry so much about what other people (specifically your parents) think. On the other hand, if you know she is going to come down hard and make it emotionally tougher for you to stay on track with being healthy prior to surgery, then it might be better to keep it to yourself. You are an adult - your health care decisions are none of her business. Either way, it is your call and YOU just have to feel comfortable with what you decide.

Congrats on your upcoming surgery -- I'll bet you love your sleeve (eventually, the first few weeks can be tough) and will do great with it.

[MissCK 55]

Bufflehead that was some excellent advise thank you!!! I'm going to tell my mom tomorrow. She is living with me right now as she is also going through a divorce (lol right???). She's on a backpacking trips this weekend but she'll be back tomorrow. I'm printing my materials and getting it all ready. Thank you again.

[MissCK 55]

Thanks Sabredy!

[MissCK 55]

Well I told my mom and she was very supportive! I started out by saying that I needed to share something with her and I needed her not to be judgemental. We talked about it and I shared this website with her to show her other people's experiences in Mexico. She is going with me to Mexico so that makes me very happy. Less than 3 months!!!

I've started taking my daughter for walks every night. She rides her little bike and I walk. It's good for both of us and she LOVES it. I haven't really been eating better. I've been doing the opposite, kind of mourning my loss of food by eating it. All. I promised myself I would get on the healthy track after the holidays though.

[MissCK 55]

Well here I am 6 days post op!

Got home from TJ yesterday. Today was my first day if feeling really week and blah. Been in bed pretty much all day. I was running around like crazy in TJ post surgery. We walked to the mall and around there and other little trips like that. Got up this morning and made my daughter, niece, and nephew pancakes and had a cup of Jello and felt like I had been run over. My sister is here with her kids for the weekend helping me so I just went back to bed. Also had horrible diahhrea today, first time that happened. Sorry TMI.

Got on scale yesterday when we got home, down 5 pounds which doesn't surprise me being on liquids only. I've been drinking/eating full calorie Gatorade, Jello, and broth to get some calories in me. Once I can start eating food I will change to all sugar free, zero cal drinks. Can't wait to start on full liquids tomorrow. pudding and Protein shakes yay! I definitely have the desire to eat but I'm not hungry. My body wants to eat for the energy and I'm just used to it! I almost took a bite of my kid's pancake out if habit! Wasn't thinking and put it to my mouth. Realized just before I ate it what I was doing.

Still tender and sore where incisions are. Took bandages off so they can breathe now. Bought some Maderma for the scars. Have to wait until they are fully healed to use Maderma but that stuff works! I used it on a previous surgery scar on my stomach and it cleared up the scar in 3 months. That scar was much larger than these tiny incisions.

Well I'm going to get up, shower, and take the kids on a short walk.

[MissCK 55]

Down 10 lbs 1 week post op! I'm struggling getting in my Protein and liquids but I'm up and about and peeing so it can't be so bad.

Today I ate like a tablespoon of mashed potatoes but it started hurting so I stopped. I know I'm not supposed to have them for another week but ooooh they smelled so good.

[Keepgoing247 116]

Congratulations on your new life! I have a son who is 3. He is reason I decided to get healthy. I had given up on being anything other than morbidly obese. Then as I was watching him becoming more active I realized that I wanted to be able to keep up with him and not just always watch from the sidelines.

You are doing fantastic. Keep up the good work.

[MissCK 55]

Thanks Texas! Wow, well done you! A big reason for my surgery was my daughter as well. For me though it was mostly that I don't want her having body issues from having a bad role model. I have always gained and lost weight and I don't want her doing the same.

[MissCK 55]

Last night I ate rice. Yes rice. And today I can't even sip on a smoothie without it hurting and wanting to come up. I had no idea how hard this was going to be. The craving just to chew on something won last night. I had about 6 tiny bites of rice and chewed it to a pulp but it's still too early for that and my stomach hates me today. I did so well yesterday too up until the rice. Took my daughter to see the Lego movie and what do you know! I can go to a movie and not eat popcorn? ??? Lol. I just enjoyed the smells and of course my adorable daughter giggling at the movie. Going to sip on Gatorade and try my Protein smoothie in a few hours.

[MissCK 55]

Ahhh I want to eat so bad. Just 1 more week until soft foods are permitted.

Really struggling with weakness. I went back to work Friday. I lasted 3 hrs and I was so tired and sick to my stomach I went home and slept for 4 hrs!!! Not good. I had a Protein shake before work and sipped on one while I was there. Next week I'm back full time. I'm on a liquid multi vit but buying separate B12 and Iron as I think I need more than what I'm getting of those in the multi. Started blending spinach in my smoothies to get more Iron. Can't even taste it! Next week at work will probably be rough but I'm stepping up my Vitamins and praying it works better.

I'm down 15 pounds. Tomorrow will be 2 weeks post op. I was hoping to lose 20 lbs the first month and it looks like I will surpass that.