I'm glad that the hospital prioritizes patients and that you're surgery is expedited.  Don't be scared -- it's the beginning of a wonderful journey ahead of you!

Sorry to hear about your Dad, and welcome to Nova Scotia!
Can't wait to meet you!

All the best to you in your journey!

 Amazing transformation!
You look great!
Keep rockin' it girlie!  

Just a reminder that our 1st support group meeting is tomorrow.

Tuesday, March 20th, 2012
7:00 pm until 9:00 pm
Larry Uteck Sobeys - Tuesday, March 20th/12
7 to 9 pm

Since it is the first day of Spring, figured it's a great time for new beginnings and a new meeting with old and new friends.

It'll be a regular support group meeting, open discussion.
Can't wait to see you all there!

Larry Uteck Sobeys is right off the Bi Hi/Veteran's Memorial Highway.
Exit 2B Larry Uteck Boulevard. • Highway 102

Look us up on Facebook!

We are a group of wonderful people at various points in our journeys to a healthier life.  The support group will address real topics..  real triumphs, and setbacks.. real successes and obstacles, real people.. real issues.

We'll meet at various locations throughout HRM for support group meetings and we'll also meet to do fun things together socially, like pool, bowling.. a night out at a comedy club.. a cruise in the summer.

Everyone is welcomed to join!   

Look up the group on Facebook by name:  Little By Little Weight Loss Support Group

By email at:  littlebylittle902@gmail.com
or with the link to our group:     http://www.facebook.com/groups/241509452606153/

 You look simply amazing Kit!  
I too had to be consciously intubated, and I didn't have a lot of time to panic about it.  

I can't believe the difference a year makes!

If you live local, you could come to our support group and be an inspiration to us all!
We have meetings local to HRM, and a facebook group.

Great bunch!  Would love to have you join us!

 Congrats Susan!
Glad your surgery went well and you're home and well on your way now girlie!

Hope you have a swift recovery.. and enjoy the ride!

It's been awhile since I posted on here, I am 5 months out from being sleeved!

I feel fantastic!  I am down 82 lbs, taking me into the 200s!!!   I've lost 86 inches overall.

I'm not noticing a big difference in clothing sizes yet, but I was so far out of the largest plus size clothes it took losing at least 50 lbs to get into size 28s again.  I've lost over two sizes in shoes, used to wear a men's 10 for width to accommodate the swelling/fat, now a woman's 9.5.

I wear some size 24s, some size 22s, some 2x and 3x.  It's all over the place, and fit into an XL stretch work out pant from Old Navy!!  First time I could ever wear clothes from a regular store, even if it's their high end sizes!  Clothing is so frustrating, because sizing is so vastly inconsistent.  Even within the same store, sizing is crazy different.

My body will definitely have issues with saggy tummy and saggy bewbies, but I honestly don't care at this moment.  It bothers me sometimes when trying on pants, because they're too big in the arse and legs, for what size I need to accommodate my stomach.  

I have so much more energy, I don't have the pain and poor mobility.  The seatbelt in my car fits, and I can sit in booths in restaurants, and smaller chairs with arms.  

I'm losing quite a bit of hair, and getting in all the protein I need most days. I'm thinking about a shorter haircut, but not sure how that will work.  For now, I think because I have naturally curly hair, it helps to mask the hair loss.  I'm scared if I go shorter, I'll have to straighten it to style it so it doesn't look like an afro, and then you'll see how thin it really is.  I can clip up my entire hair in a small little girl clip.   I will be buying some biotin soon, for sure... if it's not too late to start.

I'm not hardcore and do not boycott carbs.  I do my best to get protein in first most meals, and most days I get 60g of protein in.  My calories range from 600 to 800 daily.

I do allow myself a treat from time to time, but my tastes and tolerances have so drastically changed.  Things that used to be my food addiction, I can not tolerate, or can't stand the smell of.  
I still have issues with seeing the difference in weight loss.  When I look in the mirror, it's all fucky.  I see myself the same as I was at my highest weight.  When I look at side by side photos, I can see a difference.  

I still pick up clothes size 5x, and think in my head that it won't go near me.  I pick up clothes that I'm wearing now, and think I brought in the wrong load of laundry from the laundry room, and have someone else's clothes instead of mine.  I don't know when my head will ever catch up with the changes my body is having.  

I just saw my surgeon for a follow-up appointment.  He said at this point, I've lost 20% of my excess weight loss.  He considers 30% excess weight loss a success, and that will be another 40 lbs to reach that point.  I don't want this to end at 30%.  Hearing him say that rattled me a bit.  He explained that from a medical standpoint, with losing 30% excess weight, I would have drastically reduced my chance of getting another disease associated with obesity.  From his medical standpoint, that would be considered a success.

I'm there, and I guess once I'm at that point where my health has tremendously been improved, the vanity will kick in and I'll want to lose more weight to become closer to an average size person.  I'll keep you posted on how that plays out : )

I love my sleeve, and my surgeon and his team for giving me my life back.



Pre-op December 2010 and 3 months post-op



5 Months Post Op - November 2011

 I have to tell you -- try cheese sometime.  My taste buds have drastically changed.  I mean -- CRAZY changes!
Things I hated the taste of ... now I love.  I don't know why at all, but it's happened!

I'm glad you're cruisin' right along, already on soft foods!  That's so awesome!

As for eggs, some days you won't have the appetite for something you loved the day before.  It happens often, and I call it grouchy pouch.. even though.. it's not really a pouch when we're sleeved.   

Chicken and fish.. would be my staple foods.  Haddock is one of my favourites.  A few months more out I tried salmon and it was delicious too.

Enjoy the new stages!  Glad you're doing so well KimberleyAnn!

 That is so awesome! 
Your only regret will be not choosing it sooner!

It's been the best thing I've ever done for my health and overall well-being

xox

 So nice that all you ladies fared well with your travels and surgery!
I'm so happy you all had each other as support systems along your journey.

Hope you all recover swiftly, and hope to some day meet you all.
Welcome to the loser's bench!

 Good to hear that you're losing weight Caper, not great that you can't drink anything.  I'd want to follow that up with an appointment for the surgeon.  You honestly should have been able to drink before leaving the hospital.  It wouldn't hurt to have that looked into.
I hope it's just a slow healing thing, and you're well on way in recovering.

 Hi Linda,

My heart goes out to you.. seeing your son struggle cannot be an easy thing when you're helpless.  I applaud your determination to help him.  He'll need you by his side throughout his journey to a heathier life.

You can certainly get in contact with Lillian on Facebook, and she will refer you to a private support group with patients who have just had, or are waiting for weight loss sugery.   The facebook group is private, and any posts/inquiries made to the group are only visible by group members.  We've all been there, through the same struggles and faced the same obstacles.

The group meets every 3rd week.  There are no fees for this group or for attending meetings.

Capital Health, Halifax -- has an Obesity Network that deals with bariatric surgery.  Their website is:
http://www.cdha.nshealth.ca/obesity-network

On that link, you will find all kinds of information with suggestions like special diets, etc -- that you can attempt while you're son is waiting for surgery.

All the best to you and your family.
If you need to privately message me on here, feel free.

Take care.

 Hi Ginny,

I don't think MSI covers any plastics for pannectomy or TT, but the QE2 has referred people to:

 Dr Bender-Samuel and the website is:
http://www.landingsurgery.ca/index.html#subhead

It's a private clinic, and the prices used to be listed.  Not sure if they still are.