Update - April 9, 2008

Well, it has been too long since I updated my profile for all the newbies on here.  I had my surgery almost 15 months ago.  I am not the same person.  I am very pleased with my results.  I am very pleased with my smaller stomach.  I would do all this again in a heartbeat.  It has not been a hard journey at all since the surgery.  I was always diligent and did to the "details" what Dr. A recommended right after surgery and for many months to come.  I did not have any problems that I consider worth mentioning except heartburn from the surgery.  That is the only side effect I have had from this surgery.  If I have to take an ocassional TUMS the rest of my life - then I consider this "nothing" from the surgery.  I know many, many people who have had to take antiacids all there life and never had this type of surgery.  I have not taken anything for three to four months now but an ocassional TUMS - so it can't be too bad, huh?

I did have the hair loss and for a few months even begin looking at wigs.  I think it is just a side effect of the surgery and weight loss - because I was getting enough protein and drinking all my liquids and taking my vitamins faithfully.  Sometimes it just happens - BUT - it does finally stop and now my hair has pretty much totally recovered.  I just kept taking my vitamins, trying to choose protein first, etc. and it does stop falling out when you stabilize.  I do believe that I did begin to eat more at a certain point to stop the hair loss.  It had a dual effect - it stopped the hair loss and it stopped the weight loss too.  Have I gained weight back??? No - I go between 158 and 162 for several months now.  Several months ago I probably cursed myself when I said "if I never lose another pound, I am totally happy with this surgery".  I weigh exactly the same right now as I did when I made that statement!  I would eventually like to lose 10 more pounds - but do believe I would have some skin "issues" if I lost much more weight.  I am in normal size clothes - size 10 - 12 pants and large or extra larger tops (OKay some mediums).  I do have some size ten jeans in my closet I bought early on that I would like to be able to comfortably wear once!!!!

I just added new photos on my profile of me and some others at the first Dr. Alvarez reunion held here in San Antonio, TX.  It was a blast to finally meet some of the others from here that have had my surgery.  I finally got to meet our Susan and of course getting to see Dr. A and Rosy was a delight.  Extra special was getting to  meet the Mrs. Alvarez!!  She was wonderful and I think she understands Dr. A's passion about this surgery and helping all of his patients.  I did worry about that!

I apologize for not updating for a long time and plan to do better.  I am working fulltime now and VERY busy at work now.  I have more energy than I ever dreamed possible.   Do I always make the right choices?  No - but I am still on this journey and refuse to not enjoy life and the foods I have always loved - I just eat less of them.  I do not eat sweets like I used to - I don't really even want them anymore.  I do crave salads and vegetables.  I still love my protein and never had a problem with the shakes or getting my protein.

I will close for now - to go to bed - I have a busy next few days at work.  I work at the local community hospital and this Saturday is moving day - for all the patients.  This has been in the works for over two years now and is a huge deal!!  I'll post more after the move.

I would encourage anyone contemplating this surgery - to do it.  It is the best weight loss surgery out there today and I believe I had the best surgeron.  He is a true craftsman when it comes to this surgery and has the best bedside manner of any doctor on this earth.  Okay - so I'm a little partial.

More next time, Bobbie in Texas - just less of me now!!!!  I'm down 68 pounds.


January 17th, 2006

    I am packed and ready for my trip to Mexico to have Dr. Alvarez do my gastric sleeve operation in five days.  This is the beginning of my story to my freedom from obesity I have battled over my lifetime.  Thank you to my coordinator for making this easier for me with your multitude of information and patience in answering all my questions.

     I am sure to some people, having a big majority of your stomach removed seems extreme.  I am not writing to those people.  I am writing to those like myself, that have looked in the mirror for years and begged, cried and prayed to be smaller.  I'm talking to those that have been embarassed and permanently scarred at comments cruel people have whispered about you.  I'm talking to those that have had people tell you "you have such a beautiful face".  They might as well say, and your body is gross, when they say that to me.  I'm talking to you that have desired to walk into any store and be able to buy a bra, or underwear or buy an outfit for some special occasion and not have to go through a zillion outfits to find one that you finally decide makes you look the least fat and fits too - oh AND that you can afford.  We all know they charge a premium for "plus" size clothes cuz they know they got us. 

     A Funny:  I was complaining years ago about how I had to pay so much more for a decent pair of panties than skinny people and my younger brother said, "Well, when you are buying material by the yard, what do you expect".  We all laughed hysterically and I still fondly tell that story to this day.  He died five years ago at the young age of 43 years old from stomach cancer.  His terminal illness and death helped me learn to not put off things because you never know.  Life is too short to be unhappy even one day longer.

      This decision for WLS has been an difficult one for me.  I've been coming to this site since 2004.  In my everyday life I've talked to everyone I know who has ever had WLS and picked their brain, trying to decide on the best procedure for ME.  I know there are many procedures out there and I am so happy when I read any profile or story of a WLS success story.  I don't care what that procedure is as long as it works for that person and they decided on their own to have their particular procedure.  I think there are different strokes for different folks.

      I have the full support of my wonderful Significant Other and he is going with me as my support person and will help take care of me as I heal fully.  For him, I am very thankful.  I'll keep ya posted on how we do.  He has three things he is responsible for directly after my surgery.  They are:  for me to walk, walk and then walk some more, move my legs in bed and move them some more and to take deep breaths often to expand my lungs.  He had brain tumor surgery almost two years ago (not cancer) and he was one of the statistic that developed a blood clot in his leg (DVT) that sent blood clots to his lungs (PE) - so we are both concerned about this as it is a risk with any surgical procedure.

For five days from my surgery date I will stop for now and post more later. 

January 19, 2007 - 9:32 p.m.

      Well - we leave in two days to head out for my surgery on Monday.  I'm ready in more ways than just being packed and ready to go.  I'm ready for this to "really" be over and to "really" begin a new beginning.  I don't have a lot to post at this time except I think I am as physically and mentally prepared as I can be for this procedure.  I plan to continue to be optimistic and hopeful and am so thankful for the support from this site and the new WLS friends I have met on here.

I will post when I return home on Thursday, January 25th from having my surgery unless we have internet access while we are in Mexico and Eagle Pass.

 January 25, 2007

     I arrived home today after a three and half hour drive.  I've been doing laundry, put all of that up, had a couple sets of company, my SO took me to get my hair cut and I'm still up going tonight.  I would say that I am doing VERY GOOD for having surgery just three days ago.  I will return to work on Monday to my part time auditing assistant job at my local hospital.  My overall experience with my weight loss surgery in Mexico from a scale of 1 - 10 would be rated a 9 1/2.  I expected a lot from the surgeon and he exceeded my expectations.  I reviewed the facility on that section on here for further comments on that.  But overall I am so excited with my sleeve so far and sure hope the good news continues coming from me.  Thank everyone from this site for their support and genuine concern.

January 28, 2007

      I have had a good weekend getting all my liquids and protein in without any problems.  I am going back to my four hour a day job in the morning and think I will be just fine.  I walked two miles at the mall today for my exercise.  It was easier than I had thought it would be.  I need to get back to the routine of work and get more structured and get my mind off of the surgery.  I have been just consumed with it now for months planning to have it, packing to have it, leaving to have it and now arriving back home after it.  I'm glad to get back to my normal routine with my new lifestyle changes and stomach.  I don't have a lot to report except I am doing better than I ever dreamed I would be doing 6 days postop and hope it continues this way.  I will update more in a few days.  As of this morning I was back down to my weight right before surgery - and eight pounds from "onederland". 

January 30, 2007 - 5:30 p.m.

      Well, I've been back to work for two days now and doing fine in that department.  I just work four hours a day at our local hospital. Today was the first day I got to try blended liquids and I was disappointed in the outcome.  I blended a garlic roasted chicken soup (minus the few noodles) and I guess I drank too much and too fast because I experienced some discomfort.  Boy did it taste good though.  I have a call into the nurse to ask her if this was normal and if I am just expecting too much this early.  I hope she will tell me that it is just that my stomach is still healing and still can't hold very much at all and that this will get better as time passes.  Right now I have a lot of restriction and it took me four hours this morning to drink my shake I took to work for breakfast.  I did not feel any pain or discomfort in drinking it that slow - just trying to "listen" to my stomach and when it has had enough and needs a break.  I think I am learning what sip, sip, sip means!  Okay - my nurse confirmed the fact that I just ate too much too quickly - so I'm also learning to slowwwww dowwwwn.

February 17, 2007 - 11:43 a.m.

     I thought I should post on here today since it has been awhile since I have updated.  I am still amazed at how well I am doing and loving having this surgery.  I still have not been sorry for one minute that I had it either.  I am at the soft / mushy food stage now and am really enjoying introducing some of my favorite foods back into my diet along with my protein shakes to get my proteins in.  Just got back from breakfast with my SO and had a egg, cheese, chorizo breakfast taco and refried beans with lots of salsa on both.  And NO I did not eat the flour tortilla that it came wrapped in either.  I have learned that it is so much easier if I measure out my food ahead of time like my doctor recommends - so I asked for a very small bowl and took out what I felt like was the amount I would be able to eat.  I slowly enjoyed it and did not even finish what I took out to eat.  I had that one experience with overeating and eating too fast and DO NOT want to experience that again so I am learning to "listen" to my new stomach and stop when I begin that feeling of fullness before it is too late.  To date I have still lost 28 pounds total and 15 since my surgery.  This is slower compared to some others but I am very happy with my progress and know that there is no way I can not lose with the little amount of food I am able to eat.  I also do NOT want to stretch out my stomach and have really been extremely cautious during this healing stage.  It will be one month that I had my surgery on the 22nd of February so I am still fresh from surgery.  My incisions are looking very good and I am exercising now (power walking video) and I don't feel any soreness and achy feelings at all anymore.  I have been walking at least a mile when I exercise since four days after surgery.  I am still careful not to lift heavy objects.  The hardest thing for me is still to drink water - I don't know why but it doesn't go down as good as it used to.  You would think that water would be the easiest thing to drink.  Most days I have done good getting in all my fluids and protein with just a couple where I almost made it but didn't. 

     One thing that I have learned is why some people don't tell folks that they have had weight loss surgery.  It is because EVERYTIME you see those people now they look at you (up and down) and ask - well, how much have you lost now?  I'm sure this will get old but it's okay - I can always ask them to stop asking if I tire of it and I am sure they will.  Most of them are just excited for me and with me. 

    I am reaching deeper into my closet and pulling out smaller size clothes that I haven't been able to wear in a few years.  This has been very nice but I am still eager to shop for NEW stuff too - but am going to try and wait as long as I possibly can since I know I will drop many sizes in the next few months.

March 3, 2007 - 9:57 a.m.

     I am down 33 pounds as of today.  I am extremely pleased with my progress.  I am beginning to get the comments now about how skinny I am getting at work.  I have now gone through one of my closets and took a huge, huge and heavy (probably went over my lifting limit getting it in the car) bag of clothes to the local charity thrift shop.  Somebody is going to be real happy when they find some of those clothes in the thirft store, because there is some nice stuff in there. 

     I have never gotten rid of clothes this quick on any diet I have ever been on.  I always "held" on to my fat clothes just in case.  I am sure a lot of you can relate to that syndome!  LOL  This time - if they are a little big and baggy - they are out of here.   I'm making room for this permanent weight loss and NEW CLOTHES.  I encourage all of you to go through your closets now in search of clothes to wear while we are losing weight.  I found clothes I forgot I even had and still do not have to buy any new clothes yet.  I have bought one or two items that I found on a clearance rack because I CAN NOT pass up a good bargain.  A new classy shirt for $5.70 cents is something I will never be able to pass up.  I love clothes and know that if my food addiction moves to anything - it will be buying clothes.  I have NEVER been able to dress the way I really wanted to because of my overweight issues.  I love really pretty, classy clothes.  They don't have to be expensive - but I love the thought that hopefully soon I will have an attractive figure to dress the way I have always wanted to.

     So far I have not had any problems re-introducing regular foods to my diet.  I am so happy - this was one of my concerns.  I didn't want to have this surgery and be sick the rest of my life and have food issues.  I have been very conscious of what I put in my mouth - but so far I have eaten a huge variety of foods with no problems whatsoever.  I choose proteins first and then green vegetables - but don't eat much at all.  I still supplement my protein and liquid intake with the protein shakes and am still enjoying them.  I am so glad I like them and easily found several kinds that I enjoy and actual look forward to eating.  I will post more at a later date.

March 10th, 2007

     I posted some new photos just now of my weight loss so far and I am not quite two months post op yet.  I am very pleased with my progress and am still sure I made the right decision for me.  I have been exercising more and I am sure it has helped to begin the firming up process of this journey.  I joined Curves and went three times this past week and also did walking at the mall twice so far for two miles a trip.  I plan on going again this weekend to the mall to walk because our Curves is not open on the weekends here in my town.

      People are now beginning to notice my weight loss and make comments about WOW - you are losing weight.  How much have you lost.  I answer them with how much and also add "and this is just the beginning".  This is the first time I have EVER felt like there was really hope that I would make my goal weight and actually stay there for the rest of my life.  I really, really think this surgery is an excellent choice for folks like me that have always been heavy and battled the weight issue their whole life. 

     I'll post more later - but for now I am progressing well and pretty much eating normal foods for the most part.  I am making protein my first choice always and am still supplementing my protein intake daily with the protein shakes that I happen to like very much.  I'm hoping the extra workouts will help me fine tune my body and sculpt it as I lose my desired weight.  I'll keep ya posted.  So far - I'm enjoying this ride!!!!

 March 22nd, 2007

     Today it has been two months since my surgery.  I have to post that I am doing GREAT and not having any problems and don't expect to.  I am enjoying Curves and doing walking at the mall still so I still feel very good about this journey.  Down 40 pounds including my pre op weight loss.

 April 17th, 2007

     As of today I am down 45 pounds.  I am over half way to my weight loss goal of 88 pounds lost.  I'm still not having any problems reintroducing all foods into my diet and continue to try to make good food choices.  I was stalled for two weeks and think that is changing now.  It isn't real discouraging when I stall - because I know my body needs to readjust to the weight loss.  So far I am very happy with the way my body is firming up as I go. 

     The only issue I am having is acid / heartburn trying to get off the antacid.  I am determined I am not going to take that stuff for the rest of my life and am trying again to go without it.  I know when you stop it - it can have a rebound effect and your stomach will over produce acid again.  I'm using Tums to help with the feelings I get from the acid / heartburn.  It helps if I eat something - just to get something in my stomach - but I don't want to get in the habit of grazing a lot either.  I'll keep ya posted on this.

     I have more energy than I have had in many years and love having this surgery.  The hope is finally there that I'm going to reach goal and I am still excited.  I went and tried on new clothes at the mall yesterday and got into 16P jeans in more than one style - I'm so excited.  It was so difficult not to buy some - but I didn't.  I still have enough clothes for now to get by. 

 May 6th, 2007

     Well, this week my hair officially has begun to thin out.  I have tried to do everything right and take my vitamins, protein, water, etc. but it can still happen.  Anesthesia and rapid weight loss are two of the reasons people drop hair and we just had them both.   I will keep ya posted on how bad it gets.  My hair is already fine and thin so I sure hope it doesn't last too long.  I began at about four months out for me. 

     My clothes are literally sliding off me now.  I am really beginning to lose the inches even though the weight loss is slowing down.  I know I could make better choices at times.  I am still having the acid issue and it feels better if I have a little something in my stomach.  I am trying to find a medication that helps with this issue without spending a fortune.  LOL 

May 31st, 2007

     Hair thinning seems to have slowed some now and still is not so thin that anyone other than me would notice it.  As long as it grows back in as it comes out I should be fine.  The acid is getting better slowly.  I am not on any medication and only once in awhile have to use Tums.  The exercise is still helping me slim down and I could not be happier with the capacity of my stomach.  I will NEVER be able to overeat like I used to in the past with the new stomach.  I love it.  I have still not found anything that I can not eat.  I still have never thrown up and have learned to listen to my stomach and stop before I get overfull.  I do not really crave sweets like you might think.  I am happy to be one of the people that enjoys the protein bars and shakes and this really does satisify my sweet tooth.  The bars that I eat are so good they are like eating a candy bar - but are packed with vitamins and lots of protein.  It is like a sinful pleasure eating them.  I alway have a protein shake (mixed up at home) and take it to work for my breakfast five days a week.  I find it easy to get my protein and liquids in with the shake in the mornings.  I am down to 173 now and looking forward to getting in to the 160's.  I can't even remember when I was that weight - had to be sometime in jr. high school though.  I lost a total of 53 pounds and am now 35 pounds from my goal weight.  We went on a two week vacation to AZ and I felt SO much better and walked and walked lots of place that I would never have been able to without the sleeve.  All my friends that had not seen me since surgery were just in awe of how good I am doing and how much weight I had lost.  I also noticed - they plan their lives and events around FOOD.  I am finally not doing that anymore.  I did not really watch what I ate on vacation and managed to lose one pound!  This surgery is my miracle.  Will write more later.

July 8th, 2007

As of this AM I am 28 pounds from my goal weight.  I weighed in this morning at 166 pounds.  I have NEVER been 28 pounds from a goal weight EVER.  WOW - moments like this have never happened to me.  I am heading into unchartered territory for sure.  I think you can tell I am very pleased with my surgery and progress.  I still can eat pretty much whatever I want to eat - just not much of it at all. I always try for protein first and then veggies and fruits.   I still have occasional acid/heartburn issues but nothing I can't tolerate at this point and the episodes are getting fewer and further between.  I still use Tums at times to help control the acid.  

My hair is still thinning and my dear boyfriend tells me that he thinks I am the only one that can tell.  I know that the girl that cuts my hair can tell because she commented when she trimmed my hair the last time.  All in all - it is okay.  I don't like the hair thinning but losing the weight makes it easier to accept.                                                                                                        

I feel better and can do so much more now.  I still exercise on a regular basis at Curves and do a power walking video here at home.  I could exercise more of course but am happy with my progress in that area too because I have never been one to exercise and stick to it.  I just finished my fourth month at Curve's and committed to one year there.     

I have wondered if I need to rethink my goal weight of 138.  I have decided that I will be at my goal weight when I look in the mirror and say "I do not want to lose any more weight now".  I will keep you posted on what that is.  I am thinking that I maybe very happy with somewhere around 145 - but will see how I feel and look at that time.

So far I am happy with the way my body is firming up.  I will never be able to wear a two piece bathing suit - but knew that before I began this journey.  I do not want to have any plastic surgery and probably couldn't afford it anyway.  

Will post more later.         

November 30th

It has been way too long since I took the time to post.  I am down to 158 now and really pleased with this journey.  In fact - I am more than please - I am so grateful I did this.  I am a new person both inside and out.  I am much happier, can do more things and have more energy than the energizer bunny does.  I just put a new picture on my photos of me and my youngest daughter - we can share clothes.  Never in all my life has that happened to me.

My hair seems to be getting thicker - S L O W L Y - and I'm ready for a new hairdo but am going to keep it short until it thickens back up.  I am still taking my prenatal vitamins and the biotin for hair, nails and skin daily.  If these are supposed to help then it should be helping soon!!!!!!  I still drink protein shakes several times a week for my breakfast and still enjoy them as I always did.  I usually make a chocolate / peanut butter one and take it to work with me and drink it.

I am eating anything I want in moderation and try to make good choices.  I still take my Prilosec OTC for the acid but am not letting that slow me down either.  Hey lots of folks have to take anti-acids and they've never even had this surgery.  A small price to pay in my opinion.

I am just rambling on -but wanted to post an update of my pleasure with this procedure and my journey.  I should get more pictures up soon.  I am wearing size 12 pants and large or Xlarge tops.  I don't like my tops to be too tight on my body - still.   

I bought my first pair of boots the other day and wore them to work yesterday.  Sharp - boy they were sharp.  Never in my wildest dreams did I believe I'd be able to finally dress the way I have always wanted to.

To anyone out there contemplating having this surgery - JUST DO IT.