I wasn’t sure if I was going to tell my friends that I had Gastric Sleeve surgery but then I realized that I’d rather put myself out there and be open with everyone so I can help and educate others. If I help even one person on their weight loss journey then it will be worth it. Here’s what I wrote on facebook when I “came out” to my friends:
I wasn’t sure if I was going to write this post. I was worried about the backlash and negative comments I would get because I got crap the last time I posted anything about this. But I’ve always been a pretty open person if it means someone else hearing my story would learn from it, gain from it, take comfort in it. That’s probably one of the reasons I became a blogger. So if anyone has anything negative to say, please just go ahead and unfriend me now. Obviously you don’t belong in my life.
So here it is. Monday I had Gastric Sleeve surgery. (This is TOTALLY different than gastric bypass surgery.) I can tell you this- It isn’t the “easy way out” by any stretch of the imagination as some people think. Heck I thought it was the easy way out at one point in my life. But it isn’t. It’s a tool to help me lose weight so I can be healthier and happier for myself and my family, especially my girls. I still have lots of work to do. Life will never be the same. They removed about 85% of my stomach to create my new stomach sleeve. My stomach (once it is healed) will only hold a few ounces. I won’t be able to eat large portions ever again. I won’t be able to drink with my meals (gastric sleeve patients have to stop drinking 15 minutes before meals and can’t drink for 30 minutes after meals). My first year will consist mainly of proteins and then vegetables. Eventually I will be able to add back a few complex carbs but protein will always be my priority.
Right now until the swelling goes down my stomach is about the diameter of a pen. It is very hard to get anything down. I am on liquids and pureed foods right now and each meal is literally only a few bites if I can get that down. Breakfast today was one scrambled egg. I ate about 1/4 of it and was done.
This isn’t the easy way out. This is a challenge. This is work. I know it will all be worth it in the end when I am healthier, but it is hard. I am in pain. My incisions hurt. It hurts when each sip hits the bottom of my new stomach. It hurts when each bite hits bottom. But it is all worth it.
I’ve been told that this surgery wasn’t for someone like me. That it was for people over 500 pounds who really needed it and we on death’s door. I’ve been asked why I couldn’t just lose weight on my own. I’ve tried. Believe me, I’ve tried. I just haven’t been able to maintain it over the years. With PCOS, fibromyalgia, diabetes, adrenal fatigue, and several other issues, it’s been difficult to say the least. I’m not getting any younger and neither are my girls. I want to be the best mommy I can be for them and that includes having the energy to play with them. I know that the surgery won’t cure my fibro and I will probably still always be tired and in pain but I am hopeful that it will help make things less painful and give me some more energy. That’s all I can do is hope and work towards my goal. So here I go….
(ETA- I saw my surgeon over 2 years ago but at the time it wasn’t covered my my insurance so I had been looking into this for a while and educated myself on it as much as I could. I suggest anyone thinking about getting this or any bariatric surgery to do their homework. get all the info, and make the best choice for themselves. If anyone wants to talk about my journey and their own privately I’m happy do chat, be a resource, etc.)
Read more about my weight loss surgery here and here.
Me with one of my reasons for having weight loss surgery. To be a healthier, stronger mommy!
Read more about my Gastric Sleeve Weight Loss Surgery Journey.
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