AtlantaRed

Great! i hope I can get all the tests done and start treatment asap in november when my insurance kicks in!!

Thanks so much. I wasn't too worried about the hair loss afterwards but I'm more worried now because it is already coming out. I absolutely will bring it up, directly. I do have testing orders from the surgeon for H. pylori so I definitely will be tested. My insurance doesn't cover the surgery so I am self pay. But I'm waiting for the insurance to kick in to cover the upper GI and EKG that I need. Due to me already having issues, I feel my PCP can order the tests based on my last year of intestinal issues and get them covered. I just hate waiting another month. It will be great (sort of) if I do have h. pylori so I can get it treated!! I will print out the study from the NIH and bring along so hopefully she will feel compelled to agree with the Iron infusion before my surgery. Would be awesome if intestinal issues AND fatigue went away! I don't nap at all but am just tired. Looks like November might be a busy month before the surgery in (hopefully) December.

Now I'm worried. When one of these topics came up a couple of weeks ago, I looked into it and very well could have it. THEN, the post above associated Iron deciciency with H. Pylori. Well, I am on prescription iron and take 3 a day and am still low. I did some further researching and found study on the NIH.org website that confirmed the study above and linked iron deciency with H. pylori. Further articles discuss the tiredness and fatigue of iron deficiency. I kept telling my doc that I'm still tired on B12 shots and 3 iron a day. She said to have sleep study because I should not be tired. However, I have NO symptoms of sleep issues at all. So in my reading it discussed how general doctors don't usually associate fatigue with intestinal issues. Well, I have had physical intestinal issues for over a year, especially after my gallbladder was removed. Also, last night I was researching hair loss because I am PRE-sleeve and my hair is noticeably thinning since the last year at least. I have/had thick hair but now you can see my scalp in the front. In looking up reasons for hair loss, I also came up with iron deficiency! So, I was already worried about the hair loss after surgery but I'm having it now, 2 months BEFORE surgery! The bad thing is, my hubby got a new job and our new insurance doesn't kick in for another month, November 1. So, I have to wait another month to get tested and then do treatment and get an iron infusion and hope my hair starts growing again in time for it to start falling out after the surgery! I cut my hair really short in anticipation of the surgery and thinking it was so long, it was heavy. My hair is usually wavy/curly. However, I cut it and it didn't poof up like I thought it would (to cover the thinning) and it isn't even curling like it is supposed to. Yesterday's shower, gobs of hair. So not happy I have to wait a month. A bit frustrating (although from what I read, normal) that my doc couldn't link the two a while back! Just venting....

Not sleeved yet but had my gallbladder out last year with similar incisions. I can't even find them and I did nothing to them! I had an upper chest skin cancer removed the same week and that did keloid but the laparoscopy scars are invisible on my stomach.

I can't help but I'm interested in either the Fitbit One or the Withings Pulse. I had a step counter through the YMCA several years back and I was really motivated to move more. The Withings Pulse is supposed to account for elevation and has a pulse monitor. I'd love to hear from folks who have experience with both.

Welcome to the newer folks. I saw some other posts this morning with folks saying their surgery is in December, hopefully they will join too! I have my psych eval tomorrow. I called so many and finally found one that doesn't do the 5 hour appt. Thus will be a regular 45 min appt. After that, I need my upper GI and EKG. Then I should be able to schedule my date. I hope I will be far enough out that I can schedule it when I want it, the first Thursday in Dec. Then I will have a 4 hour preop where I go to a nutrition class to get all the details, meet with the surgeon one last time, and I'm not sure what else. So glad to have others along in a similar place!

Wow, that is amazing! You look great! Good job!

So the women couldn't have left for any other reason? Isn't it possible that it was a coincidence that the next person they dated was thin? Some people have a type and others don't but just because the next person they dated was thin, doesn't mean that is WHY they are dating them.

Welcome to our December group! Most people do just fine with the pain medications they give you. I'm sure you'lll do great!

Hi everyone, I am pre-sleeve and I'm having a hard time imagining size possibilities. I do not have a goal clothing size in my head as I've always been heavy. I was not an extremely obese child but I was heavier than my friends. I wore a size 10 when I was 14. Sounds great right now but I know at the time, my friends were smaller. I gradually got bigger as the years went by so my history is not that I was once thin and then gained weight. I will definitely have excess skin, no doubts. The telling signs to me are "tight" fat versus "soft" fat! Seems like if you have tight fat, it's newer fat and you'll definitely lose that without as much sagging but when your fat is already sagging before surgery, it's a sure bet it will be sagging after surgery! I have decent hopes in my ability to lose significant weight. I'm very competitive with myself and I happen to like eating low carb. I'm not a snacker. I'm not an emotional eater. I've never binged. I was raised, however, to clean my plate...whether it was healthy or not. So, when I eat, I definitely over eat. I also do like sodas but can easily give them up. Maybe if others with similar stats can chime in please. I'm so curious as to what possible clothing size I could get into if I lost all or most of my excess weight. What might be the smallest size I can get into that will accommodate my excess skin on my thighs, stomach, butt...etc. Also, I know they will deflate but I'm pretty certain my boobs will remain relatively big. I was a C cup in the 7th grade. I'm a 44DDD now. My mom was heavier and lost all of her weight and still is a 38D. So, I'm not even sure what size shirt I might be able to get down to with probably a D cup and a soft belly! So, my stats are: I'm 40, about 308 and 5'4". I currently wear a 26/28 both tops and pants. If you started out around that size and already had sagging fat, assuming you have decently saggy excess skin now, what's the smallest size pants and shirt that you've gotten into? Thanks for any help!

I take 50,000 once a week as well and have for 3 years. Surgeon looked at my labs and didn't say anything so I think it's ok.

I am hoping that my insurance will pay for the upper GI and EKG. My hope is that my PCP can order them and then they will be covered. I've had reflux issues for a year since my gallbladder was removed so I am hoping she can use that as a reason to order an upper GI. She is the one who suggested the weight loss surgery so I am hoping that means she will help out! I haven't had much done but enough to know it won't be pretty! When I was 28, had tonsils removed, which was bad but also my first experience with surgery and/or prescription pain meds. Last year, gallbladder. My 73-yo mom had hers removed the year prior, she was loopy for 3 days and doesn't even remember anything! I couldn't stand up straight for 2 weeks! Also during the gallbladder recovery, I had a small basal cell carcinoma spot removed from my upper chest. Thought it would be no big deal....UGH! It took 2 vials of numbing stuff just to numb the area. Apparently, pain meds don't work the same on me. Or as my gallbladder surgeon said, I have a low tolerance for pain (which makes me sound like a big baby!) So things that end in -codone do nothing for me. They don't even make me loopy. He said he would try dilaudid. Fingers crossed for something! So glad to have a surgery buddy!

Me, me, me!! I am not schedule yet but hoping for an early December date. I am self pay and I could technically have it next month but I'm hoping to get the upper GI and EKG covered by insurance....which doesn't kick in until November 1! So, I've done a support group meeting, a nutritian meeting and then this week is my psych eval. Then after the upper GI and EKG, I can schedule it. I have bad recoveries, long painful recoveries, and therefore would prefer to wait until after Thanksgiving. I don't care so much about the eating, but I don't want to be miserable cooking it and we're the ones who host my family. So, hoping for first Thursday in December!

I definitely will be asking about it! Thanks!

No one mentioned a pain pump to me! I want a pain pump! I am known to not recover well from procedures due to significant pain and lack of response to typical pain meds. Surgeon is aware of this and assures me he will make sure my pain is controlled before I go home. I know incisions are similar to gallbladder removal. Had mine removed last year and it took 2 weeks before I could even stand up straight! My 73-yo mother had hers out the year before. She was loopy on pain meds for 3 days and doesn't remember a thing!

I haven't been sleeved yet but I do have anxiety. I'm not expecting the actual surgery to help with it but I do know it will get better when I am more physically able to get out and exercise. I love going to state parks and hiking/walking. It totally clears my head and I physically feel better. At 40, my weight is catching up to me and I have been unable to get out to hike due to sore knees and such. I absolutely know my anxiety will be better with exercise.

I am using Dr. William Johnson at Emory Johns Creek. I love him and feel he is very knowledgeable. Others are less expensive but I feel really comfortable with him and the NUT.

I'm preop and hope to have my surgery in early December. However, until I get cleared, I'm having trouble actually preparing. I'm self pay so not too many hoops to clear. I am being more aware of my chewing. I will wean off of soda/caffeine slowly to hopefully avoid headaches. I'm making a list of things to buy as soon as I know it's actually going to happen such as a weight scale that measures fat, Water, bone, muscle, a food scale, a new filtering water pitcher since I'm picky and should be greatly increasing my water intake, and Withings Pulse to encourage my activity. I will not have a preop diet so I think I will buy the unflavored Protein powder, unjury chicken broth, Gatorades that I know I like, some ready to drink Isopures, and the ready to drink Premier Protein. I've heard so much about tastes changing, I don't want to invest too much before surgery. Also the various Vitamins. I will also make sure hubby and mom have enough groceries to fend for themselves. Thankfully no kids to worry about. I will move the recliner into the bedroom and buy some extra heating pads and Gas-X. I will also try to get all the laundry and chores and regular supplies caught up so everyone can focus on ME! lol

Do you know if it is worthing doing the Member Price program at GNC for $15 a year?

My husband is fit (and has terrible eating habits) but even now, pre-sleeve, I don't join in. He has sweets after every meal. Just because they are in the house doesn't mean I have to eat them, and I don't. I will even still be able to cook for him and the rest of my family and not partake. I will also be able to take myself to the gym if he doesn't go himself. We do enjoy the same activities so when I am more physically able, I know our new activities will be more physical and I will be glad he is doing them with me but more because I love him and enjoy his company, not because I NEED him to do it with me for me to succeed. This is MY journey. I'm just glad I have him to love me through it! Good luck!

My NUT said the Camelbak was fine since the bite valve sucks the Water up itself. I have some Nalgene "on the fly" bottles that have a covered spout but no straw. I don't like to have my drinks open to the air (don't want them contaminated with dust....lol) http://www.amazon.com/Nalgene-Water-Bottle-Clear-Green/dp/B0043T9CVW/ref=sr_1_10?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1380476733&sr=1-10&keywords=nalgene

I am looking to get one of these before my surgery. I'm hoping it will help during a stall. Hopefully it will show if actual fat is being lost and muscle being gained, or some kind of recompositioning during the stall!

I am pre-sleeve and had my first NUT appointment last week. I know all docs and all NUTs are different in their info, but she said something in regards to why we need to chew, chew, chew that I haven't seen on the forums yet. She explained that the large portion of the stomach that is removed is the part responsible for grinding the food that we swallow. Therefore, if we don't chew the food well before we swallow, it sits and has nothing to start grinding and that is why a lot of people either have significant pain when they swallow something too big or they throw it up. I found that interesting and thought I would share. Again, no clue if it is true or not but it was something I had not seen mentioned before.

So glad to help! I've learned a lot from here too. The NUT was impressed with all I already knew! lol

My NUT said I could take everything but vitamins and fish oil right after surgery as usual. She said vitamins and fish oil are the biggest pills out there and they are hard to break down.