pcos_chick

I'm not being snarky... but how is it possible that you aren't a bit eater and you don't eat sweets but you are overweight and looking into WLS? How did you get overweight?

A friend of mine has twins. Two beautiful boys. And people can't seem to help themselves but ask her, "Are they natural?" referring to naturally conceived or conceived with the help of fertility drugs and procedures. And its incredibly invasive and completely none of their business. I'm always shocked when people ask that and I have a tendency to butt in and answer, "Nope, they are totally fake babies." Then proceed to stare them down. Folks have big mouths and use them without thinking... they do this all the time. Sometimes they do this because they care more than they want to be polite or be sensitive to people's privacy. I think you just need to find a way of reestablishing the boundary when someone crosses it. If someone asks you why you are going away some where you can answer, "I'm doing a little something for myself." And follow that up with a question back at them about something else. Just because someone asks a question doesn't mean you have to answer it. Someone posted on here about a guy asking her in the gym if she had had WLS. The first thing that popped into my mind as a response, when I read that was, "So did you have that penis enlargement surgery?" Now that's not for everyone I know that I tend to be a bit more in-your-face when it comes to this kind of stuff but there are ways to remind folks that you have boundaries. Even folks that are close to you.

Have you thought about telling them after the surgery? It will be too late for them to try and change your mind at that point.... and you'll be losing weight. How can they be negative then? (Knowing family... I'm sure there is a way... but..)

Hey Lisa, I'm set to have Dr. Mann as well... just got cleared by NUT and psych. I'm having the same experience with those at NMCP who don't seem to know much about the sleeve but everyone has been great so far. How was your surgery and post op experience at portsmouth?

Well.... they aren't doing it at Walter Reed any more.... sorta.. BRAC is moving Walter Reed operations to Bethesda. In the DC area you can get surgery (when they have wait list space) at Bethesda (aka the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center) and Ft. Belvoir.

I live in DC... but the DC program is full... I begged, pleaded and was accepted in to the program at Portsmouth. (And yes I have to do all visits, labs, etc down at Portsmouth.) Their program goes like this: - Get referred to general surgery for the program - Program orientation - Labs, EKG - Initial Surgeon Visit - NUT (they say to expect at least two NUT visits) - Psych - Second Surgeon's visit - potentially get surgery date - Surgery Hope that helps!

That is amazing!!!

I've had to get all my bloodwork tests and visits done down at NMCP. It hasn't been easy hauling my Cookies down there but I'm happy to do it. We have friends stationed down there so I've been doing over night trips for all my appointments. Give them a call - it can't hurt to ask!

I am set to get the sleeve at Portsmouth Naval Hospital but I live in DC. The DC area program was full and not accepting any patients so they were referring people out in town. Since VSG isn't covered that way I started calling other MTFs to find one that would accept me. NMCP is out of state for me and about 4 hours away.... Who told you they wouldn't accept out of state patients? Was it the general surgeon office or program coordinator?

I refuse to go on BC. With PCOS our hormones are already out of wack. More hormones doesn't seem like a good solution for that. Any one suggest Metformin? Its been a lifesaver for me.

Maybe acid? Are you taking a PPI?

I'm Pre-op but I can share what my doctors have told me... which is this surgery will NOT cure my PCOS (not the in way some diabetics are cured) but it will help the symptoms 75% if I can lose the weight. The more you weigh the more the symptoms increase. They did say that I would be able to stop the Metformin though they didn't say when specifically. I think the big factor there is that I'm done having little ones (two lovely girls, go go metformin!) My surgeon said I'd stop taking it three days before surgery but after I'm healed up it would depend on my rate of weight loss and other symptoms (sugar cravings, etc.) Hope that helps.

I had the same issues with my c-sections. The pain was not on the incision but around it. It lasted a while and I had some good luck with compression too. I'm pretty sure its called referred pain.

You go girl!!! Can you describe all the changes you made before your surgery?

Evening all, I had my appt. with my Surgeon today and he felt strongly that I should consider the bypass over the sleeve. Here are my stats: Current and high weight: 340lbs Height 5'9 BMI 49 34 years old PCOS The visit was good over all and while the doctor felt I was an excellent candidate for the WLS he was recommending that I opt for the bypass. He felt that the data out there today indicates that the bypass is more successful than the sleeve for patients with BMI over 45 (mean higher percentage of excess weight loss at 5 years.) So I've been doing some searching and most of what I'm seeing data wise for percentage of excess weight loss is about 55-65% at 5 years for sleeve vs. 65-75% for bypass. I know a bunch of folks here have struggled (and posted) and I was hoping for some of that lovely reassurance this place is so great for. I don't have expectations for the kind of success some folks around here have had (you guys rock!) but I would hate to go through all of this (including the burden on my family) just to weight 250lbs in the end. I would love to be somewhere between 200-225lbs. For me that seems like a reasonable place. I've been staring at reports and sites and re-reading books all day and I feel like my brain is mush!

That sounds like it needs to be number 11 on my list! :lol0:

In no particular order: 1 - Ride horses again. 2 - Actually fit into regular seats (airplane, concert, movie, rollar coaster) 3 - Fit into clothes that can not be categorized as Plus or Womens sizes. 4 - Use stairs without pain. 5 - Be able to chase my girls, catch them, and still be able to breathe and talk. 6 - Kinky, world shaking sexual positions. 7 - Be back, hip and foot pain free. 8 - Have my mental image of my self actually match what I see in the mirror (instead of always being shocked at how large I am.) 9 - Lay in the hammock with my husband. 10 - Not feel hungry every waking minute.

Anyone have any experience with the surgery and artificial nails? I'm wondering if I should have them removed before the surgery.

Does your Endo think you'll come off of it or are you TTC?

Globetrotter, If it helps I'd be happy to pick up some stuff in bulk and ship it to you. Send me a PM and we'll work it out.

Congratz! Were you on Metformin before your sleeve? If so, did you stay on it after surgery as well?

At my last endo appt. I was diagnosed with a Vitamin D deficiency. They gave me supplements but never explained why this might be important. I just assumed it was the usual Calcium related issue. :cursing: Wouldn't it be great if doctors actually tried to help connect all the dots?

One of my issues is that 8:30pm snack time... I'm hungry and worse.. I'm craving the worst stuff... ceral, bread, etc. I think its a combination of my PCOS, boredom and being tired (wanting energy.) By this point I've already worked out, put the kids to bed and want to spend time relaxing. I'd like to try some sort of hobby that keeps me engaged and out of the fridge. I'm thinking about knitting. Anyone else with this issue? Any other ideas on squashing the hunger bug?

Not sure if this will help anyone else but... I am a Tricare Prime Beneficiary. I live in the DC area. The DC Bariatric program(NNMC, Walter Reed and Belvior) is full and not accepting patients (you can't even get on the wait list.) However the Portsmouth/VAB/Norfolk area program IS accepting patients. After my referral was rejected by the DC area program I called down to NMCP confirmed they were accepting patients and called the referral management center at NNMC and they faxed my referral to NMCP. (Yay) Do not call Tricare or Healthnet... they can not/will not help.

Not sure if this will help anyone else but... I am a Tricare Prime Beneficiary. I live in the DC area. The DC Bariatric program(NNMC, Walter Reed and Belvior) is full and not accepting patients (you can't even get on the wait list.) However the Portsmouth/VAB/Norfolk area program IS accepting patients. After my referral was rejected by the DC area program I called down to NMCP confirmed they were accepting patients and called the referral management center at NNMC and they faxed my referral to NMCP. (Yay) Do not call Tricare or Healthnet... they can not/will not help.