NewMe2Bee

I am with you ringing in the New Year and new lifestyle! I will be sleeved on Jan 6th - just a little ahead of you.

I had to wait for the new year for tax purposes and to use my Flexible Spending Account from work. Oh well.. it took me years to gain this weight I guess its going to hang around just a little longer than I wanted. Those pounds are going to be shed in 2011!

Stay focused and healthy and prepare your body for the change now. Start taking Vitamins, Biotin (hair) and perhaps journal your thoughts and goals for next year!

Best wishes and blessings!

Kim

I hear you Kim and I am not complaining, the process is over and the date if made. I just thought because I started this process back in April that I would at least get date before the new year is up so the weight would least likely to return. But I will stay focused and put the worries behind me. I have been taking the Biotin for a couple of months now . I was truly surprised how cheap they were at Sam's Club , I know where I will go from here on out. I even have my 3 daughters taking one each day along with our Vitamins, this helps to keep mommy on track daily. I still haven't explain it to them just yet but I did tell them I have to get my gall bladder removed. They are 12,10,8 and I know they will understand, I just don't know how to say it. Really I just don't want them to worry about mommy..... thank you for all your support and blessings for the future and your sleeve date and new body.

I am hoping for Jan 2011 too. I will hopefully get my approval this week. I am waiting till 2011 so I can use my FSA to pay my deductible and the 20%. It will be here before we know it. I am also trying not to lose or gain. My bmi is right at 40. I don't want to risk getting denied because I dropped below. We have made the decision and we have something to be hopeful of now. For the first time in a long time I am excited.

I hope that you get your New Year's wish as well. You have everything in place , just stay focused and the the time will be here before you know it.

Hello everyone. I am new to the site

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My surgery day is 01/25/2010. I am trying to add my ticker. How do I do this? Also how soon sould i book my flight?

congratulations on your new year date, I don't know how to add the ticker. I don't have one either. I think you should book your flight as soon as possible to try to get the best prices before the holidays raise the prices. where are you getting your surgery done?

Jan. 17th is an awesome date!!! (It happens to be my birthday )

I understand how you feel, I've been waiting 6 months to be sleeved, and at first I was SO READY to do this (back in Apr.) but I have truly used the wait time to embrace my jouney and do lots of soul-searching. I didn't have to lose weight to qualify (per my surgeon OR my insurance) so I feel for those of you who have to *prove* something to the dr. or the insurance, by committing to losing weight and keeping it off until your surgery date. That has to be really, really hard, and getting through the holidays without gaining, I don't think I've ever done that. I always gain even if it is only a little bit. Can you work on just maintaining what you have lost until your surgery or are there requirements that you must meet? Remember this surgeon is here to help you, a good bariatric surgeon has a full understanding of the pressures we face as obese people, and should not be yelling at you for a yo-yo on this diet. Remember, diets don't work for us, we have tried that and been there and this is why we are choosing surgery over going it *alone*.

I guess I would just focus so much on what a great head-start you are getting by losing weight now instead of after surgery, it will probably help a ton with lose skin, etc. if you are able to maintain what you have lost before surgery. Remember too there will be less fat, etc. that your surgeon has to wade through to get in there and do his/her job.

If you don't get in before then, at least know you have a great date picked out! Hang in there!

thank you so much for the support from you and everyone here. As I stated it is a bitter sweet, it really hasn't hit me yet but Im working on it. Happy Birthday/Sleeve day is what I will be celebrating for you and for me. I don't think my surgeon will turn me down. He didn't seem to be that strict, I am probably being more strict on myself trying to prove to myself that I can move forward. I am not that concerned with the holidays, Im not a turkey girl anyway and after a plate of the sides on thanksgiving , I usually am satisfied no left overs for me. I usually go out to family and don't even cook at my house so I don't have to eat it over and over again. So I will watch what I eat, continue with my exercise regimen, dont drink to much for the holidays and get my mind, body and soul ready for the transformation that is to come. I will keep you posted. congratulations on your weight loss as well.

Okay so I received my surgery date today of January 17th. I know this year is almost over but I am more concerned about gaining weight. I placed myself on the cancellation list just in case someone changes their mind before the year is up. It's not like I am in a rush to go under the knife but I just really, really don't want to gain back the 38lbs that I have lost thus far. I know that I have made life style changes and I have to stick to them , but we all know the yo-yo of weight loss and weight gain. I was so hoping for something sooner just so I won't fail and gain weight and the doctor tells me that I haven't learned a thing since I gain all the weight back..... It's a bittersweet feeling right now So frustrated...

So i made it past goal (150 now I'm 147)so that put me down for a 176 pounds in 13 months not too shabby i say. sorry guys not really liking the new layout of site too busy for me (for those who have adhd you understand) when i get the ambition i will figure out how to put my new pics up. but anyway it been a wild ride thus far and to think this new year eve (if i;m bless to see it) it wont be about weight lol. i had a aunt that died 7 weeks ago that just broke my heart she never got a chance to see me thin again and i never got a chance to show her my ring and worst of all to say i love you, goodbye, and i sorry for not calling and thanks for loving me rasing me, ect,,,(for those who don't know i got engaged on august 23 my aunt died august 31) she was only 58. three weeks before she died she told my mother for me to call her and i have no excuse for not doing it the week i was going to call her (she died of a aneursym (sp) this is my first death ever (this women raised me for eight years. she was the first parent i ever had my parents had me young and they had to find themselves i guess) ironically i allowed myself to feel everything i didn't stuff my feelings this time and i shared how i felt with the other family members. anyway to make a long story short my mother and i are closer then we every been i check on everybody now. i have forgiven and ive ask for forgiveness as well to those ive might or have done wrong i forgot how much my family loves me. i know death is real but i mean for me it was like a reality check or something maybe those who remember their first experience w/death know how i feel maybe?????? i don't know. anyway on the upside i stand up for myself now ( of course it always ladyllike lol). i met a lot of new friends and i get out the house every chance i get! i have grown SO much as a person I've truly learn and have empathy for people and it has help me with a lot with my anger towards things and people. somethings i learn the weight did not fix my problems that i use to blame my weight on those are inner things Im still working on. i enjoy my meetings with my therapist and i love my OA meetings. but i love life and i think i get life now it not suppose to be perfect it just life and i can accept that. accept is another word i use a lot now lol because when you can do that you made the first step towards a lot of things to change. so ladies and gent this is what my weight-loss journey has done for me yes it great to be slim but i feel more emotional mended and it make me feel a lot better period of who i am and i don't compare or beat myself up anymore about my so call flaws. I'm a gypsy at heart and that OK! also thank you guys for your love and support as well! sorry for the long post by the way.

How did you do it ryansgirl? what was daily regimen to lose and your daily regimen to maintain? I have about the same amount of weight to lose as you have and I honestly keep wondering if it is truly possible. But after reading from you that it is it gives me hope. I look forward to hearing about this journey. I will also check some of your previous post, I am sure someone else has asked the same question.

You sound unhappy. Don't get discouraged. You will get there.

My last day of Options was Sept 20. And if it takes to Jan or Feb to have surgery then that will be the right time. I am at this point of no return. I keep going because I know I am further than others and wish I was farther than most. Time and patience is my focus. It also gives me more time to read the different post and add to my journal of the do and don'ts.

Keep the Faith!!!!!!!

Hey BlaqBeary,

I am not unhappy, I am good it's just the wait game is just that the wait game. I will just keep touching basis with them and go from there, I know I will have a date soon and I will just go from there. Yes you are right we are farther then others and at least that' all I am waiting for is a surgery date. The forum is very helpful. I have already began to think about the things I will be stocking up on like sugar free popsicles, my Protein drinks, etc. I am going to stay on the liquid diet for a month it looks like that is key as well as help with quicker weight loss starting off. Keep me informed on your progress as I will do the same. Thanks for all the support

Got the date last week and now the times to see each specialist with Pacific Bariatric on Monday. So exciting.

The appointments are very close and very happy for that. First appointment is with the surgeon, then the Internist and lastly Psych ending at 12 noon.

I will have more than enough time to see my dad in Chula Vista, which is 15 minutes away and head up to Viejas Casino. I will leave Diego late night, after visiting cousins and uncles. Why not make it a fun day, huh?

Ohhhhhhhhhh!!!

My letter states that I must wait 21 WORKING DAYS to contact them regarding a surgery date because it gives them time to rcv all notes from your appts. So that will be November 16th. I wanted to wait after Thanksgiving anyway, because I will get paid for the whole four day holiday weekend. I work for LA County. I am salaried, but it does make a difference when 4 days are involved. I have sick time, but it will take the weekend days away. I can't have that now. lol.

Anywho I am rambling. Very sleepy. Good night all.

Glad to here you have it all set up, It goes so quickly my 21 days have come and gone and I am still waiting. My surgeon was out for a week so my chart is just sitting on his desk for review. Once he gives it to the coordinator then we can get a date going. when I called today to check the status and confirm everything is booked up for the year. I asked to be placed on a cancellation waiting list just in case someone changes their mind before the year is up, I am trying to coordinate with my job as well. We will see what happens, I will call back again tomorrow since we are going on over a month and I would just like to get a date so this can stop being a thought. I have to wait no matter what, I am not in control of that part but I can't get on the list until I actually get a date so hopefully tomorrow. Have fun on your consult day and don't spend to much at the Cno.

Ok i know smoking is bad and i should give up right now... but if ur a smoker u will understand how hard is is to give up both food and smoking at the same time.

My question is, not whether or not i should smoke (because i know i shouldnt) but im a week post op, what i want to know is, how much damage could i cause to have like 1-2 ciggarettes every couple of days.... because i am sooo stressed

I know this is more of a medical question, but if anyone else has been in this situation and can offer some insight it will be really useful to me :-)

I know I am going to get hate mail for saying this but the doctor at my clinic that I manage said their is no true effect of smoking right before surgery because your lungs are already compromised and it takes at least 6 months of no smoking to start true reversal of compromise although after smoking they will never be 100%. My suggestion is that you do the best that you can and if you find yourself still smoking up until surgery just try not to smoke as least 24 hours before going under. You know there are risk with anesthesia no matter what but try to stop you don't want this habit to create more compromising with your respiratory system. you could need more oxygen for a much longer time because the lungs are compromised which by the way can happen to even a non smoker It is also possible that it may be harder to bring you back from under the anesthesia which also can happen to a non smoker , it is just that because as stated smoker lungs are more compromised as compared to healthier non smoking lungs. Also smoking also slows down the healing process because of it's restricting reaction to our vessels. Wish you the best in your journey. Hope this helps.

I called Pacific Bariatric today to follow up on scheduling my date. I was informed that my chart was still sitting on my surgeon desk waiting to be signed off. The surgeon has been out for the past week. They also informed me that the longer it sits there , the longer it will be for my surgery, he is due to return tomorrow. Anyway, after holding on for 30 minutes and then finding out my chart still isn't signed off after a month they hit me with the hardest hit. I asked so are you still booking for November and December , they said no it's all booked up were now booking for2011- January. I was like whooo... So I have been done since end of July and chose Pacific Bariatric thinking it would be a shorter wait time then Kaiser which at the time the options nurse said Kaiser was 5-6 months at West LA and 8 months at South Bay or whatever other one that does the bariatric procedures and Pacific was 4-6 weeks of course I wanted it to happen sooner than later. But I truly feel like I have been duped. Was Kaiser just pumping PB up so that all of us would opt of waiting for Kaiser. I could have stayed within the local area instead of trying to figure out who's going to take me 3 hours away and who's going to stay, take off work to stay with me and then take me home upon discharge. I am a little disappointed. I truly thought that this was going to go a lot smoother , a lot quicker. But at the end of the day , I have to get over it and continue to work on me and the changes I am making right now. It's nothing I can do to change it, so I have to let it be. But for today I am disappointed.

How exciting, keep up the good work..

Hey BlaqBeary,

I am also from Kaiser Bellflower and getting sleeved at Pacific Bariatric. The therapist and surgeon is at one place and the internal medicine doctor is across the street. You have to pay 2.00 per entrance for parking and the appt may not be around the same time. ex..My therapist appt was at 10am surgeon appt at 2pm and internal medicine appt at 5pm. After my therapist appt , I went up the way to the mall and saw a movie wasting time after my 10 am appt. Although it's an all day situation it went by pretty quickly and everyone was really nice. My surgeon will be Dr. Zorn and I will be receiving my date next week. I finished my classes at the beginning of August had my consult on Sept 13 and now just waiting for the 21 day clearance process they ask you to wait before contacting them or them contacting you about the surgery date. My 21st business day is Tuesday the 19th if I don't hear from them by then , I will be calling first thing Wednesday morning.

when you go they will give you a information packet, it will be a CD of what to expect and what to start doing to prepare for the surgery. Along with that it's a letter that states although you are eager to get your surgery , we are working hard to get all your paperwork together. Please don't call it slows down our process, give us 21 days to collect all the consultation information from each doctor and allow the time for the surgeon to review. If you must contact us please email us and they give a email address. after the 21 days the goal is for them to call with some dates to choose your surgery date. That funny you named the exact place that I went to right off of Friar but I couldn't think of the place. I went to see Inception it was excellent. Keep me updated on how it all goes

I haven't had the sleeve yet but have already prepared myself for any side effects that may come along with it. My aunt who is on chemo once a month has major nausea we got of book of home remedies because medications weren't working. some of the options were ginger tea, ginger candy and peppermint Water. We bought her all of these things and it helps her get through those bad days. the peppermint water is peppermint extract dropped in warm water it is very tasty and soothing to the stomach. I don't know if this information will help. But I already have my supply of all of it so that I won't suffer to much. I have to be well within 2wks to return to work so i am going to do all I can to get well and ready to get back on the floor at work. we know that all these side effects are temporary and the weight lost is worth it all because of all our family that we see on this site that got through as well.

Hello everyone it has been a minute and had no idea of the change to the site. I like it.

I first want to say to KristyKreme: I am praying for you. I know you are excited and nervous at the same time. I will be thinking of you.

Also, guess what!!!!!!!!!!!! I rcvd my authorization from Kaiser and consult date two days ago with Paciific Bariatric. I attend the appointments on Monday, Oct. 18th. I finished Options Sept. 20 and hopefully the wait is not long to rcv a surgery date. Although I feel its going at a good pace.

Kristy, did you have to drive to different locations for the appointments? I spoke to Cheryl and she says she will call me after everything is set up. She asked me general questions about the date I wanted to go for consult, what type of surgery, etc.

Hey BlaqBeary,

I am also from Kaiser Bellflower and getting sleeved at Pacific Bariatric. The therapist and surgeon is at one place and the internal medicine doctor is across the street. You have to pay 2.00 per entrance for parking and the appt may not be around the same time. ex..My therapist appt was at 10am surgeon appt at 2pm and internal medicine appt at 5pm. After my therapist appt , I went up the way to the mall and saw a movie wasting time after my 10 am appt. Although it's an all day situation it went by pretty quickly and everyone was really nice. My surgeon will be Dr. Zorn and I will be receiving my date next week. I finished my classes at the beginning of August had my consult on Sept 13 and now just waiting for the 21 day clearance process they ask you to wait before contacting them or them contacting you about the surgery date. My 21st business day is Tuesday the 19th if I don't hear from them by then , I will be calling first thing Wednesday morning.

Oh Lord, the butterflies are starting!!! I got the call this afternoon, everything went in with the insurance no problem. My date is for Monday October 25th!!!! I was in shock, I wanted to jump up and down, however just having my gall bladder out Tuesday, I thought that would be a bad idea.

I called my sister and she took the Nov 8th date so everything is just rolling along for both of us. I was suprised though as I was talking to my sis, I started crying. I'm a little scared, not about the surgery and all that, but about losing the weight. Being obese has been my way of life. I've never been thin and so the thought that by this time next year, I'll be 100 lbs (if not more ) less was just a little too much for me to take in at that moment.

I'm back to excited now and just anxious to be done with everything! So move over all, at the end of the month, I'll be on the loser bench!!!!!

As I was reading your message Cleosan52, I was getting teary eyed, because I know what your feeling. I will be getting my date next week and I have butterflies as well. And the butterflies are not because of the surgery overall but just losing weight and having a different way of life then what it has been. Although I love me and who I am and the women and mother I've become, I know I need to lose the weight. But this has been a part of my whole life since birth as a 10lb baby girl, so it's all I know and I have adapted to who I am and love me exactly as I am. I don't know I keep wondering this daily---does having this surgery make everyone right that skinny is better and people who are skinny are better then me. sometimes I am not sold on the buy-in as far as skinny but have to keep telling myself it is about health, health, health and long life,,,RIGHT...Your in my prayers

I agree with everyone, I think only telling people you know will support you is the answer. Everyone always have solutions to other people problems or situations except their own. As stated only people who's been through weight issues will know how we all feel. Most of my family has always been slim. They may have put on 20lbs or so up and down throughout the years. Then they lose it and it's easy but they could never imagine having to lose 100lbs or so,but they also can't understand how you become 100lbs overweight but whatever. I have only told my mom and sister and my favorite aunt. So far they supported this procedure this time around. My mom was against it a few years ago when I was thinking about the lapband. She said you've lost weight before and I know you can do it again. I talked myself out of it then, but not now. I am going through with it. I am waiting for my date which I should get by next week and I am moving forward. I am ready, ready, ready. I am still concerned how my job is going to deal with my weight loss, they have so much to say with the little weight I have lost, so I know it is going to be even more when it continually comes off and more of it. I continue to pray that I can handle the snickers and comments that I know is going to come postop. Keep up the good work all those who have been sleeved and all those waiting to be sleeved will be in my prayers.

I am going through the Downey Kaiser and they wanted us to lose 10% during the classes. I was scheduled to meet with the outsourced providers all at one time and my surgeon just wants me to maintain the lost and lose more if possible to show that I have learned from the classes and am ready for this tool in order to be successful. I guess it's all different everywhere but either way continuing to lose as much as possible will be beneficial to us anyway. That is just more weight lost towards our goal. Good luck to you all .

Newme2Bee

Yes I am feeling much better today. I know its just nerves. I actually hope I can sch my surgery first week of Nov so that I can work around my children school sch. At this point its honestly comforting to know it will be sometime this year at not next year waiting on Kaiser. I am glad they have this forum and I look forward to meeting more supportive people like yourself that I can befriend and go this process with. I will also keep you informed on my surgery date.

to cute pants falling down. Congratulations

Thanks NurseTeacher,

I appreciate the response...I know I know I have to be patient and I know this. I guess I am just anxious. I know this is what I need and want. I have already continued with all the things that I have learned and relearned about eating and moving. I truly look forward to this tool and know that it still is going to take even more work after the procedure. congratulations on your sleeve date.. I know your super duper excitied. I'm assuming based on your screen name your a nurse as am I. Dont be a grumpy NursePatient...they say were the worse.IDK I haven't been a patient since I've been a nurse so we shall see..Again tks for the encouagement.

Good Evening All,

I am new to this forum but find it very interesting and encouraging to read everyone's story. I have completed my classes at Kaiser the first of August and already went down and did my clearance with Pacific Bariatric and met my surgeon Dr. Zorn. They sent me home with a letter stating don't contact them until after 21 days what?? Im ready to call them everyday until they give me a date. Im ready now. I don't want to gain any weight waiting. I've lost almost 35lbs,I'm trying to lose more and maintain all at the same time. I'm going stir crazy. I haven't really told anyone at work and I finally convinced my family to support me in my choice of the sleeve (their all skinny and kept saying I can lose the 100lbs on my own) and their on board so lets get to it. I found out I will be losing my gallbladder as well (was trying to avoid that)but whatever. So first thing October 4th I will be calling (that day will be the 21st day)to see when the sleeve day will be. I am so confuse why I have to wait so long Kaiser has already sent the authorization letter and all the docs cleared me that day. Can someone help me understand why such a delay? I would appreciate the feedback to help me stay sane. Thanks sleeve family:scared0: