newnatalie

VERY HANDSOME!

VERY HANDSOME!

Hi Ozzy,

I have a PPO with Aetna. I paid a $500 co-pay for the surgery. This was only because I had to stay in the hospital overnight, otherwise it would have been $250. I also paid $250 co-pay for my upper endoscopy. This is because it was done in a hospital. All my other labs and test were covered 100%.

Your plan may be different. It really helped me to call and talk the insurance company myself and not take the doctor's staff information at face value. I knew exactly what to expect!

I wish you the best!

Ladies,

I just want to let you know that my period is still here and I am still passing huge blood clots. This is day 6. I think I should call my doctor tomorrow. What I am seeing is really scary! I'll keep you posted. Thanks for the encouragement and words of wisdom.

Thanks for the info. I am going to order the Sampler!

I was afraid to use a straw, because I was told to stay away! BUT I have better results with the straw than without. My mom says I don't know how to sip! The straw allows me to control the flow of the liquid! I guess it really is personal.

I live in Houston and had heard about Paul Wall. This was a great article. Thanks for sharing! There are pics of him on www.mediatakeout.com.

Thanks ladies! It's good to know I am not alone! I was really worried. I guess my hormones are in major shock! Thank you for soothing my fears.

Okay Ladies,

I am freaking out slightly. Today is my 3 week surgerversary. About 3 days post-op, I started my period. It wasn't fun, but what could I do? It lasted about 5 days.

On yesterday, I started feeling cramps in my stomach, only to go to the bathroom and see that I was bleeding again! It has not been 20 days, let alone 28 days.

Today, I am passing huge blood clots. I have been to the bathroom at least 6 times in the past hour because I can feel them trying to pass.

My periods were very irregular pre-surgery. Should I be concerned or is this just my body responding to the weight loss?

Thanks for your help!

It's funny you ask this. This week, I posted a blog on this site of the Top 10 things I am looking forward to as the Fat Fades. Here it is:

10. Flying on a plane without a seatbelt extension or being horribly uncomfortable!

9. Buying matching bras and panties. It is really hard to find good supportive bras in my size that are pretty and have panties to match.

8. People to stop saying ”You are sooo pretty” with an unspoken “but” at the end. They really want to say: “You are so pretty, BUT if you would lose some weight you would be much prettier!”

7. Going to the doctor and not having to hear how if I don’t lose weight I will basically contract every disease known to man!

6. Buying a LBD (Little Black Dress). I have plenty of black dresses, but none of them are little.

5. Rock a short hair cut! I know people say hair adds pounds, but for me it is security. Once I am smaller, I would love to sport a jazzy short-do!

4. RUNNING! I don’t want to jog, walk briskly, or trot. I want to run! Feel the wind in my hair, sweat pouring down … RUN.

3. Shopping in the regular store! I honestly don’t mind plus-size fashion, but I just want to HAVE to shop in the Big Girl store.

2. LONG LIFE – I am only 36. I want to live to see my kids get married, my grandkids, and even my great-grandkids. If I die, I don’t want fat to be the foe.

1. Taking a family photo. This is a very emotional #1. My sons are 5 and 6. THEY take a lot of pictures, but WE have never taken a family photo because I refused to take one fat!. Every year, I vow to lose weight and of course it never happened, so my family has never taken pictures. I cannot wait for this day!

I am inspired!

I am in East Houston. Dr. Dexter Turnquest performed my surgery at The Woodlands Memorial Hermann. I would love to be a part of a support group. Maybe we could meet quarterly and each of us could plan a meeting?

It's funny you ask about this. My psych evaluation was a joke! I was all prepared to bare my soul and discuss my life as an obese person and why I decided it was time to have surgery. It was nothing like this.

I walked into the office.They staff handed me about a 50 page questionnaire that took 45 minutes just to complete. Once I am done, the doctor walks in and introduces himself. He glances (not reads) at my answers and says, you seem pretty stable. Does your husband support this decision. I say yes. He says, well you look fine, I will put a report together and submit it to your doctor. I was like, that's it? No more questions? No discussing my eating history, family history??? I felt robbed! On the other hand, I was glad the results didn't hinder my approval process, so I just said Thank you and walked out!

You will be just fine!

For those who've lived through it…. how did it go? Whats it like?

Hello DMSRCHICK,

It is nice to "meet" you! We are sleeve buddies because we were sleeved on the same day! Today is also my one week surger-versary. I have weighed in at 281 pounds last Tuesday. This morning I am 264 pounds, for a total weight loss of 17 pounds.

I am not sure why you are gaining weight. Maybe someone with a little more experience than us can address this. I have my one week follow-up tomorrow. Are you able to call or go see your doctor? I do know it is not good to begin to compare yourself to others, but I would be a little concerned that you are gaining weight on liquids.

I must sip my liquids. I made the mistake and took a gulp of Water last night. I think I was so thirsty that I forgot the sleeve was there. I has the worst pain in my stomach that lasted about 20 seconds and the went away with a burp!

I wish you the absolute best. Let's keep in touch. Let us know what your doctor says. I will ask my doctor about your scenario when I see him tomorrow, if you don't mind.

Be Encouraged!

Hello everyone,

I am hoping there is someone who can put my concerns at ease. I got my sleeve on November 30, 2010. It has been several days on Clear Liquids. Not only have I not lost any weight, but I have gained 4 lbs. since the day of my surgery. How is this even possible? Am I doing something wrong? I just don't get it. If this is happening now, what's going to happen when I start creamy and mushy food? Also everyone seems to have some difficulty getting liquids in throughout the day. I do not have this problem. I don't gulp, but I can drink without having to sip.

I was sleeved this Tuesday and I definitely had a leak test! It was horrible, but no leak showed up. The barium was the first thing I drank after surgery. This was not good.

I'm scheduled for tomorrow! How are you doing?

Good Evening All,

It is the "Eve of my Sleeve" surgery and I had no idea I would be this emotional! My surgery is tomorrow and I am one big ball of tears! :Cry:

They are not tears of fear or even tears of joy. Today, I have a deep sense of what it has been like being overweight my entire life. Many were surprised when I announced I was considering Weight Loss Surgery (WLS) because I have always been the pretty fat girl who is the life of the party. I had no problem getting boyfriends, making new friends, and have had an extremely successful public career. No one really knew that I had started not to like the physical part of who I have become.

I can even remember frowning upon WLS and not understanding how people could do it! It wasn't until I looked at pictures of myself that I begin to say "now you are just too fat!" After quick weight loss, weight, watcher's, sugar buster's, and a million other diets, I realized I needed real help. Then, my uncle died in February of this year, basically from complications as a result of being obese. It was then that I declared war on the weight!

Now, here I am at 36, just a few hours away from a life changing moment. To say I am overwhelmed is an understatement. I am nervous and excited. I can't wait to meet the new me!

Thanks for listening ... Pray for me. Surgery is at 9:30am tomorrow!

Good Evening All,

It is the "Eve of my Sleeve" surgery and I had no idea I would be this emotional! My surgery is tomorrow and I am one big ball of tears! :Cry:

They are not tears of fear or even tears of joy. Today, I have a deep sense of what it has been like being overweight my entire life. Many were surprised when I announced I was considering Weight Loss Surgery (WLS) because I have always been the pretty fat girl who is the life of the party. I had no problem getting boyfriends, making new friends, and have had an extremely successful public career. No one really knew that I had started not to like the physical part of who I have become.

I can even remember frowning upon WLS and not understanding how people could do it! It wasn't until I looked at pictures of myself that I begin to say "now you are just too fat!" After quick weight loss, weight, watcher's, sugar buster's, and a million other diets, I realized I needed real help. Then, my uncle died in February of this year, basically from complications as a result of being obese. It was then that I declared war on the weight!

Now, here I am at 36, just a few hours away from a life changing moment. To say I am overwhelmed is an understatement. I am nervous and excited. I can't wait to meet the new me!

Thanks for listening ... Pray for me. Surgery is at 9:30am tomorrow!

Good Evening All,

It is the "Eve of my Sleeve" surgery and I had no idea I would be this emotional! My surgery is tomorrow and I am one big ball of tears! :Cry:

They are not tears of fear or even tears of joy. Today, I have a deep sense of what it has been like being overweight my entire life. Many were surprised when I announced I was considering Weight Loss Surgery (WLS) because I have always been the pretty fat girl who is the life of the party. I had no problem getting boyfriends, making new friends, and have had an extremely successful public career. No one really knew that I had started not to like the physical part of who I have become.

I can even remember frowning upon WLS and not understanding how people could do it! It wasn't until I looked at pictures of myself that I begin to say "now you are just too fat!" After quick weight loss, weight, watcher's, sugar buster's, and a million other diets, I realized I needed real help. Then, my uncle died in February of this year, basically from complications as a result of being obese. It was then that I declared war on the weight!

Now, here I am at 36, just a few hours away from a life changing moment. To say I am overwhelmed is an understatement. I am nervous and excited. I can't wait to meet the new me!

Thanks for listening ... Pray for me. Surgery is at 9:30am tomorrow!

Good Evening All,

It is the "Eve of my Sleeve" surgery and I had no idea I would be this emotional! My surgery is tomorrow and I am one big ball of tears! :Cry:

They are not tears of fear or even tears of joy. Today, I have a deep sense of what it has been like being overweight my entire life. Many were surprised when I announced I was considering Weight Loss Surgery (WLS) because I have always been the pretty fat girl who is the life of the party. I had no problem getting boyfriends, making new friends, and have had an extremely successful public career. No one really knew that I had started not to like the physical part of who I have become.

I can even remember frowning upon WLS and not understanding how people could do it! It wasn't until I looked at pictures of myself that I begin to say "now you are just too fat!" After quick weight loss, weight, watcher's, sugar buster's, and a million other diets, I realized I needed real help. Then, my uncle died in February of this year, basically from complications as a result of being obese. It was then that I declared war on the weight!

Now, here I am at 36, just a few hours away from a life changing moment. To say I am overwhelmed is an understatement. I am nervous and excited. I can't wait to meet the new me!

Thanks for listening ... Pray for me. Surgery is at 9:30am tomorrow!

Thanks everyone!

Krissy, we must keep in touch.

Tiffy, you will definitely get a text from me on Tuesday!

Sleeve 4 me - Thanks for your support! I'll keep you updated.

Hello Tiffykins,

YOU ARE HIRED! I will send you a message with my phone number and personal email.

I report to the hospital this Tuesday at 6am. My surgery should begin around 9:30am. I am nervous. I feel like a woman who is nesting. I am running around trying to be as prepared as possible. I have two small children, so it if vital to have things in order.

My doctor did not put me on a pre-op liquid diet! I even called to check and they said just don't eat or drink anything after midnight on Monday. Needless to say, I have been enjoying all my favorite foods since the party is about to come to an end. To my surprise, I have not been able to eat the way I would like to. I think my body knows what's coming!

Thanks for signing up to be my mentor! I truly appreciate your courage! Your support is priceless.

Feel free to contact me with any questions, if you prefer texting, or phone calls, let me know. I've shared my contact information with many, and shoot from the hip with everything. I'm a Christian, but do not attend services on a regular basis because I do not believe my relationship with God is not based on how many times I darken the door of a church.

I'm just about 2 weeks shy of being 18 months post-sleeve, and have been maintaining my loss for over 10 months at this point.

Hello Fellow Believers,

God's Word declares that "the prayers of the righteous availeth much." I am asking that you pray for me this Tuesday, November 30 at 9:30am. I will be having VSG.

Pray for me, my family, the doctor, and the entire medical staff. I give God praise in advance for bringing me through the surgery with no complications!

Thank you for support through prayer!

Tiffnie,

I just spent an hour reading over this information. This is the BEST guide I have seen for post-surgery! It addresses every question I had. I have surgery Tuesday and planned to call my doctor Monday with toms of questions. This guide is AWESOME! Thanks for sharing.

Hello!

Here is a link that I came across in another forum, it has SO MUCH info about pre and post surgery, including different meal ideas, checklists for pre and post op, tips, advice and all kinds of other stuff!

http://www.northwest...ectomy-diet.pdf

Good luck!

Thanks for sharing your story Rain! My surgery in this Tuesday!

I had a similar experience with my surgeon... went in resigned to have the Lap Band, and I had read all the complications it but was that desparate, and my surgeon basicaly said "You don't want that."

He then drew me a picture of the sleeve and explained about it, and said, "I know it sounds extreme but it is actually only about 15 minutes more surgery." And then he drew me a picture like a graph, and said that in the beginning, and during surgery, the lap band is much safer than the sleeve.

BUT, over time, the risks of the lap band increase, while the risks and problems with a sleeve decrease. So for me.. it's the sleeve.

Now, just to get my hands on that insurance letter!!! Glad to hear that my surgeon is not alone in his opinion.

GOOD LUCK!