ProudGrammy

When The sleeve Surgery Was invented? how many years are Doctors doing this surgery already? @@monica36 the sleeve was first "invented" to help with stomach cancer patients many years ago, don't know when exactly i "think" the sleeve started to be used for WLS "about" 10+ years ago not positive but i think most docs now perform the sleeve unfortunately many insurance don't cover WLS at all sleeve was not covered by many insurances for quite a while sleeve is now more common - frecognized more often the sleeve is covered more and more by insurance companies (not all insurance co.) kathy

@[member="Victoria Mara said breast reduction - they said I'd be covered if its a medical condition so I said is back ache due to top heavy a good reason and she said yep to go for it. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ covered for PS - "boobs reduction" - that's great!! i think when you are top heavy, your back probably hurts "a little" - am i right??? great NSV from co-workers you probably know to speak to a couple of plastic surgeon before making a decision on who to go to keep up the good work good luck with plastics

@ DaisyAmy said dealing with "cancer head" hysterectomy this summer, back of my mind, I fear that something will happen to keep me from having the surgery -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- @@DaisyAmy sorry you have been dealing with the remnants from cancer surgery i do understand how you are feeling been there done that 15 years ago with my breast cancer your surgery is scheduled in december you might be feeling more confident to go ahead with WLS you've "probably" wanted to have WLS for a long time if you don't think mentally you are prepared postpone for a couple of months, or as long as you need you should/need to have piece of mind to have or not to have surgery - your decision will be right for you final thought (my opinion) you/me can't be scared of what MIGHT happen in the future should concentrate on the present - the future will take care of itself congrats on joining the "survivor" club always nice to have new members good luck bud kathy (hugggggss)

@@DaisyAmy hey bud are you saying to keep your old big clothes in case you gain the weight back?? please don't go into surgery with the thought you might fail surgery, gain a lot/all your weight back my thoughts are - don't keep the the bigger clothes around i put my big clothes in storage in our basement out of sight, out of mind after 6 months or so, i started to give them to rescue mission if they are in your closet, too easy to grab - you don't want to gain the weight back easy excuse to say, "oh well, i have my big clothes in closet i can wear if i screw up" i did that in the past!! side note - at GOAL i realized i didn't have any old big clothes went to Kohl's and bought my familiar 2X blue jeans as a "keepsake" i cried when i tried them on, seeing what i used to look like they hang in the back of my closet that's my story and i sticking to it!! LOL good luck with surgery next month i have confidence in you that you'll do great PO kathy

@@dhrguru ahhhhh, what a nice compliment "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery" you should be proud you are doing great at the gym mixing up your routine jogging too!! next nsv - realizing you shouldn't joke about looking/feeling like you look like an octopus (i know you were only kidding, but.....) remember- we all need to have more confidence about ourselves (pot calling the kettle black??) 81.5 lbs gone, gone, down the toilet! keep up the good work you are aces kathy congrats

never could drink Protein, dehydrated can't get all the protein from food @@grammaof9 welcome try drinking a pre-mixed Protein shake in a bottle no smell that might bother you from a powdered mix ie try GNC Lean Shake 25 gr protein my favorite - many many others to choose from you must drink! i think the premixed shake might be something to look into couple bottles a day, added to regular food with protein for now doing the above hopefully will help your protein issues also will start to get liquids in you i don't want to see you continue getting weaker, dehydrated etc sorry the stupid clinic never was much help i agree you should try to see your primary doc as OP said you should have labs, blood work etc you might not know to take Vitamins you are 3.5 month PO - never too late to "start" again, getting advice and help here is great you'll get good advice here, suggestions, experiences but we do not replace a dr you need medical help - they are the ones you must listen to if you use a clinic like a doctor then try and find someone else there that can help you like OP said, you probably need labs, blood work etc help from a real doc see a doc!! yesterday!! take care good luck kathy

@@muppie91 are you referring to stalls?? Vitamins are a necessity we should all follow (unless your doc/nut says you can stop) keep up the wonderful job good luck kathy

@@Sharon1964 i "think" that one of the most common co-morbities (msp) is diabetes you haven't needed to take meds since surgery!!! great "side effect" from the sleeve enjoy watching your A1C #s and weight/lbs go down 79 lbs lost (don't look at me, i didn't take them) LOL just to mention - my A1C has fluctuated between 5.1 and 5.3 keep up the good job i'm sure you will!! kathy congrats

@@Victoria Mora said Great to hear that your very happy with the result, so have you been told you look 25? I am glad that its possible to fix, can't wait till I am able to do it but got to research for a great plastic surgeon here in my state of australia. Ill be over the moon if i can get it done. Enjoy the new younger you!!! hi Aussie hmmmm i feel great with my new body, and new "face" at the age of 62 years YOUNG i don't think i'll ever be "accused" of looking 25 years i'll settle for looking 35 but i definitely feel 25 thanx for your cute response good luck with looking for PS in Australia kathy

@@tcrehm I was told to wait at least one year after GOAL before having PS just in case things/wrinkles do improve that's what MY doc said other docs might say different my tushy/skin was hanging way down south during and after surgery what a mess lost my rear end!!! (not gonna look for it!! LOL) as time passed within the next year+ rear end end started to firm/tighten not perfect, - good enough not to need PS and i am still "cute as a button"!! i agree with @@VSGAnn2014 PS shouldn't be done immediately after WLS this is what my doc told me - OP might be different "you" waited a long time to get rid of your excess weight" wait a little longer with PS til your body is ready God Grant Me Patience Just Hurry Up About It" @@Victoria Mora @@Mountaingal @@Wendyfm you both spoke earlier of your neck/chin area i had my face/double chin plastic surgery end of June i had a small, faint, light scar under my neck area PO i was aware of it, but no one else probably noticed 3.5 months later - i know the scar is there scar is so light, faded - i doubt OP can see it scarring "probably" is more visible in larger area (my thoughts) good luck kathy

@RJ'S/beginning hey bud i've been seeing "less" and less of you!!! wonderful surprise having your lovely, smiling face "pop" up on my monitor what a great way to start my afternoon by seeing your post sounds like you are living the high life, loving every minute of it who deserves it more!!! you went through so many surgeries/ problems, then peace, then a few more surgeries, then.... you came through the other side successfully "sometimes" remembering (not dwelling) on your past makes you enjoy/appreciate your new life all the more always sad to hear/read your unfortunate problems but i remember only the good things about you you were very helpful to me all NEWBIES would benefit from your helpful words (hint, hint ) skin removal will probably be a long,hard process more than one surgery?? you've already successfully dealt with many surgeries this will be one more, and you will once again do well can't imagine having skin removal process after loosing 211+ lbs all that excess skin gone - can't visualize you are the epitome of the word SURVIVOR wishing you the best of the best for the rest of your healthier, happier, longer life!! kathy happy 3rd surgiversay

UPDATE "after surgery I will get radiation my worries is gaining weight during treatment hope I'll be able to go to the gym" @@MeAndTinyTina hi there when is surgery planned? you mentioned December?? not a doc - below are just my thoughts, comments radiation is much different then chemo that i had i lost weight due to nausea, vomiting i don't "think" a side effect from radiation is weight gain!! not positive (covering my asssss if i'm wrong not sure - but i think you shouldn't be worried about weight gain "hope" I'll be able to go to the gym you said "I've been told I won't be going full blast like I usually do." if doc says its ok to go to gym, and you feel ok, great don't overdue, don't do more than your body allows' getting nervous, anxious, scared for surgery, wondering about when going to gym similar to your thoughts of having sleeve sleeve surgery (CA of course more serious) always great to receive updates thanx for taking the time to post my crystal ball shows 2016 to be a healthier, happier new year good vibes sent your way for the success of CA surgery good luck kathy hugggggs

@@LessofApril ooooops guess i goofed with my earlier response i thought your initial post meant something different not my first mistake, won't be my last!! @@AvaFern - thanx for explanation/ straightening me out now i understand @@LessofApril - hope your dr/therapist letters help you get plastics plastic surgery is very "uplifting" good luck bud kathy

@@LessofApril i "think" this is what you are trying to say...... you are trying to convince/explain to your therapist how/why you want to have PS your therapist is not supportive if someone does have a therapist who is totally receptive to PS please give me a copy to give my therapist so she can understand where i'm coming from??? is that what you are trying to say?? i am pretty sure no one needs approval from therapist before PS therapist wants/needs to talk to you about your expectations of having PS surgery similar to therapist wanting to talk to you about your expectations of having WLS wants to make sure that you realize PS is NOT going to solve your weight issues, problems that's what my therapist and i discussed in detail before my face lift in June congrats on loosing 140 lbs good luck kathy

@@Beck Gal so happy for you this is one of the most important days of your life!!! enjoy this time, getting all excited this is a great day you are on the way to starting your healthier, happier, longer fine who deserves it more hope you get your date sooner than later "God Grant Me Patience, Just Hurry Up About It i'm biased to the sleeve but whatever WLS you have keep smiling People want to know what the heck you are up to good luck kathy

@ i was told very early by insurance i must go to a Center of Excellence found 2 hospitals that were COE took it from there finding a center of excellence hospital shouldn't be too hard call your local hospitals if their is no one immediately around you will have to check out areas around you i was so excited to have surgery scheduled i didn't think twice about having surgery scheduled before my approval luckily i was approved sorry for the delay being told 3 days prior to surgery - OMG the tears must have been flowing hopefully you will be approved sooner than i can only imagine how upset you must feel good luck kathy

@@micmt hey dude look at you!! great pics amazing transformation "they, me " always say it's easy to take the extra lbs off not easy but, most of us have been there, done that!! maintaining is when the hard work begins keep up the great job I know you will kathy congrats Happy 6 month Maintenance

tomorrow is day #5 doing great drinking my shakes and water hard to only drink all day i weigh everyday i will not get on scale til tuesday morning that will be the end of 5 days unless i TRY and go for 7 days eeekkkk not sure if i side the above earlier LOL if i did - shoot me kathy

@@Elode my NUT told me to continue with Vitamins (4 years PO) I know, i know all docs/nuts are different wish they would all get on the same page OP said they take chewable vitamins - i would love to do that i'll check it out now i take 2 horse pills kathy

@@MarciaN i was responding to the post when you said you were going to have surgery (post #19) you said in the middle of post "odds are not in my favor to keep it off" so i responded (#40) not sure what i misunderstood but all is good!! LOL this is getting so silly with these #s!! anyone who understood me, raise your right hand if you didn't understand raise your left hand if you are not sure, raise both hands LOL lots of soul searching hard to come to a decision (personally i think you made a great one) i am biased to saying that the Gastric Sleeve is the very very best surgery in a couple of weeks!!! i have confidence in you that you will be a success story good luck bud kathy

@@Mountaingal @@Victoria Mora @@Wendyfm i had a double/triple chin!! i always wanted chin/neck "fixed" after losing 105 lbs turkey neck looked worse i don't know if i was brave/stupid took a risk and had a face lift in June (shhhhh - our secret, please don't tell others!)LOL got rid of my double/triple turkey neck lost most wrinkles too (i'm 62) Luckily i turned out absolutely BEAUTIFUL cute as a button LOL kathy

i'm doing great with my liquid shakes i drink GNC Total Lean Shake - 25 gr protein any one reading this - i am drinking 4 shakes a day should i only drink 3? 525 vs 700? i know the calories are less but....... i know everyone does it different would like to hear the general consensus is 4 too much??? as i write this i'm thinking maybe i should drink only 3 please tell me what you do thanx exciting doing this with so many of you kathy

@@agalindo17 hey bud looks like you erased a paragraph from your original post i responded to that statement not sure why you erased - i think it would have been good to see by all kathy

@@SleevaDiva great question above by @@2goldengirl i would also love to hear your story in depth as much as you want to share you have a lot to say do you mind if i ask you if plastics will be done in the near future?? can't imagine the health benefits you've gone through all the NSV's you've experienced is it hard mentally to see your new self in a long mirror?? if your story turns out to be a short novel that's ok - i'll drink water to your health while i read i haven't read a good story in a long time you are amazing i can't even imagine how you feel this and similar success stories from other people should be listed for newbies, people deciding still to have WLS but all the rest of "us" love a good success story too Happy Surgiversary kathy congrats

agalindo17 sounds like you are worried some people on the board might respond to you in a rude, cruel, mean, way (I'm sorry you feel that way ) there are times that people might respond with words that sound cruel, tough love might be a statement said a little harshly i "think" they they are the the exception" to the rule Please always ask your questions - we don't bite - USUALLY!! LOL i think doc is telling you to listen to us, and then YOU figure it out!! it out i can't believe your doc would give such a stupid "no answer, answer" i always say "at the end of the day ONLY listen to you doc/nut" so what's going on congrats on loosing 75 lbs good luck kathy