Lissa

Like others here, I had a nasty wake up call when I had medical problems. I had pneumonia in May that led to a host of other problems, which I've listed in other threads, so I won't repeat them here. My PCP kept listing me as morbidly obese and "non-compliant with diet and exercise instructions" even though I worked my butt off last year and lost 50 pounds on Atkins. 50 pounds is nothing to what I NEED to lose, though. I can't wait until it's time for my annual physical this year. I'll be that 50 pounds lighter and way more energetic than I've been in forever!! My other inspiration is an aunt in her 50's who has had tons of trouble with her diabetes and is now all but housebound. She'll be dead in a few years, but she's already mostly blind. She's never clearly seen the faces of any of her grandchildren and she has to have someone wiht her constantly because she can't/won't do anything for herself. I'm too darn young to live that way!!! This is the aunt who used to be my party buddy. We'd go out on the weekends, take day trips just because, and think nothing of gathering up our kids (who are close in age) and heading off to do something fun. Now, she's an old woman living for her next meal. I don't want that to be me!!! I was sleeved Aug 30, 2011 and I have more energy than I have had in forever. Reversing the health problems is primary, but I think I'll enjoy looking better, too!!!

Good luck to all of those having surgery tomorrow. It's my birthday, so I know you'll all do great!!! I was sleeved on Aug 30, so I'm almost 2 weeks post-op and doing great! I was nervous a couple of weeks before surgery and went through all of the worst case scenario stuff in my head. Then I sat down and did what I could to make sure all of that stuff was handled. The weekend before, I picked up a good friend and we spent the time doing things to keep my mind off the surgery (movies, listening to old music, walking the beach). I don't remember being jittery at all the day before. I felt almost strangely calm, probably because I had handled anything that could be an issue earlier. I do remember feeling like it was totally surreal when I was going into surgery, like it really wasn't going to happen. I was worried that I'd wake up wishing for my mom afterwards, but when I woke up, I said "Really?" and the nurse asked me "Really, what?". FWIW, I had some pain, but I didn't think it was too intense, probably a 2-3 for me. My legs actually hurt a good bit once I started walking because I was using them instead of my tummy muscles to pull myself up when I stood up. Get up as soon as possible, concentrate on doing the breathing exercises and walking. Both will help with the gas pain (if you have any) and will get you a jump start on the weight loss. I found that sitting up in the hospital chair was more comfortable than being in the bed. IMO, the bed was too darned soft! Let us know how you're doing. I've felt more energetic since I've been home than I have been in years, probably. Good luck to you all!

Aimee, Do your research and do your "head work" so that you KNOW this is what you want to do. I had some negative comments, but I just kept reciting my long list of co-morbidities to them. Those, coupled with the amount of time I've spent in hospitals this year, were enough to convince me that it was TIME to do something drastic. I've tried every diet and exercise program out there, just like many others here. They didn't work. So far, between two weeks of pre-op liquid diet and 7 days sleeved, i've lost 27 pounds. The last time I lost this much weight, I was starving and ready to kill anyone who ate something I couldn't have where I could see them eating. Now, even though my 21 year old son has cooked pizza and salmon this week, I've had no cravings...and no urges to cheat! I'd have never survived it before! LOL Make your own decision and don't let those other people get you down. Your health and your life belong to you. If this is the key to good health and longer life for you, then the rest of them need to back off and be supportive.

I've never been rescheduled, although I did have a long wait for my last pre-op appt. I was an add-on because I had so many other medical issues that Dr D wanted to re-address before surgery. I had to have another procedure done before he could do my surgery. That said, everyone I have spoken to has sung Dr D's praises. He is apparently VERY picky about how his patients are treated and Sebastian River makes sure that you know they will do whatever it takes to keep you pain-free and healthy while you're in their hospital. I've never seen such an attentive nursing staff at any hospital...and I've had a good bit of experience with being in-patient for different things recently. The support group is great, too. Getting to talk to the other patients and hear their experiences is awesome!

Sylvia, I was sleeved on August 30, so I'm in the same stage you are. I started having some shoulder pain a few days ago and was walking, thinking the pain was gas. It turns out that, right now, my full signal is apparently shoulder pain. I certainly hope that changes to something else very quickly because that will stink if it continues. We made a huge change to our bodies in order to create a huge change in our lives. I haven't felt the depression others seem to have (yet), but that may be because I had a death sentence hanging over my head beforehane. It was lose weight or die for me. I'm definitely more about improving the co-morbidities more than looking better, although that will be a WONDERFUL side benefit!!!! Good luck.

Wishing you a great surgery, as well!!! I had my freak out about 3 weeks ahead of time. The weekend before, I made sure I spent time with my kids and friends. That helped so much that I was almost eerily calm when I went into surgery. You will do great, especially since it sounds like you have lots of loving support from your family!!

I agree with the others, visit other offices and make sure YOU are comfortable with the surgeon and his staff. You are putting YOUR life in their hands, so it should be the most capable, caring, competent hands you can find. I visited several surgeons before I chose mine (Dr Domkowski, Sebastian, FL) and I feel like I made the right choice. I was sleeved on Tuesday.

Jay, I see you've already gone on the date and it tanked, but that's not because of your weight, it's because of her personality (or lack thereof). I spent the last few days with a friend I've known for 14+ years, through gaining my weight, including the occassional weight-loss "success" that turned into a regain. He told me that he actually prefers me bigger, as I am now. However, he'll "adjust" to me at a smaller size, because he cares about me that much. THAT is the kind of person to look for, IMO. Someone who can and will accept you now and will accept you later, no matter what changes. I hope you find that person, but you are right that your journey (mine too) now includes being self-centered in a wonderful way! At our WLS meeting the other night, we were talking about how people's self-esteem changes as they lose weight. Most people have a better body image and, therefore, start being more discerning in whom they date.The consensus was that being thinner will definitely enable you (and me) to choose relationships with people who have more in common with us, simply because more people will be looking at us. Good luck!!!

One of my aunts, the one who is 80% bliind, MO, diabetic and completely dependent on her kids for help with everything from grocery shopping to eating, made a comment about my getting to "cheat". I bit my tongue on commenting that SHE is my inspiration to have this surgery. I want to live long enough to be a burden to my kids, but not in my 50's!!! OTOH, one of my other aunts, who is raising an adopted daughter (12 years old) with weight issues, has been very supportive. They have been studying proper food choices and nutrition and this aunt actually calls me for help when she runs into problems dealing daughter's obesity. Because this aunt is not heavy, she doesn't understand the concept of "head hunger". Over the last two years, my cousin has lost a good bit of weight, partially due to the retraining on nutrition and partly because she has grown several inches. However, she's still battling the concept of "eat everything in sight because there may not be any tomorrow" brought on by parents who would buy booze and drugs rather than food. THAT is a tough issue to overcome for a kid. Other family and friends are joking that I'm the guinea pig. They're all watching to see how I do before they research having surgery of their own. THAT's when I'll have the last laugh on the nay-sayers. I'll be healthy and thin while they're still struggling with whether it's right for them.

Jessica, With the new guidelines that say a BMI of 30 is sufficient, I can't imagine the doctors would really turn you down. Good luck with your process and keep talking to the docs and insurance people until you get what you need. I had a couple of docs tell me that, since I lost 50 pounds on Atkins last year, I shouldn't have surgery, but instead concentrate on dieting. That's great, until you consider that diets are a temporary solution. Once one goes back to "normal" eating, there goes the weight, right back on. I swear that weight is a magnet to me! I applaud you for being proactive and trying to find a solution before you are morbidly obese, 40 and diabetic or worse. Good luck to you and Kelly.

TJ, I am being sleeved on Tuesday, 8/30/11 and I've been through the thought process you're having right now. Two weeks ago, I was telling myself that I have so many health problems right now that doing this surgery on top of those health problems is dangerous. Now, I'm at the Bull*#@( stage on that!! If I don't have surgery, those health problems are going to get worse and worse until they kill me. With the laundry list I've got, I figure it will take a couple of years, but they will kill me. I have an aunt whose health has steadily declined as the result of obesity and diabetes. She's 80% blind (after a dozen eye surgeries), incapable of walking from the house to the car without assistance, can't drive, needs someone to help her prepare her food and eat it...and she's missing out on seeing the faces of her grandchildren or being able to play with them. My aunt is 53. In comparison, I'm 45, can't walk more than 1/3 of a block without gasping for breath, but I still have my eyesight and my independence. I can work and am a successful business owner. I have the opportunity RIGHT NOW to reverse almost all of my co-morbidities with nothing more than a small, laproscopic surgery and some redirection on how to eat properly. I'd be a FOOL to give up this chance because I'm a little scared. I consider this a completely selfish thing. Something I'm doing so that I don't end up like my aunt. I want to see my grandchildren. I want to be able to walk through a mall without calculating which is the closest entrance to where I need to be, and without constantly looking for the next place I can sit and rest. I want to wear cute clothes again instead of my current "tents". If this surgery can help me do that, even with some risks, let's go! I think you will get to the stage I'm at in a few days. Don't cancel your surgery yet. Give yourself a few days to consider what you're going to gain versus what you could possibly lose (some weight, maybe?). I keep thinking this is too long and wordy, but I'm hoping my thought process will help you get through the doubt and onto being excited at the thought of remakind your life!

Congrats! I'm also on for the 30th and getting nervous about the whole deal. I can't wait till we're both on the other side comparing progress!

lml, I don't know if I'll be able to make the Palm Bay meeting. I've got tons of doctor's visits coming up since I'm so close to surgery and have a bunch of co-morbities (Blood Clots, 2 pulmonary embolisms, borderline diabetic, severe sleep apnea, and pneumonia tendencies). They are running me crazy with doctor's appointments. One of the benefits I'm praying to see from the surgery is reduction or elimination of the above health issues. As for the psychiatrist, dr lynn williams, she claims she doesn't want to be my long-term therapist., I hope not, because I don't think I'd ever feel that I could divulge my deepest and darkest secrets to her. @@ At the support group meeting I attended, she was "encouraging" the attendees to be sure to buy organic dairy products ... "at least buy organic cheese if the budget is tight"... and she advocates buying 2% milk rather than skim milk because "skim milk is full of sugar". And, of course, both are full of hormones that are making "our girls grow up too quickly". I prefer organic fruits and veggies if I can afford them, but I'm not as crunchy granola as she seems to be. Thank goodness.

I'll be at the Sebastian group next week, so hopefully we'll get a chance to say hello! I started my liquid diet this morning, prepping for the 30th.

lml, My objection to her is that it appears she's fixated on depression. she told me that I am severely depressed and have been for years...oh, and that I'm in big danger of becoming an alcoholic after surgery. Um, nope. Wrong on both counts.

And, I just spent some time watching you tube videos for Graystonia and several others about VSG. I'm amazed at the amount of information you guys put out there. I loved, loved, loved Mr Smiley's interview with Dr Domkowski.

Graystonia, I loved the nutritionist, but didn't care for the psyche doctor. Is the psyche doc at the Palm Bay meetings?

His support groups are the 4th Tuesday of each month at 6pm. They are run by the psychiatrist who does his pre-op evaluations. I'm not overly fond of her, but the group is great for support and the members seemed really nice when I went last month.

Hello again to all. I now have a surgery date (Aug 30) and I start my pre-op diet tomorrow. I'm nervous and scared, but determined to keep moving towards my goal of a healthier me. My docs are all working together to get me through this and I'm really looking forward to waking up from surgery!!

AUGUST!!! 1 BigSexxy, MamaMcKinzie, heygirlfriendB, chelle622, rubyspring, newdaycomn 2 brookb, MissBliss, Gaylebco, Heatherr, Lynn225, TipsyNoodle 3 zetagirl210 4 Julie76, chelle622, skyblew, angel1 5 trizzy35, happyevraftr, BigManIndia 6 7 8 SunnyinSD, Ladybug86, MeMeMEEE, Kayla, Toyia, Casuzarry, Forensikchic 9 Wondering1, nurselisa22, LindaS, red dress girl, Shell77 10 Indymom, Happylife, Houston_Rich, Tarada9 11 Jimmy James, missjanab, PhatGurl80, hereigoagain 12 Ms.girl, sdorr 13 14 15 Treequeen,WyomingMountainGal, BroadwayBaby 16 Miss Hope, E.K., birdlady, ScentsyLady (Sonia), smiley2604,BigJoe102 17 ~winecountrygirl~, 18 19 Beach Baby, Shakin-n-Atlanta 20 buzydebb 21 22 JELLYBEANS, pamblan, blkhulagirl, mimimermaid, nurseteela, caycaye, Michelle Peruski, Slimming Sara 23 RachelinTX, LR6909 24 KristeyK, KristinaRN, Intime, Kami, laladotdot, 25 Jenny A., renogirl 26 27 28 29 eyemallrt 30 Lisha, CT Fats, Tallnlovely, beautyjunkie824, Lissa in FL 31

Thanks, Carmen. I am allergic to latex tape, so allergic reactions and maintenance of the band were two of the topics the surgeon and I discussed in ruling out the band for me. I am also a little skeeved by the idea that I'd have to have that band maintained and adjusted constantly to keep me at a place where I actually lose weight. Not cool, IMO. On the other hand, the VSG scares me because it is so radical about removal of stomach tissue. My MIL had stomach cancer and had about the same amount of her stomach removed and she's had nothing but trouble...nauseau, malabsorbtion, pain. My worry is that I'll end up in a similar state once I lose the weight.

Howdy, all. I'm Lissa from Florida. I'm 44 and I've been heavy since I was 23. I did a major injury to my leg at 9 months pregnant and, since I was having a c-section, the injury went untreated. It's difficult to walk on crutches when you've been cut from hip to hip. So, I spent two years barely walking and gained a TON of weight. I've never been able to get it off and, instead, I've added a bunch more so that I'm now over 330 pounts. I've been exploring Lap Band Surgery for about six months, including going to a seminar and talking to a surgeon. I lost 50 lbs on Atkins and then quit smoking. A week after I quit smoking, I ended up in the hospital with drug-resistant pneumonia. After steroids, russian roullette with antibiotics and enough other drugs to kill a mule, I emerged from the hospital still sick. I lost another 40+ pounds in about 7 days, then gained it all back in 7 days, plus more. THEN I developed blood clots in my legs and a couple of pulmonary embolisms. Now I'm on blood thinners to take care of the PEs and not allowed to do any exercise except "gentle" walking. Not sure what that is.... I finally got into the weight loss surgeon and he is agreeable to doing the surgery, even with me on blood thinners, but he wants to do VSG instead of the lap band. I'm cool with his reasoning and it makes sense, but I need more information abotu what happens after VSG, which is why I'm here.