hadouni

I came down with a double ear infection over the holidays (probably the after effects of a cold earlier in December) but I called the surgeon's office today and let them know about it and they said as long as I wasn't experiencing any fever I was ok to stick to my surgery date. I'll be finishing up a 10-day run of antibiotics the day before surgery but I guess that's ok. I'm glad not to have to put off surgery but a little worried at the same time.

Congratulations. It's such a great feeling to know you're closer!

I'm still on for January 9! I can barely stand it I'm so excited.

I have an 80/20 plan (I pay 20% after insurance adjustments) and an out of pocket max of $3000 so it'll cost me 3k. I have a health care reimbursement plan option (FSA) through work that I always use so I'll pay for it that way. At least it's pre-tax!

Wow- that's so great!! Congrats!

I'm sure the pendulum will swing back to "what the heck am I doing to myself" over the next 11 days but here and now I just wish I could fast forward a week and my pre-op appointment was tomorrow, not a week from tomorrow!! Let's get a move on!!

Hope it all went perfectly for you!!

I never worried about myself much until I became a mom. Now I worry about things that never occurred to me before! 1. Yes it is. I've already committed the money to it because I had to set up my FSA back in November and I can't wait to go on vacation with my son and put on a swim suit in public, FIT into rides with him at amusement parks, KEEP UP with him when he runs about! 2. I've been on a diet since I was 9 years old. My mom had GBS back in the mid 1980's and I SWORE I'd never weight more than 150lbs so I'd never have to go through that (I now weigh 260 or so). My PCP gives me the "calorie in & calorie out" talk all the time and I believe that and yet it has never worked for me... Lordy I hope this does! 3. I've got to go in for labs a few days before surgery and if you have a fever within 24 hours of surgery or they find something in labs I think they'll postpone. 4. Me TOO... I'm going to try to learn to like cleaning or at least learn to do it to keep busy. 5. The hair... I lost quite a bit when my son was born and I don't think its all come back. Mine does grow but I sort-of wonder what will happen when I start actively taking in Protein... I'm not such a protein eater on my own. I'm hopeful the increased protein intake will help in the long run. Good luck deciding... I had surgery on my hip and I remember walking myself down to surgery and every door I passed was like a beacon tempting me to run like mad the other direction. I just had to keep weighing the pros and cons and made the best decision for myself in the long run.

I've always sworn the only reason to run was if someone was chasing me with a loaded gun but getting rid of my back fat might just tip me over the edge to give it a try! =)

You look just beautiful!

You look AMAZING!!!

Ok, I feel dumb but I know there are posts in this forum but when I click it says there are no posts. If I try to click on one of the direct posts out to the right side it says I don't have permission to view it. Anyone else having this problem?

I did a little closet organizing in the past few days - mostly grouping sizes together for when I go down in sizes (knock on wood!!). I seem to have the most in size 20 or 18/20. I think I spent quite a few years hovering at that size before I had my son and blossomed up to 22. I think almost everything I wear now is black, navy or brown (I have a few items in other colors I rarely wear). I have several beautiful linen dresses that I'd love, love, love to be in by summer but I think that'll be a stretch. I'd need to be down under 190 I think and that might be a little ambitious, but maybe by the end of summer. I'm looking forward to feeling good about being in pictures again. My son is three and I've so avoided the camera since he was born! I'm also looking forward to swimming with my son this summer. Hopefully I'll not be totally embarrassed to be in a swim suit of some sort by summer.

Good luck with a quick approval. I got mine in less than a week and I found out before my surgeon's office did- I was the one who told them I was approved!

DOS: January 9, 2012 Surgeon: Kelvin Higa Fresno Heart Hospital

It's really hard to give up things that we've conditioned ourselves to believe make us feel good/better and beating yourself up could make yourself feel worse and turn you to the comfort of favorite foods again. For me, this is an incredibly emotional journey and there are times I just want cake or something. Lately though, I've found that my go-to foods aren't as comforting and I hope this is some part of me preparing for post-op. I'm worried about post-op too - will I be able to follow the Dr's orders for eating, will I be able to follow the "Protein first" mantra of WLS life, will I loose, will it all be worth it? I'm just sort-of throwing it all up to the fates for now and trying to trust myself and to forgive myself a little.

I know my surgeon/hospital tries to discharge people on the next day if things look good. I'm fine either way- going home after one night or staying a second night if necessary. I stayed 3 nights when I had a c-section but the third night was my choice since had to see my OB the morning after the third night and I live an hour away.

I have BCBS in CA and they approved my surgery in less than a week once they got the paperwork. I have a long history of dieting (some medically supervised but confirmation wasn't needed) but there was no pre-op dieting required for me. My advice to you though is to call and ask them to e-mail you confirmation about what hospitals/surgeons you can use in your area and then confirm that info through your employer's benefits people if your insurance is through an employer. The confirmation thing they sent me expired in 72 hours so if you go that route, print it out or save it so you have a copy. The phone customer service people (over the phone and by e-mail) told me I couldn't go to my chosen surgeon and after a wasted appointment with one of the surgeons they sent me to I found out the ONLY surgeon near me I could use was the one I wanted to go to in the first place!

Ok, well you have to give me some credit for getting the x-men reference at least! =) How about January Jazz? Too basketball?

Good luck for a great surgery!

What about January Jewels? Too girly? Are there any boys in the group? Not that I'm opposed to juggernauts (or X-men) but I'm looking to be more of a jewel than a massive juggernaut! I wouldn't mind loosing a juggernaut in lbs! =)

Congratulations!! Hope things go perfectly for you!

I'm so sorry that you've had and are having such a hard time. It must be awful to have done so well loosing and to be stuck with the other problems. I wonder why converting to GBS would help? I haven't had surgery yet but I have read that the sleeve can be harder to live with than GBS, maybe because of the acid reflux that often comes with the sleeve? I hope they figure out how to help you best soon so you are comfortable and not worried about this at least. Best wishes!

I will be so incredibly happy when my skinny, condescending PCP has to eat his words about "not believing in WLS". One day!!! Congratulations- that must be an incredible, wonderful feeling. You are awesome!

My surgical group doesn't require a pre-op diet, just 24 hours of liquids only prior to surgery and no food/liquids after midnight the night before.