bratvp63

Congratulations! That is so awesome, I am waiting for my approval to come through too! Looking forward to see how well you will do!

Good Luck! I hope to join you in January with my surgery. Just waiting for the insurance approval then we can set my date! Can't wait to see how you do!

Thanks to everyone, I appreciate the support. I'm going to call the office and complain and also call the insurance to make sure they have all the information. Keeping my fingers crossed that I can still hopefully make the January group. VGS Ready: would love to stay in touch, it's nice to connect with others that are on the same timeline as yourself.

I had my last appt on the 19th for my six month requirement and the gal in the office was notified to submit my file for approval from the insurance company. I called today to find out that she left for vacation on the 19th and her "back up" did not submit my file....so she's now telling me that it will be another 2-3 weeks before we get the approval back and then another 2-3 weeks out to schedule my surgery so we're now looking at February. I am sooooo angry and frustrated that I did what I was supposed to do but they did not and now I have to wait. They don't understand what a roller coaster ride this is emotionally for me. ARGH....calgon, take me away!

I know exactly what you're saying. I'm either hiding behind my kids or telling them to only take head and shoulder photos. Like you, I cannot wait to have my surgery in January. I'm sooo excited and wish it would get here sooner. We have not had a family photo since 1996, so I too have promised a family photo session this time next year! Keep in touch and let me know how you're doing on this journey.

You look great! I love your naturally rosey cheeks. You definately look younger too! Congrats!

I am looking to hear from folks that had previously had their gall bladders removed before they were sleeved. I had emergency surgery back in 1987 to have my gall bladder removed so I have a huge scar on my tummy. In the beginning my stomach was usually upset if I didn't have any food in it due to the bile. Have any of you experienced that after being sleeved? I would hate to have to go back to that again. Also if you had the "old fashioned" surgery for gall bladder removal, how did it compare to being sleeved? Just curious. Thanks!

Today was my final weigh-in to satisfy the insurance requirements. I was so stressed going into the appt this morning. I had lost a little each month but I started my period on Saturday and knew that was going to throw off my loss for the month. Luckily I did show a slight loss but the gal in the office said that some people acually gain weight over the 6 months and they still get approved. Now I have to wait to hear back from the insurance on their approval and then I finally get to set my surgery date. I'm hoping for the end of January. I wanted to thank everyone here for all their postings with so much great information. I am so ready for this journey and am excited to get it started.

That's amazing! Great job! Put it into a visual and sometimes that helps. You basically lost 1.25 pounds a day, that's 5 sticks of butter....every day! Totally Amazing!

I have my final appt on Dec 15th so I'm hoping that I'll be able to join the January crowd too. 2012 is going to be our year! Yeah!

I had emergency GB removal 24 years ago, so I have a very nasty 8 inch scar on my stomach. I was worried that it would prohibit me from getting sleeved but when I met with the surgeon this month she said no problem. After my GB surgery I could eat anything and everything which is how I got here today. The only problem I had for the first few years was that if my stomach became really empty for any length of time I would get queezy and then end up with dumping as soon as I ate something. Thank goodness that passed after a while. I don't miss that GB at all.

I have UHC and they did require the 6 month diet, coming up on my 5th month weigh in. Have lost 18 pounds so far and the surgeon wants another 20 by my Dec weigh in. All other testing has been complete so they will send in my approval request in Dec after my weigh in and should get a surgery date in Jan.

Small world...we live in the neighborhood behind the Greek Deli, we've been there for 12 years. I bet our paths probably crossed at one time or another and we probably didn't even know it.

I have bad knees so I'm starting deep Water arobics to start but what I really want to be able to do is the Zumba. That looks like so much fun. I actually live out Hwy 26 and 185th Ave so you're really not that far from me and I go through or around McMinnville everything we head to the beach cabin. Can't wait to meet you. Karen

That would be wonderful, I'll ask at my next appt in November. It would be so nice to have someone close by to talk with. Karen

Where are you having your surgery? I had mine at Legacy Good Sam 10/12. Doing great & know I gave myself the greatest gift of health. Jan I am going through the Oregon Weight Loss Surgery center with Dr. Emma Patterson and it will be at Good Sam.

Yeah for finding Oregonians! I live in Portland and will be sleeved in Jan. I would love to find a support group in the area.

Thanks Wishes, I'll go check that out. I'm thinking maybe a sugerfree hazelnut could be good too. Lostalongtheway, it has been a struggle but the best thing they told me was to cut back on the carbs. Absolutely no carbs at dinner, that was tough at first but much easier now. I have to get 110g of Protein in a day so I really have to watch it so that I get it all. Basically I have just been cutting back on my portions and that has helped. Moved from a dinner plate to a sandwich plate, went from a whole sandwich to half a sandwich and lots and lots of Water. I actually find that I'm not as hungry and less fills me up quicker now so I'm hoping that moving to the protein drinks for breakfast and lunch won't be too tough. The best thing is cut down the carbs and pump up the protein. Keep in touch and let me know how you're doing and when you get your surgery date. It would be nice to connect with someone on the same time line.

I have completed all my tests and have met with the surgeon and everything has been signed off, and surgery will be in January. My insurance requires the standard 6 month medically supervised diet before they will approve. I just had my 4 month weigh in this week and I'm down 15 pounds. The surgeon wants me to lose another 20 pounds by Dec 13th. They recommended a partial liquid protein diet which I'm willing to try but what I am not educated in is what and where are the best protein drinks. They are asking for a protein drink for breakfast and lunch and my total protein intake in a day is 110 grams. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thank you!

I am in the same situation and will probably be pushed to January too. I meet with the surgeon tomorrow and one of my questions is about the cross over for the year and the deductibles. Since we started this process this year and everything has been completed and the final weigh in is Dec 13th then I would hope that they can either squeeze me in or "carry me over" for the next year. I'll let you know what they say. Good luck to you!

I am in the process of working with the Oregon Weight Loss Surgery Center in Portland. My surgeon is Dr. Emma Patterson. I meet with her next week and should have surgery Dec or Jan.

O....M.....G.....You can't be serious, that is really you in both pictures? And just a year? I bow down to you oh Jedi Master! You look amazing and YEARS younger. Congratulations!

Hi my name is Karen. I wanted to introduce myself in hopes of making new friends, finding a mentor and sharing experiences. I am 48 years old, stand 5'7" and have about 175 pounds to lose. I am still a couple of months away from surgery but getting closer every day. I've passed my psych test and done the sleep and metabolic testing too. All I have left is my meeting with the surgeon next week then completing the last two months of the insurance required supervised diet. I am very excited and can hardly wait to start this new journey. I would love to hear success stories, concerns or any advice. I would also like to make some connections here and am hoping there are others from the Northwest that have gone to the OWLS or have had Dr. Patterson. Look forward to hearing from you!

I too posted this same type of question and the responses were very mixed. I have told my husband and children, my parents, my boss and two friends at work. That's it. Everyone has been so supportive so I have been very lucky. I did try to tell one friend, who is skinny, and she was so anti wls I just dropped the subject, there was no way it was going to end well. My surgery is hopefully going to be in Dec if not sooner. I meet with the surgeon next week. If afterwards I start to get questions about my weight loss then I will let people know. Maybe it will help someone else who might be considering it.

Hi - I'm Karen, I'm new here and have my surgery coming up very soon. I am 5'7" and 349. I am 48 years old living in Oregon and have been happily married for 25 years. We have four children 24, 22 and twins that are 18 and one grandson who will be 4 next month. We only have one left at home. I finally made the decision that it's now time for me to focus on me and to get myself healthy. I am so excited for my surgery date to be finalized, I can hardly wait. I love that I found this site, it has been an inspiration to me and the information in here is amazing. Thank you to all of you that share your life stories and photos. Would love to add some friends to my profile. Anyone from the NW out there???