babigrl111

Im so glad...if it helped just one person it was worth posting! Thats how i felt too, if i wouldnt have told them they would be so upset and hurt with me.

My co-worker who had the bypass gave me a good tip. She buys Psyllium Husk powder and adds it to her Protein shakes. Its a great source of fiber, plus it leaves you feeling fuller longer (which is especially helpful if you are on a mainly liquid only pre-op diet!). Here's some information on it: Psyllium husk or isphagula is the covering of seeds grown on the plant, Plantago Psyllium, which flourishes in the Middle East. Psyllium husk has long been recognized as an excellent means of getting more dietary fiber into a person’s diet due to its high fiber count in comparison to other grains. Oat bran, also a good source of fiber, has about five grams of fiber per a third of a cup. Psyllium husk, on the other hand, offers approximately 71 grams of fiber for that same third of a cup.

Dont be nervous! Be excited to start your new life! My surgery isnt until the 9th, but if you need some encouragement send me a private message and we can talk! Im a texter too, so I'd be happy to give you my number!

Thanks everyone! I dont think a lot of times we realize how much we want our family & friends support, so we brush it off, or wait to tell them until afterwards. My sister has still not responded to this letter, but my mom and dad did, which has made all the difference in the world. And remember, anyone who is not supportive of you before might just be scared, and hopefully will come around after they see you losing the weight and getting healthy!

Yes this forum is the best ever! Welcome!

I can't believe it's gotten here so fast! Let us know how u are doing! Best wishes!

Congrats! So exciting! Best wishes for your surgery, let us know how your doing afterwards!

A lot of the stigma with weight loss surgery is that someone always "knows" someone who knew someone who died from surgery. I think people are more worried than anything, especially the ones who care about you. Then again, if she's trying to sell you some miracle product, she's probably against WLS only because you'll be one less person for her to make money on.

Please do use any part of it! Thats why i posted it, in case anyone needed help telling family or friends. I swear i feel like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders, and i feel so much better now that they know.

You guys are amazing, and although im more excited about this surgery than anything, the little bit of fear in the back of my mind is made better by each one of your stories. THANK YOU!

Hi guys, I had a difficult time telling my family about my upcoming surgery. I am not very good at communicating in person, but i am great at writing, so i decided to tell my family in a letter/email. I thought i'd post my letter here, maybe it will give someone else the courage to tell their friends/family. The response i received from my family was absolutely 100% supportive, more than i could have ever expected. I have something important to tell you all, and since I am much better at writing out my thoughts I am sending this email. I have decided to have a type of weight loss surgery called the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy (or Gastric Sleeve). I am more than happy to answer any and all questions you may have regarding this surgery, the process, my doctor, etc., but I do not want any negative comments, as this is my life and my decision, and I am not going to change my mind, no matter what. Trust me when I say I have done a FULL INVESTIGATION into this surgery and my surgeon, gone through all of the seminars, chose the same doctor that has performed weight loss surgery on two of my co-workers (one had the by-pass 8/2010, and one had the Gastric Sleeve 3/2011), and have finished all the required testing (which was an EKG, several blood tests for all Vitamin levels, cholesterol, had an ultrasound of my stomach, gallbladder and liver, completed a psych evaluation, and met with a nutritionist). I have joined a forum called Vertical Sleeve Talk, that has thousands of members all over the world who have had/are scheduled to have this same surgery. I have met a lot of good people, have gotten answers to basically any question anyone could ever think of. This is not a quick fix, or the easy way out like a lot of people think. Its going to be hard work, but with the Sleeve I will be forced to eat better, and wont be able to eat so much. I've been overweight since at least sixth grade, and right now I am at my heaviest. After this surgery, I will lose 65-75% of my excess weight within one year. My insurance even covers this procedure. Please know that this is not a snap decision I made overnight, I've been thinking about it and looking into it for over a year now. If you would like to look further into this surgery and the program I chose, my doctor's names are Dr. Quebbemann and Dr. Braverman, and run a center called the N.E.W. Program. Dr. Quebbemann has appeared on multiple television shows including the Doctors, 48 hours, The Early Show, has been quoted in People magazine and USA Today. In fact, here is the link with the surgeons bios and information: http://thenewprogram.com/default/about-us/our-expert-team Information about the Gastric Sleeve procedure and what its all about can be found here: http://thenewprogram.com/default/comprehensive-weight-loss-options/surgical-weight-loss/sleeve-gastrectomy My surgery is scheduled pretty soon, on Friday, December 9th at 10:00 a.m. (the time is subject to changing, I will know for sure the day before). I will be required by my insurance to stay in the hospital for one night, and will be home the next day, able to walk and drive just fine. The hospital I will be at is a Bariatric Center of Excellence (as required by my insurance), and called Tri-City Regional Medical Center. Here is the link with the information on the hospital: http://www2.tcrmc.org/. You all are more than welcome to come visit me while I am there. I will be telling Brooklyn (my 7 year old) the day before my surgery, that mommy is having surgery on her tummy to make her feel better. I believe once she sees me eating better and losing weight, she will be excited to eat better as well. In fact, Terry (my boyfriend) has already started working out and eating better. This surgery is not only going to affect me in a positive way, but will change the eating habits of the people around me as well. Terry is taking Brooklyn to school the morning of my surgery, and Mom, I was going to ask if you would be able to pick her up that day and keep her overnight. I AM ABSOLUTELY SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS DECISION AND IT WOULD MEAN THE WORLD TO ME TO HAVE YOUR SUPPORT. However, if that is not the case, if you cant say anything nice then please just dont say anything at all.

I feel much better hearing all these experiences!

Wow outpatient Pdxman! The doc told me i could do mine outpatient but the hospital has a one night stay requirement, so looks like i get to stay there. You both make it sound so easy!

Thank you so much Lissa! I have 8 days to go till im sleeved, and am so excited. Its nice to hear what to expect in the hospital.

I love reading about everone's experience while in the hospital, and feelings immediately after waking up from surgery, is there a specific post for this somewhere? If not, i would love it if any of you out there could re-cap your experiences with the surgery part of this journey...it would really help me to know what to expect! Thanks in advance! Sara

You should comment to your mutual friends that you've begun walking at a different location...maybe he will hear and start going to the other location looking for you, lol.

Hi MsBoo, you will be sleeved the day before me! Good luck and congrats!

Contrats! I will be sleeved in 8 days and the advice you post-op'ers give is priceless!

I dont get meals, just protein shakes and protein bars. Although the first two days i replaced a shake with protein (some grilled chilcken, and the second night i had some turkey and an egg). Im on the fifth day, and im so tired! Im hoping it gets easier! WE CAN DO THIS! BEFORE YOU KNOW IT WE WILL ALL BE SLEEVED!

I dont think there's anyone who doesnt feel horrible about themselves right now, or else we wouldnt be getting this surgery. I hate going out, looking in the mirror, hate getting dressed daily, dread going to work, dread seeing anyone i know when i do go out, and all out miserable. I've had several last meals, and gained 7 lbs in a month, so im even more miserable. It got to the point my boyfriend couldnt even stand to be around me anymore, so we're on a "break" right now, which depresses me even more. I'm trying to make the best of this knowing soon i'm going to start a new life (wls date 12/9). Until then, all we can do is take it one day at a time, and when we look in the mirror know that we only have to not like what we see for a little bit longer!

I'm not post-op yet, but my family noticed my witchy-ness as well, but mine has been attributed to me just not being happy with myself, so i was taking it out on everyone else. What seems to be helping me a lot is i began taking 5,000 IU of Vitamin D (they are instant dissolve tablets), which is something i was very low on according to my pre-op testing, and apparently vitamin D is a significant mood booster. Like i said im still pre-op, so maybe someone post-op will have some better advise, but its worth a try!

Its probably too late for you now, but i know someone who slightly slouched when they measured how tall she was so she would meet the BMI requirements, lol.

So sorry to hear about what a hard year you've had. I'm glad you're doing something great for yourself by having this surgery. And the whole selling your sole to become a lawyer thing just isnt true...I work in a law office and no matter what people think (and joke) about lawyers, I believe there are just as many great ones out there as there are slimey ones, and I bet you're one of the great ones

*Crossing fingers* for you! Just make sure and follow up with either your insurance or the surgeon's office, because I've been having a horrible time with my insurance company, and my surgery is scheduled 3 weeks from tomorrow, and i'm still waiting on approval.

As far as i know they have to go around the liver to do the surgery, and if its too big it gets in the way. The liquid pre-op diet is supposed to help shrink the liver so they can work around it. Some surgeons dont even require their patients do the pre-op diet, so i dont know how big of a deal it is if your liver is still larger during surgery. You should probably ask your surgeon's office to make sure it wont affect your surgery.