FromBandToSleeve

Congratulations Nancy!!
I am contemplating VSG. This entire site dedicated to any WLS really, has been enormously helpful to me.
Just breathe...When you're feeling up to it after surgery, let us know how you're doing.
I would love to hear all about it!!.
There are a number of us that meet in VSG Chatroom between 7-10pm depending on any time zone differences.
Come on in...Would love to see you join us...
I'll be praying for you tonight..
Good luck in the AM..

Hi everyone!
My name is Nancy. I am 40 years old. BMI is 30. I am 5'6" and weigh 218 (well, before my pre-op diet). Now I am at 213. I thought for sure I'd lose more than that especially since I was totally faithful to the liquid diet. I hope I have better results after the procedure, which is TOMORROW!
I am a bit nervous, which is the whole reason I wound up here. I was seeing if anyone had any regrets. I'm having the "what the hell are you doing?" talk with myself right now. I know in the end I will be happier and healthier. It's last minute jitters Surgery is scheduled for 8:00 am. I am 2nd one of the day.
I just wanted to drop in and say hello and introduce myself because I know I'll be back in here soon!
Nance
"What you dwell on is what you become"

Dr.Uchal performed my surgery at svmc he is awesome in my opinion very accessible just go and get a few consults and pick based upon how the provider makes you feel as a patient

I just had my surgery on Monday at Memorial Hospital. Dr. Webb is my doc. He is very good. My family like him also. My husband said that it seems that he really likes what he does. He had a big smile on his face when he came out to speak to them.
Recovery was not separate for bariatric patients. I was actually fine in there. I was using my pain med pump and people watching. I had one guy two beds down that sounded like Billy Bob Thornton in Sling Blade. I had to laugh.
I was doing great until later in the night when my pain meds started making me VERY sick. I stopped using it. After that my husband stayed with me all night (poor thing was so uncomfortable) It made it much easier for me to get up and go to the bathroom and get ice, etc. They got me on meds I could tolerate and that made it better too.
I would feel horrible one minute then passable the next. Go Figure. I was happy to get out of the hospital.I have to give them high marks though. Very nice private room and attentive staff. No complaints here.
I didn't realized my husband had become a member here and I posted this under his name!!!!! I am Mamacujo.

I found this website by accident looking for blog's on patients that either have had VSG or planning to.
I have been in the process of making the decision to have the surgery. This website has helped helped alot in moving me closer to that decision. I have until Feb. to decide since I have to be with my insurance plan a year before they will pay for the surgery.

Rosy,
It gives me comfort in knowing/hearing of your feelings both physical and emotional.
As I read the threads here tonight, I've noticed you have pulled yourself together through one of the most difficult times in your life.
I had the LapBand surgery doone 5 years ago. It was not a good experience for me what so ever. Too each his/her own.
Thru your posts I've felt your Pain and yet literally heard a sigh of relief. That's where the strength lies!!
I'm agressively looking into having my band removed and have the sleeve done as a revisional surgery. The post-op surgery days can suck!! I know it and have been through the worst of it as well.
Regardless the afterward food restriction on any WLS, the healing is the most important part.
Try not to put so much pressure on yourself Rosy.
I'm so happy physically& emotionally feeling better & you're pushing yourself with the help from the site.
Thanks for the honesty and sharing in your transformation on your journey.
My next journey is yet to come!!
Thanks Everyone Here...

Hi all...
I heard from the nurse: they are going to fax me the new diet for tues next week. I still don't know what it is but I hope low sod veg juice is on it as that is something I crave.
I went to work out at the gym this a.m. and a brief side trip to the drug store. Visiting nurse was very encouraging and all my vitals are good.
So I venture into the weekend a bit less timidly.
Will probably update my blog, too. Only thing is, I have to do that on the big puter...can't from the phone.
Thanks to all for the staunch and tangible support. It worked. I'm down another lb, too.
Good luck to all of us
Rosy

I'm being sleeved in 3 days... I'm all over the place.. BUT, I calmed down when I thought about how much better my life will be... I wrote a letter to my sleeve... I suggest you write it out, talk it out,
http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/27108-my-dear-sleeve-letter/

Surgery is scheduled for January 27th Had to schedule a little over a month out in order to have time to get my new passport What's really great is that my husband can also go with me now

Hi,
if the reason that your insurance company isn't approving you is that your BMI isn't high enough, you should forward this position statement to them. http://asmbs.org/2011/11/a-pathway-to-endoscopic-bariatric-therapie/
BCBS based their requirement of a BMI of 50 or higher on an earlier position paper from this organization that essentially said that the sleeve is recommended for people with a 50 or higher BMI but further research is needed before they could recommend it as a primary method. However in the statement that I gave the link for, they now recommend it as a primary surgery. This statement just came out at the end of October so insurance companies have probably not updated their surgery requirement to reflect the change. I know that you are probably tired of the appeals process but this might be a good shot at being able to get your surgery done close to home and paid by your insurance.

100 pounds????? holy crap!!! I LOST 100 LBS!!!!
i had to get on the scale multiple times to believe it!!!

:::Pinch:::: I can't wait till I'm where you're at today!!! Congrats!!

I had my surgery in Sebastian with Dr Patrick Domkowski. I think he hung the sun, the moon and the stars!!! He does do revision surgeries. We actually talked about it at my last appt as a curiousity point for me.
My friend is an ER nurse at the Sebastian River Medical Center where Dr D does his surgeries and she gave him glowing reviews before I ever met him. I did talk to other docs, but Dr D made me feel the most secure about the surgery.
I have had no problems since/because of my surgery. He doesn't have the Center of Excellence distinction because they weren't doing the required volume. That is changing by summer of 2012, though.
He's doing an online seminar tomorrow night if you're interested. http://www.riversidesurgicalweightloss.com/ is the link, I think.

Yes! I did! I had surgery with Dr. Pinnar, who works with Dr. Cywes, out of Memorial. Memorial is also a center of excellence. If you have any specific questions feel free to ask. I also know a few other people who had the surgery in Jacksonville.

FYI: Dr. Cywes is the only surgeon of excellence among the 3. Another possible option is my surgeon. See his information on my signature. I know he takes tough cases, not sure about revisions. Might be worth a call. Best wishes!

I am having my surgery with Dr. Webb at Memorial Hospital. I have heard rave reviews about Memorial.

WLS Do’s and Don’ts

DO remove the word ONLY from your vocabulary. Ex: I’ve ONLY lost 10 Lbs in 2 weeks… Now let’s look at this again without the word ONLY: I’ve lost 10 Lbs in 2 weeks!! See what I mean? Perception is reality folks!!

DON’T assume you’ll never eat all of your favorite foods again. This is just an excuse your brain has designed to allow you to indulge. You WILL eat all your favorites again someday, just much less but find it to me more enjoyable. Which leads directly into the next:

DON’T do the “last meal” syndrome. You will only sabotage your weight loss you might have pre-surgery or set you back further from your ultimate goal post-op. This surgery is very serious and is for the serious minded. Use this time wisely to get the feeling of how life might be like post op.

DO learn all of the rules pre-op that you will endure post-op. Such as, no drinking with meals, using smaller utensils and plates, engaging in some type of workout routine, limiting your sugar and sodium intake, joining as many WLS support groups as you can.

DO Celebrate every single pound lost! Imagine one pound of butter. Yeah… that’s gone from your body forever. It is noteworthy and worth every bit of a pat on the back as any others that may go along with it.

DON’T compare your successes and losses to others. Chances are very high that you will only come out on the short end and only find yourself disappointed. Everyone’s journeys are their own…

DO keep track of your losses in many different ways than just the scale! Examples:

DO keep one set of your largest clothes you’ve ever worn. Make it a point to try them on, especially when you’re having a down moment. You will find this will really pick up your spirits! This is a real rollercoaster of a ride, and anything that will keep you positive is what you should do!

DON'T keep any other fat clothes around. Get rid of them ASAP. You're never going to fit them again, right? So... off to donations they go.

DO take photos of yourself just before your surgery. Keep them close. Again, having a bad day? Look at them and compare them. As a matter of fact, take photos of yourself often. You will also find that the more you lose, the more you will want to take pictures. Nothing wrong with that!!! That goes with celebrating your losses.

DO take measurements of yourself often. Keeping track of all your inches lost will really keep you on the right track when your scale is being stubborn!!

DO reward yourself every time you hit a mini goal. Make some more worthy than others. I like to go shopping when I hit a goal, it is my favorite thing to do now.

DON’T let the scale define you. Great majority of us will endure many fluctuations and stalls in this journey. It is what it is… patience is the key here. Meditate and envision yourself months down the road at your goal. Smile, then move on!!

DO find out about measuring body fat! It’s more than just weight loss, FAT LOSS is the real goal here. Keep in mind that the BMI scale is greatly inaccurate and most Health Studies do prove this. According to the American Council on Exercise (ACE) our body fat % ranges should be average: 25-31% for Women and 18-24% for men. Any higher is considered obese. However it does go more in depth, according to ages and more. Everyone has different genetic make ups, frame sizes and fitness levels... even a different ethnicity can post differences.

DO have many goals in sight. Having only one, especially a simple weight goal you will find can be difficult. Have many MINI goals along your journey, and more than just ones that involve the scale. Such as, clothing size goals, body fat% goals, fitness or workout goals, dietary goals, etc…

DO challenge yourself always!! Whether it’s a global challenge with others, or personal challenges... It will keep you motivated and always willing to go further than you ever thought you could!

DO have a mentor! Find someone that you can trust and confide in, and that you know has “been there”. Preferably someone you know in person. You will find many folks in your life who have been there, for obesity is worldwide now and there are so many who have been able to defeat this demon. It’s not easy! It quite literally is the toughest feat I’ve ever had to endure. I can say this too, my job will never be done. This is for life!
DON'T believe the myth that your tool has an expiration date. Yes, it's true you will lose the most weight in the first year and it's also true that the further out you are and the closer you are to goal, the harder it is to lose. However, as long as you keep up with your healthy eating and fitness routines you will continue to lose weight and / or keep it off in the many years post op. It all boils down to calories in vs. calories out.
DON'T believe the myth that having WLS will keep the weight off forever. That is our individual responsibility.

And finally…

DON’T ever beat yourself up! We all make mistakes, and dare I say not one person on this Earth is perfect. I try hard to be, no doubt! I always admit that I’m a perfectionist – but I’m far from perfect. I just try to be… The only thing you can do is pick yourself up, give yourself a pep talk, perhaps contact your mentor for reassurance and move on!!! Again, this is for life. Every day you wake up is a second chance.

DO look for solutions to your problems. Otherwise they will just become excuses.


DON’T EVER GIVE UP! I don’t think any explanation is necessary here.

DON'T expect the scale to post a loss every single day. As a matter of fact, don't expect it to move that much even weekly! Just keep doing all the right things and the scale will move in the right direction when it needs to.

DO expect to see fluctuations on the scale, both down AND up. DON'T lose your head over it either. This isn't a miracle cure and the weight isn't going to magically disappear in a few weeks. You have to keep pushing with healthy eating, some type of workout and getting plenty of Fluid.

DON'T let the scale define your journey when there are so many pieces to that puzzle!!!



Good luck to all of you. This journey is a tough one, but if you are here, then you believed in yourself enough to give yourself the life you’ve always dreamed of. YOU WILL BE successful. Always keep that in mind.

Add-ons by other experienced sleevers:

DO keep a list of NSV (Non scale victories) to reflect on when times are getting hard. Can you walk up 2 extra flights of stairs before getting winded? Cross your legs?" and

"DO NOT be afraid to change things if they aren't working. Stalls happen even gains happen. If you are on a long stall look at your eating and decided if changes need to be made. Utilize your tool!" -- Southern Sleever

DO: Keep a food diary of what you eat and drink. This is a great learning tool as to which foods have what amounts of fat, Protein and carbs that add up to your daily intake goals. There are many ways to diary your food - from old fashioned pen and notebook to many options via smartphone apps. Keeping one is the important thing - however is right for you. I use mine now to look back for meal ideas when I hit a blank as to what to prepare for a day or a week.

DO: Realize this is not a diet to be followed for a while then set aside. This is a permanent lifestyle change. Yes, the amount of food you eat will increase as time passes, but your relationship with food will be forever altered. How you Celebrate your joys, successes and holidays will be different. How you mourn your sorrows will be different. Some people need outside help to get through the sometimes overwhelming mental changes this process brings. If you need help with this part of the deal- reach out and get it. -- SKCUNNINGHAM

DO roll with the punches!! -- fern

Well said LMD, well said. Whether you know it or not you are a mentor to many of us. Just saying