karenb4729

Oh congrats! You sound like you are doing well for someone who just had major surgery!

Oh my goodness Oregondaisy - that's my big fear! Ice cream is my downfall too and I also have a husband who can eat anything. This morning I told him that he really needs to just keep it out of the house!

What you are discovering now is something I discovered years ago. I had to go through chemotherapy at age 31, it wasn't something I wanted to do but the choice was to do it or die. I felt powerless and I would complain all the time to my Dr "when would I feel normal again". I was so tired of being tired. He told me that I would have a new "normal" and frankly I was not happy about it. In fact, I really did end up in a deep depression and it was more about the fact that I felt my life was out of control. I'm saying this because you will find a new normal and it will be great! I'm trying to cope with needing to have this surgery (scheduled June 4) and knowing that I will have to again find a new "normal" but in the end, it will be so worth it. Just try to stay away from those people who are negative... I think that's why I haven't choosen to tell anyone other than just my husband and two of my children - I just don't want to hear the negativity that can come when choosing this option to help with loosing weight. Just know that there are people who read your blog and care about you!

Well - you won't be alone because I will be drinking it too that day!! I had to have a colonoscopy on May 7th and had to drink this too - it actually wasn't bad and didn't do cause too much of an issue compared to when I started drinking the Miralax.

I'm a stomach sleeper too! I kind of figured I would have to figure out something else for a couple of weeks. Maybe sleeping sitting more upright which a bunch of pillows behind me.

Good luck and speedy recovery!

I want to buy really cute leather boots that aren't made of stretchy material. I also am looking forward to riding on a plane and not being worried that I will have to ask for a seat belt extension.

Good luck!! I'm in Seattle too! What hospital are you at?

My Dr says that they pump about 10lbs of fluid into you and you hang onto it for at least a week so don't feel discouraged. I don't expect my weight to come off quickly, its no different than a regular diet other than the fact that I can't eat away my sorrows when that scale doesn't move. Eventually it will move as long as you stay on the plan.

I think its normal to feel scared and feel like backing out. I have had the same feelings, my surgery date is June 4th. But, when I think that I have had a BMI of 40 for the past 5 years what in the world makes me think I could lose it and keep it off without the surgery.. When I think like that I become more resolved to make it through this. I would love to see our posts a year from now!

Rader - thank you for the words of encouragement! They really do help. Disney - my surgery is at 7:30 am and I know that I have a 2 night hospital stay unless there is a complication. I don't have a pre-op diet other than a 30 day low carb (less than 30g a day) and then the bowel prep starting two days before surgery. It so surreal to me that I'm actually going to do this but, I have had a bmi of 40 for the last 5 years so obviously what I had been doing wasn't working. Amy - welcome to the "4th club"! We will all get through this together but the biggest thing is not to compare each others journey but we sure can support and let each other know what's working and whats not working. It's also nice to have a place to vent a little when things are a little tough. I don't know about you guys but I haven't really told anyone other than my kids and husband - people at work think I'm having gall bladder surgery.

I know we will make it through this! Today I met a couple of people from my Dr's support group, one 4 weeks out and the other 10 weeks out and they are both doing an awesome job. We will get there and we will get there with positive attitudes because that will make the difference between learning to live with our new normal selves! Do you know what time your surgery is at?

My Dr is the only one that requires the co-pay to be paid upfront. In previous hospitalization I just waited for the hospital to bill me.

Its nice to read a positive story! I think it's telling when a nurse who works on bariatric surgery cases chooses to have the surgery and chooses the sleeve. For some reason it makes me more confident in my decision. My surgery is June 4th and lately I have had so many doubts and then I read of the people who are regretting their choice... scares me. But, I realize that I can't go through regretting not being able to eat the way I use to because that's what got me into this situation in the first place. Eventually you figure out how to live with it - after all, what would I do if I had to have the surgery because I had stomach cancer? I think because we are making the choice we forget to remember that its for our health. Anyway - thank you for posting!

Hi - my surgery date is also June 4th. I know that I'm doing the right thing for me but I am so nervous and scared. Sometimes I wonder why I "torture" myself by trying to find all the bad stories - but I know it's normal to feel scared and worried. My stats are a little like yours, I'm 5'4", my highest weight was on 12/28 at 271. I went for the surgical visit on 3/27 and started a low carb diet on 3/28 and now weigh 238. My insurance approval was pretty easy because I did choose a Bariatric Center of Excellence which was required by my insurance. Next week I have my pre-surgery appt and have to pay my 20% co-pay which I was told is $388 but I think it's that low because I'm almost where I have met my out of pocket maximum for the year. All these pre-surgery tests really ate though the deductibles, especially the sleep study. Anyway - here is to US and our new lifestyle! Praying we both make it through with no complications!

Elaina - I live in Lynnwood and am having my surgery done by Dr Chebli. There is a great support group that meets at Northwest Hospital once a month. Maybe you can take the ferry over once a month to join us.

I remember doing a low fat diet years ago and was always freezing. I do think it's normal.

I keep thinking that as scared as I am there is a reason why I have over a 5 yr record of BMI at 40 or more. Obviously what I have been doing to lose weight isn't working so its time to do something different.

I'm glad to hear that you got through it!! I have a hiatal hernia that's going to be repaired during surgery too - hopefully I can be as strong as you!

Oh CONGRATULATIONS! I'm June 4th in Seattle.

I'm another June 4th! I am nervous!

Oh boy - we are all in the same spot. My surgery is 6/4 and I go in and out of wanting to do it or not do it. But, I didn't go through all this testing for nothing and while I'm doing the low carb diet as part of my pre-op diet and have lost weight with it I know without the surgery I couldn't maintain it. For goodness sakes yesterday in Rite Aid I was starting at the M and M's.. Anyway, this is a good thing for me to do and I know the Dr I have is a good Dr so I will hope for the best. I do think though that we get nervous for the outcome but also for fear of failure - what if I do all this and don't lose weight. I think in the end that's my biggest worry. Its sure is not the easy way out despite what people (who have not had a weight problem) say.

Also meant to add in - check out the various bariatric centers, most have seminars that you can attend for free that will give you a presentation by the Dr. I went to one and didn't care for the presentation from the Dr which let him off my list without me having to pay for an office visit.

I am going to Dr Chebli - he practices out of both Northwest Hospital and Evergreen Hospital. He is a real straight shooter, does require you to lose 12% of your weight before hand but also is very thorough with all the pre-op testing so that there is no health condition that is missed. I choose him after much research and the fact he was named as a "Top Doctor". He has a website at http://www.northwestobesitysurgery.com/changedlife-body-news.html I'm happy with him as my surgeon.

I have a June surgery date and feel the same way. It must be normal because it sure seems like everyone has experienced it. One minute I'm great and feel positive about the future and the next minute I feel like crying. Maybe it's because I feel like a wimp cuz I'm afraid of the pain and afraid that I won't be able to drink enough Water or get enough protien...But the reason we are hear posting is for the support of the people who have been in our shoes and when you see the results they have experienced I want those same results! I try to focus on where I will be this time next year... hopefully sitting comfortably on a plane jetting to some special vacation and not having to worry about seat belt extensions or spilling over onto the seat next to me. All of this reminds me of a quote I heard in a Franklin Covey class - "if you always do what you always did, you will always get what your always got". I NEED to make the change!