Tekara3927

Vitamin B!!!! That's where all my energy comes from. I was exhausted without it!!!

You will! I've been doing shakes all day and an occasional dinner ( high in protein!!) and have lost about 15 lbs in almost 2 weeks . I'm scared for my clear liquid diet tomorrow! Then surgery Friday morning!! Squeeeee!!! Best wishes! Just stay busy!!

You did the right thing. Stay strong. Everything happens for a reason. I'm sorry this has happened to you.

That boy is going to be crying like a baby when you come strolling by, down 75 pounds and smoking hot! Just do you, get healthy, get happy, and know that EVERYTHING happens for a reason! His losssss!!! Suckaaaa!!!

Me!! Sept 7th, Portsmouth NH!!

Thanks everyone. And yes Nicole I am a very firm believer in everything happens for a reason. Now, more than ever!!!!

Hello Sleevers! Those of you who have followed my posts before know that this has been an EMOTIONAL ROLLERCOASTER! But I am so lucky and SO SO SO blessed! For those of you who don't know, here's the quick version: I started this journey back in February. It's been insane. All the classes, workshops, appts with everyone in the world, felt like it was never going to end. Then in June it seemed like things were all falling into place. I had my endoscopy on June 8th. Shortly after that, I got the call that would change my life forever. While doing my endoscopy they found 3 polyps. One came back as a Neuroendocrine Tumor. A long way of saying, I have cancer. I have been through the emotions, horrified, sad, scared as my baby has just turned 1. But now, I am SO THANKFUL. So incredibly thankful. Because had I not chose to get the sleeve, then I would have never had an endoscopy and they would have never found my tumor. So I have been through all these testings, I had a few scans and they found that I have no other cancer . That this tumor can be maintained by going in every 6 months and having the area scraped. Its a slow growing tumor, so they aren't too worried. So with all this, I have been approved to get my surgery! SEPTEMBER 7TH! I can't believe it! I am SOOO happy its insane. Thanks for all the love and support from all of you who have been there for me on this journey! Now the real question is, who has a Protein shake or powder that isn't horrible? Im so sick of Ensure, and Atkins Advantage. I am ready to move on from them and see what else is out there. I am finally getting used to this pre-op diet, and really liking that I've lost about 10 pounds in the past week Woop Woop! Thanks everyone!

Holy SMOKES! you guys are amazing! Thank you to everyone for all the love, support and prayers. I am so overwhelmed to log on this morning for the first time in a WHILE to see all these questions and prayers sent out for me . It honestly chokes me up! Thank you so much! So here's an update, although its not much! Wish I had more but the truth is, no one knows what to tell me, they usually never find neuroendocrine cancer in someone my age! Usually its caught when people are older and when its too late to do much. So needless to say I am being featured in all sorts of studies! haha. I go to Dana Farber In Boston at noon today!I am hoping they do more tests, i havent had much testing done to ensure that the cancer is no where else. they said this tumor i had was a low grade and may have been the beginning of all of the tumors. I saw the local oncologist about two weeks ago who told me unfortunetly that I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET THE SLEEVE. I am so heartbroken over this because I have put so much money and time into this journey, between support groups, pre op groups, psychologist, nutritionist, physical therapy, etc. But I am forever in debt to god for choosing this path for me, for pushing me toward getting the sleeve, so that with the endoscopy they found my cancer! I have been talking ALOT with doctors, surgeons, oncologists, etc to hopefully be able to tie in a weight loss with the upcoming surgery i will have (AGAIN!). They want to remove the whole area where the tumor resided. They say if not removed, it will come back over and over again. And we truly do not want that! I wish they had just done that when we had the last procedure. LAME! They are talking about the "whipple procedure" to fully remove my duodenum, part of my pancreas, and part of my stomach. the problem is, with this procedure, i am then a diabetic. I am hoping they could just do the sleeve, remove my duodenum, and that be it.. but we will see... im also trying to get them to consider the gastric bypass (although totally not my first choice). then when they bypass the stomach and duodenum they could just take both out and GOODBYE CANCER HOME! It was really sad when I got the call yesterday from my surgeons office for the sleeve "Ms. Stevens I am proud to inform you that your insurance has approved you for the sleeve. How would August 13th work for you?" I was so sad. Because I can't say yes no matter how bad I want to! I want the sleeve more than anything. But I know my overall health with the cancer is first and foremost. So we will see what the specialist at Dana Farber says today and maybe I can convince her to help me get sleeved! Did I mention my health insurance is up in October? I will be turning 26 and no longer allowed on my parents insurance. So ALL of this needs to happen STAT! I will figured something out, but at this point i am having a hard time trying to find a job. I can't commit to anything right now not knowing what the future holds for surgeries and appointments. But I plan to work again soon i hope. I am however thrilled to be staying home with my daughter full time . Speaking of my Sweet, Sweet Caroline, she is fantastic. She will be 14 months in just two more days. She's talking like you wouldn't believe. All day, "mama, whats that?" she's a little genious. I will share a pic of her on here Hope she can make you all smile. Happy Friday, and thank you so much for all the love and support. I am so thankful to have such a support group! I honestly havent told anyone about the cancer besides my immediate family, and i suppose the hundreds of you sleevers! You rock my world guys! I have so much love for alll of you! I will update soon!!! xxxoooo

Hey everyone, My first oncology appointment is on Wednesday. Wish me luck!! Hopefully I'm cancer free! I don't even know if they can tell me that, but after removing the tumor I hope everything is just fine and I can breathe again! Staying positive for my daughter, but some days are harder than others. On a lighter note, should hear from the surgeon this week with my insurance approval, going to double check with the oncologist about getting sleeved, but since the other doctors and my surgeon Dr. Looser already sad it was fine I'm feeling confident that I will be sleeved soon!!!! Thank you everyone for all your love, prayers, support, means the word to me! Have a wonderful Monday and remember to smile and appreciate everyday!

More good news! My surgeon and specialist who found my tumor have decided that I can still get my SLEEVE! Thanks everyone. I meet with oncologist next week and also will be swallowing the camera pill! Praying my intestines are tumor free!! Thanks sleevers!! Xoxoxo xox

All of your prayers have been heard. Thank you so much. So here's the results... We are lucky to find out that from what they could see on my stomach and pancreas it's looking like it was only the one tumor which has now been removed. I will follow up next week by swallowing a little pill that is actually a camera and will confirm whether or not the is anymore throught my whole digestive track. Then I meet with the oncologist in Boston and will see what happens which all the bloodwork and tests I will have. then I just follow p every 6 months to make sure noting has grown back. I am so incredibly happy and grateful thank for all the love and prayers!!! You guys rock!!!!!

Thank you everyone, I will be bringing my iPad with me. We're out the door now, and I will update after I've recovered and had time to process whatever the results may be. From the bottom of my heart, my daughter and I appreciate all the prayers and happy wishes. Xxoo you sleevers rock my world!

New Hampshire.

What an overwhelming response. Thank you all, each one of you. All these positive words are touching my heart and easing the pain. I haven't told many people, that was kind of why I vented here, but also in search of anyone who's been through this. I will fight his, for my daughter and soon to be husband. They are the best part of my life and I'm not going down without a battle. My procedure is at noon tomorrow, please just pray for me. God will hear us, and I need him to.

I've been on this journey for a few months, should get my approval next week. But I just got the results from my endoscopy polyps I had removed.... I have been diagnosed with neuroendocrine tumors. Cancer. I have cancer. It's truly a miracle to me that they found this, and that they wouldn't have found it had I not chose to get this surgery. That a woman of 25 would not receive an endoscopy just because, but I made the decision. I'm horrified. My daughter just turned 1... I can't even look at her without tearing up. Why is this happening to me when I am sitting her dieting my ass off, walking, preparing mentally for me to get my weight and life n better health, and now this? Everything may happen for a reason, but I'm not getting this one, I will be having surgery tomorrow to see if this tumor has spread into my intestines, but to also remove the tumor in my stomach. God bless you all beginning this journey to not have the news I have received. If anyone else has got this news, please reach out to me. I'm scared.