Saltmistrose

I refuse to justify my decisions about my life to anyone. However, that being said, I elected to tell people in my time in my priority order. This decision was reached by me for medical reasons. In my case I had a post surgical incisional hernia, that could not be repaired and kept repaired, without loosing the excess weight that placed so much pressure on the sutures. I was older (56) and looking a DM (latent diabetes runs in both my mom and my dad's families) and higher BP, in my not so distant future. I did my research and shared it with my partner (who I had a hard time explaining how I knew I could no long do anything that would improve my weight any longer). I scheduled the appt. with a local surgeon and within minutes, he was able to confirm what I already knew in my heart, I needed surgery to fix what was wrong with me. It was not a moral issue, but a medical one. Your insurance knows this, or they wouldn't pay for this medical procedure, if it was something that was only a result of bad choices or esthetics. Ask them if they paid for it because your are bad, lazy, or otherwise guilty of self neglect? I agree that it is a pay it forward kind of move to show that this surgery is there for those that need it, and that it does work if you do your part to use the WLS as a tool to recovery of health. Surgery is only a very small part of the process, when you get right down to it. If you have the surgery and you don't do the "hard yards" post surgery, you will not reap the benefits that the surgery makes possible for you. Lastly, I found I needed & wanted others support and others watching my progress. It helped keep me motivated and honest. I hope this helps in some some way. I am sure you will do just fine. Bottom line tell who you want, what you want to tell them, when/if you want to tell them. This is a very selfish process, we did it for ourselves and our health. That's sure a good enough reason in my opinion. Stay strong and be well. Karen

I am keeping anti-fungals and yeast creams on my medical record to establish that infections and rashes from excess skin need to be addressed medically. Hopefully, when I get to the point of no return, the skin removal will be deemed medically necessary and thereby covered under my Federal BC/BS. Just a thought. Good luck and hope this helps in some small way.

Veruca, bottom line, life is not fair and no one should have ever told you it would be fair. I know it is hard, but we all have our **** to bear and endure. Life does try to balance itself out, but we often don't get the opportunity to see it happen. I am a survivor. I get through things and other people's ****, but I don't do it pretty. I can't tell you how often I have had to dry my tears, take a deep breath, dust myself off, and start all over again. I think you have to have a positive attitude to remain in good condition to meet the challenges that life throws at you. I know struggle builds my character, and makes me more able to empathize with others. It is good Karma to pay things forward in life and practice, patience and tolerance for others. Nothing is to be gained by being envious of others or curse the darkness in our lives. It cripples us and and we have to overcome our emotions to think clearly and to come up with a strategy to get where we need and want to go in our lives. However, when we win the battle, we have only ourselves and god/the universe to claim responsibility for the victory. Of course, just imo. :-) Shalom my friend.

Here is a link to the portion control plan I use in New Zealand and while I am here in the U.S. What do you guys use?

I'm curious to know. Did anyone have surgery on 11/29/12, like I did? Do I have a sleeve twin out there somewhere? Karen

I be watching this question with great interest. I too have Federal BC/BS coverage and am approaching a point where I may need to have a few things done. I have started anti-fungal medication for my flaps and the perspiration that the skin flaps gather. If they get too bad, I believe BC/BS may cover the needed surgery. Good luck to you! Karen

I'm a "diver want to be" when I get my weight down a bit more. I am only 12 lbs. off my surgeon's goal weight of 209. I think I need to do better than that before I start learning to dive. I live on a small island in the Pacific off of Auckland, New Zealand. Perfect place to dive. Are there problems associated with diving after sleeve surgery? Good luck to all of us!

Thanks Stef, this looks like a keeper! :-) Salt

Aussiegirl you are amazing. I am no where near as successful as you have been in losing half your body weight! Well done you! I am not even thinking about reconstructive surgery yet. I am afraid I will be looking to for advice and experience in this regard. Good luck and stay in touch.

Here's a great find for getting all that water in, each and every day! I like cold water, but after a while, plain water, becomes just boring. Here's a great low cost, low calorie, way to get those fluids in and keep those hard lost pounds off. http://zinganything.com/product/aquazinger

Well. . . I am just about 6 months post op now. I was warned that wt. loss would slow down considerably at this point in the journey. My Fibromyalgia pain has returned with a vengeance with the cool and damp of winter arriving. I had been warned that this might happen as well post operatively. I have been laying of my cross-trainer, which I had been doing 50 min. a day, Mon. through Fri. Combine these things and I am feeling the pain of very poor wt. loss at the moment. I have also listened to a few long term WLS folks on here in the chat room, lamenting not doing all they could have/should have during their 1st 18 months post op. I am concerned. I also need to work on getting my head into this more consistently. I don't want to be one of those people say if only i had . . . . whatever. I leave for an extended visit in the U.S. soon, and will be living with my 90 yr. old dad, who hasn't seen me since months before my surgery. I need to establish the game plan/rules when I get there. Hopefully, the warm of summer will help me feel better and get moving again, literally. I will be in the U.S. up until almost the 1 year mark of my sleeve surgery that was on 11/29/12. Hopefully, I can get re-motivated and inspired for the next 6 months, to make the best possible gains during this time. The last 6 months of the "golden window" will be spend back here in New Zealand, in the summer months here. How are the rest of you staying motivated and active? I am not being totally bad, but feeling somewhat less inspired, how about you? I try to appear regularly in the chat room to share my experiences with others, which helps me stay on the right path, but sometimes, it is less easy than at other times on this journey. Do tell your tricks and inspiration.

Wonderful! How about sharing some of your trips and tricks on Long Sleeves Chat Forum social group here on verticalsleevetalk.com? I started it up for my own edification, but I have to count on long term sleevers to help me out. Keep up the good work and Stay Strong and Be Well. Saltmistrose (Karen)

I am re-posting this off of another forum I read today. I think it is important to stay on track and motivated in this WL journey. This posting really helped me along. I hope it may help others too. http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/79554-1-year-anniversary/page__hl__%2Byr%2C+%2Bpost