SqueakyWheel&Ethyl

While I don't have Lupus, I do have a host of other auto-immune diseases, including PBC, which is just like Lupus, only it is targeting my liver. My Liver Transplant team (on standby when I eventually go into Stage 4 and on 'the list') encouraged me to do this! My endocrinologist and infectious disease specialist both supported this decision. Getting my body as physically fit as possible will slow down the progression of deterioration. A gut leak is a minimal risk, but staying 100+ lbs overweight was much riskier. I agree. That surgeon you saw is too hung up on liability and his own insecurities about leaks. I would go to an accredited hospital and ask for a referral to a Dr or group specializing in weight-loss surgery and see what THEY think. There are a lot of "boutique" store-front practices. My Liver Team told me to stay away from them and do it through a real hospital. I'm so glad I did!

You are 5' 3" and 136 lbs and you think you look too skinny? That sounds like a healthy proportion to me. I wouldn't recommend gaining weight with higher fat intake. I would recommend getting a personal trainer to help you tone what you have. You are a diamond in the rough, Darlin'! Maybe you spent most of your life heavier and this just looks foreign and unfamiliar to you. I bet you look beautiful, and you just can't see it yourself. What does your closest friends say? Have you asked for their opinions? Have you bought any new outfits lately? Tried a new look? I know I haven't seen any photos, but I envision a woman who looks great!

Go to www.mybodygallery.com. You can enter height and weight and see what REAL people look like. Maybe that will help your self image. Frankly, I think you are being too hard on yourself. You deserve a celebration.

Congratulations on making this choice and props to you on taking action now! Here's some unasked-for advice.

Not knowing how BCBS responds typically, but knowing how my insurance resisted, I strongly recommend keeping a journal of each interaction pertaining to this surgery, with insurance, with Drs, nutritionists, etc. if you use a computer a lot, use it. I kept an electronic journal in Microsoft Word. I logged the date, and just wrote brief broken sentences that cut to the chase, like,

"09/12/12. Phone call w/insurance rep, Bianca L. (936-999-9999). Requested list of criteria required to get insurance approval. She will email it to me by 2 pm."

"10/04/12. Met surgeon, Dr B, on 1st appt. Was set up with monthly appts with Nut Counselor for 6 months."

"03/17/13. Pre-op appt with Dr B. Scheduled surgery 4/17."

Keep track of what BCBS requires yourself. Don't rely on them or the surgeon's staff. Do they require months of nutritional counseling? If so, how many? Do they require a psychological evaluation? Do they require a 6-month log of what you ate every day? Will they want to see your Dr's records showing what your weight has been over the past 3 years? And, don't take for granted that your PCP (primary care physician) and surgeon are shaking hands smoothly on everything. If you call and verify the PCP provided the necessary records, and confirm the surgeon's staff received it, things will go easier and quicker.

And, if your insurance requires several months of counseling, don't despair. I learned a lot in those appts and the time allowed me to really make peace with this permanent lifestyle change. By the time they wheeled me into the OR, I was so happy, as soon as my gurney crossed the OR threshold, I raised my fist in the air and pulled it down fast yelling out, "YES!" I worked hard to arrive at THAT moment and I marked the success with a mini-celebration. I was soooo ready!

We are all here on this site to exchange ideas, questions, and reassurances. If you haven't yet, fill out your profile. Post a before picture. Take your measurements the night before surgery. There will be times your weight loss will stall, but the inches will continue to melt away.

Good luck on your journey!

Go gluten-free. Gluten may be irritating it... Or even causing it.

You have a new friend in Texas. . Good luck!

It's our responsibility as Sleevers to educate the ill-informed. This is NOT the easy way out. It is a lifetime commitment to good health and it isn't just handed to us. We still have to be mindful of what we eat.

The end REALLY DOES justify the means in this topic. America has an obesity problem that is not slowing down. Everyone I know who struggles to lose weight tries a variety of appetite suppressants. And, they are not judged harshly for trying them. The majority of those who lose weight end up gaining it all back and more.

Sleeve is the most effective appetite suppressant available and its long-term success rate blows all the others out of the water! It's that simple.

It's not the easy way. It's the smart way and its worth every penny, every abandoned cheeseburger, every change of wardrobe, all of it. We get to be healthy again! And WHATEVER IT TAKES, everyone needs to redirect themselves to better health. No judgment.

I'm excited for you... I'm excited for me... But right now, I'm more excited for your aunt! I really am! Isn't it wonderful to know you can cast a pebble into the water and see the impact spread out to others? Those ripples in the water are your aunt.... And hopefully my brother... And others we love getting on the right track with us! Congratulations!

I have three comments on this.

1. This is the BEST blog entry I've read on this site. Ever.

2. You should be published. Send it to SHAPE or other health and fitness magazines.

3. Whoever wrote this SHOULD be a mother. Foster. Adopt. Hire a surrogate. Whatever it takes, make a child blessed, because they get to call you Mommy.

This is a REALLY GOOD topic to discuss! I felt EXACTLY the same way you do! EXACTLY! I tried to get the insurance company to waive it because of my liver disease, arguing that every day that we delay, more damage is happening to my liver and 6 months is precious time needed to take action to avoid a transplant! They wouldn't budge from this requirement.

My surgeon had me meet with one of his partners monthly during the 6 months. I told her I didn't WANT to diet and lose weight because I was afraid the insurance company would deny it because I could lose weight. She told me not to worry about it. She had never seen anyone denied after the six month wait.

What I didn't expect was how much I benefitted from that 6 months. My NUT doctor gave me helpful hints to help me to adapt to permanent changes (like no more carbonated drinks, finding alternative beverages). And, I had lots of time to really think about the PERMANENT life change. If I had the surgery as fast as I had wanted (within a few weeks), I would have been second-guessing my decision. I would have doubted myself and maybe even regretted it. As it is, I was able to go into that OR, with an incredible sense of peace, and joyful anticipation of the birth of my NEW LIFE.

It's okay to be frustrated, but please know that a lot of good will come from this wait. And, it will DEFINITELY be worth it!

My GP submitted 15 months. My GP before him closed her practice, and he couldn't get my records. Insurance was fine with that.

One word. Enema.

Get flushed out TODAY. You will be grateful you did in a couple of days.

Don't worry about not sleeping. You can sleep a lot the next few days. TOMORROW IS YOUR NEW BIRTHDAY!!! Go into that Operating Room like a BOSS!

I went shopping on Day 3 or 4 and ended up staying in bed most of he next day... Overdid it, I guess. Accept that there may be good days with energy and bad days with weakness. It's all part of the healing process.

You are on Day 4 and ate pulled pork? Did your Dr/Nutritionist give you a strict food plan? I'm on Day 21 and just now transitioning from full liquids to purée. Pulled pork wouldn't be "legal" for me until the middle of June. I was told our bodies need at least three weeks for the sutures to knit strong enough to adequately support anything more than thin liquids.

Just be very careful.

This is a wonderful post! Thank you. I hope a lot of newbies get a chance to read it.

I teared up when I read the part about being politely ushered out of the plus size area of the store! I feel pride for you, like a momma watching her daughter blossom into a woman. And, you are inspiring me to stay on track, too! Congratulations on this mile marker!

You are our hero, too. Cuz you're one of us.

We ALL felt all those mixed emotions at the start of our journeys,, too. ALL of them! The great thing in all of this is that FIRST STEP. It took me a year to decide to go for it. I took another 2 months to get my insurance company to ADMIT they would cover me (they tried so hard to keep it a secret from the employees where I work)! And, another 6 months (insurance requirements) before it was finally approved.

When they wheeled my gurney into the Operating Room with the silly paper hat on my head, I felt ZERO fear, anxiety, trepidation... I made a fist in the air, and yelled out, "YES," as I pulled my fist down to my chest, as a celebratory cheer that broke everyone in the OR out in laughter. I was FINALLY in the room I worked SO HARD to get in!

When we make the decision to alter our bodies and our way of nourishing ourselves for the rest of our lives, we usually make peace with it all by the time the Surgery Date arrives. Just make sure you do that. Once you are totally on board, DON'T second-guess yourself and never look back. That is a life in your past. Look forward to your new life!

Ever dream about what you would do with all that money if you won the lottery? The sleeve is your health lottery! Start dreaming about what you would do if .... The bikini.... The skin toning.... The ENERGY! The complimentary smiles and comments from strangers. One by one, the medications go away! A new wardrobe... A new hairstyle.... SHOES!!! Being able to sit comfortably in an airline seat. The list goes on and on! Start DREAMING NOW, because everything you really want out of this can and will happen if you strengthen your resolve. You can do this! How do I know that? Look around you here. Everyone is doing it! If they can, WE CAN, TOO!

It's a new life. The shadows of the past will linger, but I'm finding they are slowly fading. This surgery truly is life changing. You will naturally adapt your behavior to conform to what your body needs. And, you will be able to hear your body talking to you more clearly than it ever did before. You are going to do great! Just cut yourself some slack during the healing process. Tell yourself, 'This, too, shall pass.'

I cheated today. Puréed is still a week away. But I wanted to feel texture in my mouth. Scrambled eggs are on my puréed list. I mixed an egg with a little of my double milk, whipped it, then scrambled it, until it was fully cooked, but not dry.

I ate tiny bites... Mincing it up good. Within 30 minutes, I ate 1/2 of that egg! Yeah, it felt funky going down, but I swallowed a tiny sip of water with each bite, and it seemed to work. AND, I satisfied my urge to chew something.

And, since it was only 1/2 of an egg, I don't feel ashamed.

Great! I wish more people would blog their happy stories. We need to hear these. Thanks for sharing yours.

You embrace faith. So, you already know that it all happens in His perfect timing. Perhaps, this reschedule was part of His Plan. Perhaps, it was done to avoid some problem you don't need! Perhaps, the new date opens the door for something wonderful to happen in your life... For your path to cross with someone special who otherwise would have never met you. Hold on, my friend. God has a Plan for you and this reschedule is a part of that.

It will all fall into place and you will succeed. Keep having faith.

I can relate to your frustration. Fortunately, my surgeon's office runs like a well-oiled machine. My problem was my insurance company resisting to admit they would cover it.

I suggest you just take over your checklist of things to do. Call your insurance company yourself (basically, just do her job) and send her copy on whatever must be kept in the surgeon's file. When you have everything done, THEN, camp out in her office while she faxes everything to the insurance company's Medical Director (the final approver). That's all she will be needed for.

I did all the leg work myself and would just copy my Drs office on all of it. Sometimes, it's less stress to just do it all yourself.

Good luck.

So happy to hear your story. Thanks! And, congratulations!

When I had HORRIBLE PMS in my 30's, my family would say, "the Beast is back." It made it easier for my family to offer forgiveness to me, too. . Thanks for the advice you shared here, too.