Andrew0929

Congratulations on your success. It is genuinely inspirational to me, being pre-op and undecided.

My surgeon told me he wanted me to lose some weight before surgery. I will continue to try losing, but I suppose minimally the liquid diet would help with that somewhat. I'm not sure whether my insurance company requires weight loss. I need to reread the details of their requirements, but I thought it only specified participation in a physician monitored weight loss program. My surgeon said that my NUT visits qualify as such. My biggest worry is having 85% of my stomach removed and still not being able to lose weight. Although I am inspired by the success of so many people on this site.

Thanks for all the encouragement everyone! While I've not lost any weight in my first week of the NUT diet, I have followed her recommendations. I've cut way back on all red meat and cheese, increased fruit/vegetables, and stopped eating nuts and pork rinds daily - leftover from Atkins So it hasn't been a total waste of time. I fully realize that I need to drastically reduce my portion sizes ....

(Continued - sorry hit send by accident) Let the professionals evaluate your situation. I'm sure they solve your leaking problem. Andrew

I've been using a CPSP since 1989 and have done well with it. My suggestion is to visit your CPAP supply and have them fit you with a new mask. It's taken me years to find a really good company. The one I use has helped several friends fix the problems you described. It may take several tries testing multiple masks but

I'm one week into my 3 month physician monitored diet and doing terrible. Not on a specific diet but just cutting back and avoiding certain foods. I'd had success doing Atkins (up and down 40 pounds several times). Lost 120 pounds long ago using an ephedra based product. What happens if I don't lose during this 3 month diet (or even gain)?

I'm in a similar situation. Went to my first appointment with the surgeon 2 weeks ago and I was determined to get a band. He encouraged me to go with the sleeve due to my higher bmi, better likelihood of losing more weight, and better long term stability. After doing more of my own research it appears that a significant percentage of those banded need an additional surgery at some point and many have them removed. I'm going with the sleeve ...

Did you do your 3 month diet with a nutritionist or through your doctor?

My insurance company, CIGNA, requires a 3 month physician monitored diet. My surgeon told me they handle that with 3 months with their nutritionist. . Hopefully my insurance co is ok with that. Just went to my first appointment with nut and she just gave me some guidelines and no real diet. Didn't learn anything new ...

I'm still pre-op and have only told 1 friend and 1 family member so far. My friend, who is overweight and has severe diabetes, continues to try talking me out of it. I've stopped bringing it up and he may think he talked me out of it. Not sure if ill ever bring it up again or admit to it later.... I'll just tell him I took his advice with dieting and exercise and it worked!

I'm a coffee fanatic. My hobby is roasting coffee and building coffee roasting machines as well as modifying (improving) coffee equipment (espresso machines and grinders). I'm pre-op and just attended my first nutritionist session. She said I could drink coffee afterward but I'll check with my surgeon. That would really suck if I could no longer drink coffee. I'd have to find a new hobby and my friends and family would miss their supply of my freshly roasted coffee. I'm calling my doctor tommorrow ...

This is an issue I'm having trouble resolving. I'm still pre-op but trying to decide how I'll respond to people saying I took the easy way out. Your idea is brilliant. WLS is the hard way out given that we are willing to undergo major surgery in order to lose weight.

I'm still pre-op but am struggling with how I'll deal with all the questions

Unfortunately, I've gone through a lot of the same. While I'm very freaked out about the surgery, and not sure I can go through with it, I know its my only possibility for long term weight control.

My newest machine is self-titrating, which means that the machine automatically adjusts the pressure to what is required. After I'm sleeved and start losing weight (fingers crossed), I'm going to set my bottom end of the range lower but leave the upper end of the range as is.

I've been using a CPAP machine since 1989 and have been through a few big weight losses (down 120 lbs once). After the big weight loss, my pulmonologist chose to have me continue using the machine but on a very low setting. Regarding your current situation, my experience has been that if it feels like there's too much pressure, there definitely is too much. You should contact your cpap supply company and ask them to lower your setting a little bit. Although it is not recommended, I've always adjusted my own machine. Found the clinician's manual on the internet.

Hoping to get my first appointment with the Nutritionist and start my supervised diet SOON. That will be the end of my crazy eating and time to buckle down for some serious dieting.

For some reason, I've been eating out-of-control since I started looking into WLS 3 weeks ago. I'd been following a low-carb diet for the past year (up and down 40 pounds twice), but at least trying to follow something. Now, it's been anything goes while I investigate all of my WLS options. At least part of it could be attributed to my being nervous about the surgery, but I haven't eaten like this in a few years. Anyone else go through a similar experience at this stage? Andrew

Congratulations!! You should be very proud of yourself. Andrew

Thanks to everyone for all of the great advice and information. I really appreciate it. At this point, I'm done considering the Lap Band, given everything I've learned here and read about elsewhere. Still a little freaked out about the sleeve, but seriously leaning in that direction. Given that bypass is out of the question, I guess it's come down to the sleeve or nothing, regarding WLS. I think about trying some former weight loss methods (atkins, meds, etc ..), and know that I can achieve some level of weight loss, but also know that I gain that weight back every time. Over and over .... My next step is to make an appointment with a nutritionist, which I will do on Monday. Then, I'm attending my first support group meeting (run by my surgeon's office) on Tuesday. Thanks again everyone. Andrew

Thanks very much to everyone for all the great advice. It's helping a lot to hear the real life experiences and opinions. Please keep it coming ...

My name is Andrew and I'm new to this forum .... I just attended my initial surgeon consultation, expecting to get a lap band. My surgeon is recommending the sleeve over the band, due to my BMI of 53. However he made it clear that he will support 100% with whatever decision I make. My hesitation is due to the added risks, especially after reading some of the nightmare stories in here about experiences of those with a leak. I know I have to do something, and although many have had positive results with the band, it sounds like it does require a lot of time with the ongoing adjustments and a reasonable chance of needing additional surgeries. I do know a few people with the sleeve and both are doing fantastic, so that is very encouraging. I'm just hesitant to set myself up for a procedure that could result in serious potential complications with a long recovery time. Hopefully I won't just put the subject of WLS aside, as I need to do something about my out-of-control eating and obesity. Thanks.... Andrew

Amazing !!!!

I look forward to the day when I'm consuming small portions like you guys. Still weighing options so still cleaning my plate when we go out.

I've been reading up on the sleeve and while it seems very effective when everything goes right, it seems like complications (leaks) can turn into serious issues with long recovery times. The band still seems like the right procedure for me but my doctors feedback and the industry trends are of concern. I think it's down to the band or nothing for me ...