Nurse_B

This is such a personal and important decision to make. At first, I told my sister and my parents. I decided as I made the final decision to start this journey, I would tell my closest friends, which was 3 people. I am a nurse, and work with some great ladies and physicians. I decided because they see me the most out of anyone, we eat together, go out together, I would need their support and inspiration when things got tough. I decided to tell them. So my sister, parents, 3 closest friends and about 10 people at work know. I feel I needed the support, and needed people to help me stay accountable to my goals. That being said, there is no one else I feel I need to tell. I have other friends I am not as close with, who I don't feel need to know. I am sure people will question it when I start losing fast, after many many years of dieting and exercise programs. They can guess all they want, but in the end I am not comfortable with some people knowing who will judge me or have an opinion. Whatever feels right, do it. If you only want your husband to know, then that is what will work for you!

Whoo hoo!! I'm December 2nd too, awesome!!

I got my flu shot, too and it was also mandatory. Probably a good idea to get it, our immune systems will take a beating with the surgery.

My official date is December 2nd!

Hello! I get my official date tomorrow, I am hoping for a date the first week of December. My starting weight is 285, with a BMI of 46. I am shooting for 135 as my goal weight. I am excited to be apart of this group!

Hello! I know everyone is different, and I am not asking to compare anyone's weight loss, I am just looking at averages. How much did you lose on average each month for the first year? How much did you lose the first two weeks after surgery? I know this answer varies greatly, I am just looking at what individual experiences were like. Thanks!!

I have finally heard from the surgery center, and I am all cleared for surgery. Wednesday, I am able to schedule!!! It looks like my date will fall in the first week of December. I am very excited, but also now that this is FOR SURE going to happen, I am scared for the first time. My surgery will be self pay, and although I am totally committed to this, it is a little hard to swallow the amount of money coming out of my pocket for this. I just have to keep telling myself, this is the lifestyle change and commitment I need to make, and sacrifices such as money need to be made! Please tell me spending what could be a very nice used car on this is worth it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I feel guilty, like I am being selfish with my money or something. While I don't have children, or a significant other, I still need reassurance that I am doing what is best. I know this is what I want, but I am nervous and scared.

Hello! I am hoping for a date the first week of December. My surgery center is calling me on Wednesday to officially schedule, when I talked to them last week they had not maxed out November yet. I am thinking it would be nice to be able to have thanksgiving with my family and have the surgery in December. This also doesn't interrupt holiday scheduling at my job, so others wouldn't have to cover me and sacrifice time with their families. It feels so far away, but I started this journey in July and I can't believe it's almost November. I was really hoping to have this done in September, but some of my pre-op dates couldn't be done until Mid September. I am looking forward to getting a date and going on this journey with other December sleevers, I need all of the inspiration and motivation I can find! Good luck to everyone

What an awesome feeling!!!! Happy dress shopping :)

Congratulations on all of your hard work, You look great!! Very inspiring to the rest of us!

Congratulations to the start of a new you!! Glad to hear things went well, am sending you prayers on a fast recovery. Keep us updated!!

I too was leaning towards the band. I went to a consultation in town and discussed with a surgeon the options and the risks. After a lengthy chat and some research on my own, I believe the sleeve is best for me. I have about 150 pounds to lose, I don't want to have to be in my physicians office all the time getting a fill or getting it taken out. I want to have the surgery and heal, and be good to go physically. I have also researched numerous places and have asked several surgeons about the time frame for a leak or major complications. All seem to agree the first 60-90 days is when the biggest complications arise. There are many people on here who have had complications, yet still are thankful for the sleeve. I am just awaiting a date, but I look forward to finally living the life I have dreamed about. Good luck to you!

Good for you!! Doesn't it feel nice to get it out of the way? I just finished mine as well. I had a survey to do with true or false questions, and then questions one on one with the doctor. Wasn't as bad as I thought it would be! How much longer do you have to go?

I think it all depends on the surgery center you use. For me, I am self pay in Milwaukee WI and my surgeon requires everyone to go through a pre-op program. I had to attend an educational seminar, a support group meeting, one appointment each with a nutritionist, psychiatrist for a psych eval, and a physical therapist to discuss exercise after surgery. I also had to have an EKG, pulmonary function testing, and a chest x-ray and labs. I am all done with that, it took me about a month to get everything in. Now I am waiting for a date. I have heard other self-pay people have a consult visit and be able to schedule, I have heard of others going through about what I did as well. I think it's realistic to do everything in two months. I had my consult in July, finished all my pre-op stuff in August, and am now just waiting to schedule. It would go faster for me, but the psych only works one day at the location I went, I had to wait a month to get in to see him. Good luck you!

I love this topic, only because I too am plotting. This summer is my 10 year high school reunion. Now I didn't get teased in school for my weight, I was not overweight, but not thin either. BUT there are a few of my classmates who have said things behind my back as my weight has climbed. Also a few ex boyfriends who have made comments about my weight as well. I am doing this for me, but I'd love to see the look on their faces after I have lost weight!

I love this topic, only because I too am plotting. This summer is my 10 year high school reunion. Now I didn't get teased in school for my weight, I was not overweight, but not thin either. BUT there are a few of my classmates who have said things behind my back as my weight has climbed. Also a few ex boyfriends who have made comments about my weight as well. I am doing this for me, but I'd love to see the look on their faces after I have lost weight!

My last pre-op appointment was last Thursday, my psych eval. At the end of the meeting, the psychiatrist told me his dictation would be done the same day or next, and will be available to view on Monday. So I called on Tuesday, to see if it had been done. I got a call back this morning from my surgeons office, to tell me they don't have it yet, but usually it takes a few weeks to get back. I work in healthcare, I understand the time it takes some physicians to dictate, and the time to get to another doctor. I am probably being impatient, but I want to schedule a date!! I did all I was supposed to do, now I want to get this going. I don't think I'd be frustrated if I wasn't told it would be done. My big issue is, soon holiday season will be upon us, and getting time off is going to be harder and harder. I don't want this to be another couple of months waiting!!

Called the psych office twice, once today and once yesterday. No one got back to me. I just want this thing to get moving, I'm so excited to start losing weight!

It's good to be a little scared, a little nervous, it makes us really think about what we are doing. I am also scared and nervous, I don't want to fail again! I have to remind myself over and over, nothing worth having isn't worth fighting for and putting in the work. You will get through it!!!!!!

Hello! I am too waiting to get a surgery date. I am doing this for a lot of reasons. The first being I am 28, have hypertension, am on the verge of diabetes, and keep gaining and losing weight. I have been on many diets, some very successful, others a waste of time. I don't want to waste my 30's like I wasted my 20's overweight, unhappy, just waiting for another health issue. I also have vain reasons for doing this, shopping at regular stores, fitting into a cute pair of jeans, getting out in the dating world. Whatever your reasons are, just keep reminding yourself of them when you are doubtful. I find myself having to do this a lot lately!

This week I completed my last pre-op appointment, and am now just waiting to hear from my surgeons office to schedule if I am approved by the surgeon. I'm self pay, but still had to complete a waiting period and a lot of pre-op appointments. I'm very excited but am also starting to get nervous! Up until now there were so many things I had to do, but now I'm just waiting to schedule a date. I find myself doubting I will lose the weight, or I'll be disappointed in my results. Totally unfounded thoughts, but they are still finding their way in to my head. How did you deal with the stress, nervousness, doubt?!

I can't tell you the amount of "emergencies" I'm not going to miss after the surgery! I am keeping a list of all kinds of little things I can look forward to and celebrating as I lose weight. I am so ready to start!!

I also have people in my life who aren't being supportive. The funny thing is, I didn't ask them for their opinions, I simply told them I was having surgery. I made the decision to tell a few close friends, my family, and co-workers. I have a lot of people I don't want to know, but the ones I did tell, I told for the simple reason I need support. One of my friends also thinks I took "the easy way out". She has no idea, nothing about this is easy!! Ironically, she is jumping head first into every fad diet in hopes of finding an easy and fast weight loss. I'm not interested in an easy way, a fast way, a small change, etc. I am looking to be healthy and this is the route that I am taking in order to do that. Losing weight, and in a fashion that is faster than other ways is simply a bonus. I hope your friends start leaving you alone, its scary enough in our brains before surgery, we don't need it from others!!

I am also waiting. I have finished my pre-op appointments, and now am waiting to schedule a date. I have no idea how far out they are scheduling, but I hope to do this before thanksgiving. The pre-op stuff was spaced over two months, and the time FLEW by. I'm hoping the waiting now does also!

I also have a few difficult friends . One of which is overweight, and the other who is normal weight. My overweight friend is constantly yo-yo dieting. She jumps on any bandwagon having to do with weight loss. When I told her I was having this surgery, she was angry. She felt I was taking the easy way out, while she was struggling and doing it the "right way". I am not sure eating gluten free 2 out of 7 days is the "right way", but it's her journey. I had to sit her down and explain to her, I needed her support, not her judgement, not her negative thoughts. I respect her choices with her body, so I expect the same in return. She doesn't really ask me much about my surgery, and I can already see when I loose weight there may be a drastic change in our friendship. It was tough to think about, but for once in my life I am making ME a priority. Those who can support me and be there for me are the ones I need to rely on and be around. The other people hopefully will get on board, but if they don't, I have to be ok with walking away. I hope your friend gets on board with you, as I do mine. Good luck to you!