Lisanne

Thank you all. I really appreciate it.

I'm Lisa and I'm currently 45 yrs old and a single mom to two kids (one is married and over 800 miles away, the other is a teen and lives with me). In my former (healthier) life, I was an RN. My health declined and as of 2002, I became disabled. My goal, at that time, was to pursue weight loss surgery, lose the weight, regain a healthier Me and go back to work. The plan didn't work too well. Over the years, I researched weight loss surgery. With my insurance (medicare), it took awhile to find a provider that would accept the insurance, not to mention, medicare is very picky. After alot of ups and downs, I went to Mexico in 2008 and got my Sleeve. There were some complications, but it wasn't too bad. I left the hospital on time and had no problems afterward. My start weight was 396. I was miserable. My diabetes was out of control. I had hypertension. I was also confined to a power chair. Within a year, I had dropped 100 lbs and was below 300 lbs. I was ecstatic. I hadn't been that "skinny" in years. Then the weight loss slowed, then stopped. It was becoming harder and harder to remain on my "diet". From the beginning, I could always eat more than other post op Sleevers. I also never lost my appetite like many others do. I began having other health issues, then personal issues. In 2010, my husband of 23 yrs left me for someone else. My life spiraled downward after that. At first, I avoided food. I stopped eating altogether. I lost about 30 lbs. Once I began eating again, I didn't care what I ate. The depression that I had battled my entire life raised its ugly head and got very comfortable in my life. I turned to all of the wrong things. Now, 2013, my weight has crept up over 300 again. This is devastating to me. Obviously, I am not a success story. I think in the beginning of my journey, I was a bit naive, perhaps I wore the rose-colored glasses at times. I understood that this surgery was merely a tool and that I still had to do the work. I was willing to do the work. I just needed the help that the surgery gave me. I am determined to at least get below the 300 lb mark again. I am back with the Protein shakes, low carbs, drinking tons of Water. With my physical limitations, I haven't managed to make myself exercise yet. I know it's going to be very painful but I realize that it's necessary. So, that is my story....or at least a few of the highlights. I'm an open book and will answer any question posed to me.....AND I'm willing to listen to any and all advice. I can use all of the help and support that I can get. Lisa

You are very welcome. Good luck with ur journey!

Beleive me, I get grouchy with diets too....which is why I didnt stick to mine like I should. I managed to lose 11 lbs on it, but starting at 396, that wasnt even a drop in the bucket, ya know? I kept telling myself it was only 2 wks and I could do it.....and I could have, I think, esp if I had known the consequences of my actions...or lack of actions. So, even if the doctor doesnt say u need a pre-op, it certainly wont hurt anything to do it.....and if they recommend or require it...by all means, do it and follow it closely. When I awoke and my husband told me what happened, my first thot was, OMG, did they give me my VSG or what? I was so scared when I finally talked to my doctor and he told me that he was able to perform the surgery. I was so relieved that I cried.. Good luck

Thankyou so much. I really appreciate it alot. I sure hope I can help someone avoid my mishap.. hugs.. Lisa

I agree with the others too. Trust your doctor. You have a much lower BMI than I did. Mine was 73 when I began my journey. I wasnt required to lose a certain amount of weight, which is why I chose my doctor. However, I was supposed to do the pre-op diet and I had guidelines...which I didnt follow. So, go with what your doctor says. Good luck.

Im glad that I could help. Good luck with your pre-op and surgery. :thumbup: Lisa

No, i dont have mobility issues, altho running isnt an option. I can walk just fine, esp after my 100 + lbs loss....My Gym has a track and a pool, plus the equipment. So, my problem is getting off my rear and going. I know I can. I have to get that motivation.

I dont think Ive ever heard it all put like that, but i think that is the right thing to do. I do hate exercising, but i hate being obese alot worse. I have Gym membership that Im just wasting. Ive been telling myself I have to get back to it, but have just not done it. Maybe its time to light that fire under me and get out there and do it. Thanks!

Thanks. I will look for it =)

Someone told me about TOPS, but when I checked into it, we dont have any groups here..the nearest is like 3 hrs away. We dont have OA either, altho I tried that many yrs ago and got nothing out of it. I was the largest one there and they treated me like a leper...sad

Drug addicts do have it easier, in my opinion...not saying its easier..but we do have to eat to live, they dont require drugs to keep breathing, ya know.. Counselling isnt a financial option right now. The only ones that except my insurance, have no idea about eating disorders....I tried it and it was a waste of my time and money. The only good that came from it was that I got to talk about my feelings......well, I can do that here, for free...lol

Those are my feelings as well. I think he did the best he could with what he was working with inside me....and truly, it was a good job. I didnt have any post op complications, etc.......except being able to eat more and still having my appetite. Getting the 2nd part of the DS isnt an option. I tried for that, thinking it was the solution. So, I have to deal with what I have.

I think I actually did contact my surgeons office at one point regarding the size of my new stomach. But by then it was too late and there wasnt anything that could be done about it. I couldnt afford to go back to him and have him try to make it smaller, not sure that he would have done that anyway. I had thot that since I had some complications during surgery, that he just wasnt able to get it small enough.....but since then, Ive heard of some of his patients having larger stomachs afterward too. In some ways that has been better one me, I didnt have some of the post op complications that others have with smaller ones.... however, the eating larger amounts certainly is a disadvantage.