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Hello VST community. WOW.. I am finding this such a wonderful place to come. I am Chandra, almost 42 and making the choice to reach for my life..the life I'm supposed to be having not the one I'm hiding from by having the VSG. I am having surgery with Dr. Mark Pleatman in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan on Nov. 17th. I was feeling a mixed ray of emotions over the weekend.. wanting to eat that last big meal..get in all my foods that I love to stuff in and find it ironic that I don't have much of an appetite..being nervous about going under and the slight fear of not waking up.. being overwhelmed by the nutrition class and wondering if I will truly be able to live without my beloved sugar for the rest of my life and without my best friend FOOD in general... that truly is a very uneasy feeling for me. Coming here the past day has reinvigorated me into knowing this IS my choice. This is the choice I made that I need and I am on the right path. I am almost scared of the successes.. not knowing what it will feel like to be successful with losing weight and yet so ready and so anxious and so happy to be choosing to change. What will life be like if I don't feel like the fattest person in the crowd anymore? What will life be like if I can turn around my health now and live a better and longer life in the future? What will it feel like to be happier with myself and will there be a day that I look at myself for more than the 2 second quick check in the mirror.. will I like what I see.. will I smile more? What will it feel like to be able to choose clothing from more stores? sound silly.. maybe to someone who hasn't felt fat and limited by life by being fat. For me the simplicity and desire to just be able to "Live" my life is one of the most amazing forces behind me choosing to have surgery. It has not been an easy road, I have had to battle my primary care physician, fight my insurance, and more importantly reassure my family and friends that this is something I need. Letting people in on how miserable I am has made me start my journey months ago and made me face all kinds of emotions. I am choosing this mostly for my health...I won't lie.. I really would like to look better as well... but to change my health now before it gets more out of control is no longer a choice as much as a necessity. I am also looking forward to gradually coming out of the shell that I climb into and hide from being so embarrassed about the way I look... the way I feel. I often feel like everyone is staring at me because I'm fat.. I don't do as much in public as I used to and am looking forward to regaining the exhilarance of just LIVING! OK... new to blogging.. new to throwing myslef out there.. hope that this may help ONE person the way reading others blogs and posts has encouraged me. Today is my last day of normal food.. and though it's only 7:20 am.. Im wondering why my husband isn't up serving me the breakfast of a lifetime.. :ohmy:~ (not like I haven't had a 1,000 of those.. or 1,000 days of this is my last big day to eat I start another diet tomorrow).. there is always "tomorrow" happening in my life but now..... My tomorrow is the start of a better ME.. my tomorrow is....... Tomorrow I go on a clear liquid diet and the next day,Tuesday, I will be having surgery. I will blog as soon as I get home and update with how it went, how I feel and my vow is to be honest and trust in my choice and faith that there is something greater out there leading me to this choice. Have a wonderful day and be good to yourself! ~Chandra

WOW congratulations! You are an inspiration for all us pre-surgery people and to hear you say you can eat anything you want and are satisfied is thrilling to me 2 days pre-op and nervous if I'm making the right choice. You have just reinvigorated me into knowing I'm doing the right thing! Thank you! ~Chandra

Hi Tracy, I grew up in Bay City, have lived in Midland for 12 years after living in Ann Arbor area previous. Did you have the VSG yet and if so how are you doing? If not when are you having it and where? Thanks for saying hello! ~Chandra

Hi everyone..what great feedback you are giving, my name is Chandra and I'm having the sleeve on Tuesday the 17th. I am also feeling a bit nervous about missing food, it's a hard concept to imagine only taking in a few ounces of food at a time and never chugging water/ liquids again.... reading all you comments about it being normal to be nervous and having no regrets is really the best thing I can hear right now. I am new and wondering how you add the scale at the bottom of your posts....

p.s. enjoying your live journal... you look great!

Thanks for the feedback! They assured me it's ok and that I will be taking milk of magnesia the night before at like 5pm then stop eating but that is it.

Hi.. I am new to the forum but not new to researching this procedure. I have heard good things about 2 doctors in Mexico but want you to know there is one in Michigan that is the first surgeon to preform a bariatric surgery lapriscopically and his package even if you are self pay is 11,200. His name is Dr. Mark Pleatman and I am having surgery with him on the 17th. He has done over 200 now and from everything I found on him a very talented surgeon. Personality a bit quiet.. straight to the point.. office staff is great.. but when it came down to it for me I just want a surgeon that knows what they are doing and how to fix it if there was a problem.. less "lovey" personality was ok with me. Hope this gives you another alternative if you don't want to leave the states and... my Aunt had hers done in Oceanside area.. will get the name if you want.. was about 18,000. Good luck!

hi Paula.. just answered your post a moment ago.. realized we must not have the same surgeon.. mine does not require liquid diet... going for nutritional class on the 11th and pre-surgical appointment but other than that no diet.. am starting to wonder if I'm the only one? Still we are having surgery on the same day and will be great to follow each others stories!

Hi there, I'm new to this site as well AND my surgery is scheduled for Nov. 17th as well. I wonder if we have the same surgeon since you are in BayCity and I'm in Midland... will be great to go through this journey with someone and so close... My surgeon is Dr. Mark Pleatman in Mich...

Hello to everyone, my name is Chandra and I am having the VSG on November 17, 2009! I'm so excited and scared and anyone out there feeling a little like.. what if it doesn't work for me like it does others? But really my question is that my surgeon does NOT require a pre-surgical diet. I am ok with that as long as it's a healthy decision. Anyone else out there have a surgeon that does NOT require a pre-op diet? and if so.. did they give you info why they choose to not require that for their patients? Thank you, ~Chandra:001_smile: