Silly Phylly

I have been an RN for almost 40 years (that is hard to believe!!). I work L&D with 12 hour shifts. I've completed my six months with the weight loss specialist, been evaluated by the dietician and tomorrow I have an appt with a psychologist. I also have appointments set up with the surgeon and for the pre-op diet class. I hope to have surgery around the third week of August. I am terrified, but I think I'm more afraid of what will happen if I don't get this weight off and keep it off. Forty years of nursing has taken a toll and I have some ortho issues that I hope will diminish with weight loss. I have lost weight lots of times, but have never been successful at keeping it off. I am the classic yo-yo dieter. Are any of the rest of you working 12-hour shifts? How soon were you able to return to work? I have this fear of hitting the wall after 7-8 hours at work and that just will not do. Congrats to all of you that have already been sleeved and are finding success. The rest of us will catch up soon! Now, I just have to figure out how to upload a picture.....

Haha! I have to agree with you. Knowing the what if's can make you extremely paranoid and give you increased anxiety.

Thanks chitowngirl, that helped a lot.
Thanks ShapeShifer for your kind words.
PdxMan, thanks to you too, I think Portland is quite a ways away from Klamath Falls but thanks for the invite!
Phyllis, I appreciate your kind words, helped me a lot this afternoon.
I want to thank everyone in this forum for all the help over the last 5 months, I knew I could count on you all!

I've been sleeved one week tomorrow by dr. Alvarez, never had a negative experience and he himself always replies to my emails and messages, as well as Susan, his coordinator who is also an LVN. The best experience and I woke up questioning my mom of he did the sleeve yet or not because I was in no pain at all! Great experience and I as well went with my gut not because of price.

I did read one negative post about Dr.Alvarez BUT she said she had nothing to say bad about him or her surgery. It was complaints about his staff at hospital. I took it with a grain of salt. You can't please everybody all of the time. I personally would chose no other surgeon. From my research he is top notch. I have read so many boards and forums that I do not even remember where I read the post at. I have no fear about this DR. He has too many people saying really good things about him and his staff to focus on one negative comment.

Wonderfully said Joyce . Hope ur doing well and getting ready for ur big day!

It is times like these that we learn how to trust God and find peace in seeking His will. Just be there, even if it must be on the end of the line. Share as many moments as you can. Say the things you need to say. Share memories! If you happen to gain a few pounds, so be it! You have the tools you need to get off! Concentrate on Dad right now. Zumba sounds much better than a bottle of wine by the way. However, you deserved that one! By the way, I speak from experience. I was in nursing school while my dad was dying of cancer. Worst time of my life! It was so hard! But, I wouldn't take anything for those hours I spent with him just because he wanted me there beside his bed, we might go for an hour and not say anything, but it was the fact that I was doing all I could do. If you are a God loving woman, please remember that this is part of his journey. We too will make that journey. Unfortunately some journeys are smoother than others, but God can use even the worst of situations for His glory. He can even use this situation to make you a much stronger person and certainly increase your faith in His power. I will be praying for you!

I teach high school math at a private school in Georgia. When it got close to time for surgery (spring break '12) I told my students as I did not want them to hear it from someone else. Of course, previously I had told my principal, department head, and school president as well as my two best buddies at school. I was up front and honest with my students as to my reasons for this choice and thay were wonderfully supportive. I will be so glad for them all to see me getting healthy!

Phyllis, I, like you, have been unable to find any negative experiences posted anywhere about Dr. A. I have been corresponding and working with Susan from his office and it has been nothing but smooth so far. I'm not saying negative reviews do not exist, but I haven't found one. His whole practice seems to be top-notch and very professional.
Good luck on your journey.

So heartbroken for you and your beloved family. I've seen my Dad cry once in 43 years, and I know how hearing your Dad cry must have slayed you. Please know that you are not alone, for we are all one. Remember to take care of yourself and continue to feed your body well, for it must carry you through some difficult days ahead. Surrounding you and yours with love and light, and wishing your beloved father comfort and ease.

Thanks Carol for the advice, I think I will go do the Zumba class tonight!

Kimmy, no amount of advice we can give will ease your pain but hopefully the support you get here will. I would suggest getting out and walking, preferably with someone you can talk to. Walk (or another exercise you enjoy) your stress out. It does help me sometimes. The best of luck to you!!

Thanks Angie, all the support and prayers we can get will help.

I am so sorry to hear about your dad. It must be very hard for you. Is there any way you can go to him to see him? My thoughts are with you and your dad.

Wow - I am really sorry about your dad. I have no advice that will help, but I will pray for peace for your family.

I felt exactly the same way. A friend of mine has the lap-band and used Dr. Ortiz in Tijuana. At first I was leaning towards the lap-band too, so I was researching Dr. Ortiz. Then I started changing my mind and decided the sleeve was what I wanted to avoid any future complications with the band. Altho Ortiz does the sleeve, I couldn't compare my friends experiences as I changed procedures. I started looking through other doctors. I came across some that are much cheaper than Alvarez, but once I came across him, It was like a "Slap in the face" moment. I just had a very strong pull that he was the doctor for me.
A few months later and here I am, fixing to start a pre-op diet in a few weeks and ready to get this show on the road. I have never been more certain of my decisions.

I'm thinking We all won't have as much time to browse this board come August/September...

Hi! I teach SDC-LH (special day class, learning handicapped), grade 6 in California. I was sleeved March 12th. I told my prinicipal, the secretary, and my grade level that I had the sleeve done. Staff started noticing by the end of May. They just looked at me with curiosity, but no one asked or said a thing to me. Occasionally teachers would try to ask my classroom aide. She was fantastic about it. However, it was getting a tad awkward. I was thankful for the summer break, but I have lost inches and pounds (thankfully). I'm sort of dreading going back, but I know the newness of me being smaller will fizzle out eventually.
I didn't choose to tell everyone about my choice to have the sleeve. The people that do know used to watch what I would eat for lunch or I received a couple comments along the lines of, "Just don't do what so and so did. They had surgery and gained it all back!" I don't need advice from someone who has never been there and I realize that I'm hypersensitive to being watched anyways.

I agree... Think of it this way: If the roles were reversed and your boyfriend had the surgery, didn't tell you about it and you found out later, how would it make you feel? Personally, I would wonder what else they were keeping a secret from me and would have serious trust issues going forward in the relationship!
I wouldn't want to be in a relationship that isn't built on trust...

charmichelle
sorry you are having promblems with you family and friends not approving your WLS.
if you choose not to tell certain people about the WLS thats fine for you too (i didn't tell most people either)
But - IMO i wouldn't lie about having the surgery either - saying i am going to have gall bladder sugery - the truth will eventually come out, or you just might feel guilty about saying something that is not true.
people like your boyfriend might not appreciate the story you fabricated. this is just IMO
good luck on your pending WLS
kathy

I have been a nurse for 18 years. 6 years LPN and 12 years RN in the last 6 years in the ER. Tried managment for a year but Hated! So back to the Er I go! Getting my sleeve on JULY 16th! WHOOT WHOOT! "SHOUTS OUT TO ALL THE NURSES IT'S TIME TO TAKE CARE OF US! AMEN!"