tigerbelle

thanks for the update, fyre...hoping all goes well with the test results...give yourself a pat on the back for your patience

Can someone summarize for me what this procedure (plication) is and how it differs from the sleeve?

I can totally relate...I broke a chair once in one of my favorite restaurants! the waitresses tried to tell me it was already wobbly (which it was) and should have been replaced...but still it was an embarrassment, and I just knew everybody was thinking that the big fat woman broke the chair...but I agree with the LOL stuff....you gotta laugh

fyre: how are things going? I hope to hear a positive update soon

based on other (non WLS) surgeries I've had, I think it would be a better idea to get "settled in" from the travel and give yourself at least until the next day to emotionally and physically prepare yourself...I find traveling stressful even if everything goes as planned...and just in case something doesn't go as planned (lost luggage, delayed flights), you have somewhat of a cushion if you don't schedule on the same day as travel

I have definitely been going through this same soul-searching...and also discussing it in sessions with my therapist...I, too, am not 100% postive the surgery is the right thing for me, but at this time in my life and with my current issues, I am finally beginning to see that I need some kind of drastic change...and while I am worried about possible complications and the physical issues with having a sleeve for a stomach, I am also very much concerned about the emotional aspects...I have anxiety issues (one of the reasons I over eat), and I am wondering what it will feel like not to have that comfort when I am feeling anxious...also, a large part of my social life and family interaction centers around food and the enjoyment of eating...I am wondering how I will feel when I cannot fully participate...will I feel more like a "freak" than I do now? I have been at times in my life severely depressed, so much so that I have had to take leave from work...I worry that somehow this choice of WLS will lead to another bout of severe depression...I definitely can empathize with your dilemma...I consider myself a spiritual person, and I have prayed a lot lately about this...I believe that WLS is what I am being lead to as an option, but of course I am not sure...it's requiring a big leap of faith on my part...

::raises hand:: that is me...turned 51 this week...type 2 diabetes for 10 years now; on insulin for last year and still uncontrolled with high a1c; high blood pressure and beginnings of arthritis, foot ulcers and currently healing from a bone infection...I am not necessarily promoting WLS for everybody, but I am encouraging anyone with the family history for diabetes and/or heart disease who is obese and especially morbidly obese to do whatever they need to do to help protect against these health problems

May I ask what your current weight and BMI are? Do you have any comorbidities or other health problems that may be an issue? I am not sure if you have been writing down what you eat and keeping track of portion size and calories...I do know this--and I've ready studies as well about this--it is more common than not to actually be consuming far more calories than you think you are...in other words, I might estimate that I am eating at most 3,000 calories a day, but if I actually write down what I eat and accurately take into account portion size (for instance, most portions I consider "normal" actually are considered for two people), I might actually be consuming more like 4,000 calories a day.

wishing you well...sounds like you are in a good frame of mind...keep us updated post-op

This thread has enlightened me a lot to the differences between men and women and their thinking on this issue...I truly think that is the "disconnect" that Laura mentions...I have never had this conversation before with men--only other women...and it is interesting that the men who have commented in this thread are in the same boat, so to speak, as the women are, in that we all are overweight and have a desire to lose the extra weight for a multitude of reasons...this deal about discomfort on being recognized and complimented on the weight loss is something I do think it would be almost impossible for any man to really understand...that has to do not only with the struggles and emotional hurts of the individual women who've posted but a lot about society's views in general and the socialization of women of all sizes and weights...I think what Laura and maybe some other posters took issue with is the suggestion that these feelings of discomfort were somehow a "defect" and emotional impediment that warranted therapy...I am a big promoter of therapy, because I think almost everybody could use it in some way (lol, particularly those who say it is a sham!)...I just think that the discomfort is something so widespread among women who have lived with obesity that it is almost "normal" and not something for which therapy is absolutely necessary...it's hard to put this stuff in words

not even sure if I would know if my stomach was completely empty...with diabetes, I tend to sort of "graze" eat...it is quite possible my stomach is never really empty, although I guess it could if I fasted for a while ...hmmm

how about odyssey, trek, hike, marathon, stroll? lol I am sure there are many words out there that could be used...maybe I will start saying I am on my odyssey

when you eat things like pureed pineapple and other fruits, does it matter if they are frozen or not? for some reason, I can handle cold or frozen liquidy things more than room temperature or even warm...I was just wondering if there were some reason why frozen things weren't a good idea with the sleeve, especially during the first few weeks

I have the same question.

I don't know the reasons for your revision, but I do know that you are not being selfish...if it were just a vanity thing, maybe...but this is your health...to want to be healthy to be around as long as possible for your family and enjoy fully your life with them, certainly is not selfish..if your surgeon is recommending the surgery and says it's needed, he most likely is correct...I am fearful of having my surgery as well (first time VSG), but I think fears are normal and certainly not selfish--I would put that thought away as quickly as I could and just focus on the health aspects....you might want to be more assertive in getting your surgeon to outline the reasons for the revision

I do think a lot of it is that idea of some people (women mainly) using their fat as a sort of shield or cover-up from the outside world...I know that my goal is not to stand out in any way...I feel like being very overweight I stand out for that reason, but I also don't like it when I lose weight and people mention it even complimentary--as contrary to common sense as that might seem...with me, it has to do with some past history as well...when I was in my 20s, I lost a great deal of weight over a year's time and was for the first time in my life at a "normal" weight...at that time, I didn't really mind when people I hadn't seen in a while noticed...but--like the cliche--I eventually gained the weight back and more...now when I lose any weight at all and people mention it, I can't help but wonder if they are thinking "she'll probably gain it all back and more"...I know that is pessimistic and can become self-defeating, but it is what I feel

I am concerned too...just reading this...glad you called your husband...everyone is right about trying to calm down...you are at the ER, which is the best place you can be now...and it's the ER doctors that are idiots if they are questioning your decision to go to the ER

is this a standard pre-op procedure? my surgeon mentioned having a CT scan of my abdomen before surgery, but not anything invasive like an endoscopy

have to admit I am clueless...what is an EGD?

all good advice--especially Kendra's--that I will keep in mind myself as I struggle with some of the same issues...that #1 that Kendra listed really hits home for me....this is something I look at as a life-saving measure

wolfgirl..yes, so you know what I mean about that file note stuff...maybe others think we are paranoid, but they probably don't live in our state...I am glad your recovery was free of complications...you still doing well?

this topic has me wondering...how long did y'all stay in the hospital (those of you without complications)? I am curious if it varies greatly depending on insurance coverage, doctor, etc.

iggy, trust me--I hear what you are saying...I had complications from surgery I had 3 years ago (was covered by insurance), and I stopped counting at around half a million dollars...I probably didn't clarify my meaning from that last post I made...I work for state government, and I've checked and know for sure that WLS is not covered and is specifically excluded...if I call with an inquiry about having surgery that is specifically covered by the plan, there is at least a 95% chance, they will tell me right up front that any complications as a result of the elective surgery will not be covered...now, if by the small chance of 5%, they actually say it could be covered depending on certain factors, I still won't have the answer I want for assurance, because I cannot anticipate what the factors would be...there is zero chance that they will tell me up front, pre-surgery that any complications will be covered...the downside is that if they tell me complications are not covered, and I unfortunately do have complications and try to make a claim, they will have record that they told me it was *not* covered...at least if I don't inquire, I can plead "ignorance" legitimately...am I prepared for a $500,000 hospital bill? absolutely not, and it would be financial ruin for me probably...should that risk of financial ruin impact my decision? I don't think so in my case, because I believe the chances of me living another five years even under my current health condition is pretty low...if there is some kind of supplemental insurance I can purchase up-front, I definitely will do that, even if it costs an extra $5,000...other than ruling out WLS altogether, I don't know what else I could do to prepare myself for a $500,000 or more hospital bill : (

Right now I am thinking this way: if I did ask the insurance company, and they told me that complications would not be covered, would it make me change my mind about the surgery? right now the answer is no, because of the low risk of complications...

it's funny how things like not having to ask for a seat belt extender can be so satisfying it's rare when I currently don't have to ask for one at 275 lbs....more than the seat belt thing, what I look forward to is being able to comfortably sit in a booth at a restaurant...most of the time i have to cram myself in, and sometimes I can't even fit in the smaller booths on the rare occasions when I go to a theme park like Disney World, it will also be nice not to have to worry about fitting on any rides