nerlyc

I just want to say thank you!!!!!!!! I have been in a "funk" lately. I am realizing that old habits are hard to break and weight gain is not as difficult as I anticipated before I got sleeved. I am almost 7 months post op and yes the hungers back, yes the weight gain has happened, and yes it is easier to eat everything!! I do very good during the week and then the weekend comes and it's like I have no control over myself. I make poor food choices and graze throughout the day! I gain back everything I loose during the week. It's a vicious cycle! I'm done! I need to change this, I have started no bullshit November put myself back to basics and luckily this has been working. I know we're only 4 days into November but being accountable this weekend helped me loose 4 lbs!! This just goes to show how this really is just a tool, no magic quick fix!! I love my sleeve because it is easier for me to get back on track, however I now know how easy it is to fall off and gain weight. I too am a food addict I have always known this, and I truly thought that this surgery would fix this. Nope!! Not at all, this is a lifelong struggle and yes the sleeve has made it perhaps easier because it restricts the amount of food I consume, however it doesn't restrict what I put in my mouth. I am so glad I saw this post it's good to hear the honest truth and like most of you have said not the sugar coated one, it's sometimes discouraging when u read post where people are so perfect and stick to the program to a T. I'm glad I'm not a lone and there are others facing the same issues!!

THANK YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Wednesday my fellow sleevers!! So I am 6 months post op as of 10/10 and down 92 lbs!!! I am so happy with my results and I am in completely bliss with my sleeve!! Anyhow! So please hear me out, lately I have been feeling so unmotivated to work out. I am still watching what I eat, but have noticed I can eat more. This scares me, I put myself on a liquid diet to try and "shrink" my pouch and kind of reset. This helped, I lost 5 lbs in 2 days and I was ecstatic, but now I'm back to my regular diet and I gained a pound. I'm not worried over the pound I know i will loose it, my concern is how easy it was to gain it and how slow my weight loss has been now. I still have about 100 lbs to loose to be at my goal weight, and at this point this seems almost impossible. If you all could share some words of encouragement, tips, rants anything! Lol I would appreciate it. Thank you all!!!

I'm a tax professional and the answer is yes!!! You can deduct anything over 7.5% of your adjusted gross income. The expenses include the actual surgery, cost of travel and even the cost of hotel stay. For example I had to travel 2 hours to get my sleeve, the surgeon required I stay in town for 1 week. All the expenses I incurred from this trip I will be deducting. This includes the procedure, prescriptions, copays, hotel, food and gas. With that said you probably spent more $$ on pre op work as well those items can also be included. I have a growing list where I am tracking every single thing I am spending on medical expenses.

I'm a little over 3 months post op and I too experienced a stall and a gain around the 3rd week. I was devastated, I was already dealing with all the mental stress that this change gives you and the gaining was just awful. My gain was from pms, as well as liquid calories. I was drinking Gatorade and not enough Water. I began tracking everything that went into my mouth.

Anyhow, I'm curious as to why you are consuming so many calories. Just curios, at 3 months out the most I've had is about 600 calories and that's on a "cheat" day. I was told, and every dr/nut is different, to only eat 3 meals a day and if I got hungry in between meals to have a snack. I am now getting my hunger back not extreme, but I am hungrier now. As long as I sip, sip, sip my Water throughout the day the hunger is never present.

It's surprising how animals are so in tune with their owners! With that said I didn't come home until I was 1 week post op. when I was home my 5 lb frisky chihuahua was extra gentle with me. Very excited to see me, but she was calm and say at my feet or next to me the majority of the time. Like everyone else already has said a pillow will really help, it gives you that much needed support.

I've gotten my cycle 2 times since I was sleeved on 4/10/13. I was always pretty normal and cramps were not too bad. These past 2 cycles have been a nightmare. I literally have to stay home and the only thing that calms my cramps is the liquid loritab that I received when I was discharged. The cramps are seriously unbearable. I am terrified to get it this month! I can't call in once a month to work. I'm thinking of going on the pill to see if that will help. I have my 3 month post op appointment on Monday so I will discussing this with my surgeon. I really do hope it gets better because it literally makes me stay in bed all day. I know exactly what ur going thru.

I was sleeved 4/10 I was stalled for about a week and a half and today I finally broke my stall! I started working out this week and have been making more conscious food choices. I was drinking too many liquid calories, no more of that just Water. Another thing that has helped me is tracking what I eat on my fitness pal. I know how you all feel I was getting so depressed thinking what am I doing wrong?! But the stall will break!!

This thread spoke to me!! I was sleeved 4/10 lost 24 lbs in the first 2 weeks. I haven't lost anything in over a week and I too gained 2 lbs. I've been so upset, I knew there would be a stall but the weight gain was just devastating. I even began counting calories and working out. I was thinking what if I never loose anymore weight!?!? Is that even possible?! I'm glad I'm not alone and I hope this stall ends soon for my sanity!

OMG yes!!! I can smell everything!! It's so strange!

How can I lose more weight I'm losing a pound a day but I need to lose more smh it feel like I will never get to my Goal weight

I feel like that too. When did you get sleeved? I got mine 4/10 I'm down 23 lbs but I haven't lost anything tho past week :-(

Kari your post literally spoke to me!! I too woke up with excruciating pain, and even know I still feel pain being 15 days post op. I had gotten my gallbladder removed a few yrs back and that was a breeze for me. I figured this would be the same. Boy was I wrong!! I had been trying to get sleeved since July 2012, I researched, went to support groups and lived on this forum but like you said only until you experience it do you know what it is. I really don't think I was ready, this by far has been the greatest challenge of my life. And although I am happy for the future right now I have my days where I don't know how I'm going to get thru it. I too had a breakdown a few days after surgery my mind really gets the best of me. Anyhow THANK YOU for your post, it's refreshing to know I am not alone.

I'm only a little over a week out' date=' and I don't think I'll have any regrets. What I am struggling with, though, is to try to understand why I couldn't do it without the surgery? I'm pretty disappointed in myself....why couldn't I exercise? Or limit my portions? Or drive by a fast food joint and not go through the drive through?

I'm confident that after 6 months I'll be able to have a little of anything, so I'm not really mourning food or the rediculous huge portions I had before. But I'm just disappointed in myself for having to have chosen surgery.

Deborah

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I agree with you I'm on the end of my second week. I do have days where I dwell on the fact that I can't eat, but at the same time it upsets me more that I wasn't disciplined before. I sit here and think if only I would have just watched what I ate and ate normal portions. If only I stopped eating when I felt satisfied and not when I was stuffed. I'm hoping it gets better because this journey has truly been difficult for me. Good luck to you as well.

I'm scheduled for April 10. I have told only very close family and it wasn't until a few weeks ago that I told my dad. I don't know how some of you guys feel but it's almost like my dirty little secret. I feel as though people look at me differently after I tell them. I mean obviously I'm overweight, but I feel as though after I let people know that's all they focus on. I am in the transition of starting a new job and I'm nervous because I feel as thought people will ask questions and I really don't know how I will answer. I will have a hiatal hernia repaired as well and I thought that would be my excuse. I know this is the right thing for me, I just think that there are so many people that gossip more than actually care about ones well being.

My surgery is scheduled for Tuesday 3/12 and today (Friday) after 12 pm they want 5 years of my documented weight. I have called any and everyone including my eye doctor to see if they wrote down my weight. Freakin ridiculous.

Hey there! My surgery is scheduled 3/13 and I'm still waiting for approval. I started my process in July of 2012 and I just finally completed all the requirements. I thought I was done and just this week I got a letter from Aetna saying I need my weight history from jan or feb of 2011. Why do they want so many years from you? I was under the impression it was only 24 months. They do ask for a lot!!! Luckily I had gone to an urgent care in January and they weighed me otherwise I would be screwed. No other insurance asks for so much. I am seriously getting overwhelmed, I know exactly where your coming from. I really hope they approve us both. I called today and my approves is still pending. Lets hope I get an answer soon. Good luck to you!!

Sorry! Haven't been on this for weeks. Hope your doing well. . I'm still waiting on Aetna's approval..ugh!! Hopefully I'll get some news no later next week or this week. I just want to start my journay. I hope I could handle the two weeks liquid diet. (Blah) I'll be fine. I'm a strong latina. lol

I'm in the same boat girl!! My last visit was feb 8th. I'm so anxious to hear back from the insurance the surgeons is supposed to submit paperwork no later than this Thursday. Hopefully the response is quick!!! Good luck, keep us posted!!!

Mine was thru Aetna too I got approved the next day <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> my BMI was under 40 but they didn't give me any hassle

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I'm so glad I've been reading all these positive post for Aetna. My dr needs to refer me out to a surgeon who works at a Coe and is an Aetna provider. So far it's been a pain in the behind! First my surgeon is a provider however he doesn't work out of a Coe. Then he refers me out to another practice well they work out of a Coe however they are not Aetna providers. I finally looked online and found a practice that is both a provider and works out of the Coe. Lets hope the dr hurrys up with the referral so we can do this. I'm so nervous that Aetna will deny it. Anyway I just totally rambled on lol just feel better seeing all these posts!!

Good luck!!! I'm having my endoscopy tomorrow and after that they will submit to insurance. I'm so excited as I'm sure you are!! Where are you from? I'm from California.

No I was a bad girl and didn't lose any weight. I did however maintain my current weight. So helpfully they don't deny due to no weight loss.

Hello all!! This post was very refreshing! I just completed my 6 month program. Due to the holidays I haven't been able to be in contact with my surgeon. I'm calling tomorrow so that they can submit insurance paperwork. I'm really excited!! I hope Aetna is good to me! Wish me luck guys!

same here !!!! pick your surgeons office and they should guide u in the right steps !!!i just had surgery thru aetna on dec 8 . here is what was required for me :

SIX CONSECUTIVE appts with a md...i used a nurse practioner ...and at every visit she had to fill out a form ' date=' which your wt loss ctr should give you

a mtg with a psychologist

meeting with a nutritionalist

attend a seminar

attend 1 support group

and you must attempt to lose 10 % of wt on your own !!!

once i got started on this , i didnt think 6 mos would ever get here .....but it flew by fast !! good luck !![/quote']

I have Aetna as well. I have met all requirements described above. However!! I have not lost 10% or any weight at all. Do you think I will be denied? Due to the holidays my surgeon and staff have been in a holiday schedule and I haven't had a chance to talk to them. Anyhow, I'm calling tomorrow hoping they can begin the insurance process. Wish me luck ill be devastated if they deny me.

I am SOOOOO happy that I went through with this.

Pre Op I doubted my ability to be successful' date=' was scared to death I would have some serious complication or might die, was terrified of letting go of food, feared that I would have constant problems post-op since I travel so much for work and food would be difficult to manage the first month....

Leap of faith.

I would do it again. I would have loved to have been able to do it decades ago.

It has made a huge difference in my life.

My quality of life has improved significantly and I am a outwardly happier and more confident person. I actually am beginning to feel good in my own skin.[/quote']

I have all the same fears you had. I'm so glad I read this post! I'm glad I'm not alone ????

I am SOOOOO happy that I went through with this.

Pre Op I doubted my ability to be successful' date=' was scared to death I would have some serious complication or might die, was terrified of letting go of food, feared that I would have constant problems post-op since I travel so much for work and food would be difficult to manage the first month....

Leap of faith.

I would do it again. I would have loved to have been able to do it decades ago.

It has made a huge difference in my life.

My quality of life has improved significantly and I am a outwardly happier and more confident person. I actually am beginning to feel good in my own skin.[/quote']

I have all the same fears you had. I'm so glad I read this post! I'm glad I'm not alone ????

Hello everyone!! I just signed up today!! I'm so glad I found this, I need all the support I can get. My last pre-op visit is next month so I will be getting sleeved in January 2013!! I'm so excited, nervous and a bit scared, but overall very happy with my decision. I look forward to interact with everyone on here!! :-)