SuchaPrettyFaceBUT

Hi everyone. I have surgery tomorrow. I just wanted to take a moment to thank each and every one of you for the support and generosity of information throughout this entire process. You have all helped me more than you'll ever know and I am truly grateful to be part of this family. I wish all sleevers luck tomorrow!!! Please pray for me :/

Count me in too. I'm in Bloomfield. My surgery is scheduled 4/15 this Monday eekkkk

I don't but I'm interested to know as I'm in northern nj also

April 15 here! Super nervous but excited. Everyone I've talked to who has had it says they wish they could have it done 10 years ago.

I'm April 15 too!

I work for a very small family owned company, only about eight employees. I planned on taking a week and a half of vacation days for my surgery. Im a graphic designer so i sit a lot in my job. One of my coworkers said that I should be taking disability instead of vacation day. However I'm afraid that my boss will treat me badly and be mean to me out of spite if I use disability as opposed to vacation days. (She is a VERY mean boss) I never looked into disability so I'm not quite sure how it works. Does everyone plan on using vacation time or filing for disability? I could use some opinions :/

So very sad. Rest in peace Fred. Thoughts and prayers are with your family and friends.

ME too!!!! approved today! surgery april 15!

I got a box in the mail today of all the post op chewable vitamins I ordered. I got so excited to open them all up and try them (chewable Calcium tablets, yuck) but I stopped and realized that there is a very real possibility that my insurance will deny me. I got some opposition this week with my bmi being "low" and my blood pressure being only diagnosed for 2 years (as opposed to the required 5 years). My case manager basically told me to be prepared for a "no". I know that I can appeal it but its just a very depressing thought. Also that if I'm denied I will lose my slotted surgery date of April 15 that I feel so ready for and married to. I'm just feeling really discouraged and nervous. Not what I wanted to hear on a Friday to have to worry and stress out about all weekend.

Ps I have Horizon BCBS NJ. My bmi is 37.5 and I take meds for high BP but no meds for high cholesterol. I'm 5'7" and weigh 240 and I'm 31 yr old. Not to mention now very depressed

I have Horizon BCBS NJ' date=' my BMI is 35. something (see below) and my co-morbidities are osteoarthritis and back/joint pain. I was approved. I submitted first time with a well written letter from my doctor recommending the surgery.[/quote']

I have horizon bcbs nj too. My bmi is 37.5 and im 5'7". My surgeons office called me today saying my insurance called them requesting more info on my comorbidities. I told her about my blood pressure meds. I also have high cholesterol but not treated by meds. I'm supposed to hear back by Monday if I'm approved or not but now I'm so so nervous and worried that I'll be denied :/

I invited everyone that I received messages from.

I just approved your request.

Hi can you invite me to please? Lindsey anderson. Lindsbran22@hotmail.com

April feels like a year away. It can't come soon enough!

Its not just those who have a lower bmi who gets this. My bmi is 46. Today someone I barely know came.into my office to say he heard I was having surgery Friday. He said that was ridiculous and all I needed was more willpower. I told him i must have been born without any and where can I buy some? Then I asked him to leave as I was busy.

Wow what a JERK! my boss said the same thing, "...and your SURE you cant do this on your own?" with a half frowned expression like me admitting this to her was my defeat...you should have told him that what you lack in willpower, he makes up for in doucheyness. Good luck to you this friday!!! Keep us posted.

Found them in Walmart tonight! I got a box of strips and a box of chewable. Thanks everyone!

Sorry about awful spelling, iPhone and I don't always get along :/

Me too! Send me the link, I keep getting error too.

I was running late to a dr appt and starving so I swung through the Wendy's drive through. (So glad I rushed to get here as now I wrote this sitting in the waiting room with 15 other people waiting almost an hour ugh). But old habits for hard and I ordered enough food for two people (just for myself). As I mowed down on my spicy chicken sandwich and Jr. bacon cheeseburger, I cowered down low in my car so that no one would see my guilty bingeing as I have done so many times before. I told myself, surgery is a little over a month away so this is one of the last few times I can do this. I told myself, even though I'm binging, try not to drink the giant sprite as your doing do. Then as a gulped the giant sprite a mere menus later, I told myself, ok but tomorrow you really need to start practicing that. And mid bite (really mid shoving a handful of frenchfries down my throat) I had a moment of clarity as I thought to myself "no really, you can't do this once you have surgery. You CAN'T. This will not be a possibility." And it was a feeling of relief that soon, I won't be ABLE to partake in these poor habits, sometimes habits of convince but more often moments of guilty bingeing. And I could almost cry in that moment. I know that this surgery is a tool and my success is based on my will power, good choices and planning ahead. But I also know that I physically won't be able to shove a number 2 extra large value meal into my new sleeve and from what I'm reading I won't WANT to. And THAT is a wonderful feeling.

Wow how did you get a photo of it? I want to ask my dr to take a picture of mine!

I've read that a lot of people use these post op to relieve the gas pain. But I can't find them in stores so I'm going to buy them online. Do they really work? Do they ( meaning dr and nurses) let you use them in the hospital post op? I guess if anyone can tell me are they really worth it?

i submitted to insurance this morning and will have an answer by next monday 3/11!!! im still scheduled for April 15th so i hope everything gets approved.

You guys are all so awesome and you gave me exactly what i needed, support. I love that i dont feel alone in this because of all of you. Its funny because when i found this forum in the beginning of this journey, it was like my lifeline, i started posting and getting great response and support. I really felt like i was part of a family.

But when this guy made that comment last night, it almost made me feel like i was being kicked out of an exclusive club. Like "oh your not fat enough for this, you dont belong here". I know thats not how he meant it (like i said its almost as though he was flirting/complimenting me) but it still made me feel that way. I suddenly felt like an imposture being part of this journey and felt like i wasn't being accepted because i wasn't big "enough". Like one of my own kind had turned on me, like he was being racist against his own race haha. Listen, im big, very big. I wanted to say to the guy "trust me, you haven't seen me naked" haha but that would have been pushing it a little far. Anyway I posted this and the replys that all of you left have really brought me back to that good place that i felt in the beginning. That no matter what the circumstances that have brought us all here together, its exactly that, we are all together. Going through this together. Thank you, i really needed that.

Good news is that, i called my surgical group this morning and they have submitted my case to insurance! I should have an answer by next monday 3/11. Fingers crossed!!!!

Today was the second time that someone told me that they didn't think i was "big enough" to justify having this surgery. I take this as a backhanded compliment. I'm what's considered to be a low BMI. However, im qualified for this surgery and have full support of my doctors. My bmi is 37.5. I am a 31 yr old female. I weight 238 right now, my highest weight. I'm 5'7". I have about 80-90 lbs to lose to be a healthy weight. I take it as a compliment because its as if they are saying "ehh your not so bad" but it also really hurts my feeling and makes me second guess myself. I'm very overweight, I have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and am at risk of becoming a diabetic. I've struggled with my weight my whole life. I've been bullied, I have low self esteem and I've tried every diet in the book. Twice. I don't know I guess I'm jus feeling discouraged. The funny part is that I was told this as I was leaving my pysc evaluation, in which the physiologist told me he fully supports me having the surgery, thinks I've very well prepared and educated. As I was leaving his office I made small talk with another sleeve patient waiting to go in. As we were chatting he said "to be honest you don't really look like you need this surgery, you look ok now". I thanked him but explained that its been a life long struggle with ups and downs. As I left it really made me second guess my decision. Just because I "don't look that fat" doesn't mean I don't fall into the "obese" category or have health problems because of my overweight. Ugh I guess I just needed to vent. Any other low BMI's every experience this?

I'm in NJ about 30 mins outside of New York City. Nice to meet you. My name is Lindsey. I'm 31.

I'm April 15' date=' too! =)[/quote']

Yay!!! You are literally the first person I have found that had the same surgery day as me!! I was feeling so alone until now. Sounds strange but it almost helps to know that someone somewhere out there will be going through it too at the same time as me. Where are you from?

I feel almost guilty Saying this but I feel better that so many other people feel the same way that I do and that I'm not alone but it makes me feel guilty because I don't want other people to be scared like I am. Bit it helps to know that no matter what happens, we are all in this together and like Yiraini01 said above, we are a family and we all have each other to lean on through it every step of the way. I am overwhelmingly grateful for that.

Thank you both for your kind replies. Karen if you don't mind me asking, and please don't tell if your not comfortable, but what was your complication? That's what I'm so afraid of, this fear of the "unknown" complication...