Melissa1234

Yay!! Now I just need to wait to hear back to schedule a date. So happy and feeling blessed. Good luck to all of you still waiting on approval. Mine came in just under 2 weeks.

Good luck!

MAKING THE DECISION…
So far, I’m down 142 pounds. This website was so important to me that I swore I would regularly post. Well, last August my beloved sister began to die, and I spent almost every moment with her from then until she died in my arms on December 28th. She was the most beautiful, vibrant, inspiring person I’ve ever known, and someday I will just write about her journey, because it is a story definitely worth sharing. If you are curious, you can read about her at dinner, and honestly, even that had become more difficult. I was at a place where eating was interfering with my ability to eat!
For months, I ate every meal like it was my last meal. I went through the motions of getting approved for the surgery, all the while believing that I would back out in the end. I searched the internet for stories that would convince me I was better off in a wheel chair. Instead, I learned about the sleeve, and found this website. Rather than tales of regret and woe, it was full of stories of success, determination, and victory. For every fear, there was a reassurance.
I searched you-tube for videos of miserable people. I found happy people instead. People on a journey.
But while I believed it could work for them, I didn’t think it would work for me. Nothing had EVER worked for me.
I was convinced that sugar was the glue that held me together during the hard times. I worried that I would just go flat-out crazy without food to sustain me.
I was terrified I would die in the surgery.
I was terrified I would fail, just like I always had.
I was terrified I would resent everyone around me.
I was terrified I would feel left out at celebrations, and that I’d never want to entertain again.
No one—I PROMISE YOU—no one, ever wanted to have this surgery less than me.
On September 12, 2011, I went to see the weight loss surgeon. It took me 20 minutes to walk approximately 80 yards into the doctor’s office. I had to stop and rest twice. And then, the stats: My weight at 5’3” was 367.8. My blood pressure was 168/95. My blood sugar was 395. On all accounts, the highest numbers ever. It wasn’t the sickest I’ve ever felt, but it was what I consider to be the unhealthiest day of my life. The surgeon just looked at me and shook his head sadly. The guy who saw fat people every single day was looking at me like I was a hopeless case!!!! It was one of my worst moments ever.
It took months to get approval and to be scheduled, taking me through the holidays. The night before my surgery, I was alone in the house. Without warning, I burst into tears, and I howled with fear, regret, and resolve. I cried like someone had died. The next day, I went to the hospital still uncertain as to whether or not I’d go through with it. I couldn’t believe I was actually doing it, right up until the moment they gave me happy juice. But the day after that? That day, I woke up knowing that the time for fear and regret was gone. The time for hope had arrived. That day, my new life began.
Look for my next post, “The Process” in the next few days. Here's a self-portrait, taken in despair in a dressing room, before I embarked on the "farewell food tour," about 20 pounds below highest wt.

I take bipolar meds and my doc said I could take my pills like normal after surgery. I was surprised and happy about that!

Obsessed is an understatement! Good lord I wish I could chill out and stop researching every last detail. But hey at least I'm informed and know what I'm getting myself into.

Great news!

Sweets for me too. I plan to just stay away from
them or I can't stop. I'm doing pretty good avoiding them now preop but I do eat birthday cake figuring I probably won't be eating it for awhile postop. I think postop our cravings should be less intense (or so I'm hoping!)

I was thinking the same thing! Write sleeve on my stomach since my dr mainly does rny and lap band.

Sounds terrible! Glad you are feeling better.

Glad you had it checked out. Did they tell you why this would happen almost a month post op?

Just had my endoscopy. Doing well just tired. Had twilight anesthesia. Wasn't too bad at all. I was just super scared during the prep and cried the whole time from my anxiety. Not my finest moments but it was all for nothing. No need to be afraid it was easy and over real quick.

I'm not a big veggie fan either. I do like green Beans with a little butter and garlic salt. Steamed carrots are pretty good too.

Wow nothing like waiting til the last minute! I would've been freaking out too. Glad it worked out for you. Good luck on your surgery.

110 lbs for me.

I feel the same way, trapped in this body that's holding me back hoping this surgery will change my life. I have anxiety and depression too. We CAN do this!!

Well I would say if you want the sleeve, don't let a paperwork error change your mind. I would Start making phone calls and get it straightened out. What a mess, I feel for you.

Well I would say if you want the sleeve, don't let a paperwork error change your mind. I would Start making phone calls and get it straightened out. What a mess, I feel for you.

Hi Alex! I'm preop too with an estimated late July surgery date. Don't worry we all feel the same way about the preop diet and complications. There are lots of vets on here that are great about calming our fears and being supportive. You will do great, welcome to the boards!

This is exactly how I feel too. I want to crawl in a hole until my surgery in 3 months.

This is exactly how I feel too. I want to crawl in a hole until my surgery in 3 months.

I'm so sorry this happened to you! I'm sure the next time it'll go much smoother.

Thank you for the kind words and advice. I've been trying to start good habits and have been trying different Protein Shakes to get ready. Im nervous about the total lifestyle change too. I hope I can make enough changes now that post op won't be too traumatizing.

Mmm I love moi moi my husband is from Edo state Nigeria

I am...Going to Mexico April 22

Had my first surgeons appt this morning. The PA tells me "your insurance doesn't cover the sleeve"...I thought I'd been punched in the face. To make a long story short I met with the surgeon asked him all my sleeve questions. Then I came home and called my insurance with the billing code and IT'S COVERED!!!! My plan must be the exception! I was so upset i could barely hold it together in the dr office when I though I couldn't get the sleeve. So stressful! But good news overall. And what a list of preop tests! Holy moly! I don't even know where to start!