Rena's got this

I can't wait not having to limber up and then contort my body trying to clip my toenails.

My brother had the lap band surgery, and I remember thinking to myself that he didn't look large enough to go that route. He did have co-morbidities, and some of the weight came off, but not as much as I expected. Since I'm also obese, I've decided to go ahead and see if getting sleeved would work for me. Maybe it is payback for what I thought about my brother, but I keep hearing that voice in my head telling me that I'm not big enough to go this route. I have a few minor co-morbidities, (pre-diabetes, high cholesterol) but I'm not sure they will be allowed under my insurance. I have my first consult tomorrow and will ask the doc if he thinks I'm a proper candidate or not. In my head, I see myself at around 150, not the 234 that I currently weigh....sigh! I want to be healthy, not looking down the road at diabetes and all that entails.

I was wondering if the hunger hormone Ghrelin (I'm not sure about the spelling) which is greatly reduced after the sleeve, is intact after the plication. That would make a big difference to me...I'm hungry all the time, and am pre-diabetic.

I'm thinking about having my gallbladder out at the same time as the sleeve even though its not giving me any problems. Both my mom and my sister had theirs out (with stones), and they weren't even overweight at the time. Has having your gallbladder out made any difference in how you feel? I'm not quite sure what it is used for...to hold bile or something?

Excellent description. I have a good chance of being turned down by my insurance, and your posting along with a few others, make me feel much better about going to Mexico if it comes to that!

I'm not sure, but your doctor might have put you on a higher calorie level because you are a tall man and you may just require a bit more than us shorties. I haven't had surgery yet, but I'll die if I can't tolerate my sugar free popsicles afterwards! I'm addicted. I've been slowly weaning myself off of sodas, and now for the past two months, I have only drunk water. Good luck to you, and yes, I remember Tab.

My very first reader! Thanks for your kind words. Last night I looked around for pictures to put on my profile, but like you, all my recent ones have been deleted if I even let them be taken. I told my sister because she is my go to person for rides with anything like this. She is about 70 lbs lighter than me, same height. Surprisingly, she was very encouraging. She even told me she had thought before I mentioned it that I might benefit from something like this. Yesterday, she even went as far as to tell me she was somewhat jealous that I could do this. She has been putting on weight too. I breached the subject with my boss, who is heavier than I am. She told me she could never do something like that, so I probably won't mention that I will be doing it if I can get the insurance to cover it. If all goes well, and I start losing the weight, I may let her know at that point. I'm also worried about that 2 week preop diet. But we do what we have to. Its not much longer for you is it? I certainly wish I was at that point, this 6 month waiting period is aggravating!

This week I'll have my first consultation with my weight loss surgeon, Dr. Wes Turton. Like most of us, I've struggled with weight for most of my life. The older I get it seems the faster the weight comes on, probably due to the fact that I'm exercising less and less. When I hit menopause, the gains seemed to go into overdrive. I don't recognize myself. I haven't always been morbidly obese. In fact, I was in the Army and most of the time I was within body fat limits. I was never able to meet the limits just by weight only, but always had to do the "Pinch Test" with calipers. In my minds eye, I still weigh around 150, and although I'm around 235 now at 5'4" tall, I still see myself as not that fat. I feel guilty about the fact that I can't lose this weight on my own. I've tried Nutrasystem, Weight Watchers, Adkins, and even used medically supervised prescriptions such as pentermine and Ionamine. All the results were short lived, and I quickly put back on the weight plus more. Still, I feel that weight loss surgery must be for people much heavier than me. Of course, that doesn't make sense at all. At this point, I look forward to getting this "tool" to help me with my weight loss. Even though I feel embarrassed at having to resort to this, I need to do it for my health. I'm pre-diabetic, have high cholesterol, low thyroid, and my knees are giving out. Diabetes runs heavily in my family and it is only a matter of time before I develop this devastating disease. Wish me luck...I'm just getting started!

Back in 1997, I had an emergency C-section after hours and hours of labor. The c-section was fast, and I was awake, although groggy during the whole thing. Still, I don't remember much pain, got up walking the next day, and healed rather quickly for an old lady of 40. Last year I had laproscopy on my knee, and didn't have much pain from that either. I don't think a Sleeve operation would phase me much.

I had to laugh when I read about the green poop. I love popsicles and for a month now have been wondering why most of my poops were green. Then I ran out of popsicles and after a couple of days, I had normal colored poop again!

I haven't had the surgery yet, but have been investigating Protein drinks. In the past when dieting, I tried slim fast shakes, and didn't like them. Keep in mind that I also don't like regular milkshakes. Based on what I've been reading in these forums, I bought some Premier Protein chocolate drinks, and much to my surprise, I like them. I've already gone through one pack, and I'm not even trying to diet yet. They taste like a better version of chocolate milk, even though I don't really care much for chocolate milk either. They have 30g protein, 160 calories, 1g sugar, 24 vitamins/minerals (mostly at 25% daily requirements), and 3g fat. I'm sipping on one now...

I haven't yet had my sleeve, but am about to get started with the whole process. I was wondering about protein drinks myself and started reading the forums about them. I didn't want to buy a 4 pack of Premier Protein just to toss them if I didn't like them. I know I didn't like stuff like the slim fast shakes. Well, I broke down and bought one 4 pack, and am drinking one of them now. To my surprise, it tastes just like chocolate milk. Its really good, although I can only seem to manage a sip or two at a time. Within a few minutes though, I want another sip!

This may help find it... http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/14102-where-are-the-50s/page__st__460

I finally found the posting. It was by a poster called Kat1, and was in the "Where are the 50s???" ( Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forum → Gastric Sleeve Surgery Support Groups → Age Specific Gastric Sleeve Surgery (VSG) Support Groups → Fifties) Her story starts on page 22. I don't think it was until page 24 or 25 when she mentions Dr. Garcia, but I can't see that she ever mentioned a first name.

I kept trying to find that thread, but it still eludes me. I checked out the Mexico board, and there are tons of people who are thrilled with Dr. Fernando Garcia. I don't know if the lady I read about had her surgery by the same guy....I only know that his last name was Garcia and he was in Tijuana. She had gone there alone, and had some concerns about her incisions before she left, but couldn't get anyone from the hospital to come check on them in the hotel.

There was a lady who posted on another topic about having her surgery in Tijuana with a Dr. Garcia. She had an infection of her incisions and was going through a pretty bad time of it. Her doctor won't reply to her emails. She felt that she didn't receive good aftercare. I wish I could find which thread she was posting on, but I can't find it. Please be careful!

for me... bald is great. What isn't so great is for someone who shaves his head, and is partially naturally bald, to start to grow it back out. Stubble and baldness don't go together well. Also a big turnoff is baldness with a hairy neck! Please...nooooo. I don't even care much for facial hair...beards, gotees, etc.

Hi everyone... I'm 56 and just getting started. I have my first consult with the surgeon on the 28th. I've been reading a lot in these forums and am glad that they are so full of good information. My main worry right now is that my insurance won't cover the surgery. I'm right at the 40 BMI limit. I'm keeping my fingers crossed, as I don't think I could do the Mexico thing, especially after reading what happened to that one lady with the infected incisions!

I haven't had my sleeve yet. Both my mom and my sister have had their gallbladder removed, but I haven't had any issues with mine. This makes me wonder if I should just go ahead and have it removed to prevent problems later.

I haven't got my sleeve yet, but after being a rabid diet coke addict, I finally broke the habit. I made it down to one coke a day, drinking it over the course of a day, then switched to diet mountain dew. I thought that a light colored soda might be better for me than a dark soda. Then I started having a lot of heartburn, and we purchased an ice and water machine at work. Now I fill my 64 oz mug with ice and water, and munch/sip on that all day. I don't even miss the soda. I tried a diet coke recently at a friends house and couldn't drink it, it tasted so nasty. My main worry when I get my sleeve is giving up carbs....love my bread!

Ohhhh.... congrats! I wish I was so close! Please let us know all the details!

I'm just getting started, but I'm not wanting to do this just to be skinny. I want to be able to tie my shoes without getting exhausted, I want to be able to walk to my mailbox without my knees screaming at me. I want to avoid the diabetes that 3 grandparents, mother, 2 brothers and sister and multiple aunts and uncles have. I want to have a conversation with my dad without him chiding me...once again...about my weight. I want to be able to go to amusement parks and not have to sit out on the rides. I want to.... live! ...and it wouldn't hurt to be able to look good in my clothes again.

Very much a newbie. I have my first consultation on March 28. Had knee surgery in December. I'm hoping that I won't get denied, since I'm right at 40 BMI. The past 3 years I've been between 35 and 40 BMI. Co-morbidities are iffy.... pre-diabetic, on thyroid pills and cholesterol pills. My main complaint is my knees. I'd rather have half my stomach removed than to have knee replacement surgery. I live in Auburn, and will be seeing Dr. Wes Turtin. Anybody know him? I have BCBS of Alabama, administered through Auburn Univ. I may decide to check to see if I have sleep apnea, since I snore something awful.

This really worries me. I have BCBS of Alabama, and I'm just getting started. I'll have the initial consultation with my surgeon in 2 weeks. Any advice would be appreciated in order to avoid what you all have gone through.

No, I haven't had the same experience....yet. I'm just getting started, but I have BCBS of Alabama through my university, and am worried about what they will cover. My first appointment with my surgeon is in 2 weeks I haven't started the 6 month supervised diet yet. Did you have to find your own supervised diet program or did your surgeon recommend one?