LisaDM

Your doctor hasn't mentioned protein?!? That is pretty much the number one thing that has been told to me. I am still pre op, but everyone says get your protein in! That and Water to stay hydrated. Did you go to a nutritionist pre op? They should have explained it all to you.

Am I the only one looking forward to that? I am always hot. I wouldn't mind putting on a sweater once in awhile if I get cold. There is only so much you can take off when you get hot! Hah

I could shout from the roof tops!!! Woooooo hooooo!!!!
BCBS California and it was way faster than I thought! No 6 month wait either!
July 26th is my official date!!!!

Sitting and waiting for my first nutritionist appt which is a group class. I am pretty excited oddly enough. It makes me feel like I am really on the road toward surgery. I am also excited to learn and to meet others in my position. Right after, I am heading to a bariatric support group. This morning I had an appt with my enterologist and scheduled my endoscopy. Productive day for me toward my sleeve! :-)

I've been approved. Just got my approval today! However, I don't really feel excited, it's more like a weight has been lifted. I have an appointment with my surgeon to schedule my surgery date, I think that's when I'll feel the excitement. I just wanted to share the good news. I always read everyone's approval posts and couldn't wait until the day came that I would be able to post mine. I will keep you all posted on my surgery date!!

APPROVED! Insurance just called and Im approved, my drs office should be calling later today to set up pre op appointment.....I cant believe how fast it was approved once they actually got the fax....3 days...Its getting real now!!

Am I the only one looking forward to that? I am always hot. I wouldn't mind putting on a sweater once in awhile if I get cold. There is only so much you can take off when you get hot! Hah

Am I the only one looking forward to that? I am always hot. I wouldn't mind putting on a sweater once in awhile if I get cold. There is only so much you can take off when you get hot! Hah

So today I go to the ortho Dr. for my wonky foot...On the documentation, I put down that I can't take NSAIDS, like a good sleeve boy should. So the nurse handling my case asks me if I was allergic. I replied no, that I had had VSG and can't do the drugs. We go on to talk about about me having the surgery the weight that I have dropped etc. Well..now, this nurse was 300lbs if she was an ounce. She says, she'd rather do it the "natural way"...hmmm...okay good for you..then tells me that she is going to get hCG shots for her birthday...hmmmm...I tried to keep a straight face, and was super supportive of her doing her "natural" thing, but when she left the room, I had to...well...laugh.

Had my last appointment yesterday and dr's office said they had everything needed to send to oxford and they would submit it either today or Friday. I think this is the worst part, working so hard the last few months and doing everything that was asked of you and now all you can do is wait.

These last 2 weeks have been great for me! 1st let me say that this has been like an up and down roller coaster ride. I have good days and I have bad days but I always look forward to my good days!
I was sleeved on 1-16-13 my highest weight was 376. surgery day was 363 today I weigh 292 for a total of 84#s down.
A big week because I cannot remember when I was under 300#. when I weighed myself I got off and got back on just to make sure!! It was an amazing feeling. I'm sure somee of u know the feeling! Also, I have not made a purchase on any kind of clothing because I think its a waste but I would walk by cars or mirrors and all I would see is a person looking like a slob with big ol baggy clothes. So... I decided I needed to buy something. Pre op I was wearing size 26 I recently bought some size 20s!! I'm glad I made this decision just wish I wouldve did it sooner!
Even tho I don't post much on here Im grateful for the support and inspiration!

Split the difference and mix 'em together!

I was literally in tears this past weekend when I hit 200 pounds..... the last time I saw that number was......hmmmmm... about 5 years ago... right now I'm at 196 and I cant believe it.. I'm so happy ..

I don't know any cooking recipes, but years ago I did the south beach diet and you can make very tasty Snacks with ricotta. Just added some Splenda and cocoa powder or any flavor extract you like. Put a small dollop of cool whip and its super tasty!

I loved that SB chocolate ricotta dessert!

Good for you! You look great! I have never worn a bikini in my adult life! I don't ever expect to. Maybe in the privacy of my own back yard or something. Haha But who knows, I guess only time will tell.

OK I had to share this cuz I made it this evening and several families loved it.
So here it goes:
It is basically a fruit salad
One package of fat free coolwhip
One small pkg of sugar free strawberry Jello
Mix those together till Jello is basically dissolved
Then add 12 oz of reduced fat cottage cheese
Then add 1 cup of sliced strawberries and 1 bannana sliced (I left these out this time because I am not at the point where I can have raw fruit..but it was very good and tons of protein)
ENJOY!

I pretty much have to tell some people at work. Just my department though. I work in healthcare and can't work with lifting restrictions. My surgeon does 8 weeks of lifting restrictions, so I will be out 8 weeks. I don't want to lie, but 8 weeks will lead to questions. I already told my director because she is double checking the rules for restrictions for me. I am hoping we can work around it. But if it is a liability for the company, then they won't let me work.
As for others in my life, of course my husband knows. I have told my sister and a couple friends. My immediate family and Close friends I plan to tell, but that's it. If extended family ask I won't lie.
I am really happy about my decision and excited for my jounrney. I don't want to feel like it is something to be ashamed of. But I also don't want to have to defend myself for skeptics over and over. My body, my decision. And I know this is the right decision to finally be happy and healthy. :-)

I pretty much have to tell some people at work. Just my department though. I work in healthcare and can't work with lifting restrictions. My surgeon does 8 weeks of lifting restrictions, so I will be out 8 weeks. I don't want to lie, but 8 weeks will lead to questions. I already told my director because she is double checking the rules for restrictions for me. I am hoping we can work around it. But if it is a liability for the company, then they won't let me work.
As for others in my life, of course my husband knows. I have told my sister and a couple friends. My immediate family and Close friends I plan to tell, but that's it. If extended family ask I won't lie.
I am really happy about my decision and excited for my jounrney. I don't want to feel like it is something to be ashamed of. But I also don't want to have to defend myself for skeptics over and over. My body, my decision. And I know this is the right decision to finally be happy and healthy. :-)

I pretty much have to tell some people at work. Just my department though. I work in healthcare and can't work with lifting restrictions. My surgeon does 8 weeks of lifting restrictions, so I will be out 8 weeks. I don't want to lie, but 8 weeks will lead to questions. I already told my director because she is double checking the rules for restrictions for me. I am hoping we can work around it. But if it is a liability for the company, then they won't let me work.
As for others in my life, of course my husband knows. I have told my sister and a couple friends. My immediate family and Close friends I plan to tell, but that's it. If extended family ask I won't lie.
I am really happy about my decision and excited for my jounrney. I don't want to feel like it is something to be ashamed of. But I also don't want to have to defend myself for skeptics over and over. My body, my decision. And I know this is the right decision to finally be happy and healthy. :-)

I used Johns Hopkins they were excellent! Had my surgery on April 17th.

I am very much pre-op, but I wish I could just have the surgery tomorrow! I have met with the surgeon and I am getting all my other appts set up. I am hoping to have the surgery in late August or early September.
This evening my husband said, Hey, how about we go to the Chinese buffet one last time. I thought, sounds good! We really don't go to the buffet often at all, so this really would be the last time for me. Of course, at the buffet I ate "all I can eat." After we are we were waking around the mall and I just felt disgusting. I felt horribly fat, full, and gross. Makes me wonder why I ever do that to myself. It just makes me feel horrible about myself. I am supposed to lose 5-10 lbs before surgery. I even weighed in at weight watchers this morning and was down 1 lb, which I am sure I negated then some at dinner. I know I can do this. I feel that the sleeve will give me the physical restriction when my mental restriction fails me. Otherwise I will stay in my roller coaster of losing and gaining weight. I know that the sleeve is the right thing for me. I am ready to start my journey, just hope my insurance company feels the same way.

I am very much pre-op, but I wish I could just have the surgery tomorrow! I have met with the surgeon and I am getting all my other appts set up. I am hoping to have the surgery in late August or early September.
This evening my husband said, Hey, how about we go to the Chinese buffet one last time. I thought, sounds good! We really don't go to the buffet often at all, so this really would be the last time for me. Of course, at the buffet I ate "all I can eat." After we are we were waking around the mall and I just felt disgusting. I felt horribly fat, full, and gross. Makes me wonder why I ever do that to myself. It just makes me feel horrible about myself. I am supposed to lose 5-10 lbs before surgery. I even weighed in at weight watchers this morning and was down 1 lb, which I am sure I negated then some at dinner. I know I can do this. I feel that the sleeve will give me the physical restriction when my mental restriction fails me. Otherwise I will stay in my roller coaster of losing and gaining weight. I know that the sleeve is the right thing for me. I am ready to start my journey, just hope my insurance company feels the same way.

Am I the only person completely addicted to this site?!?!? I check it constantly and it seems to be getting worse- the closer I am to surgery the more I'm addicted!!!!

I opened this post and went..... Oh I feel you! First off.... take a breath! I promise, you aren't going to forget! Do you have a patient navigator to work with? My patient navigator has been a God send and has kept me on track. If not it is OK! You know what you have to do, so first things first.... Make a list... a spread sheet.... a chalk board.... whatever you need to do to keep things contained. I had the full six months to get stuff done, so the first month I got 85% of the stuff done, and this past month (my last month) I hurried and got everything else done. You might want to at least call and make as many appointments as possible, I have heard of people being held up by one appointment that took 4 weeks or so to get into, I have never had that issue, however I had to do a sleep study, it took a couple weeks to get into and I had to do a follow up sleep study and both times they had to be read and that took a good 6 weeks start to finish. Everything else has been very quick. I have struggled with the weight loss, I had a 5lb loss requirement and a no gain (per my surgeon) I did gain a tiny amount (2#) which they weren't concerned with, they were watching for a big gain. So as I was coming up to my last appt (which was yesterday) I kind of freaked, I had 7 days to get down 5lbs and I was so worried I wouldn't do it, and then I would have to wait longer. I sucked it up, I knew I had to do it, I went low carb (cut all carbs but fruits and veggies) and lost 7.9# in one week. I am not stopping though, I had one cheat meal last night and started strong again this morning. I want to be down by my surgery day, I figure the less I weigh the less I need to loose and the better prepared I am for my surgery. You will be fine! Overwhelmed!!! yes!!! but you will be fine.