clawrence

Nope. I questioned them as well. From what I understood lap band and RNY were the only approved. They are writing it all out. All I know as of right now tri care has approved 6 visits with the surgeon and coordinator. He is also doing my EGD this week. Which may change what surgery he feels I need anyway.

Having my EDG tomorrow. After that the surgery coordinator is going to submit to my ins. She said she usually hears back from my company in about a week. Already have a tentative surgery date for the 3rd of December. I'm less than a month away. Getting a little nervous.

I have one "normal sized" and one chubby child. Initially I didn't explain fully what the surgery was about (talked more about the hiatal hernia part) because I wanted to be thoughtful about the way I spoke about it with my younger one, the obese one. Well, my husband outed me the day after I got home from the hospital when he was out on a field trip with both of them and explained the surgery to them. Not that I would never tell, I just wanted to say the right thing.
I told the story on my blog (losingitoverhere.wordpress.com) but basically, the next day my son asked "Why did you do it?" and I told him that my doctor and I had discussed it, and based on my family history and current health decided that although I was not yet sick, it was inevitable that if I continued along this path I would be looking at diabetes, heart disease or high blood pressure within the next couple of years. That the dieting I had done on and off for 20+ years had messed with my metabolism. And additionally that the surgeries I'd already had in the last 5 years had at least an indirect correlation to my weight.
I told him that I wanted to fix this now while I still have time to enjoy being relatively young. And that I wanted to kick his asteroid in CrossFit (something we do together.)
He digested all of this and said, "Will I have those conditions too?" And I told him, "The difference between you and me is that you are young, you have not yet gone through puberty, and you have time to turn this thing around. But yes, if you continue the way you have been, it's a good possibility. Same genes, buddy." I hope it's given him the right information without scaring the pants off of him.
Because my husband is hoping to be sleeved in December, I really do hope the entire family benefits from the changes in the household. Right now he is their big enabler in the easily-droppable eating habits--the donut run, let's go out for quesadillas stuff. At 10 days post-op, my changes aren't affecting them whatsoever. Yet. Well, except for the time the little rodents ate all of my sf Jello the first week I was home. They heard about that, LOL.

Hey there! I'm a Kentucky gal, Louisville that is! But I've moved to Atlanta where I've resided for the last 13 years! I had my surgery this past week on the 20th. Good luck tomorrow- that's my 5 yr olds birthday :-)

I've colored my hair every 6 weeks since my surgery. Yes, I lost some hair, but the coloring had nothing to do within. I did biotin.. (And still do because my nails are awesome now), and Vitamins and gobs of Protein and my hair stil came out. It's going to happen and no one truly knows why or how to prevent it.
Anyway.. Color to your hearts content.. I did and you can see on my before pic I have lots of hair... And I can say I still do

I enter my recipes on my fitness pal. Add all the ingredients guess at servings and it does all the work for you. I've been doing that this last month. hope that helps. oh and you can go back and change your servings if your wrong and it'll correct the cals, Protein, fat, sugar, carbs ect.

hi my name is regina im 32 no children yet. I am a CNA. I work for the State of Delaware dealing with individuals with developmental disabilities. I have struggle with my weight for years and years. I never thought that i owuld be interested in WLS.In fact I mocked everyone around me that had some type of WLS.But 4months ago I had to eat my words. So I had to apologize to everyone that had some type of WLS just to tell them that I will be getting it soon if everything goes well.

I am a 47-year old business executive who has struggled with obesity for 28 years. I have never in my adult life been not obese or morbidly obese. I reached 400 lbs in August of 2000, and began to somewhat serious about exercise and diet. I lost about 30 pounds on my own, but then suddenly lost 40 pounds with almost no effort, although I was very tired and thirsty all the time (you guessed it, Type II Diabetes).Since the time of my diagnosis I have been through many, many diet routines, and have lost between 40 and 60 pounds each time, but nothing ever really changed on the inside. This especially drove me crazy because, as a business executive, I focus often on breaking out the spreadsheet, figuring out the problems, and rationally coming to solutions.
I attended a seminar from Dr. Pennings in Post Falls, Idaho and heard two things I had never heard before, which were the real clinchers for me. The first was a discussion of the hormone grehlin and the stomach's role in producing it, what it is supposed to do, and what happens when that gets out of whack. This really spoke to me because I had always felt that there was some kind of overpowering urge to eat in ways that could not possibly be good for me. A true addiction. The 2nd thing I heard that night was that a person with my current co-morbitities had the same mortality rate as an otherwise normally healthy 47-year old man with no other co-morbidities who had just been diagnosed with Stage II colon cancer. When I asked the doctor what the requirements were for a person with Stage II colon cancer, he said, "Surgery."
This was all on the heals of my parents both having very severe health problems in their early seventies, Suddenly I could see that the path I was on was surely a pathway to pain, worse health, a loss of time with my wife and children and early death.
All of this together made me face the fact that I had to have surgery, and use it as a tool to achieve my goals, instead of viewing it as the final option for those who had failed in every other way.
I am only two days out from VSG surgery, but am very hopeful and confident in the future.

Hi I have read through most of this thread and I don't think I have posted on here before . I am 32 and have been married for 8+years.I am a mom of 3 as you can see from my username lol.My children are 4yrs,5yrs,and 7yrs and I have 2 step kids that reside in another state but come to visit not nearly enough. I am a Military Spouse my husband is Active Duty Air Force for over 17 years.I am also a Nurse but decided in 2007 to stay at home until my youngest starts school at least and then I will further my own education with hopes of becoming a Nurse Practitioner:)
I love to travel one of my favorite places to go is Monterrey Ca (I am from Northern Cali).I love seeing other countries I have lived in 4 different ones.
I have struggled with weight since my early teens but it has been worse since I had my first child but not from pregnancy weight gain for some reason I seem to be a post pregnancy gainer :/ I am 5'2 and was at my all time high of 234 last November and got down to 212 while my husband was deployed but since he returned I have ballooned back up to 225 or so and that is just the latest yoyo.Like others I have tried about 20+different diets.I had been considering WLS for a while and decided on the Sleeve in June and I was hoping to be sleeved in October but due to an undetected thyroid issue I had to put on thyroid meds and need to wait until my levels are stable.That being said I hope to be sleeved by No later than December but hopefully much sooner:)

My name is Kelly. I am 41 years young. I have two wonderful children. My son is 22 and travels the world as a self employeed welder. My baby is 19 and is a sophomore in college planning to become a cardiothoracic surgeon someday. I have two of the most gorgeous blonde haired blue eyed grandbabies in the world ( boy age 3 1/2 and girl age 2) who absolutely light up my life. I love my kids...dont get me wong... But i would have had grandbabies first if i would have only known I am currently living with my boyfriend of 2 years in his home that we just completely remodeled. Ive never known a more supportive, loving, kind, generous, man in my life. He has been a Godsend for me. I am a very blessed woman. I was previously hostage to an abusive relationship with an addict. It took many years and lots of leaving and coming back to finally break free but I praise God everyday for the strength to do so.
I have been a nurse for 20 years. I am the Region manager for a Long Term Care Program that serves elderly and disabled members to assist to keep them safely and cost effectively in their own home if possible. My history is primarily nursing home work. I love the geriatric population. I love nursing and the fact that my career choice allows me to help people. It is very rewarding.
My hobbies are of course spending every possible waking moment with the grandbabies, photography, travel, and messing in the flowers and plants. We have a 100+ acre cattle farm deep in the country. I love watching the calfs play in the pasture. I also love to cook which brings us to the issue with weight; which of course brings us all together on this site.
I have battled my weight all of my life. I was my thinnest the day my daughter was born but have gained steadily ever since. I am currently at 221 but my highest weight has been 240. I am 5'6". I am scheduled for the VSG in Memphis on next Monday the 27th. I am excited and a bit nervous too. Weve traveled to Florida for a week to help take my mind off the upcoming surgery and to keep me busy. (and what am i doing??? Laying on the beach reading about the surgery) I'm just ready to get down to being me again. I know that somewhere under all this excess weight is the slender me just waiting to come out. I look forward to following everyone's journey to success.
God Bless and Good Luck!!

I am a traveling notary in Florida, currently separated from my DH. I have two grown sons and a stepson that I will continue to claim as mine forever.
I'm 45 and just bought my first ever house alone!! I've been moving for days, so have been offline for a few days.
I've been self employed for 10+ years and I love it!
I see, read, live to garden and do DIY projects, and I am an aspiring writer. Someday...
Lissa

I also have leg cramps at night when I am in bed. I take the Hyland Leg Cramp pills each evening and haven't had them since. They are a homeopathic remedy.

I started getting the weirdest cravings about 3 weeks out of surgery. I was dying for something salty, so I took tiny sips of Pickle Juice right out of the jar. I can't explain how refreshing it felt, waking up in the middle of the night and standing at the fridge drinking pickle juice! Then came my broccoli cravings. Once I finally had a taste of a piece of steamed broccoli, it hurt like crazy in my sleeve, so that was disappointing. I'm pretty much over my cravings now (at 15 weeks out), and if anything, there are foods I can't stand the thought of - mainly yogurt, applesauce, horseradish cheese (yes, yes...this is an odd one), Laughing Cow cheese wedges, and oatmeal. These are things I got very ill on at some point during the early stages of my recovery, so I'm completely turned off from them.

So yesterday as I was driving home it hit me. Although I am beyond thrilled, excited nervous scared and feeling a million other emotions...the slightest apprehension has been gnawing at me and I didn't even realize what it was..truthfully just thinking that it was nerves. As I pulled into my driveway the tears came pouring down my face....all this time...all these years...this overwhelming feeling I've been caring with me. SELFISHNESS. It hit me that deep down I felt guilty like I was being selfish during such a chaotic time in my life to even consider doing something so big so important for myself. Weight loss surgery.
As a very busy full time executive, mother to 3 amazing kids (my youngest is 10 months), full time caregiver to my mother who has Heath issues...who in the world am I to even consider such a thing during such a crazy time. I declared in my car....now is the BEST time for me to take care of me and i am doing this for me and my kids. We all have to take care of ourselves so we can continue to be the 'rock' that so many of us are to our families and friends.
I might add that my family is 100% supportive... This feeling I have is absolutely my doing but I feel so happy that I am able to recognize it. Why have I never considered wls all these years?!?!
I am so excited to be on this journey with all of you. I love reading everyone's story. I hope this helps inspire just one person who may still be on the fence about taking control of their life again. I am tired of being 'the girl with the pretty face '. I am SO much more than that...and SO much more than a number on a scale. Thank you for listening. :-).

I just started a new group called December 2013 Sleevers. If you plan to have your surgery in Dec., please join us!

Oh that hubby story made me laugh so hard. good thing my industrial strength "body shaper" has the potty opener. actually it is post plastics compression gaments. the bra is actually a matador jacket and the bottoms come all they way up under the boobs. Where they overlap... I swear my rib .bones are compressed. My first shower post op it took 2 nurses forever to get it back on- i was swollen, there were drains etc. Those two nurses were sweating by the time they were done.
I didnt wear heavy duty shapers prior though because of the discomfort. I tended to wear lighter control tanks. key is always to take them on and off down the body, not over your head.

I don't see how single women who live alone can wear shapers. I've worn tanktop types a few times, and when I do, I always have to enlist my husband's help getting the thing off of me. I think I've even had to have him help me pull the back down in the back when putting it on as well.
They should put a warning on them saying you may require assistance in removing it. :-)

I've been lurking here for a while...but I'm ready to tell my story...
I'm successful. I'm very successful. I have a great career. Great husband. Great kids. Great life. I can buy what I want and do what I want to do. At the age of 35, I have accomplished more than anyone in my family can say they ever have or maybe ever will. But, I'm fat. I'm very fat. I have a great personality and I am smart. I can afford to buy my suits from the plus size section of Neiman Marcus or Nordstroms. I wear nice perfume and keep my hair gorgeous. So, I get away with being fat.
Everything I just mentioned above is from an external point of view. On the inside I am dying. I have no health issues related to my morbid obsesity just yet, but it is definitely impacting my life. Those fine suits I mentioned...I can't wear nice heels to match because my feet are too fat to fit. In fact, my feet are too fat to fit most shoes.I have to ask for a seat belt extender on airplanes. I fly weekly and am embarrased weekly. Bracelets don't fit either. Necklaces look like they are choking me. My fingers look like sausages and when I smile, my eyes looked closed.
At my daughter's pre-K graduation in June, I fell through the deck in which a reception was taking place.
I'm lucky that I haven't always been this way. I'm even luckier I won't always be.
Today, I received a date for my surgery. It will happen on Dec. 19th. I work for a hospital so the process has been quick, painless and free.
I look forward to your support throughout this journey and I look forward to returning the favor.

I am starting the process right now in Columbus Georgia! Yes I said Columbus. They just opened their bariatrics at Columbus regional. With dr. Paul T. Cartwright. I go in for my first appointment Monday. And they take Tri Care prime!

I am starting the process right now in Columbus Georgia! Yes I said Columbus. They just opened their bariatrics at Columbus regional. With dr. Paul T. Cartwright. I go in for my first appointment Monday. And they take Tri Care prime!

I am starting the process right now in Columbus Georgia! Yes I said Columbus. They just opened their bariatrics at Columbus regional. With dr. Paul T. Cartwright. I go in for my first appointment Monday. And they take Tri Care prime!

Congrats, I'm guessing my date will be close to yours, I have my initial appointment with the surgeon tomorrow. This is a very helpful tool for before and after surgery that I found. The info that my dietician gave me is pretty much the same as whats on this site plus more. Hope this helps and much success to you. http://www.muhealth.org/documents/bariatric/bariatric%20booklet%20vsg.pdf

I was sleeved August 27th, 2013. In LaGrange GA. West Ga Health with Dr. Turton, He also has an office in Columbus GA. Great doctor staff and the hospital was Great! I have lost 30 pounds. Best thing I have ever done!

I have pics on my blog under what I eat. The blog is at www.sleevers.wordpress.com

I finally broke the news to my mom that I'm going to have the surgery, she wasn't exactly jumping for joy, over the years she has always advised me that its not worth the risk, however, this is coming from a woman who was a single parent with me as an only child (and not to mention she is a size 8), I'm a single parent with one child as well, so I completely understand where she is coming from as a concerned parent. I told her that my weight has discouraged me, has not allowed me to live up to my full potential and has caused unnecessary avoidable health issues all of my life and she, in a round about kind of way, said that I was over exaggerating, so with that being said I simply broke it down to her in 5 year increments to help her to better understand. I told her that I recall at the age of 5 going shopping with my aunt and my cousins for new summer clothes, my cousins were normal size kids and I was probably twice they're size and we were all approximately the same age, my cousins picked out these beautiful sun dresses and were very happy, I on the other hand can remember us not being able to find anything for me to wear and could sense my aunts frustration with having to look elsewhere, I not only felt bad about not being able to wear something pretty like my cousins but I was as a kid felt sad about my aunt not being happy, I'm will be 38 next year and I can remember that as if it happened yesterday. My mom at this point was silent with a look of empathy and concern on her on face and obviously felt sad for me. I continued to give her an example of discouragement for every 5 years of my life (age 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35) and told her to multiply those stories times 50 for all of the other experiences in between. My last example for her was at the age if 35 when a guy I was dating told me that if I lost weight I would be gorgeous, I was completely taken away because I thought he had already felt as if I was gorgeous. Lol ( I've heard this more times than I care to remember and it's never felt like a compliment its more like being advised that your not ok as you are). By the time we were done talking she was totally on board and happy for me. My experiences at age 40 will be completely different for me and will feel like something on a different universe and I'm sure to appreciate and enjoy every second of it. I feel as if my life before 40 will be looked at as a journey towards having solid wisdom on how to be respectful, fair and compassionate with others, all of the judgements and subtle discrimination that I have experienced will be turned into strength that's indisputable and will be used towards supporting others that have so much potential that's unrecognized due to a huge chunk of the world having tunnel vision towards what advertisements and society has dictated to be "beautiful" . I can't say that I will ever regret what I have gone through Im aware that with all trials and tribulations , especially the ones that are founded simply based on the way you look, are meant to empower us and allow us to demonstrate a greater sense of integrity and warmth than others. I will use this gained wisdom as my gift to the world. My experiences go a lot deeper that what I've mentioned in this post, I didn't want to get carried away and freeze up this site. Lol. Much success to everyone in all stages and remember that your journey was put in place for a reason and to appreciate where you have come from.