gettingAllieback

Hope I'm just like you!

How cute are you???

That's 3 major Boston hospitals covered! Funny. My husband works for mine, so our insurance is tied into it. Turns out they're also awesome.

Anxiously awaiting my date...was hoping October, but they have to approve me, "the team", to see the surgeon and we book the surgery at that appointment...I've been bugging the staff cause I can't plan and its driving me crazy!!! Too many holidays upcoming and I want to be well for Xmas. I'm at BIDMC.

I'm pre-op 235 (pre prep diet) with a goal of 145ish, so sounds similar:-). Hope mine goes as smoothly as yours!!! Congrats.

BIDMC

Boston--STILL waiting on a date. Likely Nov at this point. Grrrr

I stalked someone into coffee with me last weekend!

I've found a system that "seems" to be working. I believe it is working because when I am remiss in sticking with it the shedding increases.

I take an extra B-Complex with Biotin plus my Multivitamin. I make sure to add a Protein soaked something to my day: ie a shake or Quest bar.

I've also started using this shampoo/conditioner combo which smells amazing!!!!

I'm pre-op, with long curly hair that sheds anyways...I've already started Biotin 5,000 (I guess I'll up it to 10) and this same Shampoo and I have noticed less shedding already! I will keep up this plan after surgery...

I just met diamond3 for coffee this weekend and I have to say meeting a success in person has been very motivating! I suggest all pre-ops do it, at least emails. She answered tons of questions and I'm sure I'll have more for her! We will be sleeve sisters and its a culture all it's own, so it's nice to share:-). I hope to pay it forward in the future...

Pre-sleeve here, but I'm an LICSW Social Worker. First visit: she should've worked on building a repoire with you, asked you about your goals for "the work" in therapy and played to your strengths. I like none of what she said. She'd get only more chance with me. That being said, there's a therapist for every client. If you like her, and she helps you, then so be it! There's a million out there...

I'm 40 and 5'4" and pre-op. I have two kids and some saggy fat and I'm 235. Been over 200 for about 8 years (kids...), but before that I was a solid medium tops and 10 (maybe 12) pants but I'm a pear shape: bigger on bottom. My current bra size is 38C (barely), but my goal weight bra size (about 150 lbs.) was a 32B...those puppies are gonna be a deflated mess! I've only qualified as a 40 BMI for about a year +, but it's time!!!

Hi! Just looked through this thread as I'm from Watertown and saw two of you had Dr Schneider @ BIDMC--he's my guy!!! I'm pre-op, just waiting to pass through the "team" any day and get my appointment with him and book my date! I was hoping by the end of Oct/early Nov. I have emailed two Bari-Buddies from the program who had sleeves with him and one has been very positive and helpful. I'm making up my list of questions for him now...so excited to see two recent sleeves from him on here! Do you go to the support groups? Hope to be in touch with both of you:-)

Your post brought me to tears, because as my username reflects...I haven't been myself in years ...so much of my headspace is taken up everyday with this weight issue. I feel like I will be free again and I can't wait. I'm gonna be the active mom and wife that I should be or that feels like its trapped in this body!!! Thanks for your thoughts.

I've put many things on hold. Virtually no pictures of me and my kids and I've never met my husband's colleagues on purpose. Just turned down a night out with an old friend because I didn't want them to see me like this...also got kicked off a kiddie coaster this summer. Probably one of my lower moments. My date will likely be late October and fortunately our Disney trip will be Fall 2014! Can't wait to enjoy it to its fullest:-). And take pictures with my kids. And look (again) like I should me married to my skinny handsome husband!!!

As a pre-op with GERD (which notably has been worse at my heaviest), no Barrett's, no hernias, would you (any of you) take the gamble on a VSG, when it's the surgery you prefer? That's what I'm trying to decide. I know I could convert it to a bypass down the road, which would suck, but my mom's bypass has not cured her GERD...I feel like no procedure can answer my issues and GERD is my only issue!

I take Protonix 1x day and have on and off for years...my weight does seem to effect the GERD. Results from endoscopy came today: no H Pylori, no hernias, just GERD, no Barrett's or pre Barrett's...and some benign gastric polyps. Surgeon is next for for me and we'll see what he says. I don't think he'll rule me out completely, but I am scared that I will lose the weight but somehow worsen my GERD and end up with serious esophageal problems. It's my only issue and med that I take. I'm looking at bypass, but just don't want it. My mom is 10 years post bypass takes two PPIs a day and had an esophageal ulcer last year! Do I gamble on a Sleeve or get a bypass and end up like my mom--with reflux. Super frustrating. I need to decide soon.

There's literally no pain!

If you mean an endoscopy, I had mine 2 days ago. The only trouble is the IV! And my nurse was great. Tell them you're nervous. They do conscious sedation, which best as I can figure is enough of one med to get you chill, they spray the back of your throat with numbing stuff (which I don't even remember) and it takes roughly 15 min...the other drug they give you makes you forget the whole thing:-). It's awesome. So I don't remember the Dr coming in, the spray, the scope, nothing. Literally. Wake up groggy with a little sore throat but nothing crazy. They took biopsies on me and removed a couple polyps. My refux flared up a little like someone was messing around down there for the next day. All in all, a lot of worry over nothing.

Clearly you are not married and don't have kids:-). I bet when you're losing weight post-op the "feisty" will come back! That's what I'm hoping...

Deedadumble: I hope to be you someday!

I think at some point to graduate to truly running a 5k, you'll have to jump to distance...but the time intervals are the key at first. Week 4 jumps to running 5 minutes, in a row! I just haven't conquered that yet. But I did slow down since the race and deciding on surgery. I can't lose anything until after they send my insurance off, cause I'm a 40.5 BMI...

Hi--I'm pre op, but started c25k in June with some family...they raced through it as prescribed and I went along as I could:-). I never made it past week 3, so I just keep repeating the workout. We all did a 5k in August--my first and I ran some of it and finished in 51 minutes. You can use the App as a "trainer" but proceed at your own pace. My frustration with not being able to progress was one of the final reasons I went back to the surgery idea. It's a lot harder to get off the pavement when you're 235, as I am! I sincerely hope to be doing more 5ks in the Spring/Summer along with my skinny/runner husband:-). You can use the program on a treadmill as well--just don't expect you'll get it done in the prescribed sessions. You will see progress though!

I keep hearing RnY is acid reducing but my mom still suffers at 150 lbs. and 10 years out...I guess it can depend on WHAT is causing your GERD. I just hope my endoscopy this week can answer that? And do I RnY to avoid a problem I may not get when I really want the Sleeve? I take no other meds and have no comorbidities, so the GERD thing is my only concern.

I have the same concern. My endoscopy is Thursday and its results will help me decide sleeve or bypass...hoping sleeve! The medical director heard me say reflux and immediately suggested bypass, but my mom is 10 years post RnY takes 2 PPI pills a day and had an esophageal ulcer 2 years ago!