caligirl3

Here we go!!!!

Hello Everyone! I will be sleeved on Dec. 3!! I can't believe it is only two weeks away. I am nervous, overwhelmed and feeling about 50 other different emotions lol! I start my Pre Op two week liquid diet tomorrow...just so happens to fall on Thanksgiving so no Turkey for me but I am ok with that. I have had enough amazing Thanksgiving to last a lifetime... and I am trying to get away with it being my favorite holiday lol.
Its been a crazy month trying to fit these pre surgical testing and appointments, as well as tying up loose ends at work while I will be out. But its all going to be worth it...I can't wait to get things moving and start living a new life. This summer I will be beach ready!!!
Good luck to everyone out there and the start of our new journey!!!

I am very excited and very ready for this surgery and lifestyle change! I am self pay and could have had the surgery earlier in November but I do not recover well from procedures. I had laparoscopic gallbladder removal last year and couldn't stand up straight for 2 weeks! This surgery will be similar. Pain meds just don't work for me.
I host all holidays at my house. Last year, we were between houses, and had no room in that house to host anything!!
So, I have to Celebrate the holidays this year. I would have been perfectly fine with not eating Thanksgiving dinner even if everyone else was, but I didn't want to be miserable trying to cook it!
I have been practicing, though. I am very aware of chewing my food. I already don't drink much during my meal unless I haven't chewed well, so that's not as big of an issue for me. I'm cutting out caffeine and soda gradually. I've also been leaving food on my plate. I grew up with the "clean your plate" demands and I have issues with that. I'm not going out of my way to eat things I know I can't or shouldn't eat later on, but I am enjoying what I do eat!
My 2 week preop starts right after Thanksgiving so I will send leftovers home with folks instead of keeping them! I will stock the kitchen with self serve foods for my Mom and hubby.
So excited to get this done!

I have my date! December 23--- Christmas in the hospital? Seems fitting since I see this whole journey as a gift to myself. I feel like I'm off the sidelines now that there are so many things to do toward a specific date. Yahoo!

I was apprehensive at first to tell people, but am starting to loose some of that. I've told my immediate family...and will have to come clean to the rest on Thanksgiving when they realize that I'm just having a Protein shake! Lol! I'll tell others after my surgery, if they ask.
I don't worry so much about people focusing on my weight, when I tell them I'm having weight loss surgery. They have eyes...there's no hiding it! I only worry about people thinking I'm taking the easy way out? Why??? Because people often see those of us who are overweight as lazy. An unfortunate and inaccurate stereotype! My attitude has always been "I'm going to eat right, exercise, and work hard, because that's the only way to succeed!" But we all fall into ruts here and there. And while this is required effort to get to my goal...I realized that I've been overweight almost my entire life, and I wasn't getting anywhere on Will power alone. I truly needed some extra help.
After watching my sister begin her VSG journey, and just starting my own...I've realized that this isn't an easy way out, at all!! It's no doubt one of the hardest things I'll ever have to do! And damn it, I'm proud of myself for that! This isn't a quick fix diet! There aren't any do-overs! And it's a commitment I'm making for the rest of my life! We are all making that commitment! And THAT...is pretty bad a$$!
I invite all they nay-sayers, water-cooler gossipers, and negative Nellies out there, to take a walk in our shoes! While they may never understand the struggle that has brought us all here today...I hope that they can respect our courage, bravery, guts, and gumption! You all are some of the bravest people I know!

Hello all. I am scheduled for December 23rd. Male, 40, 5'11", overweight my whole life (currently at 409; in the past 10 years I've been as high as 433 and as low as 366). My insurance does not cover any bariatric surgery, regardless of co-morbidities (of which I have plenty), so going the cash pay/self pay route. If the EGD confirms the presence of a hiatal hernia, insurance will pay for about 25% of the total costs, which would be nice. (Never in my life did I expect to be hoping for a hernia.)
My surgeon still requires most of the typical pre-op items even though I'm cash pay, so far everything has gone well. My PCP was able to do the blood work, ECG, gall bladder ultrasound, etc. Already met with the nutritionist and the psychologist. Only major hurdle left, other than the dreaded pre-op diet, is the EGD, which is scheduled for early December.
I spent this weekend having my final round of food funerals and am starting the pre-op diet today. (If the concept of a "food funeral" doesn't provide an insight into my dysfunctional relationship with food, I don't know what does.) My surgeon would like me to lose 25-30 pounds prior to surgery, which I can easily do in 5 weeks if I stick to the diet. So far, so good (5 hours down; 4.999 weeks to go. Cravings, what cravings?)
I have been slowly telling people, first my wife (who was obviously involved in the decision), then immediate family, then my boss, and now a few close friends. Everyone, so far, has been extremely supportive. I am ready to have this now and get it over with, but waiting until the end of December will make things much easier in terms of missing work.

I haven't told anyone except my HR rep and my direct supervisor. My supervisor had RNY last year and has lost over 100 pounds.

I have BCBS of NY and they approved me on the first call from my surgeons office. I am so happy I choose them last year! Best of luck to you

Hey December Sleevers!
I just received my approval last week and my surgery date is December 16th!!!! My process went faster than expected. It took about two months to get all my requirements done: Family doctor approval, Nutritionist appointment, and one psych eval. Have BCBS of IL. Im 27yrs old, 5'8 @274lbs. Ive always had a problem with my weight so im super excited for my day to come. Have you guys been apprehensive about telling people? I've had to stop since I keep getting all negative feedback.

Hey December Sleevers!
I just received my approval last week and my surgery date is December 16th!!!! My process went faster than expected. It took about two months to get all my requirements done: Family doctor approval, Nutritionist appointment, and one psych eval. Have BCBS of IL. Im 27yrs old, 5'8 @274lbs. Ive always had a problem with my weight so im super excited for my day to come. Have you guys been apprehensive about telling people? I've had to stop since I keep getting all negative feedback.

Pleas add me to the list! Surgery date 12/2 at JFK medical center in Edison, nj with dr. Abkin!!! So excited. Final pre-op class tomorrow and then just waiting! I'm so anxious (in a good way)...it has been scheduled since August! I just want to move on! Sick of being so heavy! I'm 5'4 300. Would I love to be around 150 (not sure how realistic that is)! So happy to meet so many great and inspiring people on here!

I got my date!!!! 12.12.13!!!!!
Please add me to the roll call with my other three sleevies on the 12th?
*i'd be doing cartwheels if i could

I hear you on the nervously eating thing. I still need to take final exams prior to my surgery date and combined they both make me nervous and distracted - can't wait to get this done and move forward.

I think that's what this one was supposed to be, following each other from before, during and on to meeting goals and maintenance.

I'm new to this blog. I am finally going to be getting the surgery. The paperwork too so long and now I got my approval from the insurance and on Monday I go in and neet eith the surgeon again. Then Wednesday I meet fir pre-op stuff and start my 2 week liquid diet. Boy idk if I can do 2 weeks on straight liquids. Scared of failure but excited for the start of a new life. I'm 31 yrs old weight as of last week was 317 (biggest yet) I can't wait to back down to 150-160ish. I'm so glad there is a support group of people going through the same thing. I've never had surgery before and so scared something bad is going to happen. Oh ya my surgery date is December 4th 2013. I wish everyone the best of luck in there journey :-)

So excited that all of us will have so much support going in to this major change in our lives.

I'm Kay. My surgery date is Nov.27 but hoped you'd accept me into your Dec. group. I'm 5' and I weigh 236. I've gone through most of the hoops already. Just one more next Monday when I have a pre-op meeting. I have quite a few concerns but most worried about what I will be able to eat, or drink, when I get home. Hope these questions will be answered at my meeting next week.

This is a FANTASTIC idea Blondiee...Can you imagine the numbers we'll see? LOVE IT!

Man...our group is so large. Can't wait to take a poll at 6 months out and see how much we will have lost as a group!

Welcome to the December 11th club! I'm glad to have another sleever on our great date! I've added you to the list!

Approval came today from Anthem-- only took them 5 days but seems like forever. The scheduler is a guerrilla about giving out dates so I am waiting to hear when this will take place. Still hoping for December.
I have been reading your posts and want to thank you all for sharing information I am finding enormously helpful. Happy Friday!

Packet sent in last Thursday, and still no word. Was hopeful after hearing people say it only took 24 hours for them to get a response. Called HBCBS NJ and they said they won't give me an answer over the phone, to wait for a call from my surgeon's office.
I'm a stay-at-home mom right now so my days are wide open and I honestly don't know what to do with myself until I hear back!

Following you too Maddie!
To prepare, I bought 3 types of Protein Drinks (powder and liquid) for my pre-op diet. Next weekend, after I get paid, I will buy my Vitamins. I'm waiting until my surgeon pre-op appt. before I invest. I read so many mixed things - gummies, no gummies, flinstone chewables, no flintstones... I do already have B12 sublingual tabs and Biotin though, so I'll keep those.
Looking for recommendations on:
chewable or liquid multi
chewable Calcium
chewable Fiber (do we need this?)
D (heard we needed this too)
Advice on how/when to take these. Ugh, so many pills, and I HATE pills!

I've done the same thing Lissa...and just put you in my 'follow' list. I look forward to watching your journey. No worries on the video part...I won't even post pictures on my blog at this time....(it was difficult enough to post my weight...I threw up a little bit in my mouth when I started doing that...LOL)

Caligirl, I start my 4 week pre-op liquid diet on Tuesday.. Please keep me posted on how you are doing...