Skinnyagain

Diddo to what globetrotter said. Couldn't have said it better myself. Well put.

Thanks for the reply. And btw I think your screen name is the best I have seen. Love it... Good luck on your journey. How many lbs are you down?

I am being sleeved on march 15 th. I wasn't going to tell co-workers either, but changed my mind after one co worker of mine left to have a "tumor" removed from her stomach and is now down like 60 lbs 4-5 months out. At lunch in the begining she would only drinking Protein Water and then she moved to shakes. Now she will eat but takes like 2-3 bites and will be done. Everyone knows she had the surgery, and it's her decision to keep it private, but it does make her seem like a liar when she flat out denies it. I didn't want to be put in that situation so I have told a select few. I know that when I start loosing the weight, the ones I didn't tell will wonder or ask and if they do I will be honest. I am not ashamed of it, and really don't care what they think. It's not their body or life so to hell with them. I am going to do what's best for me and my health. And much to my surprise the people I did tell are very supportive. I work with a bunch of workout freaks that eat right all the time, I didn't think they would support my decision. I thought they would just try to convince me that going to the gym was the only way, but they didn't. I don't know what your job is or the hours you work, but I am at work more than I am at home and you need a support system and I have found that my co workers are very supportive. You might too, if you tell them before. Either way it's your decision and you have to do what's feels right to you.

I am not a coder, but a nurse that works in a dr office. I can honestly say that the many dr's I know don't hire the people who went to the school for in office or stay at home work. Mostly because they don't teach you the most important things you need to know. You learn that on the job. Also keep in mind that starting in 2013 all coding is changing it will no longer be ICD9, but will change to ICD10. If you do choose to pay a school to teach you keep in mind that they will be teaching ICD9 and that will no longer be used in 2 years. I would find a school that will teach the new way if there is one. I would hate for you to spend all that money to be taught something you can't even use in the very near future. Our office is already going to seminars on ICD10. This way we will already know it when it changes. Hope this helps you.

I am to be sleeved on march 15 th. My Dr (Dr. Nick) requires the pre op diet 2 weeks prior. I want to try to do it 4 weeks prior just to help with discipline. My biggest concern is the post op diet. I have been reading others talk about how hard it is on the liquid diet. Most of you guys talk about the clear broths or Soup but you also mention things like Jello, yogurt, pudding and even shakes. Dr. Nick says the clear liquid diet is for the first 21 days, but the difference is he said if it does not flow through a strainer it's not allowed. This will mean that jello, yogurt, pudding and shakes are not allowed. I wont even be able to have creamed soup. How will I live on just liquid, no substance, and not getting to chew anything for over half a month? Won't I feel like I'm starving and have no energy due to lack of nutrition? After 21 days I get to start mushy foods like jello, pudding, shakes, and creamed Soups. This stage will also last 20 something days. Then I get to start add some solid foods. I will be 40 some odd days before I get to chew again. Has anyone found this to be difficult. What do you do to overcome it? I would say that I am a food addict and soup has never been something I would choose to eat on purpose, now I will be faced with the fact that I have to have soup (broth) for every meal. I think I'm am going to really hate soup after this. I am determined though so trying my best to overcome this fear. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

hello,I have only heard of the monthly liquid diet was for people that weight almost 500lbs or some where around there

when the doctors are trying to get the liver to shrink,because with out the liquid diet the liver is swollen and it has to shrink.

bet with someone smaller it only takes about 1 week on a liquid diet,I hope that ,that is my case...I may be able to do a week or 2 before hunger strikes with its pangs,they feel like being pregnate and being hungry....I tried the week diet on liquids and boy its no fun unless you have the Protein shakes or something thick to drink that will stick....

Not sure. I was reading that a girl on here has to stay on the full liquid diet for 20 days post op. Some drs only do this for a few weeks and others a few days.I don't know about the weight playing a factor in this it could be. My surgeon only requires the pre op liquid diet for 2 days. I have no idea for post op.

I have to do a psych eval also, and I am self pay. At first I thought this was stupid, but after talking with others on this site I now have a better understanding. If you have an addiction to food it is possible that after surgery you will get depressed because you will have lost in some cases your best friend. Or you might look at food as a crutch or use it when you are sad, happy ect... Talking with a professional will help you get through this and give you tips on how to deal with the loss and make better choices. I have read that after your surgery you have to be on a all liquid diet. Some people have to do this for as long as a month. I personally think this will be very difficult because you are still getting hunger pains at 5 days out. Not every dr makes you do this for that long but just think about if you have an addiction to food how bad you will want it, but can't have it. I now think the eval is a great idea. I am not saying you have a food addiction, either way it will be helpful.

Thanks. I think I have made a new addiction. It is this forum. I have been reading and reading and reading. It has really helped me with my decision to get the surgery, and I hope to keep me strong after. I think when I feel the need to eat I will just pop in the forum and read instead. Thanks again

I am so glad you posted your story. I am to be sleeved on march 14. I am not the type of person to stick to anything for long and that alone scares the crap out of me. My will power is about the time span of a goldfishes memory (about 2 seconds). Which is how I gained all this weight in the first place. I think that this post op all liquid diet is what is freaking me out the most. My surgeon only requires me to do this diet 2 days prior to surgery, which in reality is all I think I would last anyway. I am not scared off by your story but reading it is helping me get prepared for what is to come. I know I can not screw this up and like you wish I could just be kept in the hospital or in a coma till the bad part is over. Where do you find your strength to not cheat.

What is a sluggish tummy? Leaking?

Thank you everyone who gave your advise. I now have a better understanding of why this evaluation is so important. When I asked the scheduler at the surgeons office why she said it was just to make sure I wasn't crazy. But going to talk about the addiction to food and the fact that I will no longer be able to use it as my comfort, my friend, or my crutch is a very scary thought. I know that going in but it will be nice to talk with a professional to be able to help me through it. I do have an addiction to food and I have no idea why or when it really started. I have not always been the "fat" girl. It used to be just the opposite. I graduated high school 20 years ago weighing a mere 87 lbs. No I never had anorexia or any kind of eating disorder. I just couldn't gain weight. I never in a million years thought I would be at the weight I am today. My weight gain didn't start until after my 2nd child. My first pregnancy I only gained 25 lbs putting me at 125lbs at delivery. At my 2week check up post delivery I was down to 90lbs.I lost more than I had gained, and they made me stop breast feeding. My 2nd pregnancy I gained 20 and never lost any of it, it just went up. And since then 8 years now I am up to 209 and 5ft tall. I don't think I ever suffered from post pardum, but I do suffer from depression and always have even in high school. So who knows. I do know that I am ready to make this necessary change in my life. I am slowly killing myself with food and it needs to stop. I will read on this forum everyday to educate my self, get inspiration and anything else I can to help me along my way.

Thank you for all the support

A.

March 14 for me, anyone use dr. Alexander in Dallas ?

Today is the first day of my journey. I had my consult today and I am scheduled for my sleeve on march 14. I am excited, scared, curious, and so many other feelings I can't describe. I have read so many stories on here and they have all inspired me so much. I just hope that I have the same success that everyone else has had. I have 2 mandatory test that I have to do first. 1.) sleep study 2.) psych evaluation. And possibly an EGD this is still up in the air. I am not sure why I have to do the psych test. Maybe someone else who had this can explain better. Is there something they could say to prevent my surgery. Just sounds like a silly thing to have to do, I know I have an addiction to food, don't need a head dr to tell me that..anyway any advice that anyone has would be greatly appreciated. I hear that the few weeks after surgery is the worst because, you still have the hormone that causes hunger still lingering around. Has anyone had this problem or have a suggestion on how to get through it? I welcome any information.

Thanks

Abby

I have not had my sleeve surgery yet, but decided that it was time to quit soda. I could easily drink a case of dr pepper a day. After kidney problems and gallbladder removal 4 months ago, I decided I could not keep drinking them especially if I wanted the surgery. I am soda free for 3 weeks now. I drink sweet (splenda) tea and sugar free flavored packs in Water. It is very hard but I enjoying living more than dr pepper. I made a new rule that soda has been banned from my house. I make my kids drink water, tea,milk, or juice. In the end it's a change for the better for everyone. I did it cold turkey and have noticed a big change in the way my kidneys feel. I am also not as tired as I used to be and have lost 3 Lbs. I am set for surgery in march, can't wait....

My mom and sister both had GB and lost a ton of weight and both gained a ton of weight back. It's possibly with any WLS but if you change your eating habits you should be able to keep it off. Just because you can only take 2 small bites of a taco bell bean burrito doesn't mean you should.

I am wanting the vsg surgery done, but I am self pay. Can anyone tell me what Dr. barker charges for this? Does he make you do pre-op sleep study and psych evaluation? Thanks

The my fitness pal app on the iPhone is one of the best I have seen. You can set goals, it counts your calories for you and also let's you know where you stand as far as nutrition intake as well.(ie..saturated fats, cholesterol,sugar, and so on) you can chose different foods or foods from a resturant, and the calories are already there. This is a very easy app.

why did you have your band removed???

The surgeons in texas only require a 34 bmi.

I also have BC/BS of TX HMO and they do not cover it at all. (with or without documentation). I feel the same way you do. MY husband even works for BC/BS, and he can't even pull any strings for me. However they will cover Gastric Bypass. One would think they would cover the safer and cheaper surgery. His (my Husband) suggestion to you would be to join weight watchers or Jenny Craig, they have a Dr.s note you have to have singned. Stay involved for 6 months with regular visits with your DR. documenting each time that you are involved and this should work for your 6 month weight loss requirement. Good luck