Med1862

Good info, thank you very much!

lol... you guys are great, thanks for the smiles and hope your pouches feel better soon, can't wait until my own.

That's better than I expected, thanks guys!

I feel like there is more I should be doing getting ready for surgery, but there just isn't yet, so its just wait...wait...wait. Hardest part is not trying to eat like its my last meal as I still need to keep my weight under control. What a roller coaster.

Hello every one, my name is Kevin and I'm new to this site and my surgery will be September 11th, 2013. I will give you a little background on myself. I'm 41 years and married and together we have 5 children ages 7 - 18 and we live in Wisconsin. I have been overweight my entire life, I have never experienced what if feels like to be "skinny" nor do I ever expect too. As an adult and getting heavier, weight has always been an issue. I worked as an active paramedic for over twenty years now and love EMS. I currently work in a small rural hospital as the ER & Trauma Coordinator and I'm also the Director of Informatics for our electronic health record. In my "spare" time, I also teach EMS for one of the technical colleges and I'm going back to school myself. Being overweight makes everything so much more difficult and now that I'm over 40, I must get healthier if I want to survive and enjoy the second half of my life. At my heaviest weight I weighed approximately 435lbs and this was back in approximately 2004. I looked into bariatric surgery then and jumped through all of the hoops only to be denied by my insurance company 2 times and could not get the surgery. I was at the end of my rope and need to make a change so I tried the low carb diet which actually was a life saver for me. Over the next year I had lost over 140lbs and was feeling so much better, but as soon as I got off track and didn't stay committed, I started to regain the weight. I gained about 100lbs back. a few years later I went back to low carb and lost another 150 lbs and again feeling better until life happens and I lose focus. I again gained over 100 lbs back. Currently I weigh about 350lbs. My current job switched insurance companies about 2 years ago and they did have a benefit for bariatric surgery so for the past year I have been going through the process to get approved. I started in September of 2012 and now my surgery is about three weeks away, its very hard to believe. My insurance company denied me the first time because 2-3 years ago when I had lost some weight my BMI was 39.9% and it needed to be 40% since I really didn't have many other health issues. I was so devastated and pissed off, but I kept going and had more testing so I could get diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea. Then upon resubmittal, they approved me. I have to say I HATE THE CPAP MACHINE!!! I'm looking to put all of the struggles behind me and move forward. I really need this surgery as my tool to a healthier and hopefully much happier me. This looks like a great site and I love reading every ones stories and experiences, I have already learned many valuable things on here. I start my pre-op diet on Aug. 28th and have all of my pre-op physical and testing on September 3rd, Its coming so close. There is one thing I have to do and that is to tell the rest of my family about the surgery. Only my wife and a best friend knew I was going down this journey and I didn't want to say anything until I knew it was approved. I need to tell my children I'm having surgery along with my parents. This has been a very private and personal thing for me and I'm not sharing with everyone. I just want to have the surgery without any fuss from anyone. Well that's my story in a nutshell. Thanks for having me here and I look forward to getting to know many of you. Feel free to contact me anytime. Kevin

Sending thoughts and prayers your way and wishing you the very best!

Very nice!!!!!! You look fantastic!

I'm from Wisconsin and having my surgery in La Crosse, so we are close neighbors!

Hang in there, this is a hell of a process and I felt the same way you have, just stay focused on the end and you will make it.

....Oh How I hated that test and this stinkin CPAP machine! evil!!!

......Good to meet you guys. I'm actually in South West Wisconsin about 45 south east of La Crosse. I'm originally from Kenosha so I'm defiantly aware of Racine. I'm having my surgery at Gundersen Hospital in La Crosse.

So far I have only had the initial seminar, 6 months+ supervised nutritionist visits, metabolic test, visit with surgeon, RN, PA, had to lose 15lbs, general physical, and then after I was denied the first time by my insurance for being to healthy I had to have a sleep study. Now approved and scheduled for surgery on Sept 11th, I have to go Sept. 3rd for my actual pre-op which does consist of blood work, EKG, and physical for sure along with visits from all the same folks plus some others.

My seminar was last September and Surgery is scheduled for this Sept. 11th. My insurance had specific requirements so it took longer. Good luck to you, hope it goes quick!

Ordered!!!

That's reassuring, I hope it will be the same for me since I will start my pre-op diet on Aug 28th. Good Luck!

could I bother you to send it to me also please. med1862@gmail.com Thank you!!!

I'm not a superstitious guy normally, but they have my surgery scheduled for Sept 11 (9/11) which also means I will be in the hospital for Friday the13th.... both dates don't have the best history.

Thank you!!!! I will not gain weight back again!

Thanks Vicki, glad to hear you found what works the best and I hope I will be successful also. This site is great and I appreciate the welcome. Kevin

I have been experiencing the same thing for the past couple of weeks, today is my day to get back on track and I have to do it, but I can totally relate to you and just how difficult it is. Hang in there, we can all do it!

Mine is scheduled for Sept. 11th! Excited and nervous as hell! Start my pre-op diet Aug 28th and my pre-op physical and work up Sept 3rd. It has been a long year, hard to believe its really going to happen.