Essence33

Yayy!! Welcome all, welcome!!

Hey everyone,

My name is Ashaley I am 23 years old mother of 2. I have a very supportive boyfriend who has been with me through this entire journey. My father passed in April 2013 at 54 he the reason i decided to get WLS. He had many health problems streaming from weight and once he finally lost the weight it was toooooo late ?de14 .... But i promised him that I would take hold of my health before it was too late. After alot of back and forth I decided to attend a seminar. That day 7/1/2013 I had made my mind up about that this was what I needed to do. After a very long journey I was sleeved on Monday January 6,2014!!! First new years that i might actually be able to meet my resolution about taking control of my weight. I feel amazing and Have lost 21lbs 11 on the liquid diet and 10 after post op. I hope god and my father continue to watch over me through this journey ...

Just wanted to share my story you all the beat of luck and thanks for being here you are all very supportive!!!

Sorry about daddy. Happy you took the journey for a healthier you.

Rae, for 10 years my husband and attended seminars on every kind of weight loss surgery, different doctors and hospitals. We know a lot of people who have had different surgeries. My husband's health really worsened in 10 years, but until the sleeve came along and was covered by our insurance, he was not willing to take that step and I sure did not push him. It is a big decision, especially as our health went downhill with diabetes, HBP, asthma, and age. In the past year I qualified for the sleeve and I am so glad. I saw nothing but doom and gloom for us without this surgery.

Our doctor - we loved from the get-go!!! Some of his staff who assisted him at the first seminar, told us he had done the sleeve on them. Everything combined, we knew the sleeve was right for us. We are both less than 2 months post op, and life is wonderful. Our only regret is that we could not have had the sleeve 10 years ago!

We do not feel like we had surgery. We feel great. No pain once we came home from the hospital. No issues. I am off the med Metformin for diabetes. My husband's issues with diabetes and HBP are much better, we are off a few more meds.

I love not having that constant feeling of being hungry!!!!!!!! It was like my stomach kept telling me to feed it. Thank God that feeling is no more! Best of luck in your decision. Linda

Congrats, to you and your husband. I'm happy you guys made the decision and doing well.

I am going to my first appointment tomorrow. I was told to expect to be there for 2 hours, to fast, and no caffeine for 24 hours. I know I have to do a 6 month diet. I know I will have blood work tomorrow. Not sure why I am not to have caffeine for 24 hours?? Any ideas what my first 2 hour appointment will be like??

Maybe the caffeine may not give accurate taking on your blood worj, but good luck with your appointment.

Hi everyone, I'm waiting to pay for this surgery in full. I pray I get all the money ($10,500) for my procedure. Couldn't get insurance, so I'll be paying out of the pocket. I've been waiting since Feb 2013 for this. Hopefully my tax money will complete my outstanding balance and I'll get a date before March or April. Keep me in your prayers and hands cross. I need this badly.

Sincerely,

"Your fat friend and future sleever."

So my doctor office called me a little while ago. They told me I could get Jan 29th for my surgery date. I want that date BUT I have to see what I have to pay first. I've been out of work since August so financially it's been rough. So I ask for yall to pray for me that it's not to much and I can get it paid by then. So I can get the Jan 29th date. Thanx in advance!!!

GOD BLESS! !

I will

I am writing these things down, because I am sure there will be times early post op when I wonder "why did I do this?"

This is why:

1. Having to shop from a limited clothing selection. Eff you , size 20, you suck.

2. The feeling of my fat middle squooshing out when I sit down.

3. swolly feet

4. Feeling like the fattest person in the room

5. Being the fattest person in the room

6. Feeling invisible

7. Feeling self conscious and size conscious

8. My stomach touching the table in a restaurant booth

9. Not fitting comfortably in a movie theatre seat

10. Looking at myself in pictures

11. Feeling ugly

12. Body aches, knee aches, hip aches

13. shoes that used to fit, and now are too tight

14. Low energy

15. Not turning heads

16. Looking in the mirror naked

17. clothes that no longer fit.

18. Not being able to wear my rings

19. Being afraid to run into people I haven't seen in a while

20. Not feeling pretty

Ok, I only wrote 20. I'm sure there are more. Help me out. Why do you never want to go back?

I agree with all the above....woot woot

I know, I know...shouldn't weigh myself within a week of surgery but just couldn't resist the scale just sitting there... So, this morning I jumped on it and, low and behold, I was at 199!!!! OMG!!! I haven't been under 200 since 2007!!!! I'm am so excited about the future right now I don't know what to do with myself! Except, I still feel kinda crappy and so I guess I'll just watch some football!!! Have a great day everyone!!!

Congrats!!

finally after all that running around I got a date. Im scheduled for January 20th, 2014 with Dr Koshy at St Lukes Hospital. Thats in NY. I was expecting a sooner date but he will be on vacation on December.

I am so glad to finally have my date. what about you guys? anyone else has a date for January?

Share it!

Congrats

​My day is finally approaching! My surgery is tomorrow, Tuesday, morning. I have to be there at 5:40am, my surgery is at 7:40am. I'm the first surgery of the day! I'm excited, nervous and all of the above! Here's to 7 months of waiting!!! No turning back now!

Congrats, and have a safe and fast recovery

I am a 40 year old wife and mother weighing 294 with a BMI of 48.9. I have several comorbidities including diabetes and high blood pressure. I have Anthem BCBS insurance and my oop seems to be about $1100 not including copays for all of the visits.

So, I just found out about the VSG option about 3 months ago when a friend from high school had one done. I had thought about RNY but talked myself out of it several times due to number of complications. My husband, his mother and father have all had the RNY and it was successful, yet I was hesitant.

In researching the Sleeve, I feel confident that this is the way I want to go. I have chosen the program I want to go through, I have a case number assigned with my insurance, I have met with my general practitioner to talk to him about my decision. I just sent in the evaluation appointment request forms today, so now I wait to hear from the Bariatric Program.

I am nervous and excited all at the same time. I don't like subjecting myself to surgery, but I feel this is exactly the tool I need to better my life. I haven't told many people as of right now, simply because I know how most people around me feel about WLS and I don't need the tension.

I have been lurking on the boards for about a week and I thought it was about time I posted something. I look forward to getting to know all of you and thank you in advance for the multitude of questions you will answer as I work through this process.

Kelly

Welcome, Kelly.

I am a year out from gastric. I was 279 I am now 129. Dec 3rd of last year was my surgery. It has been the hardest year of my life! I have 3 kids so dont have time to write out my entire story so heres the jist......surgery, baby twins, a 2yr old, husband leaving for korea for 16months 1 month after surgery, move to south dakota 2weeks before recommended by surgeon (had no choice) became insanely ill from surgery but they still dont know what exactly. 8 endoscopys, 6 2 week hospital stays, every other night in the er for 6hrs each time, gallbladder surgery at the hopes thats why I was sick. .didnt work, died in ambulance on the way to the hospital my last hospital stay (thank god im here) and starting at the endoscopys to right here was all from January until about june. Finally after that no more hospital stays but 2x a week weigh ins because im losing dangerously fast, and now am diagnosed with anorexia (no that is not what was causing me to be so ill the first 6-7months), husband and I getting a divorce in may... his reason-the surgery messed me up so bad I completely lost myself... my reason-he cheated on me for 6yrs...we have been married for 6yrs... and the surgery just showed me on the outside who I always was on the inside... what I look like now is what I am supposed to look like. Its who I have always seen when I looked in the mirror at 279lbs... so I know i deserve more and better than what ive had for 6yrs.... anyway on with my year... moved myself and my 3 kids to houston for a fresh start where no one knows me...and I did it by myself... have an apartment and a job ive been here for a month and let me tell you it feels AMAZING!! Bring it on 2014 cause this bad b***h has got it!!! Health wise still struggling... no strength what so ever and still struggle with eating and still losing but very very slow finally. Struggle with taking my Vitamins which are extremely deficient but im TRYING for me and my babies.

Wow...first of congrats on the weight loss, and I'm sorry you had all those complications. Secondly, I'm happy your doing great without him, you have yourself and your beautiful children. Starting over usually is the best. Also, I want to know what were the complications? Were you just not eating enough?

Almost 18 months ago when I had lap band surgery I thought wow when I lose all this weight I will feel like a million bucks, well that didn't happen. I've struggled since day one, not with eating, physically. I have not been able to exercise at all, I have loose skin everywhere. For the past several weeks I've undergone testing for several things and today I headed to Nashville for the results, certainly not what I wanted to hear, I was diagnosed with Lupus. Thank goodness it hasn't affected my kidneys or liver yet just has damaged my muscles and joints along with other symptoms. Today was a shocker to say the least. The dr prescribed Plaquenil and he was quick to say that it will make me sick at first like vomit sick but that should subside. Wish me luck I start the med tomorrow.

All I wanted to do 17 months ago was to get healthy and thinner. I just have to keep in mind that the good Lord never puts too much on us that we can't handle. I can handle this!!!

I'm sorry to hear that. My blessing to you and your family.

Just curious. .. why not wait till after kids to have skin removed? Often times pregnancy can cause excess skin.

The surgeon said many people that's done it usual have little to no skin loose at all. The only problem usually is discomfort of the muscle being tight.

I'm so scared of getting pregnant right now!

Me too. I'm waiting for st least 18 months before I do.

Yes you can have wine but in moderation. My surgeon said after two months. But keep in mind, alcohol will affect you differently. So when you drink wine for the first time, make sure you have a driver or drink at home to see how it affects you. A little can make you tipsy.

Ok, thanks...I like tipsy, hehehehe.

That depends. When was your surgery? I was allowed alcohol in moderation about 4 months out. I usedto have 1-2 beers a month but the carbonation makes it less pleasant now so 1-2 x a month i have a glass of wine with absolutely no problems.

I haven't had surgery yet. That's next yr April or so. I'm just asking questuons for now. Ok, just making sure. Thanks!

Can I have wine after a while? I know soda is excluded, so once in a while can I drink a glass of wine?

Dr. De la cruz charges $15,000 but my insurance is covering my surgery.

Oh ok, yeah I notice with insurance its about that. But good luck and let me know how it goes.

I'm in Palm Coast but my surgery was in Boca Raton. Best of luck to you!!

Thanks, who was your surgeon?

Hey everyone. Im in Miami and beibg sleeved on December 3rd. Scared and excited at the same time. Good luck to everyone.

Hi, thanks and good luck to you as well. May I ask how much is your procedure? Who is your doctor?

Not only did I find out last night that I've officially lost 100lbs since my first appointment with surgeon (also highest weigh) in March, but I enjoyed a guilt/misery/shame free Thanksgiving! I ate two thanksgiving meals and stayed under 900 calories for the day! I didn't hit my Protein intake, but one day isn't awful. Just wanted to share this news with folks I know would understand!

I was sleeved on 9/16. Here is the best before and right now pic I have at the moment.

You look awesome!! Congrats!!

I'm in cooper city! Hoping to be sleeved on 12/27. Dr Brett Cohen at Memorial...he's great and they gave 2x support groups a month

Congrats!! On your sleeve date, hope all is all. I'm in Ft Lauderdale and will be sleeved in March....hopefully. I'll be working with Dr. Wizman in Margate, Fl

Thanks for the replies. I'm not sure that it's gas though. I have been walking a lot and that actually makes it worse. I basically have to keep taking the lortab every 4 hours to even keep the pain manageable. It also seems to be worse after emptying my bladder or bowels. No fun

As for my ct scan, they noticed a small spot or mass on my liver. They don't know what it is so I have to go in for more extensive testing next week. I guess the concern in always cancer but I have no family history of cancer and I've heard liver cancer is very rare. It's probably like a fatty deposit or something. Guess I'll know for sure next week!

I hope your liver is ok and its nothing major. Your in my prayers, as for the pain let the doctors know again what's going on. Hope all goes well.

So far, I've not found any Protein supplements that are tolerable. I've tried Syntax peach nectar, unjury and GNC's Protein Powder. I was told not to do Boost due to the carbs, but am concerned that I won't be able to find anything palatable prior to my surgery the 13th of December. Any suggestions?

I'm not sure, but most people said premier is good.