CrazyJaney

You have a really good point. I have had to "dress up" for work the past 4 years and it's been motivating towards this. I'm forced to go to meetings and speaking front of people. It does propel me towards "looking" better. But yoga pants sound pretty dang good too! It's all about balance I suppose!

Awesome!

I'm preop so take this for what it's worth. But I have gained and lost the same 40++ pounds all my adult life. I can do well for a while, but I fall off by going back to carbs. I've lost 25 preop just doing the basics. I hope the sleeve is one more extra tool for me. Here's the things that help me: 1) get back in the pool. Change it up, do something different but keep moving. 2) start over on the basics and detox from the carbs - I had no idea of how fiercely I can and did crave carbs when I was eating them. Once you stop eating them, that craving feeling really does get better. The first days are awful but stop trigger foods until you can get better control. 3) therapy and meetings. 4) if you made a "why do I want to be sleeved list", go back and read it. My doctor said I needed to write a letter to myself preop. Read it and remember where you wanted to go. 5) come here every day and get support, and give it too. 6) be gentle and kind to yourself! You've done amazingly well in 5 months. This is not the end of the journey! Celebrate any success you can - but not with food - because food really is fuel. Food is not love. Say that a few thousand times a day. 7) almost forgot most important : track everything - including failures, including exercise. And weigh enough that you can be accountable quickly and make course corrections when needed. Wishing you comfort. The emotional side of this journey is so much harder than I ever thought it would be. Hugs.

I'm so envious of telecommuting! I have a very stressful hospital job (management). I can hide out in my office but there are consequences for that. I'm planning a week at home and see how it goes. I wish I didn't need the money I make so I could explore other options. The commute, the stress - getting to me!

It's a steady uneasy discomfort that has waves of increased pain. My pain was right in the center of my upper abdomen and between my shoulder blades. When you pass a stone (if you have stones) it is SEVERE pain, often with nausea and vomiting. After the stone passes, you often get a wave of diarrhea and your stool can be clay colored. It's very, very common after weight loss surgery (any weight loss really) to have a sick gallbladder. Mine started up after 2nd baby but then simmered down for several years. Finally, after a 20 lb weight loss a few tears ago, the stones hit and I was freaking miserable. It was such a relief to get mine out. If you get a fever, go straight to doc. I never had a fever but I had a ton of stones. He had to make my umbilical incision a little bigger than usual to get the fb out with all those stones. I recovered very quickly. Piece of cake actually. I'm hopeful Sleeve will be as easy but I don't think that'll be the case.

Hang in there April!

Alright, you are officially my go to person. Wow! This is great stuff. It would take me a week to find all this. Thank you very much. My NUT told me that "it's a trade off you'll have to decide which to ingest". She had little emotion about it. She's an odd one though. Thank you, excellent info!

I'm so sorry. That stinks.

You do look Fab! You're my Sleeve hero!

I didn't have to see the PCP every three months, just the nurse practitioner at the surgeon office and the Dietician. I had to have a letter of support from my PCP though.

I'll be in March. Will know date soon. I'm ready now. The wait is frustrating!

This is what i just posted on a similar thread. I really think this is one of my biggest obstacles. I'm a boss in a hospital. People love to gossip and poke fun at bosses (I've moved up through the ranks over 23 years so pretty aware of how things work). I'm hoping and praying I become more comfortable with the ones who enjoy watching others struggle or fail. Logically I know I shouldn't give a rat's ass. And I sure would hope to inspire those who are thinking about it. But it's still a sticking point for me. Anyway, this was what I just wrote. It's good to see others perspective on this and I'm thankful for these threads..... "I have told only a few people who I know won't judge me one way or the other (husband, sister, best girl friends). I loathe being under a microscope. I don't like discussing weight with acquaintances. I've read many threads where people say they've been shown nothing but support and told everyone. I'm always amazed at that. My family loves me dearly. I know they want me happy and healthy. But most have little to no Education about WLS and have preconceived ideas that are often off base. My parents have anxiety issues - my mother is terrified of anything medical. One close friend (we are both nurses) talked to me like he was an expert in a subtle, yet condescending way about my plans. I was shocked and disappointed. Did he really think I'd enter into this without tons of preparation and research? What nurse would do that? Most surgeons require at least moderate education. I was testing the waters with him. I realized then that very few people have the ability to walk in someone else's shoes. I'd like to think this isn't true but I think some normal sized people see obese people as slightly stupid about "choices". That doesn't mean they don't like us or even love us - they just sort of doubt us. I'm 45 years old. If I don't ask for your opinion, chances are I didn't want it but that never stops anyone! This will be my biggest challenge - the balancing of who to tell, who to listen to, who to avoid, who to trust. I'm close to getting scheduled. I'll likely be sleeved in the next month. I've only told a few and I'm waiting to the last min to tell my parents - just in case something horrible really happens. Not sure what to tell my boss. I don't need others doubts and worries hanging over me. I have enough of those on my own. I need a few cheerleaders and some empathy. Glad for this site. It has been a Godsend! "

I so don't want to lose the girls.

I have told only a few people who I know won't judge me one way or the other (husband, sister, best girl friends). I loathe being under a microscope. I don't like discussing weight with acquaintances. I've read many threads where people say they've been shown nothing but support and told everyone. I'm always amazed at that. My family loves me dearly. I know they want me happy and healthy. But most have little to no Education about WLS and have preconceived ideas that are often off base. One close friend (we are both nurses) talked to me like he was an expert in a subtle, yet condescending way about my plans. I was shocked and disappointed. Did he really think I'd enter into this without tons of preparation and research? What nurse would do that? Most surgeons require at least moderate education. I was testing the waters with him. I realized then that very few people have the ability to walk in someone else's shoes. I'd like to think this isn't true but I think some normal sized people see obese people as slightly stupid about "choices". That doesn't mean they don't like us or even love us - they just sort of doubt us. I'm 45 years old. If I don't ask for your opinion, chances are I didn't want it but that never stops anyone! This will be my biggest challenge - the balancing of who to tell, who to listen to, who to avoid, who to trust. I'm close to getting scheduled. I'll likely be sleeved in the next month. I've only told a few and I'm waiting to the last min to tell my 70 year old parents. Not sure what to tell my boss. I don't need others doubts and worries hanging over me. I have enough of those on my own. I need a few cheerleaders and some empathy. Glad for this site. It has been a Godsend!

The first visit to the doctor did NOT count. It was the 3 visits of supervised weight loss with the Nutritionist and the doc or in my case, nurse practitioner. I went for initial appointment in August. I have a connective tissue disorder that the surgeon needed to investigate before he'd take me on. I didn't find out until Sept that he would so then I had an appointment in early Oct. I had to get BP meds started and a sleep study and I left that appointment without scheduling the next (never do that again) and when I called in mid Nov to go back, they were full ( holidays). So the whole damn thing started over in December (except I didn't have to see surgeon again). Just make all 3 appointments and KEEP them. This practice is very busy, they can't squeeze you in unless someone is having complications.

What was your exercise regime like?

Waiting for approval now. Had the last of 3 visits yesterday. I had my first appointment in Oct but didn't realize that the 3 appointments hade to be "consecutive" months. I had a delay in making my 2nd appointment in Nov and couldn't get in. Had to start the whole thing over in December. They want 3 appointments in 90 Days, consecutive months. You also have to have a letter from a PCP, psych eval, documented weight history for 3 years. The surgeon also required a sleep study. I'm not familiar with the 6 month plan but I know that was an option. If they approve, and I'm told they prob will (BMI 49 with comorbids) then they will pay 90%. I'm crossing every finger and toe. Your plan might be different. But Aetna is one of the few who do pay.

Gorgeous!

Go on with your awesome self! This is an inspiring story! Thank you for sharing!

Had my last appointment on Friday. All requirements have been met. They will submit my chart to Aetna on Monday! I'm so excited. It's doubtful I'll get scheduled before the end of the month so hoping and praying I'll get set up for early March. I'm ready!

Last preop appointment done. All requirements met. Submit to insurance! Fingers crossed. Could be sleeved in just a few weeks! I'm so excited!

Our wellness program started in 2012. We do now. The NP thinks it'll be ok but I'd like to hear it from the coordinator. I also had surgery in 2011 and I just now remembered that! It was at another facility. If worse comes to worst, I could get that H and P. Didn't even think about hospital records. Was just thinking about office visits. Thanks for shaking that out of me!

I have Aetna and I go tomorrow for my LAST nut appointment. I can't remember if you have to have the documentation OR do the 6 months supervised. I have done the 3 month plan but I had to struggle to find documents from 2011. I did eventually but it's handwritten on a progress note. I'm afraid they might not accept it. I will scream bloody murder if I don't get approved. I'm a nurse and our insurance is Aetna through Vanderbilt University Medical Center. I'm having everything done at Vandy so I'm hoping this helps. I have been told many other Vandy nurses have been approved. If I find out something tomorrow at my appointment I will let you know. Keeping my fingers crossed for both of us!

Thanks for all the info. I knew others had probably researched this. This was also my concern about the use of those blocking weight loss. I've heard that can happen. Seems like I've been ingesting way more sugar free products than before I started this journey - pre-packaged EVERYTHING. I was mixing up SF Jello and got to thinking about food dyes and artificial sweeteners and just kinda thought how much I'm eating. - yogurt, jello, Protein bars/drinks. I don't love sweets. I love the carbs in bread, Pasta, etc. pizza is my crack. I drink coffee with cream only. If I start drinking cokes, I'll want more though and I feel poorly after drinking diet soda. Once in a while I'll crave choc or strawberry. I have a strong family hx of cancer. Not sure I want to loose weight by filling up on low calories chemicals and food dyes (although I will do what I need to post op liquid phase with jello, etc). I'm not militant by any means, and I'm sure I can't avoid it altogether but wow - just seems like it's too much. I bought some stevia. I have used Truvia on Cereal. Thanks all for input!

I was gonna say the same thing about intimidation. We use it to protect ourselves from others - not intentionally. - but it's sometimes what we big girls do. I definitely think that holds some back. Shouldn't hold back your besties though. Work people, yes but good friends, no.