Ariella

EVERYONE I told thought this at first too, I think my future father in law still kind of thinks an actual over sleeve is involved. Congrats on your weight loss!

Ariella~I know exactly how you feel! I am having surgery on the 15th. Best of luck to you! Laura Thank you Laura! I hope you do amazing as well! Have you started your pre-op yet?

I have this conversation with myself everyday!!!! I have absolutely no clue what I'm gonna look like. There is like 1 picture of me from my adult life where i managed to his 200-ish (as opposed to living between 230 and 270), so I have an idea of smaller, but not of skinny. Sometimes I'll catch my boyfriend staring at me, and when I ask him what, he tells me he's trying to figure out what I'll look like skinny. Neither of us know!!!!

I want to just get a full supply of highwaist (up to my bra) briefs, spanks or an off brand. That way I don't have to worry about it! Just like Dolly Parton in Steel Magnolias!! hahaha

YOu are doing AMAZING!!!! Congrats! My weight is really close to your pre op weight, so you are an inspiration right now! 4 months and 2 weeks is not so far away.... to imagine having a similar transformation is incredeble to me. Thank you for sharing. You look really great!

also, 22lbs in a month?!?! You Go Girl!!!!!!

I found Fage has a ton of protein. Their plain fat free has 100 cal and 18g of protein. i add 1 pack of splenda and it's AMAZING (it's my dairy during pre op)

I didn't have an issue telling people at work, I knew I would have to and honestly, other than my partner they have been really the most supportive. My immediate family and 2 closest friends know. One of those friends really had an issue at first, she seems on board now but i worry the problem will come back later on and become an issue between us, even though I really consider her a sister. My Father knows and my grandfather knows (the latter only because he is the one generously funding it) and my future in laws . All have been great. I am however scared to tell the rest of my family and my facebook friends. I kind of just feel like if I'm asked I'll tell, if not know one needs to know. I am usually a very open person but I really dont wwant to deal with negativity from people, especially after my above mentioned friend freaked out on me

SUrgery on the 7th! Holy crap! I started my pre op diet yesterday. IT's all happening so quickly!

Also, I know there are companies that do financing.

In Jacksonville florida, my self pay will be about 13,500.... Just to through it out there, if traveling is at all an option

Wait! So my boobs and my vagina is gonna sag?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?! Oh lord, pre op breakdown number 2 is coming! What about an ass, will I ever have one of those???? At the end of the day, I just want to be healthy, but I'm human and my personal aestetic has always been curvy, at least somewhat....

Girl, my pre op diet has 2 phases, yesterday was day 1 of phase one (low cal, no carb) I was freaking starving and a crazy be-otch all night. I had some serious doubts about even being able to survive post surgery. I know where you're coming from!! I am scared of the liquid phase

Congrats Kiki!!! I'm going in on the 7th!!!! You're only a few days ahead of me!!!!! My surgeon is not concerned at all about the PCOS and def thinks the sleeve will help me. I am so excited to be getting this done!

I got my surgery date today! I'm gonna be going in on 2/7/14!!!!!!! I'm using Dr. Rao in Jax Florida

Yesterday was spent harrassing my surgeons office as well as my PCP's office making sure all of my documentaion was in. Finally the coordinator told me she had everything and that was needed and that she sould give my name to the scheduler. I waited all afternoon for that call back. Of course I got as I stepped on an elevator trying to get out of work to rush to class. The call dropped. I went to call her back, but when I got outside it was monsooing and hailing. I had to hide my phone and run to my car. I got so wet I ended up having to skip class anyway. When I finally got in my car I called back and spoke with her. She told me to start the first phase of the pre op diet, and that she would call me the next day to give me a date. Today they gave me Feb. 7th as my surgery date. OMG! Thats just over 2 weeks! I am so excited and nervous. More excited than anything else. This is going to be amazing!!!

I can understand how you feel girl! My partner is giving up a lot for me to get this surgery done, and he does so effortlessly. I feel selfish everyday. But I keep telling myself that I don't want to die before him and leave him all alone, that would be selfish. I take a step back and am just thankful for his support. Family is a give and take relationship. We have your back on this board! I hope you have much success.

I made a list today of things I want to do once the weight comes off. The first two things are Learn to ski and roller skate. What's on your list?

The first song I put on to get pumped is I Love It by Icona POP "You're fromt he 70's but I'm a 90's bitch!"

Thanks sophiepants!

My first NUT appt is today. What questions should I ask????? I feel like I understand the surgery inside and out, so I was not worried about questions for my surgeon. I feel like i should have questions for my dietician though. What those are, I do not know. HELP!!!

OMG a heating pad! That is brilliant and I will make sure to remember that once I am on the post op side! Keep on keeping on girl!!

I had my first appointment with my surgeon 2 days ago. In the days leading up to it I had dreams of getting a date during the visit and nightmares of psych evals that deemed me crazy because my mother died two years ago. I was filled with a lot of feelings at that appointment. Me and my boyfriend Michael went in knowing a lot, but not realizing what exactly would happen. I met my surgeon, and she was almost ecstatic to have me as a patient. I don't have any road blocks, or pescky insurance companies to deal with. (Sidebar: I am so thankful I am able to be self pay, and my heart really goes out to all of you guys that are dealing with the a*****e insurance companies) I was given the list of the 2 tests I needed done and a sheet for my PCP to sign to give clearence. She also gave me my pre op diet. I was not given a date, but the timeline of once all the tests are in, about 3-4 weeks out. For some reason, even after all of my dreaming this was now real and immediate. I am still partially in shock and close to overwhelmed that all of this is happening and happening so quickly. I am trying to sort through all of my anxieties and finding new ones that focus on failing post op along the way. These are ones I wouldn't dare to speak aloud, I feel like if I give them that much credit they will come true. I want this so bad. Losing this weight will mean so much for me. I will no longer be inhibited by my own body. I should have a surgery date by next week. I am thrilled and scared and excited. The journey is beginging. I'm like Frodo heading out of the Shire to lands unknown, on journey with a far away goal and countless unknown obstacles ahead. "Mordor, Gandalf, is it left or right?"

I had a similar thing with my partner. Before our first seminar he was all kinds of gung ho about bypass. After 2 seminars and discussions together, he realized why I wanted the sleeve and got 110% on board with it. Having that comeplete support is the most helpful thing in this process.This expierence would be completely different without him. He is also going to be there for surgery, I'm not sure If I will make him stay the night, during my gallbladder surgery he was there, but the sleeping situation was HORRIBLE. I don't want to put him through that again unless I get irrationally scared.

I had my first appt today. They are sending me out for the blood work and testing. I am a self pay PT, so it's all moving SOO FAST I can't believe it. All of my tests, my PCP clearence appt and my eduacation class and NUT meeting are in the next two weeks and then it's time to scheduale!! I am really excited, and not as nervous as I thought. I can't wait to get my date.