Sasha287

Greetings to all . I am new to this. I have started the process but I am trying to plan my surgery around work and school. How long was the recovery process before you'll could return to work? I know everyone is different but I am trying to make a estimate . Is two weeks long enough?

yes, as long as you have no complications, that should be fine.

Hi beldary, I am being sleeved on April 2nd so we should def keep in touch and will gladly be your "buddy"

hi, ndipilato, I would love to be your buddy. Got sleeved April 1, so we are at the same stage and can compare notes. So far I have lost 36 lbs, most before surgery. Only 6 lbs in last two weeks. How are you doing?

I'm getting a sleeve .

hi beldary, I would love to be your buddy. I am 52, live in Kansas and am just starting my third week post op. I have lost 36 lbs, most of it prior to surgery. Was on liquid diet for two weeks. I have a long way to go, but thrilled so far.

Hi Sasha, so how are you doing since surgery? You are 2 weeks out now? Is it getting a little bit easier? each week is always a bit easier than the week before so take it slow and easy. Stick to the plan as it makes it easier on your stomach. Hope all is going well for you and you are starting to feel good now.

I feel really blessed because I feel really good. Never even took pain meds. And I'm a wimp! I'm just starting my third week. Find it a little difficult to get all my Water and Protein in. Weight loss is slowing down, but I hear this is normal. I have no regrets and this has been a very good experience so far. How are you doing?

I was sleeved on March 31 and got out on April 1. Great experience and no regrets! No pain meds needed. Going back to work tomorrow. Eating soft foods; Weight loss has slowed considerably, but I am told to be patient.

I am from Overland Park. Had surgery April 1 with Dr. Hoen. Can't say enough good things about my experience!

I would love some buddies. I had VSG on April 1.

Hi beldary, welcome to the forum. I had the sleeve on Feb. 10th. Im now 6 weeks out and feeling fabulous. I pretty much had a text book case but am very aware of all that could have gone wrong. I'll be happy to answer any questions about the sleeve and my journey. I am 58, I live in Mississippi and I'm just happy to be here. :-)

Hi, I am just starting my 3rd week postoperative. I had VSG on April 1. Looking for a buddy. Live in Overland Park, KS.

Hi everyone, it's very interesting to read everyone's experience. Mine seems to be a little different, probably because I am in Canada. I think the longest anyone has been on the diet first is one month, most people do a liquid diet for 2 weeks first, I think. The sleep apnea thing is really bothering me, I hope I don't have it. I haven't been sleeping well for years, but I never thought that could be what I had. Sasha287, I definitely understand what you are going through. I'm having a hard time dieting too, I will try it again this week though. I bought some Protein shakes and will try to start replacing at least one meal a day with it to get used to it. I'll let you know how it goes.

I'm going to try to do the Protein Shakes starting next week too. Let's compare notes!

Hi! I have told my family and they are very supportive! Especially my husband, mom and sister! I have 3 kids. My oldest is worried! I don't work any more so I don't have to worry about work! That's good that your friends will be supportive but too bad about your family!

I have been checking out this app to see if there is like an instant messanger but don't see one. Do you have yahoo messenger?

Hi, hope it's ok for me to butt into your conversation. I am also new to this site and I would love to be able to share with others. I am meeting with the bariatric team (surgeon, nutritionist, etc,) on January 8 and 9 and should be getting my surgery within 3 months after that. I'm from Quebec, so it's a bit different here. My insurance will cover it and I have to be off work for 3 months, which I think is entirely too long. I am a teacher and mother of a 5 year old girl.I have read every book and watched every youtube video on the sleeve and I am terrified, but I feel like I have to do it. I also have over 100 lbs to lose and I don't feel like I can do it by myself anymore. I would love to keep sharing with you as we continue our journey to becoming healthy.

Hi Shelly, I did that wrong. See my answer below.

Wow! 3 months off? That is great! I would love to keep in touch throughout this journey. I am not sure yet when my surgery will be. I'm hoping for feb. But we will see.

Not really a newbie to the board, but a newbie to the process. I have Kaiser and this is my last week of the Options classes (there were 12). So I am very stoked about that.

The only thing that is in the way at this point is the fact that I need to do a sleep apnea study but my appointment isn't until March!! So I will basically be twiddling my thumbs until then. Been bugging them about getting in to any cancelled appt spots though. Annoying thing is that I have no symptoms of sleep apnea but they are still making me do it. Oh well.. I figure these things happen for a reason.

After that I will have a series of pre-op appointments, such as psych, etc.

I'm excited though. Best of luck to all

Hi Ladies, I am a newbie also. Went to the Seminar in December and I have my first consultation with the surgeon on January 10. I believe my insurance covers bariatric surgery when medically necessary and I have a BMI over 40. I just hope I don't have to do the 6 month weigh in, keeping fingers crossed. I will follow up when I meet with surgeon and know more about what my requirements are. I have great support from my family, friends and co-workers! Good luck to all.

I was so busy at my brothers engagement party that the day flew by and now I am tearing because my dream is coming true tomorrow OMG omg omg .. I am now feeling nervous and have lots of butterflies in my tummy. Tell me I will be okay and the pain won't be so bad please please please :/

I am praying for you! How did it go? Are you feeling ok? please post when you can and update everyone. We care.

Hi Sasha287, yes I am having the Gastric sleeve. I have Oxford Freedom Plan and I live in NY, and from what I have read they are pretty good when it comes to WLS. You were lucky to only have to do 3 months. Do you have a surgery date?

No, not yet... I have to fulfill the 3 months of dietician visits first. I'm an instant-gratification girl, so waiting is HARD!! lol.

How are you ladies doing as far as losing weight pre-surgery? I must tell you, I'm not doing too good... I keep thinking, this is the last time I can have Pad Thai, this is the last time I'm going to have cake, etc... Is that common? I do want to try to start following a post-surgery diet so that I will be ahead of the game. The goal is to lose weight right? Not gain some before the surgery! :-)

I'm also a newbie...I went to my last medical supervised weight management with my MD appointment. Fed BCBS demands that before they will cover the sleeve. I have done all my testing and now just have to wait for my surgeon to send all my completed task to BCBS....I have done everything the have required! It took about five months....I'm scared to death for some reason the will deny me. All the appointments between the psychological eval , pap, mammo, barium swallow and labs plus the four month long weight management appointments. My thing is I have nothing wrong with me. My blood pressure, cholesterol, sugar levels and sleep habits are all normal. I do have a BMI of 43..so they say that will work....still nervous. Anyone else out there with same insurance and health (non) issues?

Hi there. I also have Fed BCBS and am currently fulfilling my 3 months of dietician supervised diet. I have been told that BCBS will cover the gastric sleeve... I may have more weight to lose than you as I need to lose about 150 lbs. I also have diabetes and high blood pressure so more medically compromised than you are. Keep me posted!

Hi Ladies, I am a newbie also. Went to the Seminar in December and I have my first consultation with the surgeon on January 10. I believe my insurance covers bariatric surgery when medically necessary and I have a BMI over 40. I just hope I don't have to do the 6 month weigh in, keeping fingers crossed. I will follow up when I meet with surgeon and know more about what my requirements are. I have great support from my family, friends and co-workers! Good luck to all.

Hi Islandgal! The weigh in/preop diet depends on what insurance company you have. Some require 3 mos, some 6 mos and I have even heard of 12 mos! Mine wanted 3 mos so I guess I'm lucky there. I am so glad you have great support. I still cannot decide about telling my coworkers or some of my family... Are you having the gastric sleeve?

3 months off! Wow! I think that would make the surgery worth it right there! Ok, I'm kidding ,but only a little. I'm hoping to be off two weeks. I would love to correspond with you as we share this journey. Sounds like we will have our surgeries about the same time. I am a dental hygienist in Kansas, married, no kids. I too have read every book and watched tons of video. I think I am more excited than scared. Can't wait to finally have a chance to really lose weight and keep it off.

Hi Shelly, I did that wrong. See my answer below.

Hi! I have told my family and they are very supportive! Especially my husband, mom and sister! I have 3 kids. My oldest is worried! I don't work any more so I don't have to worry about work! That's good that your friends will be supportive but too bad about your family! <br>

I have been checking out this app to see if there is like an instant messanger but don't see one. Do you have yahoo messenger?

I do not have yahoo messenger... Not even sure I am replying correctly on my iPad....

Hi, hope it's ok for me to butt into your conversation. I am also new to this site and I would love to be able to share with others. I am meeting with the bariatric team (surgeon, nutritionist, etc,) on January 8 and 9 and should be getting my surgery within 3 months after that. I'm from Quebec, so it's a bit different here. My insurance will cover it and I have to be off work for 3 months, which I think is entirely too long. I am a teacher and mother of a 5 year old girl.I have read every book and watched every youtube video on the sleeve and I am terrified, but I feel like I have to do it. I also have over 100 lbs to lose and I don't feel like I can do it by myself anymore. I would love to keep sharing with you as we continue our journey to becoming healthy.

3 months off! Wow! I think that would make the surgery worth it right ther=

e! Ok, I'm kidding ,but only a little. I'm hoping to be off two weeks. I w=

ould love to correspond with you as we share this journey. Sounds like we w=

ill have our surgeries about the same time. I am a dental hygienist in Kans=

as, married, no kids. I too have read every book and watched tons of videos=

. I think I am more excited than scared. Can't wait to finally have a chan=

ce to really lose weight and keep it off.

Hi Stacie. I'm still trying to figure out how this app works, but getting there. Thank you so much for responding! I live in Kansas. I am so looking forward to this surgery. Can't come soon enough. I've heard really good things about the sleeve and though it is not reversible, I hear people lose the most weight on it and it seems like it is less intrusive on the rest of the intestines etc. Have you told everyone about your upcoming surgery? What about work? Not sure what to do there... My friends I think would be very supportive, but my family not so much and work? I don't know. Hope you had a great Christmas and look forward to talking again.

I am a newbie too. I had my seminar in October, surgeon visit in November and now going through 3 mos of mandatory diet counseling, so I think surgery will be in March 2014. I have a lot of weight to lose... 150 lbs or more. I am new to this website (20 mins.) so not sure how to navigate it yet, but would love to share my journey with you. I need to surround myself with people who understand what I'm going through. I will be getting the gastric sleeve surgery. How about you?

I am just starting my journey and will have surgery in March or April. I can't wait until I can ask this question! I will be donating them to shelters so that they can be of good use to someone.

I just signed up on this website and your entry (A new me for 2014!) mirrors how I feel. I am pre-surgery with surgery probably in March or April of 2014. I have A LOT of weight to lose and thought it would be nice to have some people to share my journey with. My first question: Are you telling anyone about your surgery? (aside from this website). I am torn. I want to help others, but I don't really want to tell people at work or family--both of whom I feel will judge me.