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Just found out today....MAY 20 th :-)

I will be having my gallbladder out at the same time as the sleeve being done. One recovery :-)

Snochick: I see you had Dr. Jones as a surgeon. He is going to be mine as well. I was very impressed with him at todays consult! What a down to earth person! Very easy to talk to!

I've considered this my Yellow Brick Road journey....THe Land of Oz - My Sleeve :-) My "Wizard" - surgeon...who's fabulous!) You're right those "flying monkeys" (pre-diet voices telling me to eat and after) are going to be my challenge. WHen they try to derail me I will remind myself of the "Good witch Galinda's" words....."Rome/Dorothy...you have had the power within you all along" I will then "click my heels" and tell myself...."there's nothing like health and thin, there's nothing like health and thin, there's nothing like health and thin!"

Turbo and others: I'm feeling an array of emotions as well! Eating to live vs. living to Eat is my motto going forward! Each day I'm more excited and then nervous..rollercoaster! However, I am looking forward to this tool to give me the start I have needed for sooo many years! Want my outside to match my inside....new career, new body, great health....NEW ME! I have alot of living yet to do!!!

Just got my date today....MAY 20th HERE WE COME!!!

Hi All! Tomorrow I have my appointment with the surgeon. I'm wondering if there were any specific questions any of you asked your surgeon. My thoughts....how many procedures he's done, mortality/leak rate, hospital stay length...etc. Others? Thanks!

Fabulous!!

The hardest part for me is the diet Pepsi....something about those bubbles, ice and straw! I' m thinking this May be a go cold turkey thing for me :-)

What a great metaphor! Cleaned the house now on to the rest! Thanks for the article!

Appointment with Surgeon on Monday.....this is really starting to sink in! Eeekkkk!

I am struggling with whether or not to tell my parents and daughter about this surgery. In large part because I know they will not be happy about it largely because of the fear factor; the "what if's" of surgery. I'm just not sure if I can just go into the hospital not having told them. Fairly sure they would be upset if I do that. So......any suggestions and/or advice on how to share this with them? Thanks!

INSURANCE APPROVAL TODAY!!! I have been walking this road slow and steady and I can see my "Oz" just ahead! Ultrasound for Gallbladder on Wednesday, Appointment with Surgeon next Monday and Nutritionist after that for pre-op diet. Looking like Mid May for surgery which is exactly what I was hoping for. I will have a month to recover and get a handle on new eating before I have to return to Grad school to finish up my last 2 classes in May and start an internship at the end of August. I'm hoping this will be enough time. Excited and nervous...more excited than nervous though....at least today :-)

During this process I ordered a few different books and thought I'd pass them Before & After - Living and Eating Well After Weight Loss Surgery by Susan Maria Leach This book has advice on eating before and after (as the title indicates) There are 135 Low Carb, High Protein recipes in the book. Eat It Up! The Complete Mind, Body/Spirit Guide to a Full Life After Weight Loss Surgery by Connie Stapleton, PH.D. This book is written by a psychologist who also speaks at Obesity Help Confereneces. She talks quite a bit about how to not regain the weight after the surgery (which as we know can happen if we are not mindful) and how to incorporate body, mind and spirit. I have enjoyed both of these books and found them to be helpful.

INSURANCE APPROVAL TODAY!!! I have been walking this road slow and steady and I can see my "Oz" just ahead! Ultrasound for Gallbladder on Wednesday, Appointment with Surgeon next Monday and Nutritionist after that for pre-op diet. Looking like Mid May for surgery which is exactly what I was hoping for. I will have a month to recover and get a handle on new eating before I have to return to Grad school to finish up my last 2 classes in May and start an internship at the end of August. I'm hoping this will be enough time. Excited and nervous...more excited than nervous though....at least today :-)

I am going to see my nutritionist next week. I will be asking about this for down the road. I'll let you know what she says :-)

Interesting event yesterday...no accident :-) I was at a birthday party for a friend of mines nephew and started talking with one of the grandmothers. She said she had been losing weight after having a special surgery....you guessed it, she was sleeved! I was able to talk to her and watch as she "filled" a plate (half a piece of cheese, 1 piece of turkey, and I think an olive) didn't drink with the meal, saying no to the cake, watching her chew slowly and thoroughly.......all of the things I have read about. Hearing her talk about no carbonation, sugars/sweets and carbs being a thing of her past and having to learn how to be a new person without food being the center of her world. I have to say seeing it was definately different than reading about it and I had a "moment" of "are you sure you want to do this?" Followed by a quick, "Yes You Do!" I am ready and willing to do the work so that i can live a full life! No more sitting on the sideline or living a less than fulfilling life because of my weight! This grandma decided the same....in her sixties. Not going to wait that long! Come on Insurance!! Let's get this show on the road!

I haven't heard back from Insurance yet. Hoping this week.

New me......I would be interested in support group and possibly workout. I live in Burnsville. Haven't been sleeved yet....hoping for mid May.

Perhaps you don't need to tell them anything :-) When they ask you about your weight loss you can say that you are under a doctor supervised low carb. weight loss program. That is true :-) Whatever you decide to do, it's YOUR story to tell. No obligation to tell anyone if you choose not to. Good luck!

My machine is an adjustable pressure one....goes up and down as needed during the night. I know what you mean....hard to sleep; especially at first! I actually set my alarm for the first couple of weeks. I needed to show 4 hours of usage each night for 2 weeks to be cleared for surgery. So...4 hours is what I did. However, now I'm getting used to it, learning how to maneuver in bed so that I can sleep and I've been able to extend the usage. Talk with the people that gave you the CPAP machine. They should be able to adjust the pressure for you. I know mine did. Good luck!

I just made a Walmart run to get some smaller plates, spoons, bowls, ice cube trays for freezing smaller portions, quarter cup snack containers etc. to help me on this journey in the beginning. I found most of it in the baby section. When I went to the check out the woman said, "Oh Oh! Your little one must be ready for real food!' I chuckled and said, "Yes..... I am"....she looked at me with a bit of bewilderment on her face and I just continued to smile. I realized we are all a bit child like in this process, graduating just like children to new utensils, foods and the like with each phase we complete. Here's to walking the path of "Gerber Graduates" Sleeve style!

The part in the journey that we all hold our breath for.....approval. Sounds like it should be no problem and will have an appointment with surgeon shortly! I'm on my yellow brick road to the land of Oz (sleeve time).....yippee!

Good luck! Your new journey is beginning! Can't wait to be in your shoes :-) Let us know how all goes :-)

So everyone is in agreement that sippy cups aren't the same as using a straw? I guess I am picturing all of the toddlers I've seen sucking on those things like they are gonna get away from them! lol I really think they would help get the "sipping" idea down. I'm a gulper by nature so I'm a little worried about the sipping liquids thing.....