dreamgirl45

Mysticblu, thanks for sharing. Minus the Tijuana part, your story sounded like my own. I hope the surgery helps you to live life more fully, and best of luck for a smooth surgery and recovery.

Jojoreno, I'm sure it is frustrating. Hopefully, things will come together for you soon.

JMomma5, just checking in. A month ago, you said everything was making you nauseous. How are things with foods/drinks now? How is your weight loss going? Thanks.

I'm getting sleeved Aug. 11 too! What state are you in? I'm in Texas, 46, 5"6, 250 lbs. Let's keep connected so that we can encourage each other. All good wishes!

KayKay, I at first didn't want to tell anyone, but I thought -- I spend more time with these people than anyone except for my family. I just didn't want the stress of hiding from my colleagues coupled with the stress of trying to get used to my new body/life. As for people whispering about why would such and such do this.... we have to remember why we're doing it-- to get healthier. My husband said, "Let them talk. I'd rather them say 'why did she have weight loss surgery?' Instead of saying 'why didn't she do something?'"

That's interesting. Thanks, CathyG. I don't think I have heard of that happening to anyone else. What has it been like still being on liquids? Are you starving? I would imagine that it's very much a head thing-- knowing that you just can't eat yet until you're healed enough. Best wishes for a continued successful recovery.

@@CandyPants81 You're getting closer to your date. How are you feeling? What are you most looking forward to? Sending good thoughts.

Hello, As I get closer to my surgery date, I'm starting to think about a statement my doctor made, which was that GERD actually worsens for some people who have the sleeve. Is there anyone here who has had surgery already and has GERD? I am not actually certain of how bad my GERD is, but 3 recent experiences concerned me. In one case, it seemed as if I was choking, actually gasping for air, when something I ate came back up & felt stuck in my throat. People in the restaurant were staring, my husband got behind me and put his arms around my waist to try to do a maneuver to get the food un-stuck. The workers brought me a big paper bag, thinking that I was about to throw up. All I could do was gasp for air and turns out, a few birps made me feel better. But last week, right after I ate, some food felt as if it was stuck in my throat. I just wonder will surgery make this type of feeling occur more frequently, and if so, should I scrap the idea of surgery altogether? Like my doctor said, the surgery is not worth it if it's not going to improve my quality of life. I don't want to lose weight but walk around constantly feeling sick after I do eat. Would love to hear from anybody with GERD who has had the sleeve.. how are you doing? Thanks!

Hello, As I get closer to my surgery date, I'm starting to think about a statement my doctor made, which was that GERD actually worsens for some people who have the sleeve. Is there anyone here who has had surgery already and has GERD? I am not actually certain of how bad my GERD is, but 3 recent experiences concerned me. In one case, it seemed as if I was choking, actually gasping for air, when something I ate came back up & felt stuck in my throat. People in the restaurant were staring, my husband got behind me and put his arms around my waist to try to do a maneuver to get the food un-stuck. The workers brought me a big paper bag, thinking that I was about to throw up. All I could do was gasp for air and turns out, a few birps made me feel better. But last week, right after I ate, some food felt as if it was stuck in my throat. I just wonder will surgery make this type of feeling occur more frequently, and if so, should I scrap the idea of surgery altogether? Like my doctor said, the surgery is not worth it if it's not going to improve my quality of life. I don't want to lose weight but walk around constantly feeling sick after I do eat. Would love to hear from anybody with GERD.. their thoughts.. Thanks!

Albright, I understand. The permanency of it all bliss my mind, too, BUT I do have the high blood pressure, diabetes, sleep apnea, back pain, irregularities, weird sensations that appear to be like diabetic neuropathy, night sweats and more. Most importantly, I have a 7 year old daughter. I keep thinking of the immediate benefits of the sleeve and how nothing else I've tried-- that resulted in weight loss has lasted.

Hello, all! After about a month of waiting for my insurance company to sign off on my surgery, I finally got approved this week. I honestly cannot believe it. I've already competed psych counseling, nutrition counseling, blood tests, EKG, etc. I start my two-week pre-op liquid diet July 28 and get sleeved Aug. 11. For the most part, I have family support. At work, those closest to me have said things like, "You're not large enough. You don't need to do that. Please reconsider," to "How long will you be out? I better get in my vacation time in before you go." One co-worker looks at me in a sad, troubled, puzzled expression when she sees me and explained that her neighbor had WLS and it was a bad experience. So, it's quite a challenge to share my news with people who don't get "it." And that is okay. It is not for them to "get." This is for ME! Sorry, for that virtual self psych-analysis. I must admit that I am a little nervous about surgery (I don't like any kind of hospital procedures), but I'm eager to start living a healthier life. Would love to hear from anyone else getting sleeved in August, what your chief concerns are and where you're located. My surgeon is at UTSW in Dallas.

Wow, hope that doesn't happen to me. I love iced tea, especially since I'm not a coffee drinker and am trying to give up soda.

Just out of curiosity, what other things now make you sick that you formerly liked?

JCsMamaBear, you just expressed what I've been experiencing. I've finished all evaluations and playing the waiting game. It took 3 weeks to get an approval letter from my insurance company. When I called my doctor's office, they said it was just a letter approving that I was a candidate for WLS. They said now I have to wait for a letter actually approving of the procedure. It's sort of frustrating because it's causing me to rearrange summer plans, kids schedule, etc., but my husband said that this isn't a process that we want to rush so let's just make sure that everything is done right. In the meantime, I see shows like the new season of Extreme Weight Loss and think-- okay, can I do that? Do I really need surgery? Then I'm reminded that that is TV and I don't have Chris Howell working with me. Good luck to you!

I can relate, too. Ever since I received surgery pre-approval from the insurance company, I've been going to town eating things I think I'll never enjoy again. Yesterday, I ate BBQ and fried food to the point that I felt sick and in pain when I turned in for the night. Also, for a really long time I kept soda drinking to maybe 1 Sprite or Coke a week, but I swear I've been having 1 soda or carbonated beverage a day (especially Sonic limeade, which is made with Sprite), all in an attempt to have a foof funeral since after the surgery I'm told that I can never have carbonated beverages again. The kicker is soda isn't good for us anyway and I cringe when my 7 year old asks if she can have a soda!!!

Hi Pat. Welcome! Good luck with everything!

I've been having serious asthma flare-ups lately, which have led to that type of coughing that hurts my stomach. It's so bad that it sometimes wakes me up in the middle of the night. Are there any other "pre-sleevers" out there that also have asthma, and if so, did your doctor discuss how your condition could impact surgery and/or recovery? My husband is concerned that if a tube is put down my throat, that could cause serious problems if I start to cough during and/or after surgery.

Congrats! Once your insurance was submitted, how long did it take to get approval? I meet with my doctor next week to confirm the type of surgery that I want. Afterward, she will send my file to the insurance company for final approval. I've already completed my endoscopy, psych evaluation, nutrition class, have co-morbidities, etc. So I'm just wondering how long it will take. I wanted the surgery this month but my husband keeps asking me, "What's the rush?" Unless someone has been carrying a lot of weight on them, having trouble breathing when they sleep or walk, or feeling uncomfortable while doing mundane tasks, they just don't get it. I'm not "in a rush" for surgery, but I am ready to make the kind of change that will improve my health and life. Sorry for the long post. I just felt like a I needed to vent in this moment.

Hi AbbyFran7. I'm finished with all the pre-evals and meeting with my doctor Tues., May 20 to set a date. Because of prior discussions, I believe that the surgery will be in June or July, but won't know for sure until after next week. I'm 5"7, 250 lbs. This whole process seems unreal to me. Never imagined myself in this place, needing surgery, but glad to be doing something about it that can result in real change and improve my health.

Thanks, Joatsaint. After that nutritionist appointment, did your doctor then set a date for your surgery?

thanks hhhappy.

I'm in Texas. No date yet. I'm wondering when the doctor will set one.

Hi all, I meet tomorrow with the nutritionist (my first appointment with her), then the doctor. Is that when I will set a surgery date? Can anyone tell me what happened at their first appointment w/the nutritionist? Just wondering what's next for me, as I have completed other evals. Thanks!

Thank you all. I really needed this.

Thank you!