I will what I want

I've been paying close attention to how my body feels these last few days as a way to stay rationale about this decision to get the VGS. What I've noticed is that I feel physically horrible. Everything hurts...constantly. I guess I've been blocking it out. I've also been noticing how I don't want to clean my house because it's so hard to get under things and move around etc. By the time I make dinner and then clean up I'm wasted for the rest of the night. (Husband has to get kids into bed even :-( ) Ga! What a horrible way to live. This was really just an experiment to see how my body felt, aside from the emotional stuff, so I could be objective and wow...did that seal the deal for me. Can't wait to get this done and get on with a healthy life without pain. Again, everyone's comments have been so very helpful. Thanks All!

Oh hell no!

MusicalLover - you have a huge calorie deficit (1000 - 2700 = -1700 a day). As you lose weight it becomes more difficult for your body to get to it's stored fat for energy. If you are nearing goal weight it might be your body just can't get to the fuel in time. I had this happen on a medically supervised fast (500 cal a day) when I got within 20 pounds of goal. You might try decreasing your deficit a little and see if that helps. I only had to increase my calories by 300 and it stopped. This happens to lots of people, sleeve or no sleeve when at a huge deficit. Good luck - keep us posted on what your doc says at your 1 year!

I agree that you want your whole team confident in success. Although I don't quite understand why they are so worried about you being disappointed. Were they trying to manage your expectations? Some thing to consider: Sounds like you need more information and some problem solving: You could not do the tests they want because of your weight? Okay...what do you need to do to be able to do the test? Also, if you are not at a major medical center, I'd suggest having a conversation with a team at one. They are equipped, trained and have experience with medical situations that most teams are not able to handle and they will take on patients that no one else will...usually with great results. The downside is they are usually big teaching/research hospitals, have more hoops to jump through, and can be impersonal....but if it is the difference between getting life saving WLS or not, it would be worth it in my book. I have a personal experience that is not from WLS, but life saving nonetheless less. When I got pregnant I started with a local run of the mill ob-gyn. As I progressed I discovered I was having twins and I could tell my doc was not quite up to speed on current thinking around twin pregnancies, especially with my medical history, so I switched to a doc at Stanford that does high risk pregnancy. Good thing too as I got sicker and sicker as my pregnancy wore on and it was clear that my original doc had not ordered the right tests or been concerned enough. I switched early enough that we all survived and are thriving now...and I'm pretty sure one or all of us would be dead now if I hadn't gone to a specialist. I think it is great, although disappointing, that your team voiced their concerns. My first OB-GYN was never going to tell me he was out of his depth with me, I had to listen to my instinct. While I don't think your team was concerned about you dying - just about not being able to go forward with the surgery - you may find a team that has experience with your specific challenges and has no reservations. I know my experience is not exactly the same, and I'm intending to be supportive and give you another avenue - all is not lost if your current team does not work out. Best of luck to you on your journey!

Wow Heather! Thanks for your transparency. In regards to the 60 to 70% excess body weight - that is based on a pretty low BMI - often 22 (although my surgeon used an even lower BMI to calculate my excess weight) so even at only 70% loss I will get to a bmi of around 25 - and I would be thrilled with that result - it's officially in the normal weight range. I hope you are doing well and Thanks for adding your perspective!

Lol. Sounds like you are going to eat a dog. Don't think that allowed on .any. Post- op plan. :-). ...I notice wierd bugs on the iPhone app of that's what you are using. Good luck on surgery! I'm still jumping through hoops and I understand why, so it's all good! keep us posted!

Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences with me. It makes a huge difference knowing that others have traveled this path and are happier and healthier for it. Also...you all are hilarious. I burst out laughing more than once reading this thread. I think after so many years of criticism about my weight I was half expecting people to line up to drive me to the hospital! So their shocked reactions caught me off guard. I'm in mental health so my friends are trained to be supportive, so I'm lucky that way - but people are people and get shocked and scared just like everyone else. It also drives home the point of whom I'm telling. I usually am an open book - but if it's this challenging to tell supportive people, I'm not even going to bother with the in-betweens. Again, thanks everyone for your insight. Next Nut appointment in an hour. Let's do this!

Wow! I have Autoimmune issues as well, Didn't even cross my mind WLS might help! Thanks for that piece of info.

You know, maybe you should tell her. Or sing to her: "every party needs a pooper that's why we invited you...party pooper.." I mean really, who's she to say? You did great. Hope as successful as you!

I've always understood the bmi to be from the first visit with the surgeon. After that first visit they may ask you to lose weight. My doc has only asked for 10 pounds. I think it varies from practice to practice. You should be okay if you are at 40 at your first visit. I also noticed at my visit my height was rounded down just a little, but enough to get me to 35 and qualified (I also have OSA so I'm covered at that bmi). All my best to you on your journey. I'm in the middle of getting approved myself.

Guilty!

I'm so sorry you are going through this. Sending prayers.

I'm sending lots of prayers that the medication works....fast. What's the timeline for you to know if it will work?

Oh honey, I'm sorry you are going through this! I googled this and it is odd because sometimes a vsg is done to cure delayed gastric emptying.....must be confusing and terrifying for you. Wish I had something of value to say. I'll I can come up with are platitudes and those never help. :-(. Please keep us posted.

That's so cute - it looke like they are giving each other a high five!

I have been doing a ton of research, as we all have, on why WLS works when diets don't. I read everything I can find, including the scientific studies. I'm not a biochemist so I don't understand everything, but I do get the gist. From what I understand and what my surgeon told me, it really appears that WLS (especially rny and vgs) primarily work by resetting the metabolism...meaning obesity .really. is a faulty metabolism. Getting our metabolism reset to "normal" makes it possible to lose weight and keep it off. Of course, just like anyone with a normal metabolism we can gain weight back with poor food choices and amount. Point being....WLS corrects a broken metabolism ....that's not cosmetic. (If people are interested I can start a thread on the appropriate forum with links to the articles...they are very interesting...if a little dense)

This is spot on. One of my friends waited too long to get her RNY and now has to have knee replacement. I've been on the fence and she made a big point in telling me not to follow in her footsteps - to get this handled now while I was still "healthy."

Omg! I would have just left. Or worse, fumed about it under my breath. You have more patience and energy than me! Take good care of yourself today. I'd suggest a pair of new really expensive shoes!

I've been thinking about you and hoping you get good news from your doc today.!

Omg you are hilarious. And an inspiration and gloriously beautiful covered in mud. Thanks for making my evening with your post!

I agree with everyone who has posted. She is in pain and acting out to the point of being nutty. What I'd like to point out is how strong you are to lose a "friend" and not let it derail your plans for WLS and getting healthy. 2. you reached out to a community who can support you in your journey - Way to go! That's a huge win in my book. 3. You are feeling your feelings and accepting what is so - that's great because that is how you move on in life. So really, great work! One last thing - even if you were getting WLS only to be pretty, only to fit in with the rest of the world, only....only...only....that would be enough. It's your life and your decision. It is the right choice for you because you say so. You made your choice - now empower it! Lots of love to you - Shellie

I'm so glad you called your doc! Keep us updated.

I have written a couple of PM on my iPhone that never showed up in my conversations, so I assume they didn't go through. Has this happened to anyone else or is it just me? I have successfully sent PMs on my iPad. Thanks!

From the BP app.

I am so sorry you are having a hard time. I'm pre-op so I don't have any personal advice about vsg. It does seem to me you are having more than is "average." If I were in your shoes I would be on the phone with my doc. I have had a lot of medical problems and I've found that they often can do more for pain, nausea etc...but they can't help if we don't let them know what's happening. I've got a lot of personal stories to illustrate this but I'm typing on my phone, so too hard to get it down. Anyway, that's just my pre-op 2 cents. Let us know how it goes. Sending you love and healing energy.