bpbqueen

I'm a pre-op who loves to cook. I got this book, which is called Eating Well After Weight Loss Surgery which has great recipes. The best thing, it shows you how to prepare each one for each stage of the surgery. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1569244537/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I'm having the sleeve. The process has been over a year for me because it's taking a long time to lose my 10% due to set backs in my weight loss. Once I buckled down in January to lose the weight I was able to drop the 44 lbs in 6 months (37 lbs. plus the extra I gained on top of what was required) and then the rest happened quickly the last 2 weeks. I have my pre-ops tomorrow and then I'm ready to go on the 13th.

Questions I forget to ask my doctor but you kind people remind me to ask. Gosh, this is there anything Bariatricpal can't answer??

Let's support each other as we go through this journey together. I'm in Northern California. I'm having my surgery at Kaiser Fremont.

So many to love, so few dollars to spend! Story of my entire life. LOL!!

When I began my journey I knew that I wasn't dealing with my stomach issues, I was dealing with my head issues. That was going to make or break my success with this program. Immediately after my first meeting with the Bariatric program I contacted a therapist and began bi-weekly appointments to deal with my head around food so that I will be successful after surgery. It's not the food that caused this problem, it's the reason behind why I overate that caused the excessive weight gain. Understanding and dealing with that will help me the most on this journey.

I'm doing this first for my health because I'm tired of not being able to walk around and I hate being in pain. I love myself, I love my body and I like the way I look just fine. I think I look fabulous. That being said, girl, I want to look like a SUPERSTAR! Of course I'm a vain b*@ch and I totally admit it. I want to buy all the cute clothing and look like a fine, fine woman. So, that is also another reason why I'm having the surgery!

This is such an awesome thread. Here is what I'm looking forward to along this amazing journey: * Having the energy to spend more time in my garden and doing the crafts around my house/yard that I want to do * Being able to get "frisky" with my husband (it really does get in the way when both partners are big) * Roller skating and joining my local roller derby team * Running again for the first time since high school * Not being the fat sister * Being able to buy clothes in any store EXCEPT the plus sized store! * Traveling and only having to buy one seat * Not being discriminated against when I look for jobs * Being able to hike all of the awesome trails we have here in Northern California * Being able to go on the annual father/daughter fishing trip to Mt. Shasta for the first time ever with my dad, sister, uncle and cousin * Living to be a ripe, old healthy age!

I am so in awe of all of you that have to do this! My doctor doesn't require it of us. And, boy am I glad because it was enough hell having to lose 10% of my highest weight, which was 35 lbs. plus the additional 9 lbs. in friends they decided to bring along for the party. That alone took me 6 months of crazy up and down battle. If he told me I had to do 2 weeks of this on top of the last 6 months of that insanity I might have broken down in his office in tears.

Oops, look like I posted twice. Well, I'm REALLY, REALLY happy for you!

I'm so happy that it went well and you're approved!

The Unjury is awesome! I need to get some more as I'm almost out. It's really the best I've ever tried and it doesn't make me gassy.

OMG, the comments about twins! My friend has twins and some of the things complete strangers feel they have a right to say. I feel like I have to physically restrain her sometimes to keep her from smacking the idiots!

This is an old thread but the information is still so relevant! My last employers insurance did not cover the surgery. So, I stayed with my previous employers insurance and paid for the COBRA payments out of pocket so that I could get the surgery covered in full because that insurance did cover it. I find their reasoning ridiculous and not well thought out at all. I love your letter!

Why did they send you all the way to south city? That seems counter-intuitive. Fremont is great. Dr. Dutta is my surgeon and he is awesome. All of the people there have been great.

I see someone every two weeks and it's been the best decision I ever made. My insurance only required a psych evaluation but I knew if I'm to be successful that I need to deal with what is going on in my head because it's not my stomach that caused the weight gain. I've been seeing the most awesome therapist for the last 6 months. Through therapy I have learned that I to establish boundaries with toxic family relationships; I've learned how to communicate my needs better with my family; I've learned how to deal with my emotions instead of eating over everything that happens; I've learned how to be proud of myself and my accomplishments instead of treating them like they don't matter and I don't matter; and, I'm learning how to let go of a lot of the negative behaviors around food. I will continue with this therapist after surgery as she has helped me so much in our time together.

Congratulations! I'm working my way though the site myself. I'm scheduled for August 13th. Where are you having surgery?

Hi everyone! I have Rapid-Cycling Bipolar Disorder, I will be having surgery on August 13th. I'm so glad that this post exists! I know that I will have to have my medicine adjusted as I lose weight. My doctor told me that the hormones will affect my meds as well. I'd love to hear all of your experiences with the hormones and how they affected your bipolar.

I'm being sleeved on August 13th and I'd loved to hook up with local sleevers in the Tri-Valley area of Northern California.

Mine did not go that fast. I'm being sleeved in Fremont and I had to lose 10% before I could have surgery. That alone has taken 6+ months.

I haven't done ANYTHING yet. Argh! I need to order some more protein powders and get my food in order but I have to wait to see what I need until my pre-op appointment on Friday. After that I should be able to plan better. Then it will seem real to me.

BTW, if you don't want to tell all the "hip" people at work, don't. It's really none of their business. If they ask how you're losing all that weight just say "eating less, exercising more." Basically, that's the truth. As for your young child, how young? I think that you could explain not eating to him as "mommy has a tummyache and has to eat special food for awhile." Children don't really need to know about their parents health and/or surgeries. They aren't really capable of processing/handling those types of things. They just want to know that mommy's ok and that she's going to stay that way. If he does ask questions I would simply say "they fixed mommies tummy."

Everyone knows about my surgery at this point. My previous employer knew about it and was ok with the time off (I had vacation saved up for it). I was laid off though the entire office was and it was closed down in June. It's amazing that once I "came out" about my surgery the number of people who have sent me private email messages telling me they've had the surgery and are offering their support if I have questions. There are some friends that don't want me to have the surgery because they're opposed to it but since they love me and support me 100% they said their piece and are behind me with my decision (gosh I love unconditional love). My family has offered to pay for my co-pay because they are so behind this decision. My husband has seen how much this is working for me and is starting his own journey to sleeving with his own insurance company. My sister who is on summer vacation from her teaching job is staying with me after surgery to care for me (my husband SUCKS at that stuff). So, I have total support. On the flip side, I have friends who have lost friends because they are having this surgery. I have a friend who had this surgery who is losing her marriage. I have another friend who cross addicted from food to meth. So, there is a dark side to this as well. But, I know who I am, I know who my husband is and my friends and family are and I'm doing this for me, no one else.

My surgeon is Dr. Sanjoy Dutta, Kaiser in Fremont, California. He's awesome!! I knew I loved him when he had the same yuck factor I do about drinking milk.

OMG! I am a Pinterest fiend! i already have a board started that I post all of the recipes I've found there for after my surgery. Have you heard of Bariatric Foodie? I have all her books. Her stuff is soooo good!