bhartwig

I had Only steri strips, which came off in about a week. No staples, no bruising. Amazed at how tiny the incisions were. Largest one is in my belly button, so not visible. That was the only one that was a little sore. But was by no means what I had expected. So impressed with my surgeons work. No regrets. Sleeved Dec 9. Down 22lbs and I feel great. Soooo thankful to have been free from any complications!

I had Only steri strips, which came off in about a week. No staples, no bruising. Amazed at how tiny the incisions were. Largest one is in my belly button, so not visible. That was the only one that was a little sore. But was by no means what I had expected. So impressed with my surgeons work. No regrets. Sleeved Dec 9. Down 22lbs and I feel great. Soooo thankful to have been free from any complications!

I had Only steri strips, which came off in about a week. No staples, no bruising. Amazed at how tiny the incisions were. Largest one is in my belly button, so not visible. That was the only one that was a little sore. But was by no means what I had expected. So impressed with my surgeons work. No regrets. Sleeved Dec 9. Down 22lbs and I feel great. Soooo thankful to have been free from any complications!

Hiccups, or feeling like I need to hiccup, is my " full" sign. ????

I am only six weeks out and the sleeve has already saved me. Not for the reason you think. Yes I have lost 40 lbs and gone from a BMI of 42 to 35...but that's not the reason.
On Dec 14th I started vomiting violently and thought I had caught the stomach bug. When it didnt go away I went to see my surgeon. I was dehydrated so he pumped me full of IV fluids and gave me three seperate shots of anti nausea medicine while I was there to try to make me feel better. When the nausea didnt let up at all he ordered an ultrasound to check my gallbladder.
I went for the ultrasound and found out my gallbladder had to come out and THEN they also noticed a possible mass in my left kidney. So then my surgeon ordered a CT scan to further investigate the mass....
So to bring you up to now....the CT was done. I was referred to a specialist and got the news. Turns out I have a stage 1 kidney cancer mass in my left kidney. See if I had never had the sleeve, the rapid weight loss wouldnt have aggravated my gallbladder. And as my specialist stated, I probably wouldn't have found the cancer for another 5-10 years and it would have been a much bigger monster to fight as kidney cancer has no cure once it metastasizes.
So on new years eve I will be having my gallbladder removed and six weeks later I will have a partial nephrectomy to remove the cancer. Hopefully pathology will report it as a non agressive grade cancer and my prognosis will remain awesome with no further treatment besides CT scans every 3-6months.
I am so very thankful as I am only 28 years old and I plan on having a long healthy life.

Here's another weird thing since some one mentioned body image. I had to look at myself. I mean *really* look at myself. I have never been a shrinking violet. I always thought I was cute. I dressed nice, kept my hair done and wore cute clothes. When I admitted I needed to loose weight I had to look at myself and allow myself to see those fat thighs and giant belly. I had to admit that I simply was carrying around far too much weight on my 5'3" frame.

I was sleeved December 8th. Tomorrow, Monday will be exactly two weeks. I have only lost 14 pounds. Everyone that I read about on here has lost much more and I don't understand what I am doing wrong. I really don't eat at all. I drink but not the recommended amount. At least 30oz of Water. It is so hard to drink 64 Oz of water. My weight at the time of surgery was 273. I am 259 now. I thank God for the loss of the 14 pounds but shouldn't I have lost more by now? Btw. I ended up in E.R. two days ago because I hadn't had a bowel movement since a week before surgery. That has been taken care of so I don't know what the problem is. I have even been walking. Please help!

I started thinking tonight about a lot of things and I was wondering if it was regret. I started feeling bad because I can't eat two large pizzas anymore in one sitting. I can't fit into my size 38 pants any longer. I can't wear a 2 Xl t shirt any longer.
I can't eat a whole double cheese burger. I can't drink soda. I don't know if I can drink alcohol as I've been afraid to try.
I then realized that all the things that I think I gave up I really needed to give up but I couldn't do it without the help of surgery.
I wanted to change what my future looked like. If we go off of our family history, I was at major risk for Diabetes, high blood pressure, cancers, dementia, seizures etc. I watched my father die of brain cancer, diabetes, dementia etc. My older brother is having seizures and he is huge. I want to tell him I'll pay for his surgery if he'll do it but haven't approached it yet. I am sure his response will be that he is healthy etc and he doesn't need to lose any weight. He's shorter than me (I'm 6 7') and he weighs 380#.
My father was bi-polar and unfortunately I followed that path. He would never see a doctor or get help. I sucked it up and wasn't afraid to see a doctor or take medication for it. After Surgery, I've noticed I'm not depressed and I don't have mood swings any longer. I take no anti-depressants or bi-polar meds any longer.
So I realized that once I looked at the over all picture, I think I made the right decision and I think it was for the best. I'm only 7 weeks post op now, and of course things can change. I might have mood swings again, but hopefully they stay away. Research that I've found suggest that a lot of bi-polar symptoms are related to the food we eat and all the chemicals in the food.
I didn't do this to simply look good. I did it for the health reasons. I can admit, I wanted to be thinner again, but it wasn't the only reason why for the surgery. I didn't want to have ED at the age of 32. I didn't want to be embarrassed every summer when we go on a family vacation and I'm afraid to take my shirt off due to my size. I'm looking forward to Cancun again in 2015.
I would do it all again if I had to.
No regrets. If your feeling regret, look at the whole picture. Think about why you did it. Think about what you are gaining in terms of good health. Think about your spouse/bf/gf/better half etc.
I also found out that the acid pill I needed was available over the counter. I feel so stupid for not finding this out sooner. Amazing what one little pill can do.

I fit into my Abercrombie and Fitch jeans today and they fit perfect. Got some really cute shoes today at a Marshals. My husband bought me a new winter coat today. It's super cute and in normal people's size. I walk by the stores in the mall and see myself in the store windows and cannot believe it's me. Lol. ALL of my clothes fit from years ago. I have a whole new wardrobe and I have so many clothes. Everytime my husband and I go to the store he wants to buy everything for me. I have to rein him in. I am so incredibly happy. This sleeve thing works awesome! A few bumps in the beginning and YES I had regrets the first couple of days but it is a distant memory now, I am about 24 pounds to goal but I tell you if I didn't lose another pound I would be ecstatic. I am 13 weeks post op. My restriction is great. No nausea, slides and no stalls. Exercising and feeling great! A whole new me! Love that I look good for my husband again. Having the time of my life and we are leaving for vacation to Vegas and Californina in less that two weeks! Good luck everyone on your decisions to have this surgery, it works and even though some may have bumps in the road stick with it, best decision ever!

Sounds like you're doing great! Yes, I love Dr smolik, that's who I go to. Also the support group meetings they have on the first Tuesday of the month are very beneficial as well if you ever want something extra for support. Great job, you'll do great!

Hi Weasle Mama- Thanks for the response
Slowly but surely I've been trying to change my eating habits. I'm tracking all my food using the "MyFitnessPal" app and trying to stay within about 1250 calories per day. I'm drinking 64oz of Water everyday. My husband bought me a Fitbit and I'm also tracking my activity, although now with the weather, my numbers have been on the lower end. I need to come up with an alternative plan to walking outside.
I'm going to the Mercy Weight Loss and Nutrition Center. My surgeon is Dr. Smolik. So far, I've been really happy with them

Surgery is 12/9. I don't want to tell my family I am having the surgery, but I am not sure what I am going to tell them at Christmas when all i can eat is puree.

Me! Me! Me! Just got my insurance approval today! Scheduled for Dec. 9!! Yippee! My 2 wk pre-op starts before Thanksgiving....guess there's no Turkey & the works for me. I think I'll survive! ????

Dr. Smolik @ Mercy Weight Loss. Approved through BCBS, surgery date, Dec 9 ????

I am going through Mercy with Dr. Smolick. I am with BCBS as well. Very excited about only needing to do the 1 month nutrition counseling. I have everything ready except for some labs to be done and then I will be submitted to insurance for approval. Hoping for a January surgery date!!

Me! Me! Me! Just got my insurance approval today! Scheduled for Dec. 9!! Yippee! My 2 wk pre-op starts before Thanksgiving....guess there's no Turkey & the works for me. I think I'll survive! ????

I'm with you. The BMI number is crazy. There are too many factors that go into it. My daughter's Tae Kwon Do instructor is 5'7" and 160 pounds and BMI says she's overweight. There's NO WAY! She's nothing but solid muscle. So, in my opinion, get to where you feel good. If you're happy at a size 6, then go with it. If you want more room in an 8, that's fine too. If you want to try for a size 4, try it. If you feel emaciated it's probably not the right weight for you.
Bottom line, do you feel good? It sounds like you do. So good for you! That's really all that matters.

Me! Me! Me! Just got my insurance approval today! Scheduled for Dec. 9!! Yippee! My 2 wk pre-op starts before Thanksgiving....guess there's no Turkey & the works for me. I think I'll survive! ????

Me! Me! Me! Just got my insurance approval today! Scheduled for Dec. 9!! Yippee! My 2 wk pre-op starts before Thanksgiving....guess there's no Turkey & the works for me. I think I'll survive! ????

Me! Me! Me! Just got my insurance approval today! Scheduled for Dec. 9!! Yippee! My 2 wk pre-op starts before Thanksgiving....guess there's no Turkey & the works for me. I think I'll survive! ????

So excited! Was just told today that BCBS of Iowa has indeed changed their surgery prerequisites. I will be required to have one appointment with a registered dietician, along with a documented history of weight loss attempts. I will not have to complete the 6 months worth of diet & exercise counseling. So, basically, once I have my psych eval done, all other testing completed, and the pre surgery modules required by the bariatric center completed I can have my case submitted for insurance approval. I understand, the whole process could take some time, but I am
Super excited that it's a good possibility I could be scheduled for surgery yet this year ! Keeping fingers & toes crossed!!!

So excited! Was just told today that BCBS of Iowa has indeed changed their surgery prerequisites. I will be required to have one appointment with a registered dietician, along with a documented history of weight loss attempts. I will not have to complete the 6 months worth of diet & exercise counseling. So, basically, once I have my psych eval done, all other testing completed, and the pre surgery modules required by the bariatric center completed I can have my case submitted for insurance approval. I understand, the whole process could take some time, but I am
Super excited that it's a good possibility I could be scheduled for surgery yet this year ! Keeping fingers & toes crossed!!!

I just went through the same thing. I had to have my assigned insurance nurse call my bariatric center to tell them that BCBS does not require the 6 month weight management. It seemed that not everyone in BSBC was on the same page as to the policy change. I have found being pro active is helpful.

Welcome! This forum can be a valuable source of info!

@@bhartwig
glad you are enjoying coming to this board and seeing many interesting stories, questions
you will learn popular things about pre-op and post op
questions ,advice concerning
gas, contstipation, poop, diaarrhea, and the ever popular vomitting
hope this isn't TMI - cuz that doesn't exist on this board
oh - lots of talking about sex too
see what you have to look forward
oh, one more thing you have to look forward to.....
improved health, happiness an a longer life
have fun jumping through the hoops with insurance
good luck with surgery
speedy recovery
kathy
WELCOME NEWBIE