Mrs. Reid

So I have been back and forth for over three years with WLS. This past year has been draining for me. My father was ill, started a new job, lost my dad to Cancer, lost my job three weeks after my dad past, was unemployed for five months. I have done for many people and always put others before me and supported whatever they felt was important.
I am 5ft and 249lbs. I have made the decision to have the sleeve on Jan. 5, 2015 it's time to do ME!
I just got my surgery date so I am only tell those that are close to me. Some reactions made me smile and know they will be there. Only two people who I am closest to think I should not have the surgery. Well guess what I am so ready for this that all though it upsets me that they can't see or feel how important it is for me. I will not allow it to rain on my parade! Get ready 2015 I am going to own you LOL!! ????#timeforjune

I wish I could find a meeting that didn't conflict with my work schedule. There are 3 meetings that I know of and they are all during the day...nothing after 5pm that I could actually attend.

Can I just say I LOVE BariatricPal??!!
I wasn't turned off completely but I think the majority of my support will be from this place, my good friends that have had surgeries and a local support group I'm starting with another BP member. That's just me.
Not so great things that happened:
-One person (who had not done a great deal of research but had a 12/16 surgery date) dominated the meeting with his wife. I felt like we were being held hostage.
-The facilitator was a substitute for the regular person and lacked facilitation skills.
-A woman who was there supporting her husband who was a couple years out said something rude to me about after I have surgery I'll be cute, too, like the thinner woman next to me who happened to be post-op. Luckily I was thinking quick on my feet and said "I am cute now but thankfully I'm not here to be cute, just healthy." Shut her up pretty quick!!
-I was struck how normal people seemed to act and feel at differing stage and everyone talked about the lethargy, I was expecting boundless energy about week 4 of post-op LOL
-People were trying to convince me that I needed to take 6 weeks off work, when I simply asked how much they had taken and if they felt like it was appropriate for the work they did. I really hate unsolicited advice.
Great things that happened:
-I actually went
-I saw/met a guy who was 3 years on maintaining 235 lb weight loss. Whoa!
-Learned and confirmed a lot of things I've read here and other places
-Only one person there had had a complication with their surgery with my same surgeon and it was an ulcer that was being resolved.
-Got great tips for surviving holidays
All in all I would say it was well worth the hour and a half of my time. It was another snapshot of the process. Allowed me soak in more of the "it's gonna be ok" vibe even though certain people were annoying to me. If available to you, I would highly recommend attending a post-op support session from a place you're planning to have surgery.

@@MisforMimi The two sleeved women were in their 40s when they had it done. They are both medical professionals and were and are still very diligent with their diet and exercise. One had it done in 2011 the other in 2012. They are sisters and my cousins. They are so thrilled with their surgeries and have had nothing but good things to say about it.
One of the bypass women had hers done in 2000 when she was in her late 30s. She had a lot of leaking complications and still experiences pain. She is not as diligent. She is unable to eat large meals, but she eats very often. She has gained back a lot of weight. The other woman had her bypass in 2006 and follows the diet and exercise guidelines like it's a religion. She had to have surgery in 2012 because her intestines had gotten twisted up and that caused an obstruction. I understand that is not uncommon in bypass patients. Because of this....it's the sleeve for me!

I chose the sleeve because I know 4 people who had wls, two had the sleeve and two had the bypass. The two with the sleeve have lost - and kept off - well over 100 pounds each. They could not be happier with their decision. The two with the bypass have lost more weight, but are still having complications even 15 years later. One even had to have surgery 7 years after the bypass because of some twisting in her intestines.

Consider yourself lucky that you did not make a mistake by having the surgery with a doctor that is not 100% on your side! Forget him! Go find someone who is positive and wants you to succeed!

Consider yourself lucky that you did not make a mistake by having the surgery with a doctor that is not 100% on your side! Forget him! Go find someone who is positive and wants you to succeed!

Consider yourself lucky that you did not make a mistake by having the surgery with a doctor that is not 100% on your side! Forget him! Go find someone who is positive and wants you to succeed!

Consider yourself lucky that you did not make a mistake by having the surgery with a doctor that is not 100% on your side! Forget him! Go find someone who is positive and wants you to succeed!

Consider yourself lucky that you did not make a mistake by having the surgery with a doctor that is not 100% on your side! Forget him! Go find someone who is positive and wants you to succeed!

Consider yourself lucky that you did not make a mistake by having the surgery with a doctor that is not 100% on your side! Forget him! Go find someone who is positive and wants you to succeed!

Thanks for sharing. I like hearing from people who are further down the road. I am determined to be a success story and it helps to hear how others did it.

Well, you are all just awesome. I have been on countless "diet" websites before and they are just awful (MFP is the worst). So many clique's and people who act like they're better than you. I have never before experienced an online environment that is so welcoming. Even when people disagree, they usually don't get catty or ugly. I think that speaks volumes to the nature of people on here. So, "thanks" to all of you. It gives me a warm fuzzy as I look forward to surgery knowing that you'll all be there for me, just like you are for everyone else.

You go girlfriend!!

Great!!!!???? It feels god when you move forward and get that check list done...

Thanks for sharing. I like hearing from people who are further down the road. I am determined to be a success story and it helps to hear how others did it.

I'm on the other side. Had surgery at 8 this morning. Shoulder pain is terrible. Glad it's done though. Been up and walking some. But just want to sleep

It wasn't as bad as I had imagined. Next hoop to jump through: NUT appointment on November 21st. Need to show some weight loss. I am determined to succeed!

Finally, decided to go with A lighter me and Dr. Elias Ortiz

It wasn't as bad as I had imagined. Next hoop to jump through: NUT appointment on November 21st. Need to show some weight loss. I am determined to succeed!

Will all my test are finally completed :-) YAY!!!!!
Waiting for my bariatric coordinator to submit to insurance (geez) wonder how long this will take been going thru this entire process since Feb 2014 please let me get a date in Dec I really see no reason not to (seems like around the holidays office tend to slack up on work ...............
Guess this is the waiting game!!!!
I need someone to chat with before I lose my mind LoL

So excited! I got my insurance approval today. Just waiting for my surgeon's office to call so I can schedule my surgery. Very good day.

Today is my 3 year sleeve anniversary. I feel somewhat obligated to share an update, for those curious about the sleeve's effectiveness a little more down the road. I was what most would call a "slow loser" during the initial post-sleeve weight loss stage, mostly due to being somewhat of a low BMI'er to begin with as I was around a 38 or so BMI before the sleeve.
My restriction was very noticeable the first several months and then I was able to slowly eat more and more as the months have gone by and then it has mostly plateaued the past year and a half to 2 years. At the 3 year mark, I am able to eat a good bit more than I could the first few months post-op, but still significantly less than pre-sleeve. I feel I can easily add on another 20-30 pounds if I don't watch what I eat. Though I give the sleeve a lot of credit for the weight/fat loss I've had (especially initially), I think the fact that I've been able to keep it in check now is mostly due to a combination of restriction, and also just being better informed and eating to support my goals and less for pleasure....eating smart and exericise.
I'm still very happy that I've had this done and would do it all over again as it has been a true blessing. Is it an easy fix or easy way out? No. Is it a great tool for eating better? Absolutely. Will it help me keep the weight off for good if I still want to eat whatever I want? Not a chance. This is just my experience as I realize others at the same time frame post op may have differing experiences, and those further out than myself can probably be a much better gauge as to the long term effectiveness of the sleeve. But I still like to come on here and give any feedback that I have and coming back here helps to keep me motivated due to receiving positive feedback, reading other's trials/errors and seeing their benefits as well.
I guess that's all for now and I will try to check back in at 4 or 5 years, or if something else comes up. Wish everyone the best!

Im in the OR waiting to got back. If you could say a little prayer for me I would appreciate it. I'm doing good so far. I just want this over! On the plus side my anesthesiologist is a cutie! Of course he is who else would you want staring at your big ol belly lol! Thank you all in advance!

Well, I've researched the gastric sleeve for over a year now. I kept thinking that I could lose the weight on my own.. I'll start any day now... Blah blah blah... next think I knew, I was over 400 pounds... bad knees... hard time getting up from a seated position... blood pressure up, sugar was high... and I was taking 8 different meds twice daily. Nope, this isn't working.
So, I went to the Bariatric Weight Loss Center at Trinity Hospital here in Birmingham Monday, October 27th. I almost ran out of there two different times. But, the doctor and nurses gave me information on top of information on top of information! So much stuff I didn't know about the operation. I was in.. The operation is what I want.
They let me know that they would get some information from my primary doctor and talk to my insurance and we would see where we were at by Wednesday. Next thing I knew I was scheduled to come in Friday to my the endoscopy performed and the EKG! Also, my psychiatric evaluation is scheduled for the 12th of November! Insurance was on board and not making me wait 6 months. I had no flippin' clue it could go this fast!
So... now I know the surgery will probably be the first or second week in December. Part of me is scared that I'm gonna frack it all up and mess up the diet... Part of me hates waiting... All in all, I'm a bundle of nerves.
My goal is to be healthy. I don't want to be on pills to stay alive at 41. I don't want my knees to hurt every time I stand up. These are my goals. If I by some chance end up a fashion underwear model along the way, so be it.
This is part of my story that I wanted to get off my chest tonight. I have never been so looking forward to a clear liquid diet in my life.