Sleeveddiva605

@@dancingqueene I too am very concerned that my insurance will not approve me for the surgery. I too will be devastated and I really dont know what I will do if my insurance wont cover it. This whole process has me on pins and needles but hopefully we will both be well on our way to better lives by the end of the year. Good Luck!

@@epiphani thanks for your response. I took your advise and made a list of reasons I decided to have the surgery in the 1st place. Where that has not completely gotten rid of my fears, it did help me to realize that I don't want to allow my fears to rob me of a healthier, happier life.

@@dancingqueene I too am very concerned that my insurance will not approve me for the surgery. I too will be devastated and I really dont know what I will do if my insurance wont cover it. This whole process has me on pins and needles but hopefully we will both be well on our way to better lives by the end of the year. Good Luck!

@@dancingqueene I too am very concerned that my insurance will not approve me for the surgery. I too will be devastated and I really dont know what I will do if my insurance wont cover it. This whole process has me on pins and needles but hopefully we will both be well on our way to better lives by the end of the year. Good Luck!

I have to agree w/ some points. I've been waiting for 5 years and this is the closest I have gotten. My anxiety is through the roof as this is the closest I have gotten. I have doubt my life will change for the better, or that I will have no regrets. I think my fear comes from being denied....it might be my breaking point and then what??
I have several friends who have had this surgery and NOT one has ever regretted it! They are all 3-5 years out. You have to find the weight and balance that is best for you. I have read more than I ever have about any other subject. It has helped ease my mind, helped me choose which surgery was best for me, etc. Keep the faith, take note of all the positives that will come from it, and turn to those who are supportive of your decisions. We are all here for you!!

It sounds to me like your second thoughts are completely normal! We all had them at one point or many points. It's one of the few good things about waiting... you have time to really be sure.
Research is good. Reading the experiences of others is a really good way to have realistic expectations. Just recognize that we all have different challenges at different points.
You need this. It will be better than you expect, unless you are in the unlucky 1% with complications. Even then it will be worth it.
Honor your fears, but don't let them drive your decisions.
I spent months with 2nd thoughts, but didn't stop the process of preparing. By the time I got to surgery I was so excited and thrilled that going in for surgery was practically a family reunion and party! I'm so glad I did this.
One of the saddest things is being in a support group or reading posts involving people who decided not to go through with surgery after months of preparation and are back starting again.... miserable and with regrets. On the other hand, there is no substitute for being sure it is for you. Only you can decide that.
Hang in there! You can do this!
For me it helped to write down all of the miserable things obesity brought to my life. It really helps to read back through that now and see how many things I can check off as no longer a problem... and a few reminders of why it is important to keep working at weight loss!

This is one of those situations that can only be described as........It sucks !!!
I'm very sorry to hear your situation and share a lot of your concerns. There is hope and evidence that it will get better.
I have a work associate that lost a tremendous amount of weight two years ago....1/2 his bodyweight.
He did it at a time when he said his life was a whirlwind of stress......huge debts, marital problems, job issues.......
His weight was worse due to stress-eating......one more big meal or snack would make everything better, but we know the story with that.
He said he realized there was almost nothing in his life under his control at that point....nothing except what was going into his body.....and how much his body moved. He keyed in on this and made it a focal point every day....and nailed it down tight.
I ran into him last week and couldn't believe this guy. He doesn't even resemble his old self. It's been a few years since he started yet he looks 20 years younger, no kidding.
He said he ate Proteins, no sugary stuff, lifted weights and daily cardio. The guy is ripped now. The only way you can recognize him is from his fingerprints. No kidding.... it is the most unreal transformation I ever seen.
I figure if a guy who succumbed to the same food & drink addictions that we do.......for decades, yet can make that huge of a change.....then the rest of us have a fighting chance with our surgery.....once we start feeling better we can do more exercise and hopefully the desire to sabotage our progress with bad eating habits will diminish.
I've got to talk more to the fella and pick his brain some more.
There is hope and evidence that it will get better.

Congrats! It's a great feeling when stuff finally starts falling into place. It can be a bit overwhelming but soon you'll be more excited and impatient than scared or worried. I had my RNY this past Monday the 17th. I'll try to answer your questions the best I can.
1 - I'm less than a week out from surgery and I'm already doing a LOT better than I anticipated. And on top of that, I know I'm definitely recovering slower than a lot of people. Some people were up and walking like a mile two days after surgery (WHAT! XD Crazy) and by the end of the week were generally feeling great. Personally, I get tired easily, like walking from my living room to my kitchen and back can make me a little tired, but in terms of pain, there's just not a lot of it if I'm careful about how hard I push myself and how I twist/move. I'm betting two weeks will be enough time for you, easily, especially since you have a desk job and won't need to push push yourself super hard. Also, taking really good care of yourself and allowing yourself to rest and sleep as much as you can in those two weeks will go a long way toward your recovery. So I wouldn't sweat it.
2 - That seems awfully fast to be on soft foods, as most people leave the hospital 2 days after surgery. I had surgery on monday and got home wednesday afternoon. I'm on liquids, like Protein shakes, low fat milk, strained cream Soup, sugar free pudding, etc until at least this wednesday coming up, when I go to my follow up appointment. However, every surgeon is different. And while it's very important to follow the doctor's orders, especially right after surgery during recovery, if your body can't handle soft foods your doctors aren't going to yell at you if you need to go back to liquids. Your body will be talking and you will certainly have to listen.
3 - I'm not exactly up to doing household chores yet, and certainly not things like lifting laundry baskets, bending a lot to do laundry or clean the toilets or floors or anything. We're not supposed to be lifting anything heavier than ten pounds for at least a few weeks. It wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility to strain yourself, rip open stitches or staples, or worse. And you just don't want to do that while you're recovering so nicely. That being said, if I need to wash a few cups and spoons in the sink and it's only going to take a couple minutes, that's not impossible. So you will need to take it easy but you won't be helpless.
4 - I'm kind of weird in that I have a high pain tolerance but I can be a HUGE baby about certain types of pain. Broken bones, torn muscles? No problem. Cuts and bruises? Easy. The gas pain and the stupid drainage tube I still have in me rubbing up against the inside of my body? Not so fun. Though I can confidently tell you that 6 days out from surgery I really only feel pain when i bend over, walk too long, twist my abdomen in a bad way, press on my incision sites, etc (things only an idiot like me would do anyway, haha). The first day was pretty awful, but I was so drugged up and so out of it that it flew by and I barely remember it, and every day since has been surprisingly far, far better than the last. Everything hurts much less and I feel much stronger every time I go to sleep and wake up, basically. I had my gall bladder out last year... now THAT really sucked. I can honestly say this was less painful that getting my gallbladder out, which is kind of funny because this was 5 incisions and some major gut rearranging and my gallbladder was three incisions and not a whole lot of trauma. It's a bit odd but there's no denying that this was way easier. Go figure!
5 - I have ADD but I am not currently medicated (can you tell? XD) but from what I have been told and experienced, meds are absorbed by our new digestive system very differently than before. For example, I take oxycodone for pain (not much anymore but especially around bedtime) and I can seriously feel it kicking in within minutes. So as for your dose upping or lowering, that's gonna have to be something your doctor figures out, but I'm guessing it would lower or switch to a fast release before being raised. There's no telling exactly how your body will react to these things until you find out by experiencing, unfortunately.
6 - I've been on a birth control called Orsythia for almost two years, and it has slight levels of estrogen, as I have PCOS and this is one of the ways I can try to manage it. I stopped taking the birth control about three weeks before surgery at the surgeon's order and had to take a blood thinner for a week before and a week after surgery, because estrogen, even in small amounts, can raise the risk for blood clots. Hopefully tomorrow will be my last day of the blood thinner... I HATE NEEDLES and injecting it into my tummy or thigh twice a day has been absolutely no fun (or rather I made my poor boyfriend do it. he's been such a good sport about all of this XD) Annnnnyway, when I was discharged from the hospital two days after surgery, the doctors instructed me to stop taking most of my meds but told me I can start taking my birth control again. So I'm betting it's not a problem, but again, it's all going to depend on your particular doctor, your particular body, and your particular birth control.
I have a TON of tips and things I would highly recommend getting before surgery, things that have been a godsend for me this past week. Here's a list I just wrote for someone else asking for tips on things to get pre-surgery:

- Gas-X Thin Strips. They dissolve on the tongue and almost instantly relieve tummy gas that can be downright painful. Heaven sent!

- A 64 oz. Water jug from Wal-Mart, with measurements on the side. This is a super easy way to monitor how much Water you are getting throughout your day, and 64 oz. is the recommended minimum. Very helpful.

- Baby or aloe wipes. These are very important! In the first couple of days after surgery in the hospital, you are going to feel pretty gross. Just the simple act of wiping down your face, neck, arms, etc. with a refreshing wipe can make you feel infinitely better. After you come home, showering may still be a bit difficult, so you can hold it off a little longer by keeping yourself clean with these.

- A body pillow. I'm sure you can guess why this helps a lot. I had a ton of pain on my left side from the gas pumped into me and the fact that most of the work during surgery is done on the left. A body pillow helps sooo much, whether sitting or trying to sleep.

- I would highly recommend you sleep in a recliner or propped up on a couch with your feet up. Some people are able to lay in their beds a few days after surgery but I certainly can't, and I know a lot of others who couldn't either. It's just very uncomfortable and can be painful if you twist around too much. I sleep on my recliner with a couple pillows propping up my legs to take any pressure off my lower back. Super comfy.

- A small Blender Bottle or shaker cup that has a top and measurements on the side. I use this multiple times a day for my shakes and to mix cream Soup with low fat milk prior to straining it. Sometimes a spoon just doesn't cut it.

- A loofa or sponge on a stick! Again, moving around in the shower is gonna be a bit difficult for a while. A nice, easy wash of the back and harder-to-reach places can be heavenly.


If you have any questions about anything, don't hesitate to message me! I always like to help. Sorry about the book I wrote you, and I hope this helped you even a little bit. Congrats again, good luck, and take care of yourself!

Abby

@@turndown4what91, You are so brave for taking this step to get healthy!
Now it is time to focus on building good habits as you get ready for surgery. This will help keep your mind off of all this other stuff. The few days leading up to surgery always seem to be the hardest for most people. I know having surgery like this is scary and not knowing the future can be just if not more scary.
For me, it was very important to remain focused on the end result. Why I was having this surgery in the first place. I was able to visualize what life would be like without all of the health issues I had. I was able to think about life without as much pain in it. I called it having my eye on the ultimate prize.
I am only 6.5 months post op right now and down 91lbs and still would like to lose another 55. For several months I have been looking and feeling the positives that come with losing this much weight. The reality is, I am a whole new me! One that is living life to the fullest.
- I can run up the stairs without feeling like I am going to pass out
- I am NOT afraid to get on the scale or go to the doctor for fear of more bad news
- I can fit in an airplane seat without using and extender (in fact, there is a lot of room left in the seatbelt
- I can keep up with my Grandchildren
- I can run around the house and my husband cannot catch me
- People who did not know me before surgery have no idea I was ever morbidly obese
- People who do know me do not recognize me (happened twice this week alone)
- I can buy my clothes in any store I want
- I can also wear Victorias Secret lingerie (who new that that would feel so great)
- All of my health issues have resolved with the exception of 1 that I was not expecting to resolve (I had MANY including stage 3 kidney disease)
The moral of the story is you should focus your time on why you are having this surgery and try to let yourself get excited about it. It will make the anxiety go away and you will actually become excited before surgery. I know the morning I went to the hospital, I no longer had any fear, just pure excitement and could not wait for it to be over so I could start my new life.
You won't lose yourself, you will just be amazed at the new you!
Good luck to you! I will say a prayer for a safe and speedy recovery

I can completely understand where you are at. I've been trying for this surgery for 5+ years now and am on my final lap as well. I have 2 more 'weigh ins' before my surgery date and I fear the same thing!! Insurance looks at different things in regards to 'supervised weight loss'. For example- mine states the same thing but in reality I only had to have 6 consecutive 'weigh ins' rather than seeing the dietician for 6 months. I'm bracing myself for Sept when I have my last 'weigh in' that insuracne will the come back and do the same thing. Take a deep breathe (easier said than done). I have learned over the past 5 years that things happen for a reason. Have you read the book "Practical Advice for Lifetime Maintenance After Bariatric Surgery" by Pamela Harrelson? I highly suggest it as a pre-and post surgery book. One of the most enlighteing read for 5.99$. Her journey is amazing - she had the surgery 2x!!! As I am preparing and stressing myself I am takign the times to read up even more. I was planning the 'sleeve' rather than the bypass but I have changed my mind and will go the ruen-y route instead.
I wish you the best!!

All the appointmentsame for Dr visits to see even if you were eligible, orientation, nutrition and even a couselor appointment all count as part of your be months if they weighed you every time which they all do. So think back to when you first started talking about it with your Dr and it is probably noted in your records of the surgery and current weight.

I have become very aware and sensitive to people I am close to who still struggle with these issues. My brother and my best friend are both considerably overweight. When I'm out with either one of them I make an effort to ask for a table instead of a booth so they'll be more comfortable. I remember what it was like to not fit in a booth!

I only have a few more steps to go, I have made my psyh and nutrition appts. After that I just need to have my upper endoscopy. The closer I get the more excited I get, but I am also getting nervous. I really think I will do well because I want this so badly, and I have an awesome support system at home and at work. I just know that when the rubber meets the road it is all about me and my choices and how hard I work. I know my life will be different that it has been over the last 30+ years. I am afraid of the unknown. Sometimes I get knots in my stomach thinking about it I even started 2nd guessing my decision at one point. but I know that this is my chance for a new beginning, and better quality of life. I know without this tool I would be headed down a path to poor quality of life and an early death. I still get nervous thogh, but I pray for the best and press forward. Did any of you ever 2nd guess taking this step before you had the surgery?

Hi, best wishes, don't worry it is normal, my surgery is tomorrow and if I think too much on it I also have second thoughts, but I know this is for the best and will take one day at a time and cross the bridge when I get there. Keep focused and stay on track and enjoy the journey.

Yay for the clearance! Hopefully with time you will get rid of that cpap for good! Surgery is scary but it's also a wonderful life changer! Good luck on your journey!

That's an ok thing! You will just evolve into a new "normal".

As I'm two weeks away from surgery, it has just occurred to me that I've never been normal size my whole life, and so I don't know how to be a normal size. I can't explain it. I just know I'm not going to be the jolly full figured girl I once was or the morbidly obese woman that I've become. It's going to be all new to me. Anyone else been there?

Went to my 5th supervised appointment today. I was told to maintain my weight for my last appointment on 1/29/15. Then they will turn in all my stuff to the insurance cuz I've had all my blood work and other things done so they are In the system already. Then after approval I come in for a preop class and then meet the surgeon for the date. Cross ur fingers for me.

Thanks to eveyone for all of your suggestions and your opinions. I have decided to speak with my surgeon and see what input he has. If there is no other significant reason i should have the bypass surgery. I am still choosing the sleeve, it just seems like the better choice to me.

Thanks to eveyone for all of your suggestions and your opinions. I have decided to speak with my surgeon and see what input he has. If there is no other significant reason i should have the bypass surgery. I am still choosing the sleeve, it just seems like the better choice to me.

I had my sight on the sleeve, had done all the research and preparation for the sleeve but when I met with the surgeon he highly recommended the bypass because of my long history of acid reflux and my hiatus hernia. If the sleeve does not give you the results you want you can always have a revision, for me I only want to do this once so I am having the bypass next week with the repair of the hernia. Good luck, the decision is yours to make. Talk to the surgeon himself and see what he recommends.

I've been researching the gastric sleeve surgery for years, I was never able to get the surgery because my insurance did not cover the surgery. FINALLY, I have insurance that covers the procedure...I been super excited (and a little nervous) since I found that out. I finally found a surgeon, made the appt for consultation. during the appointment I tell the PA that I want the gastric sleeve and she tells me that because I am diabetic the gastric bypass is what I need....I want to cry. I have done years of research watched a million YouTube videos...read plenty of articles but allll about the sleeve...not bypass. I honestly don't know that I want the bypass...don't know a whole lot about it. I understand the procedure but that is about it. I feel like Inhave to start all over again. Has anyone else experienced anything similar? Should I override the PA's recommendation and choose the sleeve anyway...I mean she is the professional...I don't know what to do....any suggestions would be appreciated ????

Your surgeon and the PA can only provide you with the available options based on what they feel is best. The ultimate decision is really yours and what @@LipstickLady said is completely right. Gain insight into your own diabetes. Is it type I? Is type 1 from juvenile diabetes? How many meds (pills and insulin shots) are you taking to manage your disease. All of those things are what factors into their recommendation for the type of WLS best suited for you. Feel empowered and be empowered by speaking with the surgeon and asking questions. You can do this!

I was diabetic for 4 years and had the sleeve surgery done around 2 months ago. The surgeon told me my diabetes would go away in 4 days; it went away in 2 days! My co-morbidities, fatty liver and sleep apnea will be gone in 3 - 4 months after surgery. Don't worry about what that person said! Go for the sleeve.

Talk to the surgeon, see what he recommends. If your diabetes is weight relatable, you can "cure" it with the sleeve, too, it just won't be instant.

I was highly pre-diabetic, but by the time I finished my pre-op diet, I was out of the prediabetes zone. Mine was 100% because I was fat and eating badly. Check out your WHY and then decide.