Downsizing Annie

Just going to use this as sort of a blog to document my journey.
February 11, 2015 - First appointment with True Results for VSG
February 12, 2015 - Had blood taken for Pre-Op blood work.
February 13, 2015 - True Results Insurance Coordinator called me to let me know she was submitting my paperwork to insurance for approval.
February 17, 2015 - I called my insurance to confirm that they had received my paperwork. They said they had received it yesterday.
February 18, 2015 - Insurance approved my VSG surgery (I wasn't aware yet)
February 20, 2015 - I called insurance to see what the status was of my surgery auth. They let me know it had been approved on the 18th!
February 25, 2015 - Went to another True Results location to have a Body Composition test done. (BMR, Body Fat %, Recommended diet)
February 26, 2015 - Finally was able to get a hold of the insurance coordinator and patient advocate to let them know that I had been approved (bad weather in the area past 2 days)
February 27, 2015 - PreOp clearance doctor's appointment with PCP for blood pressure. (rescheduled due to weather)
March 2, 2015 - PreOp clearance doctor's appointment with PCP for blood pressure. Doctor said he believes that I am low risk for surgery and sent clearance.
March 6, 2015 - Received a call from the surgeon's office and I have an appointment for 9am on March 9th to meet with the surgeon and hopefully schedule my surgery!
March 9, 2015 - Appointment at surgeon's office. Scheduled my pysch, nut, and stress test appointments.
March 11, 2015 - Nutritional and Pre-Op appointment. 2 week liquid diet starts.
March 16, 2015 - Stress Test - They did an ultrasound of my heart and legs. Then did a breathing test and then pedaled on a stationary bike for 8 mins or so while he monitored my breathing, blood pressure, heart rate, etc.
March 17, 2015 - Pysch Counseling
March 25, 2015 - Surgery Date!
April 1, 2015 - 1 week post-op appointment
April 8, 2015 - 2 week post-op appointment
May 27, 2015 - 2 month post op appointment

My before and after. Pic on right was two weeks before, pic on left is my six month mark. Down 78lbs since I started my surgeon's program, a total of 88lbs since my highest. Love my sleeve :)

I go in for my first appointment tomorrow. Some 2.5 hour Weight Management / Nutrition Class my insurance company says I have to attend.
I bet there's a lot of you here that are like me: We could teach the class with what we KNOW we're supposed to do... LOL!
Why do I want to get sleeved:
Selfless Reasons:
My two beautiful daughters (1 & 4 years old)
I want to run and play with them without huffing like an old steam engine, or without paying for it with back, hip, knee, ankle, and foot pain for the next three days.
For my wife:
We recently found out that my wife has an autoimmune disease that if we cannot get it into remission has a mortality rate of around 10 years.
By the time we know if this disease is going to prove fatal to her:
Her mother also has an autoimmune disease (a different one) and may not be with us anymore by then.
Her father is a chronic alcoholic and will not help me with his granddaughters.
My own parents are on the other end of the country, and will be in their 80s by the time we know.
I cannot be so selfish to not take the best care of myself I can if I’m going to have to raise my girls by myself.
It brings me to tears to think of these two amazing little girls all alone in this world, just because daddy couldn’t get his weight and health under control. I cannot, and will not fail them.
Selfish Reasons:
I want to be buff again.
I worked as an Air Force Cop, and at the time I was 190 lbs with a 50” chest and a 32” waist. I could run 10 to 15 miles with over 100 lbs of gear on my back like it was a stroll through a park. I’d like to get as close to that as I can.
Back in the early 90s I went to a nude beach on a dare from a hot Australian girl I met while scuba diving in Cancun. I’d love to have the confidence to do it again. There’s no way in hell I’d subject anyone to seeing me like that with the way I look now!
If the time with my wife is short, I want us to experience anything and everything she wants.
This has gone beyond just “I want to be skinny” for me. It will affect my whole family.
Thanks for reading. I'll be back as soon as I know more about my times and dates.
R

I've been really depressed and emotional the last couple of days... I'm sure we will get through this... It only gets better!!!

I just had my surgery 4/2/15. I was scared and nervous. It was a huge decision. I did everything my surgeon asked of me before surgery. I lost 40 lbs in 6 months and started walking and exercising regularly . I even ran a 5k the Sunday before surgery. I think all of the preparations before have paid off in recovery. The gas pain was intense, but I would make 4/5 laps at oug the hospital floor every two hours while awake. Day 4 I even walked 1.25 miles. It was at a much slower pace than prior to surgery, but all the moving as helped move the gas. I can honestly say I feel like I'm 85%. I have a hard time getting the Protein and Water in, but do my best. I want the best weight loss possible and make this all worth it . Of course it was hard on Easter only 4 days after surgery watching everyone celebrating with food. I had a little cry and picked myself up and went for a walk. Saturday and Sunday I was kind of emotional and regretting what I had done. Pain sucks, but every day it gets better. I can't wait to have this be a distant memory, till then I just keep moving!

Hang in there ladycook soft foods are around the corner! you are an inspiration to me! I'm going through all the pre-op stuff and have my pre surgery meeting on 4/14 with endoscope happening 2 days later. Surgery scheduled for 5/12. Can't wait and u continue to look forward to your progress! Be strong!

On my way to the hospital for my sleeve surgery... Kind of nervous now that it's here!!!

I'm home and doing well... Still pretty sore, but I'm only 2 days out. I spent 2 nights in the hospital because I experienced a lot of nausea, but am feeling better today, just soreness mainly. Sucking on ice chips, and have been trying to walk more... Just did another 5 minutes on the treadmill (at a whopping 1.0 mile per hour) but I'm up and moving. Thanks for all the positive wishes!!!

I'm home and doing well... Still pretty sore, but I'm only 2 days out. I spent 2 nights in the hospital because I experienced a lot of nausea, but am feeling better today, just soreness mainly. Sucking on ice chips, and have been trying to walk more... Just did another 5 minutes on the treadmill (at a whopping 1.0 mile per hour) but I'm up and moving. Thanks for all the positive wishes!!!

On my way to the hospital for my sleeve surgery... Kind of nervous now that it's here!!!

Thank you for sharing you journey! I also am a school counselor and my surgery is one week from today... Stories like yours are so inspiring!!!

I'm on my fourth day and it's actually going pretty well. I'm drinking Premier Protein shakes, eating Popsicles & Jello and drinking lots of water... The first couple days were harder, today I haven't really felt hungry much ????

I'm on my fourth day and it's actually going pretty well. I'm drinking Premier Protein shakes, eating Popsicles & Jello and drinking lots of water... The first couple days were harder, today I haven't really felt hungry much ????

I'm on my fourth day and it's actually going pretty well. I'm drinking Premier Protein shakes, eating Popsicles & Jello and drinking lots of water... The first couple days were harder, today I haven't really felt hungry much ????

I'm so inspired by how well you are doing!!! My surgery is a week from today ????

Thank you for sharing you journey! I also am a school counselor and my surgery is one week from today... Stories like yours are so inspiring!!!

I am almost one year out from surgery and have PCOS. In fact, PCOS was the only comorbidity that qualified me for surgery since my BMI was 38. WLS does not "cure" PCOS as it never fully goes away. It can help elevate some of the embarrassing and frustrating symptoms of PCOS. Excess hormones are stored in fat, so as you drop weight, your estrogen and testosterone levels typically become more balanced. I know I was worried how my PCOS would impact my ability to lose weight since it made losing/maintaining weight difficult before. While I was a somewhat slow loser compared to others on this board, I think most of that was due to starting at a lower BMI. I am 5'7" and was 241 at my highest. 226 the day of surgery and I weighed 150.7 this morning. Best thing I ever did!

My surgery is March 20th, I am on the pre-op diet too! Forget about today and move forward, just keep going!! You can do it:) Also I am getting super nervous and little stressed so ready for the surgery to be over with!

@kazza58. So great to hear success stories! I'm scheduled for surgery on March 24th and really starting to feel nervous about it. I'm struggling with this pre-op diet and have had a particularly bad cheat day today! ???? thank you for reminding of the goal ahead - better health and mobility!

Hi I had my sleeve on 25th March 2014 I have lost 51kg (112lb) I have no regrets at all it hasn't been all easy but it's so worth feeling healthy for I can eat most foods now still a few things I would rarely have as they just sit heavy in my tummy ..but really I don't miss the foods I don't eat now life is good ????the things that are hard are the way people I have know for all that time some are very different to me now not in a good way but,the ones who really care like my husband and children are so surportive I have gone down6 sizes in cloths and I am at goal now I lost more then I thought I would my bmi has gone from 37 down to 23 my blood pressure is down my cholesterol is down from 7.5 to 4.5 I am no longer per diabetic I don't have the pain in my body I had a year ago I can move faster and most of all I likens elf better .. No regrets????I am 59 yrs old and feel 35 ????

You've got this!!!

@@Califlower83
I can relate to so many things you said & I respect you for having the courage to say them! I think a lot of us hold ourselves back from living the life we want to live for one reason or another. Fear of failure, fear of rejection, or fear of being noticed even. It sounds like you are on your way and until you talk to a surgeon I wouldn't worry about what your PCP says. You can't go back so don't beat yourself up for what you wish you had done sooner, just keep looking forward! I think you are going to have a lot of fun & excitement after you have your surgery and start a new life in your healthy and more confident body!

@@LisaPunkinHead Thank you for the response, I was actually just about to post a question about what I should do in the meantime since my orientation to surgery class is not until next month. I'm amazed by how fast the process was for you, hopefully mine can be similar and I can be sleeved by summer like I was hoping!! I have been feeling anxious since I haven't been able to get much information from Kaiser in regards to the steps in the process, everyone(at Kaiser) keeps telling me to wait for the orientation but I feel like I should be doing something to speed up the process right now!
And I am ignoring my PCP, she was trying to talk me out of it saying I should try the weight management classes for a year! I am moving forward anyway because I have tried so many programs over the past 10 years, and in 1 year I could be close to my goal weight and not worrying about my current pre-diabetic status or high cholesterol!

Honestly, it was a breaking point. At 314 lbs I had zero energy, was depressed and food was a sort of comforting friend. My boyfriend and I were building all leisure activities around eating out, having 1-2 cocktails every night, cooking big meals and being inactive.
At work I was miserable, low self-esteem and just didn't want to be there.
So, I did a 3 week IOP on mindfulness and meditation, starting to make small changes like eliminating Desserts and caloric liquids, implemented more activity into my schedule and just having more compassion and acceptance for myself.
Now I'm just starting this thing, had surgery a week ago and already down 30 lbs from my top weight.
It's a time to dream big and reach for the stars. I'm at the highest level in my life but I know it's gonna be hard work. I still love food, to cook and to entertain and I just know that having a smaller tummy will mean I can still do these things and love them, but in a more moderate and healthful way.
It's going to be an interesting ride and I'm open for all possibilities.

My husband and I bought tickets to go on a 2 seater zip line ride. When it got to our turn walked up the stairs and the operator asked us to get on the scale first... In front of everyone. He proceeded to tell us that we were over the weight limit and we would have to ride one at a time. We were absolutely humiliated and ended up leaving. So anyway, surgery is 9 days away. Time to get my life back on track.