Rhodes

This is my second reason for getting sleeved. (sex being #1) I have advanced sleep apnea, but cannot tolerate any CPAP mask. I'm a 100% side sleeper and could never keep it on. I tried for over 10 months and just got more and more tired from waking up 6, 8, 10, 15 times a night to fix the mask. My other big problem was due to the pressure I was prescribed, I would end up with a stomach full of air. This hurts like hell by the time it wakes me up. Doctor reduced the pressure, and I went right back to my apnea state. *sigh.. Tried the mouth guards, nose tapes, jaw realignment appliances, none work. Hoping the sleeve solves the problem. The Jaw realignment appliance work OK, but not 100%. I'm sticking with this until after my surgery.

I don't have a lot in the front, but I am a little worried about extra skin on the sides, just below the armpit. I used to be a complete gym-rat, so I'm hoping after I'm cleared to work out I can tear it up in the gym enough to avoid the loose skin issue. My insurance company will actually cover the plastics IF the extra skin is causing health issues - rubbing chafing, etc. If it's cosmetic, they will refer me to a plastic surgeon that reduces his rates due to all the business Kaiser sends him.

Love this thread. Nothing has convinced me I'm making the right decision more than what I've read here. This is one of the main reasons I'm getting sleeved... Bummer I still need to go through my Ins. Co.'s 12-week program or I'd be knocking on the surgeon's door tomorrow. My wife is 14 years younger than me and as freaky as they come...... I want to use that to my advantage.

Steve - I grew up in the Birches, right on Whitman's Pond from '71 until '97 when we moved over to Cedar St. off lower Jackson Square. Small World!

GREAT JOB STEVE! What part of MA you from? I grew up in Weymouth.

Apple Valley, CA (High Desert on the way to Vegas on the I15) I'm with Kaiser - my first Doctors appointment is tomorrow @ 8:30 - surgery should be in July-August time frame.

I use MyFitnessPal in conjunction with my FitBit bracelet. They both work very well together. When I can stay on track, they help immensely. Looking forward to using them both post-surgery.

@ LisaPunkinHead Hi Lisa, First off, congrats on taking your life back into your own hands! I'm with Kaiser down here in SoCal. I've got my first Doctor's visit this Thursday (April 23rd). While on the phone with the Health Education person to make my doctors appointment he said it was a 12-week program before you could schedule surgery. I was reading your comments, and it sounds like you didn't have to wait that long. Am I reading your post right? Thanks!

Had to sit through a 2.5 hour "Lifestyles and Weight Management" class last Friday as part of my insurance provider's process. I have my first doctor's visit this Thursday at 8:30am. They require a 12-week program and a weight loss of 5-10% before surgery. If you gain weight during that 12 week period, you're kicked out of the program, and have to start all over.

...when I do the "old man" waddle when I first stand up and walk.... ...when my joints sound like a bowl of Rice Krispies and firecrackers... ...when I have to pee by Braille because my stomach removes all hope of visual reference... ...when my 4-year-old asks if I'm pregnant "like Mommy was"... ...when I get lightheaded if I take too long to bend over to pick up my 1-year-old daughter... ...when I can't sit on the floor and play with my girls without it feeling like my hips are being dislocated.. ...when my snoring and sleep apnea forced me to sleep in the guest room so I don't wake up my wife... #1 - when sex becomes more work than pleasure.

I have my first appointment today. It's a mandatory 2.5 hour health class that my insurance provider uses as its first step. I wanted to ask others here - I can't be the only one. Will getting sleeved help make working out easier? I'm almost 47. I was always big into working out. From my early teens through my time in the Air Force and until just after I finished my Masters (2006). I can remember throwing around 375lbs on the bench press like it was a toy.... or running 10 - 15 miles with 100 lbs of gear like it was nothing. Then I lost my way. It got harder and harder to keep the weight off, and harder and harder to work out. I'm praying that this surgery will help me get out of this cycle of personal destruction.... It's not just me now. I've got two beautiful little girls and a wonderful wife that need their daddy/partner around... BTW: love this forum... Nice to see so many people going through the same stuff I am... Best regards, R

Hello Shanea, I LOVE a Protein powder called Isopure. It is made by a company called Nature's Best. I've been using Isopure for over 15 years (started while I was still in the AIr Force and working out like a mad man) Here is the link to their website. They have all their nutritional data for each product on their site. http://www.theisopurecompany.com/en/powders The flavorless variety will dissolve in Water to the point the water is almost clear. I've even added it to scrambled eggs to up the protein content. Two scoops (63grams) is the recommended serving size, but there's no reason you couldn't do a single scoop. a 1 lb bag is about $22(price might be more or less for flavors) on Amazon a 3 lb Tub is is about $53 a 7.5 lb tub is about $100 They also have a product called "Pure Naked Protein" one scoop (29grams) has 26 grams of pure whey protein. Hope this helps

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