Nikki Monroe

I can relate. I am still very early (about a month from my decision) in this process, but I am not sure about telling my family either. It being surgery, so I probably will have to. Its not as though they won't notice something is up, but I just am not sure about their reaction. Is it better to "ask" for permission or for forgiveness? I know it will hurt them if I don't tell them, but they have never been good about being helpful on my other weight loss attempts. They do things they think are helpful, but truly aren't.
My friends have been great and wonderfully supportive. I have a couple of friends lined up to help/let me stay with her post-op. I have one friend that is supportive, but very practical, who has been asking good questions to make sure I have all the answers I need before I have surgery. My knee jerk reaction to her initially was I don't want to talk to you anymore, but then I realized that her questions were really valuable and came from such a good place. I have promised this friend and my boss that I will talk to my psych. about it and will follow his advice/plan of action about whether and how to tell my family. I have slowly continued to tell my friends.
I will not be saying anything at work beyond that I am having surgery. They will notice and I am sure ask after, but I'll deal with that then. Its truly not any of their business. I work in a terribly dysfunctional department so I dont' want to become any further a part of the dysfunction.

Dr. Scott did my surgery (gastric sleeve) in June. I really like him, and I have no regrets choosing him as my surgeon. A few words of advice - appointments with Dr. Scott are very short as they usually double or triple book him, so if you have any questions, write them down ahead of time and make sure to get them in before the appointment is over. Also, appointments earlier in the day have shorter wait times (I've waited up to an hour after my appointment time for a 5 minute appointment). He's also very matter of fact, which could be off-putting to some people, but I appreciated it very much.
The nurses at MyNewSelf are really good and super nice. Your nurse will have to schedule your actual surgery, and even after insurance approval that takes time. They're also very difficult to get in touch with (which can be irritating if you're impatient like me). The care at the hospital before and after surgery was much better than I could have hoped for. I was really impressed with everyone I was in contact with - from nurses to techs and the doctors I saw there.
Overall, I would recommend Dr. Scott to anyone. Good luck!

I started a SECRET Facebook Group (closed, nobody can see you are there) For July 2015 people only. I hope this can expand as a individualized community so we can help each other out through the same stages of this journey. I hope you can join. (1) The only way to join is to send email invites, not a link. You will need to private-message me your email address, the one linked to your FaceBook profile. An email invitation for the FaceBook group will be sent to you.
I hope you are doing well, and hope to see you soon!

They have different support groups that meet each month. They have groups that are for different stages of time since surgery.
I don't know if I will attend the groups since so many of the people are older and they have really different attitudes towards food and surgery.
Like when we were in nutrition class people were asking more about when they could get back to real food, saying they hated Protein shakes etc. I like Protein Shakes and I want to maximize my honeymoon time, taking advantage of the restriction and lack of hunger. It seems like most people are focused on getting back to normal. Also almost none of the people on my floor were up and moving around when I was in the hospital, they were just laying in bed asking for more pain meds.
I'm not sure I want to drive that distance to be around people like that. I will probably try a group or two to see what they are like and if my perception is wrong.
I will be honest though, I have not been focused on the aftercare as much as getting through surgery safely. That is my first focus. I will ask more about aftercare at my first Dr visit, and I am going to look through the book.

My husband and I had our operations the same day and we have told no one except my sister ( best friend ) and my 29yr son and that was just in case anything happened to us. We also don't plan on telling anyone going forward and it has been 2 yrs in October. I wouldn't tell anyone about any other medical procedure so I don't even look at it as an issue of should we or shouldn't we.

I guess it depends on your personality and temperament. I love the pressure and relish it. Bring on the negative comments and calling me fat, or whatever. I use that to fuel me on days where I want to stop or be lazy. Use it to prove the doubters and the uneducated ones that their negativity and BS won't stop me.

Wow! Can't believe I'm getting ready to admit to this.... Well here goes nothing????
I absolutely refuse to buy anymore clothes in the current size I am in now which is an 18. The slacks that I wear to work no longer fit me...meaning I can no longer button them. I have damaged so many of those metal hooks and bent them out of place that now I just use my belt to hold them in place. The zipper on them doesn't work any longer as well so I try to wear shirts that are long enough to cover the zipper and constantly pull my top down all through out the day. I can't tell you how many pairs of slacks I have literally busted out of! Super embarrassing.
I can't wait to start my journey with a new tool. I don't ever want to worry about busting out of my clothes again! LOL!

Wow! Can't believe I'm getting ready to admit to this.... Well here goes nothing????
I absolutely refuse to buy anymore clothes in the current size I am in now which is an 18. The slacks that I wear to work no longer fit me...meaning I can no longer button them. I have damaged so many of those metal hooks and bent them out of place that now I just use my belt to hold them in place. The zipper on them doesn't work any longer as well so I try to wear shirts that are long enough to cover the zipper and constantly pull my top down all through out the day. I can't tell you how many pairs of slacks I have literally busted out of! Super embarrassing.
I can't wait to start my journey with a new tool. I don't ever want to worry about busting out of my clothes again! LOL!

I told only my husband and two close friends, both out of state. Nobody else knows -- not the sibs, not the in-laws, not my clients, not my other good friends.
It's been wonderful not having to educate and re-educate the world about WLS and why it isn't crazy, the easy way out, or dangerous.

I also have not kept it secret but also have not been advertising it either. Everyone has an opinion you will soon learn. Many of those people are thin. I just ask them when it was that they lost 100 pounds and it shuts them up. No one knows what it's like unless they have walked in your shoes. You will also get hate from the over weight. Some is jealousy. You just have to k ow you are doing what is best for you

Wow! Can't believe I'm getting ready to admit to this.... Well here goes nothing????
I absolutely refuse to buy anymore clothes in the current size I am in now which is an 18. The slacks that I wear to work no longer fit me...meaning I can no longer button them. I have damaged so many of those metal hooks and bent them out of place that now I just use my belt to hold them in place. The zipper on them doesn't work any longer as well so I try to wear shirts that are long enough to cover the zipper and constantly pull my top down all through out the day. I can't tell you how many pairs of slacks I have literally busted out of! Super embarrassing.
I can't wait to start my journey with a new tool. I don't ever want to worry about busting out of my clothes again! LOL!

It's such a weird sensation! I still feel "fat!" But I've lost 71 pounds since 1/20/15. I went from a size 20 and am now fitting into a size 7/8! I struggle with trying to reconcile how quickly my body is changing and how I see myself! I am so happy with my decision to have surgery, but it's hard to adjust the "fat" mindset! I find that I am no longer buying multiple colors of the same shirt!! I didn't even realize I did that until I started getting rid of old clothes!!! I too hated shopping! Congrats to everyone on the start of their new lives!

@@Elode This is a terrific thread! Very upbeat and inspiring. I've loved all your posts, everyone!
What is striking me the most is all of our "clothing journeys". I have found it very exciting to need new clothes and be able to walk into a store and buy them! However it was incredibly thrilling to pack up boxes and bags of clothes I had that no longer fit. Off to the Vietnam Vets charity! There were lots of amazing professional clothes in there....I recently retired....some were brand new or almost new. I actually started packing them the weekend before my surgery....I was so absolutely up and refused to ever wear them again!
@@natnat919 Your reply was so heartfelt! I am totally in your corner! You will succeed this time, have faith! Just follow the yellow brick road.....

You guys are funny!!! I guess we need to find laughter through it all!
I love when we have jeans day at work at least my dimples don't show through like they do in my ever so tight work pants although, the friction and sound of my thighs rubbing together in jeans makes me think I am trying to start a forest fire!

Thanks! LOL!! Good for them! Too funny!????

Wow! Can't believe I'm getting ready to admit to this.... Well here goes nothing????
I absolutely refuse to buy anymore clothes in the current size I am in now which is an 18. The slacks that I wear to work no longer fit me...meaning I can no longer button them. I have damaged so many of those metal hooks and bent them out of place that now I just use my belt to hold them in place. The zipper on them doesn't work any longer as well so I try to wear shirts that are long enough to cover the zipper and constantly pull my top down all through out the day. I can't tell you how many pairs of slacks I have literally busted out of! Super embarrassing.
I can't wait to start my journey with a new tool. I don't ever want to worry about busting out of my clothes again! LOL!

Wow! Can't believe I'm getting ready to admit to this.... Well here goes nothing????
I absolutely refuse to buy anymore clothes in the current size I am in now which is an 18. The slacks that I wear to work no longer fit me...meaning I can no longer button them. I have damaged so many of those metal hooks and bent them out of place that now I just use my belt to hold them in place. The zipper on them doesn't work any longer as well so I try to wear shirts that are long enough to cover the zipper and constantly pull my top down all through out the day. I can't tell you how many pairs of slacks I have literally busted out of! Super embarrassing.
I can't wait to start my journey with a new tool. I don't ever want to worry about busting out of my clothes again! LOL!

@@Nikki Monroe Lol!! Yay! Now don't you feel better sharing that ha!! It's ok I'm sure there's a LOT of "embarrassing" issues we have all been through that aren't being shared. I'm proud to say I have not put any pants in harms way since dropping the weight. If you are a pair of pants you are safe in my presence!! -

Wow! Can't believe I'm getting ready to admit to this.... Well here goes nothing????
I absolutely refuse to buy anymore clothes in the current size I am in now which is an 18. The slacks that I wear to work no longer fit me...meaning I can no longer button them. I have damaged so many of those metal hooks and bent them out of place that now I just use my belt to hold them in place. The zipper on them doesn't work any longer as well so I try to wear shirts that are long enough to cover the zipper and constantly pull my top down all through out the day. I can't tell you how many pairs of slacks I have literally busted out of! Super embarrassing.
I can't wait to start my journey with a new tool. I don't ever want to worry about busting out of my clothes again! LOL!

Wow! Can't believe I'm getting ready to admit to this.... Well here goes nothing????
I absolutely refuse to buy anymore clothes in the current size I am in now which is an 18. The slacks that I wear to work no longer fit me...meaning I can no longer button them. I have damaged so many of those metal hooks and bent them out of place that now I just use my belt to hold them in place. The zipper on them doesn't work any longer as well so I try to wear shirts that are long enough to cover the zipper and constantly pull my top down all through out the day. I can't tell you how many pairs of slacks I have literally busted out of! Super embarrassing.
I can't wait to start my journey with a new tool. I don't ever want to worry about busting out of my clothes again! LOL!

Wow! Can't believe I'm getting ready to admit to this.... Well here goes nothing????
I absolutely refuse to buy anymore clothes in the current size I am in now which is an 18. The slacks that I wear to work no longer fit me...meaning I can no longer button them. I have damaged so many of those metal hooks and bent them out of place that now I just use my belt to hold them in place. The zipper on them doesn't work any longer as well so I try to wear shirts that are long enough to cover the zipper and constantly pull my top down all through out the day. I can't tell you how many pairs of slacks I have literally busted out of! Super embarrassing.
I can't wait to start my journey with a new tool. I don't ever want to worry about busting out of my clothes again! LOL!

I need someone out there to tell me I'll feel so much better in a couple of days.
Btwn gas pain, incisional pain and nausea, I am hating myself for doing this.
I loved Water pre-op and can barely sip it without becoming nauseated. The pain med I was sent home with is some God awful cherry flavor.
Everything I can have right now makes me absolutely sick.
It's going to get better, right??

As a fellow physician, I'd want to know about how many procedures they've completed and their complication rate!

I told family and close friends before surgery and like family and friends are supposed to be, they were totally supportive. Of course they expressed the normal amount of concern over the fact it was major surgery and I was traveling to Mexico, but they were all positive and offered any help I needed.
Post op, I was asked how I was losing so much weight several times every day (I see up to a dozen clients/day). With very few exceptions, I told them I had surgery and proceeded to answer any questions they had about the type of surgery, the process involved, diet plan I follow, etc. The exceptions were clients I don't really like and have no interest in having ANY type of non-professional conversation with. By the 2nd month my work partner was answering the questions herself because she had heard them so many times. We were both very glad when the novelty of my skinniness finally wore off!
Telling the truth about my surgery was really the only option I had. Anything else would have felt like lying and I don't feel comfortable letting people think it was just diet and exercise. And as a result, at least 4 other people have had WLS since hearing my story. Not to mention the 100's of people that now have a little better understanding of obesity, WLS and the great medical care available in Mexico. And if anyone is saying anything negative about my surgery they are doing it behind my back because I have only had positive responses. (Except my hairdresser who calls me "skinny bitch" )
And my dogs have been totally supportive. They love the fact that I can no longer clean my plate.

My family was 100% supportive. And as I'm the only obese member in my immediate family, I couldn't ask for more. They've never once made me feel bad because of it.
At work, which I politely refer to as Peyton Place, because if you share your personal stuff with one person, the whole town knows about it by day's end, I've only shared with a select few. I am very glad I went that route too.
My dogs on the other hand are divided. The older one wants me to try exercise and dieting one more time. The younger one is all for surgery. The younger one and I laugh behind the older one's back, as she is so set in her ways. The older one doesn't care that we laugh behind her back because... well, she's a dog.
I try my best not to hold it against her. ????