kayjaywlj

I had my surgery on August 15th, The last couple of days before my surgery, I was really having some doubts. Got really nervous. My main goal was to get better control over my diabetes and the pre-op diet did that for me. So I had just about talked myself into just skipping surgery and low carbing it forever. Then I thought about all of the effort I had put into getting approved and ready for surgery. I thought about how my doctors and my insurance company thought that this is something that would benefit my health and potentially prolong my life. I realized that I may not get another opportunity like this- so I went through with it,
I can tell you without a doubt, that having the surgery was definitely the best decision for me. I am not even quite 2 weeks post op and I am already thrilled with my results. I weigh 25 lbs less than I did 1 month ago (lost 10 lb pre-op & rest after surgery), I don't take any diabetes medication any more (I used to take 5 shots of insulin per day & oral medication). I found recovery to be much easier than I expected. My pain was never more than a 4 out of 10.I feel like I have a new lease on life. I am so happy that I didn't talk myself out of the surgery.

Hello everyone, just sharing to those I've met here my current status.
I was sleeved on May 2016.
HW 340 SW 320 CW 200 . My GW was 220. It was the hardest decision to make to have this surgery at age 44 but I'm glad I did. It was the best decision I've ever made.   

I go back September 6 and I am getting sleeved August 22. Absolutely not ideal - I teach pre k in NYC and it's really hands on. However because of insurance I can't get it done before that and I am not willing to wait until next summer. None of our breaks mid year are long enough. The first week we have 2 pd days then two half days then a three day weekend - so I am just hoping for the best.
Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Long Island

Hello fellow sleevers or potential sleevers, I am new here, and this is my story ....sort of....
The decission to have Weight Loss Surgery was not a easy one, but it was a logical decission. I am a 33 yo Male, 5ft11in 302 pounds.
I have been battling with weight loss for many years, I have tried all diets and spent thousands and thousands of dollars on them, Nutrisystem x3 times, Weight Watchers, Slim Fast, Herbal Life, Nutripia Fresh food Delivery, GNC Total Lean.
I have lost weight on all those diets, but nothing significant. I suffer from bulging disks in my back and have had 2 arthoscopic right knee surgeries which prevent me from excercising.
My family has a history of Obesity, Cardiac, Hight Blood Pressure, Diabetes, High Cholestorol. I see myself gaining weight, and slowing down, I am tired, and my whole body is in pain, all the time.
I wasnt able to do things I wanted to do, because my body just wouldnt do it, The attempt at just normal walks, i would be in pain.
So I was discussing the options with my boyfriend, he mentioned to me that a radio DJ from local radio station Z100 had weight loss surgery, and I looked him up, at this point, I never heard of the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy, I only knew of the Lap Band, and the Bypass, which both, I was not happy about, I heard about huge failures from the Lap Band, and I didnt like the idea of re routing my intestines, let alone did I ever think i was a candidate for weight loss surgery either.
So I decided to google the radio DJ, and looked up where he had the surgery, I landed on the website of New York Bariatric Group, after browsing their website, and learning about different types of surgeries, I filled out the quick contact form to make an appointment for a consulation, they promptly called me back the next day and I made an appointment for March 14, 2012.
March 14, 2012, I had an appointment with Dr. Spencer Holover, From NY Bariatric Group, for initial consultation, he explained every surgery in detail and told me, I didnt have to make a decission on the actual procedure I wanted, until my last appointment, when it is time to make the surgery date. Which i was relieved about, because I had my own research to do (which I highly recommend).
I left the office, feeling very informed, and not pressured into making a rapid huge decission, The office staff was extremely welcoming, and pleasant to deal with, they handed me a folder with information in it, and told me, all I had to do, was fill out the information in the folder, and they would handle everything on my behalf, and they did.
During the 6 months required by my insurance, I did my own research, which consisted of a lot of self made videos from people who actually had the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy, Bypass, and Lap Band, and I started leaning towards the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy, it seemd the most successful, with minimal complications, and I liked the fact of still keeping my anatomy, just less of it. Up until the 5 month, I stll have never made the decission, I tossed the idea around with the psychologist, until I sat down and said, it was the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy I was going to have.
My Surgeon required the following:
Cardiac Clearance
Pulmonary Clearance
Mental Health
Dietary Evaluation
Endoscop
Endocrine Consult
PCP Surgical Clearance
Stress Test
Gastric Emptying Study

My insurance (GHI) required the following:
6 Month Weight Loss Program

In the time during the 6 Month Weight Loss Program, I made all the appointments for the Surgeon requirments. It is very important, that you DO NOT miss a weigh in with the surgeon, the insurance company will make you start all over again.
My surgery date was 9/18/2012, at Mercy Medical Center in Rockville Center, NY.
Since all doctors and nutritionists are different, and therefore so are there guidelines. These are the guidelines that I followed according to my doctors' advice.

Two Weeks Before Surgery - liquid Diet with 3-4 Protein shakes a day.

The reason for the pre-op diet is simple - obese people tend to have a condition called fatty infiltration of the liver. The liver sits right in the way of your surgeon and they have to be able to lift it and get it out of the way while they work.

Caffeine, carbonated drinks of any kind and alcohol are now off the menu at this point. Carbonated drinks are gone forever.

24 hours before surgery - Clear liquid diet. Water, chicken broth, sugar-free Jello, sugar free popsicles. Nothing after midnight on the day before surgery.
Surgery - In the hospital on tue morning and surgery around 8am.
Next day - They came with Ice Water and looked like mini shot glasses, then they came with a tray of chicken broth, tea, diet cranberry juice, they said if I can tolerate this, then they would come with a tray of pureed food.( I drank the cranberry juice and chicken broth)They came with the following:Pureed food - they came with a tray of tuna fish, creamy Tomato Soup, diet cranbery juice, tea, low fat milk, Pro-Stat Proetin drink/mixI ate some tuna, drank some cranberry juice and mixed the Protein mix in with it. I ate enough, and it stood down. ( took the rest home with me)

Basic Post-Op Rules ( For my surgeon )
Eat slowly. Each meal should take 15-30 minutes. Drink fluids between meals, either 30 minutes before or 30-45 minutes after.
4-6 week Post-Op - Stage 2 - Soft, Mushy and or pureed ( First month adter surgery solid food are all prohibited )
Examples:
Pureed meats, fish, chicken
Baby food containing protein
Low fat yogurt, cottage cheese, ricotta cheese, humus
Sugar free puddings or jellos
Hot Cereal (oatmeal, cream of wheat, farina, grits
Ground meats such as turkey, chicken, veal or pork
Turkey burgers or chicken balls
White Flaky fish (Tilapia, cod, flounder)
Eggs/Whites (Scrambled, poached, omelets)
fruits and vegetables are limited

Preparation:
Foods can be baked, broiled, grilled, steamed, or poached.
Do Not Use bread Crumbs
Use chicken, vegetable, or beef broth to make moist.
Do Not Reheat in microwave, it can change the consistency of the the food.

Portion Size:
Palm of hand (3-4 ounces)
Remember: You are concentrating on protein. The food does not have to be "meal specific". Try omlets for dinner or leftover fish for Breakfast.
I had minimal pain during the hospital stay although I was on a morphine PAC pump, I used it before they walked me every 2 hrs, because it was uncomfortable to get in and out of bed, yes they walked me, every two hours on the DOT around the clock, they are very strict with their procedures, but it minimalized infections, blood clots, and any aother issues that can arrise. I have to say, I am very happy with the whole process, I am happy with my sleeve, and I am down from 302lb to 273ib. (obvioulsy I lost a decent ammount with the 2 week liquid diet) but I am still making some progress.

My kids are 10, 8, 5, and 4. I told them that mommy was having tummy surgery and that some of my tummy would be removed. That I will have owies on my belly, and will be in some pain. Plus I won't be able to eat/drink much. The older two have a much better understanding of why I had the surgery and what I can/not eat. The younger two are more conscientious of my belly and that food and I don't always get along. I try to be honest with my children and explain at a level appropriate to them.

My son is 9. He has also seen some of my books. He has not yet asked. He just always thinks you go to the dr for being sick. So I told him I Am not sick. I am going to the dr for something good. I have been eating healthy and they are helping me to do so. The goal is to get to ride all the rides at the theme park with him. So, I simply told him I'd be working really hard and soon I'd be able to outrun him. But he told me never, he's just too fast and some times goes slower just so I don't feel as slow. But I will have to tell him something. I think I will just tell him the dr fixed my tummy.

My kids were 11 and 16 and I told them. I emphasized the health benefits and that I would live longer and be able to participate in life activities.

I have four children and two of them know. My oldest daughter is 22 and will stay with us for a couple of days to get my younger daughters off to school (7 & 10) and help care for my son (13 months), while my husband is on night shift. I told my 10 year old, but not my 7 year old. The 10 year old is very smart and I knew she'd figure something was up. She was worrisome at first and asked a lot of questions, but as I answered, she became understanding and supportive. I didn't tell the 7 year old because she is a blabber mouth.

I shared with my daughter. I told her the truth that I want to prolong and better my life so I can be more active with her and so I can help teach her how to make healthier choices
And be a better role model. My daughter is 12 and an only child. She went with me to some dr appointments and was there before and after surgery with my husband. She helped me when I got home. I was told not to lift over 8 lbs the 1st week and not over 20 lbs the 1st month. My husband had to work out of town and she stepped right up to lift the pet food bags to feed the animals and to take out the trash she was a great help. I am down close to 40 lbs and she is down 4 lbs. We walk together And measure each other weekly and watch our progress. It a family event when my husband is home too we support each other.
We all are getting healthier together.

My son is 17 and my daughter is 19. They both did not like the idea at first. I took my daughter to the seminar with me. The Dr and nurses did such a great job explaining everything that she had a different outlook afterwards. This is a family thing. They have to be all in as to not have little sabotagers living with you. (Lol..????) honestly though I'll need their help.

My son is grown, he's 21 and I told him right away. His step-mother had a gastric bypass 10 years ago and so he remembers some of that. He was supportive, he had a lot of good questions and we sat down and went over everything in detail. I'm a little more concerned with co-workers. I work with a lot of women in a healthcare setting and I'm not looking forward to their assumptions.

LOL our son is 17 and I doubt anything goes on around here that he doesn't know about...my hubby is terrible about keeping something to himself... I talked to my son about it and we had a pretty frank discussion about the pro and cons and the risk with surgery and the risk if I don't do the surgery... He is very supportive, he said his greatest wish is that I'll be healthy, happy, and around for a long time!!!

Thanks everyone I explained to her my struggles with my weight and she has help me with dieting efforts. But it broke my heart when she started to cry .

Ask your surgeon for a list of Psychiatrist that they recommend. My insurance wouldn't cover it so I paid $150 outta pocket but she's specialized in bariatric patients.

I am divorced, essentially a single mom and I told my son, he is 10 (turns 11 on Sept 1st, my surgery is Sept 3rd). He cried at first and I asked him why?, he said it was because he was scared and didn't want anything to happen to me. I explained that I didn't want anything to happen to me either and that he was my reason "why", that I need to be around for a lot more years for him. That was back in May and now he is very supportive and understanding. I installed Skype on his ipad so we can skype while I am in the hospital. We actually tested it out tonight. One of my good friends is going to bring him to see me the day of my surgery (because he wants to see me with his own eyes to make sure I am ok), he said what he really wants is to be able to stay with me in the hospital and I told him that they wont allow that. I think if you explain to your daughter, are honest and answer any questions that she has she will be ok. Kids just want to feel like they are in the loop.

I told my 8 year old. I was very matter of fact about it. He was scared and said he didn't want me to have the surgery because he was afraid I would die. I acknowledged that fear and told him that surgery could be scary. I followed it up with the fact that I could die tomorrow with or without the surgery and that I wasn't scared. I talked to him about how I trusted my doctors and I wasn't scared. We talked a lot about what would happen during the surgery in terms of how it would impact him and that calmed him down. I have a dear friend who is retired and he calls nana that he stayed with the nights before and after my surgery. We also talked about how my mom (mawmaw) would come down to take care of us. Having the knowledge helped him but tailor your discussion to what your kids will need. I felt like I had to tell him because (a) I'm a single mom and have been relying on friends for support and ( it is changing our lives and he needed to know why.

Has anyone ever heard of an online bariatric psych eval service, bariatricpsychevaluations.com? The nurse coordinator at my surgeon's office sent it to me as an option, since their psychologist doesn't accept my insurance. He also gave me some recommendations for places in town. I'll probably go with the in-town ones, but this seemed interesting...

Hello,
i joined a couple weeks ago..just been reading topics and threads.
i have my first appointment with my surgeon and hes team on Tuesday and Wednesday of next week. I am so ready for this! weight was always problem for me since i was a kid. i'm going to talk to him about the sleeve as well. my sister had it done last year and has lost 100lbs with little complications!
If all goes well i should be getting the surgery in December too

Hello kayjaywlj hope all goes well I'm in the beginning stage as well go to my class 8/25 the I don't know where I go from there I'm also work for a school

Hey, congrats to you... good luck on your journey!

Hi all
I too am at the beginning of my journey, I've already seen my surgeon and have signed up for the sleeve, I have another visit in the next month to get bloods, scan and sleep test done then it's all go for op before Christmas. I'm 46 and weigh 25 stone 7lbs. As I'm paying for my surgery I only need to do a 2 week pre op diet of liquids thank god. I'm very excited/nervous all at the same time. Nice to read about others in a similar situation.

Just a thought.........how about you figure how many calories you drink over a period of say......a month. Maybe that will help you see how this social activity is actually adding to your misery instead of your happiness. Will your drinking friends like you less if you cut back on the booze? Do you need to be drinking / drunk to have fun?
Maybe, just maybe, if you have surgery and lose enough weight to be able to embrace regular activity and exercise, you could find friends who like to hike instead of drink. Your current friends may be the only people in your current social universe, but they don't have to be.
One thing I have found out about losing weight is that we also lose inhibitions that were holding us back, too. That new thin you that is trapped inside the current hefty you may be an entirely different person. A healthier body and healthier outlook changes us. It is no secret that bariatric surgery exposes the raw dynamics of relationships, and there are a lot of examples on this site. Once you do lose weight and become thin and healthy, you my find that your current "friends" are threatened by the competition you will present. Think really hard about whether they treat you like a friend or like a joke.
I wish you the best of luck in whatever you decide to do. Just don't let your current friendships determine your future health. Believe me, the health problems escalate quickly with obesity. You have to decide where the greater value is.
Hugs from Miss Mac in Chicago.

Hello all
Today was my first visit with my surgeon . So I'm at the beginning stage of my journey. I'm excited and nervous at the same time . I have battled with my weight for the last 10 years and beginning to get progressively worst . As a mother of five I want be around for my children . Aside from being morbidly obese I really don't have any other health issues. I joking call myself the healthiest fat chick I know.
I researched this for over a year . I have decided on going with the sleeve as it's better for me and my lifestyle. I am comfortable with my surgeon and his stats. The office staff was very friendly. The host of other doctors is going to be a killer for me because I'm trying to get as much done before September when I go back to work .( I'm a teacher) My insurance company requires 4 month weight loss program which is not as bad as I initially thought considering I only have three more to go . Also my dr said we are looking at a possible date in December which works great for me. Around the break so I don't miss any time from work

Wow! God's great! Just like that I'm one week post op with no complications. I feel so good that I'm wondering what's next! I'm following my diet to the T, regardless of how boring it is. My first doctor visit will be on Monday, so I'll keep you updated with the results. A big thank you to all of you for your support during this process, I love you all!