Renkoss

Eek! One month from today sassyfrass! I'm so excited for you. I got a call from my navigator Friday letting me know everything was in order and that all my paperwork had been fax'd to the insurance. So now I wait for their answer. I'm counting down the days until I hear. I don't think I should have any problems since I have so many comorbidities along with the 100 lbs. overweight. But, as soon as I know I'll let you know!!

Antionettemn619, you don't have to explain to anyone why you are getting this surgery. This is your body and your decision. Don't let anyone make you feel bad for wanting to be healthy and thin. By the way, just in case I read it wrong, I just want to mention that your stepdad's health has no bearing on your predisposition to diabetes or any other health related issues he may suffer from. No genetic ties there for you. But, I agree with you; avoid putting yourself in that type of situation early. Good Luck.

I have to tell you, you look absolutely fantastic! I am around the same that you started (5'2" and about 268 lbs) and I love to see people my age (oh, I'm 53) who lost this weight and look fabulous. I'm afraid of my face looking really old when I lose the weight because of the "double chin" I have right now. Also, I would never know you have hanging skin by looking at your picture. So attractive!

Unfortunately no; I think they said back when it could take as much as 2 weeks for them to hear back from the insurance. When you have your last appointment, you call a number and it is all voice recorded and asks you for your name, telephone number, and medical record number. I will wait until next Monday before I call and ask what stage we are at. I'm pretty psyched and for sure I'll be here as soon as I know! Thanks!

So sorry you have a Mom who says such hateful and mean things to you. Wow. The only one who ever called me a fat pig was my older sister when we were younger. And, of course, she was/is very thin. So I guess to her I was a fat pig. I think you should confront your Mom and let her know how saying those things when you were younger (and even now how she deals with your weight) has been so negative and has caused you to do things that have been hurtful to your body such as eating secretly and such. She needs to know how what she says to you affects you and your emotions/self image. Continue with your journey for you sweetheart. Don't do this for anyone else's approval, even your Mom's. You need to know you are completely worth doing this for your health and happiness.

Ldybg8879, is it possible that you can be weighed once a month somewhere closer? Perhaps you only need to go in for meetings with actual person and not just to be weighed. Perhaps they could do a weigh in at your PCP's office if it is closer? Just wondering because I had to go for all my appointments downtown from where I live (it's only about 20 minutes from where I live during good weather and no traffic), but I was told that if the weather is severe I could go to my PCP's office that is literally 5 minutes away and have a weigh in done. Perhaps something to question.

Lenora, you are only 15 days out from your surgery. You've lost 40 lbs. I'd say you are doing pretty darned good! Perhaps you are not taking in enough calories? Perhaps you do need to up that Water to at least 64 oz a day. That is what I was told; 64 oz is the minimum requirement. I do know that a cousin of mine had surgery about 8 years ago and she was not losing weight in the beginning because she wasn't eating enough; we go from eating too much to not eating enough. I would definitely contact the nutritionist and ask what her recommendation would be for you. Don't give up hope. You are doing wonderful whether you think so or not. The weight is not just going to go away overnight. Be patient. It can take the body up to 2 years to lose all the weight you need to lose.

Amanda, you should pat yourself on the back as well...over 200 lbs. gone! How fantastic for you! You have dropped almost half of yourself already. Keep going doll!

Well Chrystee, don't gain the weight back because your hubby likes BBW. You are beautiful no matter the body; it is what is inside that counts and I bet that hasn't changed. You are still you; just a smaller version. My husband told me that my weight and body never mattered to him. Even now with his waning desire. I know he's not out cattailing it around, so I guess I just take what I can get when he feels "in the mood" and be happy with that. He still is the same man as far as pleasure is concerned. He just seems to be changing into an "old" man a bit before he really should. Good Luck girl. You are my inspiration!

WOW! You look fabulous! Way to go msmisaacs! Keep going. You can only get better looking!

Had my last appointment with PSYCH today and as soon as I got to work I called the number to initiate final insurance papers!!!!!! I hate waiting for phone calls! I'm so besides myself right now; giddy you might say!

Tomorrow is my last visit!!!! I have a 10:45 am with Psych and then call the surgeons nurse! WoooooHoooo. I'm so excited, scared, anxious....but I think more excited than anything else!!!!!

@@Djmohr Ugh. So you didn't get any relief after surgery? I am hopeful that with the weight loss will come relief. I don't get that many hot flashes anymore (still a couple a day), but I just feel like I'm constantly hot. My poor husband lost 80 lbs over the last 4 years, and he's always cold now. I keep the house at 63 at the highest...even in our northeast Ohio winter right now! I am so hot at work because they have the heat set at 74. I'm surprised I haven't gotten sick going in and out of heat and cold!

I've been perimenopausal for the last 12 years! Hot flashes are horrible, emotions are terrible. I had a hysterectomy when I was 37 but they left my ovaries. I now feel like I am stuck in perpetual perimenopause. I'm truly hoping that the wls pushes me through to menopause. I cannot take the emotional turmoil that occurs almost monthly now. I cry and get totally bummed out for no reason at all. It sucks. I hope losing this weight will help all those hormones level out.

Quit smoking close to 2 years ago after being a 40 year smoker. I quit with the use of an electronic cigarette. I stopped vaping almost 6 months ago now. I found using the e-cig a much easier way to quit and stay quit from nicotine and cigarettes themselves. Pat yourself on the back! You will not regret quitting. It can be trying in the beginning, but the end result is so worth it.

I prefer to use the zucchini noodles for a real Pasta experience. I'm not crazy for the spaghetti squash with sauce. I do like it sauteed with olive oil and some garlic, or lemon, or both. I also like the miracle noodles with some things. You have to try all of them. Everybody's tastes are different, so go with what tastes the best for you.

Could you also do almond flour? Coconut flour and almond flour both have different uses. I've been using both for years now, but I want to be sure to only use what would be an approved alternative.

YES YES YES!!!! So stinkin' excited for you!

I totally understand your anxiety zabbakaye. I have the same anxiety. I think most of the people on here have had that worry pre-op. There seems to be quite a bit of caring people here, and I think the support is beyond wonderful. I'm depending on that!

I'm really hoping you hear something soon sassy! In the meantime, I have two more appointments left before going in for final approval from insurance; one is schedule for this coming Friday and the last is early next week. Why do I feel like time has gone into slow motion suddenly? Usually time flies by, except now I feel like I'm never going to get done with these appointments!!! Ugh. Hopefully once it goes to insurance it won't take them forever to approve. Fingers crossed for both you sassy and me!!!!

I believe in Love at first site. With that said, my husband and I started out as friends, but then turned into friends with benefits but never really saw anybody else from that point forward. We had both just come out of bad relationships and wasn't really looking for anything serious at the time. However, when I first met him, there was definitely a strong attraction and chemistry between the two of us. That much was evident. We have been together for over 30 years now; married for the past 26 of them. Although that initial love/lust isn't strong like it was in the beginning (as most aren't after 30 years) I still adore my man, and I know he still adores me. He is my absolute best friend and I can share anything with him. So can you actually be in love after just 2 weeks? I think so. But, I would be cautious with your feelings and your heart until you are absolutely without a doubt sure that the feelings are mutual. Otherwise you are setting yourself up for a horrible heartache. I hope it all works out for you. Being in love is one of the best reasons to be alive.

Congrats! How exciting for you! I have two more visits; 1 with the NUT and 1 with the PSYCH and then hopefully I go for final approval with insurance! I'm getting there. So excited.

Terri Lynn, I have heard a lot of stories about those having surgery and losing the weight only to get divorced from their spouse. Unfortunately many oversized women (and men) are in their relationships even if they aren't the greatest because they are afraid of never finding their one true love. Some marry because someone asked them, and then found out that it wasn't the greatest of relationships but stayed in it anyway because it was just easier. I think those are mainly the ones that end in divorce after surgery. But, I'm sure there are some that were great and went down the tubes after. I've been with my husband for 30+ years (married 26 years this June). Whether I'm big or small doesn't matter to him; he just wants me to be healthy. I feel the same about him. I loved him when he was 174 lbs and I loved him at 285 lbs. I love him at the 205-210 lb mark that he is at right now. He's my husband, best friend, lover, confidante, and everything to me.

Thanks for the response. I have a wonderful relationship with my husband, and I know that no matter what we will survive all this. I think perhaps recent stresses in our lives (not the relationship so much) has also made things a little less about "us". I'm sure things will get back to where they should be.

May I ask how your surgery has helped your Type 2 diabetes? I am going to have bypass soon and am also Type 2 with great difficulty controlling because of severe insulin resistance. Do you still take meds and how is your blood sugar both pre and post op? Thank you. Ms. renkoss before surgery (vertical sleeve) my A1C was 12. At my last doctor's visit in December 2015, it was 6.5. I too have struggled with uncontrolled diabetes. I was even on the insulin pump before surgery. It helped control the diabetes, but I gained over 100 lbs. I am no longer on the pump and my sugar levels have leveled out. I still take 500 mgs of Metformin twice a day. Although I've been having a lot of lows, which makes me think maybe I don't even need The Metformin. My overall health has improved so much. I am so happy I had this surgery! Thank you so much for your response. This gives me so much hope that I will also be able to come off the insulin pump and only need the Metformin. I've been on so many different combinations in the past, and I've never lost weight while being on insulin. I too gained a great amount of weight since going back to insulin, and the funny thing is as I get older, the insulin resistance gets so much worse and that starts the vicious cycle of greater insulin resistance, more insulin needed, more weight gained in the stomach. It just has to end somewhere. Either the diabetes is going to get me, or gaining all this weight will.