chell1957

Hi everyone. :laugh0: It's been a while since I have posted. I have not forgotten about all of you. Hubby has been ill since April and so I am busy more then normal. Wow it has officially been 1 year since my surgery. I have gone form my all time high of 220 (I am a lightweight) to 150. I am bouncing around a pound or 2 now so I am pretty sure I am done losing. I am so happy. I actually fit into a size 14/16 now! It used to be an 18/20! I have been reading the post and some of you have come so far. For 1 of U it has been 13 years! Wow that is assume :thumbup:. To the rest of us who are earlier in our journey, hang in there, U can and will do it. Use the broads and web sites as well as your fellow VSG'ers for support. Good luck and welcome to the losing side of life.

Well I can tell that most the folks I have meet on line in groups like this are pretty supportive. I tend to think its got to do with all we have been through to just get to this point.

LOL, cute, me I am a 38 almost there! I was not very large to start and always hated the fact my stomach stuck out more then the boobs did. LOL, wink

May I ask how U R documenting them???? I so far have had 1 RX for a pill tio help it. I also took a photo (digital) of the rash, but...excuse my bluntness, noting can document the order, P U!

Thanks. Ya almost. I would love to see 130 by next Oct. but will see where I am and how I feel then. Thanks for the words of praise. It really helps.

Hi. I am not a drug addict. I do know several including 1 in the family. My issue is over eating. Sometimes I am an emotional eater also. I love my sleeve as it keeps me from being a pig of myself. Which is good. There have been several times when I have had that bite or two too much and I have gotten a case of the burps or over active sylvia in the back of my mouth. Which just proves my point about loving my sleeve and why. I hope I can learn some techniques here that I can apply in daily life. I have very poor self discipline over some foods and at times I find myself standing in front of the frig for the 3 time in 10 minutes wanting something to eat but finding nothing. In the old days prior to WLS I would binge eat. So I guess 8 months out and I am still struggling with head hunger. Guess that will be a life time problem.

Hi all. As for me I am currently down 64 pounds since 10/2008. I would like to lose a total of 80. My surgeon sees me at 150. Personally I would love to see 130. This is where I would have a healthy BMI and where I looked my best "back in the day". But I do realize that as much as I want to get a certain weight, in addition to working the "tool" God will get me to where he thinks I should be. I hope we are of the same thinking on that issue. LOL. :001_smile:

Hi. Just stopped by to say Hi and read over the link. As for me I would rather have my arms, back fat and breast done. If I get my tummy done or not is not a big issue. I have had the old fashioned C Section scar for almost 30 years now so its like a part of me. True its more pronounced now. Yes I would also love to have my thighs done. They have always been big. To get rid of the stretch marks and cottage cheese look would be wonderful and to have something to fill out shirts would be the realization of a childhood dream come true. LOL, wink:tongue_smilie:

Yep, was a typo...never could spell worth a darn. LOL :001_rolleyes:

Thank you. It's been a wild ride for sure. U too will be there soon enough. Just keep your eye on the prize, wink

Hi. I too wanted the band at first then I like you leaned of the "sleeve". I like the fact that there was good weight loss, no nutrition problems to speak of and little if any side effects. I was sold. However I had been told that my health insurance may not pay for the surgery. I was bummed out to say the least. But my wonderful doctor (Neff) submitted all my paper work from the V.A. (I am X Navy) and low and behold they approved me for the VSG on the first try. One month later I had my surgery. My surgaversity date is 10-27-09. I am considered a "light weight" as my weight and BMI were borderline for qualification. However I had so many co-morbidities that I qualified! That was seven moths ago. I am very glad I did this. the time will go bay quickly. Just keep researching and putting into practice all you can learn so that when the BIG day arrives you will be an expert on it.

Hi everyone. I am new here. I think this is a great idea and I hope to meet many new friends. I am very grateful for my new life. Like a lot of us, I was overweight my whole adult life. It seems to run in my family. All my aunts on my mothers side are little round Italian women. I seem to take right after them. LOL. The only time I have been able to get the weight off was in the late 1990's when there was a local clinical trial for Meridian, thats about the same time as the Phen Fen diet pills/study. I lost 60 pounds in 6 months and looked great. But of course the medication was pulled from the market, a law suit ensured and needless to say all the weight came back and 20 lbs extra. Fast forward 12 years and my Veterans Affairs (I'm X Navy) discovered I had NASH (fatty liver) along with high B.P., hight cholesterol, diabetic, sleep apnea...I was just a mess and I knew something had to be done. So I started to look around and research and I happened onto O.H. and the rest is history. Here I am 7 months out, down from 220 to 160 and still going. and guess what! I am off my B.P. meds and my cholesterol is great! Hence why I am thankful.

:cursing:Here it is exactly 1 week until my Band-Day and still no call from my doctor telling me that my health insurance O.K.ed my surgery. I have done everything as asked and jumped through all the hopes. I am starting to get ticked off at the insurance company. I am thinking on calling them directly. Will update when I know something.

:cursing:Here it is exactly 1 week until my Band-Day and still no call from my doctor telling me that my health insurance O.K.ed my surgery. I have done everything as asked and jumped through all the hopes. I am starting to get ticked off at the insurance company. I am thinking on calling them directly. Will update when I know something.

This is a good question but I can't find the answer to it. I was wondering the same thing as my surgery is on 10-27-08. Chell

:wink2: After all the testing and waiting and testing and questions it finally is going to happen. I am a bit nervous but at the same time very happy.

Thank you, I will check in on the NJ page and yes the whole thing is tirresome...all the doctor appointments and the time used to do them...but I am told its all worth it in the end.

I have not been on in a while, had nothing to offer...but at last I am at the end of the pre op testing. Had my MMPI today which turned out to be a very detailed interview and no multi choice questions. Thank Goodness. All went well and the doctor is going to pass me for the operation. I see Dr. Neff (surgeon) tomorrow and I hope he gives me a surgery date. It's been a long journey so far..so much testing but I am now seeing a light at the end of the tunnel. :confused:

Hello everyone. I was on Ebay a while back and found the following cookbook. It is written by Margaret M. Furtado (dietitian/nutritionist). If you would like to purchase it new, the cost as far as I can tell is: $19.95 USA, 12.99 UK, $25.95 in Canada. It is called: Recipes for Life After Weight Loss Surgery. It is about 1 1/2 inches thick, glossy paperback and full of colour pictures and FULL NUTRITIONAL information. It is published by Healthy Living Cookbooks and the ISBN is: 13:978 -1-59233-226-7 or 10:1-59233-197-1 :blushing:

Hi everyone. I am not banded yet but have been doing a lot of research. I am in the process of getting all my pre op stuff done. In doing some of my research I found the following wed site. It offers a lot of information and is reasonable priced, trust me this stuff can run some money. So I offer the following link in hope it will help some of you. Just check with your doctor as to what you should eat and when. :blushing: http://www.unjury.com/reg/recipes.shtml

Well folks I have started my journey. Earlier this week I went and had my Upper GI and chest X-ray done. Have appointments for the Pulmonary and several other's next month and into June. I am using my civilian insurance (Horizon NJ Health...i.e. Medicaid) since the Veteran Affairs is moving Sssooo s-l-o-w...but I have started. Should be an interesting set of experiences. I am concerned that Horizon will not cover it saying that my V.A. benefits are my primary insurance. That is a whole other can of problems just hanging there in the back ground. I keep telling Horizon that the V.A. dose not play nice with other insurance companies and I don't think they will do the type of surgery I want done. I have a problem with a surgeon who only wants "1 size fits all" bariatric surgery. It makes me nervous to have him operating on me..... __________________

Well folks I have started my journey. Earlier this week I went and had my Upper GI and chest X-ray done. Have appointments for the Pulmonary and several other's next month and into June. I am using my civilian insurance (Horizon NJ Health...i.e. Medicaid) since the Veteran Affairs is moving Sssooo s-l-o-w...but I have started. Should be an interesting set of experiences. I am concerned that Horizon will not cover it saying that my V.A. benefits are my primary insurance. That is a whole other can of problems just hanging there in the back ground. I keep telling Horizon that the V.A. dose not play nice with other insurance companies and I don't think they will do the type if surgery I want done. I have a problem with a surgeon who only wants "1 size fits all" bariatric surgery. It make me nervous to have him operating on me.....

I belong to several groups. I found the following link and what to share with the rest of us. Just always remember to follow your Dr's nutrition guide lines and diet. You show this card to the wait staff and they will allow you to share the meal with someone or to order form the child's menu. I am also thinking that what is stopping you from showing it to the wait staff at the local restaurant in hopes they too will honour it. I put the names of the big restaurant food chains on the back of mine (need the reminder, LOL) but once they see who is accepting this, they may also allow it. Good luck! http://www.obesityhelp.com/magazine/RestaurantCard.html

I found the following link on another group I belong to. While I am in no way saying do not follow your Dr.s dietary guide lines, there are time when you have to go out to a nice restaurant and this would be handy to have. I am also thinking that if you write on the back of the card the restaurant chains who accept it, what is stopping you from showing it to other restaurants who may be willing to accept it, in particular once they see the large chains who do accept it. Don't know till you ask. http://www.obesityhelp.com/magazine/RestaurantCard.html