DRene

4LoveOfLife - I received a call from the insurance company Friday with good news and an approval confirmation code. Now the wait is on to get a surgery date... :-)

48 yo. Sleeved 11/11/15. HW 265. CW 195. GW 145. Very happy with my results which include no pain when walking down stairs, off bp meds, exercising 4-5 days a week, no asthma, look and feel younger.

I am going to bed so I'm not tempted to eat!! 2 days down & 12 more to go!
OMGOSH!!! I hope it gets easier
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@@DRene and kat27641 Your concerns are perfectly normal! But just spend a little time on this forum and you will see that there are very few (I think I have read one or two out of the thousands of posts!) of people who were not thrilled with this option for us to get healthier! Feel better about ourselves! Look better...get off medications...play with your grand kids....be sexier....get control over food....so many positives....it is a bit surreal the first few months but time goes by SO fast! I have been at goal for 4 years....sleeved at 58...and how I wish I could have done it sooner. But it's never too late. If you need more motivation, read my book...I kept a diary every Sunday of my first year...so you can have an idea of what you will be in for. It's called Queen of Crop and you can get it here a the Bariatric Pal Store, or on Amazon.com It will help keep you motivated! Good luck and keep us posted.

Thank you everyone! I appreciate the love :-)
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I'm getting the sleeve done Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I'm having the sleeve on June 20th. Started my 2 week pre-op liquid diet this morning. It's getting so close. I get nauseous when I think about it! Lol
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I have surgery at 2pm today! I'm getting mentally ready for war! Lol I'll keep everyone posted on how everything went! Wish me luck :-) God Bless you all
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Good luck! I hope you have a safe surgery and an uncomplicated recovery!!
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Let me tell you, prior to deciding to have my surgery my diabetes wasn't well controlled. Why? I ate pretty much whatever I wanted and took my metformin only most of the time. Once I started preparing for the surgery and eating better, I was able to cut back my metformin a lot (I was on the highest dose my doc could give me). I'm ashamed to tell you but before I decided to have surgery, my A1C was up to 10. TEN! It was part of what made me decide to have surgery.
My surgeon took me off my diabetic medication the day of surgery. I was nervous but I tested my blood sugar twice a day and it was always good. At about 4 months after surgery I has bloodwork done and my A1C was 4.5 and I haven't taken any meds.
I'm sure everyone's results vary, but it resolved my situation for me.

Diet pills are not the answer. Figuring out why you're letting yourself eat crap foods or binging (you don't really say what your issue is) means you are facing a control/willpower issue. You still have the restriction so it's just a matter of getting that control back. You can do this!
You should try going back to basics: Protein, veggies and complex carbs and getting in a minimum of 64 oz of Water. There is even a 5 day pouch reset that mimics the food stages from the beginning that can help clear out the simple carb cravings if you've been eating way too much of that (because the more you eat, the more you want to eat of that crap).
http://5daypouchtest.com/plan/theplan.html
If you are dealing with triggers like stress that are causing you to weaken, then address that as well. If it is seriously an issue then it might be a good idea to find a counselor to help you find non food ways to feel better and to work away from binging and eating foods as self-medication.
Go back to tracking every bite, every sip. Get back into doing regular exercise if you've stopped. Recognize that you have to be accountable for your role in this, and use the tool you were given instead of trying to find a short cut (like pills). You'll be much better off than screwing up your metabolism with crap stuff like diet pills or crash diets.
And stop bringing bad foods into your house or eating out at bad places. If you don't have the bad stuff in front of you or easily accessible, then you won't be as likely to eat it.

Hi there. I am 38 and was sleeved in November 2015. I regretted my decision every second of every day for the first 4 weeks solid. I was miserable and sick and in a ton of pain. Week 5 was a turning point for me. I started to feel better... more normal. It was then that I really started to understand and appreciate this second chance. I am now 5 months out and down over 70 lbs. I am shopping in normal clothing sections. Today I actually went for a jog. Deep breathes girl. You got this. We are here for you. Everything will work out. Trust me. Hugs.
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Hi, I'm starting my 1 week liquid diet tomorrow. I'm really getting nervous!! I'm having the gastric bypass. I hope I'm not a nervous wreck all week!!
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This is so inspirational! Thank you for sharing your progress and photos. I'm waiting on my surgery date and I'm beginning to have doubts! I'm afraid of going through all of this and then not lose weight! I need to lose SO MUCH. But thank you for a great success story
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Thank you for all the encouragement. I just have to say that a huge part of my success is that my husband has committed to a healthier lifestyle too. (He did not have WLS but we are eating healthy and working out.)
This picture shows how far we both have come!

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I just have to share because I'm finally seeing a difference in my body! I'm 3 months post-op and I have lost 74 lbs. I took a picture this weekend and finally could see a big difference. YAY for little victories and a place to share it where others understand completely!

Dear UpandAtom
Your journey sounds similar to mine. I am in Missouri, just outside of St Louis, I finally had s surgery date of April 25th and started my pre-op liquid. I found out today my PCP has changed his mind and will NOT give clearance until I see a neurosurgeon regarding some MRI results of my neck and upper spine. I'm so frustrated with this roller coaster but I've come too far to turn around now. I too have knee replacements. 3 of them. Both knees were replaced when I was 40. My left was replaced again in 2011 which caused me spinal injuries and I became disabled. I am 52 and feel like this VGS will be the tool I need to turn my health and my life around. Do you have a date yet or is it done already?
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Hello everyone
I am 52 (53 next month) and I'm scheduled for VGS April 25 th in St Louis, Mo area. I know y'all are already done but I am needing some WLS friends to communicate with. I am only on day 2 of my pre op liquid diet and I can't shake this thought of "what if"! What if this doesn't help me lose. What if my diabetes isn't any better. What if I go through all of this for nothing. Help!!
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Good luck!!!! I can't wait to here back from you.
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Dear UpandAtom
Your journey sounds similar to mine. I am in Missouri, just outside of St Louis, I finally had s surgery date of April 25th and started my pre-op liquid. I found out today my PCP has changed his mind and will NOT give clearance until I see a neurosurgeon regarding some MRI results of my neck and upper spine. I'm so frustrated with this roller coaster but I've come too far to turn around now. I too have knee replacements. 3 of them. Both knees were replaced when I was 40. My left was replaced again in 2011 which caused me spinal injuries and I became disabled. I am 52 and feel like this VGS will be the tool I need to turn my health and my life around. Do you have a date yet or is it done already?
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I work in the medical field, so I'm constantly around a lot of "know it all's" but I refuse to lie about what why I am taking off work. I am sort of a no BS type of person, and feel that my decision to have the gastric sleeve procedure done is my choice and my business. However, if someone asks what I am having done, I will tell them, and when they start to tell me why I should not have it done, or that I'm not big enough to undergo such a procedure, I just tell them that my decision is made and continue with my convo/work. Therefore, most of my coworkers know and I'm okay with it.
Truth is, a lot of the people with so many opinions would probably have it done as well if they could afford it or if their insurance would approve them.

I'm looking forward to shopping in a regular store instead having to find a mall that has a Lane Bryant or Avenue.
I'm looking forward to just sitting in a chair instead of critically analyzing how much weight it can take.
Being able to respond with a smile when I am flirted with instead of suspecting that it's some kind of joke.
Going to a carnival or amusement park and riding every single roller coaster

Wonderful!!! Very inspirational
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I had RNY gastric bypass surgery 35 months ago because I had a number of health issues settling in (diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, severe acid reflux [GERD]). I saw what these conditions did to my mother and I resolved that I would not walk down the same path. Within a couple weeks after surgery, all these conditions went into remission and stayed there. So I am well pleased with the decision.
Dumping syndrome is actually a good thing. You have warning signs that you can detect prior to going into dumping syndrome. There is many a time when I have these warning signs and just immediately just stop eating my meal. It is an automatic trigger. Because I know that if I eat another bite, then I will experience dumping syndrome and I don't want to be there.

before and after
Craig Martinez
Austin, Texas