ahuntersbride

Please.... everyone tell me your experiences with ALM TJ... good bad and ugly... i need to hear it.

I am scheduled for may 26th... excited and nervous too.
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I tried the lemon flavored today, pretty decent, tastes like sugar free country time lemonade if i were to compare it to something.
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I think that must refer to the Marriott you stay at when you're not at the hospital. It is very nice. The hospital is fine, just not on par with what you'd expect at a surgery center in the states. It's just kind of old and small.

I went through ALM in January 2015. I didn't have any problems at all. Seeing the hotel was a bit of a shock. It seemed so unimpressive and old and was a moment of "oh my god what am I doing?!?!" But it was clean and the doctors and nurses were great. In hindsight, it seems like nothing. I had almost no pain to speak of, recovered quickly, and lost 110 lbs! I was very nervous at the time, but now it feels like a dream I had ages ago. Best thing I ever did for my health though.

So my surgery might get postponed. Decided to take a pregnancy test and three of them said positive in 30 seconds. I have been trying for 2 years with fertility drugs and that's why I decided to do surgery to loose the weight as my age was making it harder. Haven't told my surgeon until blood work confirms.
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When I was in the pre surgery faze I found peoples pics very helpful and inspiring. Not trying to brag just wanted to help others who have worries! Q 

I did have my surgery in TJ but not through ALM, so may some one who has can chime in. I must say there my experience was AMAZING! I had no issues and was treated like a goddess. I followed instructions to the letter and healed nicely.
Well wishes to you on this journey!

I am scheduled for may 26th... excited and nervous too.
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At least you didn't let it take you out. I'm proud of you! Sent from my LG-E980 using the BariatricPal App

I agree, my husband and I never should have done this to ourselves... he was a slender 6'3" 200# when we met, he started driving a truck and sitting all day long... gained 80 pounds. He loses quickly and has lots of self control... i think it would be much easier for him. I have zero Sent from my LG-E980 using the BariatricPal App

You're right... actually i was hoping i could get him to do something too, he's overweight as well. His dad had a quadruple bypass in his 30s i believe, my mothers 1st heart attack was at 34, both my maternal and paternal grandmothers died at 57 due to heart conditions, diabetes and prescription drug abuse, and one of them was an alcoholic as well. Sent from my LG-E980 using the BariatricPal App

I appreciate the encouragement... so many here will see it as me taking the easy way out... not realizing that it isnt at all easy. I just can NOT self loathe anymore, i can't stand to see myself in a mirror, my clothes and body disgust me, and i cant even stand the idea of my husband seeing me naked... its really for all of us. Sent from my LG-E980 using the BariatricPal App

There is nothing wrong with keeping private your medical
Information.
There is also nothing wrong with seeking help.
I suggest you consider talking to a counselor or therapist about your feelings: fear, shame, anxiety, uncertainty, your sense of being overwhelmed. This is a major life change and you will be facing much of it without being able to use food and overeating as a coping mechanism.

I should add that the 1 friend that i told was supportive, nervous for me but supportive, my dad asked questions to make sure i had done my homework. But promised to support me no matter what.
I will tell 1 other friend in the next couple weeks but just dont think i can handle the negativity from other people without smacking someone.
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If the only people you have told are not supportive, I don't wonder that you don't want to tell anyone else!
Don't be ashamed of yourself for needing help, be proud of yourself for knowing what you need to be healthy and successful and getting it.

My surgery is this Wednesday. I'm pretty open to telling people what I'm having done. Feedback has mostly been positive. Sometimes you need to do things for you and take care of yourself. In this case, you are giving yourself a gift, as well as giving your children a gift. You will be able to live longer and run around and keep up with them, which is what is most important - to be the parent they need. Good for you! Never feel like you need to explain your actions in regards to your health. You will soon be transformed and all will see the benefits very soon!
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Hi Everyone, i'm Erin!
I just turned 30 years old last week and my surgery date is April 25th. My Doctor is Dr. Onopchenko (he's awesome!) from the Atlanticare group in South Jersey. It took me awhile to get here but i'm nervous and excited to be exactly two weeks away from the date. I was referred by my PCP in May of 2015 and went for my first appointment with Dr. O in June of 2015. I got all of my clearances done pretty quickly and could have done the surgery as early as end of August last year. However, at the time I wasn't ready and I knew that my clearances were good until May of 2016. At the time, the thought of having the surgery seemed to scare me into thinking I could do it on my own and I decided to use thadddt as a springboard to getting myself heavvlthy. I did pretty well. I lost 30 pounds and went from 291 to 261 and I think at one point even dipped into the 250s. But it took me 9 months to do it and at 5'4 i'm still over 120 pounds overweight. Plus, a few months ago I started to eat like I had before and was creeping back up and finding it hard to stop the behavior. So I started thinking about surgery again after I realized that the whole 'doing it on my own' thing wasn't really going to stick. In fact, in 2005 I had lost 90 pounds, but gained back 140 which had brought me to the 291 that I was. Right around the time the sleeve popped back into my head, my doctors office called to remind me that my pre-certifications expire on May 13th. I asked them what they needed from me and they said "literally nothing other than picking a date". So I went there last Friday for the authorization appointment and chose their first available appointment: April 25th. I started the 14 day pre-op diet today which for me consists of two Protein shake meals and a small meal of lean Protein w/ vegetables. Plus sugar-free Jello and popsicles of course . I honestly cant believe i'm doing this, and I hope I can go through with it. I am 100% sure that I can't do it on my own and I've already proven that to myself. My fears are about the complications and getting through the first 30 days after surgery. In October of 2013 I had a pulmonary embolism from the Nuvaring and it was the most horrible scary time in my life. It left me with constant fear, anxiety and panic attacks almost every day. So my fear is knowing that PE's are a potential complication of getting the sleeve (or any surgery really). My surgeon is well aware and I will be on blood thinner injections for longer than most people (At least a month). I'm terrified of going back to daily panic attacks after the surgery thinking that its going to happen to me again every day. But...I keep telling myself that the risks of getting the sleeve are way, way less than the risk i'm putting myself in being 5'4 and 260 pounds every day.
I really, really want my life back. I have my own business and I want to be more confident about my appearance. I want to go on roller coasters again and shop wherever I want and not get so tired all the time and feel so BIG. I hate looking at pictures of myself because I always look so much bigger than I feel. I want to travel and take a million photos and be in love with them. Plus my brother is getting married in Fall 2017 and I want to look amazing for that! Most importantly, I just want to know that I am at a healthy weight and cutting my risks for things like diabetes, high blood pressure and a bazillion other things that obesity puts me at risk for. It's great to meet everyone here and see all of the support. Thank you a million times!