Wendy Kreck

I'm tomorrow (22nd) too. I just can't wait. So excited to finally get this done after a year of waiting. However, I have lost 35.5 pounds since January, and considering I am always such a slow loser, I'm satisfied with that. May the weight loss continue for us all. Good luck everyone who is having their surgery today and for the rest of September. We can do this!

When I first met my surgeon, I was on 50 units of Insulin daily. I was 256lbs and had had heart bypass surgery years ago and then a stent put in August 2016. Our decision was to go the bypass route due to the diabetes. Due to the Plavix tablet I had to take for a year, I could not have my bypass until now, and I am due to have it on September 22nd. I can't wait. When I saw the Dr yesterday he was delighted that I had lost 34lbs since my last appointment with him and was even more delighted to hear that I have reduced my insulin to just 15 units per day. As I have improved so much, through hard work these past months, he said if I would prefer to have the sleeve he wouldn't be against it. I thought for about 10 seconds, and told him that I still wanted the bypass as I desperately want to get rid of my diabetes and feel this is the best chance I will have. My dad had diabetes and was VERY overweight, and almost lost his leg from ulcers caused by diabetes. He has since died, from complications from the disease. I do know there is no guarantee that my diabetes will disappear, but I have proved already that with diet and exercise I can probably get off the insulin at the very least; Good luck with your decision. You have time to get all the information out there and then to make a very well informed decision with your Doctors help.

I have had to wait almost a year, due to having a stent put in last August. I was put on a blood thinner called Plavix for a year. My doc at that point asked me if I had ever considered weight loss surgery and I said I had thought about it, but figured it would be too costly for me. She told me that it wouldn't be as much as I had imagined due to my Insurance paying most of it. I got interested and said I would like to hear more. She put me in touch with the Bariatric Dept at Kaiser South San Francisco, and I went to a couple of meetings which I enjoyed. Cut a long story short, I started my 1,000 calorie diet last January. I have always been a very slow loser and had told my surgeon this. He wanted me to lose 25lbs by August, when I would be able to come off my Plavix tablet and be considered for my bypass. So, a date was set two weeks ago for me to have my surgery on 9/22/17 and today I went to see the Dr for my pre-op appointment. I have lost 34lbs and he is delighted. I am so eager to start this next part of my journey. I am fully motivated, and raring to go. The waiting for a year has not been easy, but believe me, it will come around faster than you might think. It's just a mindset thing, and once you realize you have to wait, (in your case 90 days), it's not going to be do hard. The best advice I can give you is....during this year I have exercised more than I have my entire life. Gym 3 times a week, I bought a bicycle and can go with my husband on short bike rides now, and can now walk 2-3 miles pretty easily. Back in January, when I started this program, I couldn't walk 1/2 mile. Good luck Erin...I hope my message helps you.

I was scheduled for 6th September but Doc re-arranged for 22nd now. Not the end of the world really, but I was disappointed. Can't wait to start my new life. I am determined and very motivated. Good luck to all of us!