Ellens531

Good luck

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Hi all. I've been around here for about 8 months reading and posting here and there. I've done everything needed aside from pre op testing. Waiting on sleep study results. From reading my Aetna coverage- if I'm understanding it correctly- I will be covered 100% but be responsible for $150 a night at hospital . I'm so upset that I haven't lost anything during this pre op time. Ok 5 lbs. I keep asking the dr office for a tentative date. Apparently I'll get one once I meet with the surgeon again. I've read so much on here. I would like to think I'm ready but still nervous. I know it's normal. I've had one surgery in my life. Gallbladder removal. I hope it's like that. Painful at incisions but that's it. I've been enjoying everyone's stories and successes and I can't wait to be on the other side.

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I just had this done. I was given something to attach myself before I went to sleep. Just didn't get a good night sleep with it. My insurance would not pay for sleep center test.

Aetna has not approved for me to get a sleep study. I hope that doesn't affect my surgery. Has anyone had this happen?

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I'm almost there too. One more nutrition appt on the 20th. It's starting to feel tangible. I think mine will be early January. Good luck & I hope you get your soon too!

I'm getting there. 2 pre op classes and waiting on neurologist to figure out if I need sleep study then it's just the pre op testing and submitting. No one has given me a tentative date yet even though I'm so close. I'm excited and nervous all wrapped in to one. Can't wait to get a date to look forward to

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UPDATE on Frustr8:
I just heard from Tomkitten that Frustr8 is out of surgery. Doctor said there were no problems. She's very tired but sitting up and sipping liquids. I'm sure she'll be back on the boards in no time! She's been dreaming of this day and it finally happened. Praise be!

Less than 48 hours, my BARI buds. YLime did you add,@karyn2018 to, Wedneday with,me, we are up to,lose to a dozen at this point. Only,1 or 2 more RNY, the majority VSG.
OXOXO, Frustr8

WHOA, that was a wall of text. Mad props to whoever makes through it!

I remember back,thinking those months would never end, was I ready? was there anything I could have done better? Can I really do this thing?
But stay faithful,do your testing, watch,your diet, follow every rule,your doctor hsd, he or she has been doing this business longer than you.
And then the day will finally come. , you will be less 3 days to go. And that old bugaboo, Father Time,that,you felt wasn't cooperating,all the sudden you are riding that runaway freight train to surgery, did you pack everything you wanted to take? What are you going wear there? And have you got food stuffs ready for when you get home or are you making an emergency run to Target or another store? Do you have your laundry caught up? Nothing worse,than coming home to 3 baskets and you can't lift 10 pounds. Are the animals taken. care of, how about your spouse and kids? one thing, that I still gotta do, change out the,litter in the cat box, won't be wanting to bend over there soon
Do you have a living will,or power of attorney paperwork. Did you remember to have your insurance cards and med list? Do,you,have a charger for you cell phone. All the sudden these small,stuff worries pop up, and you kill them all. And you put a smile on your face, a song on your lips,hope in your heart, and you go check in. You're ready. you go peacefully to sleep,knowing your are safe with,the best team possible,,while you are asleep, magic will be performed , and when you wake your new life begins, and it will be,good, a little more good healing and you can utilize the changes for good.

In the words of the late Jack Benny, I m thinking , I'm thinking.

I am so glad I found this group! It is nice to know I am not alone.
I started my journey in January 2018 at 295 lbs after trying to lose weight so I could have a right total hip replacement. I had gone to my PCP in July 2017 for my yearly physical and mentioned to him about my hip hurting. It took awhile for me to mention it because I thought it was because I was so fat and my inner voice kept telling me to "suck it up, this is the price you pay for eating the way you do" (I can still hear that in my head in my mother's voice). He sent me for an x-ray, then immediately to an orthopedic surgeon. He didn't sugar coat anything. I had stage 4 osteoarthritis in my right hip, needed a replacement. and the 80 year old man in the room next to me had better hips than I do at age 48. My ortho refused to do surgery and instead wanted me to do hip injections and lose weight.
I got my first injection on Tuesday August 22, and drove with friends from Michigan to Philly on Wednesday to participate in the Susan. G. Komen 3 day 60 mile walk. On Thursday we walked around downtown and began the walk on Friday. By Sunday, we had walked over 70 miles in 4 days.
My second injection came the Monday after Thanksgiving. What a fun holiday that was! I wasn't allowed to take my beloved Aleeve and Tylenol was not much help. I drank Scotch to supplement, much to my mother's dismay but my husband's amusement. That injection was enough to get me through hosting 40 people for Christmas at our house and going to New Orleans in February (What a fun town!).
I went to a WLS consultation with my husband in January. We listened as the surgeon gave his speech where he talked about how people who more to lose have little or no chance to successfully keep any weight loss off because of our bodies and I immediately began to bawl. You mean my mother was wrong? I didn't need more willpower? Or someone to slap all the food out of my hands? Or I wasn't walking enough? (For the 3Day I walked a total of 600 miles in 24 weeks which averages out to 25 miles a week). My husband was very supportive, especially with drowning out that voice. So I began my 6 month physician monitored diet, which my PCP was not a fan of.
My third injection came in March and lasted one week while we were in Vegas for March Madness. When we came home, I called my ortho and he wanted to see me immediately. He decided that since I was pursuing WLS that he would do the surgery. I was bone on bone and living on Aleeve and the occasional Scotch if I had a bad day at work. The worst was the two weeks before surgery when I couldn't have Aleeve and we went to Vegas again (The trip was already paid for). I couldn't get comfortable in any position - chair, stool, walking, standing, or laying in bed.
Surgery was on May 29th and I had instant relief in my hip. No more bone achingness that felt like someone was sawing off my leg. I did really well with physical therapy and ortho was pleased. We are keeping an eye on my left hip, that is at Stage 2.
I was in for a big surprise though. I thought now that my hip is brand new, I will be back to walking everyday and getting on with my life. On May 29th I weighed 316. I have found that the rest of my joints and back are now protesting all this extra weight. I have lost my stamina and I am so frustrated with the state of my house and gardens. Yes the husband and adult kids clean up after themselves but they don't do the deep cleaning that needs to be done.
The good thing is my PCP is much more understanding and knowledgeable about bariatric surgery because of my journey. He has seen me lose weight the first 2 months and slowly gain it do to my loss of mobility.
Well that is my motivation story, I have my surgery on Wednesday, September 5th and it can't come soon enough. I am trying to prepare myself mentally and emotionally for this and have been watching lots of Dr. Voung videos.
How do others deal with the voices that tell you that you can't do this, or make you ashamed of ever getting this size?

My last nutrition appt is November 3rd. Then I have to wait to be cleared so I guess I'm looking at December

So how much have people lost prior to surgery? I'm 334 at my last appt. I'm finding it so hard to lose.

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I will definitely try it!!

I’m hella picky my husband hates it and I got off Protein Shakes for awhile but I need to get back on them. Best milk chocolate Protein that aren’t gritty for picky butts like my self?I’m also juicing! I’m losing weight still but I’ve got to get better.

And I will be having RNY surgery a week from Wednesday, on September 5th. And at 72, I put family, responsibilities in front of my own health and wishes. Yes I am healthy enough for surgery but if my recovery will be perfect, that I am not sure of. But it still beats existing as I have been. I am not frightened , rather fatalistic, it will be as it will be. The excitement is dissipating, I just want it over so I can move forward again. But I can smile for others, I have years of plastering on a sweet smile, no matter the pain and sorrow inside. I hate myself for it, maybe if I had rebeled sooner things could have be different. But why get hung up in the could of, would of, should of , of various things when it is of no benefit. So I move forward toward surgery as my life collapses around me, I am just tired of it all.

Hi Everyone,
I just joined this site after finding it yesterday. After a recent 20lb weight loss and regain (for like the 100th time) I have decided to pursue sleeve surgery. About me: 50 years old. Current weight 270. 5'7. I have been hovering around 270 for about 5 years now after previously living in the 250 world for a few years. For about 10 years before that, I hovered around 230.
I am sick of the weight being in control of how I live, dress, socialize, travel, my career, etc. I want this lens removed from my vision of myself.....and want to deal with the challenges of life without also worrying about being fat, feeling sick, breathing heavy, struggling to keep pace, SWEATING, etc.
I live a pretty interesting life IN SPITE OF the weight. I have an amazing career and I travel across the globe for it....but I now feel uncomfortable in airplane seats - thank God I can still fasten the seatbelt without the extender, but it ISNT easy. I now know I cant put the tray table down and work on my laptop because I am just too close to it with all this weight.
I am an executive. I look at my peers and see all the pretty clothes and gorgeous shoes around the office. I try, but it never looks as good on me and forget wearing heels, they just hurt too much! I am pretty sure I am being judged at work for my appearance and missing some advancement opportunities because of my weight. Of course, nobody would ever SAY this....but I know it's true.
I love good food [emoji4] Not fast food, not chips, not fries, not burgers....not pizza. This body fat is curated from the best risotto, beautiful foie gras, velvety red wine, lobster thermidor.....you get it :-( .
But I have decided that my gourmand lifestyle in exchange for a smaller body is one I am willing to make. And I am sure I can also figure out how to eat well AND low fat/high protein/small portion and still enjoy life.
As my weight has climbed, I have avoided people and experiences. Just recently I was in the south of france on a little relaxing beach trip and a friend of mine texted me that she, too, was there with her husband. She was staying at the hotel next to me and wanted to get together for dinner...I was all for it...until she said "and we can take photos"...which meant she and her 110 lbs gorgeous self (she is a fashion consultant and VERY superficial - it's all about the "look" - a term she uses on everyone "I love your look" - clothes, hair, makeup) wanted to post photos on social media of me next to her.....nope. I told her I'd made other plans and never did see her. I think she's insulted...but I had to do it and one day I will explain to her, but not now.
Anyway, putting the psychological reasons aside, I feel crappy these days. I'm always hot. My body is always achy (legs ache every day), I have a chronic cough (it's bad - I am working at 50% lung capacity) for which I have seen one of the country's top pulmonary specialists - he says I am asthmatic and prescribed an inhaler. I now snore like a buzz saw - THAT's attractive, eh? My boyfriend likes to say I was building houses overnight - sometimes apartment buildings. I have already had a sleep study and was negative for apnea - doc just said "well, you're heavy!".
I am carrying the fat in my belly, chest and arms. I am pre-diabetic and brain fog like mad. NO way to live.
Being heavy AND being peri-menopausal are NOT a good combination. One has to go.
I have confirmed that my insurance generally covers the surgery and my personal approval is pending for the surgeon's submission.
I have done the intake interview and now have an upcoming meeting with the surgeon. I am hoping to have surgery in Early December/late November, as timing is important for me given that my travel schedule picks up in mid January.
I am reading your advice and your stories and appreciate every one. Focused on understanding what you are eating pre and post op and what I may need to buy. Figure this may be a good time to start a walking routine and hitting the weights a few days a week to build a little muscle in advance of the loss. Also plan to start taking Biotin for my hair.< br> Anyone have any other "now" advice?
I also entered my height and weight into a BMI/ideal weight tool and it said my ideal weight in 134 and I have 136 to lose. I thought that was cool to know - I am carrying around a full extra person. It's really time for her to go.
Thank you for reading and for sharing your stories with me.
Suzanne

Hey there, I feel your pain, I too had to take break from the gym for medical reasons and going back was tough like starting over, but it had to be done (although I got a promo deal so i couldn't freeze my membership)
What are you eating these days?

I'm 4 months out. I'm having issues watching what I eat to lose some weight. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I had to freeze my gym membership for arthritis flare up in my knee and I feel I've gone backwards. I can start the gym again in about 10 days. Until then I need to try to do something. The depression is setting in because I feel horrible with how I let myself go and how I look.

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5 hours ago, Canis28 said:

What doc are you using now?

Dr in Englewood NJ

I have kinda the same question except I've been at my job 17.5 years. Not sure how to address the weight loss once I have surgery.

Mine was overnight at the hospital I had my surgery at. The room was set up like a hotel room. I had wires all over my head, legs and arms. I also had two straps with wires around my chest. I barely slept at all lol I was out by 6am and I went home, showered (bc you have goopy stuff all over your head from the leads) and slept for 6 hrs.

@Manpower,if you are still out there be happy for me.
September 5th 2018
7 AM. E.D.T.
Ohio State University Hospital- Wexner Medical Center
Columbus Ohio 43210
Type Surgery RnY bypass
Surgeon Bradley J Needleman - Department Head'-- Bariatric Surgery & Metabolic Weight Loss
And Finally,It Will Be Happening!!!

@Ellens531, why are you having a Doppler of your legs? Are you prone to lymphedema like I am? I am hoping my surgery and weight loss will take pressure off so they will drain out better. I really don't like puffy calves and ankles. I was trying to avoid taking my Lasix and K Clor, My surgeon Dr Needleman noticed my,puffy left,ankle, said "You are taking your Lasix aren't you?" OMG I'm busted! So back tinkling in overdrive. Oh well, it is for the BEST isn't it?[emoji97]