KC77

I know those feelings of uncertainty. I ask myself why i remained obese for so many years. I am concerned about how I will respond to a new, normal-weighted me. Most concerning is how i will respond to potential attention from the fairer sex. I wonder if i never really tried to lose weight because i was afraid of being tempted by women who might show me attention as a thinner person that wouldn't have otherwise. I'm aware of my concerns, i just hope i can work through them.

Ok, sorry this will be a little long...I began this journey back in January of 2016. Started the process and completed my required (by insurance) 6 month weightloss plan and then went for my pre-op physicals. During this process (1 week before my scheduled surgery) my surgeon found that i was anemic and was concerned.(HE SAVED MY LIFE RIGHT HERE...THE FIRST TIME) He pulled some strings and got me in for an endoscopy and colonoscopy the day before my scheduled surgery date because, as he said, "I need to know what i'm dealing with when i go in there." During the colonoscopy they found that I had stage 3 colon cancer. My surgery the next day went from a GSV to a colonectomy. He also took out my gall bladder (as the preop tests found I had gall-stones) and took out my appendix. So, 3 months of open wound treatment (because of an infection at the surgery site), and 6 months of chemotherapy later, i was able to take a deep breath. I had lost 30 pounds during all of this, but then sadly watched as the scale crept back up to my previous weight. So, in August of last year I decided I was ready to continue down the road toward the GSV surgery. Unfortunately, my employer switched insurance companies so my approval had to start back at square one. I have now completed the 6-month weight loss program...again, and have a surgery date of April 25th. (I could have had it sooner, but i needed that week to fit in my life). I am ready to get this surgery done and get healthy because my co-morbites are out of control. So now, my surgeon will get to take credit for saving my life 2 TIMES!!!! Thank you, Dr. Hipp!

Hello everyone, I have not even had my surgery yet, but I think the thing that worries me the most is the pureed stage of eating. What types of things did you eat during this phase? Did you actually put food in a blender and puree it? or, did you go to taco bell and buy a bunch of refried beans to eat? lol. but seriously, i'm not sure I'll be able to get pureed foods down.... thoughts?

I'm in Gainesville.....not sure if that is as close as you were hoping....

I had this happen, and disappointedly, i actually gained 6 pounds over the entire 6 month period. My insurance company denied the approval of the surgery and said they would not approve if i did not lose any weight...they simply wanted to see some weight loss over the 6 months, however, gave me two options from there. First was that I could withdraw my surgery submission so i didn't have a denial on my record (I don't think they would consider a second request), or I could have 45 days to get below my initial starting weight. I had my insurance person at my dr office hold and I then was able to lose and get below my first of the six month weigh in by 4 pounds. We resubmitted and they approved. Moral to the story is to go to the first weigh in of the 6 month effort with extra weight in your pockets so that you don't have to lose that much. It appears that most doctors find NO validity in this 6-month weightloss plan and feel that it is merely another hurdle that the insurance companies put in the process.

Hello all, I am curious, I am diabetic and will have my Sleeve surgery on April 25th. I am wondering how the surgery effected those that are diabetic. Were you able to get off of medication/insulin? if so, how long did it take for you to not need any meds?

WOWZA!!!!!

I just got my date a few days ago. April 25th is the big day!!!!