Jemma23

That is awesome Carrot! I know when you feel bad all the time it definitely takes a toll on the family, All the extra lbs steal so much from being able to fulfill life in SO many ways.

So far I’ve decided not to tell I was approved twice and they were canceled because I had a seizure the week before 😞! The one person I did bring it up to said surgery is not the answer just eat better and exercise..... she doesn’t have 210 lbs to lose ☹️

Congrats Thatch! I've also noticed a big improvement in my depression!

In the year leading up to my surgery in May 2018 I was diagnosed with COPD by a pulmonologist based on pulmonary function testing. I have always had some seasonal asthma but this was much worse. I could not take a shower or walk across the street without wheezing/shortness of breath. I was placed on 3 daily medications (Breo, Spiriva and Singulair) and still had major issues. I was also treated by a spine physiologist for severe back pain...it was to the point that I actually let this doctor inject my spine on both sides due to the severe pain that occurred anytime I was upright for more than a few minutes. I had to drag a bar stool into the kitchen to cook a meal and my husband was looking into a walker with a seat for me since I could not go anywhere due to the pain. I can honestly say that I thought I would be dead in a year...
Fast forward to today, one year after surgery. I am still working toward my goal but my health and life have improved greatly. I am off ALL COPD/asthma medications with symptoms so rare that I have used my inhaler about 3 or 4 times in the last year. I can do anything I want with no breathing issues. My pulmonologist is AMAZED and he is referring other patients to bariatrics as appropriate. I can do a brisk, 2 1/2 mile walk outdoors with no issues. My back does not hurt AT ALL even if I am up and walking all day. I can easily get on and off the motorcycle that I so enjoy riding with my husband. I have not taken so much as a tylenol in a year since surgery.
I am currently 61 years old with no health issues, no medication other than OTC allergy meds and my MV and Calcium supplements and I feel 10 years younger than I did a year ago. As a nurse practitioner, I would not have believed any of this if I had not experienced it myself. Having this surgery is the best thing that I have ever done for myself.

I am so glad to hear your story. I am 62 250lbs and 5'2" and just starting this process and am leary about it. Looking forward to getting healthy and getting off my HBP, diabetic meds and sleep apnea machine. How is the sagging skin?

Wow MIZ80, isn't our surgeries wonderful, even changes lives in our end of the Spectrum. And ladies, as you have probably heard , I am 73, be 74 in December and it even,worked for me. Not quite as far as MIZ60, only 9 months to her 1 year but I have lost 115 pounds since surgery, even with setbacks I am starting to,have a Good Life.

I could have written your post word for word before my surgery last August. My decision was to only tell my family and a couple of very close friends. I work with two of my friends that I told but made them promise not to tell anyone else at work. I'm very happy with my decision. I've lost 90 lbs now. People at work started noticing a couple months ago, asking what I've been doing. My response has been that I'm logging all my food, not eating the often times 3000 calories, focusing on Protein to keep me full, reducing carb intake, and exercising (that last part isn't entirely true and I really need to get going on that). I also said that I'm quickly approaching the age that my Dad was when he died of a heart attack which was related to his obesity (all true). When I had the surgery last summer I didn't tell anyone at work what type it was. One person asked and I just said I'm not comfortable talking about it but thanks for asking. A few weeks ago a different coworker point blank asked me if I had bariatric surgery. Completely caught me off guard and I felt it was kinda rude. I looked her straight in the eye and lied. I said no, then gave my spiel about logging food etc. Best of luck on your journey!

This is all so encouraging! I can't wait to throw this sleep mask away, I hate it! I would love to get rid of my meds, but most of all lose auto-immune and plantar fasciitis symptoms. They are what I feel have stolen my life. I'm praying for my mobility back.

This is all so encouraging! I can't wait to throw this sleep mask away, I hate it! I would love to get rid of my meds, but most of all lose auto-immune and plantar fasciitis symptoms. They are what I feel have stolen my life. I'm praying for my mobility back.

LOL Ren, I have only told my husband, because I need him to go with me. We shall see if he can keep it quiet....he BETTER!

LaShunn, I am not sleeved yet, but I would be tickled to death to lose 15 pounds in 2 months. Do not get down or discouraged. I have read so many posts of people that got so discouraged and then overnight lost 5-6 lbs. I have heard if you lose slower you have less risk of losing your hair, so that's a plus, lol. The main reason I don't want to tell are my mom and my kids. My mom is in very poor health.. she would discourage me from doing this and I don't want to worry her. My two older kids are both overweight and can't afford the surgery, so I want to be a good role model for them by eating healthy in hopes that they will see my progress and follow. My daughter is 21, has PCOS and Psoriatic arthritis. She tries so hard to lose weight but just hasn't been successful. I definitely don't like lying. I talked about this on my psych visit and he said, You aren't lying! You tell them you are doing it for your health. You are eating healthy, low carb and exercising which all will be the truth. But, I would also love to share this wealth of knowledge I have learned with overweight friends that would benefit greatly from the surgery, so I have mixed feelings. I already had two people yesterday at the heart clinic that asked why I was getting the surgery. I was not expecting it there for sure.

Has anyone kept your surgery a secret? I am pre-op and at this point, I don't want to have to explain WHY to everyone. I am also scared of being judged every time I eat in a social setting. What if I fail and have a regain, I can only imagine the judgment there. If you had it to do over again, would you tell people about the surgery, or not?

Maggie, how do you feel about having the surgery after having complications? Any regrets? I hope all is better now.

I've told my husband (obviously) and my sister. I will tell my Grandma when I get approved. That's all I'm planning to tell.

I didn't want to tell anyone. I didn't want it to be the topic of all my conversations. I don't want anyone to think they have to do anything different for me because my requirements are different. And I didn't want anyone to try to talk me out of it or say derogatory things about it. It was already bad enough that people would tell me I was fat and needed to lose weight- as if I didn't know. That would have given them an excuse o bring it up.
Eventually, I had to tell my sister-in-law because we couldn't care for my mother-in-law that weekend so I thought she needed to know. When I told her she said, "I know. my husband told me. and my mother-in-law told him. " Turns out my husband had already blabbed it to his mother who can't keep a secret or even remember that something is secret. My husband just said, oh I didn't know you didn't want anyone to know.
after surgery, my M-I-L kept asking "can you eat this?" several times a day. that got old fast.
I still haven't told any of my friends except for one because we've been through a lot together.
if people ask, I say I'm seeing a nutritionist (which they seem to accept) and if they keep asking I say its similar to keto- because it sort of is.

I saw someone post once, "No one asked me the details about my weight gain or how I got there, so they don't need to know the details of my weight loss or how I'm getting there" LOL!
For me only my immediate family know as well as 3 close friends.

this is a personnel choice tell or not your choice i did after it was done before i told only my immediate family no one else knew not even work tell it was done

I am suppose to have surgery 7/8/19 I only told my husband. Maybe after surgery I will let my sister and close friends know? Idk, but I made up my mind and don’t want anyone talking me out of it. Do what you feel is best for you. Not anyone’s business about your personal doctor appts.

Choose who you disclose your medical information with. You know who is supportive and respectful. It’s a choice to tell people that are genuinely interested. Skip telling judmental people.
Can you keep it a secret? You can’t hide rapid weight loss. People will talk behind your back, ask blunt questions and speculate surgery. Don’t invest your time trying to educate people that are negative about your choices in life. You owe no one an explanation.
After goal, conversations no longer revolve around your weight loss. It’s a fantastic feeling

He said day of surgery, you can't be less than 35, or weigh more than starting weight.

For sure! Thank you for the heavy pocket/ weights advice. I managed to weigh in at 199 after lunch, lol. We are waiting on results from stress test, then will put in for approval and get a surgery date for July. I need to weigh in no less than 198 and no greater than 200 (initial weigh in) lbs day of surgery which is really going to be tricky with two days of liquids prior to surgery. She said weigh every day and be very aware of weight gain and loss. They will not approve if you are above your first weigh in or if fall below 35. Where in Mexico are you having it done? i hope you have someone going with you. I have watched several youtube journeys of people who went to Mexico. They seem to have all had a good experience. Best of luck!

I am SO mad. I had my heart appt this morning and I fasted due to labs. The heart dr made me weigh and I was down 4 lbs which puts me at 34.2. They are doing a stress test then I have what I hope is scheduling appt with Bariatric. I’m going to ask to speak to whoever is with insurance. I also went and ate a big lunch and lg drink... hoping to gain 4 lbs before 3:00 appt. This is crazy. I am hoping I don’t walk it off with stress test... and I’m going to try not to pee, lol

Do either of you have Blue Cross?

No, I have not gotten a letter, or did I know to be expecting one. At what point in the process did you receive a letter? I go tomorrow for my second visit with surgeon and hope to schedule July surgery. I will be asking these questions. Thanks so much for your input.

So, on day OF surgery it STILL could get cancelled? This is crazy! I guess I can enjoy eating for another month, lol. I have never in my life purposely tried to GAIN weight, but I guess I better to be safe. This makes NO sense. Isn't the whole purpose to LOSE weight? Thinking back though... I think they told me that I can't show a weight gain either.