LAN2k

Stand by... I'm on it. In the meanwhile who knows there may be others who will be interested and willing to contribute. Thanks Ricky.

Ah duh!! Thanks I just found it "How it Works". Okay Ricky..I hope you will give me time to read up to and through chapter 5. My sponsor gave me a "My 1st Study Assignment" There are 53 questions for me to answer. She said there is a method and purpose for doing this. So I am really only beginning this venture. I am WANTING to do it so badly, as I wanted to have the VSG. I have realized through my personal experience post surgery, my emotional and spiritual experience a huge void within me and so I hope you will be patient. I don't think I can just skip over to chapter 5 and give an honest assessment since I think I need to work myself gradually to understand it all. I'm a slow reader only because I self distract. I'm going to try and answer the questions given to me by my sponsor while reading through the Big Book and I will respond here when I get there. This is all very exciting to me, where there is hope. Make sense?

Sounds like a plan. I am on step 2 in the program w/sponsor. I am thinking that you are refering to the OA 12&12 book? I'll have to read through chapter 5 then and give you my thoughts.

I think it is true that not everyone who is obese is that way because they over eat. The convenience of addictive/junk/fast food at every corner and sedentary workplaces absolutely contribute to the problem. In my case however, I have been an excessive or over eater since I can remember. I ate more than the average person or more than I needed. My stomach always felt stretched and as time went on (by about age 14 my body caught up and I got fat. Being heavy caused me to slow down. After coming home from school, left to my own devises-- both parents at work, I would pull out a loaf of soft fake white bread and slather on the peanut butter and jelly and eat one sandwich after another until I tired of the taste. After that I'd be so lethargic I'd take a nap. Then dinner with family then whatever I felt like eating....this for me was not normal and I knew it but hadn't the self control. As I got older I became educated hence I made healthier food choices but I still ate too much. I am definitely a compulsive over-eater so having this surgery is only part of my cure. Since sleeved 6 months ago, my appetite has grown and though I am not able to eat as I used to, I'm seeing my obsession with food as an issue or disorder that needs to be addressed. Now I'm sorting things out, and open to the 12 step program for "Over Eaters" (OA) and psychological counseling. I guess I'm an exception.

I would like to, yes. So far I have the BB and the 12&12 OA book, I should probably pick up the OA workbook?

Thanks for the listing. I'm really delighted to be in the 12 step program and I am growing from the literature. I am actually excited.

Stacie I too am so glad to know your going to be able to get back on track and progress in your WL journey. I don't need to tell you (but I will) to remember to take it slow and have patience with your nutrient intake. It may be a bit tedious during the liquid phase but before you know it you will be enjoying many foods only in small amounts.

"Gentle" ... I feel that word as a healing word. Thank you.

I just started to read the Big Book. I recently got a sponsor, we're trying it out. I also picked up The 12 Steps and 12 Traditions of OA. Ironically the honesty I am grappling with is self honesty. I procrastinate, avoid and medicate with food. I have this feeling that there are elements of my character which I don't want to look at because I'm afraid I won't know what to do with them or maybe what I will do without them? I resign to take it slowly, to only bite off what I can chew--lol-- so to speak.

Thanks ishary...At first I wasn't sure if I fit in with the people attending OA, since I had surgery and have lost a significant amount of weight. But as my eating habits have been altered and my appetite is back and my sleeve restricts me from eating the way I used to, I've so much more time to think...and I really get it that I have had an obsession with food...and it is important for me to address it. I can only speak for myself, and I'm glad that this thread has been acknowledged. I would love to be involved in a WLS support group! There is one local to me that meets every week but it's closed to those who have had surgery elsewhere. It's run by the surgeon who performs WLS surgery at Mather Hospital in Port Jefferson, NY. I pleaded with the staff to allow me to participate but was told that they are full to capacity and adhere to a strict policy. So I went to OA and I am glad I did.

I appreciate your honesty and I am so glad that you have your date for surgery. Best wishes to you in your weight loss journey.

After my surgery I walked into a 12 step OA meeting for the first time in many years. (I went to one meeting years back and walked out). Today, I really need to be around people who also need people. My surgeon offered group support for WLS, but only once a month and once a month was/is not enough for me. There is also 12 traditions of any 12 step program and anonymity is once of them. For my circumstances, it's helping me more than one on one psychotherapy. These are real people from all walks and professions who allow themselves to open up, share and trust one another. I am slowly learning what it means to live in the moment and finding it helps me. I also find this message board a great source of support. But I need the addition of person to person contact and although it may not be for everyone, the 12 step group of OA is a very good thing for me. I'd also like to add that this message board in another way has been like a life-line for me especially when I was at my worst.

I definitely agree with you MlkPas. I've been communicating on this message board a few months before I had the VSG. There are many very healthy minded and productive people who are thriving post surgery. I am not there yet. I have only begun to deal with my inner core which hid behind my food addiction. I know this is the truth for me. I also believe that many people who have WLS will need to come to terms with their lives without the ability to eat to excess. There are so many variables that have to do with being overweight.. It's not so simplistic or black and white.

Hi Ricky, Lis here and I'm a grateful recovering compulsive over-eater in other words, food addict. Grateful because the surgery is forcing me to face myself. I have felt like a tortoise stripped of its shell. Anxious, I went home from the hospital and sank into a most morbid depression. I was so bad that I didn't care about losing weight. My life as I knew it was over and I was left stripped of my identity, alone in my disease and terrified. Terrified because my drug of choice, food as I knew it, was history. My aging parents came to me and stood by while I was paralyzed with fear, I dwelt on death. I went for counseling. I went to 2 psychiatrists. I went through 2 anti-anxiety medications and finally was put on an antidepressant that stimulated my appetite enough so I wouldn't end up back in the hospital, (I was repulsed by food). Now I am working the 12 steps. Years ago, in spite of my lifelong addiction to food, I snubbed the 12 step OA program. Not any more, although I'm still afraid, I'm grateful because the effects of this surgery, (withdrawal from food as I knew it), made me realize my addiction and how years of addiction to food stunted my growth, (joke unintended). For me, shedding the weight is not enough. As I now see it, I've no choice but to work the 12 steps and heal inside. I'm on step one and it's taken me half a lifetime to get there. Thanks for your post.:smile:

I'm not sure but I think Aetna may cover the sleeve, but since it's through your employer I'm not sure since I think the employer has its own policies. Hope you get what you want.

What about Aetna? I am wondering if you have that advantage plan in your state? I think they may approve if "medically necessary"...but if available you will need to check. I'm sorry that you are in this predicament. I know because I too was thinking of having the RNY if I couldn't get approved for the sleeve. I hope you find a way to get what you want.

I could not use the machine so I packed it up, called the sleep study doctor and told him to please allow the company to pick up their equipment. I have a cat that sleeps with me and curls up under my neck. That mask and hose made things very difficult for me to get enough sleep. After a month they finally came by and picked up the whole set up. I have lost alot of weight and am hoping my sleep apnea has resolved. I also had to go for the two sleep studies and had that same panic encounter during the second study when I had to sleep with the mask. I awoke in a panic and pulled the mask off. The girl who observed me said that happened when she increased the air flow. She was awesome and sweet as can be and lowered it so I could go back to sleep. I hope you can get your surgery and lose the sleep apnea for good.

I had straight medicare while I consulted with my surgeon and went through all the required pre-op testing. At that time Medicare would not pay for the VSG because it was considered "investigational". Before having my surgeon submit the documentation I gathered from all the tests and my medical history validating comorbidity, etc., I switched to GHI Medicare PPO III. I was not sure if they would approve the sleeve but I was sure I'd have half a chance with a medicare advantage plan. GHI Medicare approved my surgery within 2 weeks of the surgeons submission. They even had a representative phone me to tell me I was approved! I was besides myself in awe, (I really thought I'd have to appeal and my surgeon was ready to go to bat for me). My date for surgery was scheduled 2 weeks after that. It seems to me that you have sufficient reason to have documented the sleeve as medically necessary. Best wishes to you. I do hope you are able to get the approval. Do let us know how you make out.

Congratulations MlkPas and breekahouse! I'm so glad you both have had good outcomes from the surgery. MlkPas please be careful about eating any solids...the time for that will be here before you know it. I'm looking forward to following your progress, both of you!

Nah but thanks now that I reread your post you were clear. Well you are doing great pre-op and will do great post up I just know it.

I did feel this way. In fact I called my surgeon and he did an upper endoscopy on me to make sure that I was stricture free and I didn't need stretching. I was alright but it still took a while before I could eat even a little comfortably. It is good that you are aware of how you eat and are taking it slow. I think what you are experiencing is normal and it will change for the better in due time.

Congratulations and "welcome to the losers bench" I hope you will keep us informed as you progress. Best wishes and remember to rest, sip and walk.

An awesome wedding day! Congratulations to you both.

You will be able to eat salads again. It took me about 5.5 months out to eat vegetables raw. I started with baby spinach leaves at Applebees. It was part of a salad with grilled shrimp and bacon/vinegarette dressing. I loved the raw leaves and now I eat baby spinach leaves at home with dribbles of this peppery mango-coconut dressing. Be patient with the new way of eating. A little at a time things come back. Green leafy raw vegetables (as in salads) are rich in nutrients and further out they won't fill you up so quickly as would chicken or other dense foods. So you can have your protein and salads too!

I think your OK. I would advise not to push it though since you don't want to risk a leak. It's great that you desire food though actually! Don't worry before you know it you will be able to have more mushie stuff and then some...