LAN2k

Hello I'm about to be "sleeved"...The date is set for September 15. I am female and 54! The way my body has sort of slowed down, I hope I am not too old for this. I'm nearly 100lbs overweight and I have tried and failed to sustain significant weight loss for too many years. At this stage of my life I am really seeing/feeling the consequences of having excessive fat everywhere on my body. It is no longer only a what I look like issue, my health is rapidly going south. I consulted with my primary care physician had some bloodwork done to check my thyroid and was diagnosed with hashimoto's. I went on armour thyroid and tried synthroid too for a year or more. My journey really began last summer when I became determined to do something about my ever increasing poundage. Taking thyroid meds didn't do anything to increase my metabolisim or energy. In mid May I started to swim at a local beach for 2-2.5 hours. I did this daily, (weather permitting). After that I'd take my bicycle on a 5-6 mile ride, daily. I would eat around 7 high protein/low fat/ lots of veggies.....and admittedly the portions were large as a have always been a volume eater. In earlier decades of my life, this type of regimen would generally work and I'd knock off up-to 30 lbs.....add phentermine (Doctor assisted) and I once lost a whopping 76lbs. But even then as soon as I stopped with the pills the weight crept back up. Back to last summer--by mid September I finally stopped the daily beach swims and weighed myself and to my dismay :thumbup: I only lost 3 lbs.:confused1: It was at that point that I picked up a piece of literature about bariatric weight loss surgery for Lap Band and Gastric Bypass procedures which was mass mailed from a local hospital's "Center for Bariatric Excellence". I went to the informational session and after that consulted with the surgeon there about the Lap Band. I went home that day and began to spend hours daily on the internet researching and came to the conclusion that I felt most comfortable with the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy. I had to switch gears and find another surgeon because the one who would have done the band considered the sleeve "experimental". I found another facility and did everything necessary to have my doctor submit to my insurance carrier for approval and the procedure has been approved. I will meet with my surgeon this week. I am very glad that this forum is here since I am comprising a list of concerns and questions to bring with me to my surgeon. It is a comfort to connect with others here. I have found good information, sincerity and humility within these threads. I am a little scared, have a very low tolerance for pain and I realize that I am likely in for a shock where my eating habits are concerned. I am praying that this procedure will go well and that I will not crave to eat gargantuan amounts of food thereafter. I also hope my body will release the lbs which are crippling me physically, and emotionally. I hope I have not put anyone here to sleep. Please feel at liberty to advise me constructively. Thanks to all and best wishes.

This was a great post. I'm so glad that the pain you encountered is diminished. Now that my surgery for the sleeve is scheduled in September, I too have been concerned and quite anxious about the pain, (among other things), post surgery. I had my gallbladder removed n 1976 and was hospitalized for nearly 2 weeks--the pain for that (open)surgery was excruciating beyond words. I recently had an open abdominal hernia repair and upon awakening post surgery the pain was pretty intense then too although not as bad as the gallbladder. Since my experiences with surgeries I figure I must have a low pain threshold so I am praying that my upcoming sleeve surgery won't be as bad.

Thanks, glad to find another stevia user here. Now I'll need to research which products come unsweetened!

Has anybody an aversion to artificial sweeteners? I can't tolerate any of them. If I can find unsweetened protein drinks and add stevia? My surgery is scheduled for Sept. 15. I am meeting with my surgeon this wednesday and hope he can help me figure a way around the chemical sugar substitutes. I'd love to know if anyone else has any suggestions?