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First of all congrats on your future surgery. I had mine two weeks ago and will be starting classes in two weeks. I'm just working on my bachelors- so my work load may not be as much but I'll be taking 12 credit hours this summer and working about 35 hours a week. I also did self-pay in Mexico. During the first and second weeks I was tired at times but honestly I feel great and wish classes would begin earlier. I think if you prepare in advance and make a definite eating plan you should be ok - but If it were possible doing it even a couple of weeks earlier might help. Good luck!!!

After the first 3 weeks I felt fine and at the 4 week mark was cleared to work out. It's all about how you are going to feel. For me I dont see the issue in doing it few weeks before school.

I everyone I met my surgeon last week and he pretty much went over everything with me but I forgot to ask one question, What happens to the staples in your tummy is there a thread on here where I can get more info..thanks in advance

Yup, they are a permanent part of you. Like JeanZ said, there are a ton of videos on YouTube demonstrating how this works. Basically, the stapler cuts the stomach tissue while putting tiny titanium staples along the portion of the stomach which remains AND the excised portion. The excised portion gets stapled, too, so no stomach contents get released into the body cavity. The stomach then begins the healing process creating scar tissue along the staple line. This is what is going to be the strongest, permanent structure. It takes about 6 weeks for this to form. This is the time frame where most people are at risk for a leak. (< 3%, as I understand the numbers) So, once the scar tissue forms over the staples, they remain. They are non-ferrous and will not set off medical or TSA equipment. I haven't heard a single radio station when I sit in front of the microwave, either.

Congratulations, Do not forget that you need to be up and walking every hour for 10 minutes. Do not be lazy about this. It doesn't hurt. The only thing that "hurts" is the gas pressure and some people don't even have that. The more you walk the less gas pain you will have. The first 48 hours are the toughest and each hour after you are in recovery it gets better and better. Do not set yourself up for disappointment or failure. Your body will do what it needs to do on its own, Don't force anything. Measure yourself and take photos weekly, When you come back and complain you are in a "stall" your actually not in a stall. You are probably losing inches or your body is shifting. A stall is nothing lost at all weight or inches in over 30 days. You are going to do amazing. I can't wait to see your journey. Sarah

I am having my surgery March 19th I start my 2 week pre op diet tomorrow I am super excited to be able to see the finish line knowing after this I am going to be running a stronger race with a finish line with better health and strength, anyone else March surgery

Don't be frightened, Lala. We all get the jitters as the date approaches. I had a lot going on in my life approaching my surgery date - so I pushed it back by three weeks and went on holiday to get some sunshine and reflect. The time gave me the space I needed to weigh up all the pros and cons. On reflection, the pros dwarfed any cons I could identify. Nearly 6 months out and apart from the stall frustration - I am a very happy camper. I suggest you write yourself your own list of pros and cons and see where that takes you. You might be in for a surprise. The best of luck with whatever you decide

First, every insurance situation and surgeon is different. I had no insurance waiting period and was approved in about a week but my surgeon didn't have an opening for months. Second. .. wls changes your anatomy so no matter what you "hear" elsewhere, you need to follow your surgeons eating plan to the letter. Really it's the only way to insure success. Good luck

Went to my pre op class today ..it took forever and a day..lol..met with nutritionist in a group setting. .she wen over all the food we can have first week and after surgery. .that took over an hour..then the office manager that went over everything a nut went over..sign consent forms and over the complications. .which was soooo much..wanted to run out that room..lol..that took over 1 hour. .then we had to meet with surgeon. .One by for for our prescription and asked any questions we may have..waited almost 1 1/2 HR for him..then we had to go to hospital to pre register. .met with PA..that explained..how we would be put under during sugery..and blood work..whole process was from 8am-2:30..

You should feel tons better a week out. Truth be known make sure you get in your liquids and you should be fine! Best Wishes for you both! Tina

Only problem is, my surgery is in almodt two weeks actually on june 16 and they are just now sending me to a hematologist....i cant get clearance from my primary care till i clear with hematology and my pre op apptmnt is on Wednesday day and the hematologist appt is tuesday....smh....uggh

I have to do a week pre-op diet that consist of shakes, bars and soup that I had to purchase from the Doctor's office. My Nutritionist said the nurse would tell me a my two week post-op diet what vitamins to get.

Hi there @@sharie24 I have Blue Shield and mine took about a weeks time from my last Dr.s appointment.

I attended my pre-op class on Wednesday and received my psych. eval today. Dr. Sabapathy at Shawnee Mission Health is wonderful. He approved my surgery after completing my psych eval today with him. I did have several questions to answer on paper then visited with him. Now all I am supposed to have left is my 8 coaching visits with my United Healthcare coach. Anyone else ever done these coaching calls?

I have read oodles of post here searching for the information that will set my mind at ease. I've been looking for the answer that "everything will be alright". That the my decision in going to Mexico to get a Surgery that will make my 19 years of obesity a thing of the past. My biggest dwelling point is whether am I picking the right Surgical team. I have looked up all the information I can find -which is not a great deal- about Dr. Osuna at Specialized Beriatrics. Does anyone have any experience with Dr Osuna? I will be sure to post a long and detailed account of my experience with her, because I want to be around for a long, Long time. Also because I want you to know that I made it ( : Please if you have any advice about her, her team, and any suggestions on how to settle down and let go of all the anxiety let me know. Thanks Surgery date: May 28, 2014 Specialized Beriatrics, Dr. Osuna Mi hospital Tijuana MX 43y/o 306lb s/w 298lb 1-1/2 weeks pre/op

I'm from NJ... I have Aetna and should have a date last week in August or early Sept..good luck to you all

Welcome to the family! We are a great bunch of friends here. I'm glad you are home and resting. I think for me, I was off the pain meds by the fourth day. I was tired and not quite myself for about a week. Then I started feeling better. I drove by myself one week post op. Get plenty of rest, drink your fluids, and take it easy! Keep in touch....

Good morning. I just came home from my SECOND sleep study. The first found that I had "mild" sleep apnea. So the doctor requested I go in for a titration study. From what I am told they measure the amount of oxygen I need while I sleep. It is exactly the same as the sleep study - all bells, whistles and wires along with a mask! AWFULLY difficult to sleep but absolutely no pain involved. (The first sleep study I apparently slept 352 minutes and stopped breathing 56 times, although not for long.) I think at this point they set me up with the equipment at home and I have to be on it two weeks prior to having surgery. I have done EVERYTHING else... and am to ready to get this done. Again there is nothing to worry about...it's just another day on our journey. Best of luck.

Thank you all for sharing Lots went on this week, so I'm sorry haven't responded til now. I was reading as you all posted. @PdxMan- Congratulations on your 3 year anniversary! Do you still feel like you have to think about it (the steps you've taken to loose the weight) all the time or do the new habits become a new normal? Whenever I get with the 'fitness program' it feels like a very deliberate effort and it kind of takes over my thinking. Does it still feel like a struggle to make the better choices with food and exercise? I don't think I could be in that struggle mode with the lifestyle indefinitely (aka for the rest of my life), so it would be a help to know if it eventually becomes kind of automatic. Does the sleeve help with that somehow? @my2bys9799- I hope everything went great with your surgery! I'd love to hear how it went. @Terribj- Thanks for all the suggestions! The youtube video was awesome! I hadn't heard about that before, but it makes sense. I've been steadily been starting to be more and more conscious about how much/little I chew and trying not to drink with my meals. How long after a meal would you wait before drinking again? I quit sodas a while back-which was tough, so I'm glad I had one check off the list before beginning this process I'm hoping that I won't feel hungry after surgery too. It would make it a lot easier to sort out the emotional "hunger" from the real thing and maybe help to clear up what those triggers are and find better ways to deal with them. @hrhlaurie- when I went in, I'd already talked to my insurance company and they never mentioned that I had to do a supervised diet or anything and I had asked them about weight history. I had it all planned out that I was going to get this done over my summer break (i'm a teacher) and I'd get all healthy over summer- get used to my sleeve and how to eat, etc. It was all planned out in my head. Then I went in and they said 6 months of supervised- UGH! That didn't work in with the plan at all. Now I'm actually happy about having the time. I'm going to hold off until Christmas break. It is a super extreme thing to do, so I'm glad I'll have some time to start practicing for my post-surgery lifestyle (and hopefully make it stick). I've done some more reading about how to deal with emotions by ways other than eating- and been trying some of them out. Are there any that any of you would suggest? Another question for anyone- my doctor was saying i'll feel great in 5 days and can go back to work, but I'm not so sure- I will have only been drinking liquids for 2 weeks preop and I'll still be on liquids for at least a week after surgery- how on earth will I have enough energy to teach? (I'm not a teach-from-your-seat kind of teacher, and it's far from a desk job anyway.) I'm nervous about that part of it. I'll have 2 weeks to recover over break, but it's still making me nervous.

Do you have full day or half day with them? I teach 4th graders, and I felt fine going back after a week... I *think* two weeks is the a general amount of time that doctors advise taking off. If I had kiddos that little I would take the two full weeks. The tiredness and lower energy level lingers for a few weeks, so if you have full days you might even want 3 full weeks off (since you have the days). There is no real way to predict how fast you will bounce back.

I just decided last week to get the sleeve. I was going in for a band removal (slippage), get GERD fixed, and removal of gallbladder; but recently was told I'm diabetic. I've been pre diabetic for a year, but the crap hit the fan a month ago! My bariatric doc told me 2 years ago that if I had not lost a significant amount of weight, I should consider the sleeve. The diabetes diagnosis threw me for a loop, and I figured since they are already in there, now is the time! I lost 49 lbs with the band, but I would have done it without. It worked great for a year, but then I busted my butt to lose more and keep it up! I've been obese my entire life! I'll be 50 next year, and I'm so tired all the time! I have IgA Nephropathy (kidney) that makes me exhausted all the time. I have to drop this weight if I am going to have a chance at life! I cannot remember the last time I was under 300lbs! When I hit the 200s, I'll be the happiest ever!!! I'm 323 now, hoping the sleeve will give me the push needed to lose weight for my health! Good Luck Everyone!

Hang in there you can do it! Also, by cutting back on carbs now, when you do your liquid diet your cravings and headaches will already be behind you. It will make your post op easier. One month before my pre op liquid diet I cut all my carbs and sodas. I didn't lose very much, but my two week liquid pre op diet was a breeze because I didn't have any cravings. Everything you do to help before surgery is a good idea. Good luck to you!!

Sleeved August 10. Tips for 1st 2 days in hospital. Take chap stick my lips were so dry. Remember toothpaste and brush i must have used it every four hours while awake. I slept most of the time. Try to get nurse to start IV on non dominant hand because you really need your dominant hand for lifting, drinking fluids and especially when going to bathroom. I found it was easier to stay out of the bed and in a recliner. Lifting forward using the arms of recliner to push me up was so less painful. I took a sweater I seemed to be colder than usual. My lips got swollen and my cheeks were red. This has gone away. The IV fluids kept me going to bathroom every 2 hours. I took my pillow to place over my abdomen during the car ride home. The staff wakes you up every so often to check vital signs. It was tiring but I walked down the hall several times. Also remember to do the incentive spirometer to help with lung expansion. Just remember the first week is only 7 days long and each day there is something that feels better.

After years of research and finally making up my mind to make the choice to improve my quality of life. I am starting to feel this will NEVER happen..and I am bombed about it. I have been waiting for this surgery for years now. I did my research and decided on which I wanted and I made up my mind do have gastric bypass. At the time the insurance I had did not cover bariatric surgery. I swicted jobs a few years later and FINALLY the ins co I had would cover... I made up my mind to have surgery! I called my insurance company to see what was necessary I was told that my plan did NOT require the supervised weight loss. My surgeon's office was told them same thing. In January 2015 I was diagnosed with early stage breast cancer, so of course wls was put on the back burner. I am over that and all healed up so I go back to my weight loss journey. I get to one of my last appts last week (Nutrition) and was advised that I my insurance requires me to be on a 6 mo medically supervised weight loss plan...WHAT?!!!!! I know that a lot of people have to do this so when I 1st called my insurance company to see what was necessary I specifically asked that question and I was told that my plan did NOT require the supervised weight loss. My surgeon's office was told them same thing. I really wanted to get this done this year because I have met my annual deductible and the surgery would be covered by my insurance co 100%. ..a 6 month diet plan means I wont be done until December. Which will probably push my approval (surgery) into 2016..I can not afford to pay the high deductibles and fees. I am sooo disappointed and hurt. I was really beginning to accept this was going to happen...I am crushed...devastated!! I just want off this ride. Hopefully something can be worked out somehow...but if not...I am afraid that the "life" I have now is what is as good as it is going to get. has this happened to ANYONE else or does anyone know about how long the approval process takes???

They legally have to tell you all that most ppl don't experience any major problems although I will say it's an adjustment for sure it takes time to get used to and the first few weeks can be really hard and it feels like it won't get better but it really does I has a real emotional roller coaster ride I think partly because I felt so incredibly weak for a few weeks but once I got enough fluids and some meds adjusted and forced myself to get up and do things if just for a few mins here and there I started to feel so much better