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Time to introduce myself

MlkPas

By MlkPas, in Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story

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MlkPas    5

MlkPas
Posted

I've been lurking, then posting a bit, for a few weeks now, so I figured it was time for an official introduction. I'm MLK, female, 51 years old, 5'2", scheduled to be sleeved on March 17.

My mom put me on my first diet when I was not quite 9 years old, and I've been fighting my weight ever since. Thought I was fat all through high school and college (although the photos certainly prove me wrong), then after my son was born 23 years ago I gained a ton of weight and spent most of my 30s hovering around 190, which on me was HUGE. Dieted down to 125 after I got divorced in my mid-30s, kept it off pretty well for almost 10 years doing 10-15 hours of martial arts per week. Remarried, quit smoking, gained back up to 150 or so, have been yo-yo-ing between 145-175 for the past five years. Oh -- had abdominal liposuction in 1998 which took away my "apple" shape, but I gained back the 10 pounds they sucked out, mostly in my chest and back.

Didn't know WLS was even an option for me until I saw somebody talking about having the lap band at a low BMI on the 3 Fat Chicks message board. Did a little research, talked to my PCP, found out about the sleeve and decided that was definitely the surgery for me. Came very close to going to Dr. Aceves since I'm a self-pay, but decided on a surgeon very close to home. Went for my pre-op blood tests, EKG, and chest x-ray last week, so if all goes well I'll be sleeving it up in just over three weeks!

This is like a dream come true for me -- I don't think there's been a day in the past 40 years when I haven't obsessed about food and weight. I'm very accomplished in my career, but have always felt "less than" everyone else because of my weight struggles. Really really looking forward to having them in the rearview mirror!

Thanks to all for the great info and support on this forum!

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Tiffykins    672

Tiffykins
Posted

Hi MLK, and welcome, we're glad to have ya ! ! ! Congrats on getting the sleeve soon, it's a wonderful surgery.

Keep us posted on your progress.

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Malaika    50

Malaika
Posted

Welcome MLK - glad you found out about the sleeve and that you're going to be getting your surgery soon. Visit us often - lots of helpful people here. Happy to have you in the "family"

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Go To Topic Listing Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story

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    • KeeWee

      KeeWee

      It's been 10 long years! Here is my VSG weight loss surgiversary update..
      https://www.ae1bmerchme.com/post/10-year-surgiversary-update-for-2024 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Aunty Mamo

      Aunty Mamo

      Iʻm roughly 6 weeks post-op this morning and have begun to feel like a normal human, with a normal human body again. I started introducing solid foods and pill forms of medications/supplements a couple of weeks ago and it's really amazing to eat meals with my family again, despite the fact that my portions are so much smaller than theirs. 
      I live on the island of Oʻahu and spend a lot of time in the water- for exercise, for play,  and for spiritual & mental health. The day I had my month out appointment with my surgeon, I packed all my gear in my truck, anticipating his permission to get back in the ocean. The minute I walked out of that hospital I drove straight to the shore and got in that water. Hallelujah! My appointment was at 10 am. I didn't get home until after 5 pm. 
      I'm down 31 pounds since the day of surgery and 47 since my pre-op diet began, with that typical week long stall occurring at three weeks. I'm really starting to see some changes lately- some of my clothing is too big, some fits again. The most drastic changes I notice however are in my face. I've also noticed my endurance and flexibility increasing. I was really starting to be held up physically, and I'm so grateful that I'm seeing that turn around in such short order. 
      My general disposition lately is hopeful and motivated. The only thing that bugs me on a daily basis still is the way those supplements make my house smell. So stink! But I just bought a smell proof bag online that other people use to put their pot in. My house doesn't stink anymore. 
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      BeanitoDiego

      Oh yeah, something I wanted to rant about, a billing dispute that cropped up 3 months ago.
      Surgery was in August of 2023. A bill shows up for over $7,000 in January. WTF? I asks myself. I know that I jumped through all of the insurance hoops and verified this and triple checked that, as did the surgeon's office. All was set, and I paid all of the known costs before surgery.
      A looong story short, is that an assistant surgeon that was in the process of accepting money from my insurance company touched me while I was under anesthesia. That is what the bill was for. But hey, guess what? Some federal legislation was enacted last year to help patients out when they cannot consent to being touched by someone out of their insurance network. These types of bills fall under something called, "surprise billing," and you don't have to put up with it.
      https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises
      I had to make a lot of phone calls to both the surgeon's office and the insurance company and explain my rights and what the maximum out of pocket costs were that I could be liable for. Also had to remind them that it isn't my place to be taking care of all of this and that I was going to escalate things if they could not play nice with one another.
      Quick ending is that I don't have to pay that $7,000+. Advocate, advocate, advocate for yourself no matter how long it takes and learn more about this law if you are ever hit with a surprise bill.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      BeanitoDiego

      Some days I feel like an infiltrator... I'm participating in society as a "thin" person. They have no idea that I haven't always been one of them! 🤣
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • ChunkCat

      ChunkCat

      Thank you everyone for your well wishes! I totally forgot I wrote an update here... I'm one week post op today. I gained 15 lbs in water weight overnight because they had to give me tons of fluids to bring my BP up after surgery! I stayed one night in the hospital. Everything has been fine except I seem to have picked up a bug while I was there and I've been running a low grade fever, coughing, and a sore throat. So I've been hydrating well and sleeping a ton. So far the Covid tests are negative.
      I haven't been able to advance my diet past purees. Everything I eat other than tofu makes me choke and feels like trying to swallow rocks. They warned me it would get worse before it gets better, so lets hope this is all normal. I have my follow up on Monday so we'll see. Living on shakes and soup again is not fun. I had enough of them the first time!! LOL 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.

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