I noticed a few July folks posting on other threads and thought there might be enough of us to start our own thread (rather than hijacking whatever threads we find with a July surgery in them) - so I invite anyone with a July surgery to post their story here so we can support each other and share our experiences.

I'm C and my surgery is scheduled with Dr. Aceves on 15 July. I'm 29 and married to an Army man - we're currently stationed in Germany. We have two year old boy/girl twins. I'm choosing to self-pay because Tricare does not currently cover VSG and none of the overseas military facilities do the procedure at this time. To complicate matters, our next assignment is (as of right now) in Yerevan, Armenia. Getting this surgery in a remote location like Armenia isn't even a possibility. I'm not willing to wait more than two more years for this surgery.

I started my research in the summer of 2008 when my doctor diagnosed me with Type II (I developed gestational diabetes with my twin pregnancy and it stuck around afterward) and suggested the band. After much research I decided the sleeve best suits my needs.

I'm 5'1" (and some change), 240 pounds and I would be happy with any weight under 160 pounds. I haven't weighed less than that in more than ten years and I have been plus-sized since high school.

Please, hop in and share your own stories so I can share this journey with others instead of doing it alone! If I am successful my mom would like to have the surgery, too, but she's very nervous because she has never had surgery before.

~C

My advice: buy the COBRA. I lost my job and my insurance with it. No problem I figured, I would buy a private insurance. THe crappy little company I worked for who laid me off 4 months prior to the time they told me my job would end, and no notice btw, did not offer COBRA. So I am a private pay. And I bought complication insurance from a company that just started offering it @ 120 a month. $250 is peace of mind and you can cancel it later, but you cannot change your mind and get it back. I am uninsureable due to my weight and my sleep apnea. Any excuse they can give you to deny coverage. They would rather you die than help you get healthy. I would gladly pay $250 or 800 a month to have insurance. You can always cancel later.

Im in my diet now and it really isn't so bad. Mine is the Adkins also. So my last meal had mainly carbs. I can't wait to eat to live instead of live to eat! Don't get me wrong I enjoyed my last meal BUT I am ready!! I Good luck everyone!

My friend that I am a live in Nanny for made me the butt of her joke last night and when someone said it wasn't nice she just said, "Oh she doesn't care she is use to it." "She knows I'm just joking!". It always hurts but if I say something she says "You need to suck it up and not take things so personal." I am done being the easy target that just smiles and acts like no one can hurt me. I want to be my own person, not my weight!

Monday July 12, 2010 my life will change forever!!

Millifrits,

You are so very pretty and you certainly have class. Maybe your friend is envious. You may be overweight, but she has a personality defect, you can lose weight. Hopefully in time she can learn to be a class act, if she's worthy of your friendship. If not, well, you'll be beautiful, classy, and thin. WOW.

Mellifrits -

That is so sad...and soooo rude. You no doubt handled it with grace, just tell yourself that when you have the weight off you will never treat an overweight person like they are invisible, or like they don't matter.

WildIris,

I was reading ur post and nodding my head until I got to the "overcooked noodle" part and couldn't help but burst out laughing....because I've been there...lol!

Today marks my day 10 since surgery and life can never be better.

I had to struggle a couple of times when I was too greedy and had a couple of chicken from my husband's plate around day 8 (ended up in the toilet), but as long as I stay on my liquid diet, I was doing fine and my clothes are starting to fit looser.

Today I will graduate to creamy liquids,more Jell-O, protein shakes, and more Crystal Light.....notr that I have a problem with it because most of the time I have to remind myself to eat something. The only thing constant is thirst. I always have to have a sippi cup around me, but that's cool.

I had my surgery done by Dr Jose Rodriguez & his team in Juarez Mexico (Star Medica), came home July 4th, went back to work July 6th, didn't stop to use the elevators,been taking the stairs since my pre-op, and now I wonder why I ever took the elevators...lol!

So far so good. My incision sites are no more fresh and now I just apply a little Mederma on it and that's it. You have to look closely to even know they are there.

I enjoy your post, just thought I'd share my experience so far.

Thanks.

I will be having revision surgery from band to VSG on July 29th. Dr. Wohlgemuth in Virginia will be doing my surgery.

My surgery date is Monday, July 12. I was Banded in May 2002 and lost most of my weight. At some point my Band slipped and saline was removed and remained that way until I was able to revise to the Sleeve. My current insurance company approved me and surgery was scheduled right away. Unfortunately during the time of the Slip and now, I have regained all my weight, plus a little extra.

Good luck to everyone facing surgery.

Jill

Jill,

Congrats Jill! Hope you saved all your clothes so you won't have to rebuy all those sizes. LOL

LaSa, thanks for the info on your diet. I trimmed the fat back and hopefully that will help a little bit. I keep losing, slowly but surely, and I'm hoping for another three pounds before surgery but we shall see.

KathyM, I hope you're still hanging in here. You leave soon, too, right? I had to laugh when I read your post on another thread about watching Red Robin commercials. I complain incessantly about our horrible television over here - we only get AFN (Armed Forces Network) and there are no commercials, just silly military propaganda shorts in between shows. Now I have a reason to be thankful for our crappy television...at least I'm not tempted by Taco Bell or pizza Hut commercials!

SlimMissy, I'm glad to hear you bounced back so quickly. I'm hoping I'll do the same, since my husband is leaving for a trip the day after I get back from Mexico. It sounds like you're doing a great job so far, and I just know you're going to do a great job with your new sleeve. You've got just the right attitude!

Well, I hope everyone is doing well. I leave on Tuesday morning. I'll pack up most of my stuff tonight. I plan to take just a carry on to make life easier. I'm a bit bummed about the four hour layover in Houston, but I suppose I'll just pack a few books and I'll be fine.

I looked at the weather for San Diego and was thrilled - it's in the high sixties, low seventies. That's delightful, since we're suffering mid-to-high nineties without air conditioning here in Germany. Then I looked at Mexicali and HOLY SMOKES! Temps from 109-114 degrees during my stay. Yikes! I hope it's cool and comfortable in the hospital.

Well, time is passing more and more quickly. I can't believe surgery is on Thursday! I'm off to the commissary for a few more last minute things for my post op diet, and I need to cook some dinners and make up some salads for my hubby and the twins while I'm gone. If I don't, they'll live on Kraft dinner and pizza the entire week, I just know it.

~Cheri

Cheri,

Hope all goes well! Don't worry about the layover... be glad there is one. If your flight gets in late you have a little breathing room! By the time you change planes, get some refreshment use the facilities... the time will pass quickly.

Your surgery will be upon you before you know it, the time does fly! I have a week of Clear Liquids following my surgery and I was so dreading it, but it's been almost a week already. It hasn't been bad at all. I didn't have any preop diet this time.

Sounds like you have everything under control for your family too! Ah to be young again. LOL

Edited July 11, 201016 yr by Ellisa
spelling

Good luck to everyone this week!

I failed my sleep test and will have to go back tomorrow (Monday) to be fitted with a breathing machine. I?m told that once that is done ? they will send paperwork to my doctor and hospital so they will know what to use on me when I have surgery on Wednesday. So, as of now ? I?m still on for the 14th ? lets see what my doctor has to say about this tomorrow

Lou

Keep on pluggin' Lou!

Jill,

Congrats Jill! Hope you saved all your clothes so you won't have to rebuy all those sizes. LOL

Thanks so much, Ellisa. I have shirts and blouses in sizes leading downward to a good weight, so I won't have to buy tops, but not so much in the pants department.

Less than 24 hours to go!

Jill

Hi,

I just had my surgery 4 days ago in Dallas, Tx. The first couple of days were a little rough but bearable. I am starting to feel a little more normal. I'm not hungry AT ALL and sometimes the smell of food makes me a little sick. Is that normal? Does anyone know how long until you can kind of drink normally and not all of the "sips".

The hardest part of this I think is not being able to pick up my 20 month old daughter. But I showed her the 'boo boo's" and now she likes to look at them and count them! haha it's kind of cute I guess.