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

Cheri -

Are you so excited you could just burst? lol I am, we are getting done the same day and I find that I don't even care about the clear liquids right now, all I can do is think about getting done!!

Good luck!

Kathy

Praying for all of you today...whether it's the surgery date, a few days after surgery, or a few days before it. We WILL do this!!!!!!!!!

WOW! i'm so excited for all of us as i read all these posts! i'm flying to texas tomorrow and then my surgery is on thursday (can't wait!). i'll keep you posted and will be thinking of everyone that's joining the loser's bench like me!

Thinking of all who are having surgery today, wish you the best and speedy recovery!

Hey it's my one week sleeve-anniversary ALREADY! I had planned to go back to work tomorrow (office job) but my sweet boss said to take my time and stay off until the drain comes out. She's a nurse as well as department head (I work for a college). Nurses are so nice! Guess that's why I do clerical work. LOL I've worked at the same university for 15 years and I've never had a boss say that before! But nurses are just so much more concerned. Of course I have the choice to go back if I want but I think I'll be more comfortable waiting.

I stated thin pureed yesterday. AWESOME! Wendy's Chili in the blender rocks!

Today I should be able to tolerate thicker pureed. I had no issues at all yesterday. For those of you new to the pureed foods, my dietitian told me when thinning foods in the blender do NOT use water. Use something that?s appropriate for the food that will add flavor, not make it more bland. I use V8, tomato juice, seasoned broth, fruit juice, milk (maybe with Splenda) Adkins shakes (the ready to drink) . She was so right when she told us that using water alone is the main reason people dislike the pureed stage. BTW, the pureed Chili was also her recommendation. I think of my pureed foods as ?dip? without chips. I dip my spoon, LOL.

I get sleeved tomorrow. I did a bad thing last night though--I had a biscuit and a glass of wine. I guess it was my goodbye to carbs. I hope I didn't blow it. Today it's clear liquids, and I'm ok with that. Tomorrow I'm on the table. Woo!

Donna,

Stick to it today! Strong thoughts your way.>>>>>>>

My doc mentioned at the seminar a few years back that the purpose of his low carb liquid diet is to shrink the liver pre op. If it's small enough, he did it lap... if not we'd come out with a large incision. That was enough to make me be compliant. LOL

This time my BMI was low enough that I didn't have any preop prep except NPO after midnight. What a deal.

Hello fellow July sleevers!

Well, the day is here, I'm boarding a plane for San Diego today, surgery on Thursday, 15th of July.

I've been thinking about WLS since 2002, and was not happy with the options available at that time. Once I found out about the Sleeve, I knew it was the tool I was looking for....FINALLY.

I'm so excited, did I mention I was excited? No really....I'm excited!

I wish everyone else much luck, and best wishes!

Be back soon....

Today is the first leg of my journey...driving a couple of hundred miles to my mother's house. We'll leave there early tomorrow to fly to Vegas. Going early because we'll be doing a tour of the Grand Canyon early Thurs, then Thurs afternoon I have my preop appt. with surgery Friday. :thumbup:

LaSaJaTa,

Woo hoo.... on your way!!!

Possumtrot,

Wish you well. Have fun out there. We went for the first time in April (proababy last time too, I didn't leave anything there LOL) but anyway we did love the canyon. We drove to the south rim (huge all day drive) and took a sunrise bus tour and a helicopter ride. Priceless! I thought I'd be terrified flying over, but it was so awesome the view took my breath. I didn't remember I might be afraid until it was over. It was very cold and windy when we were there. There was snow on the north rim when we flew over. We had actuall flown in and out of LA so we didn't go back to Vegas from there. Never been that far west before so loved every minute of the scenery. I'd love to take my grand children to the canyon, but other than than, I don't have any huge desire to go back. Once was enough. But once should be on everyone's to do list. LOL

Hi everyone. Just about 2 weeks out from my surgery date of 30 July (just made it under the gun for the July Group!). Excited and nervous at the same time. Luckily work is keeping my mind off the surgery somewhat and for the next 9 days I'll be in Hawaii (working!) so it's not all bad.

Getting my sleeve done at Madigan Army Hosp. in Washington state. Really have been impressed with the staff and the process that you go through there. While some may complain that it is overly long, I think it is good to take a decsion like this slow and to see all that is involved. Really enjoyed going to a support group meeting to be able to talk to those who have had gastric surgery and the good/bad of it all. The nutrition part was very informative as well.

Looking forward to having energy again and to be able to play sports again. I have blown out my knee twice and that is what led to the weight gain to begin with. I come from a family who is large to begin with and without exercise (a lot) I have never been able to keep the weight off. So it will be good to have a tool to help get the weight down and then be able to actually workout again without so much knee and back pain!

Thank you all for sharing your stories, I really find them helpful to me. Well almost time to catch the plane so for those of you getting sleeved in the next week or so I wish you the best and I will see you all when I get back (unless I can get on the hotel computer before!).

Well I am one week out from surgery!!! I am feeling pretty good so far. Each day I can tell I am getting stronger. Surgery went well except they ran across a hernia they had to repair and alot of adhesions the had to scrap through from a prior surgery, but still everything went great.

Do find that I am having problems getting all of my protein in during each day, but am trying hard to get as much as possible in.

Hi GeorgieGirl,

Could you tell me about the complication insurance you purchased. I've been looking for some but have not been able to find out.

Thanks in advance!

Patti

I hope everyone that had sugery yesterday is doing well!

Hiya -

I am 11 days out. I had surgery on July 2. I'm feeling good now that almost all my incisions of completely closed. I'm still a little tired...which frustrates me...then I think to myself, "Oh yeah, I just had surgery, maybe my body actually is using a lot of energy to heal."

Anyhoo, good luck to everyone!

--ADS

In 2 days I will be in the "mushy" food stage. To the person up there who had the chili from Wendy's....I had no idea we could have stuff like that! My dr office suggest cream soups. I am gonna ask them what else I can throw in that blender to have. Variety would be nice : )

If anyone has suggestions of what all they blended during mushy stage I would appreciate it!

Thanks guys : )

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