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Newbie - Ready to start my new healthy life!

mlr777

By mlr777, in Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story

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mlr777    0

mlr777
Posted

Hello, I guess you could say this journey started 16 months ago when I went to a new doctor after moving to East Texas. I took my previous blood test results with me so he could have something to reference by for my thyroid levels (had thyroidectomy in 2001) and he noticed my Iron levels were just slightly elevated so wanted to do some more bloodwork, my previous doctor wasn't concerned, guess it wasn't elevated enough for him. Needless to say thanks to my new doctor we discovered I had hemochromatosis and was caught early enough that it could be controlled easily (if having blood draws once a week is considered easy...hurts like hell, I don't like needles at all!). He sent me to a liver specialist and genetic specialist just to confirm. From there the liver specialist ran more test and did a liver biopsy which determined that I also have NASH (fatty liver), so not only is the iron destroying my liver so is all the fat. The liver specialist mentioned lap band to me in August 2009 and I went to a seminar in September 2009 but didn't feel I was ready for something that drastic. She had mentioned it to me again a couple months ago and I decided to set up an appointment with the bariatric office.

I went in planning to do the lap band and then he discussed the gastric sleeve with me, so now I had lots of research to do which is how I found you guys...lots of great information on this site. I researched lap band and gastric sleeve and decided to go with the sleeve, I didn't want the hassle of the band and then if it didn't work the way I wanted I wouldn't be happy.

My insurance is United Healthcare so I had to get 5 years worth of medical records, get a psych evaluation and wait... My bmi wasn't over 40 but with all my health issues I qualify. United Healthcare is pretty fast at approvals (took less than a week) but my financial counselor sent in for the wrong surgery (lap band) so we had to start over, luckily it still took them less than a week (approved yesterday) and now we are on our way to a gastric sleeve!

My surgery is set for December 13 and I'm waiting for them to call and schedule my pre-op, ultrasound and hospital admissions. I was extremely scared when I first decided to have the sleeve, cutting out most of my stomach didn't seem all that appealing to me, nor does having staples that could possibly leak. But I figured I have lived without my gall bladder and thyroid for many years so I will be just fine missing most of my stomach. Still have a little fear every once in a while, typical when I'm going in for surgery but mostly excited and my husband is excited for me as well.

My surgery is at Trinity Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler Texas with Dr. Robert McKinney. I'm 41 years old, married with two daughters (age 19 & 17), presently unemployed (which is great for recovery time), 5 foot tall and at my initial consultation with Dr. McKinney I weighed 200.8 pounds, the most I have ever weighed. So I'm hoping to get healthy (and skinny) so I can enjoy life, live to see my kids grow up and have families of there own and grow old with my husband!

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LilMissDiva Irene    3,282

LilMissDiva Irene
Posted

Welcome Michelle!

I'm sorry to hear you are having some health issues. I can tell you though that the sleeve is going to help with a great deal of them. You are making the absolute right choice!

Good luck on the days to follow!!! :)

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Go To Topic Listing Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story

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    • LeighaTR

      LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Alisa_S

      Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.

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