Hi. My name is Telisa Swan and I am working toward getting sleeved. My daughter had a gastric bypass six years ago and is down from 500 lbs to a healthy 160. The bypass worked very well for her but I think the sleeve is a better choice for me. I am 5'10, weigh 311 with a BMI of 44.7 and am 44 years old. I don't have a lot of co-morbidities, but I did get a heart stint in 2003.

I am self-pay with no insurance and started this process in October with a lot of research. In November I attended two seminars by a couple of different area bariatric surgeons. I really like the surgeon I have chosen but he wants me to lose 10% of my total body weight before he will even schedule surgery. That could take months! I really want to get sleeved as soon as possible so it is a little frustrating. My surgeon charges $23,000 for this surgery and I know I could get it a lot cheaper in Mexico but, at the same time, I want an excellent local support system and all aftercare is included in that price. I will do my best to loose the 30+ lbs. as soon as possible, but it won't be easy (any suggestions?)

Anyway, I just wanted to let you know who I am, where I am at, and what is going on for me. You will see me around the forum over the next year or so and I am looking for friends and support in this. Who is with me?!

I think this forum is the best, most informative thing I have encountered on the internet. It has already been incredibly helpful to me. Thank you to all of you who have lost your weight, or well on your way, but are still here on this forum to help those of us who are just starting out on our journey.

Much thanks!!!

Welcome, Telisa! I am lucky about insurance paying 100% of my surgery but I think I would still stay local because I want all what a local program has to offer....regular nutrition appts, support groups, somewhere I can go to immediately if I have a problem. I have found that since I have to do the 3 months of nutrition counseling, I feel much better and am making changes now that will effect not only surgery but hopefully the final outcome. I have lost approx 15 lbs so far and I feel great about incorporating many of my program suggests....eating every 2-3 hrs, not drinking while eating, cut out sugars, exercising, and even not baking for the holidays! Waiting can have its advantages as hard as it is. Good luck.

Welcome to VST Swan!! It's nice to have you join us. Please take a look around, and that you have time - get to know all that you can about the procedure you have chosen.

Congrats to your daughter!!! Wow that is so great, good for her!

IMO, buy the Atkins book - read it cover to cover and try that as your springboard to weight loss. Likely you will continue this sort of diet after surgery too, so you will already be ahead of the game. Start a new exercise routine too. Start slow or you will get burned out quickly. Remember that you are doing this to change your way of life, not just to lose weight for a short period of time.

Hugs to you!!! Please keep us updated on your progress.

Welcome and good luck on your journey. I was also a self-pay so I know where you are coming from.

Wow! So this is kinda crazy... I now have a sleeve date of January 24th! They started me on a very low calorie, high protein diet today and my pre-op appointment will be January 11th. Sounds like if I loose most of the 30 lbs I will be good to go! I can hardly believe it!

Welcome to VST Swan!! It's nice to have you join us. Please take a look around, and that you have time - get to know all that you can about the procedure you have chosen.

Congrats to your daughter!!! Wow that is so great, good for her!

IMO, buy the Atkins book - read it cover to cover and try that as your springboard to weight loss. Likely you will continue this sort of diet after surgery too, so you will already be ahead of the game. Start a new exercise routine too. Start slow or you will get burned out quickly. Remember that you are doing this to change your way of life, not just to lose weight for a short period of time.

Hugs to you!!! Please keep us updated on your progress.

Thanks Miss Diva! I appreciate the advice. I actually exercise like a maniac... martial arts AND yoga, five days a week. I love it! You would think I would be a size 2 after 3 1/2 years of this. Apparently I eat enough to make up for all those calories burned. I think the sleeve is going to help me so much. Thanks again for words of wisdom to me and others around the forum. It is great to have support in this.

Hi. My name is Telisa Swan and I am working toward getting sleeved. My daughter had a gastric bypass six years ago and is down from 500 lbs to a healthy 160. The bypass worked very well for her but I think the sleeve is a better choice for me. I am 5'10, weigh 311 with a BMI of 44.7 and am 44 years old. I don't have a lot of co-morbidities, but I did get a heart stint in 2003.

I am self-pay with no insurance and started this process in October with a lot of research. In November I attended two seminars by a couple of different area bariatric surgeons. I really like the surgeon I have chosen but he wants me to lose 10% of my total body weight before he will even schedule surgery. That could take months! I really want to get sleeved as soon as possible so it is a little frustrating. My surgeon charges $23,000 for this surgery and I know I could get it a lot cheaper in Mexico but, at the same time, I want an excellent local support system and all aftercare is included in that price. I will do my best to loose the 30+ lbs. as soon as possible, but it won't be easy (any suggestions?)

Anyway, I just wanted to let you know who I am, where I am at, and what is going on for me. You will see me around the forum over the next year or so and I am looking for friends and support in this. Who is with me?!

I think this forum is the best, most informative thing I have encountered on the internet. It has already been incredibly helpful to me. Thank you to all of you who have lost your weight, or well on your way, but are still here on this forum to help those of us who are just starting out on our journey.

Much thanks!!!

Hi there -

I'm also just beginning my journey as a self payer - met with my surgeon on Friday and we are tentatively scheduling the surgery for the 3rd week in February as I have a trip planned the end of January. I am 50 years old with two very active boys, 14 and 11. My surgeon is putting me on a two week liquid diet which I guess will be enough weight loss to conduct the surgery. FYI the reason they want us to lose weight is that it will shrink the size of the liver, the first place weight goes and the first place it leaves when we start losing. A smaller liver makes the surgery easier. Maybe with that knowledge it will make the diet easier?!?

Anyway, I am very appreciative of this forum and as this is the first time I've posted I do think the support found here will make the entire process easier to deal with. Good luck to you!