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Hi everyone!

I'm so happy to find this site.

I've been overweight since birth. I used to say that I was the healthiest fat person around....and then it hit. Basically it hit my joints and back. My glucose was 90, triglycerides were 36! Doctors couldn't believe it. Then my ankle gave out, my knee, bone spurs, etc

I live in Lebanon....as in Beirut, Lebanon....not Lebanon PA or NH. Actually I live in south Lebanon and had my surgery in Beirut. After reading so much about VSG online, I can tell you that things sure are different here pre and post surgery. I've read that many people go to Mexico and have a coordinator. I had thought that there is no way that I'd go to Mexico for surgery.....but hey most of you wouldn't come to Lebanon either lol.

I made the decision that I wanted surgery but couldn't afford it...about $7500 cash. Then I got good news from hubby's insurance and a coworker that had had the surgery and confirmed that our insurance would cover most of it. The insurance coverage is kind of a new thing here......some mentalities believe that this is cosmetic surgery :( Anyway, I had a consultation with a surgeon and he scheduled that surgery 24 days later. No weight loss program pre surgery, no interviews, no coordinator, no psychiatrist....etc.

Unfortunately, with all of the above "NOs" comes; no health food store, no SF syrups, no powdered Peanut Butter, etc This makes food choices quite boring. Just this past year two local companies have been make o% fat flavored yogurts, so I'm celebrating :)

The surgeon here doesn't prescribe Vitamins for the first month and keeps you on liquid diet for the first month, doesn't even mention Protein Drinks. I had to go back to work 15 days later, and I knew that I was not going to be pampered, I needed some energy. I researched on the web and started following guidelines of a Dr Chebli from Northwestern University. I drove an hour to find a GNC store and bought whey Protein.

Today is my one month post surgery anniversary;) At two weeks I had lost 12 kilos, 26.4 pounds. I'm suppose to go for my monthly visit tomorrow, but due to political issues (reminder: I live in Lebanon) I have to postpone till next Friday.

Sorry, this is kind of long.....but another "NO" here....no support groups.

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Welcome to the board. It sounds like it's challenging to be sleeved where you are. You can cross one "no" off your list; you now have a group of people to support you, right here! Come chat with us anytime you need to meet up with like-minded people, have questions, struggles, and triumphs!

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so wonderful you found this sight. even though i have all the luxuries at hand the best one of all has been this website and the people on it. it sounds like you are soing great and i admire your determination. keep up the good work and take advantage of this awesome sight and the wonderful people on it.

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Thanks engimachik!

I noticed that you belong to a Boston sleevers group. Are you from Boston, or living there? Hubby and I met in Boston. I love that city!!

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Yes, I live just outside of Boston. I love it here too :) Well, except for the cold. lol.

How did you and hubby meet?

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oh my dear...

first i would like to say congrats. for ur loss :D 12 kg is yaaay lol

2nd .. i live in saudi arabia and i almost have the same thing that ur talking about... so i know what ur talking about

but dont worry we can do it

my surgery schedualed 3rd of january and i realllllllly cnt wait

goood luck dear

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Hi everyone!

I'm so happy to find this site.

I've been overweight since birth. I used to say that I was the healthiest fat person around....and then it hit. Basically it hit my joints and back. My glucose was 90' date=' triglycerides were 36! Doctors couldn't believe it. Then my ankle gave out, my knee, bone spurs, etc

I live in Lebanon....as in Beirut, Lebanon....not Lebanon PA or NH. Actually I live in south Lebanon and had my surgery in Beirut. After reading so much about VSG online, I can tell you that things sure are different here pre and post surgery. I've read that many people go to Mexico and have a coordinator. I had thought that there is no way that I'd go to Mexico for surgery.....but hey most of you wouldn't come to Lebanon either lol.

I made the decision that I wanted surgery but couldn't afford it...about 7500 cash. Then I got good news from hubby's insurance and a coworker that had had the surgery and confirmed that our insurance would cover most of it. The insurance coverage is kind of a new thing here......some mentalities believe that this is cosmetic surgery <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':(' /> Anyway, I had a consultation with a surgeon and he scheduled that surgery 24 days later. No weight loss program pre surgery, no interviews, no coordinator, no psychiatrist....etc.

Unfortunately, with all of the above "NOs" comes; no health food store, no SF syrups, no powdered Peanut Butter, etc This makes food choices quite boring. Just this past year two local companies have been make o% fat flavored yogurts, so I'm celebrating <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' />

The surgeon here doesn't prescribe Vitamins for the first month and keeps you on liquid diet for the first month, doesn't even mention Protein drinks. I had to go back to work 15 days later, and I knew that I was not going to be pampered, I needed some energy. I researched on the web and started following guidelines of a Dr Chebli from Northwestern University. I drove an hour to find a GNC store and bought whey Protein.< /p>

Today is my one month post surgery anniversary;) At two weeks I had lost 12 kilos, 26.4 pounds. I'm suppose to go for my monthly visit tomorrow, but due to political issues (reminder: I live in Lebanon) I have to postpone till next Friday.

Sorry, this is kind of long.....but another "NO" here....no support groups.[/quote']

I hope everithing keep going fine.. Please make sure you have enough liquids.. Try chicken broth it has some nutrients.. Also take Multivitamins, B12 vit (for increase energy) and zink to mantain healthy your skin, hair.

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Yes, I live just outside of Boston. I love it here too :) Well, except for the cold. lol.

How did you and hubby meet?

I was working as a hotel clerk and hubby was the best friend of our security guard. A lot of the guard's friends came around for the free coffee and leftover donuts lol

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Nice to see you here!! :}

347*294/284/135 (*347HW/294SSW) | (twitter) @Mwrarr | mwrarr.wordpress.com

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Welcome to these boards! I found a lot of support and encouragement here. I hope you will too. Please keep posting and let us become your support group. Congratulations on your decision to take control of your health.

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Nice to see you here!! :}

347*294/284/135 (*347HW/294SSW) | (twitter) @Mwrarr | mwrarr.wordpress.com

love your goal rewards!

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love your goal rewards!

Thanks! :} I use the app so I can't see them, & forget they are there on my website siggy. Lol I'm hoping to actually be able to make some goals finally, with the surgery...

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 347*294/284/135 (*347HW/294SSW) | (twitter) @Mwrarr | mwrarr.wordpress.com

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    • 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!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

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    • 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

        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

      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

        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.

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