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My Story

LifeBackNye7

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LifeBackNye7    44

LifeBackNye7
Posted

I started my pre-sleeve journey in October 2012 after noticing an old friend of mines posting different issues pertaining to her "new" diet on FB. I was very intriqued and inbox her to see what surgery she had. She mentioned the Sleeve and also stated she was down 30 lbs in about a Month! Im like great.. I want that surgery and I was going to do whatever I needed to get it since Hey 30 lbs in a month is awesome especially to a person who wanted to loose 90 lbs and Fast!

I contacted a doctor in my area to have a consultation. As far as my numbers are concerned I am 282 lbs 5'8. After learning My BMI was 41 I was definitely a canidate to have this surgery. I had struggled previously with yoyo diets, watching my social life deteriorate, insecurities, appetite suppressants, unused gym memberships.

Moving along I thought hey I qualify, my insurance would approve me and I would be on my way.. Not sooo fast! Aetna required I have a pulmonary clearance, psy eval and weight history from the past two years. Went in for my pulmonary clearance and the doctor ordered a sleep study test. Great I thought I have to now sleep away from my husband and our 1 year old daughter. Received the results back in 3 days! Positive for sleep apnea... couldn't believe it! Went in for another sleep study now I have this mask to sleep with at night.. Boy oh Boy.. Again anything to lose this weight I thought. Meant with a psychiatrist also required by my insurance.. all the info was submitted to my insurance and within a few days I was approved.. I was thrilled.. Surgery set for March 18th.

I go to the hospital on March 14th for my presurgical tests which included an EKG, ECHO and routine blood work. A breeze this would be I thought. Results get sent to my doctor on March 15th that the hospital has denied my surgery and I now needed cardiac clearance! Surprise! My ECHO showed signs of artery coronary disease and myocardial infarction! What? Could not believe it.. 28 years old and diagnosed with having had a heart attack!!!

This was the turning point... This surgery was no longer about getting a few pounds off to feel sexy again but to SAVE my LIFE. I have been on an emotional rollercoaster since the ECHO results. Finally after a stress test and another ECHO I was cleared for surgery.

I had lurked on this forum many months before actually writing My Story.. I wanted to be honest in case someone else out there felt guilty bc I did. This Sleeve has brought a new sense of hope and the ability to actually be able to live longer and enjoy doing it. I guess the moral of the story is that for one reason on another we were all brought to this decision. For me mines at first was just to loose weight and feel skinny but now it has possibly saved my life.

SW 281

SURGERY W 284

CW Don't have a Clue... First weigh in Tuesday

5 Days Post Op

KenneKat, ProudGrammy, LiggleLiggle and 2 others reacted to this

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Afrodite82    148

Afrodite82
Posted

Wow!! That's quite a story. Thank goodness you have taken the steps to save your own life, for your own sake, and that of your family. I wish you well on your journey to health.

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sharonintx    1,275

sharonintx
Posted

That's great news - am happy for you! Thanks for sharing your story.

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bmbrush413    124

bmbrush413
Posted

Good for you for taking charge of your health!! Best of luck to you!

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taylokat    180

taylokat
Posted

Your story brought years to my eyes! My surgery date is Friday and I've been having last minute jitters about if I really am doing the right thing. Now I know I am!

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LifeBackNye7    44

LifeBackNye7
Posted

Taylokat

I am happy if my story touch at least one person. I am not a vet but here for support if anyone ever needs it as I have relied on so many people and read through so many thread on this site to get me by.

Sleeved on April 1 ;)

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MichiganChic    3,262

MichiganChic
Posted

Great story, thanks for sharing. You must feel so lucky to have found all those health issues you didn't know you had....and now the opportunity to resolve them!

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FeeIsMe2    508

FeeIsMe2
Posted

Thanks for sharing and good luck to you!

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LifeBackNye7    44

LifeBackNye7
Posted

MichiganChic

I am so very grateful for GOD to have sent me this message. I was on my way to being a very sick person had I allowed myself to continue the route I was heading. Age does not equal good health ;)

ProudGrammy reacted to this

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Go To Topic Listing POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A

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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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