Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

The journey begins.



Recommended Posts

Hello

I have been a long time lurker here on this site. It’s a great site by the way. I have learned a lot and a lot of my questions have been answered just by reading post and the answer everyone has given. I have been over weight since I was a kid. I have tried many many many times to lose weight. Every single time I tried only ended in very little loss. It gets me because I am a fairly active person. When my knee is not bothering me I go to the gym 2 to 3 times a week. And I have a very high impact hobby I do 1 to 2 times a week, but never really been able to drop and weight.

Well I have been thinking about WLS for awhile now. And I went to a couple WLS seminars in the past year. I had my 1st appt. with the surgeon yesterday and started a 4 month supervised weight loss program that’s required by my Insurance company. Dr. Hamilton was great answered all my questions we spent over 30 minutes talking to me. Then proceeded to give me a list of everything that will need to be done in this time, so paperwork can be submitted at the end of the 4 months.

Right after the Appt I was able to get in and see the NUT. Since I have to see her, a total of 4 times. She told me what to expect nutrition wise after the surgery and that I would have to take Vitamins for the rest of my life afterwards. And always eat Protein first.

Well the process is started. Needless to say I am sitting here going over all the information I have gained from this site and yesterday at the Appt. and I am kinda nervous. I know this is a big change I am going to put myself though. I know its for the better health wise and in the long run. I never had any type of surgery. I am as healthy as an Ox and the size of one too.

I am only going tell a handful of people I trust that I am going to do this. Just a private person.

Feel free to share your experience at this stage in the process.

Any advice would be welcomed.

Thanks

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Congratulations on deciding to take this journey with us. I started my journey in early August with a three month requirement for the diet. For some people it is six months. I cannot believe I am in my seventh week already. My program does not require a certain amount of pre-op weight loss, but as a natural result of the diet I have lost 17 pounds already. It will seem like a lot of work because it is. Where we used to indulge, we now have to be more observant and aware of our eating habits. Our doctors have done this a thousand times before us and know the formula that works.....so my suggestion is to dig in and follow instructions. Your tummy is not going to like not being in charge. Your brain and your taste buds will rebel, too. So go deep to muster whatever resolve you have and take over the process. Good luck and let us know how you are doing. We are here to support and encourage each other.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I will be four weeks post op tomorrow, and go in for my four week check up. I am 53 and always was overweight and healthy. Then with age joint pains, high BP, Pre Diabetic.

I am doing very well! The only thing I would do different is I wish I

had the surgery years ago. First week was hard but my husband and pain pills made it ok. I am a private person also and told very few people. This is a tuff journey and I needed nothing negative in my mind. BTW.... 37 pounds down feeling great! I wish you all the best!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I think the journey started many years ago but, insurance wouldn't cover it. So when our company was purchased by a BIG company we now have fantastic insurance! So the surgery was covered!

My surgery was on August 30, 2013 and I am now feeling good but I did have some complications that slowed down my getting back on my feet sooner. I got pneumonia (which I had had 6 months ago and had a feeling I might see that again after surgery) and a blood clot in my spleen.

My body and antibiotics did its thing and pneumonia is gone and blood clot is almost gone. I had one readmit to the hospital for the "issues" but week 3 I am feeling good and back to work.

Here is a brief video I did today to tell my story.. thought I would share here as well.

Allison's Journey

[sharedmedia=trackers:tickers:10693]

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • Eve411

      April Surgery
      Am I the only struggling to get weight down. I started with weight of 297 and now im 280 but seem to not lose more weight. My nutrtionist told me not to worry about the pounds because I might still be losing inches. However, I do not really see much of a difference is this happen to any of you, if so any tips?
      Thanks
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Clueless_girl

      Well recovering from gallbladder removal was a lot like recovering from the modified duodenal switch surgery, twice in 4 months yay 🥳😭. I'm having to battle cravings for everything i shouldn't have, on top of trying to figure out what happens after i eat something. Sigh, let me fast forward a couple of months when everyday isn't a constant battle and i can function like a normal person again! 😞
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • KeeWee

      It's been 10 long years! Here is my VSG weight loss surgiversary update..
      https://www.ae1bmerchme.com/post/10-year-surgiversary-update-for-2024 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Aunty Mamo

      Iʻm roughly 6 weeks post-op this morning and have begun to feel like a normal human, with a normal human body again. I started introducing solid foods and pill forms of medications/supplements a couple of weeks ago and it's really amazing to eat meals with my family again, despite the fact that my portions are so much smaller than theirs. 
      I live on the island of Oʻahu and spend a lot of time in the water- for exercise, for play,  and for spiritual & mental health. The day I had my month out appointment with my surgeon, I packed all my gear in my truck, anticipating his permission to get back in the ocean. The minute I walked out of that hospital I drove straight to the shore and got in that water. Hallelujah! My appointment was at 10 am. I didn't get home until after 5 pm. 
      I'm down 31 pounds since the day of surgery and 47 since my pre-op diet began, with that typical week long stall occurring at three weeks. I'm really starting to see some changes lately- some of my clothing is too big, some fits again. The most drastic changes I notice however are in my face. I've also noticed my endurance and flexibility increasing. I was really starting to be held up physically, and I'm so grateful that I'm seeing that turn around in such short order. 
      My general disposition lately is hopeful and motivated. The only thing that bugs me on a daily basis still is the way those supplements make my house smell. So stink! But I just bought a smell proof bag online that other people use to put their pot in. My house doesn't stink anymore. 
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Oh yeah, something I wanted to rant about, a billing dispute that cropped up 3 months ago.
      Surgery was in August of 2023. A bill shows up for over $7,000 in January. WTF? I asks myself. I know that I jumped through all of the insurance hoops and verified this and triple checked that, as did the surgeon's office. All was set, and I paid all of the known costs before surgery.
      A looong story short, is that an assistant surgeon that was in the process of accepting money from my insurance company touched me while I was under anesthesia. That is what the bill was for. But hey, guess what? Some federal legislation was enacted last year to help patients out when they cannot consent to being touched by someone out of their insurance network. These types of bills fall under something called, "surprise billing," and you don't have to put up with it.
      https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises
      I had to make a lot of phone calls to both the surgeon's office and the insurance company and explain my rights and what the maximum out of pocket costs were that I could be liable for. Also had to remind them that it isn't my place to be taking care of all of this and that I was going to escalate things if they could not play nice with one another.
      Quick ending is that I don't have to pay that $7,000+. Advocate, advocate, advocate for yourself no matter how long it takes and learn more about this law if you are ever hit with a surprise bill.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×