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My Gastric Sleeve Story 9-26-2013

Powderkeg42

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Powderkeg42    15

Powderkeg42
Posted

Hi, I am a pre-op Gastric Sleeve candidate. I started thinking about Bariatric Surgery about 2 years ago. My insurance did not cover the surgery or seeing a nutritionist. Therefore, this year in June we were able to change our medical plan to Kaiser Permanente who offers the surgery. I am a wife, mother and grandmother. I was downsized from my job about 4 years ago. I lost my mom during that time and went into a depression. I picked up weight because of my depression, a surgical procedure and my age, which has been very difficult to loose. I recently started a new training and speaking business. I stand on my feet for hours and because I saw numbers on the scale that I have never seen in my life, it was taking a toll on my body. My back, knees and feet hurt (I feet is a new symptom because of the weight). I am in the second month of the evaluative process that my insurance requires before surgery approval. I am excited and anxious about this new journey. I have told only a few people about what I am doing because the second person I told was very discouraging. Therefore I am very selected about who I tell. I am a part of a private Facebook page called "Sassy Sleevers" and this website was mentioned there. I have been watching a lot of YouTube videos and posts from different places. I am glad there are forums like this because it makes it easier for me to get honest information about this life-changing journey. I look forward to sharing in your success and sharing with you mine as well. Thank you for joining and supporting me as I become sleeved for life!

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Jerzygurl    372

Jerzygurl
Posted

Welcome to the forum!!! I'm still in process too....hoping for surgery soon!

This is a great place, lots of information, lots of support and plenty of understanding and shared life experiences!

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Powderkeg42    15

Powderkeg42
Posted

Jerzeygurl, you are certainly much further along thanks me. I will be following you and wishing you well. I have gone to 2 weight loss classes, with one to go. I have to go to 3 support group meeting, I have one down and two in the next two weeks. I have 4 trips to the nutritionist, my second one is in a couple of weeks. I am not looking to be sleeved until around March of 2014. Trying to learn as much as I can. I thank you for reaching out to me. We are close in age, me being older. thanks

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KristyM    44

KristyM
Posted

Welcome! Welcome! This will be THE BEST thing you will ever do for yourself. Yes, you will have negative folks, but in reality, their negativity is rooted in concern for you: afraid of what might happen to you, in the worst case scenario. But, WLS has come so far since the early days, and I think the Sleeve is the best option, at least for me: it is less invasive, you are able to eat, you won't have the malabsorption issues that other WLS results in, etc. Both of my sisters and a close freind had Bypass, and it just wasn't for me. They are happy with their choice and I am happy for them. It is smart to do research and watch videos, but try to limit those--they scared me and I almost backed out of the surgery after watching some hair loss and excess skin videos. :)

Being healthy is the most important motivation for you, I am sure. Yes, it will be a challenge, but you will be so wonderfully surprised how easily you will meet those challenges. You sound prepared, which is one of the most important things to help you during your journey. If you are a woman of faith, being Spiritualy prepared is important, too. If not, finding a group of like minded friends, and this forum, will be an invaluable resource of encouragement to help you prepare. Don't be afraid to ask questions, and do question everything!

You will not regret this, and you will be so glad you made this decision to change your life!!

Best wishes!

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Powderkeg42    15

Powderkeg42
Posted

Thanks KristyM, you are right the negative feedback came from my daughter, who I know is scared for me. I have to get this weight off of me once and for good. I have been on almost every diet known to man. I don't have any co-morbidities but have a family history of hypertension, diabetes, kidney disease and fatty liver. That is not what I want for my life. I am doing this for me and I won't let anyone stop me. I have several people who Gastric Bypass, but have made the decision for Gastric Sleeve for most of the reasons you already stated. Thanks for the support. By the, I am a very spiritual person and I have been building up my faith. I appreciate you reaching out in support of my decision and journey. BTW - you look AMAZING! I will soon be your sleeve sister.

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McButterpants    2,846

McButterpants
Posted

Welcome to the forum! Congrats on starting your journey.

I, too, am new to the forum and found this a great place to gather information, network and get some great support from others that have gone thru exactly what we're about to do.

Good luck to you. I wish you much success in your journey.

Hey, PowderKey42, I'm shooting for an 11/14/13 date, too!

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Blondiee    278

Blondiee
Posted

Hi PowderKeg42! I will also be having my surgery through Kaiser (West Los Angeles) hopefully in November. Good luck in your journey and welcome! :)

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Powderkeg42    15

Powderkeg42
Posted

Hi PowderKeg42! I will also be having my surgery through Kaiser (West Los Angeles) hopefully in November. Good luck in your journey and welcome! :)

Hey Blondiee, I heard the Kaiser in California has a wonderful surgery center. Congrats and I will be following your success.

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Mrswynter22    38

Mrswynter22
Posted

Thanks KristyM' date=' you are right the negative feedback came from my daughter, who I know is scared for me. I have to get this weight off of me once and for good. I have been on almost every diet known to man. I don't have any co-morbidities but have a family history of hypertension, diabetes, kidney disease and fatty liver. That is not what I want for my life. I am doing this for me and I won't let anyone stop me. I have several people who Gastric Bypass, but have made the decision for Gastric Sleeve for most of the reasons you already stated. Thanks for the support. By the, I am a very spiritual person and I have been building up my faith. I appreciate you reaching out in support of my decision and journey. BTW - you look AMAZING! I will soon be your sleeve sister.[/quote']

My daughter is the same way she don't want me to have the surgery only because she is afraid for me which is understandable. But I am singing like you nothing or no one is going to stop me, I'm taking back my life

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Powderkeg42    15

Powderkeg42
Posted

My daughter is the same way she don't want me to have the surgery only because she is afraid for me which is understandable. But I am singing like you nothing or no one is going to stop me, I'm taking back my life

Mrswyntr22, how old is your daughter? My daughter is 29. My youngest daughters and husband are on board. I haven't told my son yet. I think he will be okay though. How far along in the process are you? Maybe we can support each other as we make a decision for health and life.

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Mrswynter22    38

Mrswynter22
Posted

My daughter is 18 almost 19 she's the baby and I have three boys. My boys are like do it because if it's making you healthy go for it. But my daughter is a little over protective lol. But she will soon give in lol when she see that I am losing the weight and looking good.

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peachie86    63

peachie86
Posted

Hi Blondiee,

I just had my surgery at Kaiser WLA the nurses were very helpful and I am very comfortable with my surgeon Dr. Um.

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peachie86    63

peachie86
Posted

Hi Powderkeg42,

Welcome to the site! I find the forum has given me a lot of information and support. I have only spoken to my family and a few friends about my choice to have WLS, so I was glad to have somewhere else to vent.

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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!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • 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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