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I figured today was the day to start sharing my journey through bariatric surgery. I’m set to go under the knife on August 15th, 2012 for Gastric Bypass Surgery and I’m here to share and learn.

Back in 2010 I found out that a mental health study was being done with University of Manitoba who partnered with MB Health to cover the costs of the procedure. The study follows patients for 5 years post-op to keep track of their mental health after losing a substantial amount of weight. All I needed was a referral from my doctor which she made back in November 2010.

My doc was reluctant to refer me because she believed I could lose the weight on my own. My only response to that was “I’ve been 200lbs+ since I was 16 and it isn’t getting’ any better” and shortly thereafter the referral was faxed off. It took about 6 months to get into an orientation session with other hopeful women who wanted to significantly change their weight. At this session I learned about the pros and cons of the procedure and the dramatic changes to the human body. Shortly after this I was able to sit down with a bariatric surgeon who interviewed me for the procedure. We were able to discuss eating habits and my efforts to change them and he came to this conclusion “I firmly believe that you will never loose weight and keep it off on your own Jade”. Hmmm…. interesting I thought ‘my doc thought I could do it on my own and now the surgeon says I can’t’ and usually when someone tells me I can’t do something I forge ahead and make it happen, but not this time. This time I was tired of the statistical threats of diabetes and sleep apnea and tired of carrying around this weight, this weight that has been my comfort zone my entire life. A comfort zone that I feel holds me back from doing many great things in my life. I’m also scared, scared that as I age my weight will increase and that I’d lose the energy to play with my niece and nephew or lose my esteem for my future children and family and this is unacceptable.

Reality is that my weight loss journey started a long time ago when I embraced myself for who I am as a smart, funny and sexy woman. That the number on the scale does not determine my self-worth and that I will never give up on living the best life I can possibly have.

Age: 28

lbs: 260

Size: 18/20

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Welcome :) I'm set for surgery August 3rd. The people on here are awesome!!!

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Welcome! And you are right... It's just a # on the scale! Good luck on your journey! We are all here to forge ahead with you!

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Welcome and best wishes!!!

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Wow.i love everything yu said and how you said it.congrats on yur date!!!! i go aug.13.im so excited but nervous at the same time.im just ready for a fresh start.

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Welcome and congrats! My surgery is Aug 8. Good luck and all the best to you!

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Congrats on getting your date! It sounds like you are prepared and ready for the new you!

This journey will be so much easier with this group of people I promise you. Since I have been here I have learned so much and learn more every day. You will quickly find a wealth of answers to your EVERY question.

Welcome to the family :)

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Hello! My name is Josie. I am new here and I'm finding this forum quite helpful. My surgery is set for August 14th. It's all going so fast. I guess because I'm a self pay. Can anyone tell me what is more painful, this surgery or giving birth? I just saw a YouTube video where the poor girl complained of excruciating pain. I instantly thought, oh no I must cancel:( However, I have already paid some of the fee. Bottom line, I'm scared as heck! I have never been hospitalized!

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Hello! My name is Josie. I am new here and I'm finding this forum quite helpful. My surgery is set for August 14th. It's all going so fast. I guess because I'm a self pay. Can anyone tell me what is more painful' date=' this surgery or giving birth? I just saw a YouTube video where the poor girl complained of excruciating pain. I instantly thought, oh no I must cancel:( However, I have already paid some of the fee. Bottom line, I'm scared as heck! I have never been hospitalized![/quote']

Josie, child birth is by far worse! You might be uncomfortable but I wasn't in excruciating pain. You will do fine. Best of luck!

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Josie' date=' child birth is by far worse! You might be uncomfortable but I wasn't in excruciating pain. You will do fine. Best of luck![/quote']

Thank you sooo much! I'm such a wuss!

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Thank you sooo much! I'm such a wuss!

Don't worry about being a wuss. everybody's pain tolerance is different just like everybody's experience is different. just remember you started this journey you can finish it! were all here for you and feel free to post whenever you need encouragement and when you get in the hospital remember to Ask fir pain meds when the pain starts. don't let the pain get that bad like I did before you ask! hang in there well here for you

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Don't worry about being a wuss. everybody's pain tolerance is different just like everybody's experience is different. just remember you started this journey you can finish it! were all here for you and feel free to post whenever you need encouragement and when you get in the hospital remember to Ask fir pain meds when the pain starts. don't let the pain get that bad like I did before you ask! hang in there well here for you

Thanks! I'm finding myself more at ease just reading y'alls comments.

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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.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • 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.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • KimBaxleyWilson

      Three months and four days ago... I was in Costa Rica having a life changing surgery! Yesterday we had a followup visit with Dr. Esmeral via video chat and this morning my middle number changed.  I'm down 47lbs and two pants sizes. I can wear a Large tshirt for the first time in like... 14 years! Woot!! Everything is going great. I have zero regrets. I went down to the riverwalk with a friend and walked 2 miles on Monday without even getting fatigued. And no more snoring or chugging pickle juice for crazy leg cramps! I need to go to the gym more... I'm making new shirts next week so that will motivate me. LOL But I'm also just not as TIRED all the time! I have a LONG way to go...but seeing the progress on the scales and in the mirror is a huge motivator!! Thank you all for cheering me on and supporting me!!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • bellaamey

      https://alluniqueguide.com/java-burn-coffee-reviews/
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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