Hi all, I joined this forum in 2011 anticipating surgery, but my employer's insurance would not approve, but then I came down with leukemia and that totally shot it out of the Water. But I am back and hope it will be happening before the end of the year, with Medicare since I had to stop working.

I am looking for anyone who has been sleeved or going to be for support and encouragement.

I hope some will pick this group to communicate with others.

Hi Traveler - I've not been sleeved yet but hope to before the end of the year. I know what you mean by the knees and back. I am 59 and have to use a walker. My knees are good as I had to have them replaced in 2007. But my back is a mess. I suffer from spondylolistheses and scoliosis. The doctor want me to lose 70 lbs before surgery. The weight loss I hope will help me, but no guarantees. I use the walker for my back. I am never without pain and I cannot stand for more than a minute or walk more than about 100 ft. I have to use a rolling chair in the kitchen to do anything. Really sucks !!

Glad you are here, hang around with us !!

OK, I am lost. I set up a blog and now can't find it. When I set it up I could not find where to make an entry. HELP ??

Lainie you may want to post that question in the tech support sub forum. Sorry, I am probably the least techie and unfortunately can't help you there

@@traveler60

Welcome to our group! Good luck in your journey. I am in the process of reading queen of crops blog as well. Very well written & informative.

@ Traveler60 .....very excited for you....I was sleeved late Oct 2011(had just turned 57) and have never looked back. You are in for such an exciting year.... @ Lainie....my heart is breaking for you for all you have been through and go through....it seems like asking you to lose 70lbs before the surgery is asking a lot. I think if you could have the surgery you would be on your way to better health so much quicker.

And thank you for those who are reading my blog....hope it helps inspire you.

So I decide to call my surgeon's office to find out how long their pre-op diet is. She said a few weeks, so I don't know if that is 2 or however many more. They have a full day class after all tests are done and insurance approved and she said they would go over all that then. Well, not going to fret over it, will do as they say for however many weeks it is.

Hope everyone is having a nice day !!

Hello all. I had my sleeve surgery in February. I am 59 now but I was 58 when I had the surgery. Though we don't lose as quickly as the young ladies we lose a lot faster with this surgery than on our own. I feel wonderful since having the surgery and though I still need to lose a lot more weight, the changes in my life have been amazing. No more pain in my hips and knees, my arthritis is bearable and I sleep much better. I have more energy and it is so much easier to move. I do exercise but not a lot...I do intend to increase my exercise but so far...I've just been doing a little treadmill and stationary bike. I had to do a 3 month preliminary diet before I could get my insurance approval and then a very strict 2 week pre surgery diet. At the time it seemed so hard but it really isn't. Just eat what they tell you to eat, it will set the stage for your success post surgery. Y'all are going to love the sleeve and you are going to feel so much better. Good luck everyone. I don't blog and I don't have a lot of pics to share.... I'm technically challenged and don't know how to do all this stuff so I am happy to just sign on and read the posts and write a few responses. See y'all on the losers bench.

Hi all, I had my pulmonary drs visit yesterday....need a note from him to clear me for surgery. Well he was hesitant saying I don't need weight loss surgery!

Why can't i do it the old way? Eat less and exercise and before you eat you get on the scale see what you weigh, then you won't eat much!

I was about ready to cry, didn't think he would clear me for wls.

Well he gave me a note, I'm stable at this time. Woo hoo! But he wants to see me again Nov 3, just before my surgery I have copd my lungs are pretty bad so here's praying they hold out for surgery!

@@Queen of Crop

Hi,

Just had to write and THANK YOU for your amazing blog. Once I found it, I DID NOT STOP READING it until I was totally through your entire 52+ weeks! Your approach really inspired me. I am 54 and was worried I had waited too late to have VSG.

I also appreciate the fact that you still occasionally enjoy ice cream, Cookies, popcorn, etc. I have only encountered blogs where WLS patients have gone "Overboard" after surgery with Obsessive Compulsive Rules: Organic foods only, Never Touching Sugar again, Never touching Wheat products again, etc. Your blog makes me feel that this surgery and life after surgery is totally "doable." It was written in such a realistic and humble manner. Again, Thank you!!!

Is there a way to subscribe to your blog, so I don't miss your updates? I didn't see a way to subscribe directly from your blog.

@ Fed up with being fat.....thank you for the nice compiments on my blog....it means a lot to me. And as I have said, I was not and still am not a model patient by any means!!!! But the honest truth is, although I eat anything and everything (still can't eat rice but that's the only thing) at 3 years out, I still don't eat large portions of anything. I don't count anything....calories, carbs, sugar, nothing. But I am sensible for the most part, but I also have sweets every day....a couple of Cookies, chocolate...and desert when we have company and a glass of wine about 4 or 5 times a week. But I also move a lot....I have a Fitbit and I walk over 70K steps a week.....I do need to lose about 5 lbs to get back to my goal of 137 but over all, I feel very free. But everyone has to find what works for them....if I had been strict about what I put in my mouth, I never would have been 223 lbs in the first place.

As for my blog, I stopped writing it after a year so there are no updates....however, it's possible I may start again in November to do another YEAR IN THE LIFE.....to write about what it's like at 3+ years out since there are not that many of us and people need to know what to expect that far out.....hope that helps and thanks again for reading it!

Granny - I get so tired of doctors telling you that. They believe we can do it because they are skinny. Unless they have been there they have no idea what we go through. I can't exercise due to my back, so that is a detriment right there. You know I don't have to tell you what we go through. Luckily I have an understanding doctor. I have been going to him for years and he never scolds me or tells me what your doctor did. He tells me to cut back on carbs and that is about it. He tells me that losing the weight is difficult but do my best, Don't let the big dogs get you down !!

Hi Fedup, welcome and hope to see you lots here !!

@@Queen of Crop

Hi, Thanks for your reply. I am curious about your use of "fitbit." I have several friends that have mentioned they use it. Can you tell me the advantages? Any particular model# you would recommend?

So glad to hear that you don't log EVERY bite, calorie, carb, etc. That has always been an exhausting and tedious task for me. Did you do this initially? I've debated about buying a diet/exercise journal for the first few months in order to monitor my food intake & exercise........just feel like I need to PAY ATTENTION (at least for the first few months) to the behaviors I so desperately need to change.

My final doctor appointment is tomorrow and I hope to schedule a surgery date at that point. I may ask you occasional questions along the way, if you are o.k. with that. Again, thank you for your invaluable tips, advice and insight.

Hi everyone, any one have anything new to report ? Let us know if anyone else has gotten a surgery date

HI...quick response....I am off to Barcelona for a few days! But to answer your question about my Fitbit....I love it...put it on first thing in the morning and it keeps me on track to move! I walk an average of 11K steps a day, 10,000 is very good for a fit person...the data uploads automatically to my computer every time I go in front of it....and it compares me to other friends who have Fitbits....so it is very motivating....I have a Fitbit One....also tracks your sleep patterns (but I sleep fine so don't use it), how many calories you burn and how many miles or kilometers and stairs you have walked or climbed. I love it! Go to fitbit.com

And I will say it again....I am NOT a model VS person....I don't count anything.....I eat what I want, but I eat small amounts and am very satisfied.....and I weigh myself every single day....I believe I have adopted a thin person's mentality....that is to be concious of what you eat and not go crazy, and to move and exercise.....and if you see a 1,2 or 3 lb gain, you cut back! I do have 5-7 lbs to lose so I need to be very careful right now, but I am not obsessed and I feel very encouraged that this will be my life from now on and that I will NOT regain my weight. But, 3 years out is different than one and two years out for sure. Off to sunny Barcelona (so if you don't hear from me for a week that's why).....adios!

Queen, in conversation tonight she brought up that she uses the fitbit, not for weight loss (she probably weighs 100 lbs soaking wet. But the has a knee replacement and arthritis so he has to keep moving.. She said that she does about 7000 steps daily. She is a Dr of PT so she gets around to lots of patients a day.

Have a great time in Barcelona !!