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Hi everyone my name is Ronnie Rab; 29, 5'5", 250lbs and due in 5 days with baby 4. BMI 41; Ultimate Goals: 120-145 lbs and BMI 18-20.

I have Kaiser Insurance as of 01/16 and they are awesome. I went to a health education class on 01/08, info on health programs available including bariatric surgery. Right after walking out of the class I called the number given to schedule with the Dr and got in to see her 15 mins after!! That was great. I figured I'd have to wait a good couple weeks but she happened to have 1 opening right then.

I met with Dr. Miller. She was super nice. I have been researching the vsg for years so I expected the invasive questions about my hx, but it still hurts to think about it. She said based on all the information there shouldn't be a problem going through my insurance; huge blessing for me cuz I can not afford it!

Anywho, I have many medical issues, edema, bad circulation in my legs, gestational diabetes, Migraines, knee problems, chronic back pain, fatigue, exhaustion, enlarged fatty liver and spleen, and l'm probably forgetting something.

My only immediate support is my husband and mom. I'm not telling any other family members because they have always put me down, shamed me, etc. I have a couple friends I may tell about it but I'm not sure yet.

I'm looking for friends who are going through this too. I would like someone to talk to, that I can help too! If you're in Southern California, let me know. Maybe we can be each other's support. :-) I'm going to try to do the YouTube vlog thing too. I've never done anything like that so it's going to be. .. idk, but I know seeing others is helping me so why not. And it's a good place to vent I think. ;-)

That's me in a nutshell.

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Welcome. ????

Congrats on the new baby! You sure do have a lot going on and we are all at different stages so you can get plenty of information.

My surgery is Tuesday and I will say the process yet long, has gone by fast.

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Welcome!

Did your surgeon say you would need some time after your baby is born to have your surgery? I'm just curious.

Kaiser should have a support group for bariatric patients. I really recommend you start attending, it's a big help.

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Congratulations and best of luck with your new baby! Sounds like you are due for some sleepless nights in the next weeks.

Welcome to this site. You are in the right place.

Keep us posted on how you are doing.

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Welcome!

Did your surgeon say you would need some time after your baby is born to have your surgery? I'm just curious.

Kaiser should have a support group for bariatric patients. I really recommend you start attending, it's a big help.

When I'm at my first doctor she did say that it is unusual for me being at the stages being pregnant. That I would be looking into the surgery but I told her that I've been wanting to do it for a long time now but I have been pregnant for the last couple years so, amongst other things of course, have kept me from starting the process. They recommend against having the surgery immediately after having the baby and breastfeeding as it depletes the body of nutrients. I definitely have to build up my immune system and my energy stores in my nutrition stores before in surgery.

I attended a health information meeting and I was amazed that Kaiser does offer several different programs for health and weight management and the doctor also gave me a couple of referrals for two groups to attend which I plan on attending as soon as possible. I will attend as many support groups as I can because I don't have very much support through my family. I only have my husband and my mom so I'm definitely looking to meet new people, meet new friends that are going through this journey also.

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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.
      · 1 reply
      1. 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

      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.
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