Good morning all. I've been reading up on VSG for several years now but was never to the point where I was really truly ready to make the life-altering changes required. In that time, I've lost and gained 40lbs twice. I've been put on hypertension meds, and my knees creak when I walk. I've been miserable about my weight for as long as I can remember but wasn't ready to never eat a full meal again, or chug a glass of water when I was parched. But something finally clicked when I was planning a family vacation (which should be the most exciting thing ever) and was focused on "will I fit on the plane? How about the rides? Will I run out of energy halfway through? Will my knees give out?" etc, etc, blah, blah, blah. Not the stuff I want to be focusing on!! So, now I'm ready and I'm signed up for three different information seminars at three local hospitals over the next two months. I'm hopeful to get sleeved around Sept/Oct depending on insurance and doctor requirements. That would be the best timing for me. Unless for some reason they could get me in before the first week or so of June (which I know isn't likely) so I'd be on my way to recovery by the time school is out for my kids. Summer is a bad time for me to be on my butt, with 2 very active boys running around.

If anyone has any tips/suggestions for someone at the beginning of the journey, please share. I'm going to be spending a lot of time on this and other forum soaking up the experiences and knowledge. A little about me - 36 year old mom of 2, married, current BMI 43 . Been struggling with my weight since I was 10. Tried alllllll the things - Weight Watchers, FitnessPal, very low calorie diets (which work, until you eat normally again), etc. The weight always comes back. I'm sure most people here know exactly where I am and how I feel. I do have someone close to me that had the surgery 5 years ago and has been talking me through the overall process but I'm big on getting as much information as possible.

Thank you for your support

Oh, and if anyone has used Harvard Pilgrim insurance and has any info related to that I'd love to hear it


CJ

Edited March 31, 201610 yr by CJ'sready

March 1, 2017

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Meeting the surgeon today!! I should walk out of there with a date so I'll know if I can get in before March 27th or if I'll have to wait until May. Fingers crossed I get in before, I'm so ready to get on the other side of this. But I'm also fully prepared to wait if necessary. It will just be so nice to know one way or the other

Got my date!!! March 21st - my new, healthier life begins [emoji4]

Congrats!

Congratulations Sarah!

Hi there. I've just had my initial consult with the Dr. to whom a friend referred me. It went well, as in i was "approved" to start the process. 1st step was me calling my insurance to see if the surgery is covered. IT'S NOT! I'm devastated. I have been considering this for over ten years. I was so excited to start the process.

My options are to:
1. Wait for open enrollment and try to start the process next January.

2. Get a new job, this new insurance.

3. Use a very recent minimal inheritance (that I wanted to save for skin removal later) and potentially have surgery in a month or so. I was told I would only require one nutrition visit and the psych evaluation. I'm sure there are labs and such to be completed. I have recently had labs done and all was normal.

Any thoughts? I only have one friend to talk to about this.

Thank you!

As difficult as it may be, I think it is worth it to wait . This is a major lifestyle change that you will want to prepare for, not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually. I'm sure you realize, it is only a tool to help us in the long term, it is the habits that we need to break and pretty much rewrite ourselves with our relationship with food and the triggers that we have dealt with by eating.

Rushing to have it done may not give you the time to start making and getting comfortable with the changes post surgery.

Thank you for your input, great advice. I'm still thinking it over and haven't made any decisions yet. I'm going to attend some support groups in the meantime.

March 3, 2017

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Just checked my insurance website and it looks like I got an approval for surgery! I wasn't super concerned since I've done everything required but it's still nice to know that's done and good to go

Pre-op diet starts Monday!

So happy to hear you got your date! You are just a few weeks away from the losers' bench now!

Tuesday March 7, 2017

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Day 2 of my pre-op diet. It's 1200 calories of high protein, low carb.

I can have:

2-3 shakes a day

1 protein bar OR a greek yogurt

4oz lean protein

decaf liquids with no sugar

2 small fruits and as many non-starchy veggies as I want

I'm feeling the hunger, but i'm sure it'll go away after a few days! Had my hospital pre-admissions appt today, they took (another) medical history, told me the details with regards to timing, meds I can and can't take, etc. I'm their first sleeve of the day, so i have to be there at 6am for a 7:30 surgery. I like being first, rather than waiting, so I'm OK with that! I also met one of the anesthesiologists and they took some blood for a few more tests.

Tomorrow is my pre-op NUT appt, then next week I have my 1 week pre-op surgeon meeting (they want to make sure I'm losing weight on the pre-op diet so they know I"m following it!).

2 weeks from today I'll be on the other side!! So exciting

March 11, 2017

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Day 7 of my preop liver-shrink diet. Not losing as much as I'd hoped, but all I can figure is that I've been eating similarly for the past several months to reach the surgeon's goal so it's not as much of a shock to my body as it would be otherwise. I really didn't have to cut much - just dropped calories. As long as I lose at least a few pounds I think I'll be OK and so far I'm down about 3lbs from my March 1st surgeon visit. I have my final pre-op visit on Wednesday and TEN DAYS it's surgery day! I am so excited. And scared. I've never had major surgery but this will lead to such great things, the excitement wins

March 20, 2017

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Preop diet went well, lost about 6lbs.

I'm on Clear liquids today in preparation for surgery tomorrow. A little nervous but mostly excited to be on the other side of this! Time to pack my bag and make sure the house is clean before I go [emoji4]

March 23, 2017
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2 days post-op. Should be leaving the hospital today. Not in too much pain, mostly just gas bubbles moving around. Haven't used pain meds in about 8 hours. They should be removing the IV soon, too. My belly is sore and swollen but feels a lot like I did a whole lot of sit-ups so nothing horrible.

Having my first non-water meal of broth, apple juice, and SF sorbet .

Here's hoping every day is a little bit better

March 23, 2017
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2 days post-op. Should be leaving the hospital today. Not in too much pain, mostly just gas bubbles moving around. Haven't used pain meds in about 8 hours. They should be removing the IV soon, too. My belly is sore and swollen but feels a lot like I did a whole lot of sit-ups so nothing horrible.

Having my first non-water meal of broth, apple juice, and SF sorbet .

Here's hoping every day is a little bit better [emoji4]

I just read your entire thread. What an amazing and difficult journey. I look forward to reading all of your continued successes.

Your thread has to be an inspiration to many who are just beginning the process to approval.

Congratulations on being on the right side of good health and future amazing family vacations!

Take care

On 3/24/2017 at 0:58 PM, Pam_2-06-2017 said:

I just read your entire thread. What an amazing and difficult journey. I look forward to reading all of your continued successes.

Your thread has to be an inspiration to many who are just beginning the process to approval.

Congratulations on being on the right side of good health and future amazing family vacations!

Take care

Thank you so much

March 26, 2017

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5 days Post Op

Yesterday was rough. Every time I drank anything I got this horrible squeezing sensation. The only thing that helped was getting up and moving around while I drank. It's much better today, and I was able to sleep in my bed last night and get some good solid sleep. I have a lot more energy today. Down 6lbs since surgery (based on the weight I took before I went to the hospital) so that's cool

It's only going to get better from here!