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NYCDreamer

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NYCDreamer    38

NYCDreamer
Posted (edited)

Hey all!

This is my first time posting! I heard about the site at one of my doctor visits and realized it's a good idea to start finding some kind of support for now and after. Some about me! Sorry if I ramble....

33 soon to be 34, and have been obese literally all my life. Yoyo dieted several times with no success. Highest weight was this past January at 374. Woke up one morning with shortness of breath and severe heart palps. Thought I was having a heart attack. Went to the ER, no attack, just anxiety apparently. Also emergency doc says my weight was dangerously high even though my bloods, X-rays, and MRI's look like a normal weighted person (go figure). That was my wake up call so to speak. I became so jaded about people staring and pointing and not fitting on airplane seats or amusement park rides that it just didn't phase me any longer, but waking up feeling like I was dying...yeah that did it lol.

So, from Jan 15th I started my "lifestyle change. I decided no more dieting, I was going to have to make the choice to dedicate myself to healthy eating. No more fried food, sweets, white breads, eating out, & gorging. I ate 1200-1500 cal daily, started working out 5 days a week on my recumbant bike (that was used as a clothes hanger for the past 2 years) for 35-40 minutes a day and trying to hit a 300 burn cal/ 7-8 miles goal (which I was happy to see I could do only 1 month in). Co-worker told me about the sleeve as she had it done 3 years ago and dropped over 130 pounds. She said it changed her life and she was so happy she did it and I should look into it as well. She gave me the name of her Doc, Larry Gellman at North Shore/LIJ in Long Island. Went for a consult in March and got a great vibe. They laid out everything, how surgery was not a fix it but a tool to help and told me exactly what to expect, and what I needed to do. I work for the NYC school system so our insurance requires the 6 month supervised weight monitoring. I figured that was okay though as it prepares me long term, and gives me time to get all those pre-op tests done. So, the next months flew by; I was steadily dropping, getting all my testing done, met with the NUT and the PSYCH who gave ne the all clear. Once July hit I upped my workouts to 6 days a week, sometimes 7 and added in treadmill walking and some yoga streches a few times a week as well. I had a few hiccups as I was blessed with 2 vacation oppertunities this summer- one to an all inclusive (which you know is nothing but food and alcohol) and Disneyworld (one too many Dole Whips, Micky ice creams, and Turkey legs). However, August hit (which was month 6) and my final doctor weigh in was 297; I lost almost 80lbs, and went from a BMI of 64 to 49.7. The nurses cheered and I actually teared up.

Today, I weighed in at 289.3. Holy shucks. Tomorrow, I have a telephone conf. with the surgery booking coordinator to finalize a date. I am nervous and excited as I can't belive it's becoming a reality. I am hoping I can schedule something in the next 4-6 weeks. Would love to get this out of the way before the holiday seasons start so I can go into the new year ready to continue changing my outside to match my inside.

If you're still reading this, thanks lol! Any advice to offer for a pre-op gal such as myself? Also anyone in the NYC/Long Island area? Would love to know if there are any support groups or whatnot around and have the oppertunity to talk and get to know others in the area.

Edited by NYCDreamer

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judy vsg    126

judy vsg
Posted

Welcome!

make it a great day

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Aaaaaa1234    87

Aaaaaa1234
Posted

This is an amazing story congrats to you on your weight loss I am on day 2 of liquid diet and I just can't wait to for surgery it's on the 4 tho of October i just wanna start my new life I hope you get your date as soon as possible as well good luck

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

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NYCDreamer    38

NYCDreamer
Posted

Thank you all for your kind words. I have a SX date of Nov 10th. I'm nervous and excited. I keep looking at before and after pics and am so looking forward to the day I can post my own.

Good luck to those in liquid diet stage and thereafter!

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

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Go To Topic Listing PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A

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    • Doughgurl

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      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

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        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

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        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.

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        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.

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