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My Journey

VSG_FireMedic

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VSG_FireMedic    16

VSG_FireMedic
Posted

Hey everyone, my name is Frank. I'm 29 years old and I'm a paramedic in the Tampa Bay Area. I'm currently 326lbs and was 356lbs at my heaviest. At 6'3" I carry the weight a little better than some are capable of doing so when I talk about getting the sleeve done a lot of people seem surprised and try to discourage me from doing it. These people never saw me at 220lbs 10 years ago and I was a stud. A femur fracture and some tough events in my life lead to a steady weight gain and I've battled with it for some time now. Back in August 2016 I did my research and made the decision to move forward with my decision to get a VSG. My surgeon is Dr. Richard Gordon out of Largo, FL and I will be having the surgery at Mease Dunedin Hospital just north of Clearwater. My insurance requires 3 months of a physicians supervised diet so I've been doing that. I've also met with the nutritionist, had my abdominal Ultrasound, a sleep Study and this week will have an endoscopy done as well as my psych eval. All that willl be left after this week is one more meeting with my physician as well as a pre-op EKG, Chest X-Ray, and Blood work. Hoping for a mid-January surgery and excited for the lifestyle change that comes with it. I love reading all of your individual journeys and hope to share as much of mine as I feel comfortable with. I feel like this adds a special level of support and accountability that my peers who haven't experienced this can't provide.

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sharris88619    8

sharris88619
Posted

I was sleeved on the 21st I stopped telling people as well cause I always got that look like really you don't need to do that. I'm bigger boned so I carry weight a little better than some but my weight was still effecting my health and that's why I made this decision. Good luck to you on your journey!!

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sleeveisa    333

sleeveisa
Posted

Greetings from South Fla, congratulations on yo it r decision. We r here to support each other. My sleeve date is Dec 7 and I can't wait. I've seen many videos but on here we seem to keep in touch better. Support is a key and we all can help with getting through our liquid diet. Good luck

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using the BariatricPal App

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teedsg    253

teedsg
Posted

Congratulations on your new journey and welcome to Bariatric Pal. Seems like you have been rocking and rolling. I wish I only had 3months of nutritional visits..

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VSG_FireMedic    16

VSG_FireMedic
Posted

Finally got a date set for my surgery. I'm a little disappointed as it's about 2-3 weeks later than what I was hoping so I'm gonna have to finagle my work schedule a bit. So the big day is February 14th....I told my wife that I'm bringing sexy back for her Valentine's Day present.

Today I had an Endoscopy done and it was discovered that I also have a hiatal hernia that will need to be repaired on the day I'm sleeved. Next week I have my psych evaluation, nutritionist consult, and a physical training session with a personal trainer. My sleep Study was scheduled at a sleep lab, but my insurance denied it and said I need to do an in-house study to diagnose my sleep apnea. Other than that....everything is looking just fine!

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teedsg    253

teedsg
Posted

Finally got a date set for my surgery. I'm a little disappointed as it's about 2-3 weeks later than what I was hoping so I'm gonna have to finagle my work schedule a bit. So the big day is February 14th....I told my wife that I'm bringing sexy back for her Valentine's Day present.

Today I had an Endoscopy done and it was discovered that I also have a hiatal hernia that will need to be repaired on the day I'm sleeved. Next week I have my psych evaluation, nutritionist consult, and a physical training session with a personal trainer. My sleep Study was scheduled at a sleep lab, but my insurance denied it and said I need to do an in-house study to diagnose my sleep apnea. Other than that....everything is looking just fine!

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Cool! You have a date! Save room for me on the loser's bench!

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VSG_FireMedic    16

VSG_FireMedic
Posted

Just an update......I've finished the entire process. My third and final month of physician supervised weight loss is complete, and all I have to do is get approved by insurance. My tentative date for surgery is 2/14/17 but that could change if I get approved quicker. So my stats on awaiting approval are 315lbs and a BMI of 39.4 with comorbidities of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and obstructive sleep apnea.

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teedsg    253

teedsg
Posted

Just an update......I've finished the entire process. My third and final month of physician supervised weight loss is complete, and all I have to do is get approved by insurance. My tentative date for surgery is 2/14/17 but that could change if I get approved quicker. So my stats on awaiting approval are 315lbs and a BMI of 39.4 with comorbidities of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and obstructive sleep apnea.

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Are you excited? Good thing you only had to do 3 months of weight loss visits. Did you lose any weight during that time?

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teedsg    253

teedsg
Posted

@@VSG_FireMedic, that's great! I just did my last 6 month diet visit yesterday. I need to get my letter of recommendation from my PCP tomorrow and then, it will be submitted to my insurance. I'm so excited, nervous, and overwhelmed at the same time. Do you know how you're going to plan your liquids and Vitamins post-op? I have no idea how to do this just yet. I need an app. :) ;)

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Go To Topic Listing Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story

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    • Doughgurl

      Doughgurl

      2 days until I fly out to San Diego to have my Bypass Surg. in Tiajuana Mexico. Not gonna lie, the nerves are starting to surface. I don't fear the surgery itself, or the fact that I'm traveling alone, but its the aftermath that I'm stressing about the most, after this 8 week wait. I'm excited to finally be here, but I am really dreading the post surgical chapter. I know its going to be tough, real tough and I think I'm just in my head to much now that the day i here. Wish me luck, Hopefully I'm one of the lucky ones, and everything goes smoothly. Cant wait to give an exciting update,. If there is anyone else have a June bypass or even a recent one, Id love to have someone to compare war stories with. Also, anyone near San Antonio Tx? See ya soon with the future me. 💜
      · 1 reply
      1. Phil Penn

        Phil Penn

        Good Luck this procedure is well worth it I am down to 249.6 lb please continue with the process..

    • LeighaTR

      LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Doughgurl

      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

        Selina333

        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

        Doughgurl

        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.

        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.

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