Hello … I’ve just been approved to be sleeved. I’ve been reading here for months, so wanted to introduce myself.

41, female, single, no kids, located in Los Angeles. I’ve been curvy my whole life, but really heavy the last 10 yrs or so. I had never considered WLS until now because of all of the negative side effects from the Lap Band or Bypass. But last fall my neighbor told me she was getting sleeved. So I started to research, and was excited by so few “cons” to the procedure.

I went for my initial consultation in October, was told I was a good candidate. But I couldn’t have the surgery before the end of 2017 because of my work travel schedule. So I held off proceeding until January, so I wouldn’t have to pay more out of pocket than necessary. On January 9^th I went back to my surgeons office and had nutritional counseling, psych eval, EKG, and then went to the hospital to get my blood work, chest X-ray & echocardiogram done. On January 9^th I went to a PCP who works with my surgeon to review the results. I had one blood result she didn’t like, so I went back to get blood drawn again. Once that was all back and she signed off, it was submitted to my insurance. Approval came back in about a week! Surgery date is set for February 12^th.

Random thoughts:

I’m really happy my insurance (Anthem BSBC) and my surgeon didn’t have a lot of requirements, or waiting periods, like nutritional counseling etc., or required preop diets or weight loss. I just want this done with, and have a skinnier me, sooner rather than later. My surgeon office was also really efficient about me getting all my tests, counseling, evals done within one week. I’m also glad my surgeon and my hospital are located about 3 miles away from my home.

My job and this process is my biggest concern. I’m in sales and travel for work extensively. I have my first business trip 3 weeks after my surgery. It is a long flight and a weeklong trip, so I’m worried about my energy level, and eating (I’ll be in the pureed stage). I’ll also be with my boss (who won’t know about my WLS) from 7am-10pm, 3 meals a day, and also with a lot of customer and associates throughout the week. I’d love to have more time to recover, but traveling is a big part of my job so it’s unavoidable.

On the job topic, because of the fact I’m in sales, entertainment, meals & drinking, is a big part of what I do. The difference in my eating habits & drinking will definitely be noticed and commented on. Also, I see a large number of business contacts & coworkers throughout the year. But everyone I see is infrequent, from less than monthly, to annually, so my weight loss is going to be very noticeable (hopefully!). I’m not sure how I’m going to answer well meaning questions about my eating or weight loss. I’m naturally an open book, but I don’t want to be open about my WLS. So I’ll need to come up with an answer that is truthful enough I won’t appear to be lying, but not the whole truth.

I’m curious to find out what it will be like to drink post op (but once healed). I don’t intend to give up drinking, and my surgeon doesn’t require that I do. I have a reputation of being able to hold my liquor (considered an asset in my career). I know my tolerance will get lower as I lose weight. But I wonder how the sleeve will change the alcohol absorption and effects for me.

I’ve told my mom and a few friends about my upcoming WLS, everyone is supportive (I obviously only told people who I knew would be). Last night I told the guy I’m dating, so that felt a little awkward. We didn’t have a big discussion about it, so I’d love to mind read and see how he really feels about it. Does he like my figure now and not looking forward to it changing? Is he just ok w my figure now, but looks forward to a thinner me? I’m obviously doing this for myself, so it doesn’t matter in the end, but I am curious.

Definitely planning on plastic surgery when I get at or near my goal weight. Very fearful of the pain of a mommy makeover (even though I don’t have kids), but looking forward to the end result of being happy with my body. Any SoCal plastic surgeon recs appreciated!

Congratulations on starting your journey!! It will all be great!! Follow your guidelines and do what your Surgeon and Nutritionist says. You will be ok. BTW our STATS are pretty close. I am 5.4 and I lost 124#'s. Here are my beginning and ending weights. HW 249#'s SW 232 LW 117 CW 125 to 130. I went below my goal weight in 6 months but I had problems with strictures (kind of like scar tissue built up closing my opening) I have maintained my weight with in 5 or so #'s for 4 years. I know you are having the Sleeve so I really can't say much about that. But all WLS are a tool, we stll have to do the work. It is so WORTH IT!! I look forward to following your journey. Good Luck

Hi and welcome!!!!

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Hi there. Just hitting on a few topics you mentioned:

First, I'm jealous you don't have that waiting period. I used to have Anthem BC but the company switched to CIGNA in Jan '17, so now I'm stuck with the three month supervised diet.

Next, as far as what to tell co-workers and clients without lying: Tell them you've had some health issues and you're now on a very strict medically-supervised diet. Even post-op, that's the absolute truth. If they inquire more just use the schmoozing skills you've likely picked up in sales to change the topic, like saying you'd rather talk about your product or the client's needs instead of some medical condition you're tired of talking about.

If you need an excuse for not drinking, then go ahead and lie and tell them you can't mix alcohol with your medications. Or if you're OK drinking but need to lower expectations about how much you can consume and you want to stick with some truthiness, tell them since you have limited food intake your alcohol tolerance is very low and the doctor has limited you to one small glass of wine or whatever your drink of choice is.