I enjoy reading other people’s journeys and stories, so I decided to create one of my own! I’m Shelly, about to turn 35 years old on July 7^th, and I’m from Iowa. I’ve struggled with my weight ever since I was 10 years old and have been up and down too many times to count. My lowest adult weight was 165 (very briefly) and I’m currently at my highest adult weight, 242. At 5’6”, the top end of the healthy weight range for me is 154, so 150 is my goal. Funny thing is, the last time I got measured as an adult I was told I was 5’4” so I always thought I needed to get to 138 or less to be at a healthy weight!

Currently, I am in the final stages of being approved for my VSG. The surgeon is supposed to sign off on everything today and the gal handling my insurance paperwork said she would submit to insurance today and call me. She said approval could take anywhere from 15 minutes to 7-10 business days. Fingers crossed for 15 minutes! ?

Backing up a bit, I originally went to Iowa Weight Loss Specialties for their non-surgical weight loss program on 5/10/2018. Knowing my BMI wasn’t 40 or higher, I thought trying for the surgery would only end up in disappointment if I didn’t get approved through insurance plus I was still struggling a little mentally with the idea that I thought I should lose the weight on my own. While meeting with my nurse practitioner, I mentioned that I had considered WLS and she asked if I’d like them to at least look into it with my insurance company in the meantime and I agreed.

At my next appointment two weeks later, my nurse practitioner told me that surgery would be covered, all I’d need is one more nutrition counseling appointment and a mental health assessment. I thought that meant my insurance was approved, but I had misunderstood what she said. So for the next couple weeks, I was happy as a clam thinking I was approved as long as I completed the steps, until I went to meet with the surgeon and found out I wasn’t approved yet! I was devastated and in tears, which was really embarrassing but I had my heart set on this surgery and it was extremely disappointing to hear that I may not even get approved without a comorbidity. However, they did tell me they wanted to do bloodwork and possibly a sleep study to see if I had a comorbidity, but the wait time for the home sleep study kit was two weeks. ☹ Luckily, the next day when I came in for my bloodwork they magically had a sleep machine I could take home immediately, which was great news.

My bloodwork all came back normal, so I was really riding on the sleep study and praying I’d have at least moderate sleep apnea. My husband told me he thought I definitely have sleep apnea based on how loud I snore, but I was still worried. Plus I thought all this time he was exaggerating on my snoring! ? So I returned the sleep machine on Monday 6/11 and they said it would take 7-10 business days for the results. I was happy and surprised to hear back on Friday 6/15 that I did have sleep apnea which qualifies as a comorbidity and scheduled an appointment to come in Monday 6/18 to hear the results and do my nicotine test, which was the last step before submitting to insurance. I was completely shocked to hear that I have SEVERE sleep apnea. Which all makes sense now that I know and think about it. But I have to get a CPAP machine to wear from now on. She indicated they’d have me do another sleep study after I lose 10% of my body weight to see if I still need the CPAP machine, but that my weight might have nothing to do with it. Not getting adequate sleep may have been one of the reasons I have not been able to lose weight on my own in recent years. Although I dread the thought of wearing a CPAP machine, I’ve grown so used to being exhausted that I’m actually looking forward to seeing what getting a good night’s sleep feels like.

After hearing that I have sleep apnea, I briefly wondered if I really needed the surgery after all and that maybe lack of sleep was really what had been holding me back from losing weight through diet and exercise. But then I remembered how I’ve been struggling all my life and that the hunger hormone ghrelin was going to continue to be a problem for me. I really feel like the sleeve is what I truly need to become a healthy person for the rest of my life.

Finally, in addition to sleep apnea, I suffer from depression, anxiety, back pain, heartburn, and ADD. I am hoping the surgery will reduce my depression, anxiety, and back pain.

That’s all for now! I’ll update again next time I have news, which will hopefully be my insurance approval!

@macadamia I haven't gotten around to trying the egg bites yet! But I plan on using this recipe I found: https://www.staysnatched.com/instant-pot-low-carb-starbucks-sous-vide-bacon-egg-bites/

I'll let you know once I try them! I'm out of eggs right now and have been using the carton egg whites. But whites are getting too boring.

Well, it's back to real life tomorrow. I'm returning to work. I wonder if anyone will notice that I've lost weight?

I'm going to have to get a new routine down to get my walking and meal prep in. I think I'm going to take egg whites with cheese, yogurt, and cottage cheese tomorrow for my meals and see how that goes. I should be able to get a half hour walk in for my lunch break as long as I go early to beat the heat.

No issues with any foods still. Starting next week, I can do exercise other than walking. I think I'll start out slow with a Jillian Michael's weight lifting DVD and maybe do some jogging intervals during my walks. I can also move to the next stage in my diet and start incorporating more foods!

So I was trying to figure out whether I had anything nice enough to wear to an interview, just to be prepared since I've started applying for jobs. I can't believe how many shirts are too loose already! Not that I had many shirts that would work anyway, since we can wear casual clothing at my current job. I did end up ordering a new shirt to wear from Kohls, but I got a good deal on it. I also had to order a pair of close toed dress shoes but got a great deal on those too. I have a couple Lularoe skirts that will work with my new shirt and shoes, so hopefully that will tide me over until fall. I just don't want to have to scramble to find something that fits last minute if I get a call for an interview. My cousin actually is friends with a manager at one of the places I applied, so I'm pretty confident I'll get an interview there. I really hope so anyway!

Frustr8, glad you have your date now! Shelly, I am loving hearing your story! Keep the updates coming! I had VSG 4/12 and am down 73 pounds. You are wise to hold off getting new clothes Shelly. You will need them all too soon and OFTEN! Thank goodness for thrift stores! Your neighbor to the north and west (as you are in Iowa and Ohio)... I have asked for an InstaPot for my birthday which is next week. Looking forward to having it!

Edited July 23, 20188 yr by Lyngolean

And I hope you get it. It sounds like something great to have, I'm in favor of anything that makes easier.?

Keep up the great work @Lyngolean and I hope you get your Instant Pot next week! Happy Early birthday!

@macadamia I just made the egg bites using the recipe I posted above, and they are SO GOOD. Very light and fluffy. I modified the recipe a bit. I used skim milk instead of cream, used turkey bacon instead of regular, and left out the veggies. I think I'll add mushrooms and onion next time!

7 hours ago, Shells83 said:

Keep up the great work @Lyngolean and I hope you get your Instant Pot next week! Happy Early birthday!

@macadamia I just made the egg bites using the recipe I posted above, and they are SO GOOD. Very light and fluffy. I modified the recipe a bit. I used skim milk instead of cream, used turkey bacon instead of regular, and left out the veggies. I think I'll add mushrooms and onion next time!

My new Instant Pot came today so I'll be trying it out later this week. Thanks for the tip!

Tomorrow marks 4 weeks since my surgery! I am down 21 since surgery and 28 total, which I am extremely happy with. I already feel happier and more confident with myself. Having this surgery is the best thing I've ever done for myself. I'm so grateful for insurance approval and that everything has gone so well for me. I know that without this tool, I would have kept gaining and/or yo-yo-ing and had even more health problems. I plan on taking my 4 week progress photos later today and am excited to see how much I've changed. I may post them later.

So now I can eat "whatever I want". Except my nut says wait 3 months for nuts/popcorn and to introduce raw veggies slowly. Reaching this stage is good, but scary. I kind of liked being restricted because there was no guesswork involved. I think I'll mainly stick to the same foods for a while longer. Because I'm still not really hungry, I only get that "empty tummy" feeling the few times I've forgotten to eat. I may have mentioned this before, but I think I confuse hunger and cravings. But I do think I'm slowly figuring it out. I rarely get cravings, and when I do, it's a fleeting thought, not a strong urge that causes me to eat. I've found if I drink some water and/or get busy doing something, it really helps. You know, all the tricks we've heard before but didn't work for us.

One thing I need to work on is accepting eating more calories. During the liquid diet stage, I was typically around 475 per day. My nut said when I start eating real foods, my goal would be 600-800. I've only hit 600 a couple times and am typically in the high 500's. But I'm meeting my protein goal of 60-80 g per day (my nut said aim for 60 unless I'm hungry). So I think that's okay and I'll talk to them about my "fear of more calories" at my next follow-up appointment in a couple weeks.

Lastly, I can start doing more exercise than walking! I think I'll add some jogging intervals to my walks and start doing some weight lifting using my Jillian Michael's DVDs. I'd like to sign up for a gym/exercise program that's group fitness with a lot of weight lifting, but I need to see what happens with my new position at the company that bought my employer out first before committing. I need to make sure the class times are convenient for me.

And Shells I just went back and re-read the Trials, Trails, and Tribulations of Ms Shells the Iowan Beautym I did. this Because. Wednesday August 1st, whenever I stir from bed, I shall start my Dietary Purgatory, and just like the Real Purgatory it is going to take A LOT OF PRAYER to get set free!
And I am going to do a 4 week- well a little over because I have mentally commited myself until Surgery Eve when I go clear liquids.
This. will be my one and only venture, at 72, God doesn't grant You Do-Overs. So maximum time for maximum results. I want my undoubtedly NASH liver to be so smooth and sleek and slender Dr Needleman will find it a joy to operate on me! And I make up in determination what I might lack in good sense.
So prayers, good wishes, round up an Indian Shaman or 2. Ms Frustr8 will be marching confidently into the future. Well I AM going to start out MARCHING by September 3 or 4 I may be dragging my scrawnier Self across the FINISH LINE. And on September 5th I shall roll through those big Double Doors into the Operational Theatre. There my surgeon Bradley J Needleman MD will be waiting in his blue scrubs, gowned and gloved, and prepared to work his magic upon me. 7 AM EST , It Is Going To Happen! First surgery of the Morning, so he v will be Bright Eyed and Bushy-Tailed. Told me it should last 1.5 hours, but if it is longer everybody else on the Surgery Schedule has to wait! First and maybe Only Time in My Life I've Got Preferential Treatment.
Scared? Of Course Not! And Shells , even if it might happen and I don't v expect it to, if I don't wake up in v the Recovery Room I'll wake up in Heaven! A Win -Win situation either way!

@Frustr8 I am so excited for your journey to begin and wish you the best of luck. Because the pre-op diet is the change that begins the rest of your life. And with your extra pre-op diet days and positive attitude, I know you will do great! Woo oooo, get ready to join the losers bench!!! ?????✨?✨

Alright, here they are, my first progress pics! I am happy and feel very fortunate to have had this surgery. ?

Congrats!!! Amazing progress, go you!

Whew, I am exhausted. I think I've said that almost every day since going back to work after surgery. I have a desk job, but do get in 30 minutes to an hour of walking during my workday and typically work out 30 minutes to an hour after I get home.

The weight lifting feels really good to do. I've tried doing some jogging intervals but get fatigued quickly when I do so I've been mainly walking and lifting weights.

Today I'm extra tired because shortly after I woke up this morning I heard a loud noise. Part of a tree in my front yard fell and missed my SUV by inches. So I spent the morning sawing off branches and carrying them out of my driveway and the street. Luckily my neighbor came over with his saw and helped me, but it was still hard work. Then after that I decided to work on an area of my landscaping that hadn't been taken care of in a while. I think I overdid it because I felt nauseated and had a slight headache. I was drinking plenty of water and G2, but think my tank was on E. I'm feeling better now that I ate lunch but I'm still tired. I think a nap is in my future today and I'm definitely skipping my workout since I worked so hard outside today.

Today is an exciting food day. I bought some steamed shrimp the other day and had some for lunch. I chopped up the shrimp and mixed in a couple tablespoons of fresh salsa. I'd planned to add some diced avocado, but it wasn't quite ripe enough. Tonight I am having steak and broccoli for the first time since before surgery! I didn't realize how bored I was eating the same stuff most days.

Checking in! (As I eat my go-to meal: diced chicken with salsa and avocado) My six week follow-up with my Surgeon is Wednesday and I'm excited. I'm feeling proud of how I'm doing so far and interested to find out how my body fat and muscle figures have changed.

I've been lifting weights three times a week using Jillian's DVD Lift and Shred. I like it a lot because it has simple, basic moves that help me remember to keep my form and pushes me to do more reps. I already went and bought heavier dumbells in 12 lbs and 15 lbs.

I have been selling some of my clothes that no longer fit on Facebook. Sometimes I mention in the listing that I had weight loss surgery and yesterday a very nice gal messaged me wondering if she could ask some questions about my WLS. I was very happy to share my experience and answer some questions for her, although I made sure to tell her different surgeons sometimes have different plans. It felt good to help someone out while she was thinking about having the surgery. I honestly can't believe it's only been six weeks since my surgery, it feels like it's been much longer. I just feel SO good and so excited about my present and future. I know if I hadn't had WLS, I'd still be unhappy and depressed as I continued battling my weight.

I'll be back to check in after my appointment Wednesday! ?

Well Shells how did the doctor appointment,go today? Been wondering and thought I'd go ahead and ask.

On 8/15/2018 at 5:58 PM, Frustr8 said:

Well Shells how did the doctor appointment,go today? Been wondering and thought I'd go ahead and ask.

My doctor's appointment went great, thanks for asking! How are you doing with your pre-op diet? @Frustr8

I met with the intake nurse, nut, and surgeon. They all seemed very impressed by the amount of weight I've lost so far, particularly the amount of fat their fancy schmancy says I've lost. I'm down 4 pounds of muscle too, but they said that's to be expected with the early and fast weight loss. I'm basically just supposed to keep doing what I'm doing and I go back in six more weeks!

My surgeon did encourage me to start trying more foods since I've basically been sticking to the soft foods. This sounds silly, but I'm just not sure what to eat. I'm doing fine and feel satisfied with what I'm doing. I did grab some raw sugar snap peas and some low carb tortillas at the store yesterday. I guess raw veggies can be tough on some people's stomach, I guess some foods "sit like a rock". Not mine, the sugar snap peas tasted great and didn't feel different in my tummy. I haven't tried a tortilla yet. I think I may get a salad for lunch one day this week.

Weight loss slowed down this week - 1.8 lbs today from last Monday. I kinda knew this was coming and it's okay. I am not going to be obsessed with the scale! The weight will come off and I'm very happy with where I'm at today.