Hello everyone! I finally got a date - September 6, 2018! I will be having multiple surgeries along with my vertical sleeve gastrectomy. I will elaborate on the other things I will have done in a separate thread - I want to keep this for the sleeve part only. I've been in the conversation since March 2018 and am on my second surgeon, whom I've been seeing since June 29, 2018. I've lost (as of Aug. 2, 2018) 28 pounds so far. I am officially on the four-week pre-op diet. The surgeon is concerned with my liver size. I had to have a CT scan yesterday to specifically look at the liver and the blood flow through it. He thinks I have what is called Portal Hypertension. The CT scan should give him the answers he is looking for. He did say that if it turns out that I have portal hypertension, he may not be able to perform the surgery due to higher risks of bleeding. Fingers crossed!

The surgeon also found during the upper endoscopy that I have an hiatal hernia. He said he would repair this also when performing the VSG.

My pre-op diet consists of greater than 64oz of water a day, a protein shake and veggies/fruit for breakfast & lunch, a snack (cottage cheese, greek yogurt, etc.) and veggies/fruit, and 3oz of lean meat and veggies for dinner. I'm limited to strictly 800 calories or less per day while getting greater than 90g protein. I've been doing this diet for a bit now and I am averaging 795 calories, 95g protein, and greater than 90oz of water each day. So good, so far. Right now, I'm eating 1/4 cup of ricotta cheese, 1/2 cup of mini peppers, and 1/2 cup of sugar snap peas. I added some Cholula green pepper sauce and some Cholula chili garlic sauce to the ricotta cheese - I'm not used to the flavor and texture yet, so this is helping me eat it. (I have to do the same with cottage cheese, that or add some salsa)

Good luck to everyone!

Edited August 4, 20188 yr by macadamia

@ Zanny 1978 was planning to have sleeve,surgery early this spring, don't know for sure if she ever had it. That's the most recent,one but if you go back furthur,into past years Yes I believe there are quite a few..

And someone with the initials "dnb" did have a gastric sleeve 6/20/17 the rest are 2 or more years in the past. Hope this helps.

9 hours ago, Frustr8 said:

And someone with the initials "dnb" did have a gastric sleeve 6/20/17 the rest are 2 or more years in the past. Hope this helps.

Thank you

9 hours ago, Frustr8 said:

@ Zanny 1978 was planning to have sleeve,surgery early this spring, don't know for sure if she ever had it. That's the most recent,one but if you go back furthur,into past years Yes I believe there are quite a few..

Thank you

September 24th, here!

I’m self-pay so don’t have to jump through any hoops except attend a class where I learn about my pre-op diet and eating afterwards, etc..

I just got word that I’m scheduled for September 7th! Pretty excited.

2 days after my RnY, 1 day after Macadamia, we all are going to be healing together and singing our sweet September Songs! Congratulations on getting your date#

43 minutes ago, balrog429 said:

I just got word that I’m scheduled for September 7th! Pretty excited.

19 minutes ago, Frustr8 said:

2 days after my RnY, 1 day after Macadamia, we all are going to be healing together and singing our sweet September Songs! Congratulations on getting your date#

We're all less than 3 weeks away y'all! Are you guys ready?

I am if you and Jingle are , let's Rock September 5th together! Deal?

New here! Finally got a date for surgery 9/24

21 minutes ago, Acee83 said:

New here! Finally got a date for surgery 9/24

You and I are surgery day buddies!

Mine is September 4th. 26 years old, 5”11, 425lbs. Tired of being heavy and have tried everything under the sun to loose weight. I played college football and work a very physically demanding job. Here for about the past 6 months it seems like everyone around me can do physical activity so much easier than me, so that was the last straw. I’m self pay and moved pretty fast about getting it scheduled. Did my endoscope yesterday, no hernias or ulcers, just some reflux and eroded esophagus but doc said that can be fixed afterwards and it won’t interfere with surgery, so that is a blessing. I officially start the low fat diet on the 21st but have already started it. Pysch evaluation next week and pre surgery registration, along with an MRI for my lower back due to sciatic nerve pain (another reason I am getting surgery, have had previous back surgery from a disc, and have been told my weight is not helping). All in all I’m excited and ready but having anxiety about going under even though I did well yesterday with going under for the endoscope. That and the thought of knowing that 3/4 of my stomach is gone seems like it will be a strange feeling, but the end goal is worth it in my mind.

On 8/16/2018 at 3:08 PM, Heifzilla said:

September 24th, here!

I’m self-pay so don’t have to jump through any hoops except attend a class where I learn about my pre-op diet and eating afterwards, etc..

Awesome & welcome!

On 8/16/2018 at 5:24 PM, balrog429 said:

I just got word that I’m scheduled for September 7th! Pretty excited.

Sweet! one after me! Welcome!

19 hours ago, hb2392 said:

Mine is September 4th. 26 years old, 5”11, 425lbs. Tired of being heavy and have tried everything under the sun to loose weight. I played college football and work a very physically demanding job. Here for about the past 6 months it seems like everyone around me can do physical activity so much easier than me, so that was the last straw. I’m self pay and moved pretty fast about getting it scheduled. Did my endoscope yesterday, no hernias or ulcers, just some reflux and eroded esophagus but doc said that can be fixed afterwards and it won’t interfere with surgery, so that is a blessing. I officially start the low fat diet on the 21st but have already started it. Pysch evaluation next week and pre surgery registration, along with an MRI for my lower back due to sciatic nerve pain (another reason I am getting surgery, have had previous back surgery from a disc, and have been told my weight is not helping). All in all I’m excited and ready but having anxiety about going under even though I did well yesterday with going under for the endoscope. That and the thought of knowing that 3/4 of my stomach is gone seems like it will be a strange feeling, but the end goal is worth it in my mind.

Welcome! Good luck with everything for your pre-op phase. I cannot even imagine trying to go the self-pay route.

6 hours ago, macadamia said:

Welcome! Good luck with everything for your pre-op phase. I cannot even imagine trying to go the self-pay route.

Macadamia, self pay was actually a lot easier than I imagined. I was forced into it because even though the surgeons at Mayo said it is necessary I have VSG before they could repair my hernia, my insurance doesn't cover it. Our insurance is changing in January to another company that excludes it. We would have a good case to fight it, even if they approved it immediately, we would have been looking at late June 2019 for surgery after all the typical insurance requirements. Meanwhile my hernia prevents me from driving my car because it's by my belly button and off to the side and rather large. Fortunately my husband's SUV steering wheel tilts up enough and I can position the seat at an angle that my short legs can reach the peddles, but stomach not smashed up against steering wheel.

Compare this to - I looked online to get prices, surgeon reputations, etc. Narrowed it down to 4, talked with 3, made consultations with 2 in July. Picked one, got scheduled for September. Got my EKG, lab, and met with nutritionist. All testing, surgery, appointments we're $10,000 total. We were fortunate to have family members pitch in, but we could have financed through Care Credit for 0% interest or a personal loan.