peacequeen

I haven't had surgery yet so I'm not currently having the problem I keep reading about,,losing your hair. I have a thyroid disease and have had to be on chemo treatments before due to an autoimmune disease..I really don't want to lose more hair. Is there anything that can prevent it from happening or something I can do now to prepare my body for the change?

Thanks everyone, I thought the post had run dormant but more people are posting! Thanks for all the suggestions. I do know that in the end it will be worth it, I just wanted to know if there were any treatments or remedies to keep it from happening if at all possible. I don't want to lose it if i don't have to. I'll have to start on the Biotin, I could use that even now before surgery. AnneG, is it vitol or vicol?

Longer Life, I understood what you were saying and I agree with it. I also found it humorous in a sarcastic way.lol..which I loved.lol Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think goldengirl meant that at the end of the day, this website in general is where I can find support. What I ended up doing is sending an email to my sisters telling them how their reactions made me feel. One of my sister's emailed me back and said this: I am soooooooo sorry that I didn't react the way you needed me too, but if it were me, I'd do it in a minute. My reaction may have been because I had never heard of this procedure before, and I was trying to process all that you were speaking. I want you happy and healthy,too, so whatever that takes is what I want for you. I KNOW how you have struggled. I watched Mom do the same thing. In fact, I have even thought of contacting the Ageless Weight-loss Center myself because I am stuck at 180 pounds and I was 125-135 my entire life until I turned 50. Recently, I had hit 186 lbs and I lost 14 pounds, but now it is back on me and I feel terrible. Sweetie, I love you and I truly apologize for not reacting the way you needed me too. I do care what my family thinks and this made my day. Now I know I have family support I can go to when I'm having a bad day. This whole incedent has made me realize it's ok for me to tell people, even if they don't react the way I want. There will be those who are for it and those who aren't and that's their choice. I have to be happy in this decision for myself and that's all that matters. Thanks everyone for your support and all the feedback, I really do appreciate it. I've been trying to decide how I would tell people if to tell them at all, now I know. I'll just send an email that way I can say all I want to say before they interrupt or I see the expression of doom on their faces. And hopefully in the end I get a response like the one my sister just sent..that felt awesome!

Yes, I have. Some call it Last Supper Syndrome. I'm still struggling with it. I think when I get an actual date I'll be able to get more focused. Right now my brain keeps telling me that I can eat whatever I want and as much of it as I want because I'm having surgery. This isn't smart thinking on my part, I'm just being honest. .I think it's true. This is one big reason I go to therapy. The best thing we can do is get our head around the idea of the life change this surgery will make. I'm aware but I still have my eating rituals. I'm not an official binge eater but I am a mix of that and a night eater. That's making it really difficult to get any weight off. I'm keeping my weight between 278 and 288, up and down. I'm not sure if I'm going to mourn food so much, it's ruined my life. I really want to be able to end the vicious cycle. As for the statistics you've mentioned, the risks are very low, like 1 in almost 1000 and from what I was told, the sleeve is one procedure that allows you to absorb vitamins. I have hunger pangs now, so I don't think that will matter for me. Once I have the surgery, I know my mind will snap out of it because I won't have a choice. You just can't eat the same. Whether I diet or have surgery, I need the weight off but I know I will always have my struggle with food. I hate loving it so much.

You look amazing,,congratulations!

I thought of a few more things. I sing with a christian group. After last nights rehearsal, I realize I wish to be able to have the strength to hold a note. My gosh it's getting worse and I really don't want to lose my abilities. I also wish I wasn't the largest person on stage when performing ...and there are men in the group. I had to go to my son's school yesterday, I wish I didn't have to be seen by his friends looking the way I do. I feel bad for myself but worse for him. He doesn't ever let on to be embarrassed but I wonder if he is. I feel this way when i visit my oldest son at college too. I have a women's christian conference coming up and I'm getting anxiety about sharing a room especially since I sleep with a bipap. So I guess I would love to have my confidence back. I never thought I'd get to this point of feeling so insecure about so many things in my life.

Reading your post made me wanna cry..you are so young. Bless your heart,,you deserve to do all those things.

That's amazing! What a testimony for the sleeve but even more wonderful that they found your cancer so early. You will be in my thoughts and prayers. Good luck on the 23rd, please keep us posted.

Such good advice and posts on this one. I'm so sorry for you and will keep you in my prayers as well. I'm very fortunate and blessed to have a supportive husband. Something that goes a long way is that I have given him some of the control in this . I've let him be a large part of this decision and have kept him very involved in the process, letting him know how much I need him. I think the advice about sending an email (or even a letter) is an excellent idea. It's so easy to have a fighting match when you don't take a moment to gather your thoughts to convey what you feel. I've also read alot of posts from these forums to him, he seems to find it very interesting. I really like to read the success stories to him and the stories about how it has changed a persons health and life with their spouse and children. I try to shy away from reading him posts about how we want to be hotties, sexy, etc..even if I want to be all those things to hiim only.lol I think including him makes him feel more secure. Good luck, I hope all works out for you..and others who are having difficulty with a partner or family member.

If UHC ChoicePlus requires a 40+ bmi for 5 years, how strict is that rule? If anyone has been able to bend that rule, please let me know. It's really stressing me out and I can't get a reply from my Ins. Coor. I have plenty of comorbitities but I hear it doesn't matter. I guess I'm just wondering how flexible are insurance companies.

I want all the above but i want to get off some of these darned meds!

Congratulations!

Wow, I just want to cry while reading this..I can relate to almost all of it too. I have a few things to add to the list. 1. Developing rashes in places that sweat 2. I hate that it's so hard to keep my legs closed when I sit 3. I wish I could cross my legs 4. I wish I could be or feel sexy to myself and my husband 5. I wish I could wear my wedding ring, but it's too small now 6. Tough when your child says, "I wish you could play with me like you used to" 7. It would be nice to look all the way behind me when backing up in my car 8. No tolerance for heat so can't enjoy many summer activities 9. Afraid of falling because I probably couldn't get up 10. The moment when standing first thing in the morning, it's so painful since I've developed arthritis 11. My kids and husband being able to wrap their arms completely around me for a nice hug..been a long time

To any of you experts...I wear a hormone patch, will I be able to wear it after surgery? I guess I don't understand how the meds work. I take a bit of medication so I'm trying to learn what I can.

I have to go through every step,,psych eval, nutritionist, consultation of all sorts, every last form, crossed t and dotted i.. before everything is submitted to the insurance company. It's supposed to help me get approved. I don't know, it's confusing how some get approved in days and some of us have waited months or years. I understand for self pays but if you're insured it's a whole different process.

Ellie, you said something that made me think and I'd like to share with you, "(besides being 100 lbs over-weight ) I'm afraid of dehydration, missing food, liquid diet for weeks, acid problems, ulcers, possible gall-bladder problems, etc etc that can all come with sleeve. How to know if the benefits out-weigh the possible negatives??" I am 46 years old, over 100 pounds overweight, miss food when I'm dieting all the time, have acid problems (gerd) have an ulcer, have had my gallbladder removed,,etc..so I have everything on the negative list and much more. The older you get, the more problems you have when you have alot of extra weight. I love these forums, they are making my decision more easy everyday.

Maybe your mind is telling you to satisfy someone with food, even if it's not yourself. And that does sound like nesting.lol

I know exactly how you feel other than I haven't got a date yet I even posted something similar "feeling the blues". Good luck, keep reading in these forums. It's really helped me.

That's good info to know, I never thought about it. I have a time release med I have to take. Thanks for asking Gigi and thanks Kelly for answering!

I'm trying so hard not to be anxious. I feel miserable in my big body these days. I have several events coming up and I just wish I had already had my procedure and got some of this weight off. Not only so I would look better but just to feel better. The process is so slow, approaching 10 months now..and close to a year of reading and trying to educate myself before that. Funny how so many of us are so anxious to have a surgery. I know yall can hear the desperation from me but I do feel down and wish I could get motivated more. I suffer from depression and I really am trying to keep my spirits up so I don't get stuck in a rut. I can't believe I've resorted to surgery, I feel really disappointed in myself but still want the procedure so bad.

Thanks ab76307. Yes, it's in Ky. After living my life of struggling with my weight, I know this is the right decision for me. I'm 46 now, wish I had the surgery a long time ago. I'm a faithful person and have been letting scriptures guide me through this process,,guess I'm having moments of weakness with all the anxiousness. Thanks for listening.

You are a beautiful young lady! Congrats on the weight loss!

Congratulations, that's so exciting!

Best of luck!!

Since losing some weight, you're probably more active. Depending on age, weight, height, gender, activity level, and genetics, different people use different amounts of energy throughout the day. Calories are basically just energy. Your body burns a certain amount of calories just by its basic functions, which is why you need calories. The more active you are, the heavier you are, the younger you are, the more calories you burn each day. If you consume as many calories as you burn, you'll maintain whatever weight you are, and if you take in more calories than you burn your body will store that excess energy as fat (inversely, burning more calories than you gain will cause weight loss). Obviously, not eating enough during the day will make you lethargic & weak as well as screw up your mental ability. You really have to base your calorie intake on your lifestyle.<BR id=yui_3_3_0_1_1315395621195365>