MINI-Me

Awesome! So glad that it is going well for you. Each day will get better and better. Just take the time to rest - your body has been through a lot!

Congrats. I think most of us decide to cut our hair - makes us a bit sassier in my opinion. Plus, I cut off so much I lost a 1/2 pound!

I believe the insurance is called BLISS. You can google it to find more information. I was self-pay too & definitely worried about the complications. But, we decided to risk it & it's changed my life. You might have seen my post - I am one year out today & am so grateful that I took the leap and had this surgery. Best of luck - I know it's a hard decision. You will do what is right for you. (Also - just because you aren't going to a surgeon in your area, does not mean that you can't go to one of their free seminars. )

I most certainly will! This board is my support group & I will need each and every one of you on this new phase of my journey. Thanks for being there for me.

Don't do that to yourself. If you never lost another pound, think of all the good you've done for your body! You've removed excess pressure on your joints, your heart doesn't have to work as hard, and you are getting around so much better. 77 pounds is AWESOME. Celebrate each step of the way! And, the best news? We all KNOW you are going to continue down the path of weight loss. You are a winner & you will succeed!!!!!! Right now, I want you to go get those "big girl pants" you wore the night before surgery. Strip down to just bra/panties and put them on. Look at how loose they are. Now, I want you to do that once a month. Measurements, weigh in, and try on those pants. It WILL keep you on track. Pin them up if you have to, but don't lose sight of how far you've come. GOT IT? GOOD!

As long as you think your scale is consistent & calibrated the same, I don't think it really matters. Just watch for it to keep going down, down, down! I know my doctor's scale usually is about 3-4 pounds more than mine at home. How do I tell? I weigh each morning in my birthday suit. But, if I am going to the doctor's office, I weigh before I go with all my clothes on (minus my shoes) ... then, I see the reading at the doctor's office. Very simple way of tracking, but it works for me.

yahoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just take a deep breath ... I'm sure things will be fine. If you are denied, you can appeal. There have been some very successful appeal letters shared out here & I'm sure others can help with that. For now ... think positive thoughts and prayers. We'll do the same for you. WLS is stressful enough without the added pressure you got today. Sorry.

OK ... I have to admit that I read all your comments and started bawling like a baby. I remember what it was like coming out here when I was researching and learning. People helped me so much. I don't feel like I've given back much, but it is wonderful to know that I have helped some of you in some small way. We are all in this together. I know that all of us struggle with our weight and that this is a lifelong journey. I've also read research that having a support group is very beneficial to being successful. So, I am here for the long haul. I promise to support you and hope that you will continue to be here for me. OK - the tears are starting to subside. I am overwhelmed and humbled. Your friend, MINI-Me (a.k.a. Anne)

Welcome! Glad you found us. I'm sure your mind is in a blur with all your choices, "hoops" to jump through, etc. Just take the time to do your research and work with your surgeon to decide what is right for you. Personally, the band & having a foreign object in me scared the dickin's out of me (plus, I never met a band person who made it to goal). I was totally freaked out by my anatomy changing so bypass was out. The sleeve seemed to make the most sense since I liked to volume eat - especially when I had a craving for something. Tomorrow I will be a year out - I have made goal & basically been here since Thanksgiving. I truley believe this surgery saved my life. Best wishes for your research. If you have questions, please feel free to post them. We have a very friendly and educated group here.

Give that man a hug!

LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT!

It's great that you have some support. I find that most people who have the "negative slant" are just very concerned about you. Question - is your boyfriend overweight? If not, he simply doesn't understand and he will probably never understand. It's not his fault and it's not your fault. Sometimes we can never understand a person's perspective unless we've been there. You could talk to him about why "willpower" isn't working for you. Explain that you have a disease and you want the best treatment you can get to be healthy. You could also let him know how the comments affect you - not speaking up for yourself may cause them to say more damaging things because they do not understand the effect their comments have on you. Make sense? Focus on the good things. For example, he went to the seminar WITH YOU - that is a very good thing! He is probably trying to reconcile all of this in his head too. After all, it will be his journey as well. Keep your chin up!

I had a 2 hour flight home. I had some pain, but it was tolerable. If available, ask for wheelchair assistance from ticketing to your gate (you get priority in the security line!) ... Also, ask for a pillow when you first get on the plane - it will help if you get uncomfortable in the seat - you can use it to prop yourself a bit. If you think nausea/dizziness may be a problem for you, ask your surgeon for some medicine/tips for helping you through. I'm sure you are not the first one that has had this concern.

With an open procedure, I really doubt you will be ready to go back to work in a week. I was out for 2 with laproscopic. I probably could have forced myself back, but I would have been so tired. With open, they have cut through so much muscle tissue, I don't know how you could sit at a desk all day. What kind of work do you do? As for the protein, just do your best. Right now, liquids are the most important thing. I hated ALL protein shakes. I got through with unjury chicken Soup and "unflavored" powder mixed in applesauce, sf pudding, and hot cocoa (just not too hot or it will curdle - YUCK!) Best of luck!

So happy that God was with you through the surgery. Those first 24 hours are hard ... but it really does get better hour by hour, day by day!

Are you having surgery here in the US? If so, ask about the BLISS program - it covers WLS complications not covered by insurance. Without BLISS, my surgeon's costs were covered 100% for complications, but I would have been on the hook for hospital costs.

These are good ideas, but you'll want to be careful. There are a lot of carbs in the pre-made drinks and the sugar may upset your tastebuds (some people hate the sweetness after surgery) or your new tummy. If it works for you GREAT! Just make sure to still get in your Vitamins, Water and Protein. Remember - this is a short period & it will soon be a blur in your memory.

You should be ok if you just have the broth. My plan allowed broth day 2. What does your plan say? (They are all so varied!)

My VSG was outpatient ... I was sent to recover with a Q Pain Ball and liquid Vicodin. The pain ball was finished in 2 days (should have been 3 & my surgeon was upset that the recovery nurse had "opened" it too much). The pain was quite more than I expected the first night, but not so bad that I required inpatient stay. I used the liquid Vicodin for 3 days, and then went to liquid Tylenol (OTC) for the next two or three. I did take the liquid Vicodin at night for about a week just to help me sleep since it was so hard to find a comfortable spot (I am normally a tummy sleeper). Hope that helps.

At these stages you probably are getting 0 to minimal fruits and veggies in. Thta is why it is soooooooooooo important to take your Vitamins, stay hydrated, and get in as much Protein as you can. Hard to believe we crave salads now, huh? That used to be "diet" food.