iegal

I read a study that said that it's common to put on 20 lbs by 5 years post op but I plan on not having any part of that! Happy 2nd Sleeversary! Always enjoyed your posts. Um - really to the 20 lbs above? Is this for sleevers or all WLS patients?

Congratulations on such a success story. I too was a self pay and my insurance starting covering the sleeve less than 2 months after my surgery. Oh well, to all reading this I strongly second Swiftflows statement of "..was worth every penny." I have no regrets.

Hello to you too apple-saucy; Sounds like you have a lovely family. Congrats on being sleeved!

Hi Lisa; Yes, yes and yes. A lot of good surgeons will do surgery with a lower BMI. Mine was just above 33 and we are about the same height. I lost all my weight in less than 6 months by following my surgeons diet to the letter almost without exception. I was a self payer and it was worth every penny here in the US. I was close to home having excellent follow up, my results were nothing short of a miracle (see my b4 and after photos under VSG success stories), I see others scars and cringe since I had minimal scarring, no drain, no catheder, no pain pump, needed no pain meds except to sleep one night and had VSG as an outpatient surgery. So you can pay less outside US, but there is a cost which will make me unpopular on this site. Having Kaiser - you need to send a private message to Sleeve 4 me and talk to her. She had a BMI of under 40 and Kaiser in SoCal paid for her surgery. Wishing you the best of luck!

Sorry you had so much discomfort and realize the error of your ways. Did you really try to eat lasagna as first solids? Where is that listed on solids? But at seven months I still have moments where i eat too much or do not chew well enough. This really is a journey of learning new habits. Thanks for sharing.

I think you have already talked yourself out of helping yourself. Sorry if I am blunt - but even you admit your CAREER IS OVER if you do not make changes. Have you made those changes from August (your first surgery date) to now? If yes, then you would not have scheduled 2nd surgery date. I was sleeved because I failed over and over and over at so many diets and Weight Loss programs. Being scared is okay, it is healthy to worry, but it is not healthy to have your fears paralyze you from making rational choices. You need to realize that you are important. Your health is important. You are not "normal" now, are you? Do you eat normal size portions or is it all genetics that made you severly overweight? I still enjoy food. At goal, I can eat almost anything, just in drastically reduced portions to my "presleeve" self. Your options. Say no and get diabeties and high BP and lose your job. OR Step out and take a minor risk (all surgeries have risk) and as long as you have chosen a good surgeon, I say Yes. Make the choice to save yourself from you. But this is not my choice, it is yours. What ever your choice I wish the best for you! I have no regrets.

Our stories are similar as so many here. Glad to hear you are willing to step out and make a change to help yourself be healthy. You are fortunate to have a husband who supports you. Sorry about your friend, she is either secretly jealous or scared, maybe both. I am excited for you!

Hi Lots of hope; I had my surgery through this center, but used Dr. Quebbemann. Can name 3 people who have used Dr. Braverman. Send me a private message if you would like to discuss. (click on my user name in upper left corner) Best wishes on this journey! Glad I choose the NEW Program!

Simply beautiful! Can't wait to see less of you in May.

Yes, that preop diet is a killer. Stay strong. You can do this! Yes, it is not easy, nothing worthwhile comes without cost. Think ahead - very shortly you will be on day 1 of a new you. Hang in there.

Goofyspice - my prayers are with you. Hope you are not experiencing a lot of pain. Hugs.

Yikes. Hicups are still my sign of being full. Sounds like you are not measuring your food or eating slowly enough. At 7+ months out i still battle with this too. Learn to take it slow but until you recognize the signs of fullness, measure everything. Good luck!

Thanks everyone for your posts. I am addicted to each one of you as you are my lifelines. Learn so much here, from experienced and newbie sleevers. You encourage me to keep on track. Wanted to say I am humbled by the strength shown in a battle to overcome our shared issue. Hugs to you!

Hello Amanda; Forgive yourself and make plans for next time you might be in a similar situation. We are creatures of habit. I still struggle 7+ months out and yes, I had a Peanut Butter egg today also. I might gain a pound (or two cause I had some jelly Beans to wash down the PB egg) but I will start fresh and follow nutritional guidelines more closley tomorrow. Your stress levels are high, so help yourself by plotting for success in all situations. At my last check up I talked at length with my doc and NUT about my battles with food. Being sleeved does not give us a miracle weight loss without any issues. I am so proud you understand the battle is not won by being sleeved alone. Seeking professional advice means you are serious about your wellbeing mentally and physically. Being sleeved means you can lose weight if you choose to take the right steps. Again, forgive yourself and plan ahead next time your might face a similar situation since you are not strong enough to say NO just yet. or be smart enough to plan your food ahead. Were you really hungry? Was it just the egg that caused the weight gain or what else occured? This is war honey and I know you can WIN.

Welcome CAJean; If you live in the SoCal area - a group of us (about 15 people) get together once a month now. Varies for newbies - those considering surgery to those who have been sleeved. Wide age ranges. Send me a private message (click on my user name) and I can provide details. Group is not all one surgeon, but those who went via different types of insurance, self pay in US and self pay in Mexico. Most barriatric surgeons will provide a free insurance verification. I have BCBS and did not meet the 2 comorbidities, diet for 6 months, 40BMI so I was a self payer here in US. Good luck to you and keep us posted on your journey.

Just in case you can't feel this....I am giving you a huge hug. Congratulations and welcome to onederland!

Try chopping up the hot dog adding in a hint of dill relish and make it like an egg salad, only a hotdog salad. Want chilidog? Do the same. Just be careful where you are in your diet phase so you do not cause any damage or make yourself sick. I was still eating mushies in my 5th week. Like suggestion of hotdogs with no nitrates or by kosher.

Welcome Leah; Be sure to poke around and learn all you can before your consultation in June. Exicited for you and the start of the journey to the new you!

Congratulations on your weight loss and having so little weight left to reach goal! I think you are happy yet do not see yourself as thin yet...yes I said it, the THIN you. Okay, I admit I still grab the wrong sizes too and like Dansha have even been in the plus size clothing browsing until I take one out and hold it up against me and then that moment of "wait, I need to be somewhere else" happens. Casually I stroll over the the "normal" section. I pull out the size I am now 4 or 6 and think, I am gonna bust this zipper or flash back to those moments of barely sqeezing into a size 18 uncomfortably with the end of the day red marks across my waist from wearing too tight pants.So, agreed, this is normal. We were all overwieght for so long, new habits take a while to become pattern in daily lives. Right?

Have you talked to your surgeon? Could it be gallbladder issues? Do any of you take meds to prevent gallstones during your weight loss period?

Okay - try this for a goal outfit. My bridal gown. I had surgery in Sept...married in Feb. No, the two dates are not related So when I went out to purchase a wedding gown it had to be off the rack. Bought it before Christmas and shop lady thought I was crazy when I asked for a street size 8. She insisted I buy street size 10 which as the time I could not even zip up without breaking the zipper (yep I did on initial sample gown). To cut to the end of the story - ended up spending more $$$ than I bought the dress for in alterations - for a street size 6 dress wedding gown which still hung on me a little. Listen to Tiffykins: don't spend a lot of $$. I shot right out of one size and into another within a week. ARGH What a complaint, right? HA HA - a year ago my complaints would have been so different. No regrets, love my sleeve.

All surgeries have risk so no promises - but there is a very small chance of dying from VSG surgery. If you are confident in your surgeon and he has an excellent safety rating then no need to be overconcerned. When is your surgery date?

No drain for me. Agree with other posters...every surgeon chooses. What is important for you to know is that it is not mandatory nor standard practice with all experienced barriatric surgeons. I had no drain, no pain pump, no staples, no overnight stay and experienced no pain after surgery. Took pain meds only once and that was to sleep since acid was keeping me up. Congrats on your Tuesday sleeve date!