cyclemom

Hi Everyone, It's been so long since I've posted anything. I'm now out 9 months and 80 pounds lighter - Yeah. I haven't felt this good since I was in my early 20s which was 30 years ago - who's counting I do however, have a question and hoping some of you might have an answer. My stomach makes the loudest noises at the worst times. Mostly in the morning; if I'm with anyone I get the funniest looks - does anyone else has this problem. Some days it makes this noise through out the day. Cyclemom

Hi Lorden, I'm with the State and have Kaiser. I'm now 6 months out since surgery and 70 pounds lighter. Working through Kaiser was a breeze. I wasn't sure what my co-pay was going to be and was delighted that other than a few co-pays for my office visits - pre-op and post op everything else was 100% paid. It has been such a fantastic journey and I have absolutely no regrets. Kaiser sometimes gets trashed but I have nothing but good things to say about this experience. The doctors and the staff were AWESOME. Good luck on your journey.

You look fantastic and so beautiful. Great job!!

Finally after all these months of doctor visits and weigh in, the day is almost here. It's seems like forever since I began this journey, but everyday I remembered what the end result would be and this my friends kept me on the right path. I'm not nervous, I am so exicited and can't wait to get this weight off, touch my toes, wear a bra that has one letter and not double, be able to go to a normal department store and beable to buy clothing like everyone else (not go to the plus size part of the store that has nothing cute - it fits on the top and fits on the bottom and hell it's the same the size - imagine that!! I just finally might be able to go to Victoria Secrets and finally buy something sexy I realize that this isn't the end of the journey and that forever I will need to always focus on my weight and work hard to keep it maintained. I will never ever look back nor regret my decision. DR. FISHER here I come!!! Wish me luck!

FINALLY, after months of waiting and finally getting clearance from the doctor, I'll be sleeved by Dr. Fisher (Kaiser/Richmond) on February 7th. I'm so excited that I hardly can control myself. I went into the doctor office yesterday and my blood pressure was 150/82. I asked them to do it again, remembering to breath deeply and slowly - 122/80 .

You look so great, not to mention YOUNGER!! Keep on the fantastic work, it's showing!!!

It's been a while since I've posted anything. I have been so focused on losing the weight that my doctor indicated I needed to do before he would give me a date. Other than one minor slip in the last 100 days, I've gone from 240 to 215. I've really limited my choice of foods and basically eat pretty much the same thing daily and get my exercise in. There are days on end when the scale doesn't move and then suddenly it will show a 3 pound loss, (I keep telling myself tha boring is paying off.). My problem though is I am now getting all of these remarks from friends about "if you can lose that muchweight in a short period of time, why are you having the surgery." I'm really get tired of answering this question. When your weight has yo-yo all of your life, I guess some people don't have a clue that I may be able to lose that much of a very strict diet, but if I were to start eating normally, not only would I gain the weight back but some more. I think it's hard for my friends to understand that it's not what I eat, but how much I eat that leads to disaster. I just needed to vent a little- thanks your guys! I'm now at my goal weight and my doctor has now scheduled my labs and EKG and I meet with him on the 24th of November for my date. YEAH!!!

I would have to agree with lisabug, it looks like you're taking in a lot of carbs. Orange juice and tomato juice also was bring up your sugars quickly, be careful. Don't lose hope, you're still losing, maybe not as quickly as you would like, but you're losing.

Congratulations!! See how blessing happen when we need them the most. You go Girl!!

Hi Blackberry, Something similiar happened to me approximately a year ago, however, I was notified by mail of a class action law suit against 24 Hr. Fitness about nine months after I quite. Approximately a month ago I was notified that the court ruled in favor of the gym members and 24 Hr. Fitness is ordered by the courts to provide 3 months of free membership. It was precisely for the same thing that Gold Gym is doing to you. Since I'm pre-op this couldn't have happened at a better time. Thought I would share, I'm sure Gold's Gym is aware of the class action suit that 24 Hr. Fitness lost. Good Luck!

Hi debinphoenix, at orientation they stressed that we would need to give up straws period! Every time yoiu inhale from a straw you're also taking in air into the stomach which they don't want you to do. This is a tough habit to break, but it's getting easier week by week.

Thanks for sharing. I know this sounds wierd for someone who hasn't even gotten my date yet, but I look forward to the day when I'm full from eating that amount. Before the pre-op diet, it always felt like the bottonless pit!

You look fantastic! Keep up the great work, and I also agree you look years younger. Don't you feel incredible?

Hi everyone, I started my journey in August and participated in a mandatory class before they would even schedule the Orientation. I had my Orientation on the 7th of this month, and tomorrow I'll travel from the Sacramento area to the Bay Area (Richmond) to meet with the Health Educator and then 30 minutes later meet with the Psychologist. I have stuck faithfully to the Pre-Op diet, and am hoping that I'll have at least lost 5 pounds. I'm wondering how much time passes between the psychologist appointment and the Surgeon appt. Anyone else going through the Kaiser Richmond Program? Cyclemom:001_unsure:

You're going to do fantastic! Don't take your ipad, things do come up missing sometimes in hospitals. Walk, walk, walk. Let us know how you breezed through it when you can. Good luck!!

Lemon Drop, That is awesome. I really liked the orientation at Kaiser. I know a woman sitting next to me couldn't even watch the videos, but it found it extremely interesting and now have a really good picture of the procedure and the reason why the doctors want a good weight loss prior to surgery. As soon as your done with Dr. Baggs your next appt will be with the psychologist. Not sure why mine was backwards, but it doesn't really matter, it happened and the ball is still rolling. I'm glad that there is a group of us that can share information while we learn the do's and don'ts. Good luck on the 15th, I'll be thinking of you and your daughter. Keep us in the loop. :thumbup:

Depressed - I think Robeania nailed it for you. Great advice, stay focus and jornal absolutely everything that touches your lips! Stay in touch and let us know how you're doing.

I know what you mean by going to the gym. But remember it's a mind game you're playing with yourself. Most of the people there are serious and are focused on themselves not what others are doing. If you can't bring yourself to do it, then make sure to get outside day and walk, even if it's only around the block for the first week and then the next you go two blocks. A little is better than non. Good luck and I'll keep you in my prayers. YOU CAN DO THIS - This positive, you're worth it!!!!!!

Best of luck also! Hope everything goes well and you're back in the States soon beginning your new chapter in life.

Hi Lemondrop, I've heard really good things about Dr. Baggs. I'm not one of his patients though. My psy. appt in Richmond was scheduled two weeks after orientation and then my surgeon appt was scheduled two weeks after that. Once the ball starts rolling it picks up speed. It appears that the weight loss varies from doctor to doctor. My total weight loss will be 30 pounds, and for some it's only 20. I'll be weighing in with my family physician every two weeks and Dr. Fisher will be checking. As soon as I hit my goal weight, I'm to notify his office or email him and he will schedule my appt with the Case Manager. So from this point forward the timing is in my control. If I can lose 14 pounds by the end of October, I could be scheduled for either late November or December. Let us know how your appointment went with Dr. Baggs - Good luck!!!!:drool:

Okay maybe I got a little too excited. I met with Dr. Fisher on 9/27 and he seems like a very compassionate doctor. I'm really blessed to have him. I was a little surprise when we were talking about how much weight he wanted me to lose before the surgery. I started out at 240 and then loss 8.5 pounds, on this appt. I was down to 229. Dr. Fisher indicated he wanted me to drop to 210. Does a 30 pound weight loss seem a little extreme?

My initial psych eval lasted one hour. She spent the time asking questions about my life, family and my espectations of what I expected from the surgery. I'm pretty sure she was making sure I truly understood what a major life changing decision I was making. Things went great and I was very comfortable. My psychologist did ask for me to either talk to her on the phone or make a 15 appt. to see her prior to the surgery. I wouldn't worry so much about the appt. Go with the flow and have a good attitude.

Wow, that was fast! You go, tankgirl :001_tt2:- Congratulations and good luck. Hope you wear that dress on 1/1/2011.

Hey sstoots! Wow great job on your weight loss, 6 pounds below - you had to have been really focused. Sounds like Dr. Fisher is a good doctor. I think I read that he was the doctor that actually got the Bariactic Program approved in Richmond. I too had never heard of the sleeve until I talked to my general physician and she mentioned the sleeve. I immediatley went home and researched the sleeve and th gastic bypass. It's amazing how much information is out there on the sleeve now. Thinks for letting me klnow about the nicotine urine test. I gave up smoking ten years ago, but sounds like if they don't request the test, I may need to remind them. Sounds Sara was able to get you in pretty quick with the case manager, again the best of luck and let us know what your date is scheduled for. Yep I'm moving to Cool, the way things are going it looks like I'll move in now mid November to early Dec. I'm really hoping for the surgery first so I can be off of work to recuperate and put the house together. (Two birds with one stone.)

Hi sstoots! I also have Dr. Fisher. My appt with him is scheduled for this Tuesday in Vacaville. I already met with the psychologist and I weighed in and had already loss 8 pounds. How many pounds did Dr. Fisher indicate you had to lose if I can ask. I'm not looking forward to the meeting with the case manager. I didn't realize the support group was tomorrow, or else I would have made plans to attend. How much time has lapse since you met with Dr. Fisher. Good luck on the 4th, please let all of know how you did and if you got your date. I'm up in Auburn so let's stay in touch. Cyclemom