Browneyedsouljah

Sending you positive energy and wishing you well.

I had my dietician and medical evaluation Friday. The dietician visit was very informative. I learned alot about portion control and how vital learning to not drink when I eat was. Overall he thinks I will be a successful sleever. HE made me feel so good about my decision. He even told me that the Dr. Needleman(my surgeon) has never had a patient get a leak from the sleeve. That is my biggest worry and that fact took away alot of it. I then met DR. Schuster who was fabulous. We went over my history and records in detail. She took the time to answer all my questions, and I had a complete list. At the end of it all she thought I was making a sound choice and was ready. No need for additional test or even blood work.( I have a very thorough family doctor). Basically after I meet the three month diet requirement they will apply for approval. Dr. Schuster advised that my insurance Aetna PPO was very easy to work with for this and assured me approval will not be an issue. So I am moving forward. I have been smiling ear to ear since friday just thinking of a healthier new me. My next step is to complete the three month diet and satrt assembling the items I will need pre and post op. I am gonna do the compression suit. I have seen several sleevers use them and loose more than 200lbs and have really no sagging skin issues. Any thoughts on that from Post Sleevers?

OK I go to my evaluations today! I am nervous a bit. I don't want to be the only big person they say isnt fit for the sleeve. The sleeve is really my only option. I do have serious inflamation issues and sometimes I may have to take a little steroroids to control it. I guess your not able to take those types of meds if you get the bypass. Anyway I am also meeting the dietician. Im looking forward to that. I need someone to tell me with my body and issues what types of food I should be eating. Overall i am happy I am creeping forward. Still not sure if I am gonna do this July or Septemeber but I am sure I am gonna do it if I can!! Wish me luck!!

I am worried about this too. I typically only drink water with lemon, but I chug like 20oz at a time. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night so thirsty that I keep a gallon of water by my bed now. I usually drink a min of 64 oz of water a day, but Im concerned with how I am going to accomplish that post op for the first month or two? Do you just take an oz shot every 15-30 min? I also need to know the stages of food. I meet with the nutritionist on Friday, but I think I need to get started with new routine asap.

Thanks for Sharing. I have already asked for them as a post op gift from my partner. I have researched this topic with the DR, a trainer, and on google and all say it helps. I am hoping to get sleeved in July and plan on wearing these out of the hospital. I actually plan to have a daily suit and a workout suit. The thing the doctor mentioned was to get the quality kind with a special fabric to help ward off bacteria and germs. It needs to be a snug fit because the problem with skin after WLS is gravity. When we run or jump we jar the skin from the muscle and the rest is gravity. He says compression wear along with weight lifting will help reduce loose skin. To clarify he did say weightlifting for toning purposes. Small weights with high number of reps.

I was facing the same issue with my partner. She thought I could do this on my own. This past weekend I shared this forum site with her. let her read what she wanted, the good, bad, and the ugly. She was able to educate herself a bit and now she stands tall in my corner. Maybe you should try to share this site with your wife. Maybe she would understand and possibly seek out some information for herself. However, I would suggest you do what is best for you. If you know you need this than do it for you. Nobody walks in yours shoes but you. Takihng care of your daughter and family is taking care of yourself first!! At least thats how I feel. I wish you the best!

I had previously posted how this site was my support outlet as I didnt feel that my partner understood what I was going through and disnt seem that supportive. Over the weekend we discussed the sleeve in detail since the reality of it is getting closer. I have my evaluation day for labs and so forth on Friday!! I explained how it was so difficult with my PCOS to lose weight and keep it off. I gave the statistic on the surgery and I showed her this site. She saw how this site was a very resourceful tool for anybody with WL issues. She herself has dropped 113lbs and could relate. To cut the story short, she apologized for not being as understanding in the beginning and said she was grateful I found this forum and didnt let her actions affect my decision to move forward with the sleeve. So Thank You Forum Friends!!

What is a NSV?

This PCOS is why I feel i need this. I have lost the weight, but it always come back and I cannot maintain the extreme dieting or 3-4 hours in the gym a night. I also cannot have children. The surgeon said this sleeve basically puts PCOS in remission. That he tells all his patients to get on BC within three months as he has had a number of patients get preggers within 6 months post op. Have you heard anything about the insulin resistance related to pcos and how the sleeve helps it?

Thank you everybody for the support it is truely appreciated. I was willing to do this alone and I am happy she understands what I am doing now. I will have a million questions as this process progresses so I hope I don't get on anyones nerves. LOL

I am a newbie too. I am planning on getting the sleeve. My future surgeon told me point blank that the majority of the risk for the sleeve is seepage from the staples. He said that his hospital has taken extra steps to help prevent that during the procedure. It is fairly new so not alot of studies for long term but everything looks like this is the best option. He himself said his pateients had the least amount of complications with the sleeve eventhough he has performed 2400 bypasses versus 360 sleeves. The list vitamins is small compared to that of the bypass. Furthermore a good friend of mine had the bypass completed in late December. She had has nothing but complications and regrets the bypass now, evemthough she has lost over 75lbs to date. She is now in the hospital after getting her gall bladder removed. When they did that they had to untangle or whatever her bowels. I am sure that the sleeve is the best route for me. I dont wish to be skinny, I wish to be healthy. Just talk to your doctor and surgeon and make the best choice for your body!

I worry about skin too as I have not had me sleeve yet. However, my friend had bypass surgery in late December as has used compression garments and thinks it has helped reduce the amount of sagging skin. I mean her breast have remained perky and she has little extra skin on her thighs and although her belly was the biggest part of her body it is fairly tight. She does work out but she doesnt lift weights. I must say I am online shopping for mine now. I will definately need it for my arms and thighs.

Wow!! Your journey is inspiring. I have to be honest, my partner isnt thrilled with me doing this, but I know what I need. Reading stories and post gives me hope and is the support I need to continue. Hearing women like you who shared my pain but have made it to the otherside and are happy helps me pick myself up and continue on. Thank you so much for sharing!!

Good Luck!! I cant wait to see the new me either. Its not just the weight but the feeling of being healthy and able to participate in life that I am looking forward to. I have always been athletic but as i got older and heavier its painful on my joints. My ultimate goal is to run a marathon and do a cart wheel!!

I was wondering how long everybody needed post op to start working out? I also wanted to know if the sleeve made it easier to workout and firm up the loose skin from WL? I understand the sleeve lets you loose weight at a slower weight and I assume this would allow you to work out to keep up with the change?

Hi Ken, Do you have a very low movement or desk job? I am concerned about this too. I would like to get my procedure done in July, but i cannot take FMLA or short term disability until September. I do have quite a bit of PTO for the year and was hoping to get the surgery on Thurday, take Friday and Monday off, and then work from home for a week. My friend had a complete bypass with pacreatitis complications and was back to work in 2 weeks. Your posting has given me some hope and maybe I can get this done at the beginning of summer.

Thank you for the support I really needed it. During the session last night they had people who were post op speak. They all kinda said the same thing and they all said they were happy. My Dr is Dr. Neddleman at Ohio State University medical center. He has performed over 2400 surgeries and advised he thinks the sleeve has the best chance for no complications. I actually just scheduled my evaluation day for 4/22. I am wondering how to approach HR when I need to activate my short term disability benifits to recover? My friend had the bypass a week before christmas and was back at work on January 3rd. 3rd and thats after having complications with pancreatitis. I have the ability to work from home so I am hoping I can just take a week off. Any thoughts on this?

I guess it's something I will get used to. There are some ladis at my job who I think are making comments, however; they are bigger than I am and there weight watchers doesnt seem to be working much. One of the major commenters is near diabetic status and mentioned her medical bills have single handidly affected the rates of our insurance! I wanted to tell her she should attend with me. However I think when I am at a healthy weight and she can see how happy I am will be the best motivator and revenge!