mountain_lover

I really enjoyed reading your story, I wish you all the best on your journey!!

I also did the same thing when I went to Dr. Husted's seminar here in Somerset KY. I went with all intentions of only having a Lap-Band procedure done if any at all and afterward I changed my mind to having The Duedenal or Sleeve. When I went for my consult with the Dr. Husted he said he would like to do the Sleeve, so I began my research and my journey. I may be having surgery very soon. I have had so many people tell me that I am not that big and I shouldn't have to have surgery, but when I started weigh-ins in Feb. of this year I weighed 253 and I have went up and down since then, I have not had anyone that could talk me out of having the surgery even though they have seriously tried. I believe this is what I need to do for me to live a healthier longer life. I am going to be 55 years old next month and I hope this will help me to have many more birthdays. I have been very unhealthy for so many years, so I am really looking forward to a change. I wish you the best on your journey.

Hello Judy, I enjoyed looking at your pictures. Your getting close to your consult and seminar date. I went to my seminar then I put in my application to have a consult to see if I could possibly have the surgery. I started my weigh-ins in Feb. of this year and I am only waiting on the info from my Psychological Evaluation to get to the Bariatric Center, possibly this week, then they will submit it to the insurance to see if I get approved. They told me it usually takes 5-7 days to get the answer back. If it is yes, then I will be starting on the Pre-Op diet soon (Two weeks before a scheduled surgery date). I am getting very anxious waiting for everything to fall in place. I "CAYN'T wait either. I am sure getting several lessons on the importance of of being very patient with all of this. The way I am trying to look at this, is that I have been obese for 30+ years, so what is a year or so out of my life to wait for this to take place, but I have a very hard time learning to be patient. It seems like the closer I get the more anxious I become. Keep hangin' in there, no matter what may come your way and Best Wishes with your journey.

I am giving you a thumbs up because I know exactly what you are talking about. You are right, getting the motivation is very important. It took me many years to get the motivation to do somthing really drastic about my obesity. In 1977 and 1978 I had two mental breakdowns, which led up to me being put in the hospital, and the last of the two was a stay of 3 1/2 months. When the doctor released me, I went home on medication called Melleril (?SP) which is a tranqualizer and I was on it for a long time, then I was taken off that and stayed on Prozac for many years. In 1 and 1/2 years I went from 155 or so, up to around 300 pounds. In the past 30+ years I have been up and down, I have went to TOPPS, Overeaters Anonymous, changed my medications several times. I was put on Cymbalta earlier and now I am on Celexa, which both were the best help for my mental state. I have finally got the motivation and stopped procrastinating to do something about my weight problem (Thinking problems is what I should call it). I doubled my weight in that year and half, and it has been like a yo-yo since. Finally Feb. of this year I started my weigh-ins so that I could try to get approved for surgery. I am really getting close, but I have went through many set backs. Since then I found out I had an auto-immune disorder, H-Pyloria positive test, a car accident which now I am trying to save for another car, and an accident on the treadmill at the Y, plus many other things such as weight going down and up and now it is on the downhill road. I just got weighed today and lost 2 more pounds in about a week. I keep picking myself up and going on, because I am determined to have this surgery to help me lose weight. I am sure I will still probably have ups and downs afterwards, but the big difference now is that this time I have the support of family, friends, Doctor Husted, support groups, and all the help from everyone on this forum, such as you, Ky.hen and many others to get me through my journey. I say hang in there for yourself and all the people that will be helped by listening to your story. Once you get the motivation to go to the Gym, I am sure it will probably become just as addictive as food. The thing I have noticed since I have been going is that now I really think alot about what I am doing to myself if I eat the wrong things or eat too much after exercising, I am just defeating the purpose of going to the Y. Another thing is that at least I may just burn up many of those extra calories that I do eat on my down moments. WHEN I MESS UP, I DON'T GIVE UP, I GET UP AND TRY AGAIN. The day I fell on my knees (Right knee replacement last year) and on the floor when I had my accident on the treadmill and hurt my knees, I just got up and got right back on. I still have bruised sore knees a week later, but I went back today. Thank you for all your comments on here!!

Thank you! Also I want you to know that I added you on my friend list. I am hoping to see some of your current pictures. You are really doing great losing over 100 pounds since your surgery. I will check the albums to see if you have any pictures. I am sure you will be a great inspiration to many people!!

Hello, I am glad I clicked on your picture when I stopped in to leave a message for Ky.hen. I have been reading some of your posts and when I came across this one I was really glad to read it. I have been told about all of this, but now it all makes sense and lets me know the importance of it all. I will be starting the Pre-op diet soon. The bariatric center here in Somerset will soon be sending all my information into the insurance to see if I get an approval for the VSG surgery, hopefully this week I will have the Psych. Eval. ready to turn in. My councelor is a Psychologist and she is finishing it up now. I know I still have alot to learn and you sure helped me learn some important things for my Pre-op. I would be very glad to have you on my list of friends, so that I can keep up with your progress. Thank you for being here just when I needed you, Pre-op!!!

Hello ky.hen, I am really happy to hear that you are feeling so good after having the surgery. It really helps because I was thinking that recovery time would take so much longer. I know everyone's recovery time is probably different, but I am sure it helps to stay positive and you sure are a big help making this journey more positive. I read your story and it was a great inspiration. I hope that my experience will go smoother by having all the support from everyone this forum. I am glad to have you for a VSG friend. Keep up the good work!! I will keep up with your progress to see how you are doing with your weight loss after having your surgery. I have been trying to get some of my pictures posted on this forum, but I have only been able to get two of them on so far. With some help, I may soon have the other pictures of myself and my family before surgery takes place. After going through the photos to get the ones I wanted to post, I realize that I am not making a mistake having this surgery. I could not believe how much bigger I appear in the pictures than I perceive myself to be. I know that I am very overweight, but now I realize how much better I will feel about myself if I have this surgery and get down to a normal weight. I have been big most of my life, but I have been obese for 30 years or so. I am the same age as you are, so I am sure you know how I feel about wanting to do something before it is too late. I want the rest of my years to be happier ones than the past 30 or so years have been. GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR JOURNEY!!

Thank you! I am feeling much better, only have a little bit of a cough. I have been resting alot. I just received a call from my councelor yesterday concerning my Psychological Evaluation with some questions. She is working on it and going to be turning it in to the bariatric center very soon. As far as I know, that will be the last thing I have to turn in then the information will be sent into the insurance to see if I will be approved for the surgery. I weighed myself this morning, and I have lost 2 pounds. It is not much, but at least I am not gaining. I really am looking forward to the help of the surgery and everyone's continuing support to get my weight down where it should be and to become healthier. I will be 55 years old Nov.1 and I hope I will be able to live many more healthier years by having this surgery. I am praying for this approval and successful surgery and recovery. Thank you everyone for reading my story and your responses!

I am just here to let everyone know that I received the H-Pyloria test results back and they are NEGATIVE!!! ALRIGHT, one step closer to getting everything ready to turn into the insurance company. Now as far as I know I only have to turn in the Psych. Eval. then I will be on my way to getting a possible approval for the VSG surgery. I am stuck on 244 pounds. I need to try harder to get more pounds off. I have not been able to go to the Y, but I might be able to go on Saturday. After my car accident, I started saving money for a car. It is so different having to depend on others to take me everywhere. I am also trying to save money for the protein milkshakes and vitamins for pre-op and post-op. I am not going to give up, I will get over these hurdles with God's help. I have not been feeling well this week, I have caught a bug of some kind, don't know if it what my son had or just a bad cold. No fever just tired, coughing and a headache. I am going to the doctor if this doesn't get better in a few days. I want it all cleared up before having surgery. I don't want anything to stand in the way of being approved for the VSG surgery. I will let you all know how things are progressing. Thanks for being here!!

Thank you! I went out of state for my son's wedding. I just arrived back home on Monday evening. I have been on the internet reading more about H-Pyloria and I decided to check out the VSG forum. I am going to go see my doctor today (Tuesday Oct.6) to see if they received my test results back to see if the H-Pyloria infection was cleared up by the Prev-Pac I took last month. I also am going to see my counscelor and ask her if she is finished with my Psychological Evaluation. As soon as I get a negative H-Pyloria test and turn it in to the Bariatric Center along with the Psych. Eval. , then all the information will be submitted to the insurance company for see if surgery will be approved. I am hanging in there, and willing to keep on fighting for what I believe will change my health and life. I am happy that I finally came to the VSG forum, because I need all the support I can get; family, friends, VSGers, God and my Bariatric Doctor---Dr. Husted and everyone at his office!!! Everyone's comments are very helpful! Thank you all for your support!!

I will be starting them very soon, once I get approved for VSG surgery and the date is set. I have to drink them for two weeks. My question is this: How do they taste compared to a regular milkshake? I like strawberry and pineapple milkshakes, so I hope that the pre-op shakes taste good.

I am glad I read your comments, because now I will be more aware of this after I have surgery and maybe I can avoid some of the same situations. I love the smell of "good food" and I have wondered how hard it will be after surgery to face those kinds of temptations. Thanks for your comments!!

Thank you for your information on depression, because I will be scheduled for surgery soon and it is good to know these things before, so that I if I experience any of these feelings I might just remember what you put on here and then I will understand why I might be going through them post-op. I hope you are getting the help you need and I wish you all the best! Thanks again!

Thank you for your suggestions, I am going to go to my doctor and buy some samples to try out before I buy the large order. I still have a little more time before I will find out if I get approved for the surgery and when to start on the two weeks of shakes, so I will go get them right away!!

Hello everyone, I decided to check in and I was very surprised to see all of your replies. It helps at a time like this to know that I am not alone. I have had another small set back, but I am sure it will work out. I went to the doctor today to get the result of my H_Pyloria (sp?) test. I had tested positive and had to be put on the two week Prev-Pak, and went in for blood work a few days ago to see if the Prev-Pak took care of the stomach infection. Well the Doctor told me that they did not have the right test done and they would have to do a different one. One good thing, I did not have to give more blood, because the lab keeps your blood work for 7 days. So I will find out by Saturday if the new test is negative for H-pyloria. If it is positive, I will have to start another Prev-Pak and the Doctor told me that I would have to be seen by a GI doctor. I am hoping that the new test is negative so that I will be closer to my surgery being approved. I talked to my councelor and she is going to turn in my Psychological evaluation as soon as possible, within a week or so. My child came down with type A flu which could possibly be A influenza or the Swine flu. The children's clinic test only lets you know what type it is. At the hospital, their test shows if it is the swine flu. I hope and pray that he gets better soon, he is on Tamiflu medicine to help fight the virus, and hoping that I stay well to take care of him. I have one more thing to tell you, then I have to get to sleep. I went to the Y to exercise Thursday evening, I have only been 3-4 times, I got on the treadmill and I did not know how to operate the buttons and it was set on a high speed (5), so you know what happened next. Right, I landed on my knees and the emergeny stop did not stop it, and I landed flat and right off the end. Everyone ran over to me to see if I was ok, I was shook up and my knees were hurting, but I got right back on and went for 10 minutes at a lower speed. I had a total knee replacement last year, I hope I didn't mess anything up. I have two bruised knees, one sore elbow and my back hurts. I told my daughter that now I have experience knowing how to fall off of a treadmill. We had a good laugh, she said, "Well MoM, now you are no longer a treadmill virgin". I told her I am not going to give up, I am going to hang in there! They say weight is easy to put on, and hard to take off, I can tell you it is 100% true!! And My Journey Is Only Beginning!! (Ha-Ha) Thanks for all your comments!!

The only brand that I know about is Bariatric Advantage. I could use some help on purchasing the best tasting shakes for a reasonable price.

Thank you for your reply. I hope all goes well with your surgery!