Penpen

Lol!! Thanks for making me laugh! How fun that was!!! I was singing along, too! You have a great attitude and I think you will do awesome! I haven't had surgery either...waiting to hear whether or not the insurance co. has my back. Keep that awesome attitude!!

Hi everyone!! Thank you all for letting me know who you chose! I had actually wanted to go to Dr. Nick but my insurance wouldn't cover him. Then it was between Dr. Barker and Dr. Davidson. Barker did the Bypass surgery on a lady that my husband works with. Dr. Davidson did the sleeve on my sister-in-law's friend. After meeting with Davidson, I decided that I really liked him. So as of right now, I'm waiting on my insurance to approve the surgery. Will hopefully hear something really soon.

Take a family picture that my husband has wanted for almost 10 years now! And of course, many more!

You look amazing!!! Congratulations!!!

I'm not sleeved yet but have read soooo many post on this forum. You all have so much good input...even ones like myself that haven't been sleeved yet! So I have a question... What exactly does restriction feel like? Does it just feel like you are full? Or does it feel like your stomach is going to bust open? Does it hurt?

1. For my knees, hips, back, and feet to stop hurting!!! 2. To be able to shave my legs....all of my legs! To be able to shave my legs without feeling like I just ran a marathon! 3. To feel pretty, cute, sexy again! 4. To wear a swimsuit without having to put something over it. 5. To wear shorts again! 6. Can't wait to look in the mirror and admire myself...instead of despise and disgust myself! 7. Ready for thinner women...not all...but definitely some....to stop giving my husband the look, as if I don't matter...as if they are thinking, "What is he doing with her? I can offer him better!"....DARN IT...that really hurts! 8. To not feel so irritable all the time from being out of energy and in the dumps! 9. To go swimming with my son in public! 10. To not take a dive out of a camera's view! And to not hind behind my son in pictures when I can't dive out of the way! 11. To not be a slave to food! 12. To feel like dolling myself up....because right now, I feel like what's the use! 13. To weigh less than my husband. 14. I want to walk to the mailbox during the day in full view of everyone...instead of hiding inside so no one sees me, until dark! 15. I want to enjoy sex again....not dread it!

Thank you all for your input! This makes me feel better. I was afraid I wouldn't know when to stop, like now, and I'd bust my stomach open or something. Lol. I like the idea of feeling in control...knowing that I will have a sign or two when to stop and possibly not even wanting all the food anyways.

Thank you so much for posting your success! You are of great encouragement! When I think of successes like yours, I can't wait for surgery but when I think of what will actually be done to my stomach and how major it is...I want to run the other direction. This forum serves a lot of purposes but I think one of the biggest, is the encouragement to move forward. Thanks and Congrats!!!!

Awesome!! You're an inspiration to me! It must feel wonderful. I hope to be in your shoes soon.

Sounds like many good reasons to me! As for me, I have a few health problems but nothing serious yet. But my emotional health has been horrible. And I think your emotional health is just as important as your physical health. I've lost 50, 60, 70 lbs. at different times in my life. It would take forever and always be a painful journey watching everyone around me eat and drink whatever they wanted and never exercise but still be thin. The last couple of years I thought I was going through a mid-life crisis....that's if women go through them...I don't know. I wanted to lose the weight but was so depressed about doing it. I didn't want to go through it again. Lose and then gain back what you lost plus an extra 20-40 lbs. on top of that. I WAS DONE!!! My husband has always said, "you know how to lose weight, you've done it before and you felt great." I told him about a month ago, that I wasn't going to try anymore ... that it was a battle that I would never win. That's when he suggested having this surgery or the bypass done. I was in total shock because a little over a year ago, I was approved to do the lap band and he said absolutely not....and I just kind of started going down hill from there. He's very supportive but just didn't feel like the lap band was a safe option (and I'm thankful he felt that way...I think I would have regretted it.) plus a man he worked with had it done and never lost a pound. I thought my husband was completely against any kind of surgery. He's even tried to diet with me....we would both fail at it! So, I'm not really sure what made him decide he was okay with this but I'm so thankful!

WoW!!!! You look sooo awesome!!! I can't wait to get sleeved, hopefully sometime this summer! I can feel your excitement! You go girl! This soooo motivates me! I've even been itching to start doing the full, blown liquid diet but am waiting for my date. Well, okay, I started one a day today just so I wouldn't go into total shock when my doc says, "Let's do it!!"

yAy!!!

So excited for both of you and 2Sweetnsugarland! I'll say a prayer for all of you. I only have a brother but I do have a sister-in-law that I definitely consider my sis! I love her to pieces!!! She is considering doing this too. It's a hard decision for the both of us but how I would love to take this journey with her. I'm so happy for y'all!

You look awesome! You can definitely tell! Keep it up! Also, thank you for posting your feelings. I haven't had surgery yet but have feared that I might get depressed with the long term liquid diet. I just went to see my surgeon yesterday for the first time(actually, second time...first real doc appointment). He said that I will need to lose 15 lbs. before surgery. Though, we have to wait to see what insurance will cover and she if there are any requirements to be met before they set my date. In the mean time, I decided that I would kind of start using the Protein shakes atleast once a day to get used to them, so I'm not in total shock when the time comes. I just drank my first shake and it wasn't too bad. I normally drink Slim Fast in the morning and prefer the liquid vs. food thing (in the morning, anyways). So hopefully, I will see the light at the end of the tunnel. I will keep your post close to remind myself that this part of it is not forever. Thank you once again for letting all of us know your thoughts and feelings. This forum is the best!

Thank you for responding...very much appreciated!

Thank you all for your responses! I'm totally okay with that. I was just curious! I just want to be healthier and happier but it would be nice to see my knee caps too at some point. I will take whatever the good Lord gives me!

Thank you Renee! My husband and I asked so many questions. Poor doctor...did not know he was going to face us that day! Ha! And I've thought of more questions to ask since yesterday. He told me to call if I had more, so I will probably do so real soon. I think he's the right surgeon. We left with a really good feeling about him.

This will be my first appointment with a surgeon tomorrow. What questions should I ask to not only try to see the whole picture of what I'm getting myself into but to also make sure he's the right surgeon for me? Thanks for all advice.

Hi there fellow Texans! I'm just east of Dallas. Haven't had surgery yet but am waiting to see if my insurance co approves. Hopefully I'll be in your boat soon. So nice to meet you.

Yes, I can't wait either!! I think emotional health is just as important as physical. I think that it's terrible that we are judged based on our weight alone. I have had lots of people tell me it's what's on the inside that counts but that's really not how a lot of people feel...I've been treated differently, looked at differently, and even had family members make jokes about my weight to my face. I'm 37 and wish that the sleeve had been available yrs ago. I decided a few months ago that I wasn't even going to try anymore. So many times I've lost weight ... So many times, I've gained all back plus some! I was done!!! Then my hubby mentioned that a lady at his work had the bypass done and had lost over 100 lbs. That maybe we should look into it. Of course, I'm not interested in the bypass but the sleeve, yes. So here I am...making friends with people I have so much incommon with. There's not many that I know that I can freely talk about this with. My wonderful sister-in-law completely understands so she's a source of encouragement for me. My hubby too. But it's awesome to come into this forum w people that have had the surgery or are in the beginnings of their journey.

Welcome Hanna!! I'm new too! Your feelings about yourself, sound far to familiar. My story is a little different but I know how you are feeling. I disgust myself and I try to hide from the world!! I just had my first appointment with my surgeon today and it went well. I'm excited to know that I or all of us, have the chance to be healthier and prettier. That we can stop hiding from the world!

There's no way that I let this surgeon operate on me...money back or not. And yes, HIM operating may result in death!!! NO WAY!! RUN AWAY FROM HIM!!!

Just beautiful!!!

So sorry Gabriella! I haven't had surgery yet but have an appointment with a surgeon on Wednesday. I'm going to really think through this. I've been looking for people who've had complications but for the most part, some have complications but not like what you've had. Mostly what you hear about are the very positive happenings after surgery. These are the things that need to be heard. I have been more scared for the long term what ifs. This is a reminder that this is very serious. I'm scared to death of this surgery and just not sure anymore. Thanks for telling your story.