Telisaswan

You are definitely getting off easy. My surgeon has me on a 900 calorie shake/bar diet to lose 10 percent of my body weight for 6 weeks BEFORE my two week liquid-only pre-op diet. I haven't seen anyone else on here with such a strict surgeon! I am losing almost a pound a day though so I guess I can't complain. It is very difficult to eat like this over the holidays, but I am hanging in there. Good luck to you... if I can do it, anyone can!

I am so jealous! I have been on a package shakes/bars diet since Dec. 8th! I am supposed to lose 10 percent of my weight before surgery which is scheduled for January 24th. I am losing a lot of weight but it is so hard to starve on less than 900 calories a day at Christmas time. You are lucky! I suppose this diet will make the way I have to eat after surgery a lot easier. Good luck to you and to all the January sleevers!

Wow, you just put into words so many of the thoughts and feelings I have had regarding getting this surgery. Good luck to you and thank you for sharing. Telisa Swan

Wow! You look great!!!

Feel better soon! I am always so amazed at how many things there are to look out for! My surgery isn't until January and I worry but I think with everyone's experiences and advice I may be able to avoid some of the same problems. Hope you didn't hurt yourself too bad. Take care.

Wow! That was a lot to go through. Congratulations on your success and thank you so much for sharing.

Good Luck Lisa! I am so excited for you. Be sure to keep us updated so we don't worry too much. :rolleyes:Telisa

Break a leg everybody!

Hi. My name is Telisa Swan and I am working toward getting sleeved. My daughter had a gastric bypass six years ago and is down from 500 lbs to a healthy 160. The bypass worked very well for her but I think the sleeve is a better choice for me. I am 5'10, weigh 311 with a BMI of 44.7 and am 44 years old. I don't have a lot of co-morbidities, but I did get a heart stint in 2003. I am self-pay with no insurance and started this process in October with a lot of research. In November I attended two seminars by a couple of different area bariatric surgeons. I really like the surgeon I have chosen but he wants me to lose 10% of my total body weight before he will even schedule surgery. That could take months! I really want to get sleeved as soon as possible so it is a little frustrating. My surgeon charges $23,000 for this surgery and I know I could get it a lot cheaper in Mexico but, at the same time, I want an excellent local support system and all aftercare is included in that price. I will do my best to loose the 30+ lbs. as soon as possible, but it won't be easy (any suggestions?) Anyway, I just wanted to let you know who I am, where I am at, and what is going on for me. You will see me around the forum over the next year or so and I am looking for friends and support in this. Who is with me?! I think this forum is the best, most informative thing I have encountered on the internet. It has already been incredibly helpful to me. Thank you to all of you who have lost your weight, or well on your way, but are still here on this forum to help those of us who are just starting out on our journey. Much thanks!!!

Hope you are feeling better! Hugs!

Congratulations! Sounds like you are doing great. I am chuckling because I just noticed we picked almost the exact same ticker. Anyway, sounds like you are doing well. I hope my sleeve goes as smoothly Good luck with the rest of your recovery!

Good Luck! I am very excited for you!!!

Hi Everyone! Just found out I will be getting my sleeve on January 24th! I will be on a high protein, low carb diet from now until then but it will be worth it. My surgeon wants me to lose 10% of my body weight by my surgery date. It won't be easy but I know I can do it. Good luck to all the rest of you January sleevers!

That's too bad, sorry to hear it. Keep your chin up and keep after those insurance hacks... it is their job to make it a pain in the butt. You never know what will happen. Good luck.

Ha ha... you crack me up!

My name is Telisa Swan and this is my very first blog - ever. It actually took me a couple of days to figure out how to write on this page. I am not the most computer-oriented person on the planet. I have joined this forum because, like everyone else, I have decided I would like to take control of my weight problem in a big way. The Vertical Gastric Sleeve seems like the best way to go for me. My daughter had a Gastric Bypass about 6 years ago and she is doing marvelously well. She weighed nearly 500 lbs. and now weighs a healthy 160. While the GB worked great for her, I feel the Sleeve will be better for me. Currently I weight 311 lbs (down from 325), and have a BMI of 44.7. I have been heavy most of my life. I am a professional tattoo artist and I quite well known in my field. Still, I feel my weight problem has really held me back in my career. The tattoo industry can be quite "looks" oriented and all the talent in the world won't get you featured in the tattoo magazines if you are fat and unattractive. This prejudice is only a little less of a problem for men in my line of work. In reality, ANY person who is overweight in our culture has this kind of problem. You can be the best at what you do, have a charming personality and a sharp wit - but if they don't like how you look, they won't give you the time of day. That said, it is not the only reason that I want to lose the weight (though it is the most painful issue on a daily basis). I really want to be able to live a longer, fuller life. As it is right now I can't do a lot of the things I want to do. I can't fit comfortable on an airplane or ride on a roller coaster, etc. I would love to do some hiking without running the risk of a heart attack (got a heart stint in 2003). I would just like to able to truly LIVE.

Thanks Miss Diva! I appreciate the advice. I actually exercise like a maniac... martial arts AND yoga, five days a week. I love it! You would think I would be a size 2 after 3 1/2 years of this. Apparently I eat enough to make up for all those calories burned. I think the sleeve is going to help me so much. Thanks again for words of wisdom to me and others around the forum. It is great to have support in this.