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I'm very excited to find this group. It seems many of us who are going thru Tricare to get our surgeries can benefit from each other's experience. I have recently finished the last of my prerequisits and just got my date assigned: MARCH 28!!!! I"m soooo excited! I have jumped through many, many hoops to get to this point but I'm so glad I'm here. When I first began my journey my BMI was under 35 so I only qualified to get a LapBand. I realized that the VSG was probably a better option for me. I am actually glad I have gained quite a bit of weight since I began my weightloss surgery journey. I now qualify for the Vertical Sleeve. I hope my stay at BAMC is a good one. I have one fantastic experience there in which I felt so well taken care of. But another time I was very disappointed in my treatment there. Any other members have WLS experiences at BAMC? Cynthia

Wow! Sounds like your perserverance is paying off. I am so glad your pain is getting better. I've had these surgeries that I thought would be quick recoveries end up keeping me down for 2 weeks! I pray that's not the case with mine. I begin my liquid diet soon and will be sleeved on the 28th. You should join the group of us who've had surgery in March. :-)

I like to just be real in everything I do. I know folks are gonna talk, so I head up all the gossip and questioning. After I have the surgery folks who haven't seen me in FOREVER will assume I lost a few pounds. Others who have known me recently are gonna start all kinds of rumors. I'll probably wait till they're all lookin stupid, and say, "I had surgery what is the big deal". They will probably scatter like roaches. If they didn't have the guts to ask me to my face what was going on.....they deserve to be made to look dumb.

Did you cheat???? Even a little??????

Texas Steph, I'm also in Texas BTW. "Some have told me good stories and some bad. I am really happy I am choosing the sleeve" I also had to choose the sleeve over the lapband. I am a military wife and I met a woman who is 2 years post-op. I am not sure what she looked like before but she is still very overweight in my opinion. She seems to be in denial about the situation saying she just hasn't gotten her fills because she's a nurse and her doctor listens to her. But who would go through that much pain and NOT want to be at a normal weight?!? I'm glad I chose the vertical sleeve as well. I wish you the VERY BEST of luck and care. Cynthia P.S. the dietitian told me that there will usually be a window of about 6 months where we will have NO appetite at all. That is a blessing. We should agree together to use that time of blessing to learn no ways of eating healthy and ignoring the fat. I DO NOT want to regain this weight in 5 years as so many do.

I'm sure everything is on the up and up here. I was just pickin at ya'll.

Since my surgery is paid for by Tricare (military insurance) I have worked with a bariatric team until I finished all of my pre-requisits for surgery. Today I met my actual surgeon. He seemed very nice and informative. He completely agrees that the sleeve is the best option for me. I got lots more information on the things I will doing before and immediately following my surgery. I will meet with my anethesiologist on March 27 and have the surgery on March 28. I'm getting anxious now but I am so ready for this change. Cynthia

Thanks for the positive reinforcement Phatman!!!! :-)

I had never heard of gastric plication until this post. I just read a brief summary of the procedure and it seems like it might be a great option. Unfortunately, my insurance only covers LapBand, Vertical Sleeve, or Gastric Bypass at this time. Are you going to be able to get plication? Cynthia

Yay Pookey!!!!! You should be very proud!!!

Pookey, Thanks for this information. My son is not going through any type of surgery but he's been having some serious bad breath. They prescribed him some decongestants as he does have some yellow drainage going down the back of his throat. If the pills and gargeling with salt Water doesn't work I'm gonna have him start searching for those nodes. I actually recall having them when I was his age. Cynthia

Wow! Big changes!! Good for you!

Thanks for your awesome post. I am very excited about my surgery but I am so afraid of failure too. I'm afraid that I'll be one of those who lose a bunch of weight but learns nothing and gains it all back. I don't want to be that person. But I have to face the fact that I LOVE to eat. I can't imagine myself stopping eating just because my stomach says I'm full, I haven't done that in YEARS. I always over eat and I love all the worst things to eat. I love anything fried, anything smothered with gravy. I don't know how I will stop myself or even how this surgery will stop me from doing these things. Reading your story does help me though as I realize that I will have stalls and even set backs but the important thing is to just keep going. Thanks!

Mrs. Reine, We share the same surgery date!!!! My story is fairly similair too. Many people tell me I shouldn't get surgery because I'm not so super obese that I can't lose it on my own. But I have done many diets, pills and plans. Ofter I lose some weight but never really get to my target and eventually gain it all back. I am beginning today to try out Protein Shakes. I will beginning my liquid diet on March 14. Will you required to do a 2 week liquid diet as well? Cynthia

Good Luck Today!!!! Leederz

I'm right there with ya. My pre op is march 2 and my surgery is March 28th. I'm very excited but also aprehensive. This is going to be a major life changing event. We gotta hold on tight, it's gonna be one heck of a ride!!!!1 Cynthia

I feel as though I walked into a private-type convo. Glad ya'll could meet each other here on this site.

I haven't had the sleeve yet, but I'm a Constipation PRO! I even had surgery to correct the problems that constipation caused. Here are my solutions: (ask your doc before trying any of them) 1. fleet brand laxatives are very gentle and may help out. 2. frosted mini wheats Cereal but LOTS of Water afterward or else you'll have major issues. 3. dolcolax is what most docs recommend but they take FOREVER to work. If you are on pain meds, you will almost always have constipation. 4. glycerine suppositories 5. enema Don't be embarrassed about taking an enema. It's better you give yourself one in the privacy of your own home than the nurses have to administer one in the hospital . You should talk to your doc about which options are viable. Once you get things "going" continue eating fiber full meals followed by lots of water or else you could come up with the very same problem.

I will start my pre op diet soon. Mine is only liquids. Besides straining canned soups can ya'll think of any other fun ideas I could use to keep my diet interesting??? Anly suggestions are welcome.

wow! That's a long row to hoe. Sorry it's taking so much. You will be there before you know it. Keep jumpin thu those hoops!!!

I'm so sorry this happened to you. It makes me even more aware of the fact that I will need my husband and best friend with me throughout my hospital stay so they can be my advocates while I'm incapable. I pray for your full recovery and for justice to be served. Cynthia

Until recently I have been posting to the LapBand site, thinking I would be receiving the LapBand. I have found recently that there are simply too many people having problem and revisions after having the LapBand. I am afraid that I will be one of those who regret getting the band either because I get sick or I don't lose weight. We are a military family and I have all three options available to me since my weight has recently increased. When I began my journey I only qualified for the LapBand. Now my BMI is over 35 and I can get any operation I choose. I have faith that this is the best choice for me. I appreciate all of the information I've received from the posts on this site and the LapBand site. I am so glad to have finally made a decision. Also, I was contacted by my surgeon today and am informed that my operation will take place on March 28!!!! I'm very excited to have gone through all of the hoops required by Tricare to get this surgery. I believe I'm going into this fully informed.

I've belonged to both the LapBand and Sleeve websites for a little bit now. I've read here so many people who have had revisions to the sleeve from the LapBand. Yesterday, I completed the last of my requirements to get weight loss surgery. Today I spoke with my surgeon and he agrees that getting the vertical sleeve is probably the best option for me. He also gave me my surgery date: MARCH 28!!! I'm so very excited. I cannot believe this part of my journey is almost over. I had a lot of prerequisites to complete before I was able to get this surgery. I was scared I would be diagnosed with sleep apnea which would have made me push my surgery back for at least 6 months. But I passed the sleep study and all of the other hurdles my insurance company had for me. It's been 3 months since I began this process. I can't wait to be posting my weight loss on this site with the rest of you!!!! Cynthia

I know there are many who feel exactly like you do. I simply didn't want to go through yet another operation. Though with 4 kids....the hospital seems like a mini vacation. lol

I can't wait to be on the losers bench either!!!! THANKS!!