Mimi77

Hi Ladies, I live in Jackson and was sleeved on 4/4 by Dr. King and want to share that I have had a wonderful experience thus far! Can't brag enough about him and his staff, as well as the staff at Baptist Hospital. I will be happy to answer any questions y'all have. Best of luck

Hi everyone, I have to be at the hospital at 9 a.m. for my surgery and I am so excited! I'm sure the nerves will kick in by morning but for now, I'm just ready to get to the loser's bench! I would like to thank you all for sharing your journeys on this site and also ask for your prayers tomorrow. I wish each of you the best of luck as your date rolls around. Mimi P.S.- tonight I hit my personal goal of weighing 250 before surgery. I started this journey in September at 307 and as of 8 pm weigh 250.4. This is the most I've ever lost at one time and it's all because I know help is on the way in the form of a tiny tummy. Sent from my iPad using VST

Congrats, Randall! None of my family members really have weight issues either. All of them are supportive of my decision to pursue WLS except my mother and that has been hurtful. I know Im doing the right thing for me and am getting sleeved in the morning. Best of luck to you on your journey. You will do great!

Wonderful news!!! Kinda like someone from your home state making it on American Idol

Cmullinvegas, thanks for the great post! I know we all appreciate the information. I hope you are continuing to improve with each passing day!

Prayers for you

Hi everyone I've been hanging around here for months and am just now getting around to posting this VERY long intro I wrote back in January. I'm happy to report that I have lost over 50 pounds on my "6 month diet" and am being sleeved April 4th. This site is so fabulous and filled with many brave and wonderful people- all fighting the same battles. You've given so much of yourselves and I am ever so grateful! Writing this was emotionally difficult for me and posting it sure isn't easy, but I want to do my part to help the next person down the line if I can. I didn't mean to write War and Peace II, but here goes nothin'! -Mimi ------------------------------------------- What am I so afraid of on the interwebs??? Ughh. My WLS Journey Intro (If someone had told me even 7 months ago that I would be posting on an online forum AT ALL, much less baring it all about my weight issues- I would have thought they were absolutely nuts! I have always been extremely private but lately I have been trying to let go of anything that might hold me back on this journey- including my own personal hang-ups...Here goes!) Well I have been putting off writing this for some time but since I plan on mailing my packet of info to my surgeon on the 25th (which will effectively get the ball rolling on the insurance approval process), I figured I may as well introduce myself to this community. I am Mimi- 34 years old and somehow I allowed myself grow to 307 pounds by Summer 2011. I am 5”6. My parents and siblings are pretty much all within normal weight ranges and I am definitely the anomaly in my family (including cousins, etc.) as far as weight is concerned. I never felt my family was ashamed of me but almost all have expressed loving concern over my size/health over the years. It embarrassed me to pieces and I knew they were right to be worried! I have never been thin that I can recall. I remember thinking I was fat when I was in first grade (having a string-bean older sister who gave me HELL about my weight did not help!) Looking back at pics and speaking with my mom I can say that I was probably within a normal weight range until I was about 10 or 11. In high school I hit 180 by age 16 before learning how to eat healthy and then dieting away 40 pounds or so. Fast forward through college, then marriage, more college, law school and grad school and I probably lost and re-gained the same 40 pounds ten times over and then some! In 2005, weighing in around 260, I tried to get approved for lap band surgery through BCBS with no luck. I think I was so discouraged about the bad news that I kind of gave up. After years of moving and traveling for work and school, my husband and I permanently settled down in our home state of MS in early 2010. The economy was awful and I had a hard time finding a job. At that point in my life, it wasn’t even about money anymore but finding work that I was passionate about. By the time God answered my prayers with a job I love in January 2011, my weight had spiraled to about 290. I took 3 months off over the summer to sit for the MS Bar Exam and, when that nightmare was over, had ballooned up to 307. Although I had been hypertensive, had high cholesterol and sleep apnea for years, it was the “Great Weight Surge of Summer ‘11” that put my body over the edge. My knees were killing me, I could hardly shop anymore because I was so heavy and I just felt my health going down the drain. This was not subtle. It was like my body was screaming at me, “No more!” Laying in bed one night, down on myself about my weight and hurting in my knees and back, I decided to put an end to the weight roller-coaster and commit to having WLS. And I committed to not letting ANYTHING get in my way- other’s opinions, money, insurance approval, etc. The VSG was an easy choice. I’ve always enjoyed most healthy foods but just ate way too much. I don’t do much fast or fried food and love to cook and try new things. I am just a straight-up binge eater with major portion-control issues. I need restriction. I briefly considered paying cash for the surgery to avoid the 6 month MSWLP my BCBS of IL requires but, since I was going to be starting a new role at my job, I decided to use that time to adjust to my new work life and get my head around my health and eating issues. I didn’t want to deal with a new job and a new stomach all at once. Best decision I ever made! I have really enjoyed the past (almost) 6 months. I have done more soul-searching, issue-facing and “getting real” with myself than I could have imagined possible. I have been a baggage-shedding fool! I credit this to the nurse practitioner overseeing my weigh-ins. When I went for my first visit, I told her that I didn’t really need to lose any weight over the coming months but mainly needed to show a commitment to showing up for the visits, etc. She looked me straight in the eye, told me not to kid myself- that I most certainly *did* need to lose weight and asked me why I would want to do something as drastic as surgery without at least trying to get a head start on the weight loss and healthy habits? She got my attention. She also got my cell phone number and started checking in on me and sending motivating texts. Today, I am proud to call her my friend, and in many ways, my life-saver. Since I started WW in August (for the 50th time!) I have gone from 307 to ~275. My goal is to be at 250 by my surgery date (hoping for early March). I’ve had a couple of folks ask why I’d want WLS when I’m doing so well losing weight “on my own.” I tell them all that it is only *because* I’m having WLS that I’m doing so well now. I know help is on the way! My husband, friends, family, and co-workers, are all behind me in this decision. My mother is the only one who does not see this surgery as a good idea for me. She is generally supportive of me so I think she is just truly concerned about the thought of surgery and my quality of life afterwards. She is also small. Looking back, I can see where, as I dealt with this practically life-long battle, God was giving me tools along the way in the form of the people He put in my life. I am so thankful for my wonderful support network and newfound perspective on my health. This is the year I put my health ahead of anything else. I feel like this is the year to start worrying about myself as much as I have others for my entire life. I welcome any prayers as I get through the approval process and prepare for my surgery. I’m excited, nervous and ever so grateful for the information I have learned from all of you. Maybe one day I can share something that will help someone else. Happy 2012, friends! ------------------------------ Sent from my iPad using VST

Thanks, VJ! I really have a good feeling that I'm going to be okay. I appreciate the well-wishes Sent from my iPad using VST

I'm still pre-op but have lost over 50 lbs since August and my shoe size has gone from a (women's) 11 to a 9, so there is definitely hope!!! I still have about 100 lbs to go so I'm hoping I make it to an 8 Sent from my iPad using VST

Thank you for the kind words, Butterfly, Jen and Sharon! I'm excited to be a part of this family and can't wait to get to the losers bench. I am on day 3 of 2 weeks of Clear liquids now. I actually made it to day 10 earlier in the month and my surgeon's schedule changed and so did my date! Had to go back to eating on the 8th and restarted liquids on the 21st. Fun times! Sharon- I will have to look into getting that book on Kindle/iPad. I'm bad about collecting e-books and then not reading them or finishing them, though. Between long work hours and a big commute I don't have much free time these days. But I do know I have a few days off starting 4/4 so maybe I could read it then Sent from my iPad using VST

I can be your buddy- I'm being sleeved on April 4th, too! I start 2 weeks of Clear liquids tomorrow so tonight I'm eating pizza and watching Biggest Loser I'm 35, 5"6 and somewhere around 250 lbs. I live in MS and am SUPER excited to be getting this done- its been a loooong time coming! Sent from my iPad using VST

Still here! Being sleeved April 4 with Dr. King in Oxford. It's hard to believe its almost time! I'm so excited

Ditto on the Vitamix. I got mine by using their payment plan Sent from my iPad using VST

Hi! I'm scheduled for April 4th with Dr. Michael King in MS. I've got BCBS of Illinois and have completed the approval process which included 6 months of supervised dieting, a nutritionist consultation and a psych eval. I had my pre-op consultation with Dr. King this week and did my pre-registration with the hospital as well. I start a 2 week clear liquid diet on the 21st and then all I have to do is show up on the 4th and get sleeved! I'm so excited and wish all of you the best! Oh, almost forgot the stats! I am 35 and 5 ft 6 inches. My starting weight was 307 (Aug. '11) and I'm down 50 pounds now to 257. My personal goal has been to hit the operating table in April at 250 or less

Thanks, ladies! It could certainly be either of your suggestions. I have thought it could be possible that my old ways of eating (i.e- too large of quantities, too many carbs, too close to bedtime, etc.) may have just been putting too much work on my body at a time when it should be peacefully resting. I also thought it could be that my cpap settings had always been too low, without me realizing it, and now that Ive lost this weight they are finally adequate. Who knows??? Again, I am sure as heck not complaining! Have a great day

This may sound crazy, but Im on day six of my 2 week pre-op diet (clear liquids and up to 3 Protein shakes a day) and I swear I've been sleeping better than usual! This is just nuts to me because the liquid diet has been kinda tough... Not the end of the world but certainly no picnic! I've been going to bed at the same time but every morning waking up a little earlier and feeling very refreshed. At first I thought maybe it was just excitement over the impending surgery, but it's happening every day. I am seriously not complaining Has this ever happened to anyone else? FWIW, I sleep with a CPAP every night and have for years. No settings have changed. I have lost about 50 pounds since September, including 9 on this pre-op diet.

Okay, this may seem crazy, but can someone please tell me what a small bite looks like post-op? Obviously I didn't get to 300+ pounds taking small bites, so I'm worried that my idea of a small bite may still be too big! I worry that I will do the same thing with my sip, sip, sipping. How much is a tiny sip? Like an eighth of a teaspoon? I imagine I will learn the hard way if I take in too much food or liquid at once, but I am sure hoping some of you could give me an idea so I can be practicing. Hoping for a 3/14 surgery date. Thank you so much for any input! Mimi Fast Weight loss Online at the Weight Loss Center Sent from my iPad using VST

Good luck to you!!! Sent from my iPad using VST

Thank you for the info, Benisa! I did buy some tiny utensils to use and have been practicing with my Soup and Jello . I'm on day 6 of the clear liquid pre-op diet and have pretty much been guzzling my liquids while I still can! I'm starting to get sick of broth and the like so the next few weeks will be quite the challenge...Thanks again for the well-wishes and the info! Sent from my iPad using VST

At 18 I wore an 8. In my twenties, as the weight crept up, I got up to a 9/9.5. By age 30 I was a pretty solid 10 and that's where I've been the past fee years (and always buying wide width when available!) By last summer I was wearing an 11!!! Now, after losing 40 lbs on my 6 month MSWLP, Ive had to give away tons of shoes because I'm back in 9's and 9.5's! It's weird that I'm losing so much from my feet because before I gained the last 40 pounds I just lost, I wad in at least a size 10. Strange how our bodies shift around the weight!

The first time I went for my psych eval, the therapist was a wackadoodle and talked about Chinese medicinal weight loss for a long time then told me my hour was up and and that I would have to come back for a second appointment. I was so frustrated to learn that a second visit was totally atypical and was also upset at the money I wasted with this lady. I quickly cancelled my appointment and went to another therapist. True enough, I did have to pay for two separate appointments but I really liked the second therapist, she wrote my letter after one visit, and I didn't have to give another dime (or listen to the crazy rumblings of) the first nut job!!! By the way, she had even told me that I should be lucky she "understood" my time crunch and that's why she thought she could complete my eval in just 2 sessions opposed to the 4 it usually takes. What a load of crap!

Best of luck, Dooter! I have thought about you several times over the past week, wondered how you were doing, etc. Crazy how you have "perfect strangers" all over the map concerned about your well-being, huh? Keep up the healing and congratulations on making it to the other side! I hope to join you there next month