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mel34 I'm with you! I start my diet tomorrow after a nutrition class and we have our surgeries close together- mine is jan 17! I only have to do 2 weeks of protien diet though. it will be hard but i keep thinking "all i have to do is survive this hour/day". taking it down to a day to day or hour to hour goal helps me feel better about keeping strict...... Good luck!!! it will all be worth it!!!!!!!

I still have a while before getting sleeved (75 days! Damn!!!!) but soon I'm going to either start letting people know about the surgery or not. Obviously my immediate family knows, as well as my close friends, but I'm debating whether to tell extended family and co-workers. Part of me says that they really don't need to know as they aren't really in my support circle. And as far as my boss is concerned, all I really need to give is about a month notice of time off, I don't even think I need a medical note because I'm part time. My dad had the sleeve too, but he never told any of his co-workers, and even after the surgery his co-workers didn't ask questions. Even if people outside of work asked he always said he lost weight drinking protein shakes. Part of me wants to tell everyone I see but then part of me is ashamed because of the bad connotation still attached to WLS. So my question is this: How did you decide who to tell? Was there anyone you didn't tell and had some issues with later on? Has anyone tried to cover-up the fact that they had WLS? PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE give me your responses, I know this affects everyone. It seems like every time I post something nobody answers!

I was thinking alot about my upcoming surgery and remembered an incident that happened a few years ago when I had my gallbladder removed. I was fine after surgery until about 8 hours after surgery. I started feeling like I was going crazy and was counting tiles and believed that I had to keep quiet and not let anyone know I was hiding in my room (totally crazy!!!!!). I would even stop breathing when I heard footsteps in the hallway because I didn't want them to find me! My body started tensing up and I was having muscle spasms so much that I was sweating and couldn't talk and would pass out from exhaustion. In the morning when my mom came, she instantly knew that something was wrong. The dr wasn't supposed to be in till the afternoon but one of the nurses gave me a muscle relaxer, which did nothing. It was agony, being trapped in my own body and unable to control it. When the surgeon. came in he recognized it as a reaction to Reglan, Compazine and Dilaudid which causes Tardive Dystonia. Nobody knew at the hospital. I was in pain and agony for around 20 hours, and it turns out Benedryl is the cure. After getting some Benedryl my symptoms cleared almost instantly. Please, everyone take note, you don't know if it will happen to you and they use Reglan, Compazine and Dilaudid for almost every surgery! I tell everyone I know that might be going into surgery or is a Dr. Here's an interesting article on it:http://scalpelorsword.blogspot.com/2007/06/dystonic-reaction.html

I did things a little backward too. I got my psych exam done before the first consult with the surgeon, and then I did my bloodwork and physical soon after my first visit, only to find my scheduled surgery date was going to be 3 months later! I have to re-do my physical, ekg and blood/urine samples because they have to be done 30 days prior to surgery. Good luck with the potential job!!!

Thanks for all the info guys! I think i'm going to keep it on the DL until after, and then only explain it when it is needed. Some people just don't get it and it's not my place to *make* them.

Hi everyone! I'm gonna share a little about myself in hopes of finding others like me to talk to. I'm 26 and recently married to a wonderful man. My family has always been overweight, and about 2 years ago my dad had the sleeve done. He lost 320lb and went from around 520 to 200. His journey was amazing and he is full of life now. It was always in the back of my mind how he was able to change so positively from the surgery, but I didn't honestly consider it until my wedding earlier this year. I tried for over a year to lose weight for the wedding but I COULDN'T, I didn't have the strength. I decided then that I need help with this, and it isn't a cop-out to get surgery. I DESERVE to be able to do all the things I can't, and I DESERVE to do it now and not wait till I'm 50 like my dad was. After going to Henry Ford and St. John Providence Seminars I decided to go with the surgeon who did my dad, Dr. Hawasli through St. John Providence. liquid diet January 4th. I was told during my first visit to the surgeon that it would be in November for my surgery but it was pushed back. I was devastated. I had prepared mentally for November and then was told it would be another 3 months (at the time). I ran into a problem... When I decided to get the surgery I did something so bad.... I started thinking that because I was going to have surgery that I didn't need to watch what I ate. I had always had cravings for food, you know, the ones that start like a whisper and then start screaming and all you can think of is chocolate or chips or ice cream.... It was just easier to give in. So I gained weight and wasn't fitting in my clothes. I felt horrible because now I'm worse off and I have to wait till January, and I REFUSE to get new clothes before I start losing the weight. So now my husband and I are doing 2 Protein shakes a day with Snacks and a reasonable dinner. It's good he's doing this with me because he's also very overweight and he has to lose weight. Maybe some day he'll get the lap band or sleeve too, but right now he's not ready for it. I like to think he's supportive but sometimes I wonder...... Just the other day he said in regard to our diet "now you won't have to get surgery" I WAS APPALLED! Makes me think maybe he doesn't understand..... We've been keeping open communication so I guess time will tell. As far as support goes, I've got people on both sides. My dad, mom and sister obviously support me because they've been through the process. My husbands family are totally against it, which is strange because they are overweight too. Every time I see them I hear about how all I need is diet and exercise and I'm too young to get the surgery. It's frustrating because I'm 26 at 275lb and even though I don't have any health problems yet I want to start the rest of my life healthy!!!! My husband and I want to have children and I can't be the mom who can't physically play with her child. But I guess you just have to brush the dirt off and disregard people who don't get it. I still have some uncertianty about the surgery, like how will this affect my relationships? will I still be able to cook, I love to bake! What am I going to do for clothes as I'm losing (that can add up to alot of $$$$)? And maybe the worst question of all: What happens if I can't control myself and start gaining again??? SO I guess thats a whole lot of me. I love looking on here and reading about different people. This really is a great forum. I look forward to change and will keep updating here!

The most success I've had dieting was when I tried to cut out all processed foods and only ate lean meats and vegetables. It sucked, but I probably lost 10 in 2 weeks. It is weird how all doctors have different standards, you'd think there would be some kind of Best Practice in place. As far as support, I think it's crucial to have positive support through this. It was recommended to go to a bariatric surgery support group before my surgery date. I didn't go, but my dad had the sleeve and between that and going on here I'm doing ok support wise.... but maybe it would be benificial for you to go to one? I'm sure your doctor knows of the ones in your area. Talking to people on a forum is great, but at least for me it's no substitute for in-person support. Best of luck!!!!

@babigrl111 I'm SOOOOO jealous your date is Dec 9th! I feel like I have to wait FOREVER for mine (76 days!). That really stinks about your boyfriend, sometimes guys are just dumb and don't know what to do. I think of it this way: when you know you're ready for the surgery and the change you KNOW. kinda like when I picked out my wedding dress in a way, you just KNOW its right. Find strength in that truth! And thats why these forums are so great to hear from other people!!!

I have an IUD and I love it. I got Paraguard because my mom had breast cancer due to hormones so I needed something that didn't have any hormones and the Paraguard IUD doesn't. I hope I don't have to remove mine before the surgery!! Now that I think about it I dont remember if I told them I had one........

@shennasingh - That is my biggest fear! I'm getting sleeved in January (my god, 76 more days!) and am terrifed of the 2 week pre-op diet!!! Even when my dr. had me try Adipex after a few days I started getting soooo hungry! If I couldn't do it *with* an appetite supressent, how am I going to do *without* an appetite suppressant!?!?! I'm going to need alot of help from this forum when I start my 2 week diet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lyn, I've had alot of people tell me I'm too young (just turned 26) but all I have to say is how long do I have to wait to be HAPPY and HEALTHY???? Not saying teens should get it but when you're ready you're ready! Tell her to look into it to see if its right for her!

I'm trying to lose some weight before my surgery so I decided to do Protein shakes for Breakfast. The first time I tried it I got SO SICK, stomach cramps and I was in the bathroom for hours after drinking it. I got some Lactaid pills http://www.walgreens.com/search/results.jsp?Ntt=lactaid&x=0&y=0 and take one with my shake and I'm fine. I guess this means I'm lactose intolerant but right now I don't have problems with cheeses or yogurt, and hopefully that doesn't change after I get my surgery! BTW TOTALLY JEALOUS of all you people being sleeved this month! I was supposed to have mine done this month and then they pushed it till January.... It totally sucks!

such good ideas! except for the greek yogurt... I don't know why but that stuff is totally gross to me.... but it's kind of reassuring that it's difficult to eat red meat because as an ex-vegetarian the only meat I will eat is turkey and chicken and I won't be missing anything. Do you have anyone else in your house? if so, have they been open to eliminating all the junk food? I worry that my husband won't be able to change as drastically as I am and will either resent not having junk food or bring it in the house anyway.

I have BCBS and it was no problem for me getting approved....My problem was at the meeting with the surgeon they said I would have mine Mid-November, only to call me back and push it until January! I was so upset, I was mentally prepared for November, now I have 77 more days These last months are going to be tough but I'm sure it will be worth it when it's here!

Hi, this is my first post and my surgery date is January 17th (can't wait!!!!!) and I have a question that I haven't found an answer for yet: How has the surgery affected your relationships with friends, family, and spouse? I'm mostly concerned about how it will affect my husband. We are both overweight and although I've always at least TRIED to be healthy he really hasn't. We've talked about it and decided that as long as communication is open we will be fine, but I worry that because I won't be cooking all his "comfort foods", combined with the fact that I'll be losing weight, that he might resent it a little..... Has anyone out there experienced anything like this?? Should I be worried at all or is this me over thinking the situation? Thanks! Christina