MoreganK

Well, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Why not still go to the movies? Just take away the restaurant part. And what a great birthday gift you've already given yourself. Maybe you and the girls in the family can go get manicures and pedicures? Have a mini makeover day? No matter what, just think about how awesome your "New Year" is going to be.

Good luck! And hope for a speedy recovery!

Yay! Just remember through it all that once you're on the other side, its all about your health. And that cute little top. I wish you a speedy recovery, and look forward to reading how things go. I'm hoping for a surgery date setting next month.

I'm a hoop dancer (yes, with hula hoops!). Its a great total body work out and lots of fun. I'm actually getting certified in October to be an instructor. Weight loss will only help make this activity that much more fun for me. The fast I can move (with less of me to move) the more fluid and fast my hoop can go for tricks. I also really love kickboxing workouts. Not cardio-kickboxing, but actual boxing/kickboxing workouts with bag work. There is something so amazing about this workout. Its a HUGE calorie burner, and total body workout. But, its also empowering and you're learning self-defense in the process. I also enjoy yoga for its calming and stretching effects. I'm sooo looking forward to these activities post-op. Um, here is a question. How long did you guys wait before you started doing intense workouts? I asked my doctor, but his questions felt like it was for someone who was stationary starting off the couch. I'm not a total beginner. He told me to start with walking, and at the 2-week post op mark I could do anything, but if it hurt don't do it & come back to it a couple weeks later.

Friend added! You look great!

Really excited for you! I look forward to seeing how things go with you. I'm in the pre-qualification stages now. My doctor wants me to visit a Cardiologist, Nutritionist, Psychiatrist. Along with getting an endoscopy & lots of blood work. I'm hoping for a mid-May surgery date! My surgeon said he is confident I'm really healthy, but wants to follow procedure for the sake of my safety, just in case. He has the most amazing bedside manner. Now if I could only find a General doctor with this sort of perspective! Good luck to you, hon!! And wishing you the best recovery!

Hello everyone, This is my beginning. I am 34 years old, and sick and tired of dealing with my PCOS. As I get older, it gets worse. PCOS is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, though I think that's a crummy name for it, because its so much more than the name implies. If you don't know what it is: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polycystic_ovary_syndrome. Its frustrating and adds huge challenges to the fight for staying healthy. This is why, I've decided to pursue Gastric Sleeve Surgery. I'm at the beginning of my journey. I go to my orientation seminar on Feb. 9th and thus it starts. It took me a year, and the last few months of pretty obsessively researching and digging deep in my brain to decide to do this. I've never had surgery, so that freaks me out a bit. Am I going to be okay after all this? Will it be a regret? Will it work!? The things that tipped the scale (HA!) and made me decide to do this are at only 34 years old, I'm worried about diseases I shouldn't even have to think about yet. I'm pre-diabetic, have hypertension and take medication for it, and have been having issues with build up in my uterus which will lead me to uterine cancer. Also, in a few years I want to have a baby, and had the hard to hear news told to me by my Oby-Gyn, "You're too overweight to have a baby right now without endangering your life and the baby's." Ouch. All pretty scary stuff on top of the general discomfort of being overweight. All of this has made me stop living and loving life. I've struggled with trying to make changes, I eat pretty clean most of the time, try to follow a low-glycemic diet and I hoop dance all the time. Yet, my PCOS keeps me from finding what it takes to lose weight. So, I started giving up. At some point, I realized facing scary surgery was better than facing scary disease. Whenever the fear tries to creep in, I just remember the scary disease part and I'm right back to determined to do it. I've never been thin as an adult. I've always been a little to a lot (currently) overweight. I'm excited and scared about how or if this will change who I am. I'm hoping it does for the better. I want to remember what its like to be carefree again. I want to do so many physical activities that tire me out right now, or I'm too heavy to try. Any PCOSers out there with stories or advice? Any one have thoughts or advice as I start this process? I'm looking so forward to taking back my life.

Wow, Aussiegirl. Your success if inspiring to me. And thats exactly what happens to me too. When I eat clean, and exercise I'll do great up until about 20-25 pounds lost and then it all comes back no matter what. Or at best, I'll stay at that weight for a few months before I'd get frustrated. This battle has made me want to get involved with PCOS Awareness though, more women should be checked for this. I know that when I was diagnosed at 26-27 years old, it was like a temporary moment of "Ah -ha!" I knew there was something wrong with me. I knew there had to be an explanation, because I took pretty good care of myself, and was always involved in something active. I'm just ready to get the show on the road now!

Oh, and I got scheduled for my one on one consultation with my surgeon of choice. I'm going to Dr. Worley here in Houston at the Methodist Hospital. He is a sought after surgeon who does the VSG (and By-Pass) surgery with robotics. This has proven to lead to shorter recovery time, less scaring, less bleeding, and less chance of complications. At this appointment, he'll discuss further the surgery with me individually, I'll meet my "team", and schedule appointments for a nutritionist, psychiatrist, and an abdominal ultrasound. *deep breath* Here I go down the rabbit hole!

Caradina - I totally understand what you mean. I'm 34 and only received my diagnoses when I was 27, but I'm pretty sure I've had it since I was a teenager. One of my reasons for this surgery is related to exactly what you said, its time to start living. Cris - We can do this! And thank you. I appreciate hearing everyone's story, they're all different, but they give a good look at the possible hurdles. I'm prepared for the worst recovery ever, and if it goes smooth sailing, that will just be that much better. I am lucky in that I know 4 people who have had sleeve surgery, and speak to 2 of them on a regular basis. They both have been so supportive, and honest down to the TMI details about what to expect. I'm finally to a place mentally where, even though there is still the fear of the unknown, I'm like... let's do this!

Yay! Congratulations! Woo hoo! I look forward to the day I join the "normal" club too.

Congratulations! I'm at the beginning of my journey and looking forward to getting past the hard parts. In your opinion, what has been the toughest part?

Hello all! I was wondering if any of you who have already had surgery used a surgeon who did the surgery with robotics instead of laparoscopic? The surgeon I am scheduling to see uses this cutting-edge method. From the limited information I could find, it seems that if you find a surgeon who does it this way you should go with them. It claims to be less invasive, a faster heal time, less bleeding, less risk of infection, and less chance of leakage. The surgeon is able to see their work from a 3d perspective instead of 2d in the currently used method. During the seminar I attended, the doctor said that he feel really confident with this method, because he can see so closely what he is doing he can tell how the stapes close, and if one looks questionable, he'll add a stitch to make sure its good. Just curious if anyone had their's done this way, and what they experienced. :blush5:

Thanks, Dooter! I am hoping. I just went to my surgeons seminar, and will be scheduling my appointment tomorrow for my one on one first appointment to get this ball rolling. So ready to be healthy! :ack2: