naterbug

Wow - thanks for sharing your story. Good Luck!!

Hi! I'm Donna and live outside of Allentown PA. I am knee deep in the 6 month insurance required waiting period. I have 2 more appointments with my surgeon. I am not having surgery until December due to work scheduling but it will be here soon. I have had my psych, nutrition and had my gallbladder ultrasound today. The ultrasound was rough - at one point the lady had the wand rubbing it over my ribs - YIKES!!!! I still have to do the EGD but have to wait until I can set it up with a friend to drive me. Her kids start back to school soon so will wait until then and she doesn't have as much on her plate. I have been overweight all of my life except for a few teenage years. I started about a year ago losing and am down from 291 to 246. i lost 6 pounds last month!! GO ME!!! I am ready for the surgery. I have fantasies of being thin..lol I have read every book out there and I am like numero uno stalker on the forums...I can't attend any support systems as I work at night and all the meetings around here are at night during the week. My surgeon knows all this and takes extra time every month to talk to me and discuss any questions I have. He told me at the least 4 weeks out of work due to my job (I am a Inspector of tractor trailers). I am single and know that this will be rougher not having a great support system at home but I can do it. I left a very violent abusive marriage 4 years ago with basically the clothes on my back and my car and moved 850 miles to start over. It was rough but i did it one day at a time. I am applying the same mind set to this...one day at a time. I have gained strength and motivation from everyone on this forum and want to say a big THANK YOU!!! Even when I read that someone is having a really rough day or is very sick from complications, it helps to mold me. I have a huge notebook full of notes and tips from these forums. d

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone!

Great advice!! I want you on my team! Beth, I haven't had surgery yet but I want to say you can do this!! I am glad you both talked!. Good luck and good thoughts goihg out for you!!

oops sorry...i am going with dr. sawyna at westfield hospital in allentown

i havent had it yet. i have 2 more visits for the requisite 6 month insurance wait. but then with work and other responsibilities, it will prob be first of december before i can schedule. i want to do it now!!!

I am from outside of Allentown PA

Yeah! Thanks everyone! I hope that it does extend, I am having surgery at Westfield Hospital in Allentown. I am so impatient!!! I wish I could have it sooner!

I am in month 2 of 6 month insurance required visits. So, that will make me eligible for approval around Sep/Oct. If I am approved at that time, how long is the approval good for? After updates at work, it appears I won't be able to get time off until first of December. Is the approval good for that long? Do I have to continue going to doctor until Dec? I have Highmark Blue Shield PA. I want it done this year, as I have already satisfied my out-of-pocket $750 and don't want pay it all again in 2013. I hope all that made sense! Happy Memorial Day!

Thanks everyone...just writing it out helped me so much but then to get support was even better! After posting, I went to one of my jobs (yes, I have three jobs!). I just clean up the apt building I live in (vacumming, etc) and gave everything a good think through. Even if the Graves sets me back some I am still gonna be able to do this. I am 50 years old and am at the thresh hold of possibly developing more severe problems, diabetes, high blood pressure,etc. It is better if I get surgery as soon as I can to hopefully prevent any of these situations. Lissa, I want to thank you personally. You are such a big contributor to this forum and are always right on target with your advice and support!

I am new here and love comng here to read the post. I am getting ready to have surgery and I have already had my ini tital appt with surgeon and 2 out of 6 required appts. I read the forum everyday and have a notebook full of suggestions and helpful hints from all of you! I had my appt with nutrionist last week. She says I am not eating enough now but am a prime candidate for surgery. I have to increase my Protein and caloric intake for now. lol...never thought I would hear that. I had to go to my regular doctor a month ago because I was just feeling lousy. Well, tons of bloodwork and scans and ultrasounds later, I have Graves Disease. Of course, I do. Why can't life be easy? So now I have to see a specialist which in my area the next appt availabe is in August! I went to see my doctor on Friday and was given the diagnosis. While there, I showed him some red splotches on my neck. So I also have Shingles and can't take steroids because of the Graves. Oh, and also that splotch of acne on my face for the past year, that is Rosacea, and guess what, can't take the meds for it because of the Graves. I am now on metformin because my liver is turning all I eat into fat. The bloodwork showed my sugars just slightly elevated so dr put me on metformin. I have lost 16 pounds in 3 weeks since I started taking it. YEAH!!! I have 3rd appt with surgeon this week and will tell him about Graves....see what if any problem it causes with my hoping to get surgery before end of year! I had to cancel the psych appt because of all this other testing so still have to get that set up. My regular dr wants me to change jobs because mine is so stressful...what???!!!??? Yeah, right, doc...if you want to get paid, I don't quit my job! lol.... But, even with all these problems, I am lucky. I have a great job, a very very supportive boyfriend and a great life! Sorry this is post is jumbled, I just needed to get all this out! Feels good to get it out and be able to deal with it! Have a great Sunday everyone!

I was told I would have to do Atkins for 2 weeks prior and then clear liquids 2 days prior. I hope all goes well and good luck!

I live outside of Allentown, PA Thanks for the info on the bathroom breaks. Like I said, I am lucky that with my job I can break away more than the others. My bathroom habits have become more normal in the past year as I cut out sodas and junk. I had cancerous polyps removed last year and had to start eating healthier then. Like you, I am limited as far as time I get on breaks..I get an 11 minute break and a 30 minute lunch, but, I can always try to finish it at my desk if need be. Congrats on 120 pounds!!!! THAT IS AMAZING! You have given me hope again. I have gone from really wanting this to jumping on the poor pitiful me "I'm all alone" bandwagon and talking myself out of it. You have helped me not to be so scared! Thanks!

Hello everyone! I am new to this forum. I have not yet had my surgery but have had my initial meeting with my doctor. He wants to do the sleeve, but, I am not sure my insurance will cover. I hope it does as I prefer the sleeve to the bypass. I am 50 years old and have been obese for about 30 years. I have tried multiple diets, exercise regimens and drugs and either didn't loose any weight or did loose and gained it back. So hopefully this will be my lifesaver. Even though I am about 7 months out, I am already working on drinking the requisite liquids per day and am slowly making my meals smaller and smaller and am working on learning to chew - chew - chew! I am doing a walk at home program as my small town has horrible sidewalks. My biggest concern and issue is I am single. I moved here from the South about 3 years ago. I work alot and do not have many friends so basically I am doing this alone. I am strong and know I can do it but I do wonder how much others here needed help before and after surgery. I am not so worried about the before as I work alot and that will keep me occupied. It is the after that has me concerned. Has anyone else here done it alone? I work second shift and cannot attend the support meetings and that worries me too. Also, with the new diet and the liquids, is it hard to do all of it and work? I work in a manufacturing plant and my job does allow me a lot of freedom as far as restroom breaks but sometimes I just can't pull away. I know I am asking for tmi...but in reality how many times a day do you hit the restroom? lol If that makes sense at all! Excuse me for this being sooo long ..I am longwinded in real life also!