KatieOkieDokie

Just a warning this is going to be long! So after years of researching, studying, talking to people, going to seminar's trying to find the right and best hospital with a reasonable price I am finally going to get sleeved! This seems like a life time in waiting, even though I know some people have had to wait a lit longer than I have. I am a self pay so I had to come up with the money, or find a way to pay for it. Thankfully I have a wonderful support system, and awesome parents who love me and knows that I am worth the money! They found away to pay for surgery, because they love me and kind of want me around for a little longer. I guess it was about a year ago, about this time last year when I realized that I am not healthy, and it wasn't one of those I looked in the mirror and noticed how I let myself go moments. It was an I can't believe how bad I feel, I can hardly walk anymore moments. I get out of breath, I sweat, my heart races and I can only go a few feet before I have to sit down. I noticed my left foot and ankle was swelling and little things like bathing was becoming hard. I couldn't stand without back pain, and I was always sleepy. And going out, forget that. I no longer wanted to do anything because I didn't feel like it, or because I would have to walk long (or short) distances and I knew by the time I got to where ever it was I was going I was worn out, in pain, and grumpy and I needed change! I needed a lot of change. I knew I was gaining weight, but I didn't know it was bad as it was until then. The thought of going on another diet sicken me. First I have so much to lose, and I could hardly move. And of course how many times have I lost and then regained even more, it was a cycle and I just dreaded the thought of doing that again. So I started to look at other options, and my mom mentioned WLS. I have a cousin who was banned a year earlier and had lost around 100lbs. She was doing well, and says to this day it was the best choice she made in her adult life. So I started to look into the different options. Everyone knows about the GBY, and the band, but the sleeve was new to me, and to be honest with you at first I would just skip over the sleeve. I was pretty fixed on GBY. That was until one of my best friends called me and told me she was looking into getting the sleeve, and that I should check it out, it might be a better option. So I started to do my research, I joined here, and started to learn massive amounts of information both good and bad! I made sure to know what can go wrong, just not good. After a month or so I had decided that I wanted to get the sleeve. I made my decision at the turn of the New Year and I decided and knew that having WLS isn't the easy way out, and that I would have to make major commitments, and changes to my life. So I decided why not start now? So I started to change my eating habits, cutting out certain foods, adding some healthy food, dropping the pop. Trying to be more active (hardest part). But I also had to come up with away to pay for the surgery. I don't have insurance, I can't work. So I have no income. Which makes one think why even try? I tried fundraisers. They didn't work. I think I got two donations for a total of about twenty dollars. Still it's better than nothing. I started joining sites that pay you to take surveys, or read e-mails, or visit other websites, and while I do make some money off those, it would take me forever to collect the amount I needed. Since I have some co mobilities that's due to obesity I even applied for disability. I of course was rejected twice. That's when my parents decided to step up and give me a new chance at life! Yesterday I had my first appt. with my surgeon. I do have to lose some weight, and I'm going to be on the 3 and 2 diet for three months (I start Monday). I have to get my BMI down some. I am OK with this, it's for my safety. I am looking at a March surgery, or depending on how fast I lose weight. I am so happy that this is finally happening! Even though I have to wait for another poss. 4 months I'm OK with that. At least it is happening!

So my consult with Dr. Curry went great!! I have to do a 3 and 2 diet for three months to get my BMI down, and we are aiming for March for surgery! So if anyone has done the 3 and 2 diet any tips are appreciated!

I too am a gen x, but a late child.. born in 1980. So I actually consider myself both a child of the 80's and 90's. I grew up watching Scooby Do, Thundarcats, My Pretty Pony, Gem, Fraggle Rock, All the puppet shows, You Can't do that On Television, Alf, Small Wonder, Saved by the Bell, Melrose Place, 90210, California Dreams, Dawsons Creek, Wrestling and there many name changes lol. Clarissa Explains it All, Blossom. Music influences: Devo, Pat Benatar, Blondie, Cyndi Lauper, Paula Abdul, The Bangals, Go Go's, Bananarama, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Prince, Madonna,Phil Collins, Genesis, Aerosmith, The Beastie Boys, Berlin, Billy Idol, Guns-n-Roses, Metallica, Poison, New Kids on the Block, Smashing Pumpkins, Hole, Babes in Toyland, L7, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots, The Misfits, Rancid, 311, No Doubt, Garbage, Green Day, The Foo Fighters, B52's, The Presidents of the United States, Betty Blowtorch, Luscious Jackson, White Zombie, Rob Zombie, The Cranberries, Cake, STP, Alanis Morissette, Korn, Oasis, New Rascials, I could go on and on!! I LOVE music! Movies: Nightmare on Elm Street, Friday the Thriteen, Halloween, Fright Night, The Lost Boys, Dirty Dancing, Splash, Top Gun, Nadia, The Never Ending Story, The Monster Squad, Goonies (of course), Mask, I think every generation should put the Wizard of Oz because face it .. it rocks. The Titanic, Dangerous Minds, An Officer and A Gentleman, Flash Dance, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Empire Records, Scream, Steel Magnolias, Mall Rats, .

Ok this may be a strange question but I need any suggestions! I have a big playful boxer, he's a little over two years old. He seems to think I am personal laying posting. If I'm sitting on the couch he's beside me, if I try to lay down on the couch he thinks he has to lay on top of me. Sitting in the recliner chair.. you got it he's trying to climb up on me. I really need to break him from doing this before I get my surgery but I am having no luck!! He doesn't seem to understand that he can't be by me all the time. Boxer's are known for trying to be lap dogs..lol. He also jumps.. A LOT! Having issues with this.. need to break so he doesn't jump on me after I have surgery! There is only one thing that seems to keep him away from me and that's if I'm carrying the broom! If I have the broom he won't come near me..but I don't want to give up petting and loving him while me wounds heal, but I don't want him jumping, sitting, or laying on my stomach either! Any suggested??

Thanks everyone for the awesome advice!! My biggest fear is him jumping on and ripping my incisions open! We are having an awful time training him not to jump! He was actually my brothers dog, and he had him for about a year and my sister-n-law became pregnant and Cooper liked to jump and they was scared that he would hurt her or the baby, so they decided they couldn't keep him anymore. They already had one little boy who was attached so I decided to take the big ol' pup. Happy I did too!! Love him to death! But his jumping is crazy! I may just carry the broom around with me..haha. My aunt (whose my next door neighbor) does have a good size pole barn with heat, so we may look into him staying in that room for a while. I could never send him some place to stay though, like a doggie daycare or boarding. I have a REALLY bad experience and don't trust my dogs around other dogs to well. Here's my boy!! lol

I would inform your boyfriends mother that it's natural to go through stalls, and everyone does at some point, even those who have never had WLS! It's a part cycle. Also a lot of time during those stalls while you may not be losing weight, you may be losing inches. Some of the things I hate hearing when it comes to WLS.. 1. Being told by my cousin who weighs around 120lbs. She was trying to talk me out of the surgery and doing it the "natural healthy way" She said to me. "If I can do it, you can do it. I have faith in you"? Now I know this was meant to encourage me, but really it just ticked me off. My reply "Oh so you weighed over 400lbs and lost it on your own"? Other than that most people try to convince me of the high death rates, and complications, and how most people gain back and ends up being waste of money. I have found that if people are not researching, and thinking of getting WLS they are misinformed.

I think I would cry if I was losing weight and dress sizes (haven't been sleeved yet) and my boobs were getting bigger! I'm looking forward to getting rid of some of my girls! They hurt me! But like someone else mentioned brands do make a difference! So that might be something to look into!

Praise God!!! With God all things are possible! So happy for your healing, and welcome to your new life!

Congrats!! I happy to hear that you are doing well..aside from the pain!!

Thanks Jkat!! Oh if there is one thing I have learned on this group is that WLS is NOT a miracle cure it's a tool that you have to work it.. that it's no walk in the park. I just can't sit down and do nothing.. dedication is VERY important. I plan on doing that! I'm actually looking forward to exercising. You have no clue how excited I am that I will be able to walk through the woods and do me some good ol' birding someday!! I've been longing for that day! I have been held back by this weight for far too long! I know this is going to be a long, and slow process too (which is hard for someone like me because I'm very impatient and often push myself too much). But I do understand one step at a time.

I have about 8 days until my consult..and I'm excited and nervous all in one! I'm so scared they are going to tell me they can't help me But I'm sure they will! lol.. If anyone who went through Dr. Curry can give me some tips and tell me what to expect I'll be forever grateful!

I have a question, well actually two, and was wondering if I could get some feed back! 1. How many weeks (if any) were you on a pre-opt diet? 2. How much weight did you lose during those weeks (if any)? Thank you!

I haven't had surgery yet, I actually meet with my surgeon on Nov.7. But I'm pretty sure he/she will go over all this with you. From what I have gathered with talking to the staff at my surgeon's office it sounds like the NUT sets up a diet plan etc tailored to each individual, since everyone is different. All I know is it's important to follow your dr's. instructions, even if it seems hard and you dread it. If by chance he doesn't go over any of this with you, then I would ask him/her. But I'm sure he will Best of luck!

The NUT lied to you plain and simple there are several (probably 100's) of people in this group alone who has had surgery with a BMI higher than 45.. I know when I get mine done I will be over 45! Actually I'm pretty sure there are probably some whose BMI's were closer to the 70's also! Is she in partner with your surgeons office or someone you see separate? If it were me I would try to find another surgeon all together. I know you said you have spent a lot of money, are you self pay, or are you insured? I wish you the best!

I have the opposite problem.. my surgeon won't do surgery on me until I lower my BMI to 50 or below and I'm in the upper 60's so I have some weight to lose before I can have weight loss surgery.. so frustrating!! I really wish they would just do away with the BMI and focus on actual weight, and muscle.

Have you thought about trying to get on disability, or is that Medicare who you're fighting with? Or do you not live in a state that has approved the Sleeve for Medicare? I know Ohio has. Also is it possible that your doctor will allow you to make payments towards the surgery? And then if your insurance does decide to approve the surgery they can just apply what you had already paid toward the surgery. Also I don't know how much self pay in your area is (here it is between 16,000 - 30,000 depending on where you go). But maybe looking into getting a loan. If you own your house you can refinance, or if you have a 401K you can take a loan out from there (then you'll be paying yourself back).. Or you could hold off until after your married, and if your husband adds you to his plan maybe they will approve you. I know being told to wait for something you want so bad..to make you feel better is hard. You want it now, because you just want to feel better (at least I do). I hope this works out for you.

Does he do a leak test after surgery?

I'm north of Dayton but I have my consult with Curry on the 7th! I already know I will have to lose weight before surgery because of my BMI which sucks (I really really hate this rule but I also understand..it just sucks to be told you have to lose weight to have weight loss surgery). So I know my process won't be as fast as the rest of yours, which is fine.. I'm shooting for the new year anyway!! I am starting to lose some weight before hand in hopes that the more I do now, the less I'll have to do with them for money reasons! I have been wanting to get WLS since the start of the year and was told to start to prepare before hand and try to drop all the bad habits before surgery (pop, sugar foods, sweets etc.) I've done all but bread! I haven't given up bread yet.. I haven't had pasta, or pancakes in months..lol. And I've started protein shakes already hoping to get kind of use to those.

I am so sorry that you had to go through so much I am happy though that you are on the mending side, but still what you had to endure was awful. My cousin was banded about year and half ago and she is starting to have problems. Throwing up all the time, and she has started to lose her hair and having really bad skin issues. I'm starting to worry that there might be something wrong with her band.

Funny you should mention this I just bought some in vanilla and was wondering what it would taste like with my orange crystal light.. good eh?

Instead of asking these questions in the form..as I'm sure many of people have asked the same questions over and over. I thought I would ask them in a blog. So if you read this and know the answer please feel free to respond! My first question is about hunger. They say you don't feel hunger (actual hunger..not head hunger I understand that's something we may have to deal with for the rest of our lives). But actual hunger pain. Is that true? Do any of you whose had the surgery ever feel hunger pain? Actual hunger pain. Second how long after surgery did most of you start to feel more energetic? I don't mean from the surgery, or recovery, but from being big. When did you feel like you've lost that magic amount when you realized that hey I can breath more openly when I walk, and my heart doesn't feel like it's jumping out of my chest..I feel comfortable! I guess I imagine that it will feel like a huge weight has been lifted from my chest..because I walk around feeling like I have one on my chest. At least that's what I'm hoping for. Third.. what did it feel like the first time you put on a shirt, or pair pants you couldn't fit into before WLS? Did you cry? Did you jump up and down and get all excited! Something else I look forward to doing. Where did you first notice you had lost weight? Was it your face, hips, fingers? Ok enough questions.. lol Thanks to anyone who answers.