LizEac

Wow...I really admire your resolve! I have seriously been a puddle of goo these past few days. It takes so much strength to remain positive at this massive disappointment. But, we CAN do it, and we WILL do it!

Oh my gosh, I know how you feel! The same thing happened to me, only I'm not anemic, I have hypothyroidism through the roof. I was scheduled for July 13th, went through the pre-op diet and everything; and they pulled the plug until I can get my thyroid level up. I know how devastated you are, I've been so upset for days...you spend so long preparing for this and then to have the rug pulled out from underneath you. Obviously, I want to go into surgery as healthy as possible, but this just sucks! I'm so sorry, for both of us!

Wow...four years! That is intense. I'm so sorry to hear that! I have been on levothyroxine for a years, and I will be on it forever. Seriously, I don't think that I have enough discipline as you've had...four years seems like a lifetime away! Even four months seems like forever! Thanks for the advice and support!

Hello VSG community, I need some help! I was scheduled to be sleeved on Friday the 13th of July (AKA in a week!), My doctor was going through all my labs in my final pre-op appointment. Now, I know that she has missed several of my appointments in the past six months, because she was on maternity leave. She took a look at my thyroid levels, and she looked worried. Now, mind you, my thyroid has always been out of whack, which was a big reason for having surgery in the first place. But she told me that my levels were too high (they were in the 60s range). She did some urgent bloodwork, which came back today and they have jumped into the 100s! She said that we can't go through with surgery because of the risks with anesthesia. I was devastated yesterday, and I did a lot of ugly crying in her office. I had been preparing for this surgery for over a year. I've been to six months of classes, sleep tests, swallow tests, pre-admission testing, eleven days of the dreaded pre-op diet and of course countless blood tests. I am so frustrated with how things have turned out. Obviously, I do not want to die on the operating table, and of course, put in perspective....postponing the procedure is not the end of the world. But I am really upset. I need some support and some advice! Has anyone else had to deal with this, particularly with the thyroid disease? Thanks! -Liz

Seriously, my hypothyroidism is rampant. I was put on a serious regiment of mess to try to get it down. Also, I got an urgent appointment with a thyroid specialist for Thursday. Thanks for the support!

Omg, I am so excited! I'm going in tomorrow for my swallow test, I cannot wait! I'm so ready for the pre-op diet to be over, so ready for the pain to be over and so ready to begin this next chapter! How are you doing so far? I talked to a guy who got sleeved in February and he's down 124 pounds! Holy CRAP! I know he had more to lose than me, and I know that men metabolize faster than women, but HOLY CRAP! I can't wait to start losing!!

Early on in this process, my surgeon told me that he would not operate on me if I was still a smoker, so my PCP put me on welbutrin to help with the cravings, it sucked at first...I mean really sucked. I was ready to suck the smoke out of the lungs of complete strangers that I saw smoking outside of bars. Luckily, I have great friends who helped me see.straight. it's been nearly seven months since I've had any nicotine, it's still really hard, but manageable. Some things that I found helpful were using an electronic cigarette while the welbutrin built up in my system, and then after quitting, I cut up celery sticks and held them like cigarettes. Then I would occupy my hands by pulling off the strings and eating the celery sticks, I did this particularly at night after dinner. I hope this helps, but just look forward to how much better you'll feel after surgery!

I am also getting sleeved at MGH on July 13th with Dr. Meireles! I'm so glad you had a positive experience! I've been really impressed with the preparation I had to go through, the team is so thorough! Although, I can say that I was a bit disappointed with the scheduling. I had been working for a year to get a June date so I could work for the summer (I'm a substitute teacher), but at the end of the day I'm just excited that it's finally happening!

Wow...can I just say, that you looked good in your first picture as well. You had such a big smile, and Shakira was right, those hips don't lie! But your second photos are radiant! You look so happy and proud! I'll be ecstatic when I look like your first pic! I'm being sleeved July 13th and have got a way to go! But thanks for the inspiration!

I know that this is incredibly frusterating. I had been planning for over a year to have a June date. My co-ordinator always seemed to be on vacation, only worked until 3pm. And didn't seem to know how to do her job. I am a substitute teacher, and needed to work summer school in order to pay the bills. She puts in my paperwork late and lo and behold, I'm July 13th. So, this now means that I can't work this summer (by the way, preparing for surgery is not the time to be broke, I'm just glad I got a contract for the fall. I know how you feel, and it's important to have a community to vent to. But something I'm realizing is, I am making an amazing change to my life, and yes...this summer will suck. But next summer will be phenomenal. I wish you all the best!

Hey guys, I just got my pre-op diet, and it is not nearly as bad as I thought it would be! I'm just relieved, because it'll be easier to stick to it and not fall off the pre-op wagon! I think it's a great "do-able" program, so those of you whose doctor's don't require a pre-op diet but you're concerned about reducing the size of your liver and getting on-track before surgery, I'll post it here. Obviously, if your doctor gives you a specific meal plan, make sure you follow it! I'm not a doctor, just the messenger...lol! Morning: Protein shake Snack: Protein Shake OR a piece of fruit Lunch: A frozen meal (A lean cuisine, smart one or healthy choice meal). You can add as many non-starchy vegetables (obviously no sauces or butter) Snack: Protein Shake and a piece of fruit Dinner: Same as lunch Snack: Protein shake or fruit. If you don't want to eat a frozen meal, you can cook your own food...just make sure you have 4oz of a lean protein and as many good veggies you want. Good luck everyone!

I just had my pre-op appointment for my July 13th procedure: meeting with nurse, urine test, blood work, meeting with an anesthetiologist and vitals done! Now I'm off to a meeting with my nutritionist, things are starting to get real! It'll be even more real once I start my pre-op diet, which I am not exactly looking forward to! But in general, things are getting real! So excited! X

I know how you all feel...I'm turning 28 this September, so this will truly be the best birthday ever as I'll be on my way to a new me!

I'm so glad you had a good experience with him! He seems like he knows what he's doing! How are you doing with your sleeve post-op? I'm having mine done July 18th, I'm so excited, I just hope everything goes smoothly!

I am in the process of completing my six-month insurance requirement for the gastric sleeve. I am hoping to have the surgery in June. Currently I'm at 350lbs and stand 5'10" tall. My goal weight is 170lbs (given my height and build). I know that my ultimate success depends on how closely I follow my surgeon's directions and my personal choices regarding nutrition and exercise, but has anyone lost such a drastic amount of weight like 180lbs with the sleeve? My surgeon recommended the sleeve for me as I am young (I'm 27) and he is worried about the issues that arise with other procedures (malnutrition, dumping, ulcers, etc) but I can't find definitive research about drastic weight loss, can anyone tell me if they've had that kind of success with the sleeve?