Tekara3927

I'm on all shakes and occasionally eat dinner ( although yesterday I had a delicious cheeseburger since its a oil day weekend, I regretted that pretty quickly.) I honestly felt weird for a few days, ot hungry, but I had a bad headache and NO energy. But I figured out I hadn't been taking my B12. That has made all the difference! I have energy, I'm drinking lots of water, the shakes and occasionally a yogurt. Good luck! I can't believe I will be sleeved in 4 days!!! Ahhhh!!!

What! That's crazy. And I would say lucky, but I think it will be harder to adapt to the diet you will have after surgery. I've lost about 10 pounds in the last week due to the pre op diet. Woo hoo! However I've cheated this weekend... Too many cookouts! Good luck! What time are you scheduled for??

Yay! Best wishes. How are you doing with the pre op diet?

Sept. 7th here! Dr. Looser Portsmouth nh!!! <3

Me!! Sept 7th, Portsmouth NH!!

Hello Sleevers! Those of you who have followed my posts before know that this has been an EMOTIONAL ROLLERCOASTER! But I am so lucky and SO SO SO blessed! For those of you who don't know, here's the quick version: I started this journey back in February. It's been insane. All the classes, workshops, appts with everyone in the world, felt like it was never going to end. Then in June it seemed like things were all falling into place. I had my endoscopy on June 8th. Shortly after that, I got the call that would change my life forever. While doing my endoscopy they found 3 polyps. One came back as a Neuroendocrine Tumor. A long way of saying, I have cancer. I have been through the emotions, horrified, sad, scared as my baby has just turned 1. But now, I am SO THANKFUL. So incredibly thankful. Because had I not chose to get the sleeve, then I would have never had an endoscopy and they would have never found my tumor. So I have been through all these testings, I had a few scans and they found that I have no other cancer . That this tumor can be maintained by going in every 6 months and having the area scraped. Its a slow growing tumor, so they aren't too worried. So with all this, I have been approved to get my surgery! SEPTEMBER 7TH! I can't believe it! I am SOOO happy its insane. Thanks for all the love and support from all of you who have been there for me on this journey! Now the real question is, who has a Protein shake or powder that isn't horrible? Im so sick of Ensure, and Atkins Advantage. I am ready to move on from them and see what else is out there. I am finally getting used to this pre-op diet, and really liking that I've lost about 10 pounds in the past week Woop Woop! Thanks everyone!

Thanks everyone. And yes Nicole I am a very firm believer in everything happens for a reason. Now, more than ever!!!!

Holy SMOKES! you guys are amazing! Thank you to everyone for all the love, support and prayers. I am so overwhelmed to log on this morning for the first time in a WHILE to see all these questions and prayers sent out for me . It honestly chokes me up! Thank you so much! So here's an update, although its not much! Wish I had more but the truth is, no one knows what to tell me, they usually never find neuroendocrine cancer in someone my age! Usually its caught when people are older and when its too late to do much. So needless to say I am being featured in all sorts of studies! haha. I go to Dana Farber In Boston at noon today!I am hoping they do more tests, i havent had much testing done to ensure that the cancer is no where else. they said this tumor i had was a low grade and may have been the beginning of all of the tumors. I saw the local oncologist about two weeks ago who told me unfortunetly that I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET THE SLEEVE. I am so heartbroken over this because I have put so much money and time into this journey, between support groups, pre op groups, psychologist, nutritionist, physical therapy, etc. But I am forever in debt to god for choosing this path for me, for pushing me toward getting the sleeve, so that with the endoscopy they found my cancer! I have been talking ALOT with doctors, surgeons, oncologists, etc to hopefully be able to tie in a weight loss with the upcoming surgery i will have (AGAIN!). They want to remove the whole area where the tumor resided. They say if not removed, it will come back over and over again. And we truly do not want that! I wish they had just done that when we had the last procedure. LAME! They are talking about the "whipple procedure" to fully remove my duodenum, part of my pancreas, and part of my stomach. the problem is, with this procedure, i am then a diabetic. I am hoping they could just do the sleeve, remove my duodenum, and that be it.. but we will see... im also trying to get them to consider the gastric bypass (although totally not my first choice). then when they bypass the stomach and duodenum they could just take both out and GOODBYE CANCER HOME! It was really sad when I got the call yesterday from my surgeons office for the sleeve "Ms. Stevens I am proud to inform you that your insurance has approved you for the sleeve. How would August 13th work for you?" I was so sad. Because I can't say yes no matter how bad I want to! I want the sleeve more than anything. But I know my overall health with the cancer is first and foremost. So we will see what the specialist at Dana Farber says today and maybe I can convince her to help me get sleeved! Did I mention my health insurance is up in October? I will be turning 26 and no longer allowed on my parents insurance. So ALL of this needs to happen STAT! I will figured something out, but at this point i am having a hard time trying to find a job. I can't commit to anything right now not knowing what the future holds for surgeries and appointments. But I plan to work again soon i hope. I am however thrilled to be staying home with my daughter full time . Speaking of my Sweet, Sweet Caroline, she is fantastic. She will be 14 months in just two more days. She's talking like you wouldn't believe. All day, "mama, whats that?" she's a little genious. I will share a pic of her on here Hope she can make you all smile. Happy Friday, and thank you so much for all the love and support. I am so thankful to have such a support group! I honestly havent told anyone about the cancer besides my immediate family, and i suppose the hundreds of you sleevers! You rock my world guys! I have so much love for alll of you! I will update soon!!! xxxoooo

I've been on this journey for a few months, should get my approval next week. But I just got the results from my endoscopy polyps I had removed.... I have been diagnosed with neuroendocrine tumors. Cancer. I have cancer. It's truly a miracle to me that they found this, and that they wouldn't have found it had I not chose to get this surgery. That a woman of 25 would not receive an endoscopy just because, but I made the decision. I'm horrified. My daughter just turned 1... I can't even look at her without tearing up. Why is this happening to me when I am sitting her dieting my ass off, walking, preparing mentally for me to get my weight and life n better health, and now this? Everything may happen for a reason, but I'm not getting this one, I will be having surgery tomorrow to see if this tumor has spread into my intestines, but to also remove the tumor in my stomach. God bless you all beginning this journey to not have the news I have received. If anyone else has got this news, please reach out to me. I'm scared.

Hello, Soooo I have united healthcare. They will pay for my sleeve. SWEET. Now here's the bad news... They need 6 months of a diet that I have tried and my doctor has kept track of. After pulling teeth with U.H they told me weight watchers will count! Yipppeeee! BUTTTTT.... I need my weight loss logs.., does anyone actually keep these? I'm SO pissed that I have gone through this whole process, met with the surgeon, did all the tests, EKG, X-rays, blood work, endoscopy just to find out I may not be approved because I don't have my weigh loss logs? Not to mention my health insurance is up in OCTOBER! Has anyone been through this no is there any way to avoid this or anything? Feeling slightly defeated

Hey everyone, My first oncology appointment is on Wednesday. Wish me luck!! Hopefully I'm cancer free! I don't even know if they can tell me that, but after removing the tumor I hope everything is just fine and I can breathe again! Staying positive for my daughter, but some days are harder than others. On a lighter note, should hear from the surgeon this week with my insurance approval, going to double check with the oncologist about getting sleeved, but since the other doctors and my surgeon Dr. Looser already sad it was fine I'm feeling confident that I will be sleeved soon!!!! Thank you everyone for all your love, prayers, support, means the word to me! Have a wonderful Monday and remember to smile and appreciate everyday!

More good news! My surgeon and specialist who found my tumor have decided that I can still get my SLEEVE! Thanks everyone. I meet with oncologist next week and also will be swallowing the camera pill! Praying my intestines are tumor free!! Thanks sleevers!! Xoxoxo xox

All of your prayers have been heard. Thank you so much. So here's the results... We are lucky to find out that from what they could see on my stomach and pancreas it's looking like it was only the one tumor which has now been removed. I will follow up next week by swallowing a little pill that is actually a camera and will confirm whether or not the is anymore throught my whole digestive track. Then I meet with the oncologist in Boston and will see what happens which all the bloodwork and tests I will have. then I just follow p every 6 months to make sure noting has grown back. I am so incredibly happy and grateful thank for all the love and prayers!!! You guys rock!!!!!

Thank you everyone, I will be bringing my iPad with me. We're out the door now, and I will update after I've recovered and had time to process whatever the results may be. From the bottom of my heart, my daughter and I appreciate all the prayers and happy wishes. Xxoo you sleevers rock my world!

New Hampshire.

What an overwhelming response. Thank you all, each one of you. All these positive words are touching my heart and easing the pain. I haven't told many people, that was kind of why I vented here, but also in search of anyone who's been through this. I will fight his, for my daughter and soon to be husband. They are the best part of my life and I'm not going down without a battle. My procedure is at noon tomorrow, please just pray for me. God will hear us, and I need him to.

Thanks everyone! Great suggestions. So with everyone's advice I have went to my old meeting (which was re located and I finally figured it out!) and they had my last 3 months but not any of the other times... But 3 months is a good start. I am not sure what a fast pass is? So m assuming I don't have it, called weight watchers and all they can give me is a receipt of when I have been a member, which united healthcare is saying will not count. Fitness pal doesn't count either as far as weig log journals, but they mailed me a form that I can bring to the dietician to have her sign off on ,y progress over the last 3 months. Thank god!! So between the two... I should be all set and ready for the next curve ball the insurance throws at me! Alls it really is, is them not wanting to pay so they do these things thinking people will give up! But I'm a fighter! And I am ready to change my life for me and my 1 year old daughter!! Thanks fellow sleevers!!

Hey there! I'm in nh too! I've done all the info sessions, classes with the psychologist, endoscopy, EKG, blood work, X-rays, lost my weight needed for surgery and I meet with the surgeon tomorrow to set the date! I'm so anxious, I have been the whole time with this process. For me, using myfitnesspal as an app on my smartphone, or myfitnesspal.com has really helped me lose the weight and learn how to make better decisions. I've incorporated a ton of protein and shakes within my day, which is something we will need post surgery. Meeting with the dietician was big for me and just having her put into perspective my eating habits and what they should be. I don't know if I'm helping at all, I'm trying! Best wishes, this site is a lot of help and having a good support group is amazing too! I'm so excited to find out my surgery date tomorrow!! Take care! I'm in exeter nh btw... I wonder if we are close??

Hello everyone! I am SO thankful to have found this app on my iPad! I am 25 years old, with a wonderful, amazing daughter who just had her first birthday yesterday! I am in the middle of this process here, already have had my evaluation, done the pre op support groups, am losing my 15 lbs for my surgery and do the endoscopy on June 8th! I am totally nervous, but then again so excited to finally get the help I need to be comfortable in my own skin! Now I know when you get the surgery, the nurse told me I will t be able to lift for 2 to 3 weeks...... I'm having an issue with this.... How can I not hold my baby? How was the pain? I'm nervous about my skin too! I hope to lose at least 100 to 120 lbs... Am I going to be saggy? Any help would be appreciated! I also recently quit smoking, (for the 3rd time!!!) how do they test your nicotine levels? I was told as long as I quit a month before my surgery I will be all set. Thanks everyone!

Congrats!! 12 lbs. in a week? I cannnnnnnnooottttt wait! Keep in touch!!!!

Thanks everyone! Great ideas and responses! I didn't even think of getting a school aged kid to help me! That genius and perfect timing! Thanks!!!! I definitely don't want to be ruining my sleeve when I get it! I'm so excited, I think I'm about 30 days from my procedure! Eeeeek! I'm so ready to be skinnnny!

I've been thinking the same, I'm getting my surgery in the beginning of July I'm thinking, so she should be walking by then. She's almost there, so definetly to change her, she will be on the floor. Eating? I'll figure that out.... We will see. I was kidding about it literally affecting my decision, but it is something that's making me a little upset. But she is pretty independent, and will probably do better than I will! Thanks ladies!!!

Let me know if anything happens. My little girl just got weighed today, she's a healthy 20 pounds. I don't want to lift her a lot, but there's going to be times when she gets bumped or needs a mommy hug and I want to be able to be there for her! It's crazy to think that being able to pick up my daughter could ultimately make my surgery decision! Lol, maybe I'm crazy, but I love my baby!

Thank you dear. And good luck! The gas pain may be from when they blow your tummy up with the gas to be able to see everything. It's hard for the gas to escape your body. She's almost walking, ( my daughter) so I think it might be okay, and I have to get it now, otherwise I won't be able to. My health insurance is up in October. I hope you feel better. I'm hoping to have friends and family alternate days off to help with my little sweetie. We will see, I'm so nervous, but so excited. Keep in touh! Let me know how it goes!!