christin

I feel this same way! In fact, my family has decided to take their first ever group photo in December and I am livid! I am the heaviest I have ever been and now I have to buy something to wear. *grumble* I guess it is a good opportunity for a true before photo. January cannot get here soon enough!!

Welcome! I am scheduled for January 9th! I imagine this will be the first year that our weight loss resolution actually comes true!

So glad you posted! Have been waiting to hear how it went! Sorry you had some nausea, but glad you got over it pretty quick. Yay!

Can't wait to see how our doctor did with your surgery! I have been thinking about you all day! :juggle:

Ha ha... I like this! I finally told two of my closest friends and surprisingly they were really excited for me. One of them was jealous and said she wished it was her getting the surgery! She actually volunteered to go to the hospital and stay with me at the hotel (my surgery is out of town), so I don't have to do it alone! As for the rest of the world.. not sure who I will tell. I plan to document my journey on youtube because the WLS community there is so awesome. I have a hard time not being truthful and even though it is nobody's business I tend to think I will probably be open about it afterward. I just want to be private about it before the surgery because I don't want any negativity. As for being ashamed.... I am not ashamed of the surgery, but I do feel sad that it has come to this. I don't look at it as a cop out though. I definitely feel it is a strong decision to take the weight problem head on once and for all.

I was not planning on telling anyone, but recently told 2 close friends. They were very supportive of me and it was a very pleasant surprise! I won't tell anyone else until afterward. I am not ashamed of the procedure, but I don't want to feel like people are watching me afterward. I don't want the added pressure.

I turn 40 in 45 minutes! I will be sleeved on January 9th. I was going to take an awesome trip for my 40th, but decided to give myself WLS instead!

My surgery isn't until January and I am trying so hard to avoid doing this! I wish I was getting it done sooner for that reason. I just don't want to be stuck with more weight to lose. It will be difficult over the holidays.

I am also having the Spider surgery in January. Awesome to have no scars...

Driver- I had my initial consultation with Dr. Marema last week and I asked him about his experience with leaks. He only mentioned one leak story and I think he was talking about you! He mentioned it was a little over a month out. Glad to hear it all worked out.

I saved all year for part of it (will have about $9000 by year end), am maxing out my flexible spending account at work next year for $5000 of it, and putting any remaining amount on my credit card. It sucks to wait and save, but I know it will be worth it in the end.

I have a BMI of 35 and no comorbidities and I have been approved as a self pay for VSG. I only discussed the lap band and VSG with my surgeon. His opinion is that people like me should have the opportunity to pursue the surgery before health issues appear. He did mention that doctors have to document decisions outside the NIH guidelines. I didn't really understand all that, but it must be a liability issue.

Oh great.... something else to look forward to. :pout:

I have been weaning myself off carbonated drinks before surgery. One thing I really love as an alternative to water is Blackberry Pomegranate Lipton Iced Green Tea. They come in the individual packets similar to Crystal Light and have zero calories. They have only a mild sweetness and no aftertaste.

Awesome for you! Great Thanksgiving gift to yourself!

This is very true. Still pre-op, but total emotional eater here. I have a similar tactic to the above that seems to work with me. I tell myself that I can have that ice cream in "10 more minutes". Usually if I give it another 10 minutes, organize a drawer, make a phone call, etc. the urge will pass. I read somewhere that we literally have to create new neural pathways in our brain to break addictions. So every time you react differently to the urge to eat, you begin to build new pathways. Also... on the weekends when I am not working, I try to take a quick afternoon nap right about the time I start craving all kinds of food. I never wake up with the cravings and I am always happy if I resisted the urge.

I am still pre-op, but when I am having trouble sleeping I take Melatonin. You can experiment to see which amount works for you. I take one to get me to sleep and 2 when I can sleep in (because it will knock me out for 10-12 hrs!) I have used Benadryl and Tylenol PM also in the past, but the Melatonin doesn't leave me feeling groggy in the morning.

Reading the posts of all the ones who are telling is making me feel like a chicken for not telling.... :leaving:

:cheer2:

So excited for you! Best of luck in recovery! :thumbsup:

I am a single mom of a teenage girl and I shared it with her because I will be leaving town and can't imagine not sharing it anyway since we are very open with each other. I don't plan on sharing it with anyone else. I have also decided to use vacation time at work instead of medical PDO because I don't want have to discuss any kind of medical procedure with my boss causing questions. I personally just feel it is nobody's business and I am generally a private person anyway. I have so much medical leave saved up that it makes me frustrated not to use it, but I am a horrible liar and don't think I can pull it off without just saying I am going out of town for the week which is technically true.

I do too. That seems to indicate that my high school weight of 120-125 is actually a realistic goal at 5'5". I feel almost intimidated to hope for reaching that, but it would be awesome.

I threw up everywhere in the recovery room after gall bladder surgery a few years back. lol I will definitely be asking for any anti-nausea meds possible.

Yay! :high5: