dominique

Congrats Pammie!

hunydew, I understand about being melancholy. For me it's like, ok, I want and need to do this, but what then? There's more to it than just losing weight. We have to build new lives without food to fall back on. So now that that is going, what now? I just have to trust that those who have gone though on this website will be there with answers and support. I get sleeved next Monday. Last day of work today!

Good luck Friday 12/16/11 sleevers! I'm right behind you next Monday.

Hunydew2262, I like what you said about seeing the girl you used to be. I hadn't even thought about that. I miss the girl I used to be also. Thanks for reminding me of her! I loved her!

My doctor's office told me it would take 2 weeks to get an answer. But I needed to schedule my surgery during the December holiday break because I work at a school, So after 4 days I called my insurance company. They said the paperwork should have been submitted to my medical group not to them. So I called the doctor's office and asked for the medical group's phone number. They put me on hold for a while. Then they came back and gave me the number. I called the medical group and they looked through the faxes. They said they got the request that day. I think the doctor's office kept me on hold while they faxed it over. I asked how long it would be until a determination was made. The said 2 days. Hmmm. So had I not called, the request might have sat in my doctor's office a couple more days. Now, I was in a hurry, so I pushed it. But I'm glad it did. I am scheduled for 12-19-11.

I am in the evening of the 5th day of 3 shakes plus 1 small meal. I made chicken-vegetable soup tonight. I drank my 3rd shake while cooking. Then I scooped out 1 cup of soup and ate it. I think my stomach shrank! The cup of soup filled me up! It is 10:21 pm and I'm not hungry.

It took me about 7 months. I attended a public seminar, watched 2 videos, met with the surgeon, went to a public nutritional and behavorial seminar, went to support meetings, met one-on-one with the nutritionist and social worker, had a chest xray, had an abdominal ultrasound, had an endoscopy, had a stress test, had extensive blood tests, got approved by insurance, had sugery scheduled, had pre-op blood tests, had a pre-op class and met with the surgeon pre-op. Because of my drinking, I had to quit alcohol and go to AA meetings twice a week. I had to get a form signed at each meeting which had to be faxed in to the social worker. This set me back about 2 months. Because alcohol is so toxic to the stomach and detrimental to weight loss, I had to prove sobriety before I could move on. It was very difficult. I had to finish each step to schedule the next one. I kept on top of things and this was the fastest I could go. I possibly could have been ready in 5 months if I was sober already.

I had it done. I went under easily, awoke easily. I was not woozy. Mine was in the afternoon so I just took the rest of the day off from work. No pain.

I'm a female. I'm 5' 6". My highest weight was 236. My BMI was 38,6. Usually it has to be 40 or over. I qualified with Aetna insurance because I have "co-morbidities". High-blood pressure, diabetes, GERD, & sleep apnea. I went from controlling my blood sugar with a healthier diet to needing medication to doubling my medication. I have had to double my blood pressure medication. That was over a 3 year period. At this rate I'll be disabled and facing a long, sickly, painful end of life in no time. This is about being healthy, not "looking hot". Of couse, I hope I will look hot! That is an added benefit to this surgery. I am so certain that I need this for me that I don't care about other people's approval.

My friend had a gastric bypass and lost a lot of hair. Have any of you with the VSG experienced this?

Good luck to you all!

Yay December sleevers!

Thanks for addressing this. I am on my 3rd pre-op diet day. I get 3 shakes and one small protein and vegetable meal. My meal was ham and brussel sprouts. I cheated with more ham. I'm hoping tomorrow will be better.

I'm from Los Angeles (Koreatown). I moved here in 2002 and love it!

My date is 12-19-11 at Cedars-Siani with Dr. Scott Cunneen. I am on the 2nd day of my pre-op diet. When I feel hungry I have a hot drink. That helps for a little while. I was nervous and scared, but now I'm just excited. I can't concentrate, even at work. And we are in the middle of an audit!

My date is the 19th also. I've gone through being elated, scared, nauseous, sad and excited. I started my pre-op diet today. Someone was eating in my office. The delicious smell of the food made me realize what I would be giving up. I got really sad because it hit me that I was saying goodbye to my good friend FOOD. I just have to trust that what I'll get in return (better health, slimmer body) will more than make up for ending my dependancy on my friend FOOD. I'm sure I will be sad for a while until I accept that my dependancy is gone. Sniff-sniff!

I've noticed the tickers on people's posts and checked into them. Then I saw where one person said she had no goal weight. And I realized that I didn't have one either. I am 228 pounds now. My highest weight was 236. My first goal is to be below 200. My next goal is to be 179 or lower. I haven't been that thin in 20 years. At this time I feel like I cannot dream of being below 179. I've tried to lose weight for so long that it seems like an impossible goal to not only go below 179 but to stay below 179. The idea is overwhelming. So for right now I'm going to take baby steps. I'll worry about 179 when I get there.

Thanks everyone for your input. I already have very fine thinning hair. I guess I'll just buy a cool wig for that time! Hmmm, maybe a hot pink bob?

Awesome Peacequeen! I know the feeling. My date is the 19th if nothing happens. This site has been such a big help. I don't feel so alone in this decision.

Hi! I'm Dominique and I'm an alcoholic. My sobriety date is 10-31-11. I was "forced" into AA by the social worker at the weight loss center. I was really angry when she made me go in order to get surgery. I had to get a form signed and faxed in to her every 2 weeks. I felt like a convict or something. BUT, now I'm grateful. It took me 2 months of meetings to make the decision to stay sober. I decided I wanted a healthier body more than alcohol. I'm looking forward to an all-around better and healthier life!!

Thanks babigirl111 for introducing this topic. And thanks everone else for your input. I feel more at ease. My op date is 12-19-11.

Hi All. When did you guys go back to work or were able to resume your normal life? Any particular work issues you can inform me about?

My name is Dominique. I am female and almost 52 years old. My vertical sleeve gastrectomy is scheduled for 12/19/2011. Tomorrow are my pre-op blood tests. Wednesday is my pre-op appointment with my surgeon and my pre-op class. Currently I weigh 228 pounds. My highest was 236 pounds. My BMI is 38.6. I have diabetes, high-blood pressure, sleep apnea and GERD. My surgeon is Scott Cunneen. My surgery will be at Cedars-Sinai. Now that the date is nearing, I am going through depression, euphoria, excitement and nausea. Sometimes I feel so calm about it, then I have a panic attack. But I am still determined to go through with it!

Thanks all! Yes, I plan to stay sober (one day at a time!).

One thing that I have not seen mentioned is alcohol. When I revealed how much I drank, the social worker made me go to AA. I even had to get a form filled out (like when people get DUIs and have to present a form to the courts). I knew I would have to quit for the surgery and at least a year after. I was very pissed that the social worker was forcing me into AA. But now that I have gone for a little over 3 months, I'm glad she did it. I don't think I could have quit by myself after all. This of course delayed my surgery a few weeks, but I'm grateful to be sober too and can't wait for my surgery!