Lyra

Well, my surgeon hasn't required me to get the endoscopy test, but I do know that the psych eval is a pretty common exam. They basically want to make sure that you're psychologically sound and have a firm grasp on what it means to go through with this surgery as it's a life changing (and diet changing!) operation. Not all surgeons require the same tests for everyone as my father (who just had the surgery) had to have a sleep test, EKG, chest xray, etc while I only had to get blood work as I'm younger with less health problems. Hope that helped! ~Lyra

So today was my first doctor's appointment with Dr. W and he was fantastic! I felt very comfortable and he answered all of my questions without making me feel like I was just another faceless paycheck. His staff are also a bunch of supremely competent and amazing nurses who went to the extra mile to help me schedule some other appointments. Overall, it was amazing and I wouldn't be so stressed except for one thing...my insurance does not cover gastric surgery. At all. Zip, zilch, nada. So unless the doctors and hospitals go back to accepting chickens as a payment method myself and my family (who rock!) are going to have to come up with the money before I 'go under the knife'. That part definitely creates a ball of stress in my stomach, along with an unhealthy amount of guilt. The fact that my folks are willing to scrimp and save along with me for this makes me feel so unworthy. My mom almost brought me to tears saying that this was important for her, because it is important to me and that she would do what she could to help me pay for this. She keeps reminding me that 'where there is a will there is a way' but golly, I sure do wish that the way was a lot easier! Adios, ya'll and if anybody knows how much a kidney goes for on the black market, let me know! (joke) ~Lyra

Awesome! That must have felt amazing! Congratulations and here's to hoping that all of your future NSVs are just as rockin'!

First off, congrats on your surgery and weight loss! I wouldn't feel bad about not telling your coworkers. Some people are judgemental and by only telling those you trust to support you it allowed you to go into the surgery calm and in a great frame of mind. If your coworkers say something about how you've been losing weight since you had your 'female surgery' (and if you are not ready/decide not to say anything to them about your VSG) you can always just say that it corrected a hormone problem and now without it you are losing weight.

So my first doctor's appointment is Tuesday and I'm waaaay nervous. I keep thinking, "what if I dont qualify" (of course I then look down on my plumptious stomach and realize THAT wont be a problem). Strangely enough what popped into my head when I got the appt was, "What am I going to wear?!" *rolls eyes at self* I know that I'll have a bunch of hoops to jump through, but how long did it take ya'll to go through all the steps and get a surgical date? My dad took 7 months, but he kinda seemed to just meander through it all. I'm definitely more proactive than he is so I'm hoping for 3-5 months. Is that realistic? Thanks! ~Lyra

I'm looking forward to ziplining, rock climbing, being able to actually FIND and FIT in knee length boots. Leather ones without the 'expansion panel' in the back. I want to go to the state fair and ride any ride that I want without having to get off because I don't fit. I want pretty clothes, and to have a guy look at me and find me attractive. I want to find myself attractive. I want to go dancing and to be able to wear my hair up without worrying that it will show how chubby my face is. I would also like to be able to see my cheek and collar bones.

Thanks, it made me laugh when I stumbled across it!

So my first VSG blog entry, how exciting! A chronicle of the minutiae of a pre-sleevers journey towards a new life...and oh how I want that new life. To excuse a bad pun, I want it so much that I can practically taste it. I figured even if I'm only talking to myself and sending these blogs out into the ether, then at least I can get how I feel on this journey down on paper. It may be interesting to look at a year from now and actually know what I felt and how I changed without the rose tinted glasses that time often gives our recollections. Or perhaps at the end of this journey, when I've met all my goals I will ceremoniously hit 'Delete'. *grin*. Right now I'm a 29 years old woman, 5'5" ant 270 lbs, no kids, no SO, but with a ton of friends and a close family who are being (for the most part) very supportive. I do have a rather crazy cat, but I personally think she would be horrified at a reduction in cushy lap space. My deepest desires are to run marathons, complete Tough Mudders, join canine Search and Rescue, become a published writer, and to get married and have kids. I don't know about the other ladies out there, but I'm damned sick and tired of being "the girl with the hilarious personality" with the unspoken "too bad she's fat" tacked on the end. There is more to me than my weight and I finally reached the breaking point where I could give up and accept that my dreams would forever only be dreams...or I could take the bull by the horns, pull up my big-girl panties and figure out how to become a woman that can forge her own path. To that end I left a job that made me miserable, moved to a different state and now have a job and friends that make me smile and actually dance at work. As my dad found his courage to go through a surgery he was terrified of, I in turn found mine to take the next step. To that end, my first bariatric doctor's appointment is Tuesday and I can't wait. I've been working hard at proper nutrition, weight lifting, yoga, and running to get my body in the best shape possible to tolerate surgery and to kick tail once I'm through it. I'm reading books to figure out why I eat what I do and how emotions dictate my eating. I'm calling it the three-pronged attack so that I am ready emotionally, mentally, and physically for what is to come. Life is good, and with better health it can only get better! Feeling Five by Five! ~Lyra "Remember, Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did, but backwards and in high heels. " ~Faith Whittlesey

Wow, how did today go from GREAT to UCK so fast? So my dad has recently been sleeved and I had finally come to my own realization that I was ready for that as well. Luckily after a great conversation with my folks, they were very supportive of my decision. My family is very close and while I don't NEED their support it means a lot to me that I have it. So I figured everything was good and so brought the matter up with my grandmother. Lets just say that the awkward silence after I 'spilled the beans' when I was talking on the phone with her was epic. I couldn't tell if she was shocked (although I don't know why) or in major disapproval. I guess I was just taking it for granted that she would be supportive of my decision and it surprised me to find out that it doesn't seem like she is. I'm hoping that maybe after she thinks about it, and after further conversation, she'll have a better reaction. I really just wanted to shout, "I've been overweight for YEARS and it's not getting better. I need help and getting this surgery is not shameful and it does not somehow make me weak. It takes strength to know when you need help and to have the courage to go forward into the unknown. I will be happier and healthier...so whats not to like?" Even if her reaction doesn't change I'm still going forward with this because in the end it's my life...but I would be lying if I said that it doesn't make me sad. Did anybody else face something like this from your family/friends? If so, how did you deal with it? What did you say? Thanks! ~Lyra

Good luck, and thats a cute name! When I get mine I'm gonna call it "The Sheriff" and plan to make plenty of jokes that "The new Sheriff is in town". *grin*

Maybe she isn't willing to give up her comfort food, or doesn't want to leave her 'safe' place. Maybe she has other things going on in her life that make her miserable so that food is a comfort she is not willing to give up. Being overweight is a known quantity, perhaps she is not ready to take the next step into a healthy lifestyle. Personally, once I get sleeved I'm going to work my tail off until I am not only healthy, but can have an active and adventurous life...and not feel like I'm sitting on the sidelines, watching everyone else have fun.

Hi, I'm 29 and I would have to agree with the others that sometimes a person just has to arrive at a decision on their own. God knows sometimes I would (and still do!) dig my heels in if I feel like someone is pushing me towards a decision that I am not ready to make. It would be worse if she did do the surgery before she was mentally/emotionally ready. Then she would be more apt to sabotage herself or not be ready for all the changes that will happen to her body.

Great idea! I'm 29 years old, single, no sibs, and no kids. I have a degree in English Literature and another in the Baking and Pastry Arts. I decorate cakes for a living and love creating beautiful, edible, art. My deep down desire in life is to be a published author, to work with Canine Search and Rescue, and run the Tough Mudders race with my best friend. I recently decided that my life definitely needed a pick-me-up and so moved to a different state where I'm much happier! I adore running, martial arts, kickboxing, and am in a love-hate relationship with yoga. I have a cat who is super clingy and am thinking about getting a Shih-poo dog and naming him Ewok. I just started the process for VSG and can't wait to kick some serious flab and become a lean, mean, running machine! My goal is that when I get under 200 lb I'm going to go zip lining!

What about Skyr yogurt? It's an Icelandic yogurt (and thus more of a really soft cheese) and I know that it has great protein, not sure about the sugars though.

Great job! I have that one pair of pants that are the Shrine To Thinner Days that I can't wait to not only fit in, but then take them to Goodwill 'cause they're too small! Two thumbs up!

Thanks guys! This site is awesome in how supportive everyone is and that if you have a problem other people have as well and may have answers. Hopefully after having a more in depth conversation she will understand. I think those who have never had weight problems can have a hard time understanding what it's like. Thanks again! ~Lyra

Hello all! I'm really glad that I stumbled across this site in my internet sleuthing about getting the gastric sleeve. I've been toying with the idea for the past year, but with moving, starting a new job, a family crisis, and the holidays it (quit frankly) was put on the back burner. Then two things happened, the first being that my friends and I went to the state fair and I was so excited for the rides. Of course, I was somewhat LESS excited when I found out that I didn't FIT on the rides. The shame and humiliation still makes me cringe. There were also tears later that night in the privacy of my own home. The second thing was that my dad conquered his fear of surgery and was recently sleeved. It was a revelation and a light bulb went off in my head. I realized that I was amazingly unhappy with what I had become. Also, with my 30th birthday in November I am determined that THIS year will be different. I NEVER want to feel as inadequate as I did at the fair, and I'm plain sick and tired of having to think that I can't hang glide, zip line, climb, kayak, walk up two flights of stairs without gasping, or fly on an airplane without contemplating on whether or not I'm too heavy. Ever since I decided that this is the path that I'm going to walk, I feel like a great weight (no pun intended!) has lifted off of my shoulders. I feel that there is a bright, shiny light at the end of an uphill tunnel and I am filled with determination. I know that there will be tons of hard work, pain, stress, and perhaps emotional upheaval...but birth itself is painful and what is this if not rebirth? I just made my first appointment and am looking forward to leaping through all the hoops that I need to jump through. My goal is to have the surgery in 6 months (or less) and to try and get in the best shape I can before I go under the knife. I've also been reading tons on why I am an emotional eater and how to put my energies towards healthier conduits so that this surgery will be a success. After reading the various posts I have to say that all of your stories have inspired me, and I forward to sharing my journey, and reading up on all of yours! Thanks! ~Lyra