kw2walker

Find a doctor that will work with you. As you go down in weight document and take pictures of your body. Especially if there is rubbing and chaffing that cause skin problems. The information allows you to present it to your doctor and insurance. Especially the insurance company, they always want a history of the problem. All the best to you.

In the past, when completing my FMLA/HR paper work I would indicate surgery. I only have to tell my insurance company because they have a representative contact me to ensure I have completed all paperwork, and arranged follow-up appointments. I know the HIPAA law allows for me to keep my surgery my business. Thank you Private Sleever for your comments.

I was sitting around today thinking about my surgery and those that have been supportive and those that have not or would not be. A year ago when I began thinking about undergoing the surgery I approached a friend. I began asking his opinion about the surgery. when he said you don't need it you just need to diet and keep at it. I sat looking at him as if he had lost his mind, he is over six feet tall and grossly over weight. He has a bad habit of eating food from the plate of his son when he does not finish his meal. But he knows my diet habits? I let the subject drop and have not said word about it since. I went to my information session to decide if this was the choice for me and was encouraged that it was. As the year has gone by he has seen me and is always in my cabinets. He is quick to notice there is not any junk food or bad snacks. He noticed the various protein drinks and asked what I was doing with them. I told him i was experimenting with favors and staying my course on my diet. All of this to say is that I am keeping secrets from those that are friends. I don't want to be judged by them even when I feel I have been judged. One of my own sisters thinks I should just keep dieting and that the surgery is extreme. My feeling is that of course she would she's never been obese. To be fair I have told five people and they have been most supportive and from this I am happy. My overall happiness is my responsibility and I'm very happy with my decision to a better way of living. I do worry that once I start dropping weight that the cat will be out of the bag. But until that time I will be keeping my secret.

I'm do to have surgery on 7/22/13 and I have to be honest my biggest fear is being constipated. But overall from what I've read I have nothing to worry about, it has been a positive decision to have the surgery. Thank you for the information.

I have been thinking about this process since 2004 finally in 2012 I have the guts to attend an information session on the process and requirements. Best move ever! I thought I would get stuck with the psychologist and have to under go counseling but was told that from all of the research I have done I was more than ready. All to best to everyone that is undergo this process. Continued success!

Just remember, we did not gain the weight over night it was a day by day, week by week, year by year process. All the more so now that we loose the weight slow and steady. Don't give up, live it up!

At the time of my surgery I will be 48, I figure then ill have a year to see all the results and plan so for my 50th birthday I can Celebrate the rebirth of myself. Hoping to treat myself to a cruise lol All the best to everyone

I have planned to take with me the following for the 7/22/13 surgery: Loose sweats or shorts or maxi dress Button up shirt Flip flops, avoiding the bending to put on shoes Toiletries Gas-X strips 2oz measuring cup, when told how much I have to drink it can be measured Extra undies, I plan to wear the same clothes home that I arrive in CPAP Tums Phone charger Book Leaving all jewelry at home Ear plugs, hospitals are too loud Being supplements/vitamins that are required the day after surgery PJs The week before surgery the plan is to: Get a hair cut, and dye hair Pedicure, get a great color since it will be a few weeks before the toes are touched Clean the bathroom Clean the kitchen, setting up food material for my return Make sugar free ice cubes of my drinks, cherry cubes to drop into lemonade. Make it fun while healing. Make a copy of my living will to have in my bag for the hospital Buy thank you cards Full my car with gas, so those helping can get around. Purchase liquid pain reliever All the best to those having their surgery and continued success to those that are now sleeved. Karen

July 22,2013 can't come fast enough lol.

Hope all went well. Looking forward to you telling us about your experience.

Thank you all for your thoughts and encouragement. I contacted HR to get the paperwork needed in preparation the July 22, 2013 surgery, so when I attend my pre-op testing on July 3, 2013 I can get my FMLA paperwork completed. I do believe if I am asked point blank if I had surgery I could be honest and say yes, but i don't plan to volunteer any information. Continued success on your journey! Karen

I attended my first information session in June 1, 2012, and made my appointment. I am flying through all of the tests needed until I hit pulmonary. I go, do the initial test, then I inform the doctor that I have to have my thyroid removed. Was told to come back after its done and I'm cleared. I have the surgery, two weeks off work, do all of my follow-up and then make my follow-up with the pulmonary doctor. He then said you did good on your tests, we would like to do a sleep study. I then get word that on Nov. 7, 2012 I would have the sleep study. I get a call the day before the study that the insurance would not allow the study. I call in Nov, Dec, Jan, and then I wrote a letter to the doctor, he did not contact me to offer other options. copiedin the letter was the program director of the program. I kept going to the appointments so they could encourage me. Then one day I just snapped. I said I would withdrawal for the program. I said that they need to now take the time to find out how many other patients worked with this doctor when they hit the pulmonary stage and are forgotten or dropped. The staff said I made a good point but they were not able to do much, they did guide me as to who to contact that was above the yo-yo not doing his job. Just as I was about to give up. I get a call, hey we can do a home sleep study and from there we can proceed. Home study completed, and then it was inclusive, so I then get the opportunity to have a sleep study (insurance approved). It's amazing when you have to rant and rave what can be done. Just like that the appointment books opened up and everything starting falling in place again. When I had my last visit with pulmonary, I really told him about himself. I said if you don't have time to care, you should not be part of the program. He must have apologized a thousand times. I told him I do not except them and he was a sorry excuse for a doctor. I left say its a good thing I did not need a lung, your actions would have left me dead. He was totally embarrased. So the program director called me, I took my last class, then met with the psychologist and nutrientionist and have been chugging along. Like you when I knew this is what I wanted to do, I set up my account on this site. Then I hit the road block and lost all motivation to do anything. Then as I moved along and i am getting closer to my July 22, 2013 surgery date i am so happy I have returned. The experiences good and bad have beenof should great help. Thank you for sharing your experience, keep up the fight. Karen

Glad you are doing well. I look forward to reading your entries.

I can relate in that I have had two fibroid surgeries over the years which resulted in the need to have a UFE which has put me into menopause. I have to wear my CPAP and on top of the sweating my evenings are not fun. It feels like the mask is sliding every. I'm hoping the weight loss will help me sweat less. Time will tell after the surgery 7/22/13.

Listen to your stomach it will let you know when it's ready for eggs. Get your Proteins in ways that work.

Tums help a lot, they are also a source for getting your calcium.

No foods with seeds but check with your doctor.

Thanks for the honesty.

Im 4 weeks out myself and feel nervous. I've asked my sister to come home and she then told our middle sister so they are coming home. So this will be a family adventure. We all struggle to loose weight but are not successful. This process it a choice I know is right for me. Continued success to everyone on their journey. Karen

When you say not fun what do you mean? Eat them and the taste or just getting them down? I purchased the store brand that are a bit yellow in color, it sikes me out to think that they are real eggs. I put shredded cheese in with a table spoon of Water the water makes them fluffy. Season to taste. You could separate a egg and try as well.

The strips were suggested by lots of folks but check with your doctor.

Go for it and enjoy.

This was great information. I knew the pouch let with the sleeve would stretch. But developing a bulge is interesting. I think this exchange is helpful. Continued success to everyone. I will be joining the rank of bringing sleeved on 7/22/13 so excited to take this journey.

LouiseC, I can hear down dog in my head and start grinning. Yoga will be his friend as you advance lol. Enjoy you new adventures.

Melissa, I've been taking a kettle bell class once a week along with a boot camp and PiYo class. I figure if I can start to see the changes in my muscles, how more so when cleared to resume post-op. I can then work to tighten and tone.