NurseMom

i'm wondering what my options will be for breast surgery after I lose my weight????? i'm a D now, and i anticipate that I will lose MOST of my cup size after i lose weight. i do NOT want implants...i would be VERY happy remaining small, as I anticipate being about 130 lbs eventually. so what options are there? i'm hoping there have been lots of gals who have gone through similar and can give me some ideas. thanks!

My insurance covers with BMI of 35 and co-morbidities, of which I have four significant ones (PCOS, fatty liver, hypertension and Barrett's esophagus/GERD). Likely also sleep apnea. I am 5'2" and weigh about 216. My heaviest since pregnancy. I am very apple shaped and have high risk of cardiovascular issues-already heading there... My hubs is supportive but I can tell that he is resistant because he knows that we won't be going out for pizza/eating out for a while. i've reassured him that YES, i will be able to go out and eat, i will be able to eventually have a slice with a salad. he needs to lose too, but he's happy with losing about 25 lbs, which would get him to an almost ideal weight. For ME, I need to lose about 75-85 lbs to get to my ideal weight. I meet with my surgeon in about 10 days. I'm really on the fence. I have two little ones so I know I really need to get healthy to be there for them. But...a friend of mine who had surgery recently said to me " i can't believe people who would do this who's starting weight is like 210 or something"... i guess I would just love some advice from the been-there-done-that folks...is it really worth going in the direction of surgery? if you had stats similar to mine, what are your results, would you do it again? I have honestly tried lots of different things, and while some have worked, my portion control is out of control and i can easily eat as much as my husband who was a college football player!!! HUGE portions.AND i can't exercise because i am so short of breath all the time and SO tired from being so out of shape...thoughts??? thanks in advance for your help and kind words...

i've had a running list of things that i've been keeping for YEARS that i swore to myself i would do again once i lost my weight. well, surgery is within the next 4-5 months and my list is out... When I lose my weight I'm going to: -start running again, and eventually run my FIRST marathon!! -get all my size 10/12 clothes out that i have in bins in my basement and wear them again -run around with my kids and NOT get short of breath or dizzy -be able to get ALL my work done everyday at work without leaving exhausted! -try some of the super short hair cuts i LOVE but would look ridiulous with right now -wear a pair of jeans with my cowgirl boots TUCKED in!!!! first time EVER - shop at Lerner New York again (it's been so long i think they have a different name now) -buy some super cute dresses and start being feminine again - stay up late with the hubs on friday nights watching movies like we used to years ago (i'm too tired now) wow...so many more things i can't wait...how about YOU??

i'm still pre-op, and going through all the appts and such... i am truly a food addict. no question. an addict. i have even been to 12 step programs...right now, i can eat MORE than my hubby who is a former collegiate football player, and is 6'2" and 250... i know that the sleeve is obviously physically limiting, but nobody seems to want to talk about my EMOTIONAL addiction to food. my NEED and LOVE of food is still there, and will still be there post-op, i fear. i truly wonder IF this will work for me, because when i read threads about how little is eaten, i panic. truly, panic anybpdy else worried about this???

thanks to everyone's responses. i guess i was a bit scared that nobody else felt this way (i LOVE the positive post-op stories, but can't believe that people's addictions just POOF disappear!) and so happy to find that everyone is somewhat dealing too.... i agree with an above post- we didn't just ARRIVE at 225 lbs, or 400 lbs, or whatever, we ATE our way here. yes, while i agree that surgery will physically work, i still need to work on the HEAD...thanks!

oh, family pics. me too! i've sent out christmas cards for the past several years with only the kids...

i think that mourning food is completely natural...especially when most of us-before surgery- can/could eat extreme portions. I personally can't fathom when DH and I go out right now, and I can eat 1/2 the pizza, eventually only eating one or two pieces... BUT, from what i can tell, after a lot of research, eventually, we WILL be able to eat normal foods, but in NORMAL portions. (not "normal" what we eat now, but "normal" as in a regular,normal portion size)... so, i'll get through the six months or year of not eating much, but then i know i'll be able to eat some regular foods again. i'm actually looking forward to taking a small plate, putting a few things on it, and being full. now, i get the huge plate, pile it up a couple of times...

my first appt Monday!!!! been to the seminars, already saw my PCP for documentation, have my EGD this week, NUT appt Jan 3rd, and psych consult in early january. when i called the surgeons office for appt, i was ready to MOVE and they were quite helpful to comply! After the surgeon, pretty much everything is in place, i just need to be patient and wait for all documentation to get to them, and then they submit for approval. I'm ready for this!!!! with my insurance, i've been told that it's coming back VERY fast so surgery likely about 3 months after first appt. WHOOOO HOOOOOO

thanks to the above poster...of ALL the things i could be worried about (and i'm a nurse, so the operative issues should scare me)...well, hair loss is the biggie. it's stupid, i know, but my whole life i've had great hair. when i was young and thinner it was really beautiful. as i've gotten older and bigger, i've cut it, but it's still really cute. the UP side to this- i have a bunch of cute short short cuts that i've always wanted to try, and now i CAN without worrying if my face looks too fat!

this is so good to read...the whole 'mourning food' issue is big for me too because i DO feel like i'll never be able to eat normally again. but i'm so glad that people here are setting it straight for me!

as many of you know i'm still pre-op, but depending on the post-op folks for good answers! my question is about eating sweets post-op. i KNOW i'll be eating very structured for a while, and eventually get a more regular eating regimen. but...what about sweets? many have told me that i won't want them or can't tolerate them anymore. my gram made a really special Polish cake for every family occasion. i still make it now that she's gone. mostly for Christmas, birthdays. that's about it. but i guess i'd like to think that eventually, i could still tolerate a little corner of it! not regularly, but once or twice a year, like 2 tablespoon piece of it????it's a cream-cheese, cool-whip, butterscotch pudding layered thing. nothing fancy, just really special because of the memories and the taste takes me back every time! tell me what your experiences are with sweets. oh, and pop too. i'm a regular cola ADDICT. i'm dealing with the actual emotional addiction, but does anybody indulge in a flat pop ever, or a slurpee type frozen drink???

please don't get me wrong. i'm committed, just wondering if my ENTIRE regimen will completely change FOREVER, or it there's a little room to enjoy once in a while...

i have talked with a bunch of folks who are post op and for the most part, it's a mixed bag as far as i can tell...some have had BIG loss, others can barely see a difference! BUT, those who did lose all reassured me that it comes back...that's right, right???? i really hope so! because i sure don't want to be thin and healthy but bald!

i can tell you that gastric balloons are NOT FDA approved, are bing used in research studies, and prior to certain open abdominal procedures...

i plan to take off about 3 wks. i have lots of time off saved up AND i get short term disability...

our center uses liquid Vicodin...most patients use it for about 5-7 days after coming home from the hospital...

since PCOS is a syndrome, (i have it too)...every patient has different symptoms. i have severe infertility, and insulin resistance, but NO facial hair, acne or male pattern hair loss. I also have been told that weight loss will decrease many of the symptoms, but since every patient is different, there's no guarantee WHICH symptoms it will eliminate.

obviously post op, my diet will be controlled by portion and type (protein, protein, protein!)...BUT...eventually, I will be able to be a bit more liberal with diet. So, what foods did you LOVE pre-op that you CAN'T eat post-op, because of physical inability, or nausea/vomiting, etc??? More curious than anything...

i have a 5 month wait due to insurance regulations of making me document weight loss efforts in consecutive months with an insurance-sponsored nutritionist...that's ok, it will take me to spring and a NEW beginning for everything! i'm just not sure when to say something at work???i'm a private person. i don't need questions, opinions, etc. i really would just LOVE to keep quiet until the day before. but, i can't. in my job, i do a service that will need to be covered by another staff member while i'm off so it will need to be planned for. realistically, i would NEED to say something about 2-3 months ahead of time. from a courtesy standpoint, when should i say anything? i REALLY don't want this getting out too much too soon...thoughts???

I have had GERD for many years and take a heavy dose PPI. At one time, it was so bad that I was told I have BARRETT's esophagus (pre-cancerous lesionsfrom heavy acid erosion). Very mild, and they have since resolved with the heavy PPI...i would so love to stop taking my PPI eventually since it's another medication on the cabinet, AND it's pricey! So...did YOU have success with resolving GERD post-op? i see my surgeon in 2 wks so he can tell me more, i'm just looking for experiences from others. thanks!

awesome to above!!! i'm hoping that although portions will be smaller, i'll eventually be able to go to my favorite pizza place and still sit down to a nice pasta dinner now and again...

seeing my surgeon in 2 weeks. looking forward to it! i am nervous but i guess that's normal for many...

I am still pre-op, but you post-op folks have been a HUGE help to me...i have PCOS so my hair has suffered, but I really love my hair and really don't want to lose it. I know it's a small price to pay, but I guess I want to know this: 1. is hairloss inevitable? 2. does increasing Protein and Vitamins help at all? 3. Does it REALLY grow back? i appreciate your honesty. thanks!

THANK YOU ALL for your kind words and helping suggestions! I meet with my surgeon on Dec 17th. these responses have really helped me to see that Yes, I NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEDDDDDDDD to do this surgery. i am very fortunate that a close friend and person I see throughout my day is also having it, we will be on the table around the same time so that's super helpful too....wow, i wish i'd come here sooner. so many wonderful responses!! much of my anxiety about the surgery is simply denial- 'maybe i could just lose 25 lbs on my own' my brain often says to me...well, if i COULD, i WOULD! but...can't...AND, well let's face it. 25 lbs is a start, but at 5'2" i REALLY need at least 50 off before my health comes back. I'm super excited about getting off all meds. at 36 yrs old there is absolutely no other reason for any of my meds other than my weight. my former doctor often told me that. he was a kind man, so don't misinterpret, but he really cared about me and my future. he's retired now but what a treat if i could see him post op!

thanks so much...i really hope in 5 years to simply be alive. yes, i really truly believe in my heart that my health is declining fast enough that it COULD be an option. yes, i'm a bit dramatic, but still...i KNOW i have some mild cardiac issues already, so i could see that without weight loss, in 5 yrs or less a major MI could take me...so, yes, in that context, this is definitely the right thing...