EJamiFan

My surgery date was 5/10/13 and I have lost 55 lbs total, including my preop diet. I am in my late thirties, a single mom and have been divorced three years. The last few days I have noticed that guys are starting to look at me like I am attractive. It is an amazing feeling. I finally feel like maybe I am ready to dip my toe in the dating scene. I registered on a free online dating site and have been weeding out the weirdos. I may have a lunch date in a couple of days but it is bringing up all kinds of anxiety. How do I explain that I cannot eat much? Do I say anything at all or just nibble at my food? Aside from that anxiety there is the anxiety about men. Some of the men noticing me are men who would never have given me the time of day when I was heavier. That beings up a lot of insecurities. Do you eventually tell someone about surgery if you date them? I'm haven't hidden the surgery from people in my life but I almost wonder what most men would think if they knew about surgery? Am I being neurotic and insecure? (Yes!) Anyone else feel this way? How did you handle it?

Is there such a thing as too much cheese? I'm sure there is and it probably isn't a good thing to be eating mainly one food. I fell in love with and seem to crave Laughing Cow and similar spreadable cheeses on top of Wheat Thins. It goes down easily for me and satisfies me. I typically eat about six crackers for breakfast. Some unsweetened apple sauce and cottage cheese for lunch. A Blue Bell round cheese disk or Quest bar for a snack and focus on some sort of protein for dinner. I feel like I am constantly eating. I am 7 weeks out, down 45 since pre-op (10 days before surgery) 35 since surgery. BMI of 39 before surgery, 35 now. Anyone else get stuck in a rut with food? Should I try to add more variety or continue to eat what I can? When I asked my surgeon he said he wants me to drink one or two protein shakes a day. I struggle with nausea and protein shakes, no matter the brand or flavor, turn my stomach.

Surgery consult date: 258 Surgery date May 10: 246 Today: 219 Started at size 20 and currently a size 16 Still can't eat anything very heavy or dense and get nauseas often. Every time I step outside of the soft food range I regret it.

Oh yah....can't forget the paperwork and paying my portion of the surgery costs.

I assume most doctors and hospitals have different things they go over at the pre op appt. I just had mine today. I met with my doctor and weighed in, spoke with him and his nurse. He did a quick physical exam, listened to heart and lungs and such. They gave me information on expectations for surgery, after surgery hospital stay, Vitamins and diet after surgery, etc. I was sent over to the hospital for labwork and an ekg. The nurse at the hospital was very informative and answered all of my questions. All in all, it was a good thing for me and made me feel even more sure that I am in good hands.

Thank you Cheri for your response. I really do appreciate it.

I am days away from my surgery and can't wait to start my journey toward better health and a new life. I have a question. I know the basics, VSG is just a tool and I have to change my habits for success long term. VSG removes a lot of the hunger producing hormones. The stomach that is left can stretch a little over time. It is possible to regain weight after the first year or so. Emotional and "head hunger" will still be a battle. My question for those that are a year or so out is this... Do you feel hungry and the urge to over indulge similar to before surgery? Do the hunger hormones build back up? I am so scared about going through this monumental life change only to fail and regain weight a few years later. If obesity was something I could control by developing better habits and eating less I wouldn't have spent 25 years of my life battling my weight and need surgery. I'm just worried about results long term. I have gained and lost a large amount of weight several times in my life and if this comes down to willpower in a few years I am not sure I can keep it off. I've never succeeded keeping it off before. Know what I mean?

Wow! Hi five to a fellow Kansas girl! My surgery is in 10 days in Topeka. Thanks for the inspiration!!!

Thanks for the info and appreciate your candor. I know this road will not be easy. Hopefully along the way I can accomplish what I haven't been able to before.

YES! I am a Sami and EJ fan, hardcore! LOL Awesome your hubby knows who they are. PM me if you want info on a great fan site for them.

Woohoo! Just got my date! May 10. I am so happy and can't believe it is really going to happen for me.

OMG!!!! So excited! Got my insurance approval! Now just waiting for surgery center to get me scheduled! Home sleep study went well, PCP said I passed. Very glad I won't have to do the in lab one. Can't believe I could be having surgery soon!!! Pinch me!

Once I make up my mind I am all about getting things done. I am beyond irritated with the process of getting approved for surgery. I have completed my psych eval and met with the nutritionist. Dr wants a sleep study before surgery. As far as I can tell it is the Dr requesting and not an insurance issue. I was fine having it done until my insurance denied it, saying I don't meet the required criteria. Honestly I think the nurse of my primary care Dr didn't know what she was doing when she tried to get the precertification. She called me last week asking why I needed it, I explained the issue and she misunderstood and thought I wanted to do the sleep study it just to have the test. I told her I have had sleep apnea symptoms for years and that is why the surgeon wants the test ran but I think she still mucked the process up. Sorry to be so negative, but I am upset about it. I emailed the surgery center to let them know that my insurance will only cover an at home pulse ox monitor test, hopefully that will be good enough. I am stressed about qualifying for surgery. I have BCBS, which is good, but my BMI is in the 38-39 range. I have HBP, takes meds for it and borderline diabetes. I know with comorbidities I could qualify with less than 40, but I'm not sure if they would consider the borderline diabetes or not. My consult is next Thursday, I guess I will find out soon, just stressed about it all and am worried I won't qualify. I have spent the better part of 20 years obese. Diets worked to bring my weight down, but I never seemed to have enough willpower to stay on them once I lost the initial 50 lbs or so. Thanks for "listening" to me vent.

These lists are great! Can't wait to: --Not be embarrassed to see friends that haven't seen me in a while --Actually feel feminine again, would be nice to not feel invisible around men ...would love to run into my ex husband just to see the look on his face --Wear clothes that aren't all stretched out and mishaped --Be able to walk across a parking lot without feeling winded --Pictures with my girls. I have three daughters and have only a few pictures of myself with them as they were growing up. It's almost like I didn't exist. --I think the biggest one is not being so stinkin exhausted all the time

Congrats! I am in the waiting boat too. I had my appt with the surgeon Thursday. The nurse told me she will be submitting to insurance Monday. I am so excited to have a date. Hopefully soon :-)

Thanks! Good luck with surgery. Look forward to hearing how it went.

Oh wow, I have thought the same thing about writing down apnea symptoms on my paperwork.

That is awesome! Congrats!!!

Thanks for the info! I am sure I am stressing too much about it. Kind of had a crappy day and I have been down about the possibility of it not happening, or not as soon as I would like it to.

Thanks, I read what others have been through and I feel bad complaining.

I'm in the same boat and feel your pain.

I looked into the band about a year ago, but couldn't get past the foreign object aspect. I went to the information meeting a few weeks ago and it confirmed my feelings about it. I hope to get my sleeve as soon as possible. :-)

Had mine this past week. 30 min chat with the psychologist followed by a couple true/false tests that took about an hour. It is interesting reading the different hoops everyone has to jump through and how each evaluation varies by insurance.

I have BCBS, still waiting to hear from the surgery center. I sent my paperwork in almost two weeks ago. Hopefully I will hear from them soon, anticipation is killing me. I am on the borderline with my bmi so I am nervous that will delay approval. We will see.

I am in the same boat. My paperwork has been sent in, and I have done the psych eval. Now I wait to hear from the Dr's office to schedule my consult. Waiting stinks! I am ready to begin my weight loss journey. Kind of concerned because I am right in the 38-40 range and hope insurance approves. Been on blood pressure meds for years, history of borderline diabetes.