KaraBoo

I'm November 6!! =)

Thank you so much for posting this! I start my preop diet on the 23rd, kinda nervous about it! Good luck, you're doing great!

You look fantastic! I am also an RN -- how long did you take off of work?

I'm a telemetry RN for a nationally recognized cardiac hospital in CA -- and I refuse to be a patient there so I'm getting sleeved end of Sept/beginning of Oct!

I've always (even in my slimmer days) been attracted to the bigger (height and weight) guys. I'm a shorty (5' 1.5") and the tallest guy I dated was 6'8". My current SO is 5'11" & 290. Gotta love them teddy bears!

Good luck and speedy recoveries to you both!

I am supposed to lose 10% in my 12 week Options class (Kaiser). I have 3 weeks left and have lost 17 of the 24 lbs recommended.

I've got a hanging pannus already and I'm still preop -- I know it will only get worse! I've already begun documenting with my pcp the skin rashes and fungal infections so that I can get that portion of my plastics paid for by insurance. I've reconciled myself with the need for ps... it's not just a vanity thing, it's also a hygiene thing for me.

You look gorgeous! I started at 238, this gives me hope for when I'm 3 months out! Great job

Personally, I'd do the enema and get it over with

I was chunky in jr. high, slimmed down summer before high school. Maintained a 36-28-36 figure through graduation. Then I got raped and packed on the pounds (subconsciously thinking that would keep me "safe"). Hit 165 (I'm 5'1.5"), then got married at 19 (again thinking i would be "safe") and had 3 kids in rapid succession, never losing baby weight between pregnancies and suffering pretty severe postpartum deppression. I found myself at 25, weighing 250, divorced and going back to school. Now I'm 33, my demons have been slayed, and I'm ready to let go of the last vestiges of the trauma in my life -- all this fat! Hoping for a September surgery date!

*putting on nurse hat* 10% weight loss is considered acute weight loss. In acute weight loss, the fat mostly comes off the internal organs, making laparoscopic surgery safer. Fat is slippery (think raw chicken breasts) and manipulating fatty organs leaves an increased risk for injury. Also, a fatty liver is friable (crumbles easily) and can be deadly. This is why my surgeon requires a 10% weight loss.... I can't speak for others. Hope that helps!

I've thought about this post for days now, going back and forth on whether or not to reply. My situation is slightly different from yours, but in the hopes that this will ease your mind, I'll share a little of my story. I got married really young and had 3 kids in rapid succession. I never lost my baby weight with any of the pregnancies, and was well over 200 with my last pregnancy (I'm 5' 1 1/2"). My husband was not interested in me any longer and in fact cheated on me multiple times, always citing my weight as the reason. I finally left him after 7 years and went back to school for my nursing degree. I tried and failed to lose weight, the usual story. 3 years ago, I met my current boyfriend. 2 1/2 years ago the kids and I moved in with him. He has never known me thin. He has never made comments on my weight. In the beginning, our sex life was great and he was so complimentary, always telling me how beautiful I am, etc. About a year and a half ago, that changed. The compliments stopped, and we did not have sex for over a year. From my previous experience, I was convinced it was me, that he found me unattractive, that he couldn't stand to see me naked. It was around this time that I started considering the sleeve as my mom had it and has done wonderfully with it. Here's the thing.... it wasn't me at all. He has ED and that was the reason for the changes I saw. He was insecure and self-conscious. After a huge blow up fight where I got as far as packing my clothes, he finally let me in to where his head had been at. He didn't want to compliment me for fear it would key me up and he would be unable to perform. He was also worried that I'd find someone else who could. We both cried and finally had an honest discussion about our different expectations. This is not to say we don't still have our issues, because all relationships do. But what I thought was all my fault actually wasn't. Now I'm close to getting my surgery date (so excited!). I had a week where I gained instead of losing and freaked out. He told me "If you lose or gain, it won't change my feelings. I love you, your body is just icing on the cake." He is incredibly supportive and my biggest cheerleader. I think you and your husband need to have an honest and open discussion. His reasons for behaving the way he is might just surprise you. If he really is just not interested and pulling away, try counseling. If that doesn't work, move on. There is someone out there who will love you for you, regardless of the packaging you come in! {{{hugs}}}

If it's unchanged/getting worse, and you can't reach your doc, go to urgent care or the ER just to be safe. Hope it resolves soon!

Tell that to my student loans :-P

I feel that way every time I see a picture of myself! I look in the mirror and am at least content with how my clothes fit, but then I see a pic and my stomach drops and my heart feels soooo heavy. 4 weeks to go before I get my referral to my surgeon -- can't wait!

Rofl!!!! Love it, Gman! I, too, must have an infantile mind.... Funny, because the letters behind my name tend to imply otherwise

For me, they'll know because they check blood levels the morning of surgery.... Any nicotine or it's metabolites = surgery cancelled

I hear you, quitting is really hard. I'm using Chantix, maybe you could look into that? Also, the e cigs can be used with no nicotine, that might help when you just can't fight the cravings. Good luck, we'll get through this and be on our way to healthier, slimmer adventures!

Yep, Kaiser. We were told that the copays for Kaiser hospitals were lower but that's great that they'll do payment arrangements! I hadn't heard about the surgeon fee, gonna have to look into that... Good luck next week, I'll be thinking of you!