1SuperBonBon

Laura-Ven, You go right ahead and post on every thread if you like. I enjoy reading your posts. You always have good information and are very encouraging. I feel like you are very dedicated to your journey and helping those of us a long that are not as far in our journey. Thanks for you being you! Now back to topic..... I hope the OP is doing well. And I hope when I encounter my own personal challenges (and I know I will) people are kind and respectful. I wish you all success in your own personal journey. Thanks, Bonnie

Your mind seems to be racing. I am not sure what the initial catalyst is/was. I want to try to help, but can you give more info what started the "panic" I gather from your post that something is going on with the certainty of your job, which may be causing you great anxiety. And just a guess, but in the past you comforted your feelings with food; hence, where your concern that you might fail your sleeve. Am I even close to unraveling your thought process? Bonnie

I have my surgery on October 22nd and I have been trying to figure out where the pain rates. I have had the following surgery: C-section (this was a killer for me) Gall Bladder (cake walk) Appendix (Omg! I thought I was going to die) Tummy Tuck (not too bad. It felt like I wokred out really really hard) Breat Augmentation/Lift (Augmentation wowzer. that under the muscle thing FN hurts. Lift was nothing) Liposuction (pretty painful) I can't wait until I have my sleeve and report back where this surgery rates Bonnie

Wow! I am sitting here wondering if I could do that. I am not sure, but I certainly wouldn't pass judgment on anyone who did. Is it possible to get financing for your plastics?

Nope. I just worry about how I am going to pay for the plastics. I am definitely pro plastics. I figure if I start saving now, I should be able to afford the plastic when I am ready.

Everything has been moving so fast that I thought I should take a moment out of my day to document how it is I got to where I am today. Let's go waaayyyyyy back..... I was 17 years old and started developing depression. I ballooned up to 206 lbs from 145 lbs. (I am 5:7") I was mortified to see the scale go over 200 lbs. I immediately started counting calories and riding my bike. in a matter of 8 months I dropped down to 156 lbs. I was delighted. (what I wouldn't give to weigh 206 today) For the next 10 or 11 years I hungout between 152 and 158. Partly because I was a "professional" dancer and the amount of exercise I got everyday was awesome. July of 1993 I found out I was pregnant. I had mixed emotions, but overal was happy. The day I found out I was pregnant I weighed myself. I was 158 lbs and in really good shape. I figured I had this pregnancy thing under control. Ha ha ha. I was contantly sick and tired. The only bad thing is I never threw up. So I ate and slept my way through my pregnancy and gained a whopping 100 lbs. This is where the struggle begins. For the last 19 years I have been all over the place on the scale. Anywhere from 172 to 301. About eight years ago I dieted and lost 90 pounds. I looked great. Did all the plastics and everything. But slowly over the years the weight has been piling on. My bipolar medication has not helped the situation out either. November 14, 2012 I was diagnosed with Celiac's Disease..... I immediately had to go gluten-free. You know what has gluten in it? EVERY FN Thing!!!! I though god has answered my prayers and has now made it impossible to eat crap food without getting extremely sick. Everyone said I would definitely be losing weight. Well I proved them wrong. In a matter of 8 months I lost 14 pounds. whoopie! So there is the history.... Fast Forward to now..... My beautiful younger sister came to see me in June of this year. She is 4 years younger than I am, 5'6" and 140. She looks amazing. She was here to have some plastic surgery with my plastic surgeon. This brought me back to thinking what could I have done? Well...... nothing. I need a whole body makeover. Light Bulb! I am sooooo looking into bariatric surgery. My sister was in full support and support excited for me. So at my sisters next appt with the plastic surgeon, I asked for a referral for a bariatric surgeon. The plastic surgeon is so nice, he texted Dr. Zare right then to let him know I was coming and take good care of me. I made my appt. with Dr. Zare for August 1st. He was great and very thorough. It took me two weeks to think about things, but on August 15th, I paid the $500 program fee and things really started to move then. the next few days I went to see the psychologist and the NUT; both of whom wrote me glowing recommendation. Two weeks later my case was submitted to insurance. Then the clock stopped moving for two weeks while I waited to hear from the insurance company. Finally the news came. I was approved. Called the office to schedule my surgery October 22, 2013 and it is on like donkey kong! My pre-op appt is Oct 4 with the surgeon. I am so ready for this. I can hardly stand it. To Tell Or NOT To Tell I started off not going to tell ANYONE! This was my own little personal journey. Then as I became more comfortable, I told my family, then I told my manager at work to get the time off, and then I told a couple of friends. AND THEN I told my immediate co-workers on my team. I am no longer ashamed of my decision, but I am also not going to scream it from the mountain top either. I will be honest when asked and tell people on a need to know basis. So far I have not had one person react negatively to my decision. I have had nothing but an outpouring of support. Well these are all my personal thoughts for now. If you got this far reading this... Thanks. I really did this for myself, but just in case anyone else finds interest in it, I posted it for the whole VST to see. Bye for now Bonnie

You are smoking hot! I am definitely inspired

Hmmmm that is a tough one! Your BMI is 34.2. What has your past history been with dieting and exercise? How long have you been at this weight? Has your weight been steadily going up over the years? I am not sleeved yet (Otober 22nd), but from what I read on here from other is that this is just tool and you really need to be ready to commit to the life changes. I guess I would just think about what your history has been with weight loss and keeping it off. Only you can decide what you are ready for and what is right for you. Good Luck and keep us posted. Bonnie

Interesting question. Some people on here went through quite a rigorous questionnaire to screen for mental disorders while others had a pretty basic interview/discussion session. Mine was pretty easy. They asked the following stuff: History of mental disorders Medication Stability of my mental disorders My psychiastrist name If I am in therapy and how often do I go the therapists name Have I ever missed work from depression Suicide history Family history Family weight history What I know about the surgery How I felt about the extra skin after weight loss What my support system was like My eating habits That's all I can think of for now. But my psychologist told me right then, before I left, that I was a could candidate and would be writing a recommendation. I hope this helps. Bonnie

I take 60mg of Cymbalta and 5mg of Abilify.

I agree with the other posts, but here is one thought...It is hard to admit that we need help and are not able to do this on our own. We feel like, what is wrong with me? I must be weak. And then there is the what if I do this and I fail? I mean we all have not had the best track records with weight loss. I would discuss this with your therapist. You definitely need to be committed to the journey and ready to accept the lifestyle change. I am not sleeved yet (Oct 22nd), but from what I read on here, it is not a magic bullet, but a tool. I don't think I would have been ready a year ago. But last year I was diagnosed with Celiac's Disease. And in the matter of overnight I had to give up gluten completely. You know what has gluten in it? EVERYTHING. I didn't even get the chance to have a food funeral. Gluten was making me so sick that I would have done anything to feel better. It took me about two months of being very bitter about not getting to eat like everyone else, and sometimes I am still a little resentful. Now I feel that going gluten-free and changing my eating habits has just prepared me for the next step of my journey. The Sleeve. I am very committed to making this work and I know it is the right decision for me. I wish you luck in finding the right answer for yourself. Keep us posted. Bonnie

Thanks for this post. I too have bipolar and have managed with Cymbalta and Abilify for years. I am not sleeved yet (October 22nd), but have been wondering how this will affect me. As long as I am getting good sleep in, I would be happy to be moving more. I actually like my hypomania, but the depression crash that always follows is not fun at all; hence, staying diligent to my meds has been a way of life for me. Bonnie

October 22nd woo hoo! I am anxious and excited, but not nervous. Hey LuckyT who is your surgeon?

I love it. I am so making one of these. I am a little bit of an Excel geek too. Great Post.

I agree with all of these, but I have to say one thing I will miss about being FAT is always getting to ride in the front seat when going out with co-workers because none of them want to watch the pitiful sight of you trying to cram yourself in the backseat.

Right on! I am right behind you. October 22nd here I come.

Okay... I couldn't take it anymore so I called the insurance company myself just now. Good News!!!! They told me that my surgery was approved late yesterday afternoon, but they have probably not notified my doctor's office yet. I just emailed the surgery coordinator to let her know what I have found out (I am sure she is sooooo annoyed with me), This just became very REAL!!!!

I am playing the same game! I have Anthem Blue Cross PPO and it has been a week and a half. I think the Insurance Coordinator is about sick and tired of me Good Grief how long does it take? She told me that if she didn't hear by the end of the day yesterday, she would call first thing this morning. BUT.... I have not heard a word from her yet. This is killing me.

Hi Michelle I was diagnosed with Celiac's Disease 10 months ago and have been gluten-free since the day I had a confirmed diagnosis. I am not sleeved yet (hope to be on October 8th). I am hoping my journey is a little easier since I already don't eat carbs. I never searched for gluten-free replacement foods. I just eat naturally gluten-free (meats/fruits/veggies/dairy). I thought this was nature's way of telling me I needed a diet. To my surprise, I only lost 16 pounds in 9 months going gluten-free. This has lead me to the sleeve. I know this is not exactly what you have asked, but......If you are anything like me, I get so sick from the tiniest bit of gluten (even my medication has to be gluten-free). Deprived and resentful is exactly how I felt for a good three months after going gluten-free. I am still a little ticked off about the whole thing. Although now I am thinking this might just have been my preparation for the sleeve. I had to say good-bye to all my food friends last year. I wish you luck.

OMG ROFLMAO!!! GreekNugget, I just read all your blogs and it has completely made my day. Thank you so much for sharing.

I am so glad I found this thread. I have RA, Lupus, and Celiac Disease. I call it the trifecta of autoimmune diseases. I was diagnosed with all three about a year ago. All the RA and Lupus posts have been really helpful. But I would like to hear a little more from the people with Celiac Disease. My Celiac is so bad that I have not eaten out at a restaurant in a year because just the littlest coss-contamination can make me very sick. Has it been easier or harder to maintain gluten-free on the sleeve diet?

Good Morning Laura I already want to kill someone. I have a ton of anxiety and wish I could sleep through the next three days. I am taking it hour by hour. I have been on here reading posts trying to keep myself occupied. You are super sweet to check in on me. I will give you more updates later.

Marc Zare is Dr. Marc Zare, bariatric surgeon in San Jose, CA.

I am 5'7" and currently weigh 275. 20 years ago when i got pregnant I was 158 and wore a size 8. I am going for anything in the 150's. I hope that helps. Oh yeah and I am 48.

Awesome Laura! Thanks for starting the thread. Right now I am dealing with quitting smoking. I have decided this is going to be the hardest part. Tomorrow will be D-day for me and my cigarettes. I will need all the support I can get.