Wdwfreak

I am starting this so all of us who are beginning 2013 in a big way can share stories, advice and experiences. My surgery date is 1/21/13 and this has been a year long journey for me. I began last December with a physical and my Dr. and I decided it was time. I had to go through 6 months of weigh-ins and visits with the nutritionist before I was even allowed to see the surgeon. I finally met him in July and then was given a whole new list of tests and appointments that needed to be done. My insurance finally approved me earlier this month, but only for surgery after January 1, so January 21st it is. I am so excited to start this journey and thank you all in advance for sharing your experiences here!

You are doing great!!!!! Keep up the good work. I totally know how you feel though. I am 4 weeks out and have lost 26 pounds, which I felt was definitely not enough when I weighed myself on Monday. But when I took a step back of the ledge I was about to jump off, I realized that I am really doing ok. Don't get me wrong, I would love to have lost 40+ pounds in the first month, but 26 is really not bad. This is a journey and it is going to have some serious ups and downs, both with the process and on the scale. I have decided that I need to be proud of myself for making this choice and know that the weight will come off, even if it is slower than I would like. I have to say that it is great to see that there are quite a few of us that seem to be in the 4-5 week post-op stage and have lost about the same amount of weight. We all must be doing something right - yay us!!!!!

Welcome back! So sorry to hear that you were sick and possibly have a hernia. I will keep you in my prayers and hope all goes well tomorrow night. I LOVE the idea of NSV's and really need to throw the scale away myself. I too let the scale dictate my mood for the day and that is just crazy, there is just no point to it. My first NSV would be getting a winter coat on last night that I couldn't wear on Christmas Eve AND it was over a sweater! I was really happy and made me realize that it did not matter what the scale said. I will post more NSV's as they happen. I think I am on the brink of switching to a smaller pair of jeans (yay me!).

I saw my nut today and she said 1 egg at this stage was totally fine (I am 1 week post-op). Egg beaters are on my list, but I hate the taste and texture, so she said I could do 1 egg instead.

Sooooooo good to be here on the post-op losers bench! I had surgery 1 week ago and have kind of been MIA since, sorry about that. Surgery went well, no complications and I came home on Wednesday. I don't know what I was expecting, but I was really not prepared for the pain. I gave birth to 2 giant baby boys, so I like to think I have a pretty high pain threshold, but this surgery kicked my ass. Anyway, I am happy to say that I am feeling MUCH better today and was able to sneeze without crying. That is all I prayed for, a cough or sneeze that did not make me cry for a 1/2 hour after. I am doing pretty good with getting all of my fluids and protein in, but have had some major head hunger and a serious feeling-sorry-for-myself moment on Saturday. All is better now and I am just taking this one day at a time. I see my Dr. tomorrow for my first post-op, so I am hoping he tells me I am doing well. Keep up the great work everyone!

Ok, I made it and am now officially on the post-op side!!!!! Surgery went great and I have pretty much slept the day away. Pain is tolerable for the most part and when it gets a little pit of hand, I just ask for more pain mess. Hoping to get up and walk soon, I am getting sick of sitting in this bed. I will post more tomorrow when I am not so out of it from the pain meds. Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers, I could not have done this without you all!!!!!

I slept like crap too, my brain would just not shut off. Thinking of you today. Good luck!

On the way to the hospital! Can't believe it's really happening! Will post later from the post-op side.

Thanks! Can't wait to join you on the losers bench. How are you feeling today?

I went through a huge food funeral for the month before I started my liquid diet. I made a list of all of my must-have foods and went to town. I gained 10 pounds, which really sucked because it is just 10 pounds more I have to lose now. BUT, it was so good at the time and what I need to do to help me deal with what I call my "food divorce" now.

Sending hugs and prayers your way! So crazy that in less than 24 hours we will be on the post-op side. It is so surreal at this point, I just can't believe it's really almost time. I will make sure to post as soon as I can tomorrow, please do the same. Good luck!!!!!!! We can do this!!!!!!!

Teka - that is amazing, you look great! How exciting to see the difference already!!!!!!

How exciting - congrats! I have heard that it is the little things that really matter when it comes to our weight loss and this just is another example. Keep up the good work!!!!!

Congrats!!!!! Good luck to you. I hope your insurance approval goes smoothly and you get to keep your 2/12/13 surgery date!

My thoughts and prayers are with you today. I hope this takes call of all of the complications and you can begin to heal quickly. Be strong, you can do this!!!!

OMG - you are all going down in cup size! I am currently only a B cup, after reading all of your comments, I am now worried they might actually end up concave once I lose my weight!

Oh no Love, I am so sorry you are having complications. Keep your chin up and remember that you knew this was not going to be easy and the complications will pass. Keep your eye on the prize and know that it will get better soon.

Wow - you look great! Congrats!

Congrats - that is amazing!!!!! Keep up the good work!

I have BCBS IL HMO. I was told when I started my process back in December of 2011 that it was not the insurance company that had the restrictions, it was my medical group. BCBS told me they would cover the surgery as long as I had the proper referral from my PCP. It was my PCP that required the 6 month of weigh-ins and 6 months of meetings with the nutritionist before they would give me the referral to the surgeon. Sooooo - I would assume that if they approved me with an HMO, you should have no problem getting approved with a PPO and you probably won't have to jump through the hoops.

Good luck to you! You are in my thoughts and prayers. Can't wait to hear how it all goes for you!!!!!!

Thanks for starting this thread! Please keep us posted on how you are doing once you feel up to it. Good luck tomorrow!!!!!

Thanks for this, it's great to see all of the surgery dates in one place. Good luck to you tomorrow, you are in my prayers!