1Day1Life4Now

@jennyinky... I'd say you work for a printing company.

Thanks Irene, I've been wondering how to do this but was afraid to ask....didn't want to show my age and computer ignorance. LOL

Sleevemode, I'd say you are a computer specialist.

I've never even seen them before. I'll check the link. You be the brave one and try them out and then let us know how they are. If they're selling them, somebody out there has bought them and tried them. Now, we just have to find out who.

Hi Cody, welcome to the forum. This is a great place to come for support and information. We hope you will visit often and make comments. From what you have described, it certainly sounds like all of your comorbidities along with your weight should qualify you for one of the surgeries. Pick up the phone and talk to somebody at Medicaid. I've heard of other people in the forum who have used Medicaid but I am not sure what the requirements. Either way, you can't proceed until you know if they cover bariatric surgery or not. One of the tabs at the top of this page says "surgeons" Click on it and type in your location and see if one is listed for your area. If not google Bariatric Sugery in xxxxxx town, Georgia * you know, what ever town you live in. They will be able to set you up with a seminar where you will learn about the various surgeries. If you have any problem in that regard, come back and ask one of us to help you. I wish you much luck and hope that this journey will put you on a healthier and happier path. Good luck.

Kimquilts55, are you a teacher? I am an artist but only as a hobby,for pay I work for the FBI as a contracting officer. I did work in HR for about 10 years but thought the financial world would be more interesting...unfortunately I was wrong. LOL

I was a big diet coke drinker before surgery but I don't miss it a bit and don't care if I ever have another one. I was also a big sweet tea drinker and would drink about a half gallon per day. Not only can I not drink it, I can't even drink unsweetened. I have lost the taste for tea alltogether. I miss being able to eat spicey foods because my reflux will not allow it. I also miss being able to eat appetizers. But really, I have gained so much more than I have lost and prefer this life style over the one I had pre surgery. More than missing food I miss the me that was thin and looked good in a bikini..... I may never get to the bikini again but I am going to find that thin body again one day soon.

Kimquilts= government contractor Sharpie - law enforcement officer Now somebody guess me. lol

I still meet friends for lunch and dinner. It's just a way of life and my goal was to learn to function in the real world. The sleeve allows me to do this. Additionally, we go to movies, go for walks, go bowling . We often go to painting classes or take art lessons such as sculpting, or photography. One friend and I did Tai Chi. Great exercise and it wasn't too difficult. My husband loves to cook out and he has learned to make small hamburgers for me, with no bread of course. We grill steaks, pork chops, salmon, tilapia etc and even grill fresh veggies on the BBQ. That is always fun. Finding things to do that make you more active are the best but my hubby isn't interested so I depend on my girl friends for that. This coming week we are having a "Laugh-In". We'll play Chonda Pierce DVDs and laugh the night away. For those unfamiliar with Chonda... she is a Christian comedian who is very funny. We have a strict no snack policy since most of us are dieting but we all bring our own glasses and drinks. Do anything that interests you, as long as you are on the move you are doing well. Just enjoy life.

Before surgery, most of us are totally consumed with this WLS. We wonder if or how much weight loss we will lose, we worry about the surgery, the recovery, we worry about what people will say... oh yes even when we don't care what they think we still get hurt by their words. It's all normal and it is all okay. Don't let it get to you, you have made a difficult decision to make your life and your health better. That does not have a size or a number...it's a decision. Let them say what they will... when you lose the weight and you are looking fabulous they change their tune and all they will be able to say is WOW. You are going to love the sleeve. Sure, it will take some getting used to but once you do, it will be wonderful and you will be happy with your weight loss. Good luck and hope you do well.

Hi Cindy, Only you can make the choice about what is best for you personally. I chose the sleeve for many reasons but most importantly, it didn't have any malabsorption issues and had a quick recovery time while being permanent. Yes, being permanent is a good thing. I didn't want temporary weight loss, I wanted something that would help me change my eating life style forever so I could more easily manage my weight loss. Don't worry about the age thing. I had my surgery on Feb. 10th at age 58 and I had 130 pounds to lose. I'm down 51 pounds now but feel sure I'll lose the rest in time. I was off work just one week and had no complications. The weight loss is slow compared to some folks I've seen on here but way fast compared to anything I've ever done in the past. I love my sleeve and would do it again if I had to. Wishing you much luck in whatever you decide.

I think we all understand that anxiety. Telling you not to worry is useless because I know you will. Just remember that this is a very successful surgery that is being performed all over the world with a minimum of complications. Look at the rest of us a and our successful stories and focus on the positive. Praying for an uneventful surgery and a quick and easy recovery.

my hips and feet are feeling so much better and I've quit taking my anti-inflammatory meds. Of course my left knee is still causing me problems but it is so much better than it was. I know at some point in time I will have to have my knees replaced but I have bought some time with this weight loss. Yay for the sleeve.

I was always a normal size child and teenager. I am big boned so in highschool and college I felt bigger than I actually was. When I graduated from college I was 120 pounds at 5'4". When I started dating my husband at 21 I slowly started gaining weight due to new unhealthy eating habits that my husband had engaged in for years. I didn't really start getting fat until after my babies were born. and then a hysterectomy that brought on early menopause packed on the pounds. I got up to about 265 and couldn't take it any more because my knees and hips were always hurting. Nothing ever fit and I always felt like the fattest woman in the room. I come from a very thin family and none of them understood how or why I had gained so much weight. They have always been kind but expressed concern about what I was doing to my health, Now that I've lost 50 pounds they are noticing and they are saying positive things as well as how proud they are of me. I have not told any of them that I have had surgery but they are very aware of my dieting. I like it this way and I'm so thankful for my sleeve and this opportunity to get healthy again.

Obamacare has not been so good to me but if it's working for you, more power to you. Congratulations on your date. You are going to love this. i waited 10 years to have surgery but I'm sort of glad I did because the sleeve wasn't available when I first started looking at this, I love my sleeve and my new life style. Good luck everyone.

I've been married for 35 years and I had the big wedding that i really couldn't afford. It started out small and my husband and his family just made it grow and grow...the pics are lovely. If I had to do it all over I would do a destination wedding somewhere nice. I'd pack my wedding dress and get married in a small little romantic chapel somewhere on a small island. All you need is a bride and a groom and a minister. Any wedding can be as romantic as you want it to be...just make it so. Big weddings are not just difficult on the bride and groom, they are difficult and expensive for the bridal party, the families and the guests. Make it small and make it count. Just marry the right person, that's all that matters.

Excellent post and great food for thought. I'm only 4 months out so I'm still honey mooning with my sleeve. Congratulations on your recommitment ceremony, it's a great way to stay actively engaged in the marriage. My hubby and I have been married for 35 years and we'll be celebrating our anniversary on a Grecian Island as we lie on the beach and enjoy doing nothing. Good luck and thank you for the post.

I am sorry to say it but I've seen some bullying on these forums and it boggles my mind that some people say they haven't seen it. Mostly it involves people asking legitimate questions and "veterans" complaining that the questions have been asked too many times so the poster should be doing searches rather than posting a new question. Then others complaining about which questions the posters are asking or they criticize people for praying or outwardly mentioning or showing their faith. I could understand it if the posters were posting in the Athiest Room but they weren't. If we wish to pray for others we should be allowed to mention it without being ridiculed. Everyone is new at some point in time and it takes a while to get comfortable with the format so I feel there needs to be more understanding and empathy for newbies and those having difficulties. I always try to say something positive if I can because I know how I have felt when posters have made unkind remarks. On the other hand, I generally ignore the bullies because I don't want to give them fuel to boost their egos.

Sometimes its best to be selective about which posts you do read but overall this is a wonderful site for you to visit as you will learn a lot from the veterans on here. We understand about your fears and reservations, we had them as well. I, like most people, spent a lot of time reading on line and in books about the surgery, the recovery and the possible complications. It was difficult to think about going through those things but I knew they were all very real possibilities and that one can not predict what will or will not happen after surgery. It is all luck and chance. The best thing you can do for yourself is follow your surgeons advice pre and post op to help minimize any of those complications. The most important thing to remember is that the chances of having complications are very small and most people do not have complications after surgery but most people do have complications from being morbidly obese. If you don't have the surgery you will most likely remain obese and the complications you now experience will certainly become worse. With WLS, you might have a small temporary complication or none at all. Put your fear in perspective and choose what is in your best interest. Good luck.

Yep, I heard a lot of that too and it even came from the hubby and my daughter.....I know how uncomfortable I was in my own skin, they did not. At 5'4", i showed the extra weight even though it was equitably distributed. It just wasn't possible to get any taller so my only option was to get rid of the weight. I'm down 50 pounds and wearing a size 14 dress, 16 pants (US sizes) down from a 3X and size 22. I feel better, I look better, I sleep better....life is just better. Okay..the hair loss is a pain in the ass but y'all keep telling me its temporary so I believe you and know I can deal with anything that is temporary. It's just so scary wondering if I'm going to end up bald, since my hair is sooo thin now and I'm only 4 months out. Anyway, each of us has to endure our own personal struggles and as well meaning as some of those comments may be....they have no idea of the pain we go through so...it is just best to make our own decisions and not listen to the noise coming from our loved ones.

LeighAnn, how is the hubby doing??? How are you feeling? Any updates??? keeping you in our prayers.

It generally takes 6 to 8 weeks after surgery to feel the increase of energy. Drink your Water, eat your Protein and exercise. You will get your energy from the exercise so start moving and keep it up.

LiteNsweet, I had to do 3 month supervised diet before the insurance company would approve mine but once everything was submitted it only took a week to 10 days. Of course they said to allow them 30 days to review before approval and I think they tell everyone that but unless they are really busy or you are only borderline on the comorbidities it doesn't take them long to do the approval. Hope you will hear something very soon.

Tomorrow is a new day. Start over. Everyday we are presented with challenges. Sometimes we are able to be strong and meet these challenges head on, then other days....well lets just say it's a big struggle. All you can do is the best you can do. Sometimes we are weak and the struggle seems too much. This is no different after surgery. You have to make the best decisions you can and when you make poor choices, suffer the consequences. We are not here to judge another person's journey... just know that you can do this and when you fall, just get up again and start over. Don't waste time beating yourself up over this. We are all human and we all make mistakes but it gets easier the longer you do this. People will always be eating and drinking things around you that you cannot or should not have so you have to find a way to fight those urges. Remember, you can't change the world....only yourself. Good luck Tomorrow will be a better day.

6 weeks was the big turning point for me.