CaliGirlSlimmingDown

Wow ladies - I have some of the same back problems and I see my Pain Dr. For steroid injections. I have a disintegrated disk And a lot of inflammation around it. I also have degenerative disc disease, Spinal stenosis and spondylithesis. As far as exercise goes, I am limited to walking and swimming for short periods of time. I sleep with a special pillow under my knees to take the pressure off of my back at night. am getting sleeved next Monday, November 11, here in sunny Southern Cali. I see this as my opportunity to get this extra weight off of my back so I don't have to be so restrictive, so I don't have to spend so much of my days in pain!!!!! I hope we all get some sort of relief!!!! God Bless You two! I know how challenging these back problems are! With live, Lisa Marie

I'm going to have surgery in Orange, too!!! At Chapman Medical Center. You too?

Hi everyone. I posted for the first time a few weeks ago then I got super busy with work! Now I'm getting ready for my liquid-only pre-op diet which starts tomorrow, Monday, October 27. My surgery is scheduled for Monday, November 11. I CAN'T WAIT!!! I am also in LA, Cali. For everyone else on pre-op, or getting ready to start like myself, WE CAN DO IT!!!!! After all, getting to pre-op means we are very close to our surgery dates. YAY!!! God Bless Us All! ❤ Lisa

Hi everyone. I started posting a few weeks ago but then I got busy with a report that I was writing for work.....then I had company for a week who left today. Tomorrow I start my 2-week liquid pre-op diet. My surgery is Nov. 11 in LA, too! ???? I'm SO excited - I can hardly wait!!!! I'll chime in from time to time. I know pre-op is going to be challenging but it also means that I am getting closer to surgery! Good luck to everyone else on pre-op now and/or starting this week. We are strong - we can do it!

I've been invited to a support group that meets at Kaiser Harbor City next Tuesday which I am going to attend. I am not a Kaiser patient but this support group is open to anyone. It's free and the gal who invited me is 4-weeks post-op and she says the group is awesome.

Awesome - I'm going to be at Chapman Memorial with Dr. Owens. I don't guess you have him, too? I'm traveling to Orange, CA for him!!!

st physician I saw told me that my insurance REQUIRED me to participate in a 6-month weight loss program prior to surgery. I was working with this physician and staff until it was taking them weeks to schedule every step and I feared it would end up being more like a year or two by the time all was said and done. I ended up seeing a different surgeon, one who performed my friend's gastric bypass 3 years prior, and this office actually showed me my benefit in writing. There was NOTHING that said I had to participate in a 6-month weight-loss program. This physician got me approved almost immediately. So my point in explaining all of this is that you need to read your policy yourself and find out for sure what your benefit is.

I actually saw two different doctors in two different physician groups. The firs

I'm so impressed that you have already lost 30 pounds!!! Awesome!! I think you have to think about what you want to do. If it were me, I might certainly celebrate with a favorite meal but it would not be worth stuffing myself to misery. The way I avoid that is by planning ahead of time. I would rather eat extra salad than all you can eat Italian bread dipped in olive oil and herbs. I decide ahead of time what I will eat and stick to it and make sure it's something I look forward to. That's just my own strategy. You are already succeeding and losing - how awesome for you! Congrats!!!!

I'm on board as well - just let me know where to go or how to find y'all there......

Ventura Co. Is SO beautiful!!! I start 2 weeks if pre-op diet on Oct. 28. How strange that I am giving up Halloween this year! What's really cool is that I am SO jazzed for this opportunity that I don't even care that I have to trade Halloween for this opportunity. I am SO doggone ready for this you just don't know!

Yay - November 4!!!! Someone asked where in So Cal I am.....I am actually in Redondo Beach. Anyone else from So Cal, too?

So who else IS HAVING SURGERY NOVEMBER 11 like myself?

Happy Birthday Crystal! How exciting to live in Alaska! My surgery isn't until Nov. 11 so I'll be following you to see if you have any last-minute tips or ideas for me. Otherwise, you will be in my thoughts and prayers. I'd love to hear from you, as well as everyone else having surgery on your date, so we can hear how you are doing and offer you support when you need it! This is SO exciting for all of us!

I am also on Cloud 9. The gal who was in charge of following-up on my insurance approval was a new employee who wasn't 100% in what she was doing. Instead of telling her supervisor, she called and told me. I ended up calling my insurance for her and then started panicking - it was the first time I was nervous about not getting approved. I ended up calling the Business Office Manager who has years of experience and asked her to please handle my submission and approval process with the new employee as a courtesy to myself because it meant that much to me. Believe it or not, I got a call from the new employee the NEXT day that surgery was approved, the date I wanted was approved and everything was all set. I am still on Cloud 9!!!!!! November 11, Veteran's Day, will always have another special, unforgettable meaning for me!!!!

P.S. Thank you. I finally succeeded in uploading my photo. LOL

I just browsed on the other forums and read that nausea and gas pains are common. I will be prepared to ask for medication that breaks up the gas and also for anti-nausea medication. I know I don't want to vomit and disturb the staples/stitches! This info is awesome to have ahead of time. Actually, I can discuss both with my surgeon ahead of time and if he agrees, he can have the medications available prn for me ready to go. Love that idea! I feel confident managing this with all of the knowledge I am gaining tonight. Thank you to all of my sleeve sistas and brothers who have shared their experiences - your sharing is enriching my life!

Can you tell me how to upload my photo ?

How exciting - keep us posted! Knowing my date makes it so real and SO exciting for me. I am not nervous one bit. I feel so blessed for the opportunity to help myself in this way!!!!

Hi everyone. I am new here. I live in Southern California. My surgery date is November 11. I'm SO excited I can hardly wait!!!!! It looks like I might have some new buddies here to go through this together with!!!!