Shell88

Thank you so much @@Sweet Pee - however I find you to be inspiring to me! 140+ lbs is an amazing concept to me, and I think it's fantastic you pushed and got that far on your own... congrats, I'll see you on the other side! :-)

I went for the endoscopy today.... boy was that NOT fun. My throat hurts, stomach is cramping.... and my fiance dropped me off and left - so when they went to find him 15 minutes after first going in - he was gone! And of course not back in time when the test was over and they were ready to discharge me.... love the support there

So I've been going for all of my testing and I am so confused as to what each is for, if it will stop me from getting surgery, and what is good or bad results... I have already gone for bloodwork (everything was fine except my LDL was a little high), sleep test was requested for a part 2 after my at home was taken, and I got breathing test results, but I have NO idea what they mean.... Can anyone shed some light? I am so confused and have no idea what I should be worrying about - wish a dr would explain them lol

Thanks guys! I find myself getting more and more worried because his office staff doesn't know any of the information, and every time I walk in there for an appointment or call - they give me the same info as a first time patient because they don't remember me being there or don't read my file. Not to mention, he doesn't give me any more info than "so you need to take this test, this test, and that test... ok they'll give you everything up front, buh bye". I JUST got my call at 515pm from St Barnabas leaving a message about time and place - I didn't know they were having me go to the hospital for it, let alone they originally gave me Wednesday as my date for the endoscopy. The girl in the office told me 1pm, the hospital is telling me 11:30. Am I supposed to not eat beforehand? Where am I supposed to go? What am I supposed to bring? The questions are just making this more stressful than need be. January can't come soon enough!

Thank you @@hopeful one Pre surgery isn't even a piece of cake! With all we need to do beforehand - it's become almost a second job (I'm in a doctor's office or hospital for tests at least 2 or 3 times a week on top of my full time job lol!). I know it's definitely worth it for us.... Just a lot more work than a gym membership!

So today I am heading over to the hospital for my ultra sound and the UGI series test. I've always had a weak stomach, so I'm really hoping to be able to keep the barium mixture down. And then Monday is the gastric emptying test.... radioactive eggs! Trying to keep the positive, calm vibes - or there will be hospital staff wearing the barium and the eggs lol.... wish me luck!

Thanks everyone! The barium wasn't anything I'd ever want to ingest ever again lol. But it's another 2 tests down. Thanks for the well wishes!

Gastric emptying is when they make you eat radioactive eggs, and over a 4 hour period, check how quickly the eggs are making their way through your stomach and intestines

You are wonderful! Thanks for the positivity and words of encouragement!

@@jessdawn37 and anyone else who didn't see the deep depths of the site they may have entered:: powder Room - Ladies Gone WIld This is a place for ladies to discuss everything from Gastric Sleeve Surgery (VSG) complications, diet, and concerns, to any other off-topic subjects. So this is a general forum. As for @mystie - I have been through the spying and hurt as well with the father of my 18 month old daughter. It's hard. You blame yourself, but in the end a lot of it is symptom of their disease (my fiance is ADHD and was very jealous, insecure, and skeptical even without any aid from me). We are still trying to work through it but the medication he was put on, as well as the couples' counseling has helped a great deal. I know for me at this point it could go up or down from here - I'm hoping better for you <3

That's so great!!! It sounds like so much fun - I always loved to dance, but the bigger I got, I kind of stopped because I felt clumsy doing it. It's definitely a goal of mine once I'm a little smaller - especially things like swing, ballroom, and salsa :-) So glad your family decided to go for the lessons too!!!

Love it guys! The words of encouragement are helping me overcome this ant hill... You are all very inspirational, makes this all feel less lonely :-)

I totally agree! I lost about 15lbs on high school, but the second it stopped, I threw in the towel. There are a few days here and there where I'm just ready to stop because of how frustrating it gets, or how everyone around me continues to eat "normal" and forget that I can't eat like them anymore. Only so much lettuce a person can eat while the others chow down on baked ziti and pulled pork lol. I did start a little over a week ago using "Lose It!" app. It helps me see the carbs, fat and Protein in everything I eat. I try to aim for the max being protein per day like my nutritionist said. I definitely do need to stay away from the scale though. Maybe I should just leave the weighing to doctor appointments from now until surgery... Thanks for the advice and support! :-)

I want the pedi that goes with the shoes!!! LOL

@@BloomingLotus , surprisingly all of my tests are coming out clean, but I totally forgot about the endoscopy too!!! lol

Thanks @@pink dahlia!!! I think I will hide my scale for a few weeks actually lol. Thanks for the support!!

My family has flip flopped so much with this whole issue. My parents urged me for years to get it done, and my fiance was dead against it. Now he's great with it, and my mom is questioning whether I "should just do it myself without doing surgery."

Was getting on the tea cup ride with my daughter @ Dorney Park, and couldn't get the seat belt around me - the attendant asked me to get off if I couldn't put on the stupid belt on this kiddie ride. Had to call her father over to get on with her to avoid screaming toddler. Definitely dampened my mood for the rest of the day. More reason to get this done!!! Don't want her to feel Mommy can't do certain things with her, or doesn't have the energy, or feel embarrassed.

First appointment was Aug 29th, last one was Sept 23rd. Won't be back until mid/late Oct, but he said expect January! Had my first nutritionist appt, pulmonologist appt, sleep study, initial bloodwork, EKG.... now on to round 2 of the appts, UGI test, Radio-active egg test, US of my abdomen, and my breathing test. So much to do!!

Thanks!!!!

Hello fellow future gastric patients/post gastric patients. I don't even know where to start.... Ok, so let me Alcoholics Anonymous this - Hi, I'm Shell, and I'm an unhealthy eater. I don't overeat, I don't snack. I actually only eat 1-2x a day and it's usually something I can grab quick and shove in my mouth between taking care of my 17 month old, work, or doctor appts/errands. I also tend to eat after 10pm. Not good, I know. Or should I say, I used to eat those ways.... I've gotten better since I started this. Let me organize this a little better::::::: Well, let's start here: I began my journey toward surgery on August 29th. Met with my surgeon, got my binder of info, other doctors and tests that need to be done, and diet information. I am an extremely organized person - but boy, am I feeling overwhelmed. I started dieting right away. I have actually lost 5lbs in a week! I noticed I'm going food shopping or running to the store a lot more often than I used to ( once every 2 weeks lol). I pre-cooked a lot of my meals (my freezer is full). I cut out 99% of my starches/carbs (potatoes, rice, Pasta, bread) and fried food - I only had brown rice once mixed with grilled chicken. I am strictly playing with meat, 1% milk products, vegetables and fruit now. I actually have to say, I'm not missing the JUNK. I am looking for better recipes to turn me on to tuna and healthier alternatives. I made chicken, turkey or ground meat patties stuffed with skim cheese and veggies or jalapenos. But there's only so many meatballs and burgers a person can eat with getting sick of the idea. I am also looking into the Protein powders. Anyone know of some decent tasting/inexpensive ones I can pick up at walmart or BJs? Now that I got the details of what I have already done for the pre-surgery, as well as where my diet turned - let me say this has been a journey from bad to worse as it is. I was never a small girl. I grew up in a double Italian household where the family and company and love and EVERYTHING revolves around food. Pasta, meatballs, cake..... It was never healthy lol. I was 150 lbs in 5th grade, 200 by 8th grade. Senior yr of high school I was around 250/260. In college, I never ate, drank, and found myself on antidepressants before I graduated. That's when I did the unimaginable - my weight went over the 300lbs. I always told myself I would NEVER let that happen. But I did. And it didn't stop there. I gained another 30 lbs over the next 2 years, got pregnant, gained 30 lbs over the pregnancy and lost those 30 lbs when I gave birth. I maintained 330 for about 6 months, and then depression hit when life handed me some awful events. My daughter was placed in foster care, I was moved out to a different state away from my home of 25 yrs and my parents and siblings, and was stranded with no job or car. I had to attend doctor appts to get her back, meetings, court dates, and multiple weekly visitations. My schedule went haywire and I went back to eating once a day, usually chicken nuggets or a burger on the run. Now here I am, a few months shy of getting my baby home full time with me after this whole mishap, full time job, apartment in the works with her dad, and 355 lbs as of August 29th. She walks, she talks, and she gets into everything! I can't be the awesome mother that I am if I can't keep up! Plus, I've shown her an immeasurable amount of strength the past year - I need to show her I'm strong enough to regain my confidence and do something important for her - AND myself. I want to be around for decades upon decades with her. So here goes my journey. A journey that a lot of people are claiming to support, but I am not looking or relying on anyone else this time. This is for me, by me. It's my turn to shine, and be healthy. It's time to buckle down, get organized, and get ready for a long life feeling good and looking good. Any tips? Has there been anything that works more for anyone than other things? What foods are your favorite?

Thanks guys!!! I truly appreciate the words of advice and encouragement.

@@CowgirlJane I just want to tell you that you look fantastic!!!! I appreciate the advice - I was actually going through the other pages and sites looking into each surgery - I noticed that lap-band wasn't the most suggested for a high BMI. I liked the idea of lap-band due to the less permanent factor, as well as what seemed like less risks. I guess people I knew of also had gotten lap-band over other WLS. But I am not absolutely opposed to sleeve. It honestly seems like the better choice in my situation. It might take a little longer for recovery, but will have the better effect. I will be talking to the nutritionist, as well as my surgeon about other possibilities next week when I see them both :-) Thank you again!!!