Mom26

With an 11/12 surgery date, you should be getting ready for pre-op testing. I would call the insurance company. I did get something from BCBS approving my surgery date before the doctor gave me the date. Make sure you open everything from your insurance company. Mine looked like one of the typical explanation of benefits pages and I almost didn't see it. Good luck. I'm getting sleeved on 11/9.

That's a tough one. Yes, everyone says they wish they'd done it sooner. But 6-7 months isn't a long wait. And then you'd have $11K+ for maybe excess skin removal down the road, or a nice vacation or bills/renovations/etc.

I'm sorry that you're hurting. Keep strong -- you've been through so much and it's your turn to take care of yourself!! You'll realize how strong you are through this.

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I like the Snow White better, but both are cute

Yes on Monday. You?

I don't mind the unjury chocolate mixed with almond milk and PB2. The Premier Protein tastes like Yoohoo to me, so I can tolerate that as well. Unjury also has a chicken soup Protein Powder. Tastes like Ramen broth. Salty - but decent. My surgery is 11/9. We're so close!!!

So glad they uncovered your other health issues. Scary to think what may have happened if you didn't pursue WLS. Best wishes!!

My EGD was drastically different than Brandylc's. I couldn't eat/drink for 6 hours prior. Got there, was called right in. Put on a gurney. IV started. Put a plastic tube between my teeth and within 5 seconds, I was out. Pretty sure I was awake within 20 minutes. Piece of cake. Nothing to drink. Fully asleep. No side effects afterwards.

i take 40mg of omeprazole -- and it does the trick.. I'm hoping my AR doesn't get worse after the sleeve because it's fully manageable now.

Have you thought about trying your Protein shakes before your surgery? Practicing sip, sip, sips. I've used this time before surgery to try different shakes (though I know what I can tolerate after surgery may be different), cut out all really bad foods, etc. My surgery is the same date. Good luck!

Wishing you strength and peace. Knowledge is power - and the first step towards a treatment for you. Keep positive!!

@@snog That's the right attitude! I used that time to test our several Protein shakes and get used to them. I've been sipping this week so I get used to that feeling, as well. I cut out all soda, candy, Snacks, fried foods (obviously for the ulcers), etc. I don't miss it one bit. I have been snacking on sugar free pudding, SF ice pops and yogurt. Hopefully I've prepared myself as best I can. Hopefully you can do the same. I also used this time to clean out my closets of summer stuff that absolutely won't fit next year, and get rid of some old "smaller size" clothes that I won't wear even if I fit into them. That's helped me keep my chin up.

I was postponed too - though not for bloodwork. I had a stomach full of ulcers. I was postponed 6 weeks. Instead of it derailing me, I decided to keep to a liquid diet for the most part, with a light meal when i could tolerate it. Best decision every. I went for pre-op testing yesterday and I'm down almost 20lbs. Don't see it as a negative. See it as you're getting healthier so you heal better after surgery.

I'm November 9th too!! Good luck.

You look amazing!!!

@@OKCPirate That's great! I met my husband on eHarmony. We were married on 8/8/08. I had dated a handful from Match as well - and definitely knew pretty quickly if the chemistry wasn't there. Keep enjoying your dates and keep us posted on how it goes!!

I'm the Vice President of Operations for a large corporate promotions company. I also own a custom cake company.

I'm in NY and getting sleeved on 11/9. Where are you having your surgery? Mine is at NYU

Hot damn!! You look incredible!!

As i near my surgery date (11/9), I'm trying to get myself as organized as possible for the hospital stay. One thing that is a major concern to me is my contact lenses. Backstory - I had a corneal transplant 15 years ago in one eye, as well as followup surgery. 2nd eye had experimental procedure last year to stop my eye disease. I wear scleral lenses (they closely resemble a Cereal bowl for a Barbie Doll). They're huge hard lenses and cannot be worn overnight or while napping. I have to put them in and take them out with a tiny plunger while standing up and looking straight down into a mirror. The process is a total pain in the ass - but without them, I cannot see the eye chart. I KNOW it's an eye chart - but cannot see the damn E. (Yup, I've memorized the chart by now - but that's another story). Here's my concern. I literally cannot see anything but shadows without them. Obviously that's fine for when I'm in a hospital bed recovering. Close my eyes and sleep. But there is not a chance in hell I will be able to walk even a few feet without being able to see. And doing that every hour is freaking me out. When I get up in the middle of the night now, I feel my way to the bathroom. But it's my house and I KNOW where my bathroom is. The hospital is a totally different story. Due to the disease/shape of my eyes, I cannot wear glasses nor soft contact lenses, so that's out. I'm hoping I feel good enough to put them in and out all day/night long. Otherwise, I'll have to have the nurse map out the path by steps and pray nobody puts anything in my path. lol Anyone else contact lens dependent? What did you do while in the hospital?? I'm hoping to only be in two days/one night.

Thanks so much! The cross linking was crazy. The drops were put in over a period of almost 2 hours. The UV light was intense - and at one point, I started to feel the burning of the light so they added more anesthetic. No biggie. One HUGE thing I noticed was that it affected my non-cross linking eye. I lost some corrected vision in that one for a bit. I see the transplant surgeon often - and he said it's looking like the disease hasn't progressed any further. I cannot undergo a 2nd transplant... that was horrific. Let me tell you - scleral lenses are a LIFESAVER!! I go for some testing tomorrow at the hospital. I'll mention it to them then! @@Inner Surfer Girl Thanks so much. I go tomorrow for testing - so I'll be sure to mention it to them then!! I'm so excited to be heading towards the losers bench in 2 weeks!!

I do have keratoconus. Not many people have heard of it! I had the corneal cross linking last year. My husband is on duty that night - and I'd rather have him take off when I'm home - so I'll mention it to them at the hospital when I get there. Having an aide or nurse guide me would be great - and much easier than having to pop those suckers in and out of my eyes every hour. Thanks so much for your reply!

I was going to suggest what Nikkodoc suggested -- the ones with the wide lace band around the top.

I consider myself a funny person. I'm not sure if it's because I'm overcompensating for being fat - but it could be. Though I'm sure I'll be funny in half my body.