Megall9

I am in New Brunswick, next door to NS. I have a friend who went to Mexico for her surgery, and she had a fantastic experience and lost a lot of weight with her sleeve. That is so discouraging that the wait list in NS is so long. I was told to expect to wait between 4-7 years for mine, but I've been on the list only a year and a half, and have completed all my preop testing. My next appointment is on April 12th to go in and sign my consent forms, and I will be booked in for surgery. It will be happening late spring or early summer for me, so less than two years total. If she's not allowed to look out of province, Mexico (from everything I've heard) is a great option to look into, just do a ton of research before choosing a surgeon. Good luck to her!

Hello, from New Brunswick! If you are looking for buddies try also looking in the Local Chapters forum. That's how I found out that there are a ton of East Coasters here. Good luck!

I don't know! It will be interesting to see what stores I find myself in or what catches my eye. Growing up I was always jeans and baggy sweatshirt girl. Now as an adult I am jeans and baggy t shirt woman. I don't have a style, but I want one badly, but nothing looks good on me at this size.

Yes, there are possible risks involved with surgery. Yes, there is a possibility of becoming too thin. Fortunately my spouse is super supportive, and pointed out to me (when I was scared) that I should be more afraid of the inevitable outcomes if I continue going through life the way I have been with my weight up and down and all over the place rather than possible risks that may never even happen. Maybe pointing this out to your spouses will help calm them? It worked for me! Good luck to you both!

I am pre op, but still cooking for my family. If I'm making Pasta or something that I don't want to eat I'll just cook something else for myself. Sometimes it's hard, but at the same time rewarding because I see them looking at my meal, and asking what is in it, and asking to try it. I like that they are "branching out" and wanting to try my food. After surgery I may get to a point where we are all eating the same thing because they like "my" food.

Mine changed. I'm still pre op, but had to do a trial 2 week liquid diet to "work any kinks out" before meeting my surgeon to see what I liked and if I could handle it. I was in the same boat as you with issues going, and I was worried. I just made sure to drink more and more Water. At about day 12/13 everything changed and I had no issues anymore, and everything was soft. sorry for the TMI, but I hope it gets easier for you as well.

I have been on the waiting list for my sleeve surgery singe November 2014. I started going through the pre-op requirements last March (and really hard for the last 4 months), and am so pleased to say that today, I jumped through the last hoop before getting my surgery date! I made it through the 2 week liquid diet trial, I made it through the nutrition counselling, I made it through all the paperwork, and today had two scopes done. As of today with the completion of the scopes (and no biopsies needed) I am officially GREEN LIGHTED to be booked! His office will be contacting me, and then I will get my date. I am so excited to get my date! This is really going to happen. I can't wait to be on the other side, taking control of my life with my new tool. Sorry to make a new thread, but I just need to Celebrate coming this far I'm in Canada, and was told to expect a 4-7 year wait. Being this close in just a year and a half is remarkable, and I am just so thrilled!

Did you take "before" photos pre surgery? Compare them to photos now. Did you take measurements? How are your clothes fitting? It's hard to notice the little changes when we are looking at ourselves day in and day out, so use these to help measure your progress. Good luck!

I am type 2 diabetic, and I am getting the sleeve. I was diagnosed about 6-7 years ago with it, but it has always been diet and exercise controlled, I've never been on medication. (knock on wood) My surgeon knows, and we're going ahead with it. He was explaining to me that with the bypass sometimes down the road there are issues with malnutrition and absorption of nutrients, whereas with my sleeve I shouldn't see any of these problems. But discuss it with your doctor, and he or she will help you make the decision for what is best for you and your situation. Best of luck!

I love juicing! I got into it not long after watching Fat Sick and Nearly Dead. Have you seen it? I'm still pre op, but am interested in your progress and will be following.

I understand your frustrations. I had my first surgeon appointment yesterday, and have to go for more testing on Monday (colonoscopy, and my second scope down the throat, I forget what that one is called) I've been jumping through their hoops for the last year, I had my first scope done last March. It's super frustrating, but the end goal or surgery is within sight for us both. Just keep your eye on the prize. I don't have to go through the cardiologist portion of it (requirements are different here in Canada I guess) but I have read before on the forums that dealing with the cardiologists have cost, or almost cost other people their chance at surgery. I'm glad that your surgery team called them though to get things straightened out! Keep pushing, you're almost there. Good luck!

No, not my first surgery. I was 3 or 4 when I had surgery on my hands as a kid. In high school I had surgery after being hit by a car which broke my ankle in 3 places and dislocated my foot from it's socket. I wasn't put under when I had my daughter, but was taken to the OR because they had to use forceps to help her out, she was 10lbs 5oz! So I'm not really afraid of the pain from surgery, I figure I've been through worse and survived. Also, the pain from surgery very quickly becomes a distant memory.

You aren't alone. I find that I can make good choices through the daytime, but when evening comes it's like a switch flips and all I want is microwave popcorn, and just about anything made with chocolate. I'm still pre op, but going to see the surgeon this Tuesday coming. I have made some good changes, but as for the rest of it, I know it's just nerves and stress getting to me. I just need to find another way to channel it. Requirements here are that you have to complete a two week trial of just full fluids before your surgeon appointment, and I did that just fine, so I know I'll be able to do my 8 day pre op diet alright. It's just the "in between" time along with nerves that is killing me. Hang in there, we can both do it. I like other peoples suggestions of choosing just one thing to work on at a time. This week I am choosing to ramp up my workouts. Next week, I'll choose something else. Good luck to you!

I went to Disney World 2 years ago with my mother and daughter. There is lots of junk food everywhere, but there are places where you can get fresh fruit and veggies. For restaurants it depends on where you go to eat. You can look at the menus online before you go and make choices before you get there. We ate at the Beasts castle for lunch on my birthday, and I was able to get the menu online and knew what I wanted before we arrived. I am still pre-op, and my only thought during that vacation was to enjoy myself, so I didn't pay that close attention to the food choices other than to go "Yum!" I would def take some Snacks to back you up between meals.

Thanks for the warning post! I am pre-op without a date yet, and haven't been doing that well lately. I did my mandatory 14 day trial full Fluid diet, and felt really good toward the end of it. Since coming off I've not been doing so well, and making poor choices. I am going to turn it around starting tomorrow, and will make sure I follow my pre-op diet to a T. I hope that you are feeling better now and have no ill lasting effects from your experience.

I did a search but couldn't find anything, so I'm sorry if this has been asked before. I am still waiting for surgery. I meet with my surgeon on March 8th and hopefully will be getting a date shortly after that. I've already spoken with my employer that I will need time off and what it is for. Work is really supportive of this for me, so that makes it easier. I work in a grocery store as a cashier and it is really physically demanding. Standing on feet all day, twisting, turning, lifting both light and heavy objects (bags of dog food, frozen turkeys, 2L bottles of pop, people here love their pop!) Just about every inquiry into time taken off on here is replied to by people who work desk jobs. Does anyone else here have a physically demanding job that they have returned to? How long were you out? How do you feel at the end of your shift? How long before your energy returned? I know that it varies from person to person, but I'm just trying to get a general feel. I'm thinking of taking 2-3 weeks off, but will for sure ask my surgeon about it on the 8th. Thanks!

It's kind of funny because I am college educated, and did the whole career thing for a while. Of course government cuts were made and all the programs I worked in suffered because of it, so I started looking for a job in an established company where I could just plant my feet and stay a while. Grocery store cashier for the win! And to boot, I actually love it. My favourite customers are the older ladies and gents who come in once or twice a month. I have to take my time with them and show them how to use the debit machine, and I help load their carts for them and they are just so darn appreciative. It's nice being appreciated. It's really nice that my manager is being so supportive of me too. When I come back and work the desk my hardest task will be standing for 4-5 hours to complete my shift.

I have been talking with my employer about this, and they will be training me to work the customer service desk when I return, rather than going straight back to a register. That will be a big help, and I won't have to lift anything. Thanks for all the replies!