leahhindi

@@kmorri - This journey began for my back in January. I have had to go to monthly appointments for 3 months with surgeon and nutritionist and either lose or maintain my weight. If I had any gain, I would have had to start the 3 month cycle over again. This is month 3. Nutritionist tomorrow and surgeon Wednesday. All will be submitted to insurance on Wednesday. I have already taken the course and done all of the other tests so it looks like Wednesday is my last hoop. I would hardly say I am "healthy" but compared to others 110 lbs overweight, I am moreso :-) My husband hasn't yet given his stamp of approval on a NY surgery in one of the best surgical units in the United States. If he knew I was in touch with Mexico, he would have a stroke!!!

@@kmorri - I noticed our BMIs are pretty close. I have read on numerous websites that often with no co-morbidities, these BMIs often get rejected first time around from the insurance companies. Not sure if I am prepared to deal with that emotionally as I feel like I really put in the time with this process. I have already called up one of the more well known surgical coordinators in Mexico as a back-up plan. My deductible is fairly high and I have done the math. It will cost about the same if I self-pay in Mexico or if insurance covers in the States. This is happening whether my insurance company wants it or not. So afraid if I don't strike while the Iron is hot, that I will chicken out!

@@kmorri - I am in the exact same position as you. Live on this message board and YouTube. I have a stiff neck from sitting at this computer so long! I have met all requirements except final appointments with surgeon and nutritionist. Mine are also on Wednesday :-) Wednesday should be an interesting day for the both of us! Good luck!

@@carolina07 -- When I went back to my surgeon, I wanted the lapband removed -- PERIOD! This was after 4 years of suffering with non-stop vomiting. The reason I never lost any weight is because I figured out that the only foods I could eat that I would not vomit from was crackers, and other carby junk foods. My dr very quickly tried to talk me into the sleeve instead of having the lapband removed. I felt it was a very drastic measure and not one I was ready for so I outright refused his advice. Can't believe 5+ years later this is back on the table :-) You just never know where life will take you.

Both my insurance and surgeon said that the 6 months has to be under a doctor's supervision and needs to be extremely well documented. Sorry!

@@carolina07 -- I had the lapband back in 2006 and had it removed in 2010. It was a disaster--sick all the time and never any weight loss. I wish you the best of luck and look forward to the updates of your success. I know a lot of sleeve success stories that started with lapband nightmares so perhaps it is head hunger. I hope for your sake it is. Speedy recovery! Forgot to say that I am scheduled for the sleeve next month and have the same fears that you do regarding my hunger.

Good luck with your surgery--you won't die! You will be a great success and LIVE! I won't be having surgery until next month but am happy to follow your progress and stay in touch!

Hi, I was wondering if any of the downstate NYers were using Dr. Marina Kurian as their surgeon. She is my surgeon and I have been very happy with her so far. That said, she hasn't carved me open yet :-)

My current weight is 214.6 and my goal my memorial day is 180. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

@@mel6020 - Sorry you felt ridiculed. We are all here to support one another. You can ask any question here--and usually they will be well received. And sometimes you may get a little tough love. Everyone wants you to succeed. I think even those of us with the most ferocious of appetites, myself included, have had situations in our lives that have made us lose our appetite (ex. stress, fear, etc). Not sure what your circumstances are but I hope you regain your appetite soon. I think you need to come up with a gameplan to make sure you didn't have this surgery for nothing. You did it to regain your health -- and so you must! You could end up being more unhealthy post surgery if you don't take your Protein requirements seriously. Easier said than done--especially from someone who hasn't even gotten insurance approval yet, let alone had the surgery :-p Set alarms, check out the packages on the various foods you like to see how much protein they contain, figure out the portions. Drink your shakes, protein waters and even get Snacks that are high in protein-greek yogurt, nut butters, cheese and crackers--yes, I have seen cracker-like snacks in my local supermarket that have 15g of protein and only 140 calories. YOU TOTALLY GOT THIS! I know that you are going to be great!

There are two categories of nonsupportive people in your life: those who love you and are fearful of you having such a drasric procedure. And then there are the others who are judging you, telling you that you want the easy way out, discouraging you with horror stories and using food sabotage to keep you in an unhealthy place in your life. In my opinion, the second group of people have to be shut down or eliminated from your life for real success with this post-surgery. Making the decision to have surgery and then living with that choice for the rest of your life is difficult enough without having some pain in the ass always secong guessing you and making snide comments! I often mention bariatric surgery in front of friends, but just in general--never mentioning I am having it, to see how they respond. What a negative bunch! I feel like if I have to keep this from so many people in my life, because I feel like they are going to judge me – – not feel like I deserve or earned it, then I must have a very unsupportive group of family and friends… And then that begs the question: would I have had great success with regular dieting if I had had a better support system in place. I am not trying to blame my failures on other people, but I can't help but notice that those who have great success in their lives surround themselves with positivity. Just an observation. Thanks for listening to my ranting and raving. While I am new to BP, I love knowing there's a place I can come to for positivity and encouragement. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

@@Seagull -- Welcome to the May group.

@ i-am-erica -- Welcome to the May group!

Until a man joins our group, I will start off with HEY LADIES... I have started re-training my brain already. I am eating 2 Protein bars a day, having clear broth and drinking a lot of beverages -- not Water exclusively, but for me, this is quite an accomplishment. I am starting now because if I cannot make these changes now, what success can I look forward to in the future when I am starving, in pain, recovering from surgery, exhausted, etc. I am nowhere near half way there but anything is better than nothing. After all, I failed with the lap-band 10 years ago partially because I did not adhere to the rules (though I hate to admit that--it is true). I guess I just wasn't ready for the changes then. 10 years later and things have unfortunately become more dire. I have no co-morbidities but that doesn't mean that I won't down the road and everything hurts. I even wake up tired. And I have young children and it isn't fair to them. This time around I have to get this right.

@@Hannahb3997 - Similar enough pre-op and post-op that we will all be able to commiserate and Celebrate with one another. I am getting even more excited now that I have found people counting down until the surgery like I am! Where in NY are you. I live in Manhattan. @@kmorri - Yes, husbands are tricky business. There is no secret formula unfortunately that works across the board with them! I am just going to use the best approach I know, the "I know you think its dangerous and you love me the way I am, but being overweight is more dangerous and I DON"T LOVE ME THE WAY I AM..." FYI, I forgot to mention this previously, but I had a lapband done approximately 10 years ago was sick ALL THE TIME and ultimately just had it undone. I feel like the sleeve is a last resort and I cannot allow myself to fail again.

I am pre-op and interested in joining. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

The thing that is so funny and unlike me is that I went him seeking his approval vs just telling him I am having this done. I think I handled it this way because I feel this decision affects the whole family. Additionally, I am not sure how much I am going to want to cook foods I cannot eat the first few months after surgery so he would have added responsibilities. His response was that he needs to conduct his own research and get back to me… But he is leaning towards no and then the gym comment. I don't know how to break it to him that I am proceeding with or without his consent so hoping he gives my plan his deal of approval I understand his concern and I know he is coming from a good place – he just thinks elective surgeries are extremely dangerous. I think being 110 pounds overweight is much moreso. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

@@kmorri -- I will add you as a friend. The only person who will be screaming louder than you when a date has been set is me. So very impatient...and this process has definitely been a difficult one! I, too, make up my mind and then dive right in, however, I do take a VERY long time to make up my mind. I am fickle and I know it! I am looking forward to having pals on this journey bc I don't plan on telling people about the surgery except my husband who is not being particularly supportive. He thinks I should "just go to the gym"....gotta love these guys (or gals) who say stuff like this. They really believe that we can JUST do this with such ease--that it is nothing!

I understand as a bride-to-be, you must be extra-excited about starting this journey. Based on some of the successes my friends have had and my internet research, my guesstimate would be 2 months post op, approx 35lbs and 3 months post of, approx 40lbs. Hope this helps!

So exciting. Great success coming your way! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hi there...I am likely going to be given a May date. I have done everything for the process for my insurance except my final drs appt and nutritionist appt which are both early next week. Then they submit to my insurance and hopefully, fingers crossed, approval and then scheduling. I am in NYC and would love to have a great support system in place throughout this process. I am just doing a calorie restricted diet right now because my insurance prohibits me from gaining even an ounce during a 3 month pre-surgery period and this has even been hard for me bc I need to retrain my brain (ex. stop using food to both reward myself, punish myself, as distraction, when bored, etc). We have quite a journey ahead of us. Great success and good health to all of us.

I don't want to sound extreme but if you have to live on scrambled eggs in chicken broth and Protein shakes for a few days just to get back on track, it is a small price to pay. And I know you will be hungry and suffer it thru it but you got this. You have already done it so you KNOW you can do it...now you just HAVE to do it -- for your health and to regain control of this situation and your health. If you felt great losing 1/2 of your weight, imagine how much better you will feel at your goal. The best is yet to come. Good luck! I know you are going to kick these bad habits and get back on track.

I just figured it out myself. I just signed up for this site yesterday :-) Go to "patients" and then "chat room" and you are in!

Hey Breezy, I see that you are online now. If you want, maybe we can "chat" in the chat room?

Don't cry--please! You have this! You jumped through so many hoops to get to this place and have your surgery approved. You need to make sure you don't do anything to jeopardize your chances of having your surgery on your scheduled date. String cheeses, while yum, will work against you and slips like this closer to your surgery date could cause you to have to postpone and god forbid, have to start the pre-op diet all over again. You are already 3 days in--DON"T LOOK BACK! You can't change that you had the cheese, just remind yourself whenever you get tempted that each slip up is putting you further from getting healthy--and getting your life back! Again, you can do this.