laurak814

I got a call from my Patient Advocate at the hospital where I will be having my surgery. She has set up all of my pre-op appointments necessary for the next several months The only one I need to make is with my counselor for the Psych Evaluation. I've already talked with my Primary Dr & he will write the Reference letter & I had my blood work done last week. So this means I could potentially have the procedure done at the end of March or middle of April if I can save up my out of pocket portion by that time. That is going to be difficult. Plus it is the beginning of a very busy time of year for our family. My husband is the Head Track Coach for our High School so he won't be able to take time off school or miss practice to help me. And our oldest son is in Jr. High Track so I'm the one who goes to his meets & gets him from practice b/c dad is busy with the high school practice or meets. I originally planned to put surgery off until summer when our schedule was less hectic & I'd have more time to save the $$$. But I'm getting anxious for my chance at the surgery. What do you all think I should do? Surgery in Spring or Summer? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

@Michelle6: how are you doing since your surgery? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

@@GBLady41 I'm very lucky that I'm not in pain, my knees just make a lot of "noise", they creak, crackle, & pop a lot, especially when I do any kind of squatting motion. My Dr isn't too concerned about replacement yet, there is still a fair amount of space between the femur & tibia on X-rays. I'm not on any pain meds & I've had steroid injections in both knees, but it's been almost 2 years since the last ones. I think having WLS will help the longevity of my knees, but my bad genes will not help in the end. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I have little patience for lazy doctors. I'm stuck in a rural area with few options for primary care Dr to choose from, so I'm stuck with the idiot I have right now until after surgery. But after that, I'm looking for a new one. My appointment went well. He took X-rays of my knees & looked at my surgical history & remembered that I have a defect in my kneecaps causing them to deteriorate, I have arthritis, & no meniscus in either knee. Plus I had ACL replacement when I was 16 yrs old. Dr told me I have choice of steroid shots, lubricant shots or taking anti-inflammatories when needed. The problem is when I get started on any of them, I either get stuck on them forever or there are side effects. So I decided that I can deal with how they are now, I'll start exercising to keep them loose & break up some of the inflammation in there & see where that leads me. He agreed that was a good plan of attack. I just got stuck with really bad genes. ????‍♀️ Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Holy cow! 171/98 is crazy high. No wonder you feel like shit. Mine was consistently 145 over something & I was having migraines constantly. If your Dr isn't taking better care of you maybe it's just the Dr. not doing the proper due diligence for you. Just my opinion. I hate Dr's that don't do their jobs. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

My Orthopedic Dr said my knee problems are from arthritis & a condition called Chondromalasia (sp?) on my kneecaps. It's basically a wearing down of the back side of the kneecaps, causing all the issues. There's not much to be done except various medication injections & dealing with it until I can't anymore. I hope you are able to find a good neurologist that can help you. No one should have to live with these headaches like this. How is your blood pressure doing? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

@@jazzyjay wow, less than a month!!! So exciting! Have you been to a neurologist for your headaches? I know you have high BP issues too, but if meds can't get the headaches controlled, maybe it's something to consider. I'm heading in to see my Orthopedic surgeon right now. My knees are bad ???? & he's a Godsend & great to look at!!! Lol Catch ya later!!! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hey @@jazzyjay! I'm doing well. How are you doing? I had my consult on Friday & finally told my husband that I was doing this surgery whether he supported it or not. We talked about it on Fri & Sat a bit. He is a master manipulator, I tell you! He has me feeling so guilty for everything already. It makes me so mad & I realize that this is how he has treated me for 21 years, since I was 19yrs old. Like I'm not capable of making a decision for myself. What's going on with you? Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

Holy wowza!!! 319# is impressive!! Congratulations! You're a Rock Star!!! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I had my consult on Friday, I could have my surgery as early as late March/early April, but due to my family schedule & saving for the out of pocket cost, I'm probably going to put it off until June. I'm a Sub Teacher, hubby is a Teacher & he coaches all year around, plus the kids are in sports-we are very busy. I just have to lose weight from where I am now & stay above 35 BMI to be approved for the surgery & go to all the appointments. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

Unfortunately, this is why I'm not telling many people what I'm doing. There are a select few who I know will support me I'll tell, and that is all. The others do not need to know. It is none of their business. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

I will only be telling My husband, my dad, & a very close friend, (she was so excited for me she told 2 good friends of hers before she knew I was keeping it a secret). I don't know if I will tell my mom, she can be judgmental. None of my in-laws will ever know. No one else will probably ever know, including my very good friend. She is totally against WLS & has never known a fat day in her life. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

Thanks MissJDVSG! I don't put makeup on a lot, but when I do, I go all out with it. So he responded via email, saying he is confused & hurt. Wondering when I made the appointment, he understands why I told him via email though b/c he doesn't respond well to some information, and he doesn't understand why I would consider doing something permanent to my stomach instead of trying exercise again first. He's worried about complications & the cost (money is tight for us). He still thinks of me as young & capable of losing the weight by exercising. I've had 4 knee surgeries, 1 foot surgery & I'm well on my way to knee replacements, which I'm hoping WLS will help to prevent. He is delusional sometimes, I swear. I go next week to my PCP to get him to sign off on WLS & I have to see my Orthopedic surgeon about my knees. I also have to make appointment with my counselor to get her to sign off on my Psych papers for WLS. Talking with my Patient Advocate, I could have surgery as soon as the end of March or early April. But I'm not sure if that is a good time for us as a family. It the start of Track season, my husband is our High School coach & my son is on the 8th grade team. Plus my nephew is on the Baldwin Wallace Track Team & I'm going to be going to some of his meets. I need to be able to move around for that & I'm a Sub Teacher. But I don't want to postpone it too long b/c I can't lose too much weight between now & surgery. Can't drop below 35 BMI. I'm currently 39.4. Sorry this was so long. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

I'm starting this journey over after my husband talked me out of it last spring & today is my first consult for the second time! I'm meeting the Dr, nutritionist & my Patient Advocate today. I'm a bit nervous to be going alone. I didn't tell my husband I was doing this until today when I sent him an email while he was at work. I know kinda shitty, but he would have gone off on me about it & not listened to my reasons for wanting to at least going to talk to them again. Well I have to get going. Wish me luck! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

He has several reasons. He's worried about malabsorption, regain, & the cost. I've regained every time after loss & he thinks it's drastic measures for an inevitable outcome. Plus I think he's insecure & afraid I'll leave him after I lose. We've been together since we were 18, freshmen in college & I'm 40 now. He has stuck with me through so much. I'm not leaving him. I just want to be happy & healthy. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I went to a consult last February with my husband. At first he was interested/supportive. Then he must have done research b/c a few weeks later he totally changed his tune. He is against it, says I can exercise this 80-90# off, with 2 destroyed knees & a history of yo-yo weight loss/gain. I'm 235-240, 5'5" & 40 yrs old. It's not getting any easier to lose weight & my knees aren't getting any better. I actually go today, alone, to another first consult at the same place, to meet a Dr, nutritionist & my patient advocate. I'm doing this without him. I let him talk me out of it earlier in the year & I've gained weight. I have a very supportive older friend who has gastric bypass about 15 yrs ago. She is super supportive. The only other person I've told is my dad. He said he will be supportive if I can get the approval of another dr. I'm also going to my Orthopedic surgeon on Monday b/c I'm having trouble w/my knees lately & I'm going to ask his opinion. I trust him implicitly & he also just started treating my dads knees. Sorry for the long response, but you have to decide in the end who you are doing this surgery for. Who you are living your life for. How you want to live your remaining years. I don't want to be the lump I've been. I don't want to hide in the shadows, being uncomfortable in horrible clothes. I want to be happy & healthy & fit in fun clothes. I want to be able to bend over & not cut off my breath due to my gut. I'm doing this no matter who disagrees. I'm saving the $$ alone & paying for it. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

My husband is the same. Unsupportive. Whe went with me to initial consult last February, he originally thought it was a good idea when we walked out of the appt. Then he did a 180 & completely changed his mind about a month later, & talked me out of it too, guilted me out of spending the $$ b/c I wasn't working. Fast forward to now, I've gained weight, I'm more depressed, & pissed that I let him talk me down from doing it b/c my knees are getting worse, they hurt all the time from the excess weight. Plus my uncle died unexpectedly 2 weeks ago from a ❤️attack at work, he was obese too. So I made decision to call & restart the program for the surgery. My consult is tomorrow & hubby doesn't know. I'm also going to my Orthopedic surgeon Monday for my knees, have him check them over & maybe get his opinion on WLS. I respect him a great deal. Plus he is HOT AF!!!! As for my hubby, he's gonna be pissed I did this without telling him, but he's gonna be ashamed when I tell him why I had to do it this way. And when I tell him I'm saving the $$ to pay for it myself, he really can't say a fucking thing to me. It's my body, I'll do to it what I want if I get dr permission, especially if our Ortho thinks it's a good idea. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

My husband doesn't support my idea of having the surgery. He thinks I can diet & exercise 80-90# off. I had lost 60# with medication a few years ago & gained it all back when they took me off the meds. He is overweight too & buys & eats chips, Snacks, soda, etc for nightly snack with the kids. I'm afraid he will sabotage me. Me consult is tomorrow & he doesn't know I scheduled it. I'm trying to figure out a way to tell him, but I know he's gonna get mad. I have an older friend who had gastric bypass about 15 yrs ago, she is supportive. Her husband was kind of the same way. I just want to feel healthy, not like an exhausted lump all the time. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I've had left ACL replacement & I have no meniscus in either knee now. I have not had WLS yet, but it is one of the major reasons why I am seriously considering it again. My knees are very arthritic & only getting worse. I'm only 40 & I don't want to even consider having knee replacements anytime soon. I figure if I can lose 80-90# it has to take a huge toll off my knees. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Good luck!! You are going to do great in this new chapter of your life!! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I've always been heavier than I look. I weigh 235-38 depending on the day, but I have thick thighs & hips & a lot of it is muscle. I'm thick through the waist & have broad shoulders for a woman also. When people say a person is big boned, they are speaking of me. My hands are the size of most men's. But I'm only 5'5" now since I've shrunk an inch. I see & feel every pound I am overweight, I can't breathe easy walking upstairs or for long distances. I have bad knees. But my husband is not supportive of this procedure, he is a physical ed & health teacher, with Athletic Training & Strength/Conditioning degrees also. He coaches our Powerlifting team at high school. So he is insisting that I just need to exercise this 80-90# off, even though I gained it all back the last time I lost 60#. He refuses to eat right himself, he is very overweight also, he stops at the store & buys soda, chips, & Snacks for late night munchies for him & the kids. He isn't going to be a support for me during this. I still haven't told him that I scheduled the consult tomorrow. WW3 may just break out inNorth central Ohio tomorrow evening when he finds out where I was. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Whoa! I'm so sorry you had to go through that. My husband is allergic to some of the meds they use for surgery as well, but his throat doesn't swell up, just constant vomiting, itching, etc for a couple days. So I sort of understand what you went through. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Good Luck! I'm praying for you sweetie. I'm sure you will do great. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App Good luck with your appointment. Do you have to start over? Sent from my Y538 using the BariatricPal App Sorry, i didn't seen this question before. I had only done 1 Dr visit & a sleep study, so I wasn't too far into the process. Im not sure if I have to do the sleep study over. I will find out in a week when I go for the appointment I guess. I hope I don't have to, but it's been 10 months since I did it so I'm sure I will. I've been drinking Protein, fruit & spinach shakes daily for Breakfast & lunch for 1.5-2 weeks & I'm not losing. Im cutting down my portion at dinner & trying to drink more Water. I need to stop drinking coffee though. That's a killer. I've just started sub teaching after being off work for a while & I'm so far behind at home, but I want to save some of my sub $ for the surgery. And I want to wait to have the surgery in the summer when school is out. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

@JazzyJay: Yahoo!!! That is fabulous news! I'm so excited for you! I've been wondering what was going on today. Do you know what she had to do/say to get it reversed? Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App