Seraya

Hi Jen. Everyone in my office is now asking also. They see the schedule and I am known for taking exciting vacations (October was a safari in Kenya) so everyone is wondering what my plans are. I'm sure there may be some suspicion after the fact but whatever. BTW, I found out that I am required to have pre-op chest X-ray and EKG prior to surgery. I called the surgeons office and they told me the hospital should be calling to set up the pre-op testing. It's hard for me to get time off so I actually called the hospital instead of waiting for them to call me. I set it up for the same day as my pre-surgical meeting with the doctor and it gives me about 3 full business days for the results to get to my PCP for review at my 4/19 appointment. It's a lot of coordination but I hope it is worth it. I've been watching some really great YouTube videos that really help me feel like I'm doing the right thing.

Hi Jen. I don't think I'm required to see a pulmonologist or cardiologist because no one else in my program has mentioned it, though I may post on our FB group to see. If so, with my work schedule, I don't know how I will get it all done in time. It like I said, I don't think I have to. I took 2 weeks off work. I work pretty closely with some ladies and have for over ten years. In fact, one of them picked me from the EGD procedure and brought me home. I have no local family and really only 2 good friends, both of whom can't get time off work easily. As much as I love my coworkers, I have not been honest with them. I told them the EGD was because of my reflux. I told them my surgery is to repair a hiatal hernia and possibly remove my gall bladder. I do have both of those issues but I did not mention that really, it's all for the sleeve. I read about recovery from hiatal hernia repair and it's pretty similar to a sleeve with restricted diets, etc. as swelling goes down. I've been obese since I started working at my job in 2006 and got bigger until I was 350 in 2010. I then did a medically supervised liquid diet for a year and then regular diet, both with lots of exercise and got down to 180 lbs. I was super active, running, working out, etc. but I struggled the last 5 years constantly yo going up and down and I'm now back at 300. I didn't share this with them (or many people at all). I'm not embarrassed about having it, I just don't want any attention or expectations. I've been dealing with the ups and downs and comments already for my whole life. I'm in the healthcare field and see my patients every six months or so and it bothers me how some started with me when I was thin and now see me this heavy and have no idea this is really more reflective of my appearance than that brief period of being thin. Long answer, sorry. [emoji846]

Yikes. I don't think my PCP requires all the pulmonologist and cardiologist stuff but I have no significant medical history for problems. When I made the appointment they just asked to be sure any pretest blood work was done and ready for review at my appointment.

Hi! I'm on May 2 and can't believe it's only 3 weeks away. I made my PCP med clearance appointment and go on 4/19 for pre-op meeting. My doctor does a group meeting then individual appointments after that. Put in my time off and work, been cleaning the house, have some shopping to do, and just looking forward to it. Hard to believe it's really happening.

Hi, I'm just wondering, since the VSG is restrictive only, why won't a regular chewable multivitamin be ok rather than the MUCH more expensive Bariatric vitamins? Any thoughts on this?

I just got my date yesterday and will be going in on May 2. My pre op meeting is 4/19, which is my birthday. I think it's kind of poetic[emoji846]. I fall down with the nutrition but actually still work out and see a personal trainer twice a week. I think this will help with my recovery that I'm going in to surgery being pretty fit (for a really fat person anyway). I thought long and hard about surgery and always thought, let me try one more time on my own. I haven't gotten anywhere except fatter and I thought to myself, what am I waiting for? I don't want to be in this same position in 5 years having been losing and gaining again. So I decided to just do it.

When I lost 160 lbs on a liquid diet I was in the same boat. I finally felt comfortable with dating, etc. and was happy with how I looked...in clothes. I felt like it was false advertising and what you saw was not whet you got. It was hard but when I found someone who was special I told him about how I had lost a lot of weight and he never had a bad thing to say about my body. I still felt self conscious and want to have skin removal but that scared me. I'd recommend talking to a therapist. That's what I plan to do this time around. Good luck and congrats on your hard work.

I have told my family and my two close friends but that's it. I love my coworkers and my boss (even been on vacation with her), but I've yo yo'd so much the last 6 years I just dont want any pressure or expectations, I did a liquid diet for a year and dropped from 350 to 200, then lost another 20 lbs getting to 180. I loved it but the last 6 years have been up and down, more up than down, and I'm back to 300. They know I went for an EGD because of reflux and I have a small 2 cm hiatal hernia. I told my boss today actually that I need two weeks off to have surgery for it and that they may also need to remove my gall bladder. When I lost the weight on the liquid diet I developed gall stones and had a few attacks. They stopped but my surgeon may remove it preventatively given my history. I read about recovery from hiatal hernia repair and it seems similar to VSG. Out for 2-3 weeks and special diet until swelling is gone. I will be doing. 2 week pre op liver eduction diet and I doubt anyone will notice (we don't eat together) but if so, I'll just be honest. It's liver reduction diet to make my surgery easier.

I also have a Magic Bullet and it's awesome. I do protein shakes with frozen strawberries and fresh spinach. Blends it up nice smooth even two years later. Mine also has an attachment that makes it a mini blender. I use this to purée tomatoes for a healthy chili recipe I have. It's way more convenient that dragging out and cleaning the full food processor.

There's a guy on YouTube (great videos from Fighting 400) and he said he used the Squatty Potty and that made a big difference. Hysterical commercials but I've heard it can really help.

I'm 5'8 and via a 1 year long liquid diet went from 350 to 180 lbs. 180 for me was perfect for my frame, bearing in mind dome of the extra weight I had from excess skin. I also had a fair bit of muscle as I worked out a lot. Sadly, I'm back to 300 lbs as I get ready to be sleeved.

Congrats! I just got approved for 5/2. Woo hoo.

I plan, while recovering for the first few months, to likely use the recommended Bariatric vitamins then once fully healed (and a bit past that for good measure), I'll likely switch to something that has the necessary vitamins but cheaper.

Thanks for sharing your story. I also identify with a lot of your experiences. I can lose but rarely maintain. Work out like crazy but trouble with the diet... I'm waiting on my insurance auth and hoping for a dat in April or May. Keep up the good work.

My issue is the cost of the Bariatric vitamins is waaaaaay higher than regular chewables. I can see if you did bypass and are at risk due to malabsorption, but with sleeve that's not really an issue. I'd rather not pay 3 times as much as I need to for vitamins.

Thanks! That was great and certainly can't beat the source.

Hi. I think I posted this same question after I went to my informational meeting. I had been set on the sleeve until I learned about the reflux considerations. I have reflux that is well managed but really worried about how the sleeve might affect it. I really did not want bypass because of the malabsorption issues and it just seemed more radical. I can definitely see the pros and it seems to be very very effective but was not my preference. I spoke to a college friend who is a Bariatric surgeon in another state (hadn't talked in 20 years), and he really reassured me. The sleeve is his preferred procedure and unless you have incredible severe reflux issues, he has not had any major issues post surgery. My surgeon isn't too concerned about it either as long as I'm willing to take medication, which I've been doing anyway for years. I agree with all, you need to go with your gut, think about your lifestyle, etc. but don't be afraid of the sleeve. Good luck.

Hi all. I just had my initial consult with the surgeon last Thursday. I'm super excited to get things going and have made all my appointments before my follow up 3/16. I have to say though, as a working person, this is tough. Most of these professionals don't offer evening hours. I have to see 1) PCP for medical clearance/referral, 2) nutritionist, 3) psychologist, 4) exercise evaluation, 5) endoscopy, and then 6) surgeon follow up. It's a good thing I do admin time two mornings a week so I'll just come in late after the appointments. I did have to tell my boss though since there are just so many days. I told her I was having stomach problems and had to have some tests done. I'm not ready to tell people at work what I'm doing yet and this isn't exactly untrue. I just feel for people who don't have job flexibility and would have to keep taking vacation time. I'm super excited though that I have them all scheduled and I'm moving ahead. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

Wow, I only have to do 1 support group. I may do more though. A friend from college days is a Bariatric surgeon in another state and he really recommended it as a good way to get a feel for the doctor and program your working with. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

Hi, I'm considering both Gastric Bypass and Gastric Sleeve and trying to unspderstand why folks have chosen one over the other. I had thought for sure I wanted the sleeve to avoid the possible nutritional deficiencies and it just seemed like bypass had a lot of other issues like dumping, etc. the only reason I'm doubting my original plan is that I have acid reflux and have been on what's considered a low dose of omeprazole (20 mg daily) for about 7 years. I've read that for some people reflux can get really really bad after the sleeve. But there also seems to be stomach ulceration as a long term risk of bypass. Help! I feel paralyzed trying to make the right choice and afraid of the possible bad outcomes. I'd love to know why you all chose bypass over sleeve. Thanks!

Yeah, the only thing I didn't do was call the insurance company. I need to do that. I made sure looking online that I have coverage but I'm hoping they don't require 6 months of supervised dieting. I've been dieting for 30 years and this is where I am. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

Yikes ????. I've been reading some people's experience with insurance denials and it's starting to make me nervous. I'd hoped since my BMI qualifies me medically that once I got the appointments done it would be a done deal. Feeling a bit nervous now. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

Hi there. I just started too. I went to the seminar and then saw the surgeon last week. I've scheduled all my appointments (about 6 of them) and will follow up with the surgeon on March 16. I would love love love to be approved and done by May so I can be on track for the summer. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

I want to add that I have spent a lot of time browsing through this forum and I so appreciate how much everyone shares their experience. I've been finding it immensely helpful, even at this early stage. So thank you. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

Thank you Iscarelys! I will certainly be reaching out as I move through the process. It's interesting to me. I was doing tons of research online and saw a random link to this group. I'm so glad I found it. I had done a liquid diet (Optifast) for a year (most people do it for 12 weeks) with great success though I have put back on 100 of the 150 I lost in the last 5 years. I had found a liquid diet online support group and found it so helpful. I'm glad to know I have found that Kind of support again.