Apple1

For those of you that had the gastric sleeve, how soon were you able to return to work? Also did your doctor in MX give you a written excuse for work? I am seriously considering just taking a week of vacation and not telling anyone at work that I had any surgery at all. I really don't want to have to explain anything to anyone except immediate family.

Thank you for all of the replies to my question. I guess it is hard to know ahead of time how well we will feel after surgery. I am hopeful that I will be able to return to work after a week, two at the most.

I am headed to Mexico for surgery with Dr.Illan on May 15th.

Congratulations! I can't wait to be where you are. I hope you are feeling well today.

Now that I have my surgery date I have been struggling with thoughts of should I have one last taste of some things that I know need to be off the menu. I can sympathize with you.

i used to be just like you... then I got type 2 and had no choice. I got used to it after a few months and now I use it in anything I would have used sugar in. Some things I have just gotten used to eating unsweetned, ice tea is one.

I would like to keep in touch kbellakat. We can be a good support team.

Your review has really helped me to know that I have made the right decision. I am going to be sleeved on May 15th by Dr. Illan and I can't wait to be on the post-op side of this surgery. Thank you for sharing your experience.

I am so happy I found this thread. Reading everyone's successes at a low BMI start gives me hope that I am making the right decision. A year ago I qualified for WLS as I was at my highest weight of 255 BMI 37.7. I wasn't ready to commit to surgery yet and have spent the past year working hard to lose. I have type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol. I managed to get down to 225 and I have started gaining again. I am terrified of losing control and wasting the progress I have made. I have hasimoto's thyroiditis and I lose weight painfully slow. I am scheduled to get sleeved on May 15th with Dr. Illan in Mexico. My current BMI is 32 and I am looking forward to losing all of this extra weight and hopefully getting my diabetes into remission. I would love to keep in touch here with others. My goal weight is 150-160.

Thank you for your comments and advice. I have spent the last 8 years thinking I didn't need WLS and I never even considered it. I was always the tall skinny girl, never had to worry about what I ate. I was 130 lbs when I graduated high school and settled out at 145-160 after having my children. Then when I hit 39 I just started gaining weight like crazy. I had un- diagnosed thyroid problems for many years. I became fatigued, lethargic, started losing my hair, and could not lose any weight. At my highest weight I was 255 and miserable. I developed plantar fasciitis in both feet and was walking like someone 30 years older when I got out of bed in the morning. Three years ago I developed type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol to add to my list of health issues. I think my body does not do well with this extra weight. Some people can be obese and not have many issues... I am not that person. I have had complications with my diabetes already, my eyesight is getting worse, my feet have been numb, and I don't want to be insulin dependent. My mom passed away last October from a massive stroke. She was overweight, had HBP, and diabetes. I don't want to continue down that path. I have wasted nearly all of my forties trying to get back to a healthy weight, and I will be 49 in August. I have promised myself that I will get to my goal weight before I turn 50. I am so ready to give my body a break and get healthy again.

I am scheduled for VSG on May 15th. I would like to hear stories from others that had the surgery with BMI less then 35. Were you able to reach your goal weight in 12 months? Did your health issues resolve fully or improve? My BMI is 32, but I have type 2 diabetes that has been hard to control, and I haven't been able to lose the 70 lbs I need to on my own. I am wanting to get down to 150 and maintain my weight close to that. If I am successful that would put my BMI right about 22. Were there any special challenges for you that might be different than someone starting at a higher weight? Thank you.

Thank you for the links. I did try to search, but I came up empty for some reason? I guess I need to learn how to use the search feature better.

I just wanted to reach out to you and say welcome. I am new here also and just got a date for my surgery. I don't have any eating disorders to the extent that you do so I can't help you there. I just want to wish you good luck with your journey. I am sure others will respond with good advice for you.

I am only planning to tell my husband and adult children. I just don't want to deal with all of the questions and judgments. I have co-workers that tell me now I don't need to lose weight... obviously they don't understand the health challenges. Although my BMI is only 32, I have type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, and lower back pain. I carry my weight mainly in the middle and many people don't think I weigh as much as I do. So for right now I am not planning on telling anyone outside my immediate family.

Thank you Bill!! I guess I will just see how I feel when it is time to come home. The next two months can't go fast enough for me.

Wow, you are doing great!! I hope to achieve similar results. What is your goal weight?

Of course I am hoping one week will be enough, but I want to be prepared. I am an entomologist and I work in a lab. My duties are highly variable, but I do have some control over heavy lifting and other strenuous work. I can decide to do lab, computer work for a few weeks until I am cleared to do more. I am struggling with how much I want to share with other people about my surgery. I am a private person and I can't imagine having to explain this over and over. Thank you for sharing everyone.

Thank you for your replies everyone. If I have to I could take another week off. I guess I will play it day by day and see how it goes. I had a hysterectomy 2 years ago and was off for 5 weeks, but I probably could have gone back at 4 weeks.

I am going to have Dr. Illan at the Oasis of Hope hospital.

I am scheduled for May 15th!! Maybe I will see you there. It would be great to meet some others for moral support.

Well after much discussion with my husband and with Stacie from Bariactric Pal I have scheduled my surgery. I will be getting the sleeve on May 15th. So i have 2 months to get prepared for the most important thing I have ever done for my health. I am scared, excited, and anxious all rolled up together. A big thank you to all who have responded and offered me advice.

I am happy for you!! I am going through the process of making a similar decision so I don't have any words of wisdom, but I do want to encourage you in your journey. It is definitely a crazy mix of emotions going through this process. I look forward to reading more about your experiences.

thank you everyone for your advice. I have not met with a surgeon in the states. My insurance will not cover the cost and I am still in the process of researching and deciding if going to Mexico is something I want to pursue, I have contacted Bill Yanez and I am waiting to hear back about whether I would be a candidate and to get more information. I am ready to move forward and make a change. I purchased the book "The Big Book on Gastric Sleeve" so I could begin to absorb everything I can.

Thank you so much for your kind words and advice. I have no doubt that given enough time I will gain the weight back. That has been the case for over 4 years now. That is one of the reasons I don't want to wait too long. I want to get this done while I still have the momentum going in the right direction so to speak. I have already started to see a pound or 2 creeping back... it is so frustrating!!

I agree. I am really hopeful that my diabetes will go into remission if I have the surgery. Do you have a date yet for your surgery?