Editor57

I chose the sleeve even though I have an enormous amount of weight to lose. The doctor even suggested in the first few meetings that I should do the bypass. But I had taken 10 years to make the decision to have the surgery and I knew that I didn't want all of the issues associated with the bypass. I was willing to settle for not reaching my ideal weight and simply getting healthier with the sleeve. I had the surgery 12-12-18, I'm down a total of 93 pounds since I started the entire journey 6-1-18 and I don't regret a thing. Even only 6 months out, I can just about eat anything, albeit it in very small amounts, and have not had dumping or any issues (except chronically low iron, which might not even be related). I guess my only advice is don't be pressured into having the more extensive surgery. Do what's right for you and your goals.

To follow up on my comment from June 13. Two days later I saw my surgeon, whom I love, but who can be pretty tough. I'm down a total of 93 pounds from when I first walked into his office in June 2017. My BP was at a level not seen since I was in college (I'm nearly 61 now). My already good cholesterol had dropped another 30 points. When I said that I was pleased, but thought it would move faster, the surgeon actually pointed at a chart on the wall and said, "We're not here to you can get to some number on that chart. We're here to you FEEL BETTER." And then, for maybe the first time ever, I heard these words from him: "I'm very pleased. Very pleased." Couldn't have been a bigger boost to helping me realizing that I'm working it correctly, sometimes it's a slow process and losing ANYTHING is better than standing still or worse, gaining. I mentioned a baseball game in my last post. I went, walked from the car to the ballpark and went up and down the stairs to the seats. I FIT in the seat and had legroom. I'm going to another game next week. It was amazing. So to everyone who is frustrated about the slow loss or the stalling. Hang in there. It works. Most important, it's WORTH it.

Weight loss has always been an incredibly slow process for me and I have been disappointed this hasn't been faster. But as long as it keeps going down, I'm OK. And I did say to my surgeon, "What are you going to say to me when this doesn't work?" and he laughed, turned to his PA and said, "Have you ever seen this NOT work?" The agreed no, they hadn't, so I just set my mind to keeping my eye on the goal and accepting the small victories. I had to work hard to remind myself it's not all about the scale. It's smaller pants, another notch on a belt, a wolf-whistle in the parking lot (my co-workers think they are very funny, LOL), somebody not recognizing me in the grocery store, shoes no longer being tight ... plus big things like less orthopedic pain, sleep apnea that has nearly resolved itself, etc. I lost 30 pounds before my surgery in December on the liver-shrink diet and am down about 55 more since the surgery. I started this whole process last June and the way I look at it ... if I hadn't, I'd be 85 pounds heavier, probably more, and barely able to walk. Tonight I'm going to a baseball game for the first time in three years. So I'll take slow over nothing!

Sleeved Dec. 12 ... down a total of 85 pounds. I had significant orthopedic issues which in the past month have magically started to ease. My co-workers are always telling me to slow down. Because of that and a crazy schedule, exercise has been a difficult piece for me, but everything in time. I overcame being a vegetarian to eat high-protein, so I can do anything. I am going broke replacing my jeans and my hair is just, well, weird, but otherwise, I feel really great and an optimistic I'll get there. I've got my six-month appointment Friday. Will be interesting to see what my surgeon says.

I had surgery Dec. 12, 2017. I've lost a total of 85 lbs (some from the liver-shrinking diet beforehand). The scale has been a frustrating place ... but I'm down four jeans sizes and the belt I started wearing two weeks ago is down another notch. So that's what I'm doing ... taking the inches and not worrying too much about the scale.

My surgeon, after a bunch of tests related to WLS, recommended I have my gallbladder taken out, so I did so on Aug. 17. Sleeve surgery was then Dec. 12. Both were not difficult.

I was sleeved Dec. 12. I feel great, but I’m not hitting fluid or protein goals yet, though I’m pushing hard. I’m not stressing; I’m doing my best and it gets better each day.

I’m incredibly laid back about medical issues, but I was nervous and snapped at my poor surgeon in pre-op the morning of surgery. I think it’s normal. It’s a life-altering procedure and it’s not an easy process. We laughed about it afterward.

Had my gall bladder out and a hiatal hernia repaired Aug. 17; was sleeved Dec. 12. Gallbladder surgery was worse and doctor told me it would me (same surgeon for both). The gallbladder surgery was twice as long and more complicated. I felt pretty crappy the first night. But I went back to work in 2 weeks and had no issues. Also lost 22 lbs. eating a lighter diet. Now, have zero pain after the sleeve; biggest struggle is trying to get enough water and protein. I’m only two days out, though, not taking pain meds and I drove a short distance today to pick up a prescription.

My PCP discussed the surgery with me for 10 years before I decided to pursue it this spring. And I found the process so arduous that I had to tell the guys I work with. From there it wasn’t a big leap to being open about it, down to talking about it on Facebook and Twitter. I’ve struggled with my weight my entire life (I’m 60) and for the past four years the world has watched me struggle with orthopedic issues. The reaction has been very positive and supportive. Sure, there are always a few who say and ask really ignorant things, but that’s their problem, not mine. Many more have thanked me for sharing the journey. I was sleeved on Tuesday (Dec. 12), released the next day and drove to CVS today. I feel good. Struggling a bit to get in all of the protein and water, but today was better than yesterday. And when I return to work, I won’t have to explain the water, the weird eating.

I have Cigna insurance and it is my understanding that this is a six-month process. So far, no issues with Cigna. But I will say that there seems to be conflicting information among my doctors and I have been very aggressive about talking to the insurance company all through the process. And it's often not based on days as much as visits ... like four visits with a nutritionist, each a month apart. I've been running to doctors and having tests since June and am still not approved. In the middle, it was determined I needed surgery to remove my gallbladder and repair a hiatal hernia. Had the surgery and continued to have all of the tests around that, but now am awaiting a CPAP machine, which is proving to be a slow and incredibly maddening experience. Had to swear to use it EVERY NIGHT for 30 days in a row to get my surgery tentatively scheduled for Dec. 12. Since I still don't have the machine, the distributor is being less than truthful and no one seems capable of helping me, I think that tentative date is now very much in peril. We'll see. If the surgery gets dumped into 2018, my high deductible kicks in all over again, and as we all know, this isn't cheap . I've been an incredibly compliant, aggressive patient through all of this. Have completed dozens of appointments, tests, etc. Believe strongly that this surgery is my best option to finally deal with my weight issues and appreciate my surgeon's meticulous process. But the setbacks with the timing have been so crushing that I've twice considered pulling the plug on the entire idea. They don't make it easy. I keep hearing the time after the surgery is tough in terms of the eating, etc. I'm sure that's true. But for my money, the process getting to the surgery is, well, unspeakable. It has worn me down, which is not a great place to be going into the actual surgery ... and I'm normally a tough, resilient person. This has been my personal Waterloo.