TexasMommy80

I’m 37 and we want to start trying as soon as I hit my goal weight. I am starting with a lower BMI so my hope is I will be close to goal weight within 6 months. As soon as I am there, we will TTC. I read multiple studies that the issue is not the stomach (after your stomach heals), but the issue is it stops the weight loss while you are most likely to lose quickly. I’ve also read its much easier to lose after delivering (if you follow your diet), so we will not wait. I figure I will be 38 when we conceive. [emoji3]

I have a BMI of 38 and have to lose 12 pounds per my surgeons requirements, which will put me at a BMI of 36. I am 5’6, 37 and 234 pounds. I am super healthy except for horrible osteoarthritis. I have already had a total knee replacement in my left knee, so they are recommending WLS to help with that. We won’t know for sure if insurance will accept that as my only comorbidity, so time will tell. My goal weight is 150-160, even though I know I could stand to lose a bit more than that. I want to keep a bit of my curve, lol. [emoji3][emoji3]

Fit4LifeAR 930 day streak, except I am more chubby than fit right now, LoL. I am hoping the sleeve gets me back to where I want to be. Height: 5’6 Age: 37 CW: 235 GW: 150-160

I know it’s not the same but I just had my gallbladder out and I’ve been told the pain is similar. For the gallbladder, the gas pain was the worst, but anytime I felt it coming on, I would get up and move. My stomach was sore, especially at the belly button, but nothing compared to the gas. All of my stomach pain went away in about two days, except for the big incision near my belly button. That pain lasted for about a week, but wasn’t terrible. I actually work from home and I was up and answering emails the day after my surgery. That gives me hope for my sleeve. My goal is to have the surgery on a Friday and be back to work on Monday. (Like I said though, I work from home so I can take breaks as needed).

I think that is just weary of change. We have been together 4.5 years and we are comfortable and happy together. He knows that it is up to me but he just doesn’t think I need it. I do think that he has an image of going from one extreme to another, and that bothers him. Either way, I’m tired, my knees hurt (already had a TKR at 36), and I am ready for a change. I am doing this for me.

I haven’t told many people because I don’t have a lot of support. My entire family is large, but we are all around the same size, with a BMI around 35-38. They do not think that I should consider it with a BMI of 38, but I am. I have been talking to my boyfriend about it too and he said he supported me, until I told him I had my END on Friday. He didn’t realize I was serious until that point, and now he is dead set against it. He is super fit and a body builder, so this surprises me. I know he prefers a little meat on me, but I have no plans on dropping to a tiny size. My goal is 160 and I’ve been there before. I was so happy and felt so good, but he’s never seen me below 200. I am so torn. I would hate to risk our relationship but I want to do this for me.

I have never used Monat products because of the price, but I am planning to have the sleeve done soon and I am terrified of my hair falling out. I have very fine hair so it will be pretty obvious if it happens (I know it will, I just hope it’s not so much that I have bald patches). I have heard good things about Monat hair products but as a teacher, but budget says “nope”. I might consider these vitamins for a while though, if I can find some reviews. Has anyone taken them?

Yes! As hard as it will be, I am going to take full body photos the day before my surgery.

We have similar stats, I am 5’6 and 234. I really would like to level off around 160, so I have a goal weight of 150, and then I want to increase my calories so that I don’t lose anymore. This is the one thing that is making me really nervous about the whole surgery, and even has me second guessing at times. Did you choose to keep losing after you hit your goal weight, or were you unable to stop? Also, did you have any issue with skin? By the way, congrats!!

Yes, good point!

Great advice, thank you!

I felt pretty good except for bad pain in my belly button. It’s odd because it was so localized, so I felt good otherwise. I was actually up and grading the day after. Sleeping hurt like all heck, so I just kept myself busy.

I had my first appointment with my bariatric surgeon and he was great. He recommended the sleeve for me and gave me some interesting statistics about dieting in general. He mentioned that once your BMI hits 35, the chances of keeping weight off long term is slim to none without weight loss surgery. The problem is not losing it but keeping it off, and I can attest to that! I am sure most of us can. He also talked about how he and his wife have had their practice for 15 years but nearly lost it all during the lap band craze. Apparently the lap band was in Europe long before the US and all of the research coming out stated that the lap band was no good. For that reason, they refused to perform the surgery when other clinics were performing it on most of their patients. He said that he can sleep better at night knowing that he put the patient before the pocket book, and that meant a lot to me. (This clinic and surgeon have glowing reviews, and I can see why.) Also, he said that if I can lose 12 pounds in the next 3 months, he will only make me do 2 days of liquids before the surgery, not two weeks. It sure is easier dieting when you have a goal like that to look forward too, LoL. SW:239 GW: 150

If I lose 12 pounds during my three month supervised diet, I won’t have to do the liver shrinking diet, so I am being pretty strict during the week. Then on the weekends, I am allowing myself to have the foods that I would normally have, almost as a reward. It’s working, I’m down 5 pounds in the first 9 days.

Absolutely! I can only do cardio right now because I just had my gallbladder out, but I am changing my workout to lifting heavy. I’ve worked out for years so it is something I enjoy, but it will be nice to change my focus up a bit.

I haven’t had the sleeve yet but the past few months I have been very sick with what I thought were reoccurring stomach viruses. The pain hit at night and it was terrible. I had diarrhea, vomiting, horrific stomach pain, and then by daytime I was ok. I finally had enough and saw my doc, and it was my gallbladder causing all of it. I feel a million times better now that it is out. I wonder if that is what you are feeling?

I am in Central Texas with Cedar Park Bariatrics. I just started the process and have to lose 12 pounds first, which is not bad. The best part is if I lose that, I don’t have to do the liver shrinking diet, lol.

I am looking at about $2000 out of pocket, if that. This includes my $750 deductible too.

Hello! I am starting the process with gastric sleeve on Wednesday, but my insurance requires 3 months of supervised dieting, so I am looking at March or April for surgery (providing there are no hiccups). I teach at home for a virtual high school, so I am wondering how long I will need to be off of work. Ideally, I would love to have the surgery later in the week and go back to work on Monday. I teach Seniors and I am the only one in my school that is certified to teach the courses that I teach (AP). I love my kiddos too, it will be good for me to get back to working with them. When I had my knee replacement, I was back within 2 weeks, but like I said, I work from home and I was 36, so it was an easier recovery than others. I just roll out of bed and log in. So, how long before you went back, and if you were working in a position like mine, do you think you could have went back more quickly? I can take off much longer if I want, my school gives us an enormous amount of time each year, which is odd for a virtual position. Haha, nobody ever uses it because we actually enjoy our job.

37 years old, 5’6, 239 pounds, BMI 38. I have 1 comorbidity of severe joint disease, and have already had a total knee replacement. I have been told that Cigna may not take osteoarthritis alone as a comorbidity, so I won’t know until the very end if I am approved. It is nerve wracking.

Ok, I was reading up on life after the gastric sleeve and read something that horrified me. I would love to know how many people have this issue and for how long. I work from home but have to go to a different location to administer state tests to my students, about three weeks after I am hoping to have the sleeve done. I read several posts about sleeve patients having to wear adult diapers because they basically have no control of their loose stools, especially during the liquid phase. Is this really a common thing? Several posters wrote about waking up to diarrhea all over the bed, going while driving or just having daily accidents in their pants. Please tell me this is not “the norm”.

LoL y’all are too funny! When I read that some people resorted to full time adult diapers, that was almost too much for me. I feel 100 times better!

I know how you feel but 6 months will fly by. I actually went to my PCP on Dec. 12 and we talked about weight loss and obesity. She refused to support weight loss surgery though, for anyone. So I had to find a new primary PCP. I found one that I really enjoy, but I doubt they will let my first appointment be with the old PCP because the appointments were 25 days apart and not 30. That small difference the is causing me to have to push back my surgery 2-3 months due to my work schedule. It is highly frustrating that my insurance requires 3 months of dieting, but the appointments have to be 30-35 days apart for them to count.

Thank you, both! I had horrible “what if’s” going through my head!!

I often remind myself that I have always weighed more than what I appear because of playing soccer for so long. Here is a photo of me at 190 pounds. I would happy just to be back here. BMI is terrible for self esteem!