December 2013 Sleevers Come In!

[Redwillow13 29]

Hey December Sleevers!

I just received my approval last week and my surgery date is December 16th!!!! My process went faster than expected. It took about two months to get all my requirements done: Family doctor approval, Nutritionist appointment, and one psych eval. Have BCBS of IL. Im 27yrs old, 5'8 @274lbs. Ive always had a problem with my weight so im super excited for my day to come. Have you guys been apprehensive about telling people? I've had to stop since I keep getting all negative feedback.

Hello! I haven't been on the site for a bit and see that you have the same date as me! My approval process was much shorter than I thought it would be but I really took my time on the process of getting everything together. I spent that time making absolutely sure that this is what I wanted to do. I am very thankful that of all my friends and family I told, I only got one negative reaction. But, even with that, I realized that I was looking for other people's approval and validation for the decision. Eventually I realized that good reception or bad I had to make this decision absolutely for and by myself. It was relieving for me in a way and sort of solidified my decision. In any case, I hope for the very best during this pre-op time and even better for your surgery and post-op experience. I'm so excited and nervous! What an adventure!

[MissKoKoKiss 30]

Let's stay in touch for sure! dde2c I met with my surgeon on Monday for the final pre-op meeting and now I'm even more excited. I'm not so excited about the shakes. I'm starting to get very very sick of them - blech. I keep telling myself this is temporary so I need to just "Suck It Up". I hope you are doing well with your pre-op. December 3rd will be here soon!

We surely can I had my pre-op with my surgeon on Nov 18th and did a pre-assessment/registration with the hospital on this past Wed Nov 27th. Only thing left is to just have the surgery. I completely understand what you mean about the shakes. I now can only drink GNC lean shakes, the vanilla bean one specifically. I put it in the freezer for a little while and it almost tastes as good as a Starbucks Vanilla Bean frappe lol I hope you're ready Dec 3rd is right around the corner

[emma313823 4]

Hi All

I stumbled across this site in my search for info on the necessity for a bowel prep for sleeve surgery. I'm a post-op band patient. Had my surgery done on 5/7/2012...started at 266 and was down to 200, then the unfortunate happened. I became sick in the spring with really bad allergies and had a constant/persistent cough carrying through until July. I had been vomiting constantly for about 3 months keeping down very little. I had finally had enough and made my doctors investigate to find the band had slipped to the upper side of the small pouch and the bottom of the esophagus...so all the restriction in my band was causing me to immediately vomit when I ate barely get a little down each time. I had a choice...fix the band and know that when I had another allergy attack it would most likely happen again, do nothing or make the decision to covert to the next least invasive surgery - the sleeve. Kind of a no brainer for me since I had come so far and vested to much in the journey to turn back...I chose to do the sleeve. It took more than a month for my insurance to review the case and I finally receive approve on Thursday (Nov 28th)...with a scheduled surgery date of December 9th.

So now that I'm moving into the week before the surgery...anyone perhaps a patient at the Center for Weight Management in Lowell and know if they require a bowel prep before surgery and/or if you have to go on Clear Liquids for several days before? I know every location is different, but I'm pretty confident that CWM doctors keep to the same line of direction. I have my appointment with the anesthesiologist and surgeon on Tuesday this week...so that leaves me only 5 days until the surgery. Not sure what I should expect outside of knowing that I will have to get the patch for nausea behind the ear, get the roxicet for after the surgery...outside of this I'm clueless and I hate not knowing.

Actually glad I found this site...it will be nice to connect with others. In the support groups I attended after my band surgery....for more than a year...I can count on less than 5 fingers the number of patients who were also band...often felt like the odd person out when I had questions...no one could relate.

E

[RunningA5K 645]

Welcome to our new sleever friends. And happy first day of December. This will be a life changing month for all of us here, and it's so exciting. I'm heading back home tomorrow, so no worries, we'll have an updated list for all of you on our awesome December sleevers (I have kept a close eye on our new friends). Also, if you want to participate in the pounds lost forum, please PM me your pounds lost goal, or post it on the pounds lost forum, and I'll make sure to get it on the spreadsheet once I get home. For those of you who have already sent me a message, I have it...just zero time to respond to each of you...nieces and nephews demand a lot of time..LOL, but you are all present and accounted for. Will be glad to get back to some normalcy...it's literally been a whirlwind of activity since we have been here. Start liquid diet on Wednesday...WOW! Have a great day, and will be back sooooooon!

[sandisleeve 563]

I'm scheduled for dec 10 and I am officially "nervo-cited" that's excited & nervous at the same time -- lol

I went shopping on Black Friday just to look around and I felt so elated that soon I wouldn't have to dig deep for the big girl sizes and not be happy with how I looked in them and how it would be so surreal to pull out a more typical size and look great and Feel great!!!! I'm not being vane but a woman's confidence is a huge factor in the quality of life she lives

The enemy is working overtime and I'm getting negative vibes from my mom (only 2 people know so far -- her and my best girlfriend who is a registered nurse)

I'm also getting crazy thoughts about the stapling and recovery but I will stand firm in my faith and let the good thoughts outweigh the bad ... I have been working out and watching what I eat for the past 7 weeks so I hope that helps with a speedy and Smooth recovery

good luck to all of you fabulous December sleevers; happy "slimmer" 2014!!!

[Thick'n'Thin 171]

Hey folks. I decided to seriously consider the sleeve mid-September. After a false start with the wrong doc for me I had my consult with my wonderful surgeon Oct 25th. I knew I wanted a surgery date between college semesters, preferably late December. It was going to be a challenge to make that happen in just under two months. But I had my preop appointment Nov 27th, all my tests and hurdles having been jumped in a month, and am being sleeved Dec 23rd.

Like everyone else I am nervous and excited. I had an unexpected turn the day I got my surgery date. I ended my relationship with my BF, who's support I was counting on to hold my hand through this. It's all so overwhelming: the changes from the breakup, the hurt and grief, the unknown future, the crunch at the end of the semester at school, the disappointment of my family not prioritizing being their for my surgery (my parents, my next of kin, are still deciding if they will take their not yet scheduled vacation on my surgery date or come and be with me), lost hopes, loneliness, and trying to mentally and physically prepare and get my affairs in order before surgery.

God's got a purpose and plan but I am being pressed on every side. If you are a prayer and wish to, pray for me.

[Only1likeme 69]

Hey folks. I decided to seriously consider the sleeve mid-September. After a false start with the wrong doc for me I had my consult with my wonderful surgeon Oct 25th. I knew I wanted a surgery date between college semesters, preferably late December. It was going to be a challenge to make that happen in just under two months. But I had my preop appointment Nov 27th, all my tests and hurdles having been jumped in a month, and am being sleeved Dec 23rd.

Like everyone else I am nervous and excited. I had an unexpected turn the say I got my surgery date. I ended my relationship with my BF, who's support I was counting on to hold my hand through this. It's all so overwhelming: the changes from the breakup, the hurt and grief, the unknown future, the crunch at the end of the semester at school, the disappointment of my family not prioritizing being their for my surgery (my parents, my next of kin, are still deciding if they will take their not yet scheduled vacation on my surgery date or come and be with me), lost hopes, loneliness, and trying to mentally and physically prepare and get my affairs in order before surgery.

God's got a purpose and plan but I am being pressed on every side. If you are a prayer and wish to, pray for me.

You are not alone in this. Trust and believe! You have all of us here..strangers or not and the outcome will hopefully make you forget all of the hurdles before surgery. I'm sorry to hear of your trials before surgery but again you are not alone. You are in my prayers. My surgery is 10 days away and the anxiety is like wow right now but I continue to pray on this thing and I know he won't leave me.

[Thick'n'Thin 171]

Hey folks. I decided to seriously consider the sleeve mid-September. After a false start with the wrong doc for me I had my consult with my wonderful surgeon Oct 25th. I knew I wanted a surgery date between college semesters, preferably late December. It was going to be a challenge to make that happen in just under two months. But I had my preop appointment Nov 27th, all my tests and hurdles having been jumped in a month, and am being sleeved Dec 23rd.

Like everyone else I am nervous and excited. I had an unexpected turn the say I got my surgery date. I ended my relationship with my BF, who's support I was counting on to hold my hand through this. It's all so overwhelming: the changes from the breakup, the hurt and grief, the unknown future, the crunch at the end of the semester at school, the disappointment of my family not prioritizing being their for my surgery (my parents, my next of kin, are still deciding if they will take their not yet scheduled vacation on my surgery date or come and be with me), lost hopes, loneliness, and trying to mentally and physically prepare and get my affairs in order before surgery.

God's got a purpose and plan but I am being pressed on every side. If you are a prayer and wish to, pray for me.

You are not alone in this. Trust and believe! You have all of us here..strangers or not and the outcome will hopefully make you forget all of the hurdles before surgery. I'm sorry to hear of your trials before surgery but again you are not alone. You are in my prayers. My surgery is 10 days away and the anxiety is like wow right now but I continue to pray on this thing and I know he won't leave me.

Thank you. I will pray for you as well! Hopefully this new challenge will be a much needed distraction from the breakup.

[jnimons 6]

No to the pre-op diet. I go on 12/9 for testing and to meet with my nutritionist who will give me the details I guess. I only have to do liquid the day before surgery. Getting nervous because I feel like I am in the dark about what to eat (I mean drink) after surgery.

[Bremartus 76]

Hi All

I stumbled across this site in my search for info on the necessity for a bowel prep for sleeve surgery. I'm a post-op band patient. Had my surgery done on 5/7/2012...started at 266 and was down to 200, then the unfortunate happened. I became sick in the spring with really bad allergies and had a constant/persistent cough carrying through until July. I had been vomiting constantly for about 3 months keeping down very little. I had finally had enough and made my doctors investigate to find the band had slipped to the upper side of the small pouch and the bottom of the esophagus...so all the restriction in my band was causing me to immediately vomit when I ate barely get a little down each time. I had a choice...fix the band and know that when I had another allergy attack it would most likely happen again, do nothing or make the decision to covert to the next least invasive surgery - the sleeve. Kind of a no brainer for me since I had come so far and vested to much in the journey to turn back...I chose to do the sleeve. It took more than a month for my insurance to review the case and I finally receive approve on Thursday (Nov 28th)...with a scheduled surgery date of December 9th.

So now that I'm moving into the week before the surgery...anyone perhaps a patient at the Center for Weight Management in Lowell and know if they require a bowel prep before surgery and/or if you have to go on clear liquids for several days before? I know every location is different, but I'm pretty confident that CWM doctors keep to the same line of direction. I have my appointment with the anesthesiologist and surgeon on Tuesday this week...so that leaves me only 5 days until the surgery. Not sure what I should expect outside of knowing that I will have to get the patch for nausea behind the ear, get the roxicet for after the surgery...outside of this I'm clueless and I hate not knowing.

Actually glad I found this site...it will be nice to connect with others. In the support groups I attended after my band surgery....for more than a year...I can count on less than 5 fingers the number of patients who were also band...often felt like the odd person out when I had questions...no one could relate.

E

I had the samerhings happen and all of it with just about the same times as well. It was a hard time. I am having surgery on Dec 13. to convert from the sleeve and remove my band. I am excited to get rid of this band. Good luck!

[Mel1071 149]

I'm scheduled for dec 10 and I am officially "nervo-cited" that's excited & nervous at the same time -- lol

I went shopping on Black Friday just to look around and I felt so elated that soon I wouldn't have to dig deep for the big girl sizes

Ha! I did the exact same thing yesterday. My mind was a bit boggled as we went through the mal, and I realized this time next year, the only store I won't be able to shop in is Lane Bryant!

[Bremartus 76]

Hey folks. I decided to seriously consider the sleeve mid-September. After a false start with the wrong doc for me I had my consult with my wonderful surgeon Oct 25th. I knew I wanted a surgery date between college semesters, preferably late December. It was going to be a challenge to make that happen in just under two months. But I had my preop appointment Nov 27th, all my tests and hurdles having been jumped in a month, and am being sleeved Dec 23rd.

Like everyone else I am nervous and excited. I had an unexpected turn the day I got my surgery date. I ended my relationship with my BF, who's support I was counting on to hold my hand through this. It's all so overwhelming: the changes from the breakup, the hurt and grief, the unknown future, the crunch at the end of the semester at school, the disappointment of my family not prioritizing being their for my surgery (my parents, my next of kin, are still deciding if they will take their not yet scheduled vacation on my surgery date or come and be with me), lost hopes, loneliness, and trying to mentally and physically prepare and get my affairs in order before surgery.

God's got a purpose and plan but I am being pressed on every side. If you are a prayer and wish to, pray for me.

Wow that is a lot of stress in a small amount of time. Do you have a support group where your at? Or maybe some on the web site can be supportive. You can PM me if you would like.

[Jerzygurl 372]

No to the pre-op diet. I go on 12/9 for testing and to meet with my nutritionist who will give me the details I guess. I only have to do liquid the day before surgery. Getting nervous because I feel like I am in the dark about what to eat (I mean drink) after surgery.

I know what you mean about being in the dark. I was required to have two NUT visits and he told me, you'll get the pre-op and post-op eating plan at our next meeting. I was like really? Give it to me now. I want to know.. NOW..lol

Hang in there..it's a coming! When I got it..I was like oh okay..this is easy. You truly don't get to eat much on either pre or post...but I was anxious to get it anyway.

[ginnie290 14]

We are here. I have 15 days and a wake up.

[donaboss 131]

Wahhhh I want December 30 to be already. I am so happy for those who are having the surgery tomorrow. I am excited for you all. I started my process in October and all I have left is the nutritionist appointment that's tomorrow. I am hoping to get my papers for approval by next week. Soo nervous for that part. I just want to start my life all over again.. Can't wait for that day. I have a wedding in May and there are people I haven't seen in years that they will be shocked to see me skinny.

Waiting impatiently. Not nervous at alllllllll