Dr. Ariel Ortiz at the OCC

[mazzers120 75]

do you or did any of you guys have people in your lives trying to convince you the surgery wasnt right for you? and how did you respond to them?

 

I know who those people in my life would be so I only choose to share it with only the people I knew would be supportive. Unfortunately two of the people I'm closest with still don't know because of that.

[gastricsleever 259]

do you or did any of you guys have people in your lives trying to convince you the surgery wasnt right for you? and how did you respond to them?

Nope because I knew who those people would be and I decided no to tell them I'm having the surgery done...I've only told people that I know are going to be positive and supportive.

[HoosierGirl 780]

HoosierGirl, I was denied by my insurance a month ago. I sat in my bedroom crying because I felt so helpless. My husband said we'd do whatever needed to be done. That night I found your blog! You gave me hope, and I plan to join the loser's bench in April of next year! My sister is a college professor at Butler, maybe one day I will be able to give you a hug (when I go out to visit her) and thank you for being an integral part of finding my way to OCC!

You made my day...wow.

I'm so so so glad you found the blog and are going to be able to have surgery despite the stupid insurance company! What day in April are you having surgery?

This surgery will change your life in ways you cannot imagine today. At first, I was all about the weight loss/protein, etc. Now, I am all about being HEALTHY. Eating good food. Exercising. Getting enough sleep. Etc. I am in shape - not just thin. My cholesterol/BP/blood sugar are excellent. I want the same for YOU!

Your husband sounds like a wonderful person...you will be so glad you have his support. Go SoCalMomOfFour! I am cheering for you...April will be here before you know it! (And you let me know when you are going to be in Indy....would really love to meet you!) Hugs

[HoosierGirl 780]

do you or did any of you guys have people in your lives trying to convince you the surgery wasnt right for you? and how did you respond to them?

OMG - YES!  I went through my local bariatric program and was denied....then did all the research and decided on Mexico.  Now, everyone knew about my desire for surgery in the US, it was fine.  But, when I told my Mom about Mexico she FREAKED OUT!  Really read me the riot act and got hateful with me.  Well Mom, I love you and I respect your opinion, but I'm doing this anyway!  What is so funny is that now SHE WANTS SURGERY IN MEXICO TOO! 

 

If you don't know about the quality surgeons in Mexico, it does sound scary.  Don't let anyone else's opinions change yours....you know the facts and what is right for you.  I'd rather be thin with everyone mad at me than be fat and live with the pain of regret....

 

Good luck.

[MouseOnTheMile 186]

I'm an idiot. Got my wisdom teeth out fourteen days post op. I'm apparently a glutton for punishment!! *hates life*

[Mbindra 12]

I tried to only tell the people that would support me. but i couldn't keep this experience from my parents. when i told my mom i had to talk to her a few times before she would even bother to listen...my mom was one of the most important people in my life that i needed to know, i really wanted her to come with me, but she was the first person who was against me having surgery. then there is my dad who listened to my reasoning and still cant comprehend as to why i wouldn't just flick a switch and become skinny. at that point my husband was the only person on my side, and completely 100% on my side, which i couldn't be more thankful for...he has been so proactive in helping me reach my goal, and putting this surgery before anything else that important in his life because he knows its important for me. so the two of us are headed down to mexico at the end of December so i can finally have this surgery. 

 

then there is my boss. i had no intentions of telling her. but when i realized that when going back to work a week after the surgery, i would probably have to take it easy. Im a hairdresser and i couldn't imagine that a week after surgery i would be at 100% for my clients. so when i let her know she jumped at the chance to tell me that getting the sleeve wasn't for me and why wouldn't i try something like weight watchers?....

 

I just dont think any of them can comprehend why i want to do this, i think you only understand when you yourself have been in the situation where diet and exercise is not necessarily the answer...sorry for the long rant, but i fell like you guys all understand what im going through. All of you are such an awesome group of people and are all so inspiring. I appreciate all of you for sharing your stories, positives and negatives

[Adoptivemom 8]

For those of you that traveled alone, what did you do with your money, passports, etc. during your surgery and hospital stay?

[gastricsleever 259]

For those of you that traveled alone, what did you do with your money, passports, etc. during your surgery and hospital stay?

I might be traveling alone and I asked the OCC what people do with their stuff when patients don't have someone with then. This is what she told me:

You will be in a private hospital room behind locked doors to the hospital area. It is only our staff that would have access to this area. You can also give your purse to our hospital administrator, Erika, to lock up for you while you are in surgery.

[healthbound1 69]

Mouse!!! You crazy girl!  Oh well, you're just getting everything done and out of the way all at once

[SoCalMomOfFour 36]

April 10th!!!! Fingers crossed it all works out!

You made my day...wow. 

 

I'm so so so glad you found the blog and are going to be able to have surgery despite the stupid insurance company!  What day in April are you having surgery? 

 

This surgery will change your life in ways you cannot imagine today.  At first, I was all about the weight loss/protein, etc.  Now, I am all about being HEALTHY.  Eating good food.  Exercising.  Getting enough sleep.  Etc.  I am in shape - not just thin.  My cholesterol/BP/blood sugar are excellent.  I want the same for YOU! 

 

Your husband sounds like a wonderful person...you will be so glad you have his support.  Go SoCalMomOfFour!  I am cheering for you...April will be here before you know it!  (And you let me know when you are going to be in Indy....would really love to meet you!)  Hugs

[Derbymama21 31]

Surgery was today. There were 5 people here today, 2 of which are with me. So far we are all doing good, in and out of sleep. Feeling really thirsty, but I am trying to sip and sip. Pretty soar on the left hand side and in the back.

[MouseOnTheMile 186]

Surgery was today. There were 5 people here today, 2 of which are with me. So far we are all doing good, in and out of sleep. Feeling really thirsty, but I am trying to sip and sip. Pretty soar on the left hand side and in the back.

Welcome to the beginning of your new life Derbymama!

[back2barb78 890]

<p>Hi Ladies - I need your help/advice.</p> <p> </p> <p>I just got a promotion at work (yay!) and my surgery is scheduled for Dec.4th. I told my company I was getting surgery, but said it was for hiatal hernia. I said I'd need 1 week off for surgery but I could work a few hours per day the following week and should be good to work again, week 3. I said this because even though I travel a lot (at least once per month), I work from a home office and things usually slow down in December (which is why I chose Dec.4th as my surgery date). BUT due to the new promotion, I am being asked to fly to head office for training 2 weeks after surgery. The flight is 5hrs each way and training is over 2 days. My brain needs to be "on" so I can learn what they need me to learn in a short period of time.</p> <p> </p> <p>My questions to you guys (especially to those post surgery):</p> <p>-Is it unrealistic to think I could travel 2 weeks after surgery and be alert enough to retain a bunch of training that is key to my new role?</p> <p> </p> <p>I'm most concerned about being alert enough to absorb the material I'm being taught and organizing the post-op diet for the plane, hotel, and days at head office. I also read about people rejecting food (getting sick) and that scares me </p> <p> </p> <p>Help?</p>

First congrats on your promotion! I'm assuming your training will be 8 hour days, but I don't know if it's typical training where you're sitting all day. You do get tired some days in the beginning but everyone is different. Also know that when you drink/eat, you're what I call "noisy"- airy and burpy. I still pat myself on my chest when I drink/eat sometimes and apologize to people around me for my "noise". People don't seem to hear it as much as I think they do though.

I think it's really hard to focus when you have to sit through those all day training sessions under normal circumstances. You could always buy one of those recorders we used in college so you can review it later on your own time. During that time you will be on full liquids.

[back2barb78 890]

<p>I tried to only tell the people that would support me. but i couldn't keep this experience from my parents. when i told my mom i had to talk to her a few times before she would even bother to listen...my mom was one of the most important people in my life that i needed to know, i really wanted her to come with me, but she was the first person who was against me having surgery. then there is my dad who listened to my reasoning and still cant comprehend as to why i wouldn't just flick a switch and become skinny. at that point my husband was the only person on my side, and completely 100% on my side, which i couldn't be more thankful for...he has been so proactive in helping me reach my goal, and putting this surgery before anything else that important in his life because he knows its important for me. so the two of us are headed down to mexico at the end of December so i can finally have this surgery. </p> <p> </p> <p>then there is my boss. i had no intentions of telling her. but when i realized that when going back to work a week after the surgery, i would probably have to take it easy. Im a hairdresser and i couldn't imagine that a week after surgery i would be at 100% for my clients. so when i let her know she jumped at the chance to tell me that getting the sleeve wasn't for me and why wouldn't i try something like weight watchers?....</p> <p> </p> <p>I just dont think any of them can comprehend why i want to do this, i think you only understand when you yourself have been in the situation where diet and exercise is not necessarily the answer...sorry for the long rant, but i fell like you guys all understand what im going through. All of you are such an awesome group of people and are all so inspiring. I appreciate all of you for sharing your stories, positives and negatives </p>

First off, I'm so glad your hubby is completely on board- he's the person that's in the house with you and will be the person you really need on your side. As far as the other people in your life, they can have a seat. Your adult choices-especially ones you're making to benefit your health- are none of their business, especially your boss! How does she know what's right for you? Has she been a friend your whole life and is she there through all your weight struggles? On top of that- this sleeve is NOT easy. It's easier to do weight watchers and have a day where you "cheat" then get back on the wagon. But what would happen-your weight would continue to fluctuate up and down and you would be in the same position or worse this time next year. Right now if I didn't have my sleeve and I was doing some other program, I GUARANTEE I would've cheated and had something I wasn't supposed to. Having the sleeve and knowing something may possibly make me sick is deterrent enough for me- that was part of my personal reasons for getting the sleeve in addition to weight loss and having something in place to help me keep off/ control weight gain long term. The people who are saying these things to you should do some research on the sleeve before they chime in on what you should/shouldn't be doing. I would be willing to bet if you countered their opinion by asking them what they know about the surgery they couldn't even tell you what it is.

And for sure the weight doesn't just fall off- you still have to work out to see good progress. Your supposed to exercise 60-90 minutes daily with this in addition to trying to drink all your Water, all your Protein, and take all the Vitamins. Some people get the surgery and lose a small amount of weight and then nothing else (now that we're all together, I came upon a sleeve to bypass revision thread). Easy- I definitely don't think so.

[back2barb78 890]

Congrats Derby!! Hope you and you group are doing well

 

MOTM- I couldn't imagine doing both!! What are you taking for pain for your mouth?