Jacksonsgrandma
I have been on the diet roller coaster my entire life. In 2006, I tried Nutri-system and lost 50# but it made no difference in my back pain, and when I realized that surgery was inevitable, I lost my enthusiasm for the diet and never managed to find it again. Last October, I decided that it was time to get serious about weight loss because at age 56 I could barely keep up with my young grandson. Health issues (aortic aneurysm and back pain) were significant factors in addition to my desire to get healthy and enjoy activities with my grandson. I lost 40 pounds by January 2011 and caught a cold from my grandson and soup felt so good on my throat that I fell off the diet wagon. He gave me three more colds over the course of the next couple of months and I could not get the momentum going again. By June 2011 I had regained all the lost weight.
I have many friends that had gastric bypass surgery and I never considered it because of the malodorous problems, hernia, and other issues. Out of curiosity, I started exploring on the internet and found this site as well as some others and started reading about Verticle Sleeve Gastrectomy. I did extensive research on doctors in the surrounding area and attended a seminar at Grand Health Partners in Grand Rapids, MI. I had planned to attend one in Kalamazoo as well, but I decided that I liked the fact that there are four surgeons devoted to weight loss, medical and surgical, and the doctor in Kalamazoo was the only one. I am more comfortable with the idea of a doctor being available all the time in case of problems.
I first met with the internist and with the psychologist on 7/18/11 and with the surgeon on 7/21. The internist wanted me to get a sleep apnea study and also wanted to review my MRI's for my aneurysm. The psychologist wanted to consult with my own psychologist. These people are very thorough and take no short-cuts when it comes to reducing as much risk for the patient as possible.
I had my sleep apnea study done and 
was less than happy to learn I had it and needed a CPAP. So my tentative surgical date of 8/31 went out the window. I had my next study to try the different CPAPs and determination of what pressure was necessary. I was so anxious to get everything done so I could get a surgical date and it seemed like things kept getting in the way. Delay getting my records on the 90+ days I had been on a medically supervised diet, then the sleep apnea/CPAP study stuff could not be sent by fax to the surgeon's office because the computers were down. I was cringing at the thought of not being able to have the surgery until mid-September, which would require cancellation of my vacation, because I couldn't fly 2,000 miles away from my surgeons just two weeks post-op.
I called my surgeon's pre-op coordinator (an angel!) last week Monday (8/15) and told her I would be getting my CPAP that day but there was trouble with the computers so they could not send my sleep apnea titrations until the problem was fixed. Just out of curiosity, I asked what date for surgery I would be looking at now, fearing the worst. I was told that there is almost NEVER a cancellation.....BUT somebody had cancelled just that morning and there was an opening on 8/31/11!!!!! Happy, happy! Joy, JOY!
My titrations were faxed on Tuesday, I attended the pre-op class Wednesday and started my pre-op diet regimen Thursday. I am so excited I can hardly stand it. Today (8/22/11) is 9 days until surgery. It seemed like so long and so many hurdles to overcome yet I've read stories of so many others that have waited and waited and had more obstacles than I to overcome so I feel grateful that I've made it in relatively little time. Only two months have elapsed from my decision to now.
I forgot about the EGD that my surgeon performed. Thanks to that I gave up caffeine and aspirin so it wasn't much of a transition to the pre-op diet. No headaches - very little hunger pangs. I just drown 'em in water.
I read a lot of stuff on here and would like to contact people directly and vice versa. To all that read this, best of luck. I will update as there is more to tell.
Hope everything goes well for me. I try not to think of the bad stories I've heard. I don't know anybody personally that has had the sleeve. Gastric bypass seems to be the most prevalent surgery with a few of my friends having the lap band and now they are going in for the sleeve.
I find many people that have never had a weight problem are not very supportive, however those that are supportive far outnumber those that are not. I am looking forward to better health. The CPAP that I so resented having to get has become a wonderful addition to my life. I actually wake up without headaches and require far less sleep. Who knew?????
