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POSTED UNDER Gastric Sleeve Surgery REVIEWS

Sleeved 10/26/2015 down 90lbs

Name: Sleeved 10/26/2015 down 90lbs
Item: Mark R. Sherrod, MD
Author: lifeisgoingtogetbetter

ORIGINAL POST

A little bit about myself I'm 26 years old 320ish...

lifeisgoingtogetbetterAugust 18, 2015

$3,000

A little bit about myself I'm 26 years old 320ish lbs at 5' 9". I've always been on the heavier side of the weight scale, at least that's what I felt. I was a very athletic teenager I played several sport including but not limited to softball, track, basketball and volleyball. I grew up on a horse farm so I was always outside do some kind of chore or playing. With that being said I never had time to sit down, watch a bunch of tv and just simply be lazy. That was until I graduated high school and got a part time job while trying to go to college. At that time as well I was fresh in a relationship with before I never even had a boyfriend let alone anyone to pay attention to me. As most stories go I ended up not completing college, I was just to focusing on work and my boyfriend. Next thing I know I've gained about 50 to 60lbs in one year! Then it really started to roll downhill I tried to lose weight but I was always over doing it. Never eating enough food, exercising to hard and I had no results so I quit trying.

Once I quit trying, the weight just piled on then I got depressed. After I moved from my home town I decided to give myself a fresh start. I started exercising again and eating healthy at that time I didn't know how much I weighed because I through the scale out. It was until about 3-4 months of doing this I decided to buy another one. When I stepped on that scale I was devastated I was almost 300lbs! I broke down and cried. How did this happen?? I didn't feel any different; my appearance didn't look that different to me. Why didn't my boyfriend of 7 years tell me that I was getting larger? When I brought this to his attention he responded, "It's my job to love you no matter what you look like." That was a good response. However, it still didn't change the situation I was in. At that point I decided to look in to having weight loss surgery. It's 2013, I was considered surgery I had insurance at the time and wasn't sure whether or not it would cover it. Instead of looking into it I just didn’t.

Now it’s 2015, almost 2016, and I’m so ready for this. I’ve already met the requirement of the 6 month diet and I met the surgeon on August 21st. I want to get this surgery done soon as possible. I already did my psychological review. I wanted to do the EGD and sleep apnea test but I’m not sure whether or not I actually need to have it done. I certainly don’t want to go through any tests that I don’t have to. I don’t have sleep apnea. I don’t have any health problems other than being overweight.

Hopefully, everything goes according to plan on Friday with the surgeon.

lifeisgoingtogetbetter's provider

Mark R. Sherrod, MD

Bariatric Surgeon, Board Certified in General Surgery

Replies (18)

thenewNikki

August 19, 2015

goodluck with everything....im scheduled for 9/8 "sleeveday"

lifeisgoingtogetbetter

August 19, 2015

YAY!! I'm so excited for you! Did you have to have an EGD and sleep study done?

thenewNikki

August 19, 2015

I had to have to EGD, but no sleep study. I'm excited too

lifeisgoingtogetbetter

August 19, 2015

Thank you for the information! Good luck! I know you'll do great!

rclark56

September 3, 2015

Good luck sweetie! I read your story and I feel for you.. I know how hard it is to lose weight period. I used to be 5'7 all my life, now I am 5'6 which I am sure my age has everything to do with it. I grew up being skinny until my hysterectomy in 02, I was always 135 to 140 pounds, but hormones also set in and before I knew I was blowing up to 184. I knew I was gaining weight but never knew how much since I also threw my scale out way back. I stopped going to the gym, and was not very happy with myself. My husband never once said anything to me as well, and every time I would ask him " I know I put on weight " he would just say to me " honey, you look wonderful, and stop worrying. he never said once in 6 yrs that I was getting chubby, Fat, putting on weight, Nothing.. but then I realized how unhappy I was when folks would take pictures of my when I was performing as I am a singer. I would get mad, and tell then Please do not post these pictures to Facebook, nor my page.. I also made sure no one could post to my wall in fear of what I would look like. I knew right then, I needed to do something about this.. I went to my doctor in July and ask for help, and I was so happy that I did just that. he put me on Phentermine 15mg which is the lowest dose, the first week, I had no appetite, I also had no side affects which I was scared I would since I am extremely sensitive to caffeine and I only take Tylenol if I need it, nothing else.. I rejoin the gym the following day, and started going 4 to 5 days a week for a while. i also knew that i had to learn to eat right if i want to keep the weight off. so i went on a calorie counting diet. did my homework and started scanning foods that didn't have Labels on them. and the medi fast diet was way to expensive, so i decided to buy the weight watchers dinners since they have the calories counts on the box. and bought simple breakfast stuff that i like, but again watching my calories. i also went from 15mg to 37.5 mg since the 15mg didn't seem to work much anymore after a few weeks. I now take half in the morning before breakfast, and sometimes take the other half around 12 noon. and still no side affects what's so ever! I now am learning what to eat, and how to eat.. no alcohol is the best thing also. today i lost 19 pounds since July 11th. and i am still working out, and also have a trainer, so after my long crazy story here, I have a hugh question for you. have you looked into trying the phentermine ? believe me, you will not want to eat much at all, but you will feel good at the same time, and you can also learn how to pick your foods that you like, and start counting the calories. I try to maintain between 800-1000 calories daily, but since i am not that hungry most of the time, it makes it easier to choose the right foods, once you learn the calories, it becomes more easier. I also have the new Smart Scale, called the weight gurus. check it out when you have time. its great.. if you believe you have exhausted all your options, then the surgery is a good thing, but i truly hate to see so many folks go for the surgery and gain it all back.. my girlfriend did. that is why i am telling you this.. another girlfriend of mine here also had it done and lost a lot of weight! so its a double edge sword! either decision you make, i am happy for you.. you are taking the first step. and baby step is also good, it will keep the weight off! buy the way, the weight watcher dinners are very cheap in the stores, and insurance covers the phentermine. i can help you through it if you decide to try it first before doing the surgery.. god bless sweetie, Rebecca Clark

lifeisgoingtogetbetter

September 3, 2015

You're story is similar to mine omitting the hysterectomy part. To answer your question, yes I have been on phentermine I was on phentermine for 8 months to a year (longer than recommended by physicians). I did the same exact thing you are doing started out at 15 mg then moved up to 37.5 mg had no side effects, life was great. I lose about 40-50 lbs on it. I was eating healthy not a lot of food because I wasn't hungry and exercising daily. The problem I had was when the doctor stop the prescription. Once I was off Phentermine I was slowly gaining the weight back, eventually I gain everything back plus some. During that time I did go back to the doctor to get back on Phentermine but it doesn't work as well the next time. The part in your brain phentermine blocks is already used to it. So when I tried it again I wasn't having the same results. This is just my personal experience with Phentermine. I have read quite a few forms about people getting back on it and it not working very well. I hope it works for you and you can keep the weight off.

Ccgurl42

September 3, 2015

Hi there! I'm in Austin, too! I just had my initial consult with my surgeon on Tuesday. I've gotten my EKG and my blood work done. I have appointments for psych eval and nutrition class tomorrow. I'm a bit nervous about the psych eval. Can you tell me about it?

lifeisgoingtogetbetter

September 3, 2015

The psych eval to me was a joke. I know how that sounds but I had an hour and a half appointment and only talked to the psychologist for 15 minutes of that. The rest of the time was me filling out paperwork and taking assessment tests. There isn't anything to be worried about at all! The nutrition and exercise class I had this afternoon. The nutrition class was REALLY helpful. The exercise class not so much but I think that's simply because I'm already exercising and I know a bit of information about what I can and can't handle. What surgeon are you going with?

Ccgurl42

September 3, 2015

Tim Faulkenberry at Southwest Bariatric Surgeons. I'll have my procedure at Seton.

Ccgurl42

September 3, 2015

How bout you?

lifeisgoingtogetbetter

September 3, 2015

Dr. Mark Sherrod southwest bariatric surgeons as well. My surgery will be preformed at st. David's hospital

Ccgurl42

September 15, 2015

When is your surgery?

lifeisgoingtogetbetter

September 15, 2015

I got my surgery date today!! It's on October 26

Ccgurl42

September 15, 2015

Yay! Good luck, keep me posted.

lifeisgoingtogetbetter

September 20, 2015

Will do!!

Blakkandi

November 3, 2015

Everything will work out fine. Im excited for you

thardwick

February 19, 2016

I had a gastric bypass in March of 2014! My starting weight was 312lbs I have lost 150lbs and its still dropping off. I feel amazing other than the extra skin which is what has brought me to this site.

lifeisgoingtogetbetter

February 28, 2016

I'm worried about that as well. My surgeon told me I'm going to have extra skin :(

UPDATED FROM lifeisgoingtogetbetter

Nervous About Meeting the Surgeon

lifeisgoingtogetbetterAugust 19, 2015

I have an appointment on Friday to meet with my surgeon. I'm so nervous. I'm not sure if I'm nervous due to the fact that I'm actually doing this or that I will have a bunch of tests that I need to have done before I can even get a surgery date. I think I'm dreading the tests that I may have to have done. I know it's ridiculous but for some reason I feel like they are trying to prolong the process. I really just want to get this surgery done and over with. It's not the stress of the surgery that is bothering me it's my work. I have to fill out FMLA paperwork to get time off so I don't lose my job. I think the pressure of all the unforeseen steps are stressing me out. I wish there was just a step by step procedure so I can check off each thing. I'm not a procrastinator so all this waiting is driving me insane. Plus my patient advocate isn't returning any of my calls or keeping me informed on whether or not he has received my paperwork. Sorry for the venting.

Replies (4)

RSMember4690

August 21, 2015

Try to relax. It will all happen in God's time. You will have it done and over with and wonder why you stressed so much. You will be In our thoughts and prayers. Thanks for sharing and God Bless...

lifeisgoingtogetbetter

August 21, 2015

Thank you! I got overwhelmed. I have quite a few more hoops I have to jump through before I can get a surgery date.