POSTED UNDER Gastric Sleeve Surgery REVIEWS
Trying to Put Me 1st - Milburn, NJ
ORIGINAL POST
Hi Everyone, My name is Sharen I am 42 wife and...
$2,400
Hi Everyone,
My name is Sharen I am 42 wife and mom of 3. I have struggled with my weight as long as I remembered
I am currently at my highest weight 218 5 foot 5 which may not seem a lot to some but for me it is. Being over 200 pounds pushed me into type II diabetes. I also have hypertension which I have battled since I was 18 years old. So I have recently decided to have the Gastric Sleeve Surgery. I will qualify because of the hypertension and diabetes. I have began the process of preparing for the surgery I had my Psych evaluation , Blood work, diet history, pulmonary , and cardiac are scheduled for this week. EGD Scope Sept 2. I am excited nervous scared all at the same time. My husband and 2 good friends are very supportive
My challenge is my sister (we are twins) she does not seem to agree with this . When I first mentioned it She said we can just go back to" weight watchers". I feel like I have put everyone else needs 1st and not my own. It has really taken a toll on me health wise. I just want to wake up one day and not always have to think about dieting or how my weight is effecting my health. I am on vacation this week so that I Can complete all of the pre surgery testing. I am really enjoying this group. I find it to be so positive:) I was on the gastric sleeve group on FB and it is so negative. Not like real self. Just looking for some support and insight on the journey.
My name is Sharen I am 42 wife and mom of 3. I have struggled with my weight as long as I remembered
I am currently at my highest weight 218 5 foot 5 which may not seem a lot to some but for me it is. Being over 200 pounds pushed me into type II diabetes. I also have hypertension which I have battled since I was 18 years old. So I have recently decided to have the Gastric Sleeve Surgery. I will qualify because of the hypertension and diabetes. I have began the process of preparing for the surgery I had my Psych evaluation , Blood work, diet history, pulmonary , and cardiac are scheduled for this week. EGD Scope Sept 2. I am excited nervous scared all at the same time. My husband and 2 good friends are very supportive
My challenge is my sister (we are twins) she does not seem to agree with this . When I first mentioned it She said we can just go back to" weight watchers". I feel like I have put everyone else needs 1st and not my own. It has really taken a toll on me health wise. I just want to wake up one day and not always have to think about dieting or how my weight is effecting my health. I am on vacation this week so that I Can complete all of the pre surgery testing. I am really enjoying this group. I find it to be so positive:) I was on the gastric sleeve group on FB and it is so negative. Not like real self. Just looking for some support and insight on the journey.
MrsWoodley's provider
UPDATED FROM MrsWoodley
PCP,Nutionist and Pulmonary Specialist
This week I am working on all of my testing for the vsg
I have to admit it has been emotional for me. yesterday I met with my PCP and it was difficult. I have been with for at least 20 years. She is very conservative as she puts it. I met with her about having the vsg done, she looked at me and said Sharen I really think you can lose the weight. My eyes began to water. I started talking about this journey and how difficult it has been all of these years. How I struggle to manage the diabetes and blood pressure. It's been 5 years since I was diagnosed with the type 2. I haven't kept the weight off in the 4 years since I have the diabetes. She suggested a new medication victoza which is a injectable diabetic medicine. She suggested trying Jenny Craig to change up from WW.
She said I will write the recommendation but I would like you to reconsider.
Later, that night I had dinner with 2 friends 1 has had the VSG, and 1 has had the Bypass. They both shared their ups and downs but overall are happy with their choice.
That was helpful.
Today, I met with the nutritionist,
that went really well. She gave me lots of protein shakes and bars to try.
Then I met with the pulmonary specialist to do the testing.
Hopefully everything went well. I definitely gave it everything I had :)
I have to admit it has been emotional for me. yesterday I met with my PCP and it was difficult. I have been with for at least 20 years. She is very conservative as she puts it. I met with her about having the vsg done, she looked at me and said Sharen I really think you can lose the weight. My eyes began to water. I started talking about this journey and how difficult it has been all of these years. How I struggle to manage the diabetes and blood pressure. It's been 5 years since I was diagnosed with the type 2. I haven't kept the weight off in the 4 years since I have the diabetes. She suggested a new medication victoza which is a injectable diabetic medicine. She suggested trying Jenny Craig to change up from WW.
She said I will write the recommendation but I would like you to reconsider.
Later, that night I had dinner with 2 friends 1 has had the VSG, and 1 has had the Bypass. They both shared their ups and downs but overall are happy with their choice.
That was helpful.
Today, I met with the nutritionist,
that went really well. She gave me lots of protein shakes and bars to try.
Then I met with the pulmonary specialist to do the testing.
Hopefully everything went well. I definitely gave it everything I had :)
Replies (5)
August 22, 2014
That makes me sad that you were not supported by your doctor. I've been on victoza for 2.5 years and now metaformin and the two of them are supposed to help with weight loss. My weight continues to go up. I need to loose 10 lbs before I can have the surgery and that is worrying me.
August 23, 2014
Thank you. I felt sad too. I not so comfortable with idea of doing an injection (victoza)
August 24, 2014
Hi Sharen! I read your posts and it saddens me that both your sister and your GP are not supportive.
About your sister: my mother told me something quite telling earlier today. When she embarked on quitting smoking many years ago, she told a few close friends of her plans, thinking they'd all be supportive of her. To her shock and dismay, some of them were NOT, even trying to convince her to continue smoking! Can you believe that? Of course, these close friends, who she was close to since childhood, also smoked, and they shared a long history of smoking together. These friends couldn't realize it at the time or articulate it, but I'm sure they were concerned that, if my mother quit smoking, the whole dynamic of their relationship would change. Plus maybe some felt guilty, or resentful, that they themselves weren't ready to quit. At any rate, their lack of support for my mother to get healthy DID change the dynamics of their relationship in the long run, and I truly believe that that these "friends" were dealing with internal issues themselves, stuff which had nothing to do with my mother. I say this because I bet this pertains to your twin sister as well. I can imagine how disappointed you feel, that she isn't supportive of you at this juncture, but I bet it has to do with HER own insecurities and issues. Not you. I also feel, in time, she will come around. She is your twin sister, after all! But I'm sorry her response wasn't what you had hoped for or anticipated.
As for your GP: doctors are humans, foibles and hang-ups and all. It sounds like her conservative bent is clouding her medical judgement. If you've tried dieting for years and still have gained weight and have diabetes, I can't imagine why a doctor would want you to continue down the same path. You're 42 with a long life ahead of you. I wish I had had the fortitude at 42 to get this done! I'm 53 and wish I were like you and had thought to get this done a decade ago!
You are awesome to proceed, regardless! Please keep us posted on your journey !!!
August 25, 2014
Hi Herringbones
Thank you for sharing your thoughts it means a lot and gives me some insight
November 25, 2014
I had the same issue when I first tried talking with my pcp back in September of this year. I'm going to go see her next Tuesday. ... hopefully she will reconsider and write my recommendation as my last weigh in its the 10th of December
Replies (16)
You have to do this for you, not for anyone else. As long as you have the support of your husband and you're ready to take this step, then do what feels right for you!
You should check out the sleeve forum as well. There are hundreds of members in there supporting each other through this journey.
Please do keep us updated with your progress!