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BMI @ 80% and feeling hopeless

salem56
on 9/5/09 1:26 am - GA
Thanks. I think you are right about the sleeve. I need an aggressive surgical approach to really combat the amount of weight I need to lose. I will check out the two surgeons you suggested. I may still go out of the country to have the surgery if necessary.
Jessyw
on 9/15/09 7:18 pm - polarbears&igloos, AK
Hello, I'm Jessy :) As mentioned in the post above yours I had my DS in Brazil with Dr. M in Brazil. My starting BMI was 94, I was 535 pounds. I got my DS and I was able to have it done all at one time and didn't need to have it done in two stages. PM me if you have any questions . I am 2 months out and 64 pounds down and this is just the beginning! Never give up hope .

-Jessy
      Hello, my name is Jessica  I'm 20 and I got my DS!! check out my page. 
        
                  
         I love my DS!!!!   sw(535)/cw(220)/goal (?)
  Wanna learn about the DS? Come to the DS forum or check out these websites:
                  http://www.dsfacts.com/ OR http://www.duodenalswitch.com/
salem56
on 9/5/09 12:39 am - GA
Did i really spell the word "wait" as "weight" in that post??? LOL Oh, Lord, i need a day off or something!!!!
jharrington8172
on 9/7/09 4:53 am - Hermitage, TN
Some insurances will pay for the DS.  Mine did.. I  Blue Cross of CA... LOL but seriously the sleeve is great and will help you loose your weight but if your BMI is in the 80's you need the DS no if ands or buts about it.   Someone mentioned they were getting the sleeve and then could do the DS later if needed.  I am a firm believer in getting the full DS at one time (when it can be done safely).   As you can see from my ticker below I have lost 217 pounds and still plan on loosing another 65 or so (I have modified my goal weight).  I am just 6 months out and my BMI is in the low 30's down from the low 60's.   PM me is you have any questions about the DS.  
 

480/435/180/230
HW/SW/CW/GW

Currently Looking into Plastics with Dr. Carden (in Mexico)

salem56
on 9/4/09 10:37 pm - GA
Thank you all for support and wonderful advice. I am feeling very motivated today to lose this awful weight! I am working with my physician on a medically supervised diet plan that focuses on low cal and carb with high protein. I have a recumbant bike that I am going to use for the exercise component. I know I can do this....I just have to do the work!
aprilrose_39
on 9/5/09 12:57 am
I feel you frustration.  When I was told I had to lose weight to have weight loss surgery, I was like WTF??  Just like you heard in another post, I came away thinking, "great, I'm too fat for fat surgery, theres no hope for me"....however, I went to see a weight loss Dr.  and he started me on a 1300 calorie a day diet and encouraged me to exercise.  Bad knees and shoulders prevented me from doing anything but getting in the water and walking.  But that posed another problem, finding a bathing suit that would fit me.  Junonia has some nice ones, but t-shirt and shorts work too. The diet I was on was 4oz of protein and the rest all veggies...no other carbs.  I filled up on veggies to curb the hunger.  Didnt work everytime, but I stuck with it.  Went to be hungry alot as well.  It sucked...it really did.  I mean, I loveeee food.  I did that for about 2 months and then I lowered my calories to 1000 or less a day, of course with Dr. supervision.  From Novemember 08 to to June of 09, I lost 80lbs.  Enough to be able to have the surgery.  It wasnt fun, I was a grumpy ***** alot, but it was important to me to get healthy.  I cheated too.  As a matter of fact, I factored in my cheat days.  Thats the only way I was able to stick to it.knowing that there was one day I could have what I wanted...but maybe just not so much of it.  No more entire large pizzas, or HUGE cheeseburgers.
I wish I could just reach thru the screen and hug you.  I know how you feel.  Please dont give up.  I'm the laziest woman in America, and if I did it, you can too.
I agree with researching all the surgeries that are available.  VGS is a great one for people with high BMI's, but there wasnt a surgeon close enough to me that was experienced enough to do it.  I would recommend finding something local, or as close as possible.  You'll need follow up care, so you'll want to be close to your surgeon. 
Good luck sweetheart, keep us posted.  There are lots of people that care about you, even if you dont know you..we know you, ya know???  LOL.
April
    
salem56
on 9/5/09 1:31 am - GA
It feels good to know I am not alone. I need that! I am working with my physician on a customized weight loss program and I hope I will have much sucess with it. I usually do very well on low carb diets. I know water areobics is the best alernative for me but I cannot bring myself to get in the water in front of other people. I mean..I don't even wear shorts in front of people. I have a recumbant bike and I love lifting weights, so hopefully that will be enough for now. It is has to be mind over matter.
Patty T.
on 9/5/09 4:15 am, edited 9/5/09 4:15 am - Boalsburg, PA
I wish I could take you to my club!

The people there who do water aerobics are way different than the step class folks. In the after work class, about half the group of 15-20 are obese, some with BMIs close to mine and one I'd put at 75-80. The rest have back injuries or bad knees. 95% female. Totally non-judgemental.

Some in tees and shorts, but really, it is much more fun in a bathing suit. How often do we get to move freely without pain? Wet clothes get heavy, esp. flopping around in the pool! If you really can't bring yourself to wear shorts, what about lycra leggings? They would not flap and would give you support if you have vericose veins.

The daytime classes are mainly retired people. Less obese folks, but also non-judgemental, 90% female. This class is a less strenous one and they sure do talk and laugh the whole time!

You CAN do it!


Donna C.
on 9/5/09 5:05 am
Hey Salem56,
On the surgery front, I just wanted to mention that I am having the VSG ("the sleeve"), my doc says that should easily help me lose about 150 and, since i have a hernia that needs to be fixed when I get under 300, when I come back in for that in a year I have the option of having the second part of the WLS done, which usually is the DS.  But my doc still wants me to lose as much as I can before the surgery. 

As for the water aerobics, when I have the extra cash, I have joined the gym in my area twice in previous years past where I have done water aerobics.  It is good for you and fun!  As far as bathing suits go, as another poster said check out Junonia online store.  They have great active wear for us folks.  I got a "bathing suit" there which is basically like a wet suit with half sleeves and the legs went down to just above the knee like bike shorts.  The one I got was black with flattering blue sweeps of color on the sides.  Dont know if they still have that one since I bought it about 6 years ago, but I am sure they still got some good stuff.   I say feel the fear and do it anyway.  I am thinking like most of us big ladies you are already used to people giving you looks, so I say screw em, let em get a good look so they can compare those legs of yours to your new skinny legs you soon will be having!

Friends are the family we choose for ourselves.

HW 491, BMI 70.4 *** SW 444, BMI 63.7 *** CW 364, BMI 52.5

 

       
Cathy5722
on 9/19/09 2:03 pm - owensboro, KY
Salem please go over to the DS forum and learn all you can about the DS. Some really awesome people over there, and they will help you all they can.  Maybe research DR Husted in Kentucky.

I wish you the best of luck.
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