6 months with my sleeve-from a band revision to century club!
Six month sleeve musings!
I started this journey 5 years ago in May of 2008 at my highest recorded weight of 279! I was wearing size 26/28 pants with drawstrings and 3X tops and needed 4X. I wouldn’t go to my doctor for fear of what I would weigh and would stop eating for two weeks before hand when I couldn’t avoid it. This included the visit to talk to my PCP for the second time about WLS. The first time I asked to talk about it she wouldn’t even talk.
My surgery weight from pre-op testing was 257 but I GAINED 4 pounds on the liquid diet. I was down to 199 for a day, literally, when my bother passed. My real low with the band was ~205. My goal with the center was 215 which I made. My weight one year out was 228. I went up to 260 for my two year checkup. From eight months out, I started having problems that weren’t addressed until my one year checkup. At the two year checkup my PCP wanted the band out because of the medical problems. I found out my only option was RNY (insurance wouldn’t cover the sleeve yet.) I fought to keep the band as I didn’t want to go back to having no tool. By three and a half years, the problems were so bad I just needed the band out. It came out 9/4/11.
My insurance was changing to a once in a lifetime WLS policy as I was revising and they said I couldn’t get another. Once the band was out and with all the documentation from the medical problem and the proof from the surgical notes and photos, I could show medical need and compliance. I could also show direct data that my Wight could be affected with a tool when not having medical problems.
I was sleeved 1/22/13 at 233 pre-op testing/first day of liquid diet. Day of surgery I was 220. My only real goal for this surgery was to get below 200 and staying there for good. I made this goal and stayed, at 5 weeks. I reset my goal at this time to a BMI of 25. I never dreamed I would do this as my goal had been set at 195 ever since I started this journey. Coming into this surgery I told my sleeved daughter I just want to be a size 16 so if I regained two years out I would end up a size 18. I then I set a mini goal to weigh less than the DH. Took some work as he went from 193 to 186 while I was trying. I made this goal, at 185 which put me at the weight I was when I was in 7th grade and also when I had my daughter 35 years ago, (other than a short period when I went thru a divorce.) Talk about an event that caused tears.
Now at 6 months out with my sleeve and a 55 pound lost, I have lost 100 pounds as of today from my 5 years and 3 WLS. I weigh about 30 pounds less than I did with the band. I am off all meds. I am wearing size 14 and medium tops. I can do more and am so happy that I was able to have this chance to have a painless WLS that WORKS like it is supposed to. I now have a tool that I hope will help me live a healthier life. The reason I started this journey in the first place.
BAND REMOVED 9-4-12-fought insurance to get sleeve and won! Sleeved 1/22/13! Five years out and trying to get that last 15 pounds back off.
That is so great! What a fighter you are!!! I know you will make your goal!
HW: 275 SW: 265 CW: 200 GW: 135 Month 1: -25 Month 5: -65lbs total
On the fence about self-pay options and if Mexico is the right choice (or scared of that option)? Let my experience (first time ever in Mexico) be your guide. Don't let fear hold you back!
"You make me new, you are making me new" Gungor
