May 2008 Weddings
Dear Community,
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Update on me VERY LONG
Last week I told you girls that my husband and I were no longer ttc for the immediate future and that I was pursuing something else for the time being. Well that something else is Weight Loss Surgery (Bariatric surgery). I think I have mentioned it on here before that I've always tossed the idea around in my mind but didn't pursue it for a lot of reasons (lack of insurance coverage, risk, stigma, why loose all the wait before I have kids and then gain it back again etc).
My mom had the Vertical Gastric Sleeve surgery down last September. I am just floored at her results. In under a year she has gone from a size 20/22 to a size 6/8. She looks and feels great. Back in August we picked up my husbands b/c it had better infertility coverage, but I also knew it covered this surgery as well. I have had multiple infertility Dr's tell me that my weight is the biggest contributing factor to my infertility and that if I could just loose the weight my chances at pregnancy would greatly increase. You name the diet and I have tried it weight watchers, medifast, phentermine, south beach, atkins, etc. I loose the weight but I just can't maintain it. I am sick and tired of the yo-yo dieting and I'm starting to get scared for my health.
The last straw was when we were in Nashville. I seriously thought I was going to have a heart attack the one day trying to walk to the game. I am 28 years old, I shouldn't have to struggle to walk up a hill or be so sore I can barely walk for a week afterwards. As I squeezed into the airplane seat for the flight home I made the decision to call my mom's surgeon. I have done a lot of research the last few weeks. Just getting the appointment with the surgeon alone took filling out a 20 page application and getting a letter of approval from my primary care physician.
Today was my appointment with the surgeon to say it was overwhelming would be an understatement. I had to meet with the nurse, the surgeon, and a nutritionist. To be a candidate for the surgery you must have a BMI of 40 or higher or a BMI of 35 and some other life threatening weight related problems (high BP, High cholesterol, sleep apnea etc). Well my BMI is currently 43.3 so I more then qualify for the surgery. For those of you not familiar with a BMI (body mass index) 18.5-24.5 is considered normal healthy weight and anything over 30 is considered obese.
They explained the 3 different types of surgery that are available to me "the lap band", the :vertical sleeve gastrectomy" and the "gastric bypass". I went into my appointment knowing I did not want the band. It has the poorest success/weight loss rate and commonly has risk that scare me, but it is the only reversible option. The gastric bypass is the most radical surgery and while I am not opposed to it I'm not sure how comfortable I am with it, but to be honest I haven't researched it that much. The gastric sleeve is what I went in thinking I wanted it. The surgery only involves your stomach and not your bowels. However after talking to the surgeon I am now leaning more toward the bypass. Its questionable as to whether my insurance will cover the sleeve (its complicated as to why) and she said people with my type of infertility do better reproductively with the bypass then the sleeve. She said that with the bypass I will become so fertile that for a year we will have to use 2 forms of birth control to prevent pregnancy!!
Overwhelmed yet???
My insurance requires that I have at least 6 months of documented weight loss attempts with a structured diet plan. It can be 6 months straight or 3 months on one plan and 3 months on another. I had my medical records from the weight loss nurse I saw at the begging of last year. So we can use 3 of those months as documentation. That means if I get all my lab work (15 vials of blood), an EKG (to check my heart), an EGD (where they insert a camera down your throat into your stomach), psychiatric eval, loose 10 lbs, and start a fitness program by December I could have surgery as early as JANUARY!!!! Talk about a New Years resolution!!! I was really shocked by this. I thought at the earliest this would happen would be in March. Now this is dependent on all those test being normal and my insurance approving things. We would have to wait 12-18 months after the surgery to TTC again.
I'm nervous, excited, scared and hopeful all at once. My mom is really excited and she will be a great support. B is supportive but worried. I would really like him to consider this too b/c his weight and family history scares me. I'm not sure that he would be willing to make the lifestyle change that would be required though. I am hoping that if I do well it will rub off on him.
Wow! If you have made it this far thanks!! So what do you think??? I'd like to create a blog about this and journal my experience. I am having a hard time coming up with a name for it though. Fat Gril Slim keeps popping in my mind but I don't really like it and there is already a bariatric surgery blog named that. Anyone have any ideas??
My mom had the Vertical Gastric Sleeve surgery down last September. I am just floored at her results. In under a year she has gone from a size 20/22 to a size 6/8. She looks and feels great. Back in August we picked up my husbands b/c it had better infertility coverage, but I also knew it covered this surgery as well. I have had multiple infertility Dr's tell me that my weight is the biggest contributing factor to my infertility and that if I could just loose the weight my chances at pregnancy would greatly increase. You name the diet and I have tried it weight watchers, medifast, phentermine, south beach, atkins, etc. I loose the weight but I just can't maintain it. I am sick and tired of the yo-yo dieting and I'm starting to get scared for my health.
The last straw was when we were in Nashville. I seriously thought I was going to have a heart attack the one day trying to walk to the game. I am 28 years old, I shouldn't have to struggle to walk up a hill or be so sore I can barely walk for a week afterwards. As I squeezed into the airplane seat for the flight home I made the decision to call my mom's surgeon. I have done a lot of research the last few weeks. Just getting the appointment with the surgeon alone took filling out a 20 page application and getting a letter of approval from my primary care physician.
Today was my appointment with the surgeon to say it was overwhelming would be an understatement. I had to meet with the nurse, the surgeon, and a nutritionist. To be a candidate for the surgery you must have a BMI of 40 or higher or a BMI of 35 and some other life threatening weight related problems (high BP, High cholesterol, sleep apnea etc). Well my BMI is currently 43.3 so I more then qualify for the surgery. For those of you not familiar with a BMI (body mass index) 18.5-24.5 is considered normal healthy weight and anything over 30 is considered obese.
They explained the 3 different types of surgery that are available to me "the lap band", the :vertical sleeve gastrectomy" and the "gastric bypass". I went into my appointment knowing I did not want the band. It has the poorest success/weight loss rate and commonly has risk that scare me, but it is the only reversible option. The gastric bypass is the most radical surgery and while I am not opposed to it I'm not sure how comfortable I am with it, but to be honest I haven't researched it that much. The gastric sleeve is what I went in thinking I wanted it. The surgery only involves your stomach and not your bowels. However after talking to the surgeon I am now leaning more toward the bypass. Its questionable as to whether my insurance will cover the sleeve (its complicated as to why) and she said people with my type of infertility do better reproductively with the bypass then the sleeve. She said that with the bypass I will become so fertile that for a year we will have to use 2 forms of birth control to prevent pregnancy!!
Overwhelmed yet???
My insurance requires that I have at least 6 months of documented weight loss attempts with a structured diet plan. It can be 6 months straight or 3 months on one plan and 3 months on another. I had my medical records from the weight loss nurse I saw at the begging of last year. So we can use 3 of those months as documentation. That means if I get all my lab work (15 vials of blood), an EKG (to check my heart), an EGD (where they insert a camera down your throat into your stomach), psychiatric eval, loose 10 lbs, and start a fitness program by December I could have surgery as early as JANUARY!!!! Talk about a New Years resolution!!! I was really shocked by this. I thought at the earliest this would happen would be in March. Now this is dependent on all those test being normal and my insurance approving things. We would have to wait 12-18 months after the surgery to TTC again.
I'm nervous, excited, scared and hopeful all at once. My mom is really excited and she will be a great support. B is supportive but worried. I would really like him to consider this too b/c his weight and family history scares me. I'm not sure that he would be willing to make the lifestyle change that would be required though. I am hoping that if I do well it will rub off on him.
Wow! If you have made it this far thanks!! So what do you think??? I'd like to create a blog about this and journal my experience. I am having a hard time coming up with a name for it though. Fat Gril Slim keeps popping in my mind but I don't really like it and there is already a bariatric surgery blog named that. Anyone have any ideas??
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Re: Update on me VERY LONG
Well that was a lot but I think it all needed to be explained in order for us to understand your thoughts and dilemas etc.
I think it's a wonderful oppurtunity for you especially if you have tried everything and it could help with ttc as wel.
My friends both just had it and I'm not quite sure which one...all I know is they took out some of their intestines so maybe bypass? The husband who was much bigger has lost more but I think it's because the wife still drinks wine everynight.
But regardless she's even lost about 30-40 in the past 5 or so months.
I never knew it would make you so fertile afterwards! I of course know that it wouldn't be wise to get pregnant right away due to healing...so they said it takes that long to fully heal? Just wondering since they really don't recommend having two sections within 18 months but if it does happen before then usually things are ok so just didn't know what if you get pregnant 9 months after your surgery...will be be life threatening? I'm not saying tempt it just wanted to know.
And that's great news that you could be having it as soon as January!
I love the idea of the blog..I would totally read it. Not sure of a name..I'll have to think about that one
The waiting period for TTC is more due to the fact that they don't want you to get pregnant when you are in the rapid weight loss stage. Especially if you have the bypass its going to take a while to figure out if I am getting all of my nutrients properly and adjusting supplements. This could negatively effect a growing baby. Also if you get pregnant too soon it could prohibit weight loss and then the surgery wouldn't be as successful. So its not so much about healing but creating a healthy environment for a baby to grow.
Go for it! My mom had gastric bypass and had amazing results. It was the same struggle for her regarding all the prep (counseling, support groups, etc) but she made it through and has been able to maintain the weight loss for about two years now. Best thing she ever did.
I think for the position you're in, if you can make it happen, then you should. I think there are more success stories than not. I am amazed at how quick this can happen for you. It's incredible. HUGS!!
So glad that it's working out for you! I wish you the best of luck!
Welcome to the world Finley Michael - born 2/13/2010
Baby Sister is coming soon!
congratulations on your next step in your journey! i hope it will make you a more fit, fertile you!
Bella's Bistro - My Dairy Free Food Blog
Wow! Lots to think about-- but sounds like a solid plan w/ lots of research already done!
Wishing you the best of luck with your decision and very healthy vibes your way!!!!
Thanks girls!
Ill let you know when the blog is up and running. I'll probably keep it private so I will send you the link. Still have no idea what to call it.
I hope everything works out for you. I'd definitely be interested in reading about your journey. I've known a few people who's have the surgery and it's been tremendous for both of them.
Wow, that is a big decision. Hope everything works out great for you! A friend here just got surgery too (not sure which one) and she's really happy with the results.