Dual Gastic Sleeve Surgeries for the Beavers - wish us well

Busy Beaver Lumber · March 07, 2018, 07:07:45 PM

Well all, sorry have not been on the forum much recently, but have been dealing with some medical issues on our end. The wife and I are finally addressing our weight issues. In my case, it gave me no choice at all. Despite following the diabetic diet and watching what I ate and tried to exercise as much as i could, I found myself steadily gaining a pound or two a month. The extra pounds were literally crippling me and making it so that i can barely move. My choices were basically stop the insulin and die from diabetes or stop the weight loss or die from heart attack or stroke. My doctor said it was the doses of insulin that was packing the weight on. At the advice of my primary care physician, and I have begun the approval process for the gastric sleeve. The wife's doctor is in favor of her having it as well to help with her heart related problems. It will take about 4 months to jump through all the hoops Cigna wants you to do to get final approval. We have both started the process. My doctors are optimistic that there is better than a 50% chance that I may be able to get off the insulin after i loose 160 pounds. Wish us well. Surgeries should be in the June to July time frame and hope to feel well enough to make pig roast in August and see you all again.

samandothers · March 07, 2018, 08:13:26 PM

Sorry you're struggling with the health issues. Best of luck with the surgery for both of you, maybe you can get a 'two fer'!

starmac · March 07, 2018, 08:37:30 PM

Wish the best for you, too bad we couldn't do a little trading. I would love to be able to gain about 50 pounds back.

Chuck White · March 08, 2018, 06:52:46 AM

Wishing you both good luck that everything goes well and you accomplish your objectives!

You'll be in my thoughts!

nativewolf · March 08, 2018, 07:01:45 AM

Good luck! Our nations weight issues are no joke and I'm very glad you're doing what you can and wish you the best recovery possible.

Ed_K · March 08, 2018, 08:06:26 AM

X2 what starmac says.

51cub · March 08, 2018, 09:17:11 AM

All my best to both of you!

Busy Beaver Lumber · March 08, 2018, 09:34:59 AM

Thank you all. Will keep you posted on our progress. I personally have had weight problems my whole life, insulin just made it worse. The words THIN and FRED have never been used in the same sentence in my world. I am going to try to change that. At a whopping 345 pounds now, so lets say that is my starting point and see what i can accomplish. My goal to be half the man i am and get to 175.

thecfarm · March 08, 2018, 10:02:52 AM

Hope all goes well for you both. Good luck!!!

LeeB · March 08, 2018, 10:55:31 AM

Good luck on your journey. It will be a new life for you.

Ed_K · March 09, 2018, 09:03:30 AM

Best of luck to y'all 8) .

Ljohnsaw · March 09, 2018, 11:35:40 AM

Quote from: Busy Beaver Lumber on March 08, 2018, 09:34:59 AMMy goal to be half the man i am and get to 175.

I wish you all the best on your journey. I'm up to 210 and I wish I was back down at 175 like in my 20's. I've dipped below 190 and felt great - my realistic target is 185 but I am just too big a fan for food :-\

Magicman · March 10, 2018, 08:53:45 AM

I wish the Beavers well on their journey.

petefrom bearswamp · March 10, 2018, 10:45:48 AM

Best wishs in your difficult time ahead.

Busy Beaver Lumber · March 27, 2018, 04:46:29 PM

Thank you all for the good will and support. Mrs. Beaver and I met with dietician week and a half ago who put us both on 1200 calorie diet. She gave us both goals of loosing 5 pounds each. Mrs. Beaver has lost about 15 and i am down 11 so far and still have 3 days to go until we see her again. I feel the difference already

Hilltop366 · March 28, 2018, 10:08:26 AM

Best wishes to both! Don't give up.

Perhaps not the right place to say this but I am always amazed at US tv with all the food adds followed by diet and fitness equipment adds and then blood pressure medication adds, its not too hard to make someone think that there is some sort of cooperate conspiracy. I find my self usually 15 to 20 pounds over weight perhaps I am lucky that I have acid reflux and can't eat fast food or high fat food other wise I would weigh a lot more.

LeeB · March 28, 2018, 04:08:28 PM

Great losses so far. Have you considered bypassing the bypass and just sticking to the change of lifestyle? In order for the surgery to do any good you will have to make a lifestyle change anyway. Just something to consider. Best of luck to you either way you choose to go.

POSTON WIDEHEAD · March 28, 2018, 07:25:05 PM

Leave it to Beaver for some good news.
This procedure will save your life and this is good news.
I had a friend who did this 4 years ago and he his getting along very well.
Able to go back to hunting and walking, something he finally could not do before.
Praying for both of you.

LeeB · April 28, 2018, 03:00:52 AM

Any updates on this?

Busy Beaver Lumber · June 23, 2018, 02:57:55 PM

yes Lee,

We have submitted all the needed documents and are awaiting final approval from insurance company. Our hopes are to be in operating room in early August. Will update again when we get final ok from Cigna.

LeeB · June 23, 2018, 09:15:29 PM

How are you making out with the dietary changes so far?

Busy Beaver Lumber · July 17, 2018, 02:43:36 PM

Well got my approval for gastric sleeve surgery and headed for the operating table August 13. All goes well, its just an overnight in hospital and a few weeks of recovery, followed by a lifetime of a new diet and portion control. Beliefs are high by both surgeon and my primary doctor that i will get off a lot of my meds, including insulin once i shed 150 pounds. Mrs Beaver is having same procedure, but we are still waiting for her approval. He doctor was very slow at submitting needed info. They told me i could expect to loose more than 20 pounds a month, even more if i stay very active. Will keep you posted with pics as we progress

Magicman · July 17, 2018, 02:48:11 PM

I wish you the best Fred. Please keep us in the loop. ;D

yukon cornelius · July 17, 2018, 09:26:32 PM

This is going to be an awesome journey to follow. I wish you both the best 8)

Busy Beaver Lumber · August 27, 2018, 09:34:33 PM

Ok friends. Time for a weight loss update for me. I hit a high of 348 on May 1st. From then to august 13, iost 24 pounds. Had gastric sleeve surgery two weeks ago and have lost 28 pounds in past two weeks bringing me down to 296 today. Get stitches out tomorrow. Plan is to be 80 pounds lighter by Christmas. I feel great and 20 years younger. Mrs. Beaver gets same surgery on Sept 24 th.

thecfarm · August 28, 2018, 05:07:57 AM

Sounds like you are doing well.

There is a guy that comes into the store that just had that done. He looks ALOT diffeant now. Or should I say better? ;D

Chuck White · August 28, 2018, 08:33:12 AM

Wishing you both, well!

LeeB · August 28, 2018, 08:35:45 AM

Most excellent. Keep it going.

Stephen1 · August 28, 2018, 09:50:46 AM

Great to hear the good news for the new man

Ed_K · August 29, 2018, 04:00:46 PM

Way to go 8). Rita's niece had the gastric sleeve done. I didn't even recognize her. Told Rita to tell her she look's good. She lost around 80#.

Hilltop366 · August 29, 2018, 05:06:16 PM

Good to here, wishing you continued success!

Busy Beaver Lumber · September 19, 2018, 11:36:14 AM

Thank you all for you continued good wishes and support. Progress continues to be awesome. Now down to 278 and dropping between 1/2 pound to a pound day. Absolutely suprised at how little food it takes to fill me and how much better i feel. My goal is to be under 220 by Christmas

yukon cornelius · September 27, 2018, 09:33:59 PM

That is wonderful to here! I hope you meet your goal.

petefrom bearswamp · September 28, 2018, 09:10:41 AM

smiley_clapping smiley_clapping smiley_clapping smiley_clapping

Busy Beaver Lumber · October 11, 2018, 12:26:51 PM

Thank you all for the good wishes. I am down another 8 pounds and now at 270. That leaves me 78 pounds down already and just 2 pounds short of my half way to goal weight of 198. Mrs. Beaver is just 2 weeks post surgery and already down 16 pounds. Recovery has been a bit harder on her, but in the end i am sure she will be fine. I wish we had done this years ago. Hoping to look much better when we attend pig roast next year

Busy Beaver Lumber · October 23, 2018, 08:01:32 AM

Still dropping weight at the rate of about 3 pounds a week and doctor is very happy with progress. Now down a total of 82 pounds since May 1st and siiting at 266. My goal is to be under 235 by Christmas. Mrs Beaver is 4 weeks post surgery and down close to 30 post surgery and over 50 since may 1st. Because a wise man never discusses his wifes weight or age, we will just track total pounds lost on her to be safe. Very proud of her progress.

Chuck White · October 23, 2018, 08:26:59 AM

Sounds like you both are doing very well!

samandothers · October 23, 2018, 09:03:10 AM

Congratulations on your steady progress! Both of you beavers are doing great!

thecfarm · October 23, 2018, 02:46:00 PM

The beavers are losing their winter weight!!!

Busy Beaver Lumber · November 27, 2018, 08:49:50 AM

Thank you all for continued good wishes. Down to 254 now which is total of 94 pounds lost. Waist wise i am down 10 inches from a 54 to a 44. Have had to punch 7 holes in my belt and getting ready to punch even more. Completely off all insulin, cholesteral, bp, and water pills, plus no inflamatory meds either. At 57.i feel like i did at 40. Need more time in the gym, but in general things are going much better and i am once again able to run the woodmizer and cut and split 20,000 plus bundles of firewood again. Even took up roller skating with mrs beaver and tryingbto teach myself to play a banjo, so may play a bit at next pig roast