Leaderboard

I’ve determined that I absolutely cannot eat Ramen. (Ate it once before, made me feel sick) I have been laying here for over an hour with my mouth periodically watering because I feel like I’m gonna throw up. If I didn’t have a phobia over vomit I am sure that I definitely would have. I feel like I’m dying!! I have no problem eating any kind of pasta or other kinds of noodles but there’s just something about Ramen I can’t digest. Anyway this is definitely the closest I’ve come to puking since my surgery. What do you do for dumping?? I tried papaya enzymes, laying down, tums…. Nothing helps. Just wait it out? I feel like I never want to eat again!

I am 69 having surgery on August 16. any support is very appreciated.

It very much depends on your insurance requirements as ShoppGirl mentioned. My insurance required 6 months of monitored weight loss, 3 months of nutrition, lung clearance, heart clearance, nutrition classes, surgical classes, psyche clearance, etc. The whole process took approximately 8 months from my first appointment until the day I had my surgery. I was also able to lose 68 pounds in that time so I was at least productive during that time lol.

I am not sure an ESG is a good option for a younger person with a higher BMI. I had an ESG which is now converted to a standard surgical option. Unless the doctor is extremely expericenced in doing ESG the sutures have a high rate of loosening or coming loose all together. About 15 months or so after my ESG an endoscopy showed that had happened to me. Put this together with a young person who may not be so compliant with food volumes etc - eating more than a specified volume amount (consistently) could also cause the sutures to come undone or loosen. ESG leaves a stomach with a bigger volume than the surgical options so average weight loss is less than the surgical options. I believe the ESG average rate of loss of excess weight is 20%. Some people will lose more, some will lose less. I chose the ESG because it was minimally invasive, quicker recovery etc...but after going through the surgical option later, I wish I hadn't let those things sway me.

With a job loss, you might qualify for state insurance, and most medicaid insurance covers bariatric surgery now. I wish you hugs and luck, hang in there it is just a bump in the road, but the road is still there.

Update: I heard back from the surgery coordinator and they have submitted the prior authorization with a weight that has a BMI of about 43, so I'm cleared to lose weight again! Yay! Now, if only I hadn't bought that tub of ice cream...

Most surgeons give you a plan that starts with a liquid phase. That is for allowing your stomach to heal, but it may end up being less than 500 calories per day. Depending on the plan they give you and how your body adjusts, you may be eating 500-700 during those transitional weeks after surgery. i never track calories, personally. I listen to my body’s signs of fullness and prioritize protein and fresh vegs and fruit. It is possible that consuming too few calories will actually result in your body stalling because it will think you are starving and go into survival mode.

Because I am having trouble with dieting during this preop I wanted to add a few things: Bending down to tie my shoes and not experiencing horrible side cramps Not worrying about if I can fit into an uber or someone else's car Wearing athletic shoes, in school the kids always said my shoes were leaning over Walking on campus at a regular pace with coworkers and not sweating or being winded Being able to fit on rides, go to concerts and not have to shimmy walk at the theaters Working on a core that's strong enough where I can get up off of the floor without flailing around

On some of these I don't recall if they were a pre-op goal or not: Health issues resolved; New health issues revealed; Buying normal sized clothes; Riding rides (I was way too large). Boy have I ridden the rides; Getting into a bathtub. With room for my wife; I wanted to run, just to do it. I ran 5 marathons, one of which was the San Francisco Marathon where I got to run across the Golden Gate bridge; Chairs no longer vex me. Flying is an option without the belt-extender parade; Horseback riding with wife on vacation; Kayaking on vacation; Sex. There, I said it; I now do housework and all the cooking; Rode a bike to work for a few years; Can tie my own shoes while I am standing; Honestly, so many things of which I never thought; I wanted to dance but I still lack rhythm. Weight loss doesn't solve everything; Kids still make me anxious. People no longer walk into walls, poles, etc. staring at me. People don't automatically get out of my way now. I wanted to dump, and I do. Occasionally it's a real pain in my arse. Good luck, Tek

Most doctors won't do lap band anymore because the results aren't very good - most people don't lose too much weight and many people have a lot of complications. A lot of people end up having to have them removed and getting it revised to sleeve or bypass. Is there a reason you really want lap band rather than sleeve or bypass?