wannalise

Dave Welcome aboard! From where you are now to being post op is really a whirlwind journey. I am the kind of person that thrived on information about my surgery. There really is a wealth of information, opinion, and experience on this board. I'm sure as you get close you will find you have worries and questions and we are a tight knit little crew here, let us support you. On a side not, I got to live in the Seattle area for a year and it was bliss. I go back whenever I can and in an ideal world I would live there. (If only I could convince my family and my inlaws to live closer!) I'm super excited for you. Welcome aboard!!!! Anna

I chose the sleeve because I have watched a family friend who had bypass. He lost his weight quickly and was a real success story, but even ten years later if he eats anything with a signifigant amount of carbohydrates of sugars he is sick the remainder of the day with vomiting and diarehha. We recently went to the lake with him and we both ate a bit of everything. I spent the day swimming and he kept having to run to the port a potty. I feel like not being able to have a piece (all be it a small one) of wedding cake when I get married, or having mashed potatoes on Thanksgiving would have made me unsuccessful long term. That was 99% of my reasoning, a fully functioning stomach. In my opinion, and that is all it is, if the sleeve would not have been a possiblity for me I was willing to go without WLS because I wanted a higher quality of life than the other surgeries could offer. Keep doing lots of research and find what makes you the most comfortable. You can go on any message board and hear rave reviews about one surgery and horror stories about the others. Good luck! Anna

This is what matters most. You will be able to be there for your family and yourself. You will be able to feel well and focus on being the person you are meant to be, enjoying the physical parts of life. I am constantly surprised at the many ways my obesity was affecting my life and I didn't even realize it! Surgery will be here in no time for you! It is great that you are doing work with a NUT and getting prepared to do this in a way that is most healthful. Good luck & keep posting! Anna

Go you!!!! It is fun to watch your progress. You are rocking it my friend, so impressed.

If you track your foods on one of the sites that gives a percentage or a graph you will realize that even if you are eating foods that are higher in fat, you are still eating way below the number of grams that are healthy for an adult. I figure that I am eating such small quantities that I am going to enjoy them. I eat full fat foods, that are high quality. I like to get more bang for my buck. I eat strong flavored cheeses, and feel satiated more quickly. The day before my surgery my cholestoral was 249, three months out my cholestoral was 181 (w/in healthy range.) My goal now is to increase the number of healthy fats to get the good cholestoral up. My theory is that even though we all did this to lose weight it can't be a quick fix or a diet. I eat whole foods (foods that look as much as possible as they were created) then I know what is in my food. When you focus on fat free foods manufacturers have to use other foods to acheive the texture and flavor that full fat foods give you so you are often not giving yourself a better quality food. Sorry for the ramble ramble! Anna

Side note on the fish oil. Lots of people struggle with it because if you burp you can taste it later. (Nasty) If you freeze it you still absorb but you won't have to experience the nasty flavor. Anna

Recoveries vary so much from person to person. I had minimal pain post op, but if you feel like it is abnormal or you need additional help, have no shame in asking your doc for medication or ensuring that your recovery is going as it needs to. And yes, be patient with yourself. Not only do you have muscle pain, but 80% of a vital organ removed, ouch! Hang in there!!!!

I didn't tell many or make a huge announcement, I've kind of found that the proof is in the pudding. When people mention it or ask how I did it I tell them I had surgery and have worked really hard. I used to think that this was the easy way out, but its not, I have worked and earned every pound I've lost. The stigma with being overweight is worse than getting surgery. Just do what you feel comfortable with! Anna

I was exactly the same! I was super frustrated because I thought I was so different from everyone else. Step back and take a deep breath. Did you know that if you aren't hydrated one of the symptoms is nausea? I gagged and struggled for quite a while, I felt constantly thirsty and was super annoyed that I had quit diet coke, but couldn't even choke down Water. The best advice I received was to not worry about Protein or calories first, but to focus on my hydration. I was nervous about affecting my weight loss, but I ended up getting some gatorade and orange drink from McDonalds (hello childhood!) Getting hydrated changed the entire game for me. Obviously the best medical advice you will receive will be from your medical team, but this is what worked for me. Best of luck, honestly those first few weeks are a distant memory for me now. Liz, I was going to PM you earlier because I felt like I hadn't seen you in a million days! I hope things are going well for you. Anna

I'm excited for the holidays too! I will get to see family members who haven't seen me since surgery and I will be atleast 100lbs down. That makes me teary to even type!!!! What a great tool

Hey all! I had my surgery in March and now get to go with my best friend on Sept 9th for her surgery on the 10th with Dr. Aceves, if any of you will be there I'd love to be able to say hi. I'm sure I will have plenty of time on my hands and would be happy to walk the hospital halls with you. To the rest of you, good luck! These weeks before surgery can be nerve wracking, but I promise, it will be worth every bit of it!!!!! PM me if you'll be in Mexicali Anna

I was self pay too (well still am!) It has been a lot of work for me to be able to pay for this surgery and there has been no regret for me. If I had to pay 10x for it than I did I would. It is stressful admittedly to have both the burden of a huge life change and to take on new debt, but it has been the best gift I could have ever given myself. Good luck!!!!

I stayed extra time too, it will be nice to have that extra day where they help you stay hydrated. I am really so excited for you! Oh happy day!!!!

You vixen you!!! You look so amazing. I love hearing how people are doing at a year or more out. Thanks for sharing your gorgeous pics!!! Anna

Lurk no more! Jump on in, October will really be here soon. I did lots of homework on each surgery and they all have pros and cons but for ME this was the only way to go. I am at a place where I 90% of the time eat healthful whole foods, but the cool thing about this surgery is that I am capable of eating everything I ate before, but in small amounts. And the weird thing for me is that once I've eaten it I'm usually just fine. I used to obsess if there were leftovers from the restraunt in my fridge not any more. It is amazing to me. This will be your last year of not getting to wear the cute Halloween costume! Welcome aboard! Anna

What an awesome beginning to your new story! Heartburn is very normal, many of us take ppi's from the first 3 months-1 year. It really helps alleviate both the heartburn and a weird sensation that most people call "false hunger." And if you are ready to go to work, you go! You are the one walking around in that body and you know whats best for you. It is awesome to read about your start keep on posting! Anna

How exciting!!!! I barely remember the week before my surgery. Hold on you are about to go for an awesome ride. If you type up in the other right hand search there are many specific answers of what to expect immediately after surgery. My main piece of advice is one that I had a hard time following. Be patient and kind to yourself. You may heal differently than others, you may lose slower than others, but for this to be a successful life change you need to learn to be kind to yourself. Keep posting I am so excited for you!!! Anna

What a rough start. Please be patient with yourself. Focus on healing not weight loss, the weight loss can come soon enough, but make sure your health is first. Also no one will ever be a better advocate for yourself than you. If there are things you are feeling that you aren't comfortable with then feel free to check in w/your surgeon or your doctor here in the states. Trust yourself! Hope the healing goes well. Keep posting you've got lots of cheerleaders here!!!

Awesome!!! The numbers are great, but nothing compares to those life changes that happen. How exciting for you the sky is the limit! Anna

I've never been on birth control, but all the hormonal changes that are already possible post op would make me hesitant to have another thing that can so strongly affect your hormones. Soon enough we will be able to be healthy Mamas. I am not a mom yet, but used to wonder what it would be like to be a fat mom and now I won't have to! Best of luck in your weight loss! Anna