Vixynne

I have two children, aged 12 and 16, and it took me a little while to figure out what to say and how much to tell them. You know your kids best, but generally speaking, most teens can grasp the idea of surgery a little more concretely than, say, a preschooler can. If they already know you're battling health issues, that might be the way to approach it. Talk to them about your concerns; that you want to be around for a nice long while so that you can continue loving them for many, many years. If they're techno-savvy, you might want to show them an image or two from Google Images that shows exactly what the surgery entails. Something clear and clinical rather than down-and-dirty like a YouTube video of a live surgery. This image, for example. Then let them steer the conversation a little. Let them tell you their thoughts and worries, and try to answer each one, even if it seems like a silly question. Brushing them off will only make their imaginations run wild. Their responses will let you know what they want to know--that way you don't have to worry that you're telling them too much or overwhelming them. Give them reassurance. They're going to be nervous about the surgery, most likely, just like you were (and maybe still are sometimes). Ask them for support, to help you make good food choices while preparing for surgery; to help you go for wallks or get more exercise before and after you're sleeved. They might even want to join in! Good luck to you--I'm sure it will go well!

Another thing you might want to consider is finding a book that will tell you what to expect. I love the forums, and the people here are helpful and supportive, but sometimes I'd have a question and wasn't able to be online--having a book to read at my own pace and refer to when going to my surgeon, was really helpful. There's lots of resources out there! One that I have was written by the founder of our forum, and it's pretty comprehensive (and only $10 on my Nook)! I'm pretty sure there's a link to it here in the forums, but here's another: The Big Book on the Gastric Sleeve Definitely check with your insurance carrier; make sure you write down what they tell you and get the name of the customer rep that you talk to in case there are any contradictions along the line (so far I've been quoted two different numbers for what dollar amount I'm responsible for; they were only $50 apart, but I'm glad I double checked). Find a primary care doc that you like and can establish a good rapport with--you know you need one for run-of-the-mill health care anyway, and it will be something you will definitely want post-op! Shop around till you find someone who supports WLS patients; you'll need their referral to a bariatric surgeon, and the more they know and the more positive they are toward your decision, the happier you'll be. An online search should pull up the Bariatric Centers of Excellence in your area. Many hospitals have forums like this one where you can search for patients who've had the surgeon/s you consider for your surgery; talking with prior patients can be a huge help so that you know what to plan for. I agree with the advice about trying to find the surgeon with the most expertise and the best success rates, that's a definite plus. My tests included CBC (complete blood count), chest X-ray, ultrasound of abdominal organs, urine/stool sampling, and enough other blood tests to require 9 vials of drawn blood--all worth it! Because I'm under 50 years old, my surgeon didn't require a stress test. You'll probably also have a psychology screening--not nearly as intimidating as it sounds--and maybe a set of lifestyle workshops to make sure you're prepared for the changes coming your way. Good luck to you and congratulations on making a decision to improve your health and your life! Keep up with the forums, there's lots of good info and good people here!

It's been an ongoing increase for the last 40 years--and I'm pretty sure that if we tracked it back further (say to the early 1900's) it would be even more drastic. Here's a graphic that shows just one meal and how much bigger it is now than it was in the 1950's. The calorie counts aren't listed, but it's not hard to guess that they've definitely increased, too! .

Karma is loving you right now! Woohoo!

Your test was today, right? Do you have to wait for results, or do you already know if you passed? *fingers crossed*

I have to echo what Mytime said. I'm pre-sleeve for at least the next month or so; and here's what I have been doing to try to make sure I totally understand what I'm moving forward towards. Look back over the choices and attempts you've made in the past. Were they deep-rooted, totally committed efforts or did you only give a halfhearted attempt at diet and exercise? Did you lose weight? If yes, did it stay gone (or did it do like my adipose tissue and return in full force, with lots and lots of friends)? What is your relationship with food--are you a boredom eater, an emotional-trigger eater? Do you have a solid support system of friends/family who will be in your corner throughout the process, or at least NOT actively sabotage your efforts? Do you exercise now? Will you be willing to exercise on a regular basis after the procedure? From everything I've heard on the forums, a good percentage of the success you get from VSG or any weight loss surgery depends on what you are willing to put into it. The only "magic bullet" is the blender some people use for their Protein shakes; surgery isn't a magic cure. You have to really, really want this. The whole package. The post-surgery pain and hair loss and stomach gurgles right along with the body transformation. You can't pick and choose or only opt for the positive, because none of us (including me!) knows what the post-sleeve world will be like until we're in it. Take some time to process what the surgery will mean for you, good, bad and every which way in between. You will be making a no-going-back change. This could be AMAZING. It could open up your world and grant you a longer and happier life. But it's not simple and it's not like applying a blowtorch to a stick of butter. The weight will come off--after a real effort on your part, and after probably having to rethink and re-work your entire connection with food. It might come off quickly, or it might be a slow process where you have to battle for every half-pound of progress--but you will get there if you can persevere! Talk to your doctor. Talk to your nutritionist. Talk to your psych counselor. Be totally honest, with them and with yourself. Do everything you can to go into this with both eyes open and as much information as you can gather. That's what I'm doing, anyway. Good luck--I know you'll come to a decision that feels right for you!

P!NK kicks @ss in every song she puts her voice to. When my daughter was around 5-6, we used to listen to "Stupid Girls" in the car, daily. I like to think it influenced her in the right direction, since she's 13 now and has no patience for the types of girls in that song. Score!

The closer in color that it is to dark beer, the more dehydrated you are...keep trying to get those fluids in; I know it's hard but you don't want to end up on an I.V. if you don't have to.

Meanwhile, I think I've found THE BEST SONG EVER for my sleeve journey, and heck, for life in general. I've never heard this prior to five minutes ago, but I think I'm in love. I can see myself using this as a soundtrack for a post-op workout, easily! The complete lyrics are in the video--give it a look! It's not how you start, it's how you finish, And it's not where you're from, it's where you're at. Everybody gets knocked down, (repeat) How quick are you gonna' get up? (repeat) Like Ali in the jungle, Like Nelson in jail, Like Simpson on the mountain, With odds like that, they were bound to fail Like Keller in the darkness, Like Adams in the dock, Like Ludwig Van, how I loved that man, Well, the guy went deaf and didn't give a f@@k, no... Had to get on iTunes and buy it--best 99 cents I've spent in a LONG time!

I'm not sure if it's different once you're sleeved, but the rule of thumb I was taught is "the darker your urine, the more dehydrated you are". In an unsleeved state, it's easier to guzzle water till your urine is colorless. There are other ways to judge dehydration, too...how do you feel?

I have to tell you ladies, reading everyone's posts here is a huge inspiration to me! I'm (still) waiting for a sleeve date, but it should be finalized by the end of this month. Sometimes I worry that because I'm only 5'2" that I won't lose weight as successfully as taller/heavier people--but this thread is proof that I'm wronnnnnng about that fear!

I see by your ticker that your surgery is today--I hope it goes smoothly and that you come through with flying colors!

Congratulations! You got your wish!!

Hi, Moosewife--could you tell us your starting weight/BMI? I'm not a super-high BMI'er myself, and still pre-op, so I'm interested in this thread.

I know for sure that pre-op, I've plowed right past "satisfied" on through to "way too full" during many a meal in the past. The more delicious the dish, the more likely that I would eat till it hurt--literally. My head is conditioned to take satisfaction as a signal that there's still more room to be filled with food. Since adopting a more protein-heavy pre-op eating style, I find myself less hungry, and hungry less often (if that makes sense). I'm hoping to retrain myself to know the difference between eating in pursuit of that deliciousness till I want to 'splode, and simply enjoying a good meal that refuels me. I can definitely see that there could be a 1000-cal. difference between pleasantly satiated and stuffed to the gills.

This is a fantastic site. I learn and remember best through visuals--I need to print multiple copies of this in about 10x20 and post it all over my house, LOL. Thank you for sharing this with us!

TES, you are officially the snopes.com of this thread. Thank you for fact-finding!

Just called my insurance to double check; Harvard Pilgrim Health Care (Massachusetts) is covering all expenses apart from the remaining $214.58 that I owe for my yearly deductible. A new life for under $250? I'll take it! Of course, insurance doesn't cover my $500 psych workshops, but I've paid that already. The young man who took my call made sure I understood that if I want cable T.V. in the hospital, that's my bill to pay. I think I can handle that.

LOL It sounds like you're ready and rarin' to go! Good luck!

The reflex to swallow is hard-wired into us; I can only imagine the panic that would set in if I tried this tactic on a food I shouldn't eat (say, a nice cut of steak during the mushy-food stage) and accidentally swallowed it. And then panic would be followed by pain and horking. No thanks!

The internet is a wonderful thing. We get to communicate instantly with people we've never met. Our great-great grandparents would be astounded. The down side is that we are communicating instantly with people we've never met. Truly, though, we don't have a complete frame of reference for everything we read; we don't know the person very well, most of the time. We completely lose the nuances of tone-of-voice, and people can go off like a Roman candle when they perceive negativity or snark, whether it's intended or not. A forum like this, where the whole point is putting information, feedback and support out there, can easily go off the rails when something is misinterpreted. Not to mention the threadjacks--most of which I enjoy immensely--often caused by folks like me who are easily distrac--ooooh, look! A kitty! *wanders off*

This question comes from my blog. There are so many people on the boards that have solid pre-planning advice and "If only I'd known_____" wisdom, I thought I'd post it here and see what our VSG post-op folks and veteran sleevers have to say! If you could tell a pre-op'er like me only THREE things-- to remember about the weight-loss journey, to do either pre-or post-op, or to understand about VSG, what would they be?