Vixynne

Apropos of nothing--I just wanted to interject that I think "Abundantly Feciated" would be a kick@ss name for a band. (Not a gastric band, the other kind. )

Are there post-bariatric surgery support groups in your area? One of my surgeon's requirements is that his patients stay "in his program" for at least five years after being sleeved (same for lapband and RNY patients). There are support groups that meet once a month, along with lots of seminars with information about post-WLS issues (how to get enough Protein, making lifestyle changes, etc.). A newsletter delivers the topics, dates and locations--does your hospital have any resources you can tap into? If not, don't despair. I've only been on the VST forums for a week, I'm pre-op, and I can already sense how supportive this community is. You've done the very hardest thing already--owning up to your feelings and actions from the past. That should help you feel strong enough to conquer whatever's in your way. You're not a passive spectator to life any more; you've been given exactly the right equipment to jump in and grab your happiness back. You may have to wrestle for it, but you'll win, I know you will!

I totally understand--and I can't tell you what a relief it is to read your words and realize they are SO similar to the round-and-round recording that's been playing in my head ever since I went to my first WLS seminar two weeks ago. Here's how I feel about it. In everyone's life, we have choices. We do the best we can, at every moment, to make choices that we *believe* will bring us pleasure/happiness/success, etc. Sometimes we find that those choices lead to exactly what we expected; sometimes the results are difficult or less than perfect. There's no point in punishing ourselves after we make the choices; we did the best we could with what we knew at the time. Personally, I have spent almost 25 years making choices that felt (or tasted) sooooo good. All those delicious, creamy, sweet, spicy, greasy, satisfying, addictive foods; all those times I decided "nah, don't feel like exercising, pfffft I'm fine the way I am"...well, they've all caught up to me, and they've brought their friends. Exhaustion, arthritis, depression, asthma, acid reflux--it's quite the party, and I hear heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure are thinking of RSVP'ing sometime soon. As terrified as I am sometimes of exactly the list of things you named (leaks, hair loss, recovery pain, and on and on it goes), I am a million times more afraid of the future I see before me if I DON'T get sleeved. I'm like a Christmas Eve Scrooge, with the dark Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come looming over me. I know beyond doubt that if I don't take this step, sooner or later, my obesity will rob my kids of their mother. It will steal me away from my future plans of retirement and travel. It will put me six feet under, with who knows how many years snatched from me, too soon. That will happen. I know it in my adipose-tissue-smothered bones. I'm out of options and I am not going to change unless that change is imposed on me by something stronger than myself. I'd rather have saggy skin that makes fwappity noises in a strong breeze--and get to live 10, 15, or 25 extra years--than be morbidly obese with skin as snug and shiny as a beach ball. I may end up looking older than I am; but I'll get to BE older than I would without the surgery. This is my best chance. It might be my last. I have to make it count, and I have to grab on to it with both my chubby mitts and never, ever let go. That's what I keep telling myself when I get scared. It seems to be helping, so far. "The greatest mistake we make is living in constant fear that we will make one." John C. Maxwell We can do this!! We'll come out on the other side, and when we stumble, we'll get up stronger than before, because the mistakes will teach us what we need to know. Hang in there!

Anyone who intends to go through with this surgery, and tells you they AREN'T at least a little, now and then, scared totally spitless is either flat-out lying or hasn't done their research. I shift every ten minutes from THRILLED to terrified. I have never taken such a big step before. It's amazing, it's frightening, it's the best chance I have at long term health, and it could be nothing that I expect. Yikes. At least I'm not going through it alone.

Oh mannnnnn. Now I want watermelon!

While sifting through the internet, looking for information on recipes and things to have on-hand after surgery, I found this. Read it all the way to the bottom, I know it's lowbrow humor, but worth at least a smile! Portions after Weight Loss Surgery Practicing Portion Control in the early stages after surgery will help you avoid eating too much food which may cause some discomfort. Continuing to practice portion control will help avoidlarge portions sneaking back up on you. Eating portions larger than what your pouch can hold will stretch your pouch and provide more calories than you need. Tools you’ll need to help monitor portions: Measuring cups and spoons Food scale 6-inch plates and small bowels

I would never disparage anyone's decision, whether it was different from my own or not, but based on what I have seen in some of my friends and colleagues who have gotten the RNY, I've noticed a few things. First, unless they are quite young (under 30), the rapid weight loss makes them look sort of tired. The best way I could describe it is that they all look as though they got thinner through being very ill, and they look like they are fighting their way back from that illness. Maybe that's because the weight loss is more dramatic and faster, and it leads to more drooping of their skin, even from their jawline. Secondly, almost everyone I know with the RNY has experienced significant weight re-gains, especially after the honeymoon year. Now, I realize that my sample is definitely NOT a scientific study, but it's what I've seen, just the same--and I don't mean any of the above in a derogatory or hurtful way, it's "just the facts, ma'am" from my own experiences. The bottom line is that you have to do what you believe to be best for you. Only you are going to be living with the impact of your decision every moment, and only you have the final vote. I have faith that you'll do what you feel is right, sensible, and helpful, and I wish you all the best!

How exactly do you change this in your profile? I'm new to the forums; is there a setting I'm missing?

That deserves so much applause.

For me, the worst was when it was February (in Massachusetts, I tell you, that's no small 'taters) and there I'd be, at a weekly WW weigh-in. The group met in a practically-unheated church hall, and like clockwork every week, I'd be there; wearing a silk short-sleeved top, silk shorts, and wondering if I could sneak off to sling the bra quicklike in the ladies' room before my turn came up at the scale. Freeeeeezing, looking like a damn fool, I'm sure, and ready to weep if the scale had mean things to say. The things I used to try to do to trick that scale...sometimes you just have to laugh at yourself. Who was I fooling? Silly Vix.

From what (little) I remember of my (three or four, but who's counting) attempts to lose weight through Weight Watchers, consistently losing anything close to 2 pounds a week is amazing progress. There were times in WW that I'd consider leaving my underwire bra home on weigh-in days, just to show a few OUNCES of progress in one week. If I had showed up and lost two pounds week in and week out, those nice ladies would probably woulda slashed my tires out of jealousy! (Hey, low blood sugar makes people cranky, is all I'm sayin'.) Don't compare your progress to anyone else's, that's a surefire way to get discouraged. Hang in there, you can do this!

Not sure what your history is, but here's something else to consider--can you imagine GAINING 32 pounds in 6 weeks? You'd feel like the little girl in "Charlie and the chocolate Factory" and you'd probably be panicking over how fast it was piling on, right? It would alarm you, because you wouldn't want such a speedy weight gain, and you'd be anxious, upset, and desperate to get it to stop. Well, the flip side is that when we want something (like weight loss) SOOOOO badly, it seems to take forever to arrive. Same 32 pounds, different reaction. Also, if you've put weight on all your life, or even just over the course of a few years, try (I know it's hard, but TRY) to keep in mind how slowly and gradually it went up. It's going to sometimes be a slow descent, too, but you will get there! Meanwhile, the weight loss that seems so painfully slow to you is really very inspiring to someone like me, who is just starting the VSG process and has to be patient about getting the surgery. You're going to do fantastically! (Edited for a typo, because I'm an English teacher and it would keep me awake at night to leave it sitting there. Kidding. Sorta.)

And if you don't like the manager's attitude, maybe time to find another insurance provider? Sometimes you have to vote with your feet and give your business to someone else (or at least threaten to) in order to get the company's attention.

I have to preface this by saying again that I'm a pre-op patient, and have NO WAY in the world to know yet what it is like to be sleeved. There's no possible way for me to judge anyone else's path, I'm too busy trying to keep on my own! But after following this thread, I do know that my issues with food will turn me into the biggest whinybutt martyr on Earth if I start feeling deprived. I've done it before, I know the pattern. It always begins with telling myself that I've worked so hard, and I'm entitled to a little pleasure-food, but in the end it only ends up sabotaging me. I either feel incredi-guilty and kick into all or nothing mode ("I may as well just GIVE UP, I've failed, what's the point in trying?") or I go completely overboard and slip back into bad habits. This, ladies and gennelmen, is why dieting has never worked for me. If there's one thing I'm learning from this forum and my own research, it's that this surgery isn't going to change my headspace. That's up to me, and that's going to be the real work! After nearly 4.5 decades of blissfully skipping tra-la-la down a path paved with bad habits, I'm really going to have to make serious, no-drama-queen-wallowing-allowed changes in the way I interact with food. I'll probably make a bad choice here and there--but honestly? After a lifetime of bad food/exercise choices, going from making 90% bad choices every day down to a once in a while event is going to be a major victory! That's my advice to the OP--try not to get stuck in what you chose when you ate the burger (if you feel bad and beat yourself up, that's taking energy away from your progress and stealing focus from all the GREAT choices you've made so far). Dust yourself off and resolve to do better. That's all any of us can do, whether the mistake was a bounced check, a dented fender, or a Wendy's burger. (Or a wordy forum post.)

Don't be too hard on yourself. If you're like me, you might have spent YEARS deflecting compliments or worse, running a "negative self-talk tape" on a constant loop in your head. It becomes almost a reflex to deflect a compliment with a negative phrase that starts with "Thanks, but..." or "Yeah, but..." Old habits die hard, but you'll squash this one. BECAUSE YOU'RE AWESOME. (Now, don't deflect that one, just sit there and take it. See? You can do this!)

My surgeon is in the "no NSAIDs EVER post-surgery" camp. My understanding was that in addition to the concern over possible stomach ulcers, that ibuprofen (Motrin/Advil), naproxen sodium (Aleve) and other NSAIDs can overtax the liver. It's interesting to see the wide range of recommendations coming from different doctors--I'm going to make sure to ask for more information from mine, since Tylenol has never really worked for me when I have muscle pain or a headache.

I'm definitely going to want to check out chia! Is it possible to flavor the gelled seeds? I'm just curious, if you added them to coconut water, water flavored with a SF syrup or a diluted juice, would they then pick up that flavor as well? Might be interesting to gel the seeds with one flavor (say coconut) and then put them into a different drink--like a citrus flavored protein shake.

I've been scared off and on ever since making The Call to my surgeon's office to ask for information. I have four friends who have had WLS (sleeve and RNY), and they're really a great support for me. Each of them is thrilled with their results and highly recommends WLS. I guess at the moment, my fears are about the unknown: having the surgery and the healing process. I have had surgery before; 2 C-sections 16 and 13 years ago, and I remember the way post-surgery feels. I *think* I'm ready for the pain and having to take things one step at a time after going home. The difference is that I've never been "put under" completely, and I have a nagging fear of general anesthesia. I'm afraid of the (admittedly rare) complications that could happen during and after surgery--leaks, stricture--ack, don't get me started! Last night I read the "Would You Have WLS Again" thread--all 11 pages--and I ping-pong'ed back and forth between "I'm gonna be fine, this will be a wonderful change" and "OMG what if ____________ happens to me?" All that being said, I'm really grateful to have found this forum, where there are so many people to ask for advice and answers. Informing myself is going to be a huge part of getting my head in the right place!

Actually, I live right near Cape Cod, but I'm not looking to change surgeons. I like Dr. Kruger very much--he just seems to always be at turbo speed, so I was wondering if anyone else who has him as a doctor has noticed the same thing, or if it was just me. Thank you for the advice, though, I'll keep it in mind!

Since I'm pre-op and new to the boards here, I definitely am NO kind of expert on WLS. I have to say, though, that I agree most with those who are saying that surgery doesn't mean you have to become an ascetic monk and deny yourself every pleasure you used to take with your tastebuds. Kind of like saying that one bad breakup doesn't mean you HAVE to become celibate--although that might work for some, it's not a requirement. A bad breakup affects everyone differently: some become anti-relationships, some "hook up" every chance they get, and most find a low-key middle of the road. Second time tonight that I've equated food to romance. Hmm. Maybe I need to write a cookbook/romance novel. "Fifty Shades of Grey Poupon"?

I meet with my nutritionist in two weeks--I'll put this on the "things I want to remember to ask" list! Thanks for raising this issue, everyone, there's definitely a learning curve involved all along the way during this process. This is probably just one of many, many things I'll be learning about.

Oh, believe me, if he shows up in the pre-op area with a striped sweater on instead of scrubs and I hear him say "I've got TEN scalpels riiiiiight here," I'm definitely not going to sleep!

I'm curious--I thought sleeve surgery didn't cause dumping? The information I got at my WLS seminar led me to think only Roux-En-Y patients had trouble with dumping syndrome. Is that false?

I don't intend to tell very many people. My children--who are both teens and able to understand the idea of surgery without needing to know a lot of the gory details. I have told my friends from "meatspace" and online, but only those who have gone through either the VSG or the Roux-en-Y procedure. Those friends have been an incredible support system--one of them even attended my first surgeon consultation with me! My reasons for keeping the surgery to myself are similar to the ones others have mentioned; it's my body and my choice, no one else's. Although I think most of my family would be supportive, there would be a handful who would be panic-stricken for MONTHS, up to and after the surgery, and they'd constantly barrage me with anxious questions, concerns, videos on YouTube about people who grew a second head after WLS...okay, I exaggerate, but not by much! I will be anxious enough--I don't need anyone in my life to feed those particular dragons for me. Then there's the two or three people who I know would actually look me right in the eye and tell me they disagree with my choice. Now, it's not that I feel I can't take the heat of that discussion; it's that I know that conversation would burn relationship-bridges forever. That's why I won't say anything; I want to try to keep those friendships/family relationships intact, even though my stomach won't be. **Edited to add: All of the above being said, I also feel that if anyone comes right out and asks me if I had the surgery, and their reasons for asking are because they or someone in their life are considering having WLS, I would feel fine about sharing. I think it would depend on the asker's motives. Asking me because you want to judge/argue/debate with me = not cool. Asking me because you are benignly (is that a word?) curious and might use the info to make an important decision for yourself = fantastic.

Every time you want to reach for the "bad boyfriend" in the next couple of weeks, just remember, all of his "awwwwwwbaby, I didn't mean it, I loooooove you" is a buncha lies. Good luck, I know you'll do great! I can't wait till I'm just two weeks from the procedure--then you can remind me not to listen to the "bad boyfriend"!