Debbiebydesign

Couldn't have said it better!! It really takes help and support. My kids have been my rock so supportive and so kind. My daughter came up and gave me the biggest hug today (she is 15)' date=' and told me how proud of me she was for "going through all of this so they can have a healthy mom". I started to tear up![/quote']

That's a sweet girl right there!

My doc required only five days of Clear Liquids. Five horrible days...lol...with just that I did fine. Buckle down, stop cheating,realize it's rough, but temporary.

I <3 you.....seriously....love you from your nose to your toes!

HW 312, pre-op (lap-band) 294, pre-op (RNY) 255, surgery date 2/11/13, goal weight 154, current weight 225

You love ME!? Aw....

What people are trying to say is we have seen all the bad stories and do not need anymore shoved down our throats.

I want to support you, but I don't want to see things like "warning this surgery ruined my life... don't do this" .

If you feel you wished someone told you before, then you did not do enough research. I feel fully prepared for the choice I am making and raised my life insurance just in case.

You guys are saying people are not giving their honest experience here, but they are! Not everyone has had a bad experience.

We are getting a lot of bad stuff from family and friends and joined this site for support and not warnings. You are entitled to get support too, but you don't have to be negative in every post and bring others down with you.

Sorry, but if you want honesty I am definitely always the first to give it. Don't hijack a nice thread make your own gloomy thread and those of is who chose to read it will. This is the last place I want to be judged about the decision I am about to make. I have a friend who is successful with rny and one who died from it. I know the risks.

Thank you, Lou for understanding the point of this post. You can't see me but I am applauding.

I have to admit, and I probably going to catch hell from one of the above posters for being brutally honest myself, but I am now EXTREMELY angry about my positive post being highjacked. (Abby, I do appreciate the apology above.)

Please re-read my original text. I was NOT referring to other bariatric patient's telling their story, whether it was good or bad- I was referring to other people who are more than willing to tell a horrible RNY/WLS story to someone facing the decision of whether to do this. Please understand that, because now I am referring to other bariatric patients.

RNY can and does save lives. Just like a heart bypass, there are successes and failures. Why is it, when someone is trying to be supportive to a newbie, that someone whose surgery was less than successful or had complications has to piss in the cheerios? WHY? I realize that it is painful, and I will pray give, words of support, to those people too, but damn, if you want to warn others, start your own post and title it "BEWARE! This surgery can ruin your life." THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT SCARES PEOPLE. I found these people here, even in my hospital support groups- tales of hernias, dumping, pain, complications. It's not a judgement, it just is. I have spent hours listening to both sides, and quite frankly, I am tired of it! Can't you just let happy people be happy?

I also take issue with the implication that I am sugar coating it. Surgery is risky, painful, and costly. The prep for it is long and difficult. I wouldn't wish this on ANYONE. But if you are thinking about it, then you need to know the good that can come, not just the bad.

I'm sorry it ruined your life, but if it helps someone improve their life, then let them enjoy it. I know this is a support group, but I cannot support discouraging others for your own agenda.

My husband and I both went through the "what if the worst happened?" mode when I decided to do this. I never realized he was needing support, too. Took talking to a co-worker whose wife had the same surgery, by the same doc that he relaxed. I was relieved to wake up from the surgery and surprised that, even in pain, I did not feel all that weird. I was worried I'd feel like I could feel the "alterations." Truth is, I only noticed the difference when I drank Water. It was way easier than my c-section was for me.

I'm really happy to see that hearing this is encouraging to pre op patients, and glad to hear from those doing well post op. Weight loss surgery is not a trip to the spa. It is a lot of dedication, commitment, and effort. I thought going into this I could do it all alone, but the truth is we need support, and the support of someone who's been through it is invaluable. I have made several wonderful friends in this process, and even though my current friends were cheering me on, hearing, "If I can do it, you can" held a certain weight (no pun intended.)

I started this process on July 16, 2012. I'm a relative newbie, just having my surgery 56 days ago.

My new pet peeve is people who readily offer what I like to call "RNY tales of terror"- you know, the stories about the one person everybody knows who had RNY, who either had debilitating complications or who lost half of their original body weight only to gain it all back and more.

If you are pre op and have been discouraged by these stories, I want you to hear mine- so far.

I had my surgery less than two months ago. I'm close to being off all my insulin. My blood pressure is even better than before. My joints feel better. I have not had a Migraine since just before the surgery. I have had no heartburn. Although I was tired a lot a month ago, I'm slowly regaining energy and strength. I have had not horrible reactions to any food. I have to remind myself to eat. I have cravings, but they are easier to resist. There was some pain post op, but it was well managed, and improved quickly. I sleep better and my husband reported I am snoring less. I've lost 47 lbs, and 28 inches throughout my torso and upper limbs.

Best of all...I don't regret it at all. I only wish I was ready to do this sooner.

I forgot to add- no more bouts with IBS. I did not have horrible gas pains after surgery (I thought I would since i did after my c-section), my hair is not thinning.

While I'm feeling good now, it's definitely not an easy way out. The preoperative diet was the worst for me. I was hungry, irritable, and unable to focus. I had a bad withdrawal from caffeine and carbs. I also struggled getting everything in line- food, Water, Protein, Vitamins. All those rules! Eating slowly was a bigger problem to tackle than I thought. My god, did I eat like a wildebeest before surgery?!? But I managed all of it.

I started this process on July 16, 2012. I'm a relative newbie, just having my surgery 56 days ago.

My new pet peeve is people who readily offer what I like to call "RNY tales of terror"- you know, the stories about the one person everybody knows who had RNY, who either had debilitating complications or who lost half of their original body weight only to gain it all back and more.

If you are pre op and have been discouraged by these stories, I want you to hear mine- so far.

I had my surgery less than two months ago. I'm close to being off all my insulin. My blood pressure is even better than before. My joints feel better. I have not had a Migraine since just before the surgery. I have had no heartburn. Although I was tired a lot a month ago, I'm slowly regaining energy and strength. I have had not horrible reactions to any food. I have to remind myself to eat. I have cravings, but they are easier to resist. There was some pain post op, but it was well managed, and improved quickly. I sleep better and my husband reported I am snoring less. I've lost 47 lbs, and 28 inches throughout my torso and upper limbs.

Best of all...I don't regret it at all. I only wish I was ready to do this sooner.

I had RNY 2-7-13. I was tired a lot the first four weeks, but it's rebounding now. I feel good, mostly.

The night of my surgery was rough, but once I got the pain controlled, I would say it was achy, but less than I had imagined it being. My c section was worse. I had no gas pain with my RNY like I was expecting either (had it with the c section, it was excruciating then.) I had a few brief bouts of nausea, but never vomited (until I was on more solid foods and ate too fast.)

I stopped pain meds after about a week, but there might have been an achy day or two when I did take them. Once or twice I forgot and did something that caused pain and got a prompt reminder I just had surgery.

Ok I'm having my surgery April 1st and was wondering what brand of Protein shake I should get

That is the big question going in! Everyone has different tastes, so it's tough to recommend a brand. I hate those clear Proteins, but some love them. I like chocolate, vanilla, smoothie like shakes. samples are the best route. Some tastes change, you get bored...some people buy the unflavored or vanilla and blend with extracts.

No longer on thinners. My surgeon required them for 10 days post op.

I have a small lump and it still hurts almost 5 wks post op' date=' it's a little bruised also. Do u know what that's from?[/quote']

One of my fellow WLS friends asked our surgeon because she had the same problem. They said it's from the surgery and will go away.

One day about a week after surgery, I was visiting my mom and her dog (a small Chihuahua) jumped on me and bumped my abdomen. It didn't even hurt, but I had just taken my blood thinner and I later noticed a platter sized maroon and black bruise that had a lump in the center. I showed the doctor and he didn't seem concerned. All that remains now is a little lump only I feel.

I think it's just all the trauma from the laparoscopic instruments. Mine look really good. Only the largest incision is still healing. The swelling and dents are gone.

I have a big one where the camera was put in during laparoscopy bypass.

I did too. The largest one. It's gone.

I eat half of a low carb wrap with chicken and a little cheese. No problems.

I had dents at 3 of my 6 incisions. I had a couple lumps too. 6 weeks later they are pretty much gone. Normal, I guess.

I hear this panic about stalls a lot, just in the first few weeks post op. We need to keep it in perspective. When was the last time you lost 22 lbs in two weeks? If the answer is never, then you are probably doing just fine. My bariatric nurse told me in the first couple weeks many people gain due to fluids, and any loss is a triumph. I was mad I lost 6 lbs in the two weeks post op. I'm now just 6 weeks and my total is about 40.5 from the start. Twice on my own I was able to lose 15 lbs, and it took me 6 months one time. I gave up it was so slow. I'll take 40 in 6 weeks.

Oh wow Debbie thank you so much for all that info. Looks like I'll be going to that meeting April 9th! I thought they had to approve me before I went to a support group. So glad I found out before I waited forever. I'll definitely call tomorrow because I returned my paperwork about 2 weeks ago.

No, the group is open to pre and post ops, support people, etc.. Its free. Even though it's OSF's groups, we even had a few post ops from other bariatric programs there. Contact me if you have questions!

The next one is April 9 at IVCH, 7 p.m. It helps with insurance approval if you go, and PSG wants you to go monthly prior to surgery. It's a nice group right now.

You wont get approval until after your psych eval. Oh, wait, you mean they are checking to see if you have coverage, it's not the actual surgery approval, right? That should go fast.

Word of advice though, PSG forgot to call for me, so if it goes beyond a week, call them. They should be calling you to schedule your first meeting with the doctor after they find out if your insurance covers WLS. I waited 3 weeks, and found out from my insurance company they didn't call until AFTER I called them to ask where they were with that and they called me the next day to set up an appointment. It cost me nearly a month because I didn't remind them!

That was something that was helpful at the group, they can give you hints to help you progress smoothly to a surgery date!

I am from the IV area and am waiting for my insurance to get approved. I had my bod pod about 2 weeks ago. I'm also getting my surgery done through OSF in Peoria what has been your experience? I haven't even meet with the surgeon yet so I'm very new at this whole process.

I had a really good experience. I had my surgery February 7th and have lost 39 lbs.. No major complications. Have you been to the support groups yet?

No it certainly isn't the easy road. But the way I look at it anything is worth kids filling the house. I am sorry for the troubles you went thru. Hopefully this will be the answer for us all. With hard work and determination of course.

Nothing to be sorry about. My family doesn't look like what I dreamed. Whose does? I was incredibly blessed with this gregarious, beautiful girl. She healthy, smart, and kind. I guess I was meant to spend all my resources on her.

I hope this surgery helps you fulfill those dreams. I know how important that is to a person.

Hello! I will be having GB on 4/29/13. I was diagnosed w diabetes about 11 years ago. I was 19 swore I'd take care of it with diet and excercise. And then life happened. I got busy. Diabetes wasn't gonna effect me. I'd be fine. Well 3 miscarriages later the on call doc at the hospital told me he would bet his medical license it was my sugars not allowing me to carry to term. Lots of trials w meds and two more miscarriages later. I'm on 2000 mg metformin' date=' 60 units lantus, 12 units of apidra at every meal. My hope is to never have to take another shot again. I'm looking for an ideal family size not an ideal pant size. Although now that its getting closer I can't wait to buy my first evening gown that is different than what my 60 yr old plus size aunt wears !!

I look forward to hearing your success stories. Good Luck and happy slimming![/quote']

I, too, had fertility issues. I have PCOS and was told I would have difficulty getting pregnant. I got pregnant my first month of attempting, and my daughter was perfect in spite of diabetes and and overall high risk pregnancy. I was lucky enough to have a healthy baby, and could not get pregnant again.

As heartbreaking as your miscarriages are, your good news is you CAN get pregnant. I hope you are able to carry to term once this is done for you.

I was not well controlled and in my last four weeks post op, I'm using about half the insulin than I was before. It's not the easy road, but worth it.

PS- What's farina?!? haha

Cream of wheat

My doctor said Protein Drinks count as Water. There is no standard!