VSGAnn2014

MFP rocks! It helped me lose 10 pounds in the two months before I started the pre-op diet. I also learned I was eating FAR too little Protein. Geez. Who knew. And now, of course, on the pre-op diet it's telling me I'm starving to death. Seriously -- I love it.

FYI, 90% of breast lumps are either benign or "movement" of breast tissue.

In this morning's New York Times: A Mouse Switch Turns Off Appetite Excerpts: Deep in the mouse brain, scientists recently found that a very small network of cells, a few thousand at most, turns appetite on and off. * * * The conclusion, Dr. Anderson said, was that this small group of neurons might be an appetite-control hub. These are neurons that inhibit behavior. * * * Dr. Anderson said that people may well have a similar appetite control network in a similar location, which would be intriguing because the amygdala is so strongly associated with emotion, particularly fear and anxiety. Appetite and emotions are certainly connected, and the chance to find out something about those connections at the level of brain circuits is exciting. Full article at http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/12/science/a-mouse-switch-turns-off-appetite.html?_r=0

LOL!

Family! Sometimes, you just want to ...

First day of Week Two. I'm drinking GNC Lean shakes (Swiss Chocolate). They're not bad. Also chicken broth with Thai peanut dipping sauce (1 tsp) -- umm umm good! Only bad day I had was Day Two -- headache and flu'ish feelings. Otherwise, it's been pretty easy (knock on wood).

Hey, fellow old broads and bros. I have my surgery a week from today - August 18. 68 years old and still trying something new. Please give me a woot!

It's standard pre-op tests for surgery. They use them as benchmarks for how you are "before" surgery -- so they can compare it to your EKG during during surgery (if they need to) to see what's "normal" for you. Likewise, the chest x-ray shows what your innards look like pre-surgery -- and how anything afterward varies from your pre-op normal. No worries.

Still lovin' this thread.

kid5wzr ... Fun-nee! I think walking is on the menu now. And congratulations to you. You've accomplished a lot today.

I've seen requirements as long as 6 months of dieting, before the pre-op liver-shrinking diet. And I've seen requirements as lax as "no foods or liquids after midnight the night before surgery."

A tractor girl! Love it, CGJ.

Yes, I'm in therapy. But I expect that some aspects of our digitally recorded explorations into the causes of our obesity will one day be regarded as the mental agonies of the medically ill. What if the genus of our overweight is that we have fewer or different gut flora than The Normal Ones or a combination of different genes that makes our metabolism more efficient than those of The Normal Ones or overactive brain synapses that double our appetites compared to those of The Normal Ones. Or all of the above? Or none of the above and twelve other factors instead? Naturally, the 22nd century's best solutions for obesity will be dramatically different from the GS, VSG and Band. And therefore, I don't think I can know what are the true causes of my overweight. In the meantime, if it makes me happy to satisfy my curiosity about my personal history, I will entertain myself. But, ultimately, I have to build and habituate new behaviors and allow a surgeon to modify the body I was born with to impersonate The Normal Ones. Because I don't think I belong to that species.

Ellen, welcome. And good on you for doing your will -- that's not bad mojo ... that's just a grown-up thing to do. It's a good community. Join in. And let us know how you're doing post-op. Lately, I've seen a number of comments from folks who had easy recoveries. Who knows how ours will go (I'm in 7 days), but we might as well think positive. If it sucks afterward, at least we didn't waste any time beforehand worrying about it.

That's seriously awesome. Congratulations!

If anyone wants to be a WLS missionary, knock yourself out. I'm not telling anyone!

Good post ^^^^, Cowgirljane. The trouble with the studies regarding most -- and perhaps even ALL -- long-term weight loss surgery studies / surveys is the non-response bias introduced into most studies. In other words, surveys and studies based on volunteer responses are lame. All WLS patients are NOT like those WLS patients who voluntarily participate in WLS surveys and studies. When WLS patients "fail" (e.g., they regain weight, aren't compliant, have other health problems, die) they don't return for doctor's appointments and fade from online and IRL support communities. In these cases, their subsequent WLS experiences (and data) are not included in future studies of "all WLS patients' experiences." To be clear, I am not saying that there are no good WLS studies that attempt to minimize non-response bias. But they are not plentiful. We need better meta-evaluations of all WLS studies. I am optimistic that such studies will increase in number and improve in quality.

Many people think the "five-day pouch" (or "5 day pouch") approach helps them with new restriction and focus. Best wishes re your upcoming nuptials.

Misty, What's your daily protein intake? Also, are you recording / journaling your food / water / exercise?

Uh ... non-response bias.

I don't think "horror stories" are bull. At all. Who would make that stuff up? I just think some people have a hard time with recovery. Others have an easier time, but don't post as much about their journey because they're out looking for a gym, mowing the yard, planting the back forty. That's why I love this particular thread. It balances out the reporting.

I weighed in at a BMI of 39.9 on my first surgeon visit. So badda boom. However, all the other CoE hoops I had to jump through (all successfully) were just backed up horribly there -- lots and lots of patient applicants. It's taken months and months and months. So getting through by November depends on your surgeon's patient pipeline. Good luck.

What in the world do you mean by: "Gastric sleeve followed by banding"? I've never, ever heard of that.

Yo, Chris -- I'll give you a 7 out of a 10 for those last four posts. Deducted 3 points for harrumphs, insults and political BS. I hope your gastric sleeve works out great for you.

Dr. Huffman, If you would share any study findings about the efficacy of phentermine for WLS patients used in the ways you describe above, rather than vague anecdotal testimonies about its efficacy for some of your patients, I'd welcome the chance to read those studies. Otherwise, I'll trust my own personal anecdotal experience with phentermine and the anecdotal testimony of literally every other person I've ever known (dozens of friends and relatives).who was prescribed phentermine by physician-managed weight loss programs. In my experience, phentermine is just another FDA-authorized version of Meth Lite.