Mellie May

My question: How do you stop binge eating before surgery? Hi everyone! My name is Mellie, I'm 33, and live in Charleston, SC. I brand new to this site, and started my WLS journey November of 2013. I'm currently scheduled for gastric bypass on August 19, 2014, and in order to help me prepare for surgery and also be successful post operatively, I started a YouTube channel to document my progress: food. If I'm stressed...I eat! If I'm bored...I eat! You get the picture. I'm trying to tackle this problem now so that I have a greater chance of success in keeping the weight off after surgery, but boy is it tough! My nutritionist suggested using color therapy and meditating on things that are the color blue (like the ocean) whenever I get stressed. Bless her heart, but I don't have a lot of faith in this idea. I'm a total food addict. Can you relate?? Have you struggled with obsessive thoughts about food, or do you eat extremely large portions of unhealthy food only to feel ashamed later?? If so, I'm in this struggle with you!! I'd love to hear your thoughts about coping mechanisms that you're using to fight head hunger and the need to over eat before you have surgery. Thank you so much for your help and feedback! Mellie

I am having gastric bypass on August 19th. My doctor requires that his RNY patients have a G Tube placed for the first four weeks post op. The G Tube will be an external tube that will be attached to my reminant stomache, that will allow me to take in additional fluids and nutrition. My doctor has advised that many RNY patients struggle taking in adequate fluids by mouth, post op, and become dehydrated. He said that this is the number one reason people go to the ER post op. I will still be required to consume the same oz of Protein by mouth as everyone else post op, but additionally, I will be required to consume 1 Boost shake as well as an additional 20oz of Water a day through my G Tube. Let's be honest, this is a little WEIRD! The idea of feeding myself through a tube give me the willies...or makes me want to bust out with a "Get in my belly" chant! I need your HELP! I thought if I gave my G Tube a name, it would "normalize" it a little for me. So, I'm having a name my G Tube contest! I've posted this video on my You Tube and Facebook accounts as well. For the next week, I'll be taking suggestions about what to name my G Tube. Next weekend, I'll pick out my top three favorites and make another video, asking everyone to vote on their favorite name for my G Tube. The winner will receive the prizes that I have posted in my video. Alright my fellow WLS buddies, it's time to put your thinking caps on and get those creative juices flowing. Post your suggestions about what I should name my G Tube here http://youtu.be/pbbkTEKWvHE

How to Tell Your Friends and Family that You are Having WLS Surgery One of the things that I have struggled the most with in my pre op journey, is knowing how and when to tell my friends and family that I was going to have gastric bypass surgery. I have been terrified to have this conversation with people because I was afraid of being judged or told that they don't support my decision. We've all heard people say that "it's the easy way out," or that "we could loose the excess weight with diet & exercise," and then of course there are people that will tell us, "you don't need to change because you're fine just the way you are." Three days ago, I finally told my first friend about my decision, and it was like having a major weight lifted off my chest! I made a video about it at well: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIHgcJA3tEs. One down...a dozen more to go and I'm as nervous as can be!!! Have you shared your secret with a loved one? Have you told your friends that you've decided to take control of your obesity once and for all. Did they offer you encouragement and support, or did they try to talk you out of your decision and act jealous? I'm hoping to gain courage from some of your stories! Please share your experience about telling others about your WLS decision so that we can help inspire and support one another.

What was your sleep study experience like? Do you have to go to the sleep lab more than once, or was your doctor able to give you a definitive answer on your results right away? Last night I completed my required pre-op sleep study. I was diagnosed with sleep apnea during my first sleep study in 2008. I weighed 240 pounds then. I ended up changing jobs right after I was diagnosed, and while waiting for the "pre existing condition" clause to pass on my new insurance, I ended up loosing almost 60lbs, and all of my symptoms went away. I currently weight 284 pounds, and the symptoms are back with a vengeance! I have very vivid dreams, often times wake up with a headache, do not feel well rested in the mornings, and get up several times through the middle of the night to go to the bathroom. The tech on duty told me this morning that I did not have any apnea occurrences during my test; I just snored like a wildebeest. Lucky me. Now I'm wondering if there are nights where your apnea doesn't kick in, and the doctor is going to have me go back to the sleep lab for another evaluation. If you have had a sleep test before, PLEASE share your experiences. I know there are plenty of people out there who have never had a sleep test done before, and they are anxious about going to the sleep lab for their first time. Here is my YouTube video about my sleep study experience. I have to apologize in advance! I made the mistake of filming outdoors on a very windy day, and somehow, the video was cut 2mins short. http://youtu.be/VnlxEdKPrT4 Thanks to everyone who shares their sleep study experiences

Hmm... My sleep tech told me that I didn't have any "apneas" during my sleep study. She said you pause or stop breathing for a minimum of 10 seconds or more when you are having an apnea, and not every apnea you have throughout the night will wake you up. I would ask the doctor to tell you how many apneas you had that night rather than how many times you woke up. By the sounds of it, how could anyone not wake up 30 times throughout the night where you did your sleep study??!!

Christy that sounds really rough! I didn't have a mic taped to my neck, and I did have the help of a sleeping pill, so it sounds like I had it easy. Are you using a CPAP now after your test? If so, it won't be long till you won't need it any more!!!

Thanks for sharing!

What items have you purchased PRE OP to help you be successful in your WLS Journey? *please share any of the items/brands/flavors that you would recommend purchasing ex: blender bottles, Protein powders, scar tape, and fitness trackers Portion control is a huge hurdle for me as you may have heard me discuss binge eating habits in previous posts. Yesterday, I purchased several items that I think will be useful in helping me be mindful of proper portion sizes. I wasn't sure how to upload pictures of my purchases, but you can see all of the items that I picked up here: sugar free Raspberry Syrup, and five quarted strawberries to make 9 mini pops that were the perfect Thumb Size portion with only 14 calories and 3 grams of protein. This mold differs from anything you would find in the Dollar Store because it's very easy to use. You don't even need to run the molds under warm Water before pulling out the popsicle. This item would be great for anyone immediately post op! I'm a self proclaimed shopaholic so I'm looking forward to reading about other items that you recommend purchasing. If you have found a product, brand, or flavor of an item that you're in love with, please post it here!

Susan, thanks for taking the time to watch and comment on the video. I noticed that you used Dr. Aceves. In my mind, when I hear or see his name, I think of him as a celebrity among the bariatric doctors. It's really amazing how many people throughout the Facebook, YouTube, and message board community have used him. I've heard so many good things (including that his assistant is very hot) that I have doctor jealousy!

Divorce is a very prevalent issue in the WLS community. I would suggest that your hubby join the +1 Crew on Facebook. It's a group that is exclusively for the spouses of WLS patients. It's a great forum where they can not only learn how to support you, but also get support for themselves because let's face it, there are going to be some rough time. Here's the link for the +1 crew https://www.facebook.com/groups/561857660576992/ If he's not really into Facebook, see if he would be willing to follow Vlogs. MoreofWIll is the spouse (and member of the +1 crew) of LessofSara, a well known VSG vlogger. Here is a link to his channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/moreofwill?feature=watch It sounds like you have a very strong marriage. Make sure you tell your husband what you need to be successful. An alcoholic can never have another drink again and be fine, but as food addicts, we don't have the option to abstain from food 100%. Even after your surgery, you'll experience head hunger and the cravings will come back in time, so put the kibosh on going out to eat where you would be tempted to consume large, unhealthy, portions now. Of course, I'm single, so pick and choose the parts of this advise that you like and forget the rest!

Thanks Megan. I will definitely check out the water bottle.

Angelala, I think that's a fantastic tip! It's so important to focus our thoughts about our WLS, and I'm sure a journal will be a powerful tool Post Op in reminding ourselves about the importance of our journey when we're have struggles. Thanks for sharing!

I've heard really good things about the silicone scar tape. Have you talked to anyone who's used it for scar therapy? I'm really not that concerned about my gastric bypass scars from the laparoscopic surgery because they will be so small. I am VERY concerned though about the circumferential scar that's left behind after the lower body lift, and I'm sure I'll need one down the road.

Great job on your pre op weight loss! You are going to be gorgeous before you even hit your goal weight. It sounds like you're really committed to this process, and I know you will be very successful! I love to garden as well and was so happy to see the nurseries in Charleston start to stalk up on pansies and other pretty flowers. Hopefully my pots will be planted by mid March

Tina I agree with you 100%! This is such a unique environment, and the WLS community is amazing at providing positive support for one another. It's great that while you and I may have a small support network at home, we have the ability to build a large support network online to help us with every step of our journey. When is your surgery scheduled? Please keep me posted on your progress!

Takingaleap - thank you for the great feedback and support on my video. I appreciate it! Wallflower7522 and Sugarfreeme - what great advice! Thanks for sharing your stories. Jodie1961 - I think it's fantastic that you've decided to have the revision. Shame on anyone that would judge your for wanting to better your health. When you do decide to start telling people, I wish you the best and hope you receive the support that you deserve!

Thinndskies, thank you so much for sharing your experience. It really is inspiring. I am definitely going to check out the books that you suggested.

When I was doing my research to make my own decision, I had searched "dumping syndrome" on YouTube. Dumping syndrome is a side effect of gastric bypass surgery and can be triggered by eating foods that are too greasy or too high in sugar.. Lap band patients and sleeve patients do not dump. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, cramping, diarrhea, and dizziness. If a WLS who has the sleeve eats a piece of cheesecake, chances are they are going to enjoy the dessert and without realizing it they are positively reinforcing that bad behavior so old eating habits come back and the weight is regained. If a bypass patient eats a piece of cheese cake, they will more then likely feel like they are having a heart attack 30mins later. Would you ever want to touch another piece of cheesecake again after something like that? It's important to note that not every bypass patient experiences dumping syndrome. One of the vloggers in the video that I was watching said that she felt sorry for the people who didn't dump. I didn't get it then, but I do now. I PRAY that I am someone who will dump because I need that extra tool to keep me on the right track Lastly, sleeve patients on average loose 40-50% of their excess body weight within one year of their surgery date. Bypass patients loose an average of 70-80% of their excess weight within the first year of surgery. Only you will know which surgery is right for you. I suggest watching A LOT of YouTube videos to hear stories from both sleeve and bypass patients to help you with your decision. Best Wishes!

Megan, Congrats on your decision to pursue WLS! I subscribe to a lot of YouTube channels, and I just subscribed to a military spouse who has recently started her process. While she is not stationed at Fort Carson, I thought I would share her channel because some of the information that she provides about the process may help you know what to expect with your benefits as well. So far her videos cover getting approval through her PCP and meeting with the bariatric intake coordinator. I hope this helps, and good luck in your journey! http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsz_S6E08ySK2ADcOwzpvAQ

DLCoggin, I agree with everything you said Next time I shy away from recording something in MFP, I'm going to remember exactly what you said, " Perfection is n o t a criteria for success." Actually, I think I should hang that up in several places in my house. Thank you also, for sharing the information about your 2-4 hour rule. I think it's a new habit that I'm going to try to form. BP is a wonderful resource. I am especially thankful for all of the positive and encouraging members. I don't know of another community that has more helpful and thoughtful members!

I think it's a good idea to have as many tools in your tool belt as possible. Creating 5 new habits is a really smart idea! While it's important to break old habits, that has been my only focus so far. I am going to work of creating my own list that I can commit to, and I'm pretty excited to start brainstorming. I use MyFitnessPal as well, however I notice that the days that I binge eat are the days that I don't record anything. I think my first new healthy habit will be to commit to recording 100% of the things I eat. Thank you so much for the terrific idea. I know this will be helpful!

I am really excited about having a healthy relationship with food, and not allowing it to rule my life anymore. Thank you so much for responding. I hadn't though of forging a relationship with a counselor outside of my bariatric program before. I think that's a great idea, and I'm definitely going to look into finding a professional that has eating disorder experience. Thank you again!