healthyme1963

I miss Pasta dishes, cheesecake and Merlot. I have a wine refrigerator full of wine that I may end up giving away since my husband doesn't like wine (I collected it much faster than I ever drank it, so there's a lot!).

I was pretty lucky; my drain was removed just before I was discharged from the hospital. It was bandaged up and I only had to change the bandage once before it dried up.

I was very fortunate. I chose to tell only a few family members and close friends, but each and every one of them were very supportive. I deliberately chose not to tell the people who I knew would be negative. I have one friend, in particular, who was heavier than I was and after hearing me talk about my upcoming surgery and the reasons I chose to have WLS, she even had surgery herself, five weeks after I did. So, now, we walk together and support each other like only someone who has gone through this process can.

That's great! Good luck to you. Keep us posted on your progress.

I let my employers know approximately six weeks in advance so we could plan for my absence and I would have time to train someone to take over a few of my critical duties during my absence. I also needed to submit FMLA paperwork and short-term disability paperwork 30 days ahead, so made sure the doctor's office had all of their pieces of that paperwork filled out prior to submitting.

I firmly believe that it's always a wise decision to get at least a second (& even a third) opinion when it comes to major surgery, especially if you feel this strongly about the procedure you want to have. If the second (and/or third) surgeon agrees with the first, then maybe you should listen to them. Definitely, though, get that second opinion. Good luck!

Hi Dave ~ Would you please send me your list? Thanks for doing this for us! LGL6000@yahoo.com

Hi ~ I haven't tried these yet, but someone posted this recipe recently: COCONUT PROTEIN MUFFINS 1 scoop vanilla protein powder 1 egg, beaten 1 T unsweetened coconut flakes 1/2 t coconut extract tiny bit of water to loosen the batter Preheat oven to 375. Mix everything together well. Divide into two muffin cups, sprayed with nonstick spray. Bake for 12-15 minutes. Let cool. Makes one serving of two muffins. High protein, low carb, low calorie. I just bought some coconunt extract last night, so plan to try these tonight. I'm a fiend for anything coconut!

Congratulations on your decision to take control of your health! So sorry you don't feel supported by the one person who should be your biggest support. I have to agree with music and amy. Maybe he's just nervous and scared and is communicating that fear in all the wrong ways. Sit down and have a real heart to heart with him and ask him point blank what he is afraid of. Address those worries and fears together. Good luck!

Congratulations! That is fantastic!

Congratulations on your decision to take control of your life and health! As a fellow Oregonian, I can tell you that there are several good surgeons/hospitals in the Portland area. Salem Hospital's Bariatric Surgery Center also has a great program and the staff are awesome. This is who I chose. Salem Hospital and their bariatric surgery center are also recognized as national centers of excellence. If you know others who have had WLS, talk to them to get their recommendations. Do your research and attend a few informational seminars (this is pretty much how you have to start the process with any bariatric surgery program). You'll get a feel for which surgeon/program will be the best fit for you. The seminar will also give you a more clear picture of each type of surgery. Depending on your insurance, it can be a lengthy process with many, many hoops to jump through or it can be a very simple and quick process. Expect to go through several pre-op procedures, labs and clinic appointments (surgeon, dietician, psychologist, etc.) either way, though. You came to the right place for support and advice. The members here are wonderful and very helpful. Good luck and keep us posted on your progress!

Hi ~ As far as happiness goes, I've always been a pretty upbeat, positive person so I wouldn't necessarily say I'm happier overall. I am very happy with my progress and the fact that my body feels so much better since the surgery. I do know people who have had WLS surgery whose overall happiness increased dramatically, though. Regarding energy, yes, my energy levels have improved. I find it easier to do certain things now and can do the things I enjoy for longer periods of time. I find now that I don't mind being in pictures like I used to. After a knee injury and botched knee surgery sidelined me for almost two years, I gained a significant amount of weight. After a while, though, I decided to heck with it; I don't care who sees me in exercise clothes or at the gym. I needed to do whatever exercise I could. I soon realized that, really, no one else paid one iota of attention to me because they were focused on their own workouts. Don't be afraid to go to the gym; I can guarantee you won't be the only plus-sized person there. Don't give up living and enjoying your life because of a little embarrassment. Be proud of who you are!

You can carry a small 6-pack cooler with cheese sticks and yogurt and freeze a couple of Water bottles before you travel. As far as non-perishable items, you can carry almonds, small tuna pouches, bananas and peanut/almond butter. There's always the option of stopping at a convenience store along the way. Happy travels!

Good luck to you! I hope your approval goes through without a hitch and that you have great success after surgery!

I'm down 23 lbs since surgery 7 weeks ago and a total of 51 lbs since I started the pre-op program. It's not coming off as fast as some, but I'm still happy with the progress I'm making. I'm losing inches pretty rapidly and am down a few pant sizes. All in all, I'm a happy camper!

That sounds really good! I'm definitely going to give it a try. Thanks for the idea!

It's interesting that you mention this. I had surgery 7 weeks ago and am down 50 pounds. In the last few weeks, I have been experiencing muscle pain on both sides of my back behind my rib cage. I just assumed it was my Fibromyalgia flaring up, because it feels similar to the pain I experience when it flares up really bad, but maybe it's something else. This is probably something you should discuss with your surgeon's office or your PCP. Good luck. I hope you find some relief soon. Let us know if you get any answers to this mystery.

Congrats! That's wonderful! Happy shopping!

I had follow-up appts at one week, two weeks and six weeks. Blood work at 6 weeks. I have f/u at three months, six months, nine months and one year, each one with blood work. From that point on, the f/u appts are once a year, with blood work. The patients at my clinic are required to weigh in at the clinic once a month. We are also strongly encouraged to attend regular support group meetings. The surgeons, nurses and other clinc staff are also easily available by phone any time we have concerns or questions.

That is terrific, shmily! Way to go! I just stepped on the scale this morning and have lost 50 pounds. Yes, today is definitely a good day! Enjoy your vacation!

It sure seems that different surgeons have very different Vitamin requirements. My surgeon told me to avoid any kind of gummy vitamin. I take a Centrum Silver multi twice daily, a B12 sublingual and a Bariatric Advantage calcium citrate chew twice daily. My bloodwork last week was great. I seem to be getting just the right amount of everything I need. I've been reading up on liquid Vitamins and the consensus seems to be that they are absorbed better by the body, but since I seem to be doing well with the chewables, I think I'll save myself the expense of liquid vitamins.

I don't believe any single one of us came to the decision to have WLS lightly. It is a huge, life-altering procedure and is permanent. I went back and forth for several months (after attending the information session) swinging between 'do it/don't do it'. I just know that for me, I was having health issues that finally helped make the decision for me. I knew that I couldn't lose the weight on my own and accepted, even relished, the decision to drastically change my lifestyle. Think about where you might be physically in a year or two. Is it any better than where you are at right now? If not, then think on it some more, do more research, talk to your doctors more and talk to friends who have gone through it. If, and when, you decide you are ready, I wish you the best of luck and great success!

I was never a big soda drinker, so that wasn't a big deal for me to give up. coffee on the other hand. . . I started by drinking half regular, half decaf for a week, then switched entirely to decaf. It wasn't as horrible as I thought it would be. The funny thing is that since my surgery, I don't care for the taste of coffee as much and have started drinking decaf tea a lot more. Kind of strange how our tastes can change after surgery. . .

Hello ~ I understand completely! At around five weeks, and lasting almost a week, I suddenly became nauseated every time I put anything in my mouth. Everything I ate or drank made me ill. I asked around and discovered that I probably wasn't getting enough Water, so upped my H2O intake. After a couple of days, I started feeling better whenever I ate something. Maybe you could be having the same issue? Whatever the cause, I sure hope you can move past this phase quickly. Good luck!

I experience those 'growly' noises, too! Not sure where they are coming from, but it's definitely not like the way my stomach used to growl before surgery when I was hungry. I usually experience this during, or just after, eating.