Ginger Snaps

Woo hoo!!!! Nice job! You must be thrilled to see how your hard work has paid off! Ginger

@@upurg --- Best wishes! It's not as scary as you think it will be (well, probably not)... just be honest and it's OK to say you're nervous about the eval and the surgery. That's what NORMAL people would feel!

I'm preop (7 days til' surgery WOOT) but when I get to this point, I think I'm just going to spill the Beans. I don't want to tell too many people now because I really don't want their opinions on the surgery. But, once it's done, I'll probably just say I had the surgery and that I'm on a medically supervised plan so that I don't have to constantly face the question. It will be obvious I'm doing something dramatically different than before and I'd rather just put it out there. I found kind of the same thing out about depression -- I used to not tell anyone I was on meds for depression / bipolar. After I got more confident with myself, I would tell people if the conversation steered that way and I found so many people who were also treated or looking into seeing a psych. It helped me feel not so alone in my struggle and it helped them too. I think that the more open we are about the surgery and educate people, the more it takes away the stigma that surrounds the surgery (that it's the easy way out or dangerous or that it needs to be hidden). Kind of a little ambassador program! But, I know that's not for everyone -- it's something we have to figure out for ourselves. Best wishes.

@@beachplum -- make sure you're moving around enough -- try to get out in the sunshine -- meet with some friends or something so you don't isolate yourself. It takes more effort to do those things right now so soon after surgery but getting back into "normal" life (if one exists) will help you get over the blues quicker.

OK, so I'm a girl and I liked the article (at least some of it). I've never been afraid to lift weights -- actually lifted pretty heavy in my early 20s thinking I would build up some nice muscle -- toned up but never bulked up probably because of hormones and not taking supplements. I work out in that scary "men's area" where all the free weights are and do just fine. I prefer free weights or body weight exercises because you get so much more from them instead of just staying on machines. Yeah, the guy sounds like he hasn't met too many smart girls, but he does have some valid points and I've seen some of the same craziness he has at the gym. Let's go pick up something heavy and put it down.

My doctor told me that most of the stomach acid is produced in the lower part of the stomach. So, with bypass, that gets disconnected and you won't have all that acid coming up in your throat. With the sleeve, you still have some lower stomach there so you may still have problems with reflux.

@@niroha How beautiful!!!

I agree with one of the other posters -- if you talk to her and feel she can't help you with the weight loss issues maybe you can see someone else specifically for that but still see this therapist for general therapy. It's hard to find a therapist you "click" with so you don't want to walk away from a good relationship if you don't have to.

I'm having bypass... I didn't even consider the sleeve because I have reflux and the sleeve can make that worse. I also wanted to go with bypass because it has a better success rate and a higher percentage of excess weight loss. I wanted to go with what gives me the best chance of success. You have to take Vitamins and supplements regardless of which surgery you have.

So a friend at church approached me this morning and said "I hear you're having surgery. Is it the band or bypass?" Weird thing is I don't know how she knew because I have only told 1 person at church (well I guess then I do know how she knew). I told her bypass and she said "oh I talked to my doctor about surgery but she wants me to do it the hard way with diet and exercise." Two things... This friend has no idea she is one of the reasons I looked into surgery. She is very overweight, unable to stand for long during choir practices and has diabetes and high blood pressure. I don't want to see myself in her situation in 5-10 years. Watching her struggle made me start to look into surgery. And secondly, her doctor says she wants her to do it the hard way but in my friends case it will most likely never happen without surgery. Very sad After she sees my great success, I will slip her the name of my surgeon and encourage her to ignore her primary doctor and go for a surgery consult and take the easy way out! Lol

I'm a little over a week before surgery and thought it would be great to hear from some June 2013 vets to encourage those of us with June 2014 dates. What does it feel like a year out? How happy are you and what have been your biggest successes? What words of wisdom could you share for those of us who are where you were 1 year ago?

In general, heating is for muscle pain while inflammation needs cold. I know when I've had the gas pain before from surgery and putting a heating pad on that area feels good. Ice is probably good for incision pain -- heat will draw blood to that area and might make it hurt or get inflamed. Agree -- ask your doctor.

You're going to need Clear liquids for at least the first week or so based on your doctor's plan. Maybe you can get chicken broth with food stamps? After the first 2 weeks or so it should be easier... Peanut Butter, cheeses, eggs -- good Protein sources. Maybe you should see if you have some insurance coverage or something that might help you with the protein supplements early on.

I had a pre-surgery meeting at my hospital last night. There was just me and one other patient who happens to have the same date as me, June 9th. We met with a pre/post op nurse who explained what all to expect, things like what they would do with your personal belongings, how long you might be in the recovery room, compression stockings, stuff like that. Then the hospital pharmacist talked with us about what kinds of meds to expect, the Vitamins we'll need to be on, those kinds of things. The dietician talked with us -- nothing by mouth til after the swallow test, how they'll bring up a tray with a variety of Clear liquids on it and that you should eat that so slowly that by the time you've eaten a little from all of it, the next tray should be arriving. She said they'll bring up a bottle of crystal light that has some Protein in it and that we should sip on that all day... don't send it back on the tray. Then we met the head nurse on the floor and she said no matter how long and hard we begged, she would NOT give us anything to drink or even ice chips on day one. She talked about how to contact the nurses or techs if you needed anything -- there's a board in the room with you nurse and tech's phone numbers on them so you can call them at any time -- no pressing a call button and waiting forever for a response. She also said they are going to be mean and come in within 4 hours of surgery and get us moving. She and the pharmacist were very funny and personable. I told the pharmacist I wanted her to come in and visit me while I'm there just to cheer me up. She gave me her card with her direct phone number. I think if I called, she'd show up. Then the bariatric coordinator gave us a tour of the floor and a room (private) and gave us her cell number for any questions prior to, during or after the surgery. It was a great experience and really helpful to go over the details of what to expect. I'm an information geek and it makes me feel a lot more secure to know what the physical surroundings are like and exactly what to expect with regards to the process. I'm so impressed that all those very busy people took time to meet with just 2 of us and give us details -- I don't think I've ever had a team like that to make me feel completely comfortable prior to a medical procedure. And then it hit --- I'm really doing this??? WTH?

On one of my first online dating experiences, I was "chatting" with a guy by email for about 3 days before he started talking about how we were soulmates. He kept talking about wanting to hear my sexy voice, so I gave him a call. He gave me a sad (garbled bad connection) story about how his job had him out in San Diego and he was at a hotel but had lost his credit card and that he needed $50 to pay the hotel to reinstate his internet so we could keep talking. On about day 3 -- asking for money. I could have ended up on the Dr. Phil show with all the other women who had been scammed by catfish! lol

Welcome to the forums... you'll find LOTS of great information here to help you prepare for the surgery. Good luck!

Really scary when that ticker says you're only 9 days out! lol Congrats!

The way my surgeon explained it to me, bypass does help improve GERD because the majority of acid is made in your lower stomach which is now separated from the digestive path. But, there still is some acid in the pouch, just not as much. Revision in TX sounds like they have some good ideas about what might be going on.

I was surprised when I asked my surgeon about exercise -- even with a hernia repair, he told me I could start working out with weights again 3 weeks after surgery. I'll have to see how I'm feeling then but I hope I'll be doing great by then and ready to roll. Guess it depends on the surgery and your recovery.

Your body burns calories during the night so I guess it's possible. You also breath out and sweat out some Water, so that could contribute, too. We tend to only think of calories in and calories out bt remember your body also burns calories when you're doing absolutely nothing but being alive.

My date is June 9th. RNY was my first choice. I have sleep apnea and GERD. The reflux scared me away from any consideration of the sleeve. Anything that might potentially make this reflux worse is OFF my list! Honestly, I don't see the hesitation about bypass versus sleeve. The bypass is the gold standard and most common and tested surgery. The % of excess body weight lost is better with the bypass and I see so many people on this site revising from sleeve to bypass. I wanted to go with what would give me the best success. Of course, it's scary to think about malabsorption but my surgeon told me that newer research is showing that it is not as bad and they first thought. And besides, with either surgery you have to take Vitamins anyway -- I don't see a big difference. Just my 2 cents and I completely understand you're feeling whammied by the last minute change. That would have thrown me for a loop too. I had an emergency c-section with my first baby and I was devastated But with bypass or sleeve, the aftercare isn't that much different and I think you'll do fine as long as you prepare yourself mentally.

I'm the ninth... so ready to get this going but at the same time can't believe it's this soon.

I'll have to request to see what mine wrote -- he's a weird bird so who knows what he wrote.

I'm June 9th...have my preop testing Tuesday. I guess it's really gonna happen! I don't have a preop diet so I've been spending time going through my closet, packing up the nice winter stuff in bins and bagging up the old beat up big winter clothes. I won't throw out the bags or donate the nice stuff until after surgery, just in case something happens but I'm looking forward to never wearing size 16s again.

Thanks! Just ordered some!