SkinnyDown

I had a drain for a previous surgery for about a week, and it didn't hurt coming out. I hate catheters, always happy when they are removed. I'm not sure if I'll have either a drain or catheter for my bypass, but I guess I'll find out when I wake up.

You are all lifesavers, I feel so much better now. I am the queen of Water and ice. LOL I'm always drinking water anyway, but this makes me feel so much better that for the most part everyone here was allowed some ice chips. I'll check into the Biotene. You are all so great! Thanks again.

Thanks for the replies and well wishes! I'm very excited. I guess for me, I know it's the right thing, everyday when I get out of bed, and feel how sick I am due to so many other health issues I have due to my obesity, I know it's the right thing to do. I'm hoping....I will no longer have to take 20+ pills a day and minimum of 4 injections of insulin. Even if that were cut in half, it would be a huge improvement. I'm not doing this to get into a certain size. I'm doing this because if I don't...I won't be here much longer, and even my PCP has told me that. Not that I needed her to. I know I'm not going to last very long if I don't do something on a permanent level to help get my weight under control. I've done the lose 100 lbs and gain it back and more game, too many times, for too many years. Not sure if this is encouraging at all, but sometimes we just need to remind ourselves, I think....of what we are doing and why. food has at this point become boring and highly overrated to me. I feel I am ready. I set out to have my "last" everything I wanted, and I keep coming up very very disappointed, in how I thought it was going to make me feel. I guess I crossed that line, where I actually realized, food isn't as important or comforting as I believed it to be. Big thanks to my therapist, and the nutritionists who have put in many hours in helping me realize what I was doing in relation to food. Thanks again everyone for your support. I notice people here have buddies, I'd sure love one, if anyone is willing, to help me through this process.

May 20th! I am very excited. I was told it would take 2 weeks for insurance approval and today I hit the 4 week mark, and was really losing hope. I think I was shaking for a few hours after hearing the good news, and then called all the necessary people. I'm not telling many people, only very close friends and relatives. Those I do have to tell I am having surgery, because I can't fulfil obligations, I am just saying it's abdominal surgery, and change the subject. It's a good coverup, since I've had previous colon surgery. So....I will do a 10 day liquid diet, and I think that will be quite interesting. I've had previous ailments and surgery where it was required I couldn't eat for many days, so I think I'll be fine. I have already started packing a few things to take to the hospital. I'm so happy it's finally almost here. It's been a long journey up to this point. Any other May surgeries?

I've had people who have lost weight through bariatric surgery tell me that's what I needed. At the time....not what I wanted to hear. I was actually pretty insulted at the time. I was a 30 year smoker. I've been smoke free for over a year, and I wouldn't dream of telling others to quit. If I don't want to be around their smoke now, I leave the room. We've all seen this before, a person "reforms", and starts preaching to others to change. That's just the wrong way to do things, in my opinion. It's none of my business, what people want to do. Destructive or not...it's not my call, not my business and not my right to judge. That's just how I live my life...NOW, because I've spent a lot of time in my life trying to help people get off booze, drugs, you name it, while I was clearly addicted to food. The day I woke up and realized, I have got to do something about me first...was the day I stopped trying to help everyone else. Me first, now. I have my own addictions to deal with. It's usually always a good practice in my opinion, to stay out of other's people's business. Just my opinion.

I signed up in August of 2014 to have surgery. My first informational meeting was 9/14 after an initial consult with a bariatric nurse, I had to have 6 months worth of visits with a dietician. My last dietary appointment is on March 31st. YAY! I had an hour long consult with surgeon, 2 appointments (long appointments with a psychologist). I've had an endoscopy (yesterday), got the all clear to go ahead for surgery from the surgeon. After my last dietary appt., I have 2 more appointments to fulfil. A pre-op with a nurse who will tell me all I have to do before surgery, and another appt. with a nurse prac. who will go over all the things I do when I get home from hospital. I guess THEN I will get scheduled. Finally. It's been a long long journey.

I think there are general things to look for. Is he initiating sexual advances, in and out of the bedroom, or does he wait for you? Does he take charge and calm down a situation, or run away when things get tough/chaotic/drama filled? Is he jealous, overly possessive, insecure? You see, a true Alpha Male, knows how to create his own space. He is sure of himself, comfortable in his own skin He knows he doesn't have to use any kind of brute force, or even raise his voice to get his point across or what he wants. She's going to be so taken with him, she'll come to him. She won't need a collar, because she wouldn't stray. A true Alpha Male is in charge and in control of his own emotions, and is someone you feel safe around. He is not someone you feel you might have to protect. He is someone you know will always protect you, take care of you. He is not a chest beater, those are beta males posing as Alphas. And beta males will need more care and maintenance than an Alpha. True Alpha Males are not easy to come by. The Alpha male is the man sitting in a club, comfortable, having a drink, taking in everything, quiet, in command of himself, no sign of desperation that he even needs a woman. The beta male is the male going around from table to table, desperate, looking for any woman who will take him. Guess who generally goes home with someone...at the end of the night, The Alpha. Why? Because he didn't have to make a move, the women came to him. That's a lot of power. These are general things I look for, and have observed in men. I have been with both, Alpha and beta males. I prefer Alpha, but they have to be very strong and very in charge, or I will walk all over them. I'm a dominant female, an Alpha female. But I can submit to the right man. I'll just remind everyone reading this, this is only my experience, my opinion, and my perspective. That does not make it a Universal truth. I don't like arguing. We are all entitled to our opinion. On the 50 Shades front: I see we have our first death from a reenactment of some scene in the film. I couldn't verify if that was true or not, but it does bring up the responsibility this film has, to not glorify what is and can be very intense play, in the hands of people who have no idea what they are doing.

I couldn't agree more, @mybariatriclife. Your friend knows, of what she speaks. I saw a very funny meme about 50 shades the other day. '50 Shades of Grey is only romantic because the guy is a billionaire. If he was living in a trailer it would be a Criminal Minds episode.' It's all a matter of perspective I suppose. lol

Congratulations! Sounds like you are doing great.

Just my 2c. I haven't read the books or seen the movie, no interest, for a reason. From my own experiences, men in positions of power, don't usually want to come home and be in charge. Typically most submissive males I have had contact with, have big responsibilities in their lives, especially work. Likewise, men I know who don't have a lot of control, seek it out through domination. So imo, I don't really believe the author knew much about D/s and/or BDSM to write books about it. It is, to me, an unbelievable scenario. I think it is watered down Hollywood mush for the masses to be honest. Again, just my opinion.

They have required me to stop all caffeine. Soda, not just for caffeine, but for the carbonation. And any drinks that have caffeine. Tea, coffee etc. I'm still not even scheduled for surgery, and they had me quit soon after my first dietary appointment. I had to be off caffeinated coffee, tea soda and other drinks by my last dietary appt. which was yesterday. It wasn't easy, soda was harder than coffee, even though I only drank 2 diet Coke's per day, I still want one. Coffee, is not the same to me. Decaf and sugar free hazelnut creamer, just isn't cutting it. I switched to the sf drops in iced Water, or decaf tea with lemon, iced.

I haven't had my surgery yet, but I did have a colon resection done, a year ago due to a perforated bowel. I went many days without any food obviously, and after the surgery and started introducing even Clear liquids I had lots of bowel sounds, they say that's good. Having sounds is way better than no sounds at all. It means things are working and moving, and that's a good thing. I hope this helped a bit, of course if you have pain, you should call your Surgeon. I hope you get to feeling better soon!

I've always fared better after a big surgery, with someone staying with me. One of my sister's has volunteered to stay with me when I get home from my surgery, for a week or until I feel OK on my own, whichever comes first. Sometimes it's just nice having the company.

My surgeon told me it was slightly less risky than gallbladder surgery, which I have had years ago. About a year ago I had one of the most risky surgeries, a colon resection due to bowel perforation with a large abscess that took one of my ovaries and fallopian tube with it. Along with 1 foot of colon and rectum. I had 2 surgeries back to back by two different surgeons. (I was misdiagnosed by a gastroenterologist. She said it was constipation, and kept prescribing laxatives and enemas. I nearly died), but...I didn't. I made it. So that gives me a little more confidence that I can make it through this surgery. I'll have 3 more to go after WLS. 2 knee surgeries and then plastic surgery to remove skin. I made certain that I looked my surgeon in the eyes and told him,"if I tell you that there is something wrong and I am in extreme pain,I am counting on you to listen to me." after the fiasco I went through with the perforated bowel, I needed to make sure he was going to listen. He told me "I'm on your team, I will listen to you". That's what I needed to hear. I have full confidence in my surgeon. I think we freak ourselves out, but you have to weigh (no pun intended) the options. Will the surgery be more risky, than keeping on all this weight? You'll get your answer.

I'd check to see exactly what your team is asking for. My team decided for me I had to maintain my weight or lose. They actually sent me a letter of exactly what they expected, once they reviewed my case, and agreed to take me on as a patient. They may have been more lenient with me, because I am on 2 diabetes oral meds and 2 types of insulin. Nearly impossible to lose when on Insulin. Maybe that paired with Hashimoto's and PCOS they gave me a break. I've lost a few pounds, but I am also fluctuating wildly with pitting leg edema. Some days I can weigh as much as (5-10) lbs more or less, due to how much Water I am retaining. I don't know if any of this helps, but I'd check to make sure what was asked specifically. From your team and your insurance co.

Thank you for sharing your story. Some of the things you talked about I am being warned about with every dietary visit, and I see how it actually can happen. I think to myself, I don't even drink now, but it's true some people pick up another habit to replace the food. I quit smoking a year ago, and that's going to have to be something I am very careful about. Thanks again. Wishing you the best.

I've cut out caffeinated coffee and tea, and diet soda. Of course, sugar. It's been tough, I wanted a diet coke so bad today. I gave up smoking 1 year ago. One thing that they asked me to do was to make sure I am taking in the right amount of Protein, veggies and fruit. I am taking in about 100 oz. Water daily. Exercise (which is limited because my knees are so bad and need to be replaced) Keeping my food journal. I'm working on not drinking any fluids before during or 30 minutes after a meal. I have OCD, and I tend to eat the same things for long periods of time. i.e. a turkey sandwich, cottage cheese, and milk for lunch every day for the past 2 years. I've had to work very hard to mix things up. Mainly, because I'm being told I have no idea what I will be able to tolerate after surgery. In case I can't....I need to have alternatives. Makes sense to me. Hope this helped.

Hi, I'm new here. Female, 49. I have been lurking since I started my journey, in September. Since that time, I have been making many changes, awaiting a date for my surgery. (Gastric Bypass). I had my surgical consult a week ago, and everything went very well. I feel very confident about my surgeon. He seems to think despite my having previous colon resection surgery that I am still a good candidate for what I believe he called a low limbic Gastric Bypass. I have made a lot of changes, which I notice everyone else has too. I just hit my 1 year smoke free anniversary I stopped drinking diet soda, gave up caffeinated coffee, I am drinking about 100 oz. Water daily, passed all my psych evals. I am recording everything I eat, and I'm losing, a small amount of weight. I'm on 2 types of insulin, so that's not an easy task, but I am working on it. I eat Breakfast, and I haven't done that since I was a kid. I still worry about one thing, I still have a craving for something sweet after a meal. I don't bring bad things into the house which helps. It still doesn't change my cravings. Maybe that in and of itself is a problem, thinking foods are bad or good. I have my last dietary meeting at the end of the month. They told me about 6 weeks from that appt. will be my surgery. Anyone else have issues with specific foods, or sweets? I have done so much work, but I know I have to tackle this last craving to be successful. Sorry if I seem like I am rambling. It's just a lot and I hope to make some friends here, and work through some of these fears and doubts with others who may be having the same thoughts. Did anyone else have to have an endoscopy because they have GERD? I do. My surgeon is doing it though, so I'm glad of that, he should be able to tell me right away if there are any issues that would prevent surgery. Thanks so much for reading. Gahhhhhhhhhhh I'm really doing this. Maybe that's why it took so long for me to actually get up the nerve to write here. It's getting so close, there is no turning back, and I am happy, and ready, but I could use the support of others who are going through this and have gone through it.

Thanks so much for your response! I'll try that recipe, it sounds great. I will be attending a WLS group, but at my clinic, you go after surgery, not before. Which I thought was a bit weird, but at least I know I will have support after surgery. Thanks again for your kindness. I appreciate you taking time to respond to me.

I am required to quit. They will be testing me, and will check for nicotine in my system for the last 3 months. I've been smoke free for a year now. I did it with the patch. It was not easy. I smoked for 30 years. But I want this surgery more than cigarettes.