The Candidate

Gorgeous! @@hmk715 ????

Good luck!

Syntrax Nectar. I like the Roadside Lemonade and Fuzzy Naval flavors. And also, Isopure protein drinks are okay. I've tried their Apple Melon and Pineapple Orange Banana flavors.

Amen on the you're not fat you don't understand! @@WoodenHearts ????

The program took nearly a year and she didn't find out until very nearly the end. The good news is that she won't have to redo the program, she'll get to keep her place. Just has to get the insurance straightened out. I feel for both of you!

So sorry to hear about that. My friend had the same issue. Got all the way through the program, and was just waiting for the surgical consult when they contacted her about an insurance issue. She's still trying to get it straightened out. But she is of course, like you, justifiably devastated. Sure hope your secondary comes through. Good luck!

Yes, definitely a head scratcher on which way to go. ????. But either way it will be right fit for you, and that's what really matters. I'm really sorry to hear how you were treated during your son's illness. Nobody, but nobody "deserves" that kind of misfortune, especially on the basis of differing belief systems. After hearing that, I'd definitely be tempted to keep it from her. Let her make all the assumptions she wants after the fact, just neither confirm or deny. Stay upbeat but firmly stoic. It'll drive her nuts! She has all the makings of a control freak from what you say.

That's a tricky one, only in that I can't tell"you" whether to tell or not. Even with the extensive background you've given, because I don't know what all your life situation involves. I will say however that if you're having doubts, even a little, explore them inside and out, because once you tell someone, you can never un-tell them. For me, I made a decision early on that I would only tell a select group, and I haven't regretted it one bit. My family knows, some close friends, and a few coworkers. All of whom I trust implicitly to honor my wish for confidentiality. I'm taking six weeks off work and I didn't even have to tell them the nature of the surgery I'm having. No problem. I've worked there 27 years. They've seen me fat the majority of the time, and thin, the few times I was successful at dieting, and they've also witnessed me gain it all back, plus more. I was in my 20's when I started there, and now I'm in my 50's. They have eyes. They know my medical struggles, and how they've worsened as I've aged. If asked, I will just affirm I've had elevated medical issues, needed surgery, and now I'm working on leading a healthier life, so I won't die prematurely. That's it. That's all they need to know. I'll be vague on how much weight I'm losing as I go too, and will refuse to get into numbers or give diet advice. This is my journey. I got here by myself, and I want to get out of here by myself. It's definitely a question that only the individual can decide in the end. Hopefully with as little regrets as possible. Good luck!

@@BariatricBarb Thanks! Hey good for you! Glad your surgery went well, and congrats on the weight loss too! That's impressive! Hope I do half that well! ???? Just got back from filling my post op prescriptions so things are starting to get real. Next Wednesday!

Hi @@Gumpgal Just wanted to tell you that I had no problem getting my liquid hydrocodone prescription. Just got back. But I'm Kaiser and they have their own in house pharmacies. Only charged my usual co pay of $10.00 too. I hope you are able to eventually get yours too! Good luck!

I went in wanting sleeve but have since changed my mind and will be having bypass, primarily, but not entirely, due to the possible GERD issues.

How exhilarating that must of been for you, not to mention fun! Can't wait until I can join you there! Congrats!

It's normal to feel jittery and start second guessing yourself. But just keep reiterating in your head all the reasons that brought you to this decision in the first place. It's disconcerting to have to experience a total shock reversal, going from "is it ever going to get here" to "it's about to happen" virtually overnight, so remember to breathe deep and slow, and remain as calm as possible. You're going to be fine!

I don't have sleep apnea, but it's my understanding that once diagnosed they have to monitor it with the machine for a period to ensure it's giving you the desired results, and if not, adjust it accordingly. The waiting is never easy to deal with though, I certainly understand. Good luck!

@@jdc121975 Wow. That was such an incredible soul rendering write up of your life as it is now, and your life as you hope it to be. And like your daughter, I too hope "daddy" gets the chance to fit into and ride a roller coaster some day. Your post really struck a cord, and tapped into a deep place in my heart, and probably every other hopeful pre op's as well. If you aren't already in the field of writing, I hope you give it some serious consideration. There are thousands upon thousands of posts made here daily. But it's that rare diamond in the rough, the raw epiphany of an exposed emotion, that has the ability to stay with a reader long after the words have come to an end. Your post is definitely one of those. Thank you for allowing us the honor of sharing it. I probably can't alleviate your apprehension on drains, except to say that they serve a vital purpose. I had the choice of three different surgeons in my bariatric group. I purposely chose the only one who uses drains. I've never had a drain before either. In fact I've never even had surgery before. And like you, I'm not looking forward to the experience. But, I feel much better knowing that if there is a leak of some sort, it will be leaking on the outside of my body, not the inside. Seat belts are standard on cars because accidents happen, and utilizing them increases your chances of survival. Sure, there are plenty of people who go throughout their life unbuckled, and never even get into a fender bender. But is the chance of being that one lucky guy really a risk worth taking when it involves your life? It's worth a little extra inconvenience or pain in my book to have drains. An ouch of prevention is worth a pound of cure as they say. Good luck!

Hope you get to go home soon @@naturegirl . Feel better!

There are a lot of video blogs on YouTube on the subject. I especially enjoy starting with the first one and then taking a quick look at the last one, just to get a great idea of the amazing difference, and then I'll go back and watch the middle ones. I've watched so many over the past year I couldn't give you a specific one. I do really enjoy Clusie's videos because she is hysterically funny, but she had the sleeve, not the bypass. As far as written blogs, just do searches like: Gastric Bypass Blog or Gastric Bypass Journey, and similar variations. Good luck.

Congrats on your surgery! I agree with @ Keeping hydrated is the most important thing as a new post op. Good luck!

Congrats on coming through surgery so well! Hope you get to go home soon. Take care and get some rest!

@ I agree. You are awesome!

I can't read mine so I have no idea if it's liquid or pill or what. I'll find out tomorrow if they'll have any trouble filling mine. Good luck!

Every now and again my fat molecules have been known to run amok without my permission. Signing onto Twitter, posting on FaceBook. Pretty sure they might have even been responsible for the last stock market crash. ???? Thank God I'm getting WLS!

Well, at my most successful weight loss in my 40's I got down to 129lbs. It didn't last long, but I felt great. So 130 is my first goal, which would be a 87lbs loss. And if I can get down to 120lbs, which would be my ultimate goal, that would be a 97lbs loss. But as I'm older, and my metabolism is slower, I'm going to reserve the final judgement based on how I "feel" as opposed to a specific number on the scale.

Looking good! Congrats!

I'd just turned 53 and every part of my body hurt. I hurt walking, sitting, standing, you name it, and forget any kind of physical activity. Sedentary was my sole modus operandi. I had been newly diagnosed as pre diabetic and was shocked when I stepped on the doctor's scale to see an all time high of 248 lbs at only 5'2". I swore then and there that I was not going to reach 250 lbs mark. WLS had been in the back of my mind for years, but after learning of this new (to me) sleeve procedure I was all in. Started the process rolling and will be having surgery on the 29th. My resolve never wavered, only my choice of procedures. I will be getting the bypass instead, due mainly to the GERD issues mentioned above, got my pre op weight down to 217 and I couldn't be happier!