Algae

I asked this at the GEAR meeting and heard it was pretty normal. Are you feeling ill or like you need to go but you just can't?

X laced up her shoes

I get the gist of your question, but I have to be a silly about it, and reply "I'll take a bath as soon as I can fit in the tub (and get out without calling for assistance!"

Amen! Preach on people! I was a dork and put a status update on FB about considering WLS and someone messaged me privately wanting to know why I would want to do something so risky and why would I even consider putting my family and myself through something so hard when I wasn't even that big. This is someone who knows I have an unhealthy relationship with food, knows I have poor self-esteem and have battled with being good enough for a while. This is a friend who has seen me go through a spiritual based 12 step program through the last 3 years, who knows I have heavily invested in therapy, nutritionists, personal trainers. And this is someone who knows more than anything that I have prayed, read my bible, sought God, etc. She thought my obesity was negligible and didn't impact my life somehow. No one has ever questioned the tons of fad diets I've been on, or the "miracle" supplements and weight loss drugs I've invested in over the years. Not yet has anyone indicated that I was selfish or acting risky for having a gym membership, attending therapy, or asking for prayers while I tried to lose weight. And so I wanted to know, why, when I choose a bigger tool, does it concern you? This isn't an overnight, fantastical get-slim-quick-scheme. It's a hard as nails, tougher than leather path towards a tool that may help me control not only my weight but weight related health problems for the rest of my life. That one communication has made me gun-shy of sharing my journey with others and the main reason I found this website.

Meanwhile, the girl (who went by X)

@@BryBro63 I really appreciate the feedback! I saw you take the nasal b12 too. Do you feel it "works"? I heard from some people in my support group that injecting b12 is the way to go, but I trust my doctor too. Just wondering what your personal experience has been.

@@Inner Surfer Girl Thanks lady! I don't know why but I don't utilize the internet as much as I should. Or rather I use it for stupid things like looking up the definition of "lode" versus "load" and helping me do fractions. I don't enjoy shopping so doing it online is probably a really good idea for me.

@@brown eyed gal You're doing great! I've done liquid fasting before and it seems like days 3-5 are the hardest. Maybe not physically but mentally, you just crave. I've read literature from many other programs and I've seen a few that say you can have 4 oz of Protein 2 or 3 times during the first week only. Keep your chin up! You're going to have surgery soon and you are so worth all the temporary hardships! Good luck!

Thank you @@jhaymom! I think you're right, plus since the nasal B12 is only once a week, I won't be too far behind if they call me Monday and tell me to take it too!

Thanks! I live right down the street from the hospital so I can swing by next week and grab some. I looked at Wal-Mart too, but didn't see any. I tried the coffee/ tea/ hot chocolate aisle, over in the pharmacy area where the supplements are, and on the Cereal aisle and nada. Maybe Tulsa Wal-Marts have it. I have a side question for you: did you take the nascobal and other Vitamins before surgery or are you just supposed to save them and take them after surgery? Thanks for your help!

I've started it several years running and never finished it out, either! NaNoWriMo is a challenge to write a novel in one month. If you check out the website www.nanowrimo.org they have so much information, from daily word count goals to encouragement to the specifics of the challenge What theme or topic do you guys think you'll write on? I know it's supposed to be fiction, but I almost always write a version of my own life story.

I have a question that maybe one of you can answer. I'm pre-op and still about a month to two months away from my date. However, this morning I received my nascobal (nasal B12) along with 3 different chewable Vitamins. My question: Should I go ahead and start taking these now, before surgery, or wait? I put in a call to the program's office but of course it's Friday, late afternoon so it'll be Monday before I hear back.

@@brown eyed gal, Hey fellow Okie! Are you going through Dr. Kirk's program too? I'm slated for a November/ December surgery and was wondering where in the world you find the Carnation Instant Breakfast??? I've been to a handfull of stores in the Owasso area and can't find it anywhere!

I just want to commend you for getting out there and asking for help! You made an incredible decision and have had dramatic changes in a very short period of time. We expect the physical changes and anticipate positive change emotionally, but as @@AmyC65 pointed out having one of our coping mechanisms taken away can create sadness and/ or anger. I already anticipated sadness and depression and loss, but not anger. Let us know how you do, I'm praying for you @@Amour.de.lionne!

@@sleevydreams Where are you having surgery? I'm having mine at Bailey Medical because it's close to home and has a pretty great reputation. I'm actually in Owasso, a little rural but we love it!

@@Ethomas15, I LOVE that you called this a tool. About 3 years ago I started going to Celebrate Recovery (a 12 step program) and started to really explore my relationship with food. Last year I added personal, one on one counseling to help me work through my food addiction. At some point we began to discuss WLS as a tool and I was pretty skeptical/ scared. I've really worked hard to get to the core of my issues and to make some changes. Now that I'm working toward having RNY surgery, I have conflicting feelings about AFTER surgery. I know how hard the "process" can be, but I also know there is something so rewarding about seeing change, little by little, in a positive direction. You're going to do great! I can't wait to co-stalk you as we head out on this journey together!

Thank you for sharing this! As I read through her blog and looked at the photos I realized I dream about doing so many little, daily things (like touching my toes and being able to paint my own toenails.) But after my surgery I've got a big goal: doing a kayak race called the Missouri River 340. It's 340 miles to be completed in 88 hours. The last 3 years I've obsessed and dreamed about getting to do this race. I've wondered what I would look like after surgery but now I'm curious what kind of list I could compile of things I can DO... from everyday little things to big things too!

@@Ethomas15 I'm overly investigative too. I've found looking everything up a few times (and maybe a few different ways and probably a little stalker-ish too) I've found the information to be comforting. I'm just now starting this journey too and as I begin to have my appointments the more I learn. I'm more afraid of failure afterword. It seems so daunting and unbelievable that my life can change so much.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I just read through 30 pages of comments and not one other Okie! So ya'll, I'm from the Tulsa, Oklahoma area. Anyone on here from the area?

I'll be honest: Low Carb scares me. Like in a general overview, hebbie-jebbies sort of way. Most of my career as an eater of foods has focused solely on potatoes, rice, wheat based baked items, and fruit. Sometimes scary things wind up being good. I'm here for a new way of life and I figure having a divorce with the foods that landed me here probably isn't a bad thing. I've spent years telling myself that I'll change, things will be different, we'll work this out because we love each other... but I haven't tried life yet without the foods that are bringing me down. Which is why I'm really excited (scary-excited) about having my RNY.

I'm having RNY... it's interesting because I've had several (non-medical) people ask me why I don't have the sleeve or the band. Their thought process being that "I'm not that big" since I only have about 110lbs to get rid of. I think many, supportive friends and family outside the WLS loop want to see us happy and healthy with the least possible side effects. What they don't take into account are the long term benefits. I'm already taking an over-the-counter stomach acid reducer that doesn't work so great (by the way, isn't it clever marketing that I know the meds don't work well but I still continue to purchase them!) So one reason I'm going RNY is for the reflux benefits. I can't wait for the first day I realize I don't have reflux! I won't promise anything, but sometimes I like to Celebrate by dancing horribly in front of my girls. Another reason is that I know I have a food addiction. I'm an active member of a 12 step program and have been for a few years. In recovery, you know you'll always and forever be recovering. I don't think I'll ever be cured, but I do think I can use tools that help me stay on track. I look at WLS as a tool. And since I have a few options on which tool I can use, I'm choosing "the gold standard" (que the trumpet blasts, do-do-do-dah!) This tool overall has some of the best long-term research and it has a possible negative consequence (dumping) built in that may help me if I make a less than stellar choice in what I consume. These are my reasons, though. I like reading why others have chosen a certain path because it helps me to reevaluate what I think and sometimes challenges things I suppose to be correct. Best of luck to you, I know it's coming up fast!

I'm working through my slew of appointments, so all I have is this sheet that details what to begin working on. When I saw "cut out coffee" I almost cried. My mom just brought me a Keuirg about a month ago and I can't tell you how much I love this little machine. I kind of stroke it and purr over it each morning as it makes my first cup. I cannot stress enough that coffee saves lives every day in my family. So now, after 2 weeks, I'm down from 3 or 4 cups a day to 1/2 a cup. 1/2 a cup! I see the nutritionist next week for my first appointment and I want a gold medal when I go in and can report that I'm off coffee completely.