dashofsunshine

I had tons of questions. Wish I still had my list but this is what I remember.... 1) staples. I wanted to know if I would feel them at all when doing sit ups, that kind of thing (may seem like a stupid question lol but the thought of having staples inside me forever was scary!) 2) loose skin 3) pregnancy and whether the sleeve would cause me to have to have a C section (read that somewhere online!) 4) hair loss 5) be sure to ask about the pre-op diet (if he has one at all) 6) ask if he does a leak test! 7) I also asked my doctor approximately how many surgeries he has done, and how many of those have gone wrong (leaks, death, complications of any kind!) I had a huge page of questions but that's all I can remember! If I find that piece of paper I'll comment again and tell you some others ???? in terms of sleeve vs bypass, my doctor had a flip chart that talked about pros and cons of both, which was really helpful. Statistically (by the scientific "averages" or whatever) they say that there is a greater possibility to lose more weight with the bypass vs the sleeve, but I'm here to tell you...I have seen people on these forums lose MASSIVE weight with both the sleeve and the bypass. Don't rely too heavily on the statistics, because everyone is different and the statistics also include people who didn't follow the recommended diet, exercise, Water intake, etc. Talk it out with your doctor and make the best decision for YOU - don't fret too much about "oh but I want to lose more than 60% of my excess weight, so I better do the bypass!" I have almost 200 lbs to lose, and my doctor told me if I work hard and do everything I'm supposed to do, it is obtainable with the sleeve. Good luck!!!! ❤️

I'm on day 6 of my 14 day pre-op diet - surgery on the 20th. Mainly just miserable because I can't eat anything. Not starving anymore but miss being able to chew ???? my doctor does 3x protein shakes per day, broth, sugar free Popsicles, and water. The nurse said if I was absolutely dying I could have half a cup of low fat cottage cheese. It is the hardest thing I have ever done. Would kill for a can of carrots! I'm down 6 lbs in 6 days (I feel like it should be more considering I can't even have veggies or any kind of solid food whatsoever, but that just goes to show you how messed up my body is, I guess ????) So ready for surgery and for this to be over! Stay strong guys! ❤️

If anyone else wants an uber cute sleeve or gastric bypass plushie, we got it off of Etsy ???? here is the link to her shop! https://www.etsy.com/shop/Plusheez Best wishes guys!!! We can do this!!!

@@DylanRae my husband got me one of those plushies like in your picture! It is personalized on the back with my name and surgery date ❤️ I'm taking it to the hospital with me!!!

Mmmmm refried beans...I would totally put some fire sauce from Taco Bell on some refried beans and eat that...sounds amazing right now, lol. Better go drink my protein shake!! Ugh ???????? haha!!!

@ girl yes!!! Salad sounds so good! I have been craving a can of carrots for four days, Haha so weird. When you can't have anything, I guess your priorities change, lol. I hated cottage cheese before this but we are best friends now!

In terms of pre-op diet...I am starting day 5 today. Not going to say I didn't cheat a little bit, but I'm trying to eat things like...a pack of tuna, or a chicken breast if I do cheat. Unlike others, I have 14 days of LIQUIDS - that is, no veggies or solid protein of any kind (well, I can have a half cup of low fat cottage cheese every day), just 3-4 protein shakes, broth, sugar free jello, and sugar free Popsicles. There are 3 doctors at my hospital and my doctor does the 14 day diet, one doctor does 10 days, the other 3 days. It is one of the hardest things I have ever done, not being able to actually chew anything. I also haven't lost a single pound (maybe the plain grilled chicken breast I ate is holding me back! Lol), but that's just further affirmation to me that my body is freakin' crazy and I HAVE to get this surgery to have some help losing this weight. Surgery on November 20th. Good luck guys!!!

I am loving syntrax nectar protein powder - they have not only chocolate and vanilla and cookies and cream, etc but also juice flavors - lemonade and fuzzy navel and stuff like that. They are all realllllllly tasty and the juice flavors are nice for when you get sick of vanilla and chocolate type stuff!!! Good luck! ???? I would suggest going to GNC or vitamin shoppe and getting some one shake pouches of different brands to try before you buy a tub of anything!

I also take seroquel....and Wellbutrin....and like 6 other medications...my regular doctor swears that none of my medicines have had anything to do with my rapid weight gain....yeah, right!

We are going to look at protein powders today and pick some samples out to try! I start my 14 day pre-op liquid diet on Nov 6. I'm nervous but starting to get a little excited, too!!! ????

@@happymama2014 you ROCK!!! Thanks so much, very helpful! ????

I am self pay and it is 18k for sleeve surgery. That includes EVERYTHING minus your vitamins and diet. Anesthesia, hospital stay, surgeons fee, insurance for any complications afterwards, and a year of post op visits to my doctor, psychiatrist, nutritionist, and exercise science doc. Every program is different!

I get so hangry it's not even funny, I feel your pain. My husband is more worried about the pre-op diet than the actual surgery, lol. He knows I will be mean even though I try not to be ???? I'm allowed to have some veggies one meal a day but the rest has to be all liquid. Sigh! We can do it!!!! ????

My surgery is November 20th and I prayed and thought and gathered research and opinions for months before I decided to have surgery. I know that it is the right decision. There is not a doubt in my mind that I am doing what I have to do to enjoy my life and live a long time in good health. However, I cried in bed last night to my husband about how scared I am. It is life changing. It's major surgery. Anytime you go under anesthesia, there is a risk. But I like to think of it like this: I'm also afraid of flying in airplanes. Do you know how many airplanes take off every day? Thousands. And we so rarely hear about complications...surgery (of any kind) has risks of pneumonia, blood clots, not waking up, etc...the same kind of stuff they tell us about before the sleeve...and doctors, all over the nation perform hundreds of surgeries every day. If there were tons of people dying, we would know about it. Just like an airplane, there are SO many success stories and so very few tragedies. Just try to think of it like that when you get scared ???? and think of how great it will be...to climb stairs and paint your own toenails and live a life full of happiness and adventure as a new, lighter you!

November 20th here! Nashville, Tennessee ????

I take nine pills every morning for a variety of major depression/anxiety/ADD issues. I have my pre-op appointment on November 4th and have to bring all my pill bottles so that the psychiatrist can talk to me about what I can and cannot take normally leading up to and after the surgery. I am so prayerful that getting the sleeve and finally losing some weight will get me off of some of this medication. I am only 26 years old and my depression/anxiety is so debilitating sometimes that it makes me sick. My doctor had absolutely no issues with my mental state and thinks that the sleeve will hopefully help with my disorders. However, I am self pay - insurance would not approve me for several reasons, although I don't know if any of the reasons had anything to do with my depression. I hope you figure things out, and good luck!!! ????

My sister who also had this surgery a few years ago gave me a great tip - she told me to buy a baby sippy cup and start sipping out of it to learn how to "sip" water instead of drinking or gulping it. I've been trying it for the past few days and it isn't easy - you basically have to sip all day to not feel thirsty. But everyone says it will get easier so I hope they're right!!! Good luck!! ????

@@vsgchick haha you are so right about thanksgiving!!!! Oh well. There will be more thanksgivings in the future!!! We can do it!! It will totally be worth it ????

I take abilify and have for years, as a "supplement" to my Wellbutrin. It is actually my hope and ultimate goal to get off of all my medications after surgery (I take 9 pills every morning and I am 26 years old). I would never dream of doing this without of course speaking to my doctors first, but that is what I'm hoping for, eventually. I go to my pre-op class/appointments on November 4th and will be asking the nutritionist which pills will affect me in certain ways after the surgery, including abilify. I will let you know what she says! Good luck! ????

I want to eat to live instead of living to eat. I don't want to let it control me anymore. I want to be able to hike the Grand Canyon and have children one day and be with my husband for many many years instead of dying from a heart attack at age 40. I have always struggled with my weight - we dieted as a family all through my childhood from age 7. I want my life to be more than the unhappiness and depression I feel when I look in the mirror. I want to be able to love my husband with my whole heart, which of course, requires me to love myself first. I'm 26 years old and I can't walk up a flight of stairs without being winded. So I'm having surgery in hopes that I can wake up every day and look around at the world with wonder as opposed to waking up every day and simply existing. Good luck to you guys ????

Also, there are some threads on the forums where people give their height and current weight/dress size and some attach photos. Go look at those and find someone with a similar body type/ height and see if that doesn't help you pinpoint a goal weight ????

@@roundisashape if you're worried about setting your goal too low and getting that "all or nothing" mentality, then maybe try setting a goal of like 60 lbs lost to begin with. Something very attainable for you. Then, when you reach it, or get close to it, you can re-evaluate. That might help keep you from getting discouraged! I was overweight my whole life until high school when I lost 70 lbs (excessive starvation and two hours of exercise 7 days a week works, but is not maintainable). I got down to 145 lbs (size 6/8) and I am 5'8". I was really happy and felt beautiful, but as I went to college and fell into deep depression, I gained back all the weight and then some. I'm excited to try to get back down to my high school weight. Good luck to everyone! ????

November 20th here! I am absolutely thrilled. Slightly nervous but really just ready to do this, more than anything. My husband got me a gastric sleeve plushie off of Etsy to keep with me in the hospital after I wake up, haha! It is so cute and she personalized it for me. Attaching a photo so you guys can see! Good luck everyone, you're in my prayers!! ????

I am 5'8" and I weighed about 145-150 in high school. It was the fittest I have ever been in my life, and I starved myself and worked out two hours a day to maintain it....I was a size 6/8 and felt absolutely beautiful. I'd love to get back there. Attaching a photo so that you guys can see what 145 lbs looked like on a 5'8" frame. Cheers and good luck!!!

I am pre-op as well, but every single person I have spoken to has stressed the group therapy meetings and meeting with the hospital psychiatrist afterwards. They have all said it makes a HUGE difference because this journey, for most of us, is going to be a lot mental as well as physical. Good luck!!!