TLBolin

I've had the same thing happen to me just when I've lost weight the old fashioned way. People say things like "wow, you've lost a ton of weight" without realizing they are really saying, 'wow, you were really really fat before". People who haven't had issues with their weight are quick to judge but screw them because they don't know what we've gone through. I'm hesitant to let my friends and co workers know for just that reason, though. I've told my boss and managers that I will be having classes for the next six weeks and will have to leave early for those, that I will probably need about a week or so off at some point about the beginning of March, and then I'll have some appointments afterwards, too. With the hair loss about the 3rd month I anticipate that people will think the worst as I will hopefully have dropped quite a bit of weight by then and I don't even care if they think the worst. I told one friend of mine who has been struggling with weight loss and is much bigger than me and I thought she'd be excited for me. She told me that it was a horrible idea, she would not support me, and good luck with "that". I was flabbergasted that someone who should understand was so against it. My best friend is much heavier than I am and has all kinds of co-morbidities and is against surgery because someone in her family died from complications of it so I'm just not going to tell her. She can think the worst or she can just believe me when I tell her that I made a lifestyle choice and that's that. I think as we get our self confidence back once the weight loss begins that our happiness will easily move us past all of those negative Nellys out there...I hope so, at least.

I had the band put in about ten years ago and as soon as I was coherent they had me up walking for short periods of time, rest, walk, rest, walk. The walking helps to move some of the gas through your system otherwise you'll feel like you are having a heart attack with all the chest pressure from the air getting into your abdomen. They gave me pain meds but I only took them the first day and didn't need them except for the day I went home. My dog was so excited to see me that she jumped on my right on my incisions, knocked me back out of the front door, I hit the ground, and thought I was going to die. Other than those I didn't need the pain meds. You'll be fine. Your family will also understand if you are not chatty the day you have surgery. Good luck!

I don't smoke nor have but I'm sure I have some lung issues thanks to my parents who chain smoked while I grew up but my mom smoked while pregnant...which might explain a few things...hmmmm Anyway, my husband quite smoking with the prescription Chantix and using e-cigs. Like someone else said you can get the juice that is nicotine free so you still get the physical feeling of smoking, the "high" from the juice (if any), and you stay healthier. Good luck!

OMG, Optifast for two weeks and broth, Jello, and coffee. I'm going to die before my surgery. I start the classes tonight for six weeks, my follow up mental health appointment is already scheduled for the last week of my classes and they are thinking I should have a surgery date set within two-three weeks after my last class. So this pre-op diet is the liver cleanse, right? Is it just for two weeks? I read someone else on this site lost 50lbs. during the pre op diet. Heck, if I can stick to the pre op diet and drop 50lbs who needs to spend the money for surgery. LOL Anyway, I am really worried about the pre op diet because liquid diets are really hard and I have no will power; hence I need surgery. Any suggestions on how to survive?

Can someone explain why red meat is so much more difficult to digest? I keep hearing this and that I will have to watch spicy foods, too. I love spicy foods and would be happy with Mexican food daily but I should probably start preparing myself, huh? Any words of wisdom would be appreciated, especially more posts saying that spicy doesn't bother some people. If I can't eat spicy foods anymore whatever will I do?

krisstep, Just give yourself some time. You just had major surgery and I'd be willing to bet that you have lost some weight and are looking great. Just think, by this summer you'll be wearing clothes that are half the size of the ones you were wearing on December 16th, Keep you chin up sweetie!

I hope that by now you have already called your doctor. Anytime there is something leaking from your body with a funky strange smell you should call your doctor. Good luck! I hope this email finds you well on your way on a regiment of antibiotics already. Tara

I haven't had surgery yet but they have told me I will be in for 1-2 days depending on any possible complications. When I had the band put on ten years ago they had me up and walking about an hour after surgery, then the next day they took a bunch of us into town to shop and walk (mainly get us out walking). I was in the hospital for two nights but I was in Mexico, too.

So don't anyone freak out on this but I have several friends who have had some type of bypass surgery here in the states but then went to Mexico and paid out of pocket to have the excess skins removed. When I was in Mexico City ten years ago having the lap band put on, I made some very good friends with a couple who had both had bypass surgery in the States and were in Mexico to have a combined total of 73lbs of skin removed between the two of them. If you decide to go this route make sure to do your due diligence first. You don't want some random "doctor" with a scalpel hacking pieces of you off. Good luck! I'll see if I can find the name of the surgeon I used and share it here. He was wonderful, great personality, and the hospital and his office were both clean and everyone was very friendly. I had no complications and even picked back up some of my high school Spanish that I had forgotten.

I had the lap band about 10 years ago and I have 4 incisions and then I had it removed and they took it out using the same four incision points. I hope this helps!

esskay7, Is it the Protein that makes you lose weight? Honestly, I'm asking. I haven't taken the pre surgery classes yet so I'm just trying to pick up as much info as I can ahead of time. I've heard that protein actually burns fat, is this what you are saying cuz that would make sense with what I've read and hear before. Thanks, Tara

Ask your doctor first but you might consider pro biotics. Yogurt has the right bacteria AND protein. I haven't had my surgery yet, I'm reading post surgeries issues to learn, so please ask your doctor or correct me if I'm totally wrong. I've had to take pro biotics for about a year now and am fine but again I haven't had surgery yet

AmyC56, Way to stay positive! I'm a firm believer that attitudes make up a huge part of our daily lives and progress through anything. Despite the 20lbs you still hope to lose you are down 50 more than you would have been without surgery. I wear a 22 and about a year ago I finally decided to get rid of my cute little 10-14 size clothes. It was a tough decision but after collecting dust for ten years I convinced myself they were probably out of style anyway. Lol You can shop now! Woohoo! BTW, Marilyn Monroe was a size 14 and Tyra Banks was a sized 12 super model.

To everyone on the "slow loser" list, Don't sweat it too much! I'm not talking from experience as I haven't had my surgery yet but keep in mind that the weight didn't collect on our keesters over night but over years. Also, keep in mind that under normal no-surgery circumstances that losing weight too quickly can be bad for you and doesn't always stay off as long as slow and steady weight loss does. Keep your chins up and stay strong. I know we can all lose the weight we want and be healthy!

Thank you so much for all of the information! Congratulations on reaching your year+ mark. Don't worry, I won't go to Mexico...again. About ten years ago I went through a serious bout of depression and was only about twenty pounds over weight but went to Mexico and had the band put in. Even the doctor told me it wouldn't work but he did it anyway because I was paying. Now I actually really need it. Let me ask you this and I'm also going to post it to everyone, too but have you had other bariatric surgery before? Is there a difference in pain or recovery time? I'm hearing how much pain some of these folks are in and I had absolutely no trouble with the band EXCEPT for such bad gas pains for a few days that I thought I was having a heart attack but as soon as those subsided I was hungry and able to eat anything. I just had the band removed about 18 months ago because quite literally my pouch had grown to almost the size of the other half. Just asking because I'm trying to gauge my recovery time for work. You also said you had no appetite during the holidays last year, because you didn't feel hungry? How about cravings? I'm pretty sure that's why I eat all the time. Did you feel nauseous, sick, achy, not hungry, out what? It took you a few months to be able to eat regular foods? I don't eat too many sweets or very often but I love meat and fruit. If I could actually afford to only eat fruit I'd be thinner and healthier but who can afford to only eat fruit? Lol. You lost 140 pounds in about 7 months, holy crap! I thought you should only lose about 10lbs per month? I'm at 275 now and would love to see 140/150 but I'd be happy just getting down to 200 again. Sorry if some of the words are wrong. I'm in my phone and auto correct is stupid sometimes. Lol Thanks again! I'm excited, I start my classes on the 7th for six weeks and then they are looking about the beginning of March for surgery. I can't wait. Talk soon! Tara

I am now on the waiting list to have gastric bypass surgery after taking the prep classes that start in a couple of weeks. I've bought the Dummy book and some cookbooks for post op but I have a few questions still. 1. Post Op, do you feel hungry like you used to when your stomach was normal size? 2. Do you still have cravings? Does anything help with that besides making sure I'm hydrated? 3. How much weight do you really lose right away? 4. If I keep up exercising after surgery say about 15-20 minute daily walks will that keep me from having the excess skin leftover? Will it help at least? 5. Aside from going to Mexico, has anyone found a cheaper way to finance this surgery? Insurance will cover a big portion of mine but I'll still have to pay about $9,000 out of pocket. 6. How has this affected your family and meal times with them? Is it difficult to watch your family eating a bunch of goodies and you can only eat liquid or soft things for the first few months? How do you cook for the entire family and yourself? I'm sure I'll have more questions after someone answers these but thank you in advance! Tara

Bellabloom, I haven't had surgery and what Kristep is saying is exactly what I was hoping to hear on this forum...not that she is having a hard time post op, but the truth about the feelings and such immediately following surgery and later on. I am really worried about the times when I'm watching tv and eating, what you called head eating. I love the idea that you made the food, chewed it up, and spit it out. That probably isn't the best idea but realistically I think that may be a big help to me when I have my surgery in February. I think half my problem is that I like the taste of things yet am rarely hungry so your suggestion sounds like it might work for me. Thanks for sharing!