jadama22

Thanks for your sharing lauren8486, I have not crossed that bridge yet. My surgery will probably happen sometime late June early July. As for my decision on the use of marijuana, I believe I will wait to adjust to my new sleeve after surgery. I know for sure that it increases my hunger so I will not take any chances of that early on. I can understand your view on the big pharma medicine - many times they have so many side effects and many unknowns, and it can cause more damage than good.

Hi there, I am fairly new to the forum myself and I am in the pre-op stages of scheduling appointments, meeting with the nutritionist and working on a plan of minimizing my food intake a bit, not drinking 30 mins before and after eating, taking the time to chew my food and I must say its very hard - I am hoping that it will get easier post-op.

Thanks gravesmisty69 for sharing, I think making the healthy choices even when prompted with hunger will be key. Someone else said they also got munchies, but had some Peanut Butter and celery.

Thanks Petunia for sharing, I have smoked on off and I find it great for relaxation. Some have shared that it even helps with their nausea, pain and insomnia. Some have also shared that maybe waiting a few weeks or months would be best, what are your thoughts?

Hi Trish Olson, Thanks for your feed back, I am not much of a drinker, but I do have wine once in a while. Some of the postings I've read show that some go through many psychological changes and may develop dependencies, such as the over use of alcohol and behavior changes like maybe becoming compulsive shoppers and over spending. I believe it is very critical to make sure that if one has any underlying issues that may cause overeating and a sense of comfort derived from food that lead to binge eating - it is critical pre-surgery to seek that help beforehand find out what is going on that may be causing it, Because of my choice to seek surgery and realizing my bad emotional eating habits, I chose to see a psychologist so that I can sort through my emotions now. I'm finding that some of it is coming from traumatic events experienced in my early child hood, but the great thing is that I am addressing it and facing my demons head on. I truly want to change my life with regard to my weight, but also to have a complete transformation in the areas of mental and spiritual health.

HI SueHowie Thanks for your response and for sharing your experience. I work in the health industry and Marijuana is being widely used to treat many ailments. It is actually being looked as very promising for those looking to other options rather than the use of opioids. Many patients find that it eases their nausea and does help them sleep. I also think the prompt of hunger does vary depending on the individual, but as you suggested, perhaps the use of it should wait until the bariatric patient has had a firm hold on their new sleeve and adapting to their new way of life. This is great, I am hoping more will continue to share their experiences.

Thanks Charmia, Not sure if everyone necessarily feels hunger after smoking weed, but in this case it seems like you took a chance an conquered, but not tempting yourself sounds like the way to go.

Well I met with my nutritionist yesterday and it went great. What I loved about her was that she was very sensitive and understanding to what I am going through and what I have been through – finally! Someone that understands! I sat with her for about an hour and she ask me many questions on why did I decided to do the surgery now and many questions on what types of diets I have been on in the past and how long ago. She shared with me that her brother just recently went through gastric bypass, so she understands on a personal level and has consulted with many bariatric patients before and after surgery. I did share with her that I am going through some emotions concerning my relationship with food. Funny thing – she ask me – what is your favorite type of food? Well I said, “I have a lot of them” thinking of this a bit, I realized that my love for food could be related to how I am feeling at the time and totally random, so one week it could be pizza, the next can be chinese or chicken quesadillas. What seems to be going through my mind the most is - how will I ever part from all of the foods that I love? Every time I put something in my mouth – I say to myself “After surgery, you won’t be having this anymore” or “You won’t be able to drink your XL coffee from Dunkin Donuts anymore with loads of sugar” I am really having a hard time parting from the thought of separating from all of the foods that I love. While I do understand that this will be a big transition, that it will take time, It is for the benefit of a new healthier me, I am only thinking of the now….does anyone understand? This does not change my mind at all about the surgery – having the surgery is set in stone for me, but the thought of parting from my love for food has me feeling like I am attending a funeral every day.

I have to agree, once a week is not frequent, funny thing is that I have not smoked for the last month because is something that I can stop at free will. To me an addiction is something you can't willingly stop on your own, such as tobacco users who can smoke up to a pack a day. I have recently stopped just because I don't need it, just like I don't need wine - While several months ago, I was having wine every week, I now have wine maybe once every three months, but with Marijuana being so widely used and now being legalized in several states, I was just curious. I am sure everyone has their own perception, and I have agreed for myself that smoking marijuana would not be best for me after surgery, but I would welcome open minded perspectives to this subject on those that have used it and what was the experience.

Thank you guys - you all gave some great feedback. I am glad to see I am not alone and sometimes that is part of the hardest thing when you are making such a journey and why support groups and forums such as this one is very important. I think that I will be attending a pre-op support group, but I think this will consist of bariatric patients that have already went through surgery. I guess most of my coaching I will be getting from my nutritionist in preparation. I did hear that your taste for certain foods you love may change and may not be as strong or it may change altogether. I guess you really can't imagine it until you cross the bridge and you finally get there.

Yesterday, I took the first step on changing my life to what I would call “A Healthier Me”. After several months of research online, reading publications, reviewing studies and listening to the audio book “The Big Book on the Gastric Sleeve” countless visits on the BariatricPal.com forum along with several visits to different bariatric seminars – I found myself closing in on my decision. What I found very helpful was the videos on You Tube by Lauren Vento – that was the turning point for me - it help me realize that “yes” having the gastric sleeve surgery is for me and although surgery sounds very scary, I can choose to think about this in a positive way. . Took the first big step - I did it! I had my first visit with the Surgeon today Dr. Neil Floch, and I have to admit I was pretty excited and after researching my insurance company guidelines I knew exactly what to expect. I think I was the last patient, so I felt a little rushed by the nurse, but once the doctor came in, he was really relaxed and very prepared for the list of questions I had for him, which I got from the Big Book. He ask me if I knew what procedure I wanted and why. I told him I wanted the Gastric Sleeve because it was not as evasive as the Gastric Bypass and the Duodenal Switch, and it did not have the long-term complications that can come from malabsorption and the Vitamin deficiencies. As we continued on with the conversation he ask me many questions concerning my health, my history and what led me to where I am today. I mentioned my life long journey struggles with yoyo dieting and losing the battle and failing somewhere along the way and gaining back twice as much. At 5’6”, 250 lbs, and a BMI of 40 with sleep apnea, I can only say it is time for change. I really enjoyed talking to my surgeon, he is really great and I knew when we were half way through our talk that he was the one. This is my first post of many to come. I am so glad I found all of you. j

Hi, I feel the same lately and when I wake up in the morning, I am so irritable because I feel sooo tired. I hate waking up constantly in the middle of the night and feeling like I have just been spooked up out of sleep. Very frustrating - but hang in there, from reading other stories, once diagnosed and treated, sleep can be a wonderful thing once again

Hi, I have been the same way -my first appointment with the sleep specialist is tomorrow, so hopefully I am scheduled for my sleep study soon. I don't know what it is to get a good nights rest anymore, so I am hoping that with the c-pap this will help me too. Thanks for sharing.

Hi, Thanks for your question. I have a big neck too, but there is more to diagnosing sleep apnea then just have a big neck - and just so you know, I have an appointment next week to see my sleep specialist - so I have not been officially diagnosed but rather self-diagnosed. What I did is that I purchased a fit bit with the intention to monitor my steps, but then realized I can also monitor my sleep too. So that's what I did - and after just the first week, my results showed up to 15 disturbances in just one given night. I also recorded myself for the night and I heard myself snoring and realized that WOW, my breathing also stops. I do not need a doctor to tell me I have sleep apnea - I know. Additionally I wake up every morning feeling fatigued and tired - always feeling like I had no sleep. My surgeon was actually quite impressed with my method on figuring this out, and though the use of the fit bit was a cool idea -he did agree that he does strongly believe I have sleep apnea. I would never encourage anyone to self -diagnose - you should always consult with your doctor. Thankfully this is part of the pre-op process - so I will see if I am right on my diagnosis. Also keep in mind - check your insurance policy guidelines. For mine at my present weight of 250 lbs with a BMI of 40 I just barely make the thread line to be approved for the surgery - so this has me a little nervous. However, once I have a firm diagnosis on my sleep apnea - that will place me in a different qualifying bracket of 35-39.9 with associated comorbidities - so this will work in my favor should I want to lose a some weight prior to the surgery. I would not worry to much on it - just take one step at a time. J