theother_onefoot

@@Sharpie I'd really like to try and build a habit of a Protein shake a day before I get to the all liquid phases pre- and post-op, and maybe even longer so I can keep calories to a safe range from putting weight back on. That reminds me. For stalls, is it recommended to increase or decrease calories temporarily to get over the hump or am I just wrong on that completely?

@@Stevehud Thank you for the input! Yes, I've read at least half a dozen articles about how the body can't absorb that much Protein at one time, so my intentions were to get the Isopure and just use one scoop which would be 105 Calories to 25g protein, still coming out over the plexus's 100 cal to 15g. But I was just quoting off of the isopure's marked label as my reference. I know as far as the ready-to-drink shakes, I'm definitely going to try the Premier Protein one. I know my mom is only trying to help out of concern, but the fad diet products just never seem to be a good match with me.

@@Stevehud @@Sharpie I haven't had any form of WLS yet, I meet with my surgeon on the 19th to move forward. But my body is really sensitive to carbs and sugars, something I've found out through my various restricted diets, which stinks since I've also got a bum thyroid working against me.. And part of my concern is also getting in enough Protein. For example, the Isopure has 210 Calories, but 50g of protein per 2 scoops. And no sugars or carbs.

@@woo woo I was hoping it was being more of a concern than a control thing. I know relationships can break with the changes of WLS, and I suppose I'm just worrying about that. Thanks!

@@parisshel I asked him about this just yesterday when he was once again complaining about how he couldn't eat any of the meat our friends cooked at a BBQ get-together so he instead made himself a container of popcorn to eat (plenty of nutritional value there ), and he responded with, "That costs money that I don't have right now either" as opposed to getting it removed or revised. I guess what I hate so much is his complaining. He got it done, but not so much by his choice. Now he's stuck with it, and feels in a position where he wants it removed but can't get it removed or loosened because of cost. But he's still not eating healthy and I think even replacing a meal with a Protein shake would benefit him. Yet he seems to have such an aversion to having any of his diet be liquid except Water and tea that he refuses to do that either. I can't make his choices for him. And I try to support and encourage him but he just keeps falling off the wagon. I want to get my own WLS, but I don't want to be around his constant hate of his own! I've already told him that if he wants to eat bad foods he's not going to be able to do so around me because I really want a strong support system. He's so good to me and sometimes I think he's complaining without realizing it. But I'm just not sure what to do on this one.

I told a couple close friends of mine -- or a close friend couple, rather -- that I was planning to get it done. They wrinkled their noses at me in disbelief with loud, "WHY??"s. They said I didn't need to lose weight, that I looked good for being bigger. But then...both of them are over 300 lbs, even if the woman is just barely so. It's really hard telling bigger people that you're having surgery because when they see you as smaller than them, they think you look great. But I'm pushing my highest weight ever, almost 260 lbs, and while I love my body, I DON'T love my body how it is. I love my body to know that I am torturing it with this extra weight. I love my body enough to get the WLS and make it healthy again. When I told them the timeline I was looking at, the husband told me I was selfish and I got it on a date that might have recovery interfere with a trip they wanted to go on with me and my boyfriend for his wife's birthday because no one has shown up for her her last two birthdays..... We've become close, but we haven't even been friends long enough to go to any of her past birthdays or else we would have shown up! I hate that he made me feel guilty and selfish. And even she was like, "you're waiting for this long, can't you wait a little more?" But the next available time for me would have been another six months out! Then the next few times I hung out with them, they tried to talk to me about how I could lose the weight on my own and, "oh, try this Protein drink. You like it? I can get you some." But both of them have previously had successful weight loss on a significant scale and I haven't. I have no history of ups and downs, just ups and I've tried all the crazy diets. Add a bum thyroid on there and it isn't helping! They said they would support me even if they didn't agree with it, and that's fine. I don't need them to. And if I'm being selfish, then I deserve to be. This is my body, my health, and my life. So even though it hurts from people I'm close to, you just have to take it with a BIG grain of salt and remind yourself why you're doing this. FOR YOU. And that's all that matters.

@@HauteSleeveMama , I will send you a PM!

Hey all, I'm new to the forums, only been around a couple of weeks and been registered here for even less time, but I'm doing all of my research like any person would -- which has now got me at a pause because I've got a question that I can't figure out what the "right" answer is. First, I know it varies person to person, but based on how everyone else has done with surgeries (if there are any post-op people floating around these pre-op boards!), what would be the better choice? To choose between: - Doctor A and Doctor B are both relatively close, so driving for follow-ups would not be strenuous. - Doctor A's cash/self-pay price is $1,800 more than Doctor B's price -Doctor A does offer a $500 discount for completing an information program first; their price also covers the hospital, surgery, surgeons, anesthesia, (basically all inclusive) -- and a full year of follow-up care - Doctor A's price does not cover any additional lab work or the EGD - Doctor A requires a psych eval. pre-op using their office's or my own psych (Already got the "go ahead!" letter from mine yesterday!) - Doctor B's price covers the doctors, hospital, anesthesia, surgery, (also basically all-inclusive) -- and only covers follow-up care through the first 90 days post-op - Doctor B's office said they will do a post-op appointment 1 week out and then 3 months out -- and if that 3mo out appointment is in the 90 days it's covered - Doctor B does not require any psych eval for self-pay - Doctor B's price also does not cover any additional lab work things - Both Doctor A and Doctor B have a $200 consult fee that is included in their quote ----- So as y'all can see, they are very similar. But part of me is really balking at the fact that Doctor B only covers 90 days post-op. Am I just being overly cautious, though? Is a whole year of aftercare really necessary? Maybe for a worst-case scenario, in which case, why not have it just in case, right? Are those 275 days worth the extra $1.8/$1.3k? I've worked hard on not seeing the glass as half-empty, but if something DID go wrong, since I don't have insurance, it would be in my best interest to pay a "little" more just to be safe, wouldn't it? I know it seems like I've already made up my mind, but I honestly haven't. This will be a lot of money out-of-pocket to begin with and it really is my preference to make the best INFORMED decision that I can. Thanks for any feedback!

Great to hear! How are you feeling? Tired? Excited?

Glad to know I'm not the only one! It feels like once you decide to have WLS, that's all you can think about until you get it and start your new life. I'm so excited about my first doc appointment too...but it isn't until June 19th! Haha

Best of luck!

I haven't had any type of surgery yet, so my opinion is based solely on proposed hypotheticals I've discussed with my mom. And at first I was really upset when she made a comment about me telling a random stranger (for example, a waiter at a restaurant), because it was none of their damn business, in my opinion! But then I did some more reflecting and I realized my initial upset was because I was ashamed. Not ashamed of getting the surgery (or wanting to get it), but ashamed of myself for letting me get to a point where I was uncomfortable in my own skin even if people thought I looked fine and held my weight well. It comes down to it not being about what other people think at all! So, if you feel like you're lying/"being a bad Christian" (which, in my opinion, this is a long way from such a classification), then do what makes you feel better. If telling people will do that, DO IT! But what you have gone through is your journey alone. You chose this and it is yours. You can do with it what you will. Some people prefer the exclusion truth way. Tell them you've been controlling your eating, increasing your exercising, whatever it is you're doing. But unless they are specifically asking you if you had surgery, they DON'T need to know and you DON'T need to tell them if you're uncomfortable with it. That being said, if someone DOES ask you if you had surgery, what will you choose to tell them then? Only do what you're comfortable with. Always.

How I feel before surgery... (:

@@Bufflehead @@Tanya Gif Since posting this thread this morning I have been doing even more information digging! Both doctors have very low complication rates! That was one thing I was sure to ask about, though I don't have the exact numbers in front of me at this moment. I have also had a friend use a doctor in the same office as Doctor A and she really liked him, his staff, the whole shebang, and has not had any complications. I think my mind would feel more at ease with Doctor A and his extended aftercare time. I know he's done way more surgeries than Doctor B as well so I feel his experience is much more refined, and he offers single-incision laproscopic surgery as an additional plus! (Assuming I qualified for it, of course.) I know I have the tendency to over-think things, but it feels deserved in this case. But even after all the scrutinizing and researching my decision now will be the same one my gut told me initially. Doctor A is for me and I've scheduled an appointment to meet with him June 19th. (: Thanks everyone who replied. I am sure I will have more questions as my journey progresses and I appreciate the advice immensely!

I'm considering Dr. Yu, let us know how everything goes! Best of luck~

I took Contrave for a full month, getting all the way past titration up to the full dose. Shortly after starting my second bottle and second month, I had to discontinue the medicine. It's possible I could have had such a strong reaction to it at the time due to strong school- and work-related stressors, but one day when I took my dose in the morning I just started having what I can only imagine as a manic episode! I was shaky and I couldn't focus and all of the things I was stressing about seemed amplified and I just couldn't stop crying from the intense feelings of stress almost to the point of hyperventilating. I also told my doctor that during this episode I felt very "in my head", which is kind of hard to describe, but just think of it like your inner-thoughts-voice in your head having a rambling monologue. The only way I was able to calm myself down was taking a Clonazepam (anti-anxiety medicine) so that I could function. I waited until two days after that to try the Contrave dose again and had similar manic effects. It was terrible. I called my doctor's office and let them know and they told me to stop taking it completely immediately. The problem with that however, as with various drugs, when you stop cold turkey it can make you feel..."off". Not bad, or not necessarily in a specific way, but just generally unwell in mind and body. It might have been two weeks before I felt almost 100% again. The doctors assume the components of the Contrave just didn't do well for me based on a history of anxiety, depression, or slight bi-polar disorder. I don't know what I'm technically diagnosed as having or if I'm just predispositioned to certain things, but regardless, Contrave just didn't do well with me even though the first month had been fine with decreased cravings and no nausea. ): If it works for you, congratulations! But if it doesn't, you'll know. Always let your doctor know how a medication makes you feel.