Sony09

I changed it all because waiting after the surgery would most likely be a nightmare, like being the surgeon and not ever going to med school. Learning as you go is too much stress and this is a serious surgery. I even did a mock post op of 3 days w/o solid foods, it's what you would have to do newly post op. It took me 3x to be able to go three days on a freshly RNY post op life... that was the last lesson for the "for life" signaling to me "I can do this!" That was what I did and YTD I am glad I did it. No rushing through pre-op training and being honest about this being for a life time made the difference for me.

Blogs and video journeys online that give you something. It's not the same as sharing face to face but it's something. You can start venturing out of the house, even if it's just going to the mall and sitting on the bench watching people walk by. Journaling, really now, now can help to keep track of how you are feeling and dealing.... coping with your change. People get so weirder about you not being the obese person... they see you improving the quality of your life which makes them have to reevaluate their selves... scarier and it will emphasis their fears, this a type of retaliation to you. Try to stay clear of all that you can. Your expectation for you is one thing and theirs are different. I'm there now too for people I work with and family members. Do not slide back and gain to make them feel better. Be you and take it one step at a time. Hope this helps, and remember to feel instead of using foo skills gather no dust nor make you gain. These are things to do if you a support group in person, and or maybe some one medical to talk too, but better if they understand Bariatric life and changes face by bariatric people like you. Best wishes too.

Thank you for this read! Once again I needed to read and reflect and glad that shared. I thought people wanted and needed help gain better quality of, so I did it; WLS. Thinking that leading by example... it worked for me but not them.... resentful = yes they are. Too bad, dang. I learned so much a long way way and ready to share it all. But as they say; "you can lead a horse to Water but you cannot make them drink it." I shut my mouth and only if they ask... it works better for me and I just deal with it... more these days since pre op just ate things away. Not anymore!

Glad to hear these FYI. I get it. I'm almost 3 year post op and stuff keeps getting more weird. People freaking out since I'm not obese anymore. My bra size is less than my 6th size and a lot smaller than a today's 4th grader. I'm learning (still) to cope with peoples reactions to change. Some days are better than others and I am continuing on and just being the best that I can be. If they can't deal... tough. I started my journey to improve myself, but downing myself for them to feel better about their self.. NFW! RNY b 2013; HW 297, SW 252, and today 117.

Been out here for awhile; post op Feb 27 2013.

Soon it's 2016 and next year I'll be 56. Almost three years out, Feb 2016 will be 3 years post op for RNY. I am still below goal.... my choice. Pains are a way of letting us know we live and we still feel and some times we just need to see the doctor. Some time that's as good as it gets. I try to search alternative food types including adding different nutrients that help with physical pain, exercises, and meditation types, and don't for get your daily Bariatric style Vitamins. Most of the things I've tried help, but there is no perfect solution and no perfect remedy. WLS; this is a tool not a fix it or a one step solution to obesity morbid or otherwise. It's here to help us mange and improve our lives with the best that we can. Remember to read your food labels, check out the ingredients you're eating and drinking... some of those things can aggravate your condition or have been causing you extra pain with out knowing it because of what's in the recipe and used to make it. Best wishes and feel better soon.

Glad to read you are getting surgery. Success is waiting for you too.

Hello! I am 55! I had RNY in 2013. I feel renewed! I am so glad that I did this. No more GERD, no more HBP, no more high cholesterol, a lot less sleep apnea, no more insulin for Type 2 (allergic to the pills), no more scary meds(read those MSDS folks),I can tie my own shoes, cross my legs, and the energy is wonderful to say the least of reclaiming life. The best thing I take away is the results and the knowledge gained. I was morbidly (BMI +50) too long and it did rob me of not just doing physical fun things. Not any more!

Sorry to read about your difficulties, but this web site is full of answers to your questions. First off, see and or call for advice from your Bariatric department, you'll never now if it is really something more than just trying to eat or drink. Never forget that this is a life changing event and there are steps to learn and follow for the rest of your life. The more knowledge you have the better managing post op. 3 weeks post op... still trying to learn how to sip and eat with your altered insides= try using a tiny cocktail spoon or baby spoon for both eating and drinking. This will allow you to control the amount of food and liquids going in, and if it is just retraining on how-to" with post op WLS your should get relief and keep things down. I did this freshly post op and was really surprised to note the difference pre op and post op getting the nutrients in. It is all about fueling your body and not just pleasing your tastes buds. "Food" gets a different meaning and use post op... it's just for living.

Practice what you learned from pre op training, and review it all. Stalling can occur by introducing too much from the before life than managing the post op WLS life now. Usually since healing phase is pretty much done, solid foods are more the list of things we eat with flavored liquids and familiar solid foods, "sliding foods" and portion sizes still need measuring. Vitamins daily, water daily, exercising and foods more from the Bariatric food list should help break your stall. If you need flavor to your water, what I do, add a few teaspoon of lime or lemon juice... you can add some zero calorie sweetener but I skip the sweeteners.

A moment of reflection: Ok, this is for the now trying to get rid of the past negative stuff. Before, co workers friend and family members... Just eat less and exercise... that's all you need to do... have some self control... push yourself away from the table. "WLS is the easy way out." You don't need WLS you just need to stop eating so much. I can't find something pretty to wear so I'll stay home. Have you heard these before? Post op Coping skill from the ever growing box of coping skills: A facet: to help cope with the physical change seen in the mirror. These are things I heard and were said to me too. After having the surgery going through post op issues daily, and yes daily... the masses seeing the change and the change continues until there is no more... stuff from the above list. Now it is... "OH you are too skinny!" "Are you sick?" No boobs + no butt. You get the strangest comments from friend and family... it's not about how you look now... It makes them reflect and maybe not so comfortable about their own situation. It's always a lot easier to focus on other peoples issues and or problems. Turn it around. Make it positive! Learn more about WLS and share what you learn. Be an advocate for WLS and help stop the shaming from WLS and morbid obesity. BTW: The new body is not new, its been dormant waiting to bloom.

Hello All: Glad to be here and the journey continues. I started this journey, early 2000s, not knowing anything about WLS but that I wanted to loose weight. I was obsessed about diets and dieting, but nothing was working. I saw my co-workers getting the surgery and then loosing massive amounts of weight. It seemed like overnight, BUT it was not. I got accept for surgery right away and I thought that was great, but as I soon found out there are lost of classes to take and tings to learn before you find yourself on the loser's bench. well that was going too slow for me, and I got mad and decided I could loose weight with out the WLS and that all I needed to do was be stronger. I got every book, every DVD, recipes, and watched lots of videos about the subject of WLS. Well during all the learning, and knowledge gathering, still thinking I could do this without WLS, I got more sick. I already had HBP, and high cholesterol and sleep apnea... slowly coming on board being pre-diabetic and in denial about my condition. I did low-cal, Jenny Craig, and even weight watchers. I actually gained 25 pounds with Weight watchers! The super situation of having full diabetes and permanently damaging my eye site from unchecked diabetes. I was in ER the second time in 2 weeks with blood sugars over 600. Later during the second week I met an old co-worker in the grocery stores and she told me that her mother just died for a diabetic coma, and her blood sugar was 627 when it happened... Another hash tag counting up the reasons I needed this WLS... to save my life. SO by then it was 2012... I was too busy being tired and over weight to do not much more than be on autopilot for the rest of my life and no quality of life. I needed a change and I wanted better quality of life. I did not want morbid obesity to kill me. Things moved quickly with the motivation of living better and having a better life. I took the classes, and was honest... being honest with myself was the biggest and best coping skills for making things work with a plan. When I saw the surgeon in Nov 2012, they already had an on going list of my conditions and that I wanted to try again for having WLS. I stuck to the Bariatric food list, and meal plans... (notice I did not say diet?) another key coping skill = "mind set." I even practiced on what it would be like post op for 3 days of having nothing but liquids. I failed in the first few attempts but eventually got to it successfully. Planning it all out pre op made things run smoothly post op. It's been just a little over 2.5 years since my surgery and Y-T-D things are really good. People change and people got weird for seeing my body change... and I just deal with things as best I can. These days I cannot use food for comfort and knowing better that it's not what's needed for coping. You can never have too much education nor too many coping skills post op. That is what will make sure you stay on track and keep on being successful with this life long journey. Remember it is for life, and for the rest of your life. Finally stats HW= 297, SW= 252, CW =115... I call this my second chance and I don't want to miss a thing!

I had 2 C-sections at 14 months apart.. It was the worst pain; it was definitely worse. Post op WLS-RNY and goal weight... eventually I found my C-section scars. The WLS was a breeze by comparison. I was well prepared for WLS, both physically and emotionally, so I think that helped. My surgeon was magnificent... For along time I even questioned; did I have surgery? No pain post op and even no bruising! Oh, but I did have five tiny band aides from the port sites: laparoscopic WLS.

Not sure how your survey is going. Most plans are not paying and or support PS post op no matter what your post op goal weight leaves hanging off your body. I searched and keep finding you have to come fully out of pocket for what I also consider reconstructive skin reduction post WLS. I am still looking. I definitely would be a great 60 minute show on the TLC for what happens post op >2 after surgery and being at and or below goal weight... the ritual and daily task of just being dressed each day and "tucking" it all in.

Don't stress the program. Don't try to get ahead of the program, since it is not a race. Just follow what they prescribe and be honest about what your are doing. The South Sac Kaiser is an extremely excellent program. I went through it and found my way, my voice, and my strength... I got what I needed and what I wanted by WLS and the many people who support WLS in the area. If you do the exercising, go to the classes and group support, follow the Bariatric food list and Bariatric meal plans, daily Vitamins, chewing 30X for your foods, portion control and 64 ounces of Water (liquids) daily you will be successful... Sounds simple but it will take practice to really do it consistently.... and to be successful for the rest of your life... journey never ends.

Okay, lots of ways to do this... Are you worried about not being at surgery goal weight? Remember 3500 calories = 1 pound and if there's sodium the Water retention too. At pre op I could eat this way 3x daily and more. You will have what you ate left in your digestive track at surgery maybe. I personally skipped the last meal to make sure my body was as clean as possible going into surgery. I prepared more for more than, the first day post op since and there was going to be additional detoxing in the few days to a few weeks post op... starting with clear liquid stage, and I did not want to suffer detox symptoms from a night or events celebrating food... I rather Celebrate life and focus on the notion that food is just for living and not living for food. Trying to recapture memories of mega-eating feasts is something I leave in the past with its bagage too. Live for post op better health and better quality of life.