talking mountain

Well today is the day. I am lying on my gurney the pre op room, IV in place. My husband and I are killing time until they take me down. Thanks to this site, I brought Biotene dry mouth spray which helps so much!

STARTING OUT My surgery date is December 28, 2015. The nearest WLS center is 2 hrs away but my GP is very supportive and has other WLS patients, so I am not worried about the distance. The WLS is a "Center of excellence" which made researching the doctors easy. I've toyed with the idea of WLS for more than 10 years. Each time I started thinking seriously about it, I'd give healthy eating one more try-- usually with minimal results. About 6 years ago, though, I adopted a low-fat, plant-based diet and lost almost 50 lbs -- way more than I'd ever lost on Weight Watchers (9 times), Jenny Craig, OptifSt, Atkins, the Zone,...you know the story! And even though I felt fantastic, somehow the crap started sneaking back in and I regained all the weight (plus some extra, of course). A couple of months ago the idea of WLS popped into my head out of the blue, and it just felt right. Since then I've gone full bore on meeting the requirements. Once I go through the mandatory 4-hr class, I'll have met all the program's requirements and they will submit my paperwork for insurance approval. If I understand the process correctly, I can get a surgery date once insurance approves me. Since I've met all the insurance requirements, it is not supposed to take them long. I am 5'6" and last weighed in at my pre-op on Dec. 17 at 263 lbs, which is a BMI of 41.8. I think I've weighed a bit more in my life, but I've never been this big in size. Right now I'm a 26-28, or 4X... sizes that didn't exist 30 years ago! My weight goal is to stabilize at no more than 150 lbs. So I probably need to get to the 120s-130s at the "peak" of my weight loss. That would be fun; I'd love to see what 135 lbs feels like! I'd actually be satisfied at 170 lbs, but I'd really like to lose and keep off at least 113 lbs. I like data so here's a summary. Mostly for my own reference later: "Healthy weight" based on the standard BMI chart is 120-150 lbs. "Ideal weight" based on two height/weight standards is 132-136 lbs. "Normal weight" based on CDC's BMI calculator is 116 - 167 lbs. So, if I assume an ideal weight on the lower end, that would be about 125 lbs, with 138 lbs "excess weight." Research shows that most WLS patients stabilize at 50-70% of excess weight lost, so for me that would be 166 to 194 lbs. 166-170 would be the MAX I would be satisfied with, and would not be happy AT ALL to go through all of this to lose only 69 lbs and live at 194 lbs, so I really have to USE THIS TOOL WELL! It's hard to imagine what my body will feel like with 100+ lbs less on it!I

How about a bean burrito (with a little cheese if you aren't vegan)? They freeze well too, so they make a good grab-and-go breakfast; just wrap loosely in a paper towel &microwave 30-90 seconds. Split pea Soup is really high in Protein. Some brands have ham though. Thick cut oatmeal with some fresh banana and raw walnuts. The banana eliminates the need for sugar. You can add milk or Water and let it sit in the refrig overnight so it's quick to Nike it in the morning. Just make sure that the bananas are on the bottom so they don't get brown.

At my pre-op visit they made me do an upper GI. I suppose it's because I have a history of GERD. Anyway, that has got to be the nastiest, foulest, weirdest test in the world! It's as bad as a colonoscopy prep! Other than that, though, it was a pretty unremarkable day. Just a long one! Today marks my 4th day of the liquid diet. On day 1, I lost it around 5 pm and ate a bunch of cookies. On day 2, I planned well but was not able to execute due to the craziness of the day. I ended up eating a small (by my standards) serving of a healthy bean salad at the potluck. I also took a bite of a delectable dessert and immediately felt nauseous. On day 3, I was hungry and teary and grumpy, but I made it without straying off plan. Today, on day 4, I had to work at the office and there were all kinds of leftovers from last week's potluck in the break room (my office opens onto the break room, unfortunately). Eventually I succumbed to tasting two sweets that looked impossibly good, but fortunately they tasted nasty so I spit the taste-bites out. The urge to eat that junk food is now gone! I was expecting hunger, but I wasn't expecting to be cold constantly. Wore socks and mittens to bed last night! And I was expecting some fatigue, but I didn't expect to want to sleep nonstop! Am hoping that I'm "over the hump" and that the remaining days will be easier. The thought that has been going through my mind a lot these past few days is, "Am I just trading one collection of pills (meds) for another (supplements)?

Hi all, I just discovered that there is a separate location for "blogs" on bariatricpal.com so will move this "blog" to there!

ince health is my goal and it's easy to get caught up how much weight I am (or am not) losing, I thought it would be a good idea to write down all the health & QOL issues I currently have, even the nitpicky ones. Then, hopefully, I will be able to tick them off as "no longer relevant" as the weight loss progresses! Health Issues Asthma Allergies & chronic sinus problems. Hypothyroid Hypercholesteremia Hypertension (managed to 140s/80s w/medication) Pre-diabetes. 1 point away from full-blown diabetes. Chronic trochanteric bursitis. Chronic ITB Pain Syndrome. Chronic pain from degenerative disc disease in lower back. Obstructive sleep apnea. Medications Inhalers (preventative & emergency). Allergy medicine. Nasal rinse/topical steroid. Thyroid. Antihypertensive. Antidepressant. Advil most days. Quality-of-Life Issues Pain when walking (hips/IT band). Pain when standing (lower back). Can't reach my toes directly. Can't reach my backside. Uncomfortable fat rolls on neck, sides, & under belly. Dining rm chair squeezes me uncomfortably. Simple things make me winded. Have started driving from one spot to another to avoid walks I would have enjoyed before. Avoid exertion because it's painful and exhausting. Ashamed at the example I set for kid. Can't see to buckle seat belt. Seat belts lock up on me because I have to pull them out to the maximum. Fatigue & low energy Afraid to do anything fun (jump rope, chase dog, etc) due to exertion & fear of getting injured. Avoid visiting family or seeing old friends. Can't camp out or stay over unless I have my CPAP (snoring). Have never been down the slide w/my kid.

My surgery date is December 28, 2015. I'm having RNY gastric bypass. The nearest WLS center is 2 hrs away but my GP is very supportive and has other WLS patients, so I am not worried about the distance. The WLS is a "Center of excellence" which made researching the doctors easy. I've toyed with the idea of WLS for more than 10 years. Each time I started thinking seriously about it, I'd give healthy eating one more try-- usually with minimal results. About 6 years ago, though, I adopted a low-fat, plant-based diet and lost almost 50 lbs -- way more than I'd ever lost on Weight Watchers (9 times), Jenny Craig, OptifSt, Atkins, the Zone,...you know the story! And even though I felt fantastic, somehow the crap started sneaking back in and I regained all the weight (plus some extra, of course). A couple of months ago the idea of WLS popped into my head out of the blue, and it just felt right. Since then I've gone full bore on meeting the requirements. Once I go through the mandatory 4-hr class, I'll have met all the program's requirements and they will submit my paperwork for insurance approval. If I understand the process correctly, I can get a surgery date once insurance approves me. Since I've met all the insurance requirements, it is not supposed to take them long. I am 5'6" and last weighed in at my pre-op on Dec. 17 at 263 lbs, which is a BMI of 41.8. I think I've weighed a bit more in my life, but I've never been this big in size. Right now I'm a 26-28, or 4X... sizes that didn't exist 30 years ago! My weight goal is to stabilize at no more than 150 lbs. So I probably need to get to the 120s-130s at the "peak" of my weight loss. That would be fun; I'd love to see what 135 lbs feels like! I'd actually be satisfied at 170 lbs, but I'd really like to lose and keep off at least 113 lbs. I like data so here's a summary. Mostly for my own reference later: "Healthy weight" based on the standard BMI chart is 120-150 lbs. "Ideal weight" based on two height/weight standards is 132-136 lbs. "Normal weight" based on CDC's BMI calculator is 116 - 167 lbs. So, if I assume an ideal weight on the lower end, that would be about 125 lbs, with 138 lbs "excess weight." Research shows that most WLS patients stabilize at 50-70% of excess weight lost, so for me that would be 166 to 194 lbs. 166-170 would be the MAX I would be satisfied with, and would not be happy AT ALL to go through all of this to lose only 69 lbs and live at 194 lbs, so I really have to USE THIS TOOL WELL! It's hard to imagine what my body will feel like with 100+ lbs less on it!I

THE PRE-OP At my pre-op visit they made me do an upper GI. I suppose it's because I have a history of GERD. Anyway, that has got to be the nastiest, foulest, weirdest test in the world! It's as bad as a colonoscopy prep! Other than that, though, it was a pretty unremarkable day. Just a long one! Today marks my 4th day of the liquid diet. On day 1, I lost it around 5 pm and ate a bunch of Cookies. On day 2, I planned well but was not able to execute due to the craziness of the day. I ended up eating a small (by my standards) serving of a healthy bean salad at the potluck. I also took a bite of a delectable dessert and immediately felt nauseous. On day 3, I was hungry and teary and grumpy, but I made it without straying off plan. Today, on day 4, I had to work at the office and there were all kinds of leftovers from last week's potluck in the break room (my office opens onto the break room, unfortunately). Eventually I succumbed to tasting two sweets that looked impossibly good, but fortunately they tasted nasty so I spit the taste-bites out. The urge to eat that junk food is now gone! I was expecting hunger, but I wasn't expecting to be cold constantly. Wore socks and mittens to bed last night! Am hoping that I'm "over the hump" and that the remaining days will be easier. The thought that has been going through my mind a lot these past few days is, "Am I just trading one collection of pills (meds) for another (supplements)?

THE STATE OF THE UNION Since health is my goal and it's easy to get caught up how much weight I am (or am not) losing, I thought it would be a good idea to write down all the health & QOL issues I currently have, even the nitpicky ones. Then, hopefully, I will be able to tick them off as "no longer relevant" as the weight loss progresses! Health Issues Asthma Allergies & chronic sinus problems. Hypothyroid Hypercholesteremia Hypertension (managed to 140s/80s w/medication) Pre-diabetes. 1 point away from full-blown diabetes. Chronic trochanteric bursitis. Chronic ITB Pain Syndrome. Chronic pain from degenerative disc disease in lower back. Obstructive sleep apnea. Medications Inhalers (preventative & emergency). Allergy medicine. Nasal rinse/topical steroid. Thyroid. Antihypertensive. Antidepressant. Advil most days. Quality-of-Life Issues Pain when walking (hips/IT band). Pain when standing (lower back). Can't reach my toes directly. Can't reach my backside. Uncomfortable fat rolls on neck, sides, & under belly. Dining rm chair squeezes me uncomfortably. Simple things make me winded. Have started driving from one spot to another to avoid walks I would have enjoyed before. Avoid exertion because it's painful and exhausting. Ashamed at the example I set for kid. Can't see to buckle seat belt. Seat belts lock up on me because I have to pull them out to the maximum. Fatigue & low energy Afraid to do anything fun (jump rope, chase dog, etc) due to exertion & fear of getting injured. Avoid visiting family or seeing old friends. Can't camp out or stay over unless I have my CPAP (snoring). Have never been down the slide w/my kid.

A fitbit!

What if you just stirred the kombucha in an open-topped container (like a bowl) to let the effervescence escape before you ate it?

LOL thanks Winklie, I finally understand the difference! I got Alex Brecher's book and also Garth Davis' book.

I just turned 55 and am having RNY In 10 days. Wow that feels weird to say! Really glad you started this post. I hope to hear from more people with long term success. Went to my local support group this week and every single person there has gained back enough weight to be back in the "obese" category makes me wonder if I'm just embarking g on another "diet" that will fail in the long run.

Just thought I'd share what I found out about the extended release Effexor. Turns out the person to ask was my pharmacist! She said to open the capsule and take the innards (little tiny balls) with a little applesauce or something similar. She said to be sure to swallow ALL the little balls and drink plenty of water; and to be careful enough not to bite on (and thus bust open) the little balls inside the capsule.

I take Effexor XR, an extended release SSRI that comes in a capsule. Directions say never to open the capsule. Only take it whole. This is NOT a medication that I can skip until I can take pills the withdrawal effects are horrendous, even dangerous. My surgeon has not offered Any advice or solutions. I don't know where else to turn.

I don't live in Houston any more,, but if your doc is Garth Davis I'm totally jealous!

Thanks everyone for the welcome, and to Winklie and The Post Op for your great advice!

Where do you get proteinO2 water? I've never heard of or seen it.

Wow, that sounds terrible! It sure doesn't sound "normal" compared to what most people have posted, but I'm pre-op so I don't have any personal experience to share. I hope you get some helpful responses soon. Hang in there!

You could have a staph infection. Call your dr!

Thanks so much! I didn't know that nausea was a potential side effect so that's really good to know. My surgeon doesn't usually send you home w more than a weeks worth of phenergan so I'll know to ask him to include refills in case I need them. It's reassuring to hear that you managed the XR without the capsule "envelope" without any significant mental side effects. I have inadvertently missed taking mine a few days once, and it rendered me into a complete mess; even when I was clinically depressed, I was never as "depressed" as when I missed a few doses! My pre op is Def 17 so I'll really push the surgeon for an answer then. Thus far he seems pretty tired and is just gonna NY thru the motions when we've met.

I wouldn't believe anything in the mercola website regarding "need" for supplements. Their whole reason for existence is to SELL supplements. There have been many studies now showing that supplements do more harm than good unless you have an actual deficiency. And getting your nutrients from whole food sources (and sunshine for vit d) is both more effective and safer. So personally I wold stick to supplementing those vitamins/minerals that we know Bariatric patients become deficient in. You can find this list and recommended amounts by googling "Bariatric association Vitamin guidelines" (for some reason I can't open safari while in bariatricpal app, otherwise I'd post a link!).

The Effexor is prescribed by my General Practioner and he's not sure what to do. Don't have a psyche doc.

Canyonbaby. With your awesome sense of humor, you will survive this. You WILL!

Bella, I just want to say I'm sorry for all you are going through. Hang in there and I hope you get some relief soon.