MaggieH2

I hope to post some before and after pics, I just have to dig up those before ones that I hate to look at!

I wholeheartedly agree with AshAsh1! I also wish I would have done it sooner as well! However, I am so happy I did it. I am at month 8 and 85# lighter. I held off until after my daughter’s HS graduation, and after a cruise.... in hind site, I would have been more comfortable and confident if I had done it sooner. I am very happy with the weight loss. People just don’t understand how life changing and positive this is for health! Stick with it, you won’t regret it.

The regret is so real in that first month or so! I am 8 months out and have no regrets, life before included sleep apnea, cpap, severe gerd, blood sugars on the rise, arthritis in my knees for which I was getting injections... and oh, just the poor self image that goes along with obesity. I could lose weight on my own, lose 60, gain 70 over the next year. I had done that so many times. I felt remorse and regret that was very strong but now, life is so much better and every one of those medical issues have vanished. It is amazing! I feel better, healthier and I bet you will too. It gets easier and just becomes a new normal. Totally worth it, I feel like a new person, and I know that everyone around me sees that. It’s not just the 85# I have lost, it’s the burden of everything else that comes with the weight ! Take care [emoji4]

Flavor Ice light. Sugar free freeze pops, I could only find them on amazon for a case of over 100 for about $30. Sounds like a ton but they store in the pantry and are delicious!

8 months out and I have gone from a size 18 jeans to a size 4. It is unreal. My fat brain keeps thinking that maybe they are making clothes bigger now. It is hard to wrap my head around sometimes....

I, for the first time in my life am a normal weight! 8 months out from my RNY and I have lost 85#. I was just looking at pictures yesterday from a month before surgery and I am amazed at the difference!!! I am thankful everyday for this surgery, my life has changed [emoji4] I will post some pictures soon!

I just tell people it is for health reasons... didn’t know I was so unhealthy till they started poking around... my snoring was sleep apnea, my blood sugars were rising and I have Barrett’s Esophagus from reflux I didn’t realize that I had. .... as I tick off the problems that a 65 lb loss has fixed, folks tend to understand a lot better, although they still say that I didn’t look heavy enough! At 46, I want to live my life healthy and happy!

Vitamin World has there own brand of caramel and chocolate chews. They are the only ones I can stand and actually they are pretty good

I prefer zoodles to shiratake... I have tried the rice kind, but only in soups... they make little wedding soup balls too, they were pretty good in a homemade soup. Cook the broth with parmesan cheese rinds, gives a ton of flavor!

I would buy one bag and give it a try.... rinse the heck out of them, they have a fishy odor (even though there are no fish involved.) I have used them in the past when I did all kinds of crazy diets, but was really never a fan. A strong sauce or soup broth is the only way I could eat them... Now, 2 mo after bypass, I don't think that I could eat them if I wanted too!

I was planning a Gastric Sleeve procedure but was unable to due to Barret's. I had my RNY bypass on July 10 and everything has worked out great. I am down 50# and have decreased my risk of esophageal cancer, amongst other things! I was initially upset about having to change my plans bit once I got used to the idea and educated myself, I went for it. I am so glad that I did! Good luck!

You're welcome!

I like Protein2O water. I order it from Walmart , I get the lemonade flavor. 15 grams of protein per bottle. I like it on its own, but I will also make a pitcher of plain strong tea and mix it in to get a different taste, a protein Arnold Palmer! And, Walmart has free shipping over $30 and 2 cases are about $48 .

I would find a different surgeon. I seem to fit the same description as you... @5'6" and 232 lbs, I had sleep apnea, GERD with Barret's esophagus, and was just uncomfortable and feeling generally lousy. When I went for a checkup with a doc covering for my pcp, she pretty much told me I was being lazy in making this decision! I left the office in tears... it was so embarrassing! I am 45 and this has been my struggle forever! I found a great surgeon who believes that those of us with a lower BMI ( in the WLS world) can be helped greatly with WLS. I had my RNY on 7/10 and have lost 42 lbs. I have never felt better. It is worth pursuing this to change your life!

Thanks! It is so nice to talk to people who really understand!

You look so beautiful ! I am happy for you!

I went to scratch my shoulder and could feel my shoulder bone! I was pretty amazed so I brought it to my husbands attention and he wasn't nearly as impressed. Lol Oh... and I can wrap a towel around me after a shower and am actually covered! That makes me so happy!

I am 7 and 1/2 weeks out and I can tell you it will get better! There is also a hormonal component to how lousy you feel.... this too shall pass. You took a step to becoming a heather better version of yourself , I is a wonderful thing! I would be lying if I said it was all perfect and easy and I would love a beer... but 44llbs later and for the first time in a very long time, Lane Bryant has nothing I fit into! You will be able to eat much more normally and even go out, I have... But like you I had huge buyers remorse, and shame for being a failure in my own. Every day now I remember that no matter how lousy and sad I feel, I felt much worse pre op. You did a good thing

Nope. I hate it too! I don't know if you are pre or post op, but 5 wks postop and I haven't needed it in 3 weeks. I don't snore at all anymore and I don't have any episodes of apnea either ! I did wear it faithfully before, but I have since quit. Hopefully you will have the same results!

I had the very same thing happened and I was about to say forget it! A week after my scope the nurse from the office called and said " just wanted to let you know your biopsy was positive for Barrets". Just like that! I was a little upset and she told me you'll just have to have a bypass.... that wasn't the plan! I didn't even know I had GERD! Anyways... that was last Oct and I had my bypass 5 wks ago. It took a while to get used to the idea, but I am very happy with my decision! I know exactly how you feel, I was angry and anxious.... it was the best solution to prevent a lifetime of illness.... Good luck to you!

I am 5 weeks post op and doing well... 32 lbs down. I was what I guess is considered a lightweight, 232 being my highest. With that being said, I suffered from sleep apnea, used cpap, have osteoarthritis in both knees , GERD with Barrets Esophagus and my A1C was creeping up each time it was checked. I am 45 years old and a nurse, a nurse who has a weight requirement for her job and I couldn't make the weight anymore..... I have crash dieted, done everything from programs to HCG to cutting weight like an MMA fighter... 6 yrs ago I lost 60# and have gained back 70...I have always struggled. Nearly everyone who I shared my intention to have a gastric bypass had either some horror story ( I get it.. the only RNY pts I took care of had something that had gone terribly wrong) or people would tell me that I didn't need it, I didn't look "that big" you carry your weight so well! I was open with folks bc I am off work for over a month and will look a little more slender when I return.... Since my surgery, I have heard no negative comments, and preop someone even shared with me that they were jealous... they wanted a more sure bet in the weight loss arena... My point is, I feel better, physically and emotionally and I no longer snore ( husband is very grateful for that.) This has not been the easiest, I have felt nauseous sometimes, sad sometimes and even a little remorse....but, I think back to how I felt everyday when I woke up and looked in the mirror, how my knees hurt, how I worried about my long term health, not to mention my job! I hated me. Now, I don't. I am hopeful, I am happier, I am more confident. Let the naysayers talk, smile and nod, make your decision because you know it is right for you and when it is all said an done, you'll find peace. -sorry if I ramble a bit!

So glad everything is okay for you! Still going good here, just takes some getting used to this kind of eating!

It is terrible! I felt the same way.... flavor ite makes sugar free freeze pops, they are on amazon and they helped me out alot. I am day 8 post op... I rolled into surgery with my stomach growling and have not been hungry since. Seriously, I would have never believed it! I have even cooked for my family and I couldn't have cared less! That is the very best part! Hang in there, I am not very far along but so far it has been totally worth it!

Surgery yesterday, all went well. Discharge tomorrow.... so the journey begins. Good luck to all of you!

Started my 2 wk preop liquid diet for my July 10 surgery.....I know what you feel like to be unprepared! My BMI is 37, and it has been for the last year. I haven't really lost any since I have made the decision to have the surgery last fall. These next 2 weeks are going to be tough-5 day camping trip with the family...those protein shakes aren't exactly beer and smores-so, I am just dreading this. But I think about how bad I hate being fat. it consumes my every day and I hate myself for that. I am sure that everyone here has similar feelings, but it doesn't make this much easier!