Sherrie Scharbrough

One of the best books that I have is "EMOTIONAL FIRST AID" by Cynthia Alexander. Good read and good info. I loaned minew out and never got it back I hope this willl help.

I would have my RNY again and again!! Even with my hick ups from the Strictures!! I feel better than I have in many years!! I have maintained my 125#'s for over 3 years. I got below my goal weight in 6 months, I did gain 8#'s back. It made all the difference in the world. Who would think that 8#'s would be great!! YES every time. I won't say that I wished I would have done it years ago because I don't feel like I was ready at that time. It takes a lot of work to get where we have to go. Thanks for this group. It is one of the best supportive groups going.

Actually that isn't the whole truth. I think years ago it was a problem. Now I hear of it going the other way. My hubby had a Sleeve last June and he has the back door trots almost daily. Especially if he eats something that doesn't agree with him. Coff/cream to much fat almost always with sugar. Check it out.

Don't get me wrong...my hubby is a Navy man and because of his service I have coverage thru CHAMP VA and I will be covered for the rest of my life!! I pay no copay when I go to the DR. I get most of my medications for free thru the mail. Thank you honey!!! But...he doesn't have the great coverage that I do. Sure his going thru the VA is free and his medications are free also. But now let me tell you a horror story. For 3 years he went thru the VA with a tumor on his kidney. They never told us anything about it. Said it was more than likely a benign tumor like he has had in the past. So for 2 and1/2 years we did everything that they told us to do. Cat scans etc. Out of the blue while he was seeing them again the DR says, YOU know it is CANCER right. My lip dropped to the floor. Here he is and a DR that had never seen him (the VA of course) telling us that he had Cancer. On and on it went. The advocate of the VA told us that we had a case and we should sue the Goverment. BTW they told him he had 5 years if he did nothing. We took him outside of the VA and this Spealist took one look at the cat scan and said it is cancer. But due to his size they couldn't do anything until he has lost 130#'s. Back to a Kidney (oh yes he had 5 years and the last 2 would be HELL) Dr we went because he had lost 120#'s this was 3 weeks ago and they were supposed to call to let us know if they could do the freezing after his weight loss. Then today I get a letter stating that the Kidney DR wouldn't get paid by the VA. After they told him that they will pay a outside DR from the VA. This is really not fair at all. They have waisted almost 4 years waiting to do anything. I guess I will stop BITCHIN!! If you all don't want to listen to my rant I will understand. I guess what I am saying that our area of DR at the local VA have let my hubby down BIG TIME!!! Again my RANT IS OVER ALSO!!

I didn't have the DS or the Sleeve but I did have a RNY. I just wanted to add my 2cents worth. You hear people state that they had the Sleeve because it is less invasive. Well I think removing 80 to 85 of your stomach seems like it is pretty invasive. I have heard of lots getting revised to the RNY because of complications from their Sleeve. Lots with acid reflux. I had lost my weight in 6 months. My lowest weight was 117#'s but I did gain 8#'s back, Health wise those 8#'s made a huge difference in how I felt. So I have maintained my 125#'s for over 3 years. I know your ?'s were which surgery should I go with. If someone said I opted for the Sleeve because of the malabsorption that is a little better to swallow than not getting the RNY because it is to invasive is another thing. I know that each of us need to investigate every WLS offered. Just do yourself a favor and look at all of the offered surgeries!! Let your DR help you decide because they have been in this for qui and know which is best for you!! Sorry for blowing up your post. Have a great day!!te awhile

Can I ask what plication is? I don't believe I have heard about this one. Thank you

First off my hubby and I have been married for 43years!! But...he has always been very open about his preferances. Mind you I weighed 142#'s when we got married. He has always told me how he has never seen me as fat he see's me as the day we got married. With that said, I know he prefers "THICKER WOMEN" so it has been very hard for me to feel sexy. He has made comments about me being nothing but skin and bones!! He alsom said sense I lost my weight he has to check the covers to make sure I am in there. All fun and games from him. But it makes me doubt myself again and again. I know he loves me and we are the best of freinds too. You see we are both retired and atre together all the time. This is just something my mind plays on. Before it was WELL, I am to fat to be desired (of course that was dumb because we have always had a very healthy sex life) Our minds are very powerful. It makes you beleive many things like I weigh 125#'s but I see the FAT ME still. Any how I will shut up now and I hope I didn't bre you all to much. Have a great day!!

Congratulations on getting your surgery date. It is totally normal to be a little worried!! It is the fear of the unknown. Each of us go thru it too. But just remember thru it all just remember why you are doing this and KEEP I look forward to following your journey!! ON KEEPING ON!!!

I have alwaysd been a shaver, I have done this most of my life. I know that some are totally against it but I feel like it keeps me fresher. I had a cath with all of my surgeries. But like I said I was not worried as my bits are taken care of. Since my RNY I don't know why but I defintly don't have the hair down there or on my pits. Shaving is almost a thing of the past. LOL

So HAPPY everything went so well for you!! Great hearing all of the positive stuff. You don't always hear the good stuff mostly the complaints. LOL I only wish my hubby would have went thru BariatricPal. They are even cheaper than where we went. His care sure lacked alot!! It is another case ofm him thinking that you pay for what you get. He thought because he paid more they had to be great Surgeons!! NOT. Again so glad everything worked out for you!! Keep us postedon your journey!!

I also have FIBROMYLGIA. I have Osteoarthritis, Psoriasis Arthritis. I have used so many Opiates. I was dignosed. 1997. I got lucky because my Dr had Fibro also, so he knew all about it. Back to the medications I have been on. They put me on MARINOL which is the THC from pt. It was a joke. I have made brownies and smoked it for my pain.. The thing is you don't know exactly how much to use so I overdosed myself a couple of times. Man the PARANOIA I just knew I was going to the ER and would have to tell them what I did. LOL Then they put me on METHADONE, this distroyed my Cognitive abilities like noones business!! Then they put me on VICODIN, I took high doses of it. After I moved back from Idaho to Roseburg, Oregon finding a DR was a real challenge!! When I found one to help me he was shocked to say the least!! The amount of VICODIN that I took were TOXIC!! So he tooj me off of it and gave me FENTANYL PATCH"S. He retired just recently so I had to start all over with a new DR. who is worried about the FDA stepping in and stopping the use of OPIATES at all unless you have Cancer. You talk about the worrying!!! I have had the best coverage of my pain ever. So I had my RNY and I can honestly say that getting my weight off has really helped me out. I never had probems with my knees until after my WLS they tell me if I hadn't lost my weight that I would be in a wheelchair. But now here is the DAMNED IF YOU DO AND DAMNED if youy don't. You all know what they say about exercise helping FIBRO well yes they ARE right, but before whenever you tried to exercise you had so much pain that you wouldn't have been able to exercise!! After my WLS it is totally true about it helping my pain level. They are defintly right in that area!! I still hurt and some days I can't do what I had planned but YES IT will help us but there are just times that I roll up on my couch with a blanket. Good luck to you all

Even many years back our function has always been food!! On our Anniversary what did we do...went out to eat Chinese Food. When our kids were growing up he missed out on so much because he had to work He was a long haul truck driver so he maybe got home Friday night worked onm his truck Saturday and then left on Sunday to get his load to where it belonged. So that was just how it was. Like I said food food and more food. I havebeen asking him to renew our vows (been married for 43 years) He always said NO!! I thought it was because he didn't want to marry me again. I just found out that it was his weight that was holding him back!! He had Sleeve surgery last June and it took him awhile to figure out his fullness. Now thank goodness we are going to renew our vows. He is ready to do some exercise. He has lost over 100#'s. We are going to join a Health Club in May!!! YAY US!! It has taken him a long time to realize that the food doesn't hold him back like before. But he was raised by his Mom alone due to his DAD driving truck long haul. His mom wasn't the feely touchy person at all. She used food to show her love. Now he doesd the same thing to our grandchildren and our dg. He loves them thru food!! He is the huggy type but still needs the food to show them he loves rhem. He trys to do it for me but luckily I am commited to my journey. I am sorry that you are having a hard time. But...just keep doing you!! He might surprise you and come back around. Change is HARD!!!

I was going to recommend some unflavored GENEPRO, it has 30grams of protein in 1 Tablespoon. I add it to my ESPRESSO everyday. For myself I have never enjoyed breakfast (well maybe fried potatoes and eggs in my past life LOL) and I drink coffee all the time so for me it is a WIN WIN!! I noticed that you do supplement protein bars and drink thru out your day. This protein does keep me full. Just a thought. I sip on it all morning.

Exactly!!! I was going to say the very exact thing. Get your WLS get yourself healthy and then see what comes. I have heard on these Support sites that women who could not get PG before they had WLS did have success after their weight loss. Now my kids are well grown up. My son is 42 and my daughter is 37. But I was asked how many kids I had. When I told him that I had 3 pregnancies 2 birthed and 1 misscarriage. He looked me straight in the eye and told me that I shouldn't of been able to bear children. I never had regular periods and I eventually had to have a HYSTERECTOMY because I had PRE CANCERIOUS cells. Which he told me that I would get cancer it could be a day or a month even a year but...I would have cancer. He was the same DR that told me I shouldn't have been able to get PG. My hubby always said it was because he WAS MUCH OF A MAN!!! LOL Any way don't let her discourage you. You do whatever you feel is right for you!! They can be kind of callused sometimes. Good Luck to you!!!

Hi Colleen I just wanted to know if this program is just for the newbies that have had their WLS. I am 3 years and 9months out from my RNY. I have been at my goal weight for 3 years. Do you think this would be something for me or not? Thank you Sherrie

One thing to remember there are lots of outside things that effect our weight loss. I would say to follow your DR.'s guidelines. Try to get your protein in and your water!! These are both so important and will help you on your way. Each person's journey is heir own. Please don't compare yourself to others. Good Luck

Well, I am not a scientist on this at all but...here is a little bit of our humans going on the ATKINS DIET. There were 4 of us. My self, my hubby , my sister in law and my brother in law. We decided that we would go on the ATKINS. I was a little sceptical because in my pasdt I had done everything out there pretty much!! So those three lost weight like crazy!! Not me!! I never cheated one time where hubby had it seemed around every cornor he was cheating a little bit here and there. I NEVER lost 1#. It just goes to say that some do and some don't. I have been guilty of jumping on ones that people were talking about losing so much weight. I ended up having WLS. To get it off and so farkept it off for over 3 years. My hubby finally had his Sleeve last June in Juarez, Mexico. For us this is what has worked and keeps working. Sorry that zi took this post to a whole other round. I hope you all have a wonderful day!! And remember to: KEEP ON KEEPING ON!!!

I am 3 years and 9 months out from my RNY. I did get sick to my stomach and had some cramping. I found that if I drank to fast or happened to take in more than I should that is when it happened most. Or if you are swallowing to much air. You won't always feel like that is what is up but...it can defintly hurt you. Good Luck

I am one of the LUCKY ones!! I had my RNY July 2, 2013. Lost below my goal weight in 6 months, I weighed 117's. I did gain back 8's which I feel so much better. It is weird how just 8#'s made such a difference. I have maintained my `125# weight for over 3 years. Now for why I am lucky. I still feel no hunger!!! No physcial hunger but I do deal with mind hunger a lot. I had some problems with strictures (like scar tissue) I feel like that was the reason I lost so fast!! But hey I'm not complaining!! I am so glad that I had my WLS!! It is one of the best things I have done for myself and my family. Just remember each person has their own journey and no 2 are alike!! Good Luck

My new fav is Asparagus!!! Love it so much. We take it and put a little olive oil (if you don't have that any oil works) sprinkle it with oil, salt and pepper. Then we put parchment paper on a cookie sheet and bake it in a single layer at 350 until slightly browned. It is yummy!! Kind of like popcorn can't stop once you start.

I have found that one of the best things for helping you go is this: Take dried prunes cover with water and steep them until they are soft. Eat a few and drink some of the warm juice. YOU will go!! Years ago I worked in a retirement home as a baker. They always had stewed prunes on the line. If you didn't the oldsters would let you know that they needed their prunes. So any way everyday at our first break we would have breakfast on the line also. Everyday I had a bowl of stewed prunes. It took me the longest to figure out why I got gas real bad and then I had to go Potty!! Those stewed prunes are the best if you are having problems. The key is to not let yourself get so bound up. Believe me it will make you go!!

You have GOT THIS!!! You know what and how to do it!! If you have to go back to the basics you will start losing again. You know you have what it takes because look at how far you have come!! The weight you have lost is incredible, you just need to realize that you have the TOOL for success!! TRUST it again you will be amazed that the tool will be there for you!! BTW don't be so hard on yourself. You are human and will hit giltches along the way. Puyll yourself up and KEEP ON KEEPING ON!!

There is a great site called RULE ME and it helps tyou figure out what you need to be successful. They have plenty of recipes too. My hubby tried the KETO diet thru a person who sets up everything and sends you recipes for your prep work. But he found he didn't care for most of the things she had sent him recipes for. Also we found it to be really expensive to follow. Because we had WLS we thought it was going to help us. But the truth is you can figure out what you need to eat and get tons of recipes on PINTREST. Plus the recipes that were sent to us I had to go online to look up every one of them. They sent the sites email for you to look up. I really think there are many many programs online to help us with that. Hope everything goes ok for you.

I don't know why but it seems that everyone thinks we have to have an emotional reason for being fat!! This is exactly why I don't like to go to Counceling. It is because my parnets or I have been molested it has to be for some reason. What if I eat to much because I love food. In my case I have a husband that loves food as did I. I gained my weight from having babies being married and happy. Plus, I had OBESITY in our family line. I was always the heavest one but some of the younger ones are heavy now too. My dear sweet hubby went in to be HYPNOTIZED to lose weight. The very 1st thing they did was starting to blae his MOM!! He also was a Baker in the Navy!! After bootcamp he started gaining weight and continued on until he was 350#'s when we got married. That wasn't his highest weight at all. He got to over 500#'s. Now he has lost down to 333#'s. He had his Lap Band for 13 years and it malfunctioned. It had eroded into his liver. Had a failed RNY surgery. Fast forward to 2016 that is when he had his Sleeve done in June of 2016. But it defintly wasn't just his mom that made him fat!! So sad. Do you think you overeat because your mom did it? I get so mad about the blame they try to put on someone else. Good luck in your journey. Sorry for the rant.

I don't know your circumstances of your finaces but...if you have to go with the States yu could get help from CareCredit. It is a insureance that covers pets, or your surgery. I hope everything works out for you and if your dad is set on the states let him pay for it and make arrangements to pay him back in installments or something. I can tell you to not go thru BELITE WEIGHT LOSS SITE. We went to Juarez, Mexico and didn't have much as was promised. I have heard good things about this site tho. Good luck