Danny Paul

I had heart by pass surgery and compared to that laparoscopic surgery should be a lot easier. I was on pins and needles prior to my weight loss surgery. I thought of all the worst case scenarios and finally the surgery was done. My friend who had a major life saving operation a few years ago went through the same feelings prior to his recent WLS. It's only natural to feel concerned when it comes to major events like surgery. Good luck and look forward to better health.

So do I. My A1c prior to surgery was 8.2 right now 18 months after surgery with no meds my A1c is 6.0. What would it have been with a by pass? No way for me to know. I will tell you that I have cut out 90% of processed sugar ( still in some foods that I eat) and cut cut my carb consumption tremendously. My endocrinologist says that everything combined is helping to control my diabetes. It's always best to do your research so that you can make an informed decision.

It seems that the first friend might have not meant any malice but was surprised that you lost a great deal of weight. Her reaction is typical of many who are caught off guard. By saying I want the old back she probably was referring to the type of relationship she previously had with you. Some people equate dramatic weight loss with a change in personality and she for some reason might have thought that you've suddenly changed. The other friend probably wasn't mad in the literal sense but instead gave you a back handed compliment. In the end as you stated all went well.

I never thought that the simple task of drinking water would be so difficult. I found it a full time job to drink my 48 ounces each day. Thank fully, today I can chug down as much as I want.

Imagine being 147lbs and being told you're overweight. I fluctuate between 155-160 and I'm considered overweight. If you listen to my family and friends they advise me not to lose anymore weight. I say, if you feel good and your co morbidities are either gone or in remission and your blood work comes back ok then you're not only healthy you're doing quite well. Looks like you're on the right track.

Summer, your goal is to exercise out of your bed .I'm sure with determination and guidance you will. How strange life is. I can go to the gym anytime I want but I just can't motivate myself to do so. You on the other hand given the opportunity will probably be a gym rat. Don't know if you had your surgery yet but, I wish you the best and I'm sure we will read positive posts from you in the future.

My drug of choice was food. I don't drink, smoke, gamble take drugs so I derived so much pleasure from food. Once I had my WLS I no longer derived pleasure from food. In fact, I started to despise it. It was there to only give me nutrition, nothing else. It didn't end there, my compulsion to over eat started to overcome me and my good sense. I started eating pastries again because I not only succumbed to my compulsion but I wanted something to make feel good. it was only when I found out that I was a compulsive overeater (through therapy) that I understood the problem. Today, I get my pleasures from my family, friends and my volunteer work. Food is something that fuels my body nothing more nothing less. I don't want to get pleasure from food. If I do,my compulsion to over eat will lead me to fail at my WLS. I've been down that road too many times and failed each and every time. I needed to retrain my mind to accept food for what it was intended to be, a source of nutrition. I corrupted that by making it a source of pleasure and by doing so I lead myself down the road to morbid obesity and poor health. I'm forever grateful for the WLS and for being able to see me for what I truly am, a compulsive;sive overeater who continues to struggle each day. I wish you luck in your journey and I hope you find the things that work for you.

First off, on the subject of WLS no truer words were spoken. I wish the surgeons would stress this much more. What a lot of people fail to recognize is the real potential to lose all of your hard fought weight loss. This is because you did not change your relationship with food. I've learned that people with long term successes did two things (1) change their relationship with food. They now eat to live instead of living to eat and (2) they started some sort of exercise regime. Supergirl, it's a journey for sure but one with many benefits. The good thing, if you work hard at it those benefits can last a lifetime. Good luck.

Attending group sessions and speaking to people post op I find those types of comments are directed towards women more than men. Quite a few women have brought out the comments during group sessions. Rarely do you hear of it being directed to men. Usually with guys it's "hey you're looking good what are doing or what's your secret, I need to try it." If a guy says he had WLS most people say "Wow, it sure makes a difference keep up the good work." Seldom do you hear much negativity towards men as you do women. One woman in my group says that's because women are more critical of each other while guys really don't care. That is why boards like these are so important. We all need a place to go where we won't be judged for having WLS. Charlie laki maika'i

Ask your surgeons office for a referral to a therapist they use. (They all have a preferred therapist)

You are opening yourself up to a life that is healthier. By shedding the amount of weight that usually accompanies WLS overall health gets better. Diabetes goes into remission, Cholesterol goes down, painful joints get less painful, taking less meds. This means less stress on the liver and kidneys and most of all feeling better about yourself. There is a learning curve to be sure. Learning to eat all over again and to make the right food choices. and getting rid of bad eating habits.The kind of things that will help you succeed when the eight month honeymoon period goes and then the maintenance part comes into play. Enjoy the journey and get as much information and help that you think you'll need to be successful.

I have GHI. When I completed all of my tests, nutrition visits and a pre requisites I called GHI. I asked them if I was covered for the surgery just to make sure. The Customer Rep told me that I was covered. I told her that I was waiting for the doctor to submit for the approval for surgery. She said that she could start the process and gave me a control number. I called my surgeons office and spoke to the office manager who was surprised that I could initiate the approval process. Needless to say, I was approved in less than a week. Sometimes it just works out really well.

I didn't get blood thinners as I take an 81mg aspirin each day. A friend of mine who recently had WLS was prescribed post op blood thinners.

Consult with a few bariatric surgeons and get a cross section of views on the subject. Then, armed with that information you should be able to make an informed decision. By doing nothing, you're regain will not disappear.

For me it's my disease of compulsive over eating. Despite my WLS I still have the disease and I struggle with it every day. I go to a therapist who recommended Over eaters Anonymous (OA). It's patterned after Alcohol Anonymous (AA) and I also attend monthly group meetings sponsored by my surgeon. With OA I have a group of people I can call or text if I feel that I will eat something not on my food plan and they offer me constructive support. There are those that can stop eating when ever they want I can't I need to constantly work on it. One day at a time. Seek help and build on your past success. Good Luck.

My sentiments exactly. I told a handful of family and that was it. For everyone else my story was, a bunch of us got together and put $1,000 in a pot to see who could lose the most amount of weight by years end. I came in a distant second as far as everyone knew. At work I told them that the "contest" was among neighbors. At home I told them the "contest" was among co workers. To keep the questions from coming after the "contest" I told everyone a second bet was made to see who could keep off the most weight. No one has batted an eye except when I told them the buy in was $1,000. Good luck and you'll find the overwhelming majority here will not make any negative comments. We are here to support each other.

Being 18 months out I constantly think about weight regain. I'm glad to see that even when there is a weight gain with determination and mindfulness there is a solution. Thank you all for sharing your stories and I wish you success and luck in your journey to lose the weight.

Didnt know this tail bone pain Im experiencing was so common. I too use a pillow between my knees when I sleep.

Mahalo for the kind thoughts.

It's been 18 months since my surgery and what a wonderful 18 months it's been. (Health wise at least) On the day of my surgery I was 221 lbs (starting weight was 130lbs) taking 11 pills for diabetes, heart disease, high BP just to name a few. Today I weigh in at 158 lbs a 63lb weight loss. ( Not much compared to many others on here) But I'm down to just two pills and all of my health conditions are either gone or in remission. I struggle each day to maintain the weight loss but I don't want to go back to being what I was. I applaud and marvel at those who have maintained the weight loss over a considerable amount of time. From my own experience I know that it isn't easy. The lure of food is always there and the bad habits that made one obese are still lingering. Long term success is elusive to many which is why those who do are very special. So, I made it veteran status with my weight loss intact. I'm hoping and praying that I can keep it up for the rest of my life. I know it's one day at a time. This forum has been a source of information, encouragement and most of all a place where I can get truthful insights. Thank you all for making this possible.

My wife waited until one year after my WLS to start the process for hers. We wanted to see how the new lifestyle would affect us as individuals and as a couple. She sees my struggles and I see how she has helped me with them. So, together as a team she will get her sleeve and together we will work to stay with a healthy lifestyle. A few hard and fast rules that I adhere to. I don't eat processed foods as they have no value for me post WLS. I measure all of my foods as I need to know how much I am putting into my body. I don't drink alcohol (never did) or carbonated beverages. I drink fluids 30 minutes before or 30 minutes after I eat. I am mindful of what I want to eat. Most of all I seek support wherever I can get it. As for food prep, I bought an air fryer and this little gadget is great. I cook fish and chicken in it and they both come out very good in little time. Best of all prep for the foods is very minimal.

After my surgery I was feeling dizzy and light headed to the point I thought I was going to pass out. I conferred with my surgeons office and I didn't get much info. I made an appointment with my GP and he said that I was still taking the same level of BP meds that I took before my surgery. He took me off the meds and that did the trick. In a group session someone brought this same topic up and it turned out that she was suffering from a vitamin deficiency. It wasn't her surgeons office that helped her it was her nutritionist. Try going to different health care providers besides your surgeon. I'm sure there is someone who can pin point your problem and help you to resolve it. Sometimes the bariatric surgeon just doesn't cut it when we have problems after surgery.

This was brought up during one of my group sessions. It seems that the body post WLS absorbs alcohol faster since the stomach is smaller. People tend to use the pre surgery amounts of tolerable alcohol as a guide when they drink post op. The body doesn't function the same way. There must be an adjustment in the alcohol intake amount so to not get inebriated when drinking post op. It was also stressed that one should refrain from alcohol post op since alcohol contains empty calories with no nutritional benefits to the WLS patient. In other words you get better weight loss maintenance drinking zero calorie non carbonated beverages.

It would be if you ate it all in one sitting. Spread out over the course of a day you seem to be on track. Keep your water with you and zip, zip zip all day. Just remember to eat 30 minutes after you drink a liquid and drink a liquid 30 minutes after you eat a food. After 18 months I still follow this golden rule.

That's good. The more water you drink the less you have a tendency to eat. I was happy when I was able to gulp water which BTW was around the 7-8 month mark. I also experienced a major stall around my sixth month. From your ticker you have a weight loss of 30lbs if so, this is not a lot of weight reduction. I know a person from my Over Eaters Anonymous (OA) group who had WLS a year ago and lost only 40lbs . That person is addicted to sugar and would eat sugary snacks. No matter what that person did the weight would not come off. The sugar addiction has been abated somewhat with OA and Im sure the person will benefit with additional weight loss. Keep an eye on what you are eating and if all else fails consult your surgeons office. Good luck.