momof3_angels

You could do oatmeal or cream of wheat... but they overfill me way too fast! I say don't do any cereals! Eating protein first should be your goal anyway.

It really isn't as bad as the literature makes you think it will be! I thought I needed liquid everything for a while, and that just wasn't the case. Really... the only pills that sort of filled me up a little were my huge chewable vitamins, but they don't totally fill you up... just take up some of that space.

Honestly, the only advise I have to give is to seek counseling. You both need counseling, together and separately. You need it for your marriage to become stronger. He needs it to figure out what is driving him to drink and overeat. You may need it for other reasons, but I don't know you so I won't pretend that I do. But counseling will help both of you work through your issues and perhaps help him overcome some of what is driving him to drink and overeat. And with that... he may CHOSE to lose weight. He may CHOSE to have surgery to help him. But it has to be HIS choice. And you have to figure out whether you can love him the way he is. Can you love him despite alcoholism? Can you love him despite the fact that he makes unhealthy choices? Can you love him despite the fact that he is fat? If the answer to any of these is "NO", then you need to consider whether or not you should be married in the first place. Or if you decide you want to be married, you need to figure out how to live with him if he doesn't change. Only you know what is in your heart and what you can live with and who you can love through anything. But deal with both of your issues so that if he has surgery (or not), you can support him in a way that will actually help him. And if he wants surgery, go to the appointments with him. Talk to the surgeon and nutritionist WITH him. Surgery is a wonderful tool for weight loss. I hope he takes advantage of it, but he has to be ready for this change.

Request to see a bariatric nurtitionist. Mine gave me handouts that layed out exactly what my diet should be during each phase of my diet (both pre-op and post-op). I followed it almost all the time, and I had great success.

You really should have a long talk with a bariatric surgeon and nutritionist. But let me see if I can help. I will use gastric sleeve for explanations, since that is the surgery I have. This can also be applied to gastric bypass, but please know there is a lot more involved with a bypass than sleeve. I personally don't recommend lap band. Before you get weight loss surgery, you need to consult a physician and a nutritionist. You usually have a requirement of 6 months of nutrition counseling. During this time, the nutritionist prepares you for your post op diet. They start off giving you education on what you need to eat NOW. What you need to eat in your pre-surgery phase. And what to eat post op. A good program will have you continue nutrition counseling for AT LEAST a year post op, in which they will coach you through the stages of your post-op diet through until you reach maintenance stage where you are just maintaining your weight. During the pre-op period, you are also seeing specialists and getting testing for any problems that they may need to know about before your surgery. This includes a psych evaluation usually. And if you do have psych related issues driving you to eat too much, you should take this opportunity to deal with them. Many bariatric patients need counseling. Some need medications like anti-depressants or other psych medications. And some like me gained weight for other reasons (physical barriers). You will likely at least get an EKG if not a complete cardiac workup. You may need a sleep study to determine if you have sleep apnea like so many obese people do. If so, you will get treated for it. They will look for how you swallow, do you have a hernia in the stomach, and other issues affecting your surgery. Once you have jumped through the hoops and are treated for anything you need to be treated for... then you will be cleared for surgery (and no... ongoing counseling does not mean surgery will be delayed). With gastric sleeve, they remove 80% of your stomach, therefore for it immediately restricts how much food you eat. It also resets your metabolism and your hunger/full hormones. In the short term, yes your calories will be VERY restricted. But because you are seeing a nutritionist, they will help you know what to eat during each stage for optimal health. Water and protein first. Then healthy veggies. And you will learn to either not eat unhealthy carbs or eat very limited unhealthy carbs. It will be up to you to follow the recommended diet and stick with it. If you do follow directions, you will learn to eat frequent small but healthy meals every day. And over time, once you are closer to maintenance, you will start to eat larger portions, but sticking to healthy meals. Your nutritionist will guide you to ensure you do not go into starvation mode and that you eat a healthy amount of calories to maintain your weight. Most people do lose a little more than they need to early on... but then gain 20 pounds back and then maintain your weight there. The key is to stick to the recommended diet so that you don't KEEP gaining. You will also get blood work done every 3 months or so and have follow up appointments with your surgeon's office for at least a year. So, with the surgeon and nutritionist, you will be closely monitored. They will make sure you don't end up with vitamin deficiencies or other problems related to rapid weight loss. You will take daily vitamins and calcium as recommended. Your diet will be high in protein and low in carbs and fats. (So not really Keto... but many do keto post op). The carbs and fats you eat will be healthy carbs and fats if you stick to your diet. But this isn't a "diet" per-say... it is a lifestyle change. You are re-learning how to eat healthy. You are re-learning how to eat small to normal portions. And if you stick with it under nutritionist supervision, you will NOT go into starvation mode and you will not gain the weight back. Problem with all the fad diets is that there is no long term (psych) counseling, nutritional counseling, medical follow up. Most people eventually go back to their old ways. And gain everything back. If you are following the program with the bariatric team, they will help you prevent going back to your old ways. But seriously... only you can decide how successful you will be, based on your willingness to follow through. Again... if you need to, get counseling. See your surgeon and nutritionist regularly and follow their guidance. If you need CPAP for sleep apnea, wear it. If you need other medications, take them. Etc. I am 2 days shy of 6 months. I am at a NORMAL body weight. I am 6 pounds from my personal ideal body weight. I am following the recommendations of my team. And I can now eat double what I could 3 months post op and still maintain my weight and I am still losing a pound here and there. Again...talk to your bariatric team for better information, but bariatric surgery is a TOOL for weight loss. It is only successful if you follow your program. But it is also the best tool out there to reach your goals if you have dieted and failed in the past. But if you follow your program, they will give you additional tools to make you successful (nutrition and psych counseling are two of your best weapons... use them!)

Your body is healing from surgery. Not uncommon for heart rate to be up. Add dehydration to the mix and it is more likely. And fatigue is VERY normal post op. Hang in there, get your fluids in as best as you can. If you are still concerned, check in with your doctor. Sent from my SM-G955U using BariatricPal mobile app

Sometimes tomatoes bother my stomach... but most of the time it is fine. I do peel cucumbers before eating them but they are fine. Sent from my SM-G955U using BariatricPal mobile app

I worried about WLS too... but it was the best decision for me. Honestly, I think removing most of your stomach has less complications than lap band and is safer. And sleeve has a better outcome. And many people regain the weight as soon as they remove the lap band. Sent from my SM-G955U using BariatricPal mobile app

LOL.... nope. Not just you! Even with obesity or breaatfeeding I have never been bigger than a full B. And boobs are always the first to go fod me. Sent from my SM-G955U using BariatricPal mobile app

I take my meds the way I always have. I only had to break one in half the first couple weeks. When you take your vitamins, take them at a different time than your medications until you can tolerate all at the same time. I had to use chewable vitamins for the first few months, but now I can take 1 large one with my mor ing meds. I dont eat right away, so getting food in is not a problem. Sent from my SM-G955U using BariatricPal mobile app

LOL... my bariatric vitamin is way bigger than an M&M! Of course, no way I could have taken it before 4 months post op... but have no trouble with it now (almost 6 months). I take it with 3 very small medications. Immediately post op I could only swallow pills the size of maybe half an M&M.

I wan't told I can't have ibuprofen... but it definitely affects my stomach! I can take 2 regular strength tabs once in a while, but I really need to eat with them now, much moreso than before. And I canNOT tolerate a higher dose.

It depends. Most insurances want your BMI to be 40 or higher without co-morbidities or 35 and higher for someone with co-morbidities. Sometimes they will go with lower BMI, but you have to check with your insurance on that. If you want insurance to pay for it, you will have to meet their guidelines. If you are going to pay cash... go for it!

Pretty much all of it. I had co-pays for doctors visits $30-40, and then some $100-200 co-pays for surgery and procedures. But that is a drop in the hat compared to what it could have been!

It takes time, but if you work at it, you will get there! I am only trying to tone. Slow going but seeing progress. It is good that you are starting with a personal trainer. They will help you a lot. Just consult your nutritionist about the food for building muscle. I don't think a lot of personal trainers have experience counseling bariatric patients on nutrition. I could be wrong... but I can't imagine they have many bariatric surgery customers.

It's possible to keep it a secret, although some people may guess and figure it out. Does your 11 year old live with you? If yes, you need to come up with a plausible reason you are gone for 24 hours or so... and come back exhausted, in pain, and eating strangely. And why you might miss a few days to weeks of work if that is the case. I personally didnt tell my husband until I needed his help scheduling my appointments while I was out of town. I didnt tell my daughter who was 15 until a few days before surgery. I didnt tell my grown and flown sons until a month after surgery, and only because one was coming home for a visit and woukd know something is up. I will NOT tell my parents, siblings, or other family. A lot of co-workers now know, but that was my choice. I see them at work every day and they know I missed a lot of work and lost weight rapidly. I just decided to open up to them, but after my medical leave. Good luck with whatever you decide! Sent from my SM-G955U using BariatricPal mobile app

I try not to. I definitely avoid them a lost of the time, but I give in periodically. I still eat pizza. But 1 piece instead of many. A "wrap" instead of a sandwich with yeasty bread. Sent from my SM-G955U using BariatricPal mobile app

Glad to hear it! I hope she becomes supportive. Keep us posted and good luck tomorrow! Sent from my SM-G955U using BariatricPal mobile app

I wanted to keep my digestive tract in tact without rearranging the parts or how it worked. I also did not want foreign devices in my body. Gastric Sleeve removes a lot of your stomach, but does not rearrange your parts. Also, I had a lower BMI and was confident I would lose all my excess weight with the sleeve. Sent from my SM-G955U using BariatricPal mobile app

Usually BMI over 40 gets approved, but there are other tests involved in the approval process as well. Sent from my SM-G955U using BariatricPal mobile app

Even if you lose a little too much, most seem to gain 20 pounds back then stabilize. Discuss with your doc your ideal weight, when you hit it you will increase calories to maintain it. But you have to watch how much and make sure you dont over correct and gain too much back. Sent from my SM-G955U using BariatricPal mobile app

LOL... going back to work is a blessing and a curse! Distraction is good though, as long as you have the energy to get through the day. And veggies are great! Just start slowly with cooked veggies. After 4 weeks I was given the ho ahead to eat anything (healthy) my stomach could tolerate. Start with soft veggies then progress to firmer ones once your doc gives the all clear. It is funny, I could eat broccoli and celery before I could tolerate lettuce. I would have thought the opposite. Have only been eating salads for a few weeks now.

I had surgery in November. I will be travelling this summer, and part of my meals on this trip I will be offered wine with them. While I thought I should always defer, especially since I am less than a year post op... my nutritionist said a little will be fine by then. I seriously wouldn't even consider wine during weight loss mode. Don't need ANY empty calories. But i am almost to maintenance mode. And by summer I WILL be in maintenance mode. Plus my trip is a walking trip... I am literally walking across Northern Spain. During that time, carbs won't matter! But I still will only have a few sips here and there. No reason to go to bad habits after taking such a drastic step to lose weight. So... a little here and there is fine, but be careful you don't undo all your hard work! And also beware: after surgery, many people report their tolerance level is much lower, and people get "tipsy" a lot faster!

Yes, eat slower and walk walk walk! But it is always best to get it checked out too if you think it could be anything other than gas or eating that is triggering it.

Definitely ask your medical team about vitamins and other medications. My team had me take my bariatric vitamins pre-op to test them out, others wait until post-op to start them. You don't need much for recovery. How long will you be out of state? And will you have someone with you who can shop for you? Hospital: You only need the comfy pair of clothes that you wore to the hospital to get you home. I also brought a pair of shorts. And I had a small firm pillow that I left in our car for the ride home. I didn't use ANYTHING else I brought to the hospital lol. OK... maybe my phone and charger, but that is it. Afterwards you need your clear liquids or full liquids depending on what the doc sends you home with. My doc sent me home with clear liquids, but for him he added my protein shakes. Broth and tea are great post op, as are jello and popsicles. I don't think I had anything else the first couple days post op. Bring any of your prescription medications with you, then your doc will send you home with a bunch more for pain/nausea/stomach protection etc. Some docs will give you liquid medications post op (including your normal prescriptions). My doc only gave me a couple liquid prescriptions, the rest were pill form. I couldn't swallow any large pills, but had no problem with small pills. I had 1 pill I had to break in half... so make sure all your medications can be broken in half if you have larger pills. You will definitely be told to stop most if not all your medications the morning of surgery. You may be asked to stop some longer. Anything potentially blood thinning you will stop a couple weeks before surgery (Aspirin/NSAIDS and such usually). But each doc is different. I only took a medication for my heart rate the morning of surgery. Most everything else I took until the day before surgery. But there were some meds I don't take routinely that I was told to stop before that.