The Greater Fool

This is what happens when someone is wrong on the internet! Back to the OP, reality is we're going to do what we're going to do, whether drinking, smoking, vaping, injecting, or any of a number of other whatevers, even when our plans forbid them. Statistics apply to groups, not individuals. Statistics describe risk. Choose the level of risk you are willing to take. Not everyone that jumps out of a plane without a parachute dies, but it's probably something best avoided if possible. I recommend a trial run (perhaps two) at home to see how you will be affected. Once you've figured it out, a public run should be more secure. Good luck and enjoy your drink(s). Tek

My surgeon had no general rule against NSAIDs, as he preferred to look at each person as an individual, each of which have different needs. For me, NSAIDs were OK but I needed to monitor for side effects (as with any med). Acetaminophen (Tylenol) was a definite no-no for me as I had chronic liver issues. My WLS was open, so I was in a fair bit of pain. At this point I don't recall if I took the narcotics they gave me or if I just continued my ongoing pain relief. Either way, I was OK. I imagine with the current angst about narcotics a lot of places wait for a need before they hand it out. Good luck, Tek

Some of this changes with the type of surgery you have. I found oxycontin, which is time released oxycodone didn't work for me at all. I do straight oxycodone and manually time release it (take a pill or two every few hours). There is also no crushing or chewing problem with oxycodone, one can even get used to the flavor... if flavor is what you want to call it. I've also found that many meds where I can feel an effect don't last as long as they did pre-op. There is nothing for pain like losing a few hundred pounds. Good luck, Tek

The extent of my pre-op diet was don't eat after 6:00pm the night before surgery. Again, surgeons' have a wide range of differing requirements. I believe the key issue for us is to follow the plan we are given. If you start picking and choosing from different plans then you are on no plan at all. Good luck, Tek

Welcome to the forums. I told my spouse who was 100% supportive. I told the CEO because important arrangements had to be made, and he was also 100%, and being a Doctor of Pharmacology, wrote a supportive letter to the insurance company. I told my parents, from whom I needed medical history, who were also 100% supportive. I didn't tell our grown 4 kids, nor any other family. I wasn't particularly secretive as no family lived in the same area as us. Didn't tell anyone until they happened by and noticed I was missing a few hundred pounds. This is the beginning of when we start worrying about our needs and feelings before anyone else's. Good luck, Tek

I got the foamies in the first month during my puree phase, when I was in a lot of pain from the drains and staples. Once the drains, staples, and attendant pain subsided, so did the foamies. For me, the foamies never seemed to relate to overeating or eating to quickly. I related it more to stress and pain. Been a lot of years since the foamies. Good luck, Tek

I'm glad she is doing better now, and I hope it continues. I'm sure your ongoing support and encouragement has been important to her getting through all this. When she gets sick now, what is it she is eating? What does "sick" mean? What are the foods she's comfortable eating? Is she tracking her food in any way? Where is her weight? This stuff will help folks understand and offer ideas, if necessary. She's apparently doing well now, and she may not want to mess with success. Good luck, Tek

I believe for most people the restriction does reduce over time. I don't know if I'm just lucky or if my aversion to the discomfort of pushing it early on kept me from, well, pushing it later on. However, I'm glad it's still there. I'd wager there are a lot of folks that can eat a reasonable sized slice in a reasonable time, eventually. Good luck, Tek

I'm trying to keep this in the spirit of the thread. You should start a fresh thread on your wife's issues. I'd wager folks here could offer up some good ideas to perhaps help. I had my surgery about the same time as your wife. I dump pretty easily on sugars and fats, but I'm generally able to avoid them or at least avoid the amount that causes dumping. Not always, though. More generally, my restriction is still in full force. If I eat too fast it can still cause pain or discomfort, so again, I try to watch HOW I eat. I most often have issues when I'm eating out or in social situations, as I get involved in conversation and don't pay attention to my eating. I need to always be aware of what I'm doing. I can see this being defeating and problematic for some people to the extent they regret the surgery. I just take it as part of the joy of being me. So, all this being said, I wish I had done it 15 years earlier. I would have the surgery every year if I had to, well, I'm old now, so maybe every 5. Good luck, Tek

Hello again Coop. I'm doing just peachy, So, what kind of issues is your wife having? You are intending to have WLS still, are you worried about similar issues? How does she feel about you having WLS? Tek

Deliriously happy from day 1. Good luck, Tek

Of course reversal of RNY is doable. All the parts are still there. Back then it was taking it down was more of an issue than today, as I knew a person that died during one. Of course being more involved back when, I knew people that died in every surgery since I was running a non-profit to help out. Good luck, Tek

That's the point I've been trying to make, we each have our own crap and while it all stinks it doesn't all stink the same.

To put less [apparently] catty. We each obviously have different requirements and situations. I had far, far, FAR more weight to lose, "Eating a full meal" obviously meant something very different to you than to me. I needed to change what "eating a full meal" meant. I wanted to change every last eating habit, other than my preferences for protein and cheese. I had people try to sell DS to me on much the same terms you use, "eat a full meal", "no restriction", etc. Honestly there was a large appeal to it, but I knew I could easily (EASILY) out eat any such surgery. You may have been sure you would never wake up and decide you wanted out. I wasn't so sure, as I knew my path wouldn't take months, but years to get to goal, if in fact I ever got near it. As I said, I had a long row to hoe. When I lost 200 pounds, it was a promising start. RNY's are often modified, not that I counted on nor cared about that option. I am every bit as enthusiastic about my choice and my reasons as you are yours. I was once even as evangelical as you are. I've mellowed, which surprises me somewhat. Good luck and continued success. Tek

I get that you don't get it. You don't need to. Good luck, Tek

Not that MGB was an option for me in Las Vegas, but lack of reversibility was one of the selling points for RNY for me, as I feared I would take that "out" if the going got tough. I'm an "all in" kinda guy, and I had a long row to hoe.

I was waved away from bread because it tends to ball up and plug the pouch, which I eventually learned first hand. I don't recall how long I waited, or waited after discovering the reasoning was true for me. I've since learned to sip a bit with bread to thin the resulting paste. Raw veggies, like salads? Never been much of a fan, so don't remember how long I left it alone, but I don't think it was an actual rule, at least not one I recall now. I eat the occasional salad, but not in normal rotation. Alcohol, I have to believe there was a prohibition of some length, but again, too long ago to recall the specifics. I don't believe I drank until I lost all my excess weight. I had pretty much abandoned alcohol years before surgery as I tended to binge, well, everything. I've had alcohol since surgery, it goes to my head quicker than pre-op, and if I drink over much the hangover hits quicker and ends quicker so by morning all effects have passed. I really only drink now on vacations with fruity drinks during the day and after dinner cognac. Good Luck, Tek

I was always unrealistically sure I could do it with good 'ol diet and exercise, even at 700+ pounds. I happened to read an article that hid it's true topic about weight loss, so learning about WLS snuck up on me. Other than weight and some related DDD and knee issues, my health was good, but the writing was on the wall. By time I finished the article I spent the weekend obsessively researching until I decided WLS was for me. I rejected the available surgeries other than RNY for various reasons, selected a local surgeon, and started doing tests to get approved. It took about 4 months from that weekend to getting approved and having surgery. Never once regretted my decision. My surgery addressed every issue I asked of it and I followed through on my promises to myself. 18 years later and we are both still doing our jobs. Because of all this I've done things both big and small of which I never thought I'd do in my wildest dreams. Good luck, Tek

No adults have told me I'm fat, but they did bump into walls, poles, miss steps, etc. because they were staring at me. I rather stood out, crowds parted for me to walk through. Now I have to push through like everyone else. Tek

This post along with it's lack of replies has been bugging me for days now. I've been debating with myself on if I should reply or not. I guess it's obvious which side won. First, let me applaud your attempt at putting out some positive energy. With the life issues you've been posting about it's quite a turn. Keep working at being positive and don't let the lack of response to this attempt frustrate things. I'm not one that usually participates in "grateful" threads, what with being the curmudgeon that I am, but I have seen a lot in my time. So let me give a tip or two. Include what YOU are grateful for, the gratefulness that spawned your post. This give readers the option on joining in with your grateful thought or jumping in with a similar thought. "Just because" doesn't give folks anything to work with. People generally don't like jumping in when they don't have a sense of what the thread is really about. Good luck, Tek

You may want to start a fresh thread since this is an old one and not many people are looking back this far. When you start your thread, describe what "worst experience" entails especially symptoms. There are several things that can create "worst experiences" ever. Good Luck, Tek

You may not want to put your email in a subject line, it can open you up in unpleasant ways. If you're posting here, there is no reason we would need your email. Emails are best shared in private. Congratulations on upcoming surgery. "There is no try, just do." Good luck, Tek

Just as one element of dealing with Alcoholism is avoiding triggering situations, the same can apply to at least some eating disorders, that you should avoid triggering situations. If you are triggered by this sites food talk you can get the same information from other places without the triggering food discussions. I stopped going to my Surgeon's support group because the talk was about how to cheat, or at least that's what I got out of it. So I stopped going. There is no law that says we have to allow ourselves to be triggered. Even if others think it's nonsense. Perhaps especially. Take care of you, do what you need to do. Good luck, Tek

I'll bet you learned the same lesson I did all those years ago: Don't eat new dogfood in public. Sniff around it? Sure. But bury it somewhere safe and eat it later in a safe place. Good luck, Tek

I had a complete meal for lunch the day before surgery. I was going to have a nice dinner but I just didn't feel like doing it. My Docs only rule about eating was not after 6:00pm the day before surgery. I was never on a liquid diet, but on a more rational low calorie diet. Food you ate even 12 hours before surgery is no where near the surgical field. So a couple grapes is not the end of the world. Relax. Good luck, Tek