The Greater Fool

Thanks for the correction. I guess things have changed as all my DS friends claimed no restriction back when. They often taunted me with the amounts and types of food they ate. ETA: Also, my DS friends all had theirs done in a single surgery, and this was 16-20 years ago. So while some surgeons may have done it in two surgeries, at least some didn't.

Narcotics. Lots of narcatics. Seriously, the migraine meds I tried either conflicted with other meds, or didn't work, or were worse than the migraine. I had liver issues, so anything hard on my liver is a no-no. I take narcotics for chronic joint pain from arthritis, DDD, and carrying around an extra 400 pounds for 20 years. For migraines, a cool compress in a dark, quiet room with meds to make me sleep until it's gone is my go to. One migraine years ago, probably my worst ever, I slept for 5 days. It got so bad I was afraid I was going do die. Then it got worse, and I was afraid I wouldn't die. Fortunately, they are getting less frequent. I think it is the weight loss primarily, but I've also change my job to be much less stressful. Hang in there, and good luck with surgery. Tek

Your profile says you are getting Mini Gastric Bypass. Sleeve is different. Back in the day, MGB had issues. I don't know if it's still true, but be sure what you are having done to your body. I think all of us worried if we were choosing the right surgery and if that surgery would help us defeat our negative habits. It's up to you to think it through for your situation. Just about any restrictive surgery (RNY, sleeve) will help with comfort food because for many months you won't be able to eat much in a sitting. This can still be defeated if you graze (eat small amounts constantly, aka snacking). As such, initially you will need to focus on eating habits, like only eating at the table and allowing meals to last only 30 minutes. Good habits are what your building. Mal-absorption procedures (RNY, DS) mean that not everything you eat is absorbed as well as now. Basically, if you eat 500 calories you may only absorb 499-250. Even grazing hurts your program less but do it enough and it can. Their are other important differences in surgeries: Sleeve is only restrictive; RNY is restrictive, malabsorbtive, and about 50% of patients dump; DS is not restrictive, more malabsorbtive, and no dumping. I knew many people that went with DS because they did not want to change eating habits. I chose RNY because I did want to change. Think it through. Good luck. Tek

I actually appreciate getting opposing views and opinions from folks. Generally, my OCD causes me to think (repeatedly) through all the possibilities I can imagine, after which point I make a choice. If someone, anyone, brings up a new view that makes me unsure, then there must be something there. I then discuss, beat it to death, then rethink everything repeatedly, then make a choice... again. So, if you can be made unsure, think everything through and choose. Then, if you hear the same argument again, you can dismiss it out of hand because you've already put the thought in and don't need to do it again. If you honestly believe you can lose weight without surgery then you are correct to pause. Rearranging your insides is a drastic move, particularly if you don't believe you need it. I believed I could lose it without surgery for 20 years. I was stupendously wrong. Drastic was all that was left. Losing weight without surgery is hard. Losing weight with surgery is hard differently. Good luck, make the right choice for you. Tek

For me, stress that you are putting on your body through now would give me a migraine that would put me in bed for a couple days hoping I would die soon. Fortunately, I didn't have any special diet leading to surgery, but post-op I did have a wopper migraine. The good news for me is that my migraines have become rare visitors. I had a horrible one about a month ago when I realized I hadn't had one in over a year. I hope you can hang in and have similar results as me or better. Good luck. Try to relax, you know what to do. Tek

There may not be many new games, but most of the old games are still out there and doing well. Everquest (the first I played) is still there, Everquest II, World of Warcraft (too cartoony for us), all the Ultimas, just off the top of my head. But, if and when they unplug EQ/EQ2, we probably wouldn't move to another. My wife learned EQ mechanics and has never been able to adjust to other game mechanics. Somehow, the first way is the right way, all others are wrong. Good luck, Tek

Just to be clear, I don't think even regular cookies, cake, or even candy are necessarily evil. Eating such one once in a while is not the end of the world. I've eaten such things over the years. I don't really remember, but I'd bet I ate such things at least once in the first 6 months. When I do, even these years later, I am exceptionally cautious because I know I'm playing with fire. My comment about my support group used someone else's post that responded perhaps a bit critically to you. My surgeon's plan, amazingly, did not include cookies, sweets, and such. However, the support group was all about eating off plan and how to not dump. This is support I didn't need nor want. However, imagine you've had surgery. You're in pain for a few days. You get through the first 3 months and now you are finally able to eat generally with success. You are losing weight. Now that you are doing so well, you decide to treat yourself to cookies, or candy, or whatever. Let's say cookies. You eat one. Two. Three. You now wait, wondering if you may have gone too far. Will you dump? After all, in your research you learned that only about 50% of post-ops actually dump. Then you dump furiously and horribly. Sweats, lethargy, sickness, etc. Was it worth it? I hope not, but what if it is? Worth it or not, what have you learned? How will it impact future choices? Worse, you didn't dump. Didn't even feel anything negative. THIS is the scarier scenario, and it scares the crap out of most post-ops. What did you learn? That you can eat cookies with impunity. That is a dangerous lesson. How will it impact future choices? Good luck. Tek

Thanks. Las Vegas is where I had my surgery. Good luck. Tek

... when you get annoyed when people keep commenting on your losing weight. Tek

wrong thread. I don't know what Blossom is. This is a clever way of covering my mistake.

Anxiety often makes me screw up the mechanics of eating in one way or another. It is possible to eat even puree too quickly. Pause between small bites. Check with your Doc/Nut on what you are pureeing. Back when I did puree, it was supposed to be much protein, little other stuff. If I ate what your are eating it would kick me to my arse, even now 17 years later. Oatmeal would plug me right up if I didn't drink with it. If your Doc/Nut are ok with what you are eating, then don't worry. Plans differ. I'm just a voice on the interwebs. Good luck. Tek

Yes, we all have different plans as our surgeons / nutritionists have different beliefs and theories on how to use their surgery. It's OK. Following the plan is most important now. You are about 6 weeks? Follow the plan. Don't worry about your weight. The scale is lying to you. Your body on your plan has minimal calories, so you ARE losing. With all your water, you may be retaining fluids. Have you asked the Doc/Nut about the headaches? What did they say? Demand answers and actions. Interestingly, the 64oz a day of fluids thing was pulled out of someone's backside way, way back with no evidence. Studies don't support it. 80oz water MAY be causing the headaches and hunger. I know when I drink too much, I get headaches and hungry because that much water just washes everything through. Remember, there is nothing between your mouth and your intestines, everything goes straight through. Its the big reason you are not supposed to drink when you eat, to give the food a chance to move through slower. Don't start snacking yet (IMHO). Healthy snacks are still snacks and off plan. I did SF Popsicles as snacks. They satisfy the eating urge and count as fluid. I still eat them when I think to grab 'em. This *IS* difficult. You had yourself cut open and your innards re-arranged, the very definition of drastic. Talk to your Doc/Nut about how you feel. Exactly what you are doing. If they don't give you an answer or solution, DEMAND one. It's up to you to advocate for yourself and get them to understand. Tek

This is why I stopped attending my surgeon's support group. All they talked about is how to eat what they weren't supposed to. Not the kind of support I needed.

Congratulations.

Me too. Don't tell, it's a secret.

I'm not sure that's true. And I'm sure she wasn't talking about things, like complications, that are outside of our control. In fact, it is completely about doing what *IS* in our control. I have had complications (both medical and situational) that I worked with my team to work with and around. They modified my requirements which I worked hard to accomplish. In spite of my issues, it was STILL about working my program and doing MY job. Whining wouldn't help. We have a job to do. We chose to accept it. We need to do it the best we can. Complications make it harder, but it still is up to us to do what we can. I'm sure you're not advocating that complications mean we don't have to still do our best to succeed? Nor is Lelaini.

I've been torn replying to this. First, be assured that every post-op has or will at some point test their surgery. The lucky ones feel like crap after. Are you feeling lucky? Now, imagine how you'd feel if you DIDN'T feel like crap? This is rather the point. Even now, 17 years post-op, I can't eat that much in a single sitting. I applaud your sticktoitiveness. The question now becomes: What will you do with what you've learned? A friend of mine wrote this back when. It's not directed at anyone, as most of us have gotten frustrated at some point. Leilani was not one to pull punches: THERE'S NO CRYING IN BASEBALL!!! By: Leilani That's the sentiment (scenario) that comes to mind sometimes when I hear some of the comments from people who've already had the surgery. In case you haven't made the connection, that's a line Tom Hanks made famous in the movie "A League Of Their Own." Resorting to tears or just giving up every time the going gets tough. Or your sick of taking vitamins, getting in protein is hard, water doesn't taste good, etc. That kinda' thinking is NOT going to make you successful or keep you healthy. ENOUGH already! It's time to LOVE yourself enough to get "TOUGH" with your aftercare. Your long term health is worth it!! Success comes with a backbone, NOT a wishbone! First and foremost, you have to keep it POSITIVE. As with everything in life, if you think you can't - you WON'T! Simple enough? I have to wonder when "we" (as adults) finally take ownership for our actions, our life and our health? We have been given a gift, a second chance to actually LIVE life again instead of merely existing on the sidelines. It's up to each of us to do that as healthy and productively as possible. We're ALL statistics waiting to happen and the insurance companies are chomping at the bit. The bean counters are eager to drop Weight Loss Surgery ("WLS") from the policies; some already have. Don't you know that any negative feedback thrown into the mix only strengthens their cause? I may not be able to control every thing that happens to my body after WLS, but most things I can. I CHOOSE to take control and I will be a positive statistic when the numbers get counted. We live in a spoiled society, expecting everything in life to come with a buncha really cool choices. Well, guess what? When it comes to your health, you're not always going to get a choice. You either DO IT and stay healthy, or you DON'T and your body pays the price. The way I saw it, I had a 90 day healing and adjusting period after surgery. My 'super morbidly obese' body had more then enough stores to survive the learning curve. In turn, it gave me plenty of time to heal, adjust and learn. For those of you OVER 90 day's Post-Op, the probation period is over - its time to get serious and LIVE what you've learned. You say you can't get in enough liquids through out the day, don't like the taste of water, or just keep forgetting? -- TOUGH! It's not an option anymore. Find a way to do it, get suggestions and tips from others in support groups, message boards, etc. Read, learn and JUST DO IT!! Why do you think there is a choice here? You say you don't like the big horse pill type vitamins, or the tart chalky chewables? ...it's, just too many to bother with? Or maybe you just can't remember to take them? -- TOUGH! You gave up the option NOT to take vitamins when you agreed to have your insides rerouted. FIND a way to get them in; crushed, minced, chopped, liquified, in a shake, etc. No exceptions, your health depends on it. Protein is a must. So you can't get it all in via foods and you don't like the way the shakes taste? -- TOUGH! Either get it through your meals (and there are a gazillion food choices out there) or supplement it with protein shakes and bars. Trust me, I don't drink my protein shake every morning because I think it tastes like a chocolate blizzard from Dairy Queen. I've tried many varieties over the last 2 years. I'd even venture to say 25 of the top sellers/flavors have crossed my lips. For the record? I've yet to find one that is as 'delicious' as boasted by the distributor. So what. I still drink one every morning. My HEALTH dictates that I need "X" grams of protein per day. If I'm not getting enough from my meals then I supplement a shake. 'Nuff said. This surgery is a gift, I owe it to me and everyone else fighting the approval process, to do it right! I will continue to choke down my vitamins, my water and my protein every single day, for the REST OF MY LIFE. Some days will be easier then others, regardless, no days will be missed. It's all about discipline. Create a routine, set a timer, develop a pattern, tie a string around your finger, glue a note to your forehead, whatever it takes. You're an adult - take responsibility! If this surgery doesn't slap a back bone into you, not much will.

Congratulations.

I guess I was fortunate(?) to be too large for any scale but my surgeons. Ever heard "Lies, damned lies, and statistics"? I'm sure Twain was speaking of scales. I learned to measure my progress by evaluating: 1) compliance with my program; 2) how I felt; how my clothes felt; how my life felt; These are the important things, not a damn scale. I still don't weight at home, and only at doctors when asked. It's just not important to me. Do you. Tek

Tom-a-to / to-mah-to. However, Carbs and sugar become energy better than protein. Protein, on the other hand, works better for muscle repair (building). Timing is a factor. Carbs before exertion. Protein after. But, to your point. Yes, calories in, calories out. Focusing on calories only is a trap, just like so many other single issue traps. Tek

I had no intention to exercise. Exercise was boring and very painful. After about 2 months and 60+ pounds I felt lighter and wanted to try moving around more. I started walking about more. Went down on the strip, malls, museums, aquariums. Just around and people watching. Eventually we were walking about 8 miles several times a week. But exercise? No way. After about 10 months and 200+ pounds, I just felt like I had and abundance of energy. Almost floating, it seemed. I thought I'd see if I could run. I bought "Idiots guide to running" which had a program to run 30 minutes in 30 days, and managed to complete it. I listened to audio books to pass the time. But exercise? No way. Month 13 and 250+ pounds down, I was still running. Listening to the Dark Tower (7 books), so runs got longer until I was running 90 miles per week. Over the next year I ran 5 marathons. I never did exercise. Exercise is boring and an obligation. I didn't have surgery to live on a diet and do things I never wanted or enjoyed doing. Walking, then running, was a joy. Do you.

Sorry for the delay, I somehow missed your reply. No, I'm not proud because I feel the surgery did the heavy lifting and I just went along for the ride, if that makes sense. I am proud of some of the things I've done since, like kayaking, hiking, running, 5 marathons, and dare I say it... better 'relations' with my spouse.

It was a one off situation. I was apparently sick, not eating much, so when I drank an overly sweet drink with my meds (that make me thirsty) everything just clobbered me. As you likely know personally, we still learn new and exciting things to avoid.

Distractions are very individual, I have OCD so I can spend hours doing simple and repetitive tasks. I enjoy reading and can get completely absorbed. Hours fly by. [ETA] Also, one doesn't need to read at home. I get most of my reading done on vacation where ever we go. I go to a park and read on nice days. Read at a cafe while lingering over coffee (sneek in people-watching). I ran a WLS Non-Profit educational site and message board. Lot's of time went into that. I've done comparable several times with other topics. My spouse and I played on-line MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Roll Playing Game) which was/is amazingly immersive. Hours of fun and talking with friends, if it's your thing. There are also a wide variety of on-line and PC games that were/are equal time-sinks. Puzzles. I could spend hours doing simple things like Tetris. Legos. A paperclip. I'm easy. Hobbies: I love building and flying Radio Control gliders. They float like magic. Again, hours and hours of hours and hours. Over the years I've also built furniture, remodeled, landscaping, drawing floorplans. Artistic folk in my family paint, knit, crochet. Learning: If I get an interest in something, I learn about it. Astronomy, I read books, took classes, attended seminars; World War 2, again classes, books, seminars. WLS, same thing. How the brain works. Computers. For work, I'm a programmer. My OCD comes in handy. I am always the person to learn new stuff because I can read a manual and do the work. I don't give up, I spend the time to get done correctly on time. I do work noodling on my time if I have an issue I can't solve. Any passing interest is an obsessive opportunity.

I'm new here also. Welcome to us all. While I'm new here, I'm not new to WLS having had RNY in 2003 and being fairly active in other communities back when. I'm exceptionally thrilled with my situation, not that there haven't been ups, downs, pain, joy, brushes with death, and the heartbreak of eczema Tek