Mountaingal

You will earn to eat slowly and take small bites. 1/2 slice of pizza can take a long time to eat and be enjoyed so much in small bites. Enjoyed as you sit there feeling comfy and wearing small clothes. I am just starting to look in the mirror and think I look like a normal/healthy size person and it is so amazing. You will enjoy your new life once you have dealt with the inevitable grieving process. Good luck with your surgery.

I hope this works out for you. You have struggled so hard to make this happen. Many Drs offices work extra hard these days to accommodate patients as all these insurance problems affect their ability to make a living as well as patients health.I am sure many of us here are waiting to hear the good news of your surgery date in Dec 2015.

Just a thought to share. It might be irrelevant or completely wrong as I am not a Dr but here is what came to me. If you are unable to have your surgery of choice due to the gastroparesis would a plication work? Since your stomach is all still there perhaps the part that is folded over inside itself still can help with peristalsis since it is still "alive". I know the results may now look as wonderful as some other surgeries and they are slower but it might be better than giving up. Also the stats for weight loss look far better in Europe than they do here and in some countries it is the surgery of choice for weight loss. Might be worth looking into. I wish you the very best. My daughter also has gastroparesis and it is no fun.

Truly the best words you could ever hear. Congratulations and much future happiness to you both. Hope Dave recovers fast.

Sounds like it is time to make an appt with your Dr Hokiemama. Wish you luck and hope you do not find any great problem. Are you by any chance from the Blacksburg area ? Your name makes me wonder.

Congratulations. Gotta get some color on those legs! Skorts are nice and comfy as well.

Yes carafate is an anti ulcer/acid medication. Lots of Drs prescribe it for up to 3 months after surgery. You can get Prilosec or Nexium and their generics without a prescription. I took it regularly for two months and found I was much more comfy even though I didn't have reflex or anything. It might help you feel more able to eat and get more Fluid down.At first I could not just drink a shake or anything for that matter. I just kept sipping away for hours. BY the time the first shake was gone it was time to make another one. However that slow constant intake did make me feel much better and gave me some energy. Many people are emotional after surgery. The anesthetic affects some and as someone else said rapid weight loss releases hormones. I agree about asking your Dr about the pain under your breast. I get pain under my left breast but sometime later I always burp so for me gas must get trapped somewhere till I move or digest what I have eaten. It will get better just give it time. Hang in there.

Very good post with lots of salient points that we all need to think about regularly.

I have noticed more of them as well.Thanks for your help Lipstick Lady.

So how did your surgery go Danigirl3?

Maybe your little gadget would make thinsg more like puree if you added a little more liquid. Good luck with your last week.

Kathy, It is a recently FDA approved balloon that is placed in your stomach and inflated to help you feel full and lose weight. It is a non surgical approach as it just goes down your throat (before inflation) while you are slightly sedated. It does have to be removed after 6 months though. They say removal is as easy as insertion. Hope that helps.

Congratulations to you both. I took my bathing suit in but I will certainly need new ones for next season. Thanks to those who listed places we might look for new suits.

Great idea thinside. I also use water flavorings and have done for years. I especially like a pina colada one I found in PA.

Wound care clinics are the best. They help so much and you are being overseen all the time. If you have one near you see if you can get a referal.

My prayers and good wishes are with you both, may God Bless You.

TalkingMountain a big difference for me pre and post surgery is that even though I may feel very hungry at times a small amount of food satiates me. Therefore I think it is easier than pre surgery when you needed to eat so much more to not feel hungry anymore. I walk every day but for how long depends on what else is in my life each day. If you exercise less you will just lose a little more slowly. For me this is the rest of my life and only part of my life so if I don't lose in a rush it is OK. Good luck with your surgery.

Very good idea to talk to your Dr and a visit with therapist might help as well. Many people do not share their decision to have surgery with anyone other than their spouse. Talk to your husband about how much you need his support. If he is there for you you will do fine. Just keep remembering this is for your health and no one should prevent you from taking care of yourself. I am sorry you find yourself in this situation.

Maybe putting food in a blender to make it finer would help. You could pulverize the ham for your bean and ham soup for example and then add it to the soup.

I am 2 1/2 months out and have been using the divided kiddie plates. At times when I feel extra hungry it lets me know when I would need to stop but so far as others have said I get full before I can eat it all. I think it is that old my eyes are bigger than my stomach thing.

Nice to know I am not alone. I have the same feelings.

I expect that Dr does not have weight issues. Anyone who has struggled with their weight and yo yo'd for years would see this a little differently. Gaining and losing is not good for ones body either. Surgery helps you not feel as hungry and therefore as tempted to "fall off the bandwagon". It is also "so huge" in your life that I think I really makes you remember all the time what you have done, why you did it and that you need to stick with the plan, the one that will keep you thinner and healthier for life. Just as people have varying opinions about most things Drs have varying opinions about WLS.Do not let this one Drs opinion put you off something you have obviously already researched and decided about. I have spent most of my adult life fighting the weight loss battle. I thought I had won the battle once and stayed at a normal weight for 7-8 yrs but eventually all the weight I lost and more came back. Then age and diabetes kicked in and losing even a pound or two took a huge amount of work let alone 50 or more pounds. I had surgery 2 months ago and though I am losing slowly I am so glad I did it. I have hope now that in a yr or so I will reach a maintainable weight for the rest of my life. Good luck to you.

Keep us updated islesdriveforfive and ChiSue2015. Since this is so new I am sure many of us would like to know how it works for you.

Good luck danigirl 13. Will be waiting for your "it's done" post.

You guys all have a long wait ahead of you yet so I'd like to just say how it is worth it. Your lives will be so much better for going through it and I am sure lots of us out there are cheering you all on.