Stacy160

They kept the oxygen on me the whole time I was in there, and it wasn't humidified, so I was sooooooo dried out and froggy for days afterward. It'll go away.

You said it's like your body is craving a drug...because IT IS. To your body, sugar is crack. Heroin. Meth. That's why I advised you to research it, so that you understand what's happening when you can't stop and why a little always makes you want more, more, and more. Bear in mind too, that excess carbs of any kind can trigger that, so I'd start by laying off candy, soda, and "treats" for a few days, but then also let go of breads, pastas, most fruits (on a regular basis anyway), etc. When you know and understand ahead of time what "just one bite," is going to do to you, not just mentally but physically, you'll have a much better chance of succeeding at this.

I just posted this in another thread 5 minutes ago, so I'm just gonna copy and paste. I've been preaching about sugar addiction...if you think you have a "sweet tooth", there's a good change you're a full-on sugar addict. Do some research...it's as physically addictive as cocaine, and imaging shows that it lights up the same areas of the brain as cocaine addiction does. I always thought I just had a sweet tooth.... it wasn't until years after surgery (and 55 lbs of regain) that I learned about this. Understanding that it's just as real as an alcohol or drug addiction, and recognizing it in myself, has made all the difference in the world in my ability to get off and stay off the stuff. Please research it and understand it. It's the one and only thing that I wish I'd known about ahead of time.

Absolutely!! Many, many, MANY people go into surgery with GERD (me, I had it BAD for years), and come out of surgery never to see it again (yay!! That alone was worth doing it!). It's the people who never had it before who sometimes develop it afterward.

I've been preaching about sugar addiction...if you think you have a "sweet tooth", there's a good change you're a full-on sugar addict. Do some research...it's as physically addictive as cocaine, and imaging shows that it lights up the same areas of the brain as cocaine addiction does. I always thought I just had a sweet tooth.... it wasn't until years after surgery (and 55 lbs of regain) that I learned about this. Understanding that it's just as real as an alcohol or drug addiction, and recognizing it in myself, has made all the difference in the world in my ability to get off and stay off the stuff. Please research it and understand it. It's the one and only thing that I wish I'd known about ahead of time.

Just the opposite actually...I didn't get sick at all, not even with a mild cold, for at least 3 years after mine, possibly longer (it's been awhile). I always figured it was because of all the vitamins. Even 8 years later, I've only had the flu twice and a bad cold a couple of times.

Many people have, including me. Seems like if you didn't have it beforehand, you're more likely to develop it afterward, but if you did have it beforehand, it tends to disappear. Many of us (I would venture to guess a majority) have undiagnosed hiatal hernias that are discovered and repaired during surgery. I had horrible nighttime GERD for years before surgery, and if I didn't take a double dose of Pepcid before bed, I'd wake up choking on stomach acid. That disappeared immediately after surgery. 8 years later, I might feel a slight bit of mild heartburn a couple times a year, and that's generally the evening of a holiday where I've been munching on extra bad stuff (desserts...carbs always, always made the GERD worse) throughout the day.

You only have a week or so left on liquids, you can make it. I'd suggest trying Syntrax Nectar fruit flavors because they're more like drinking Crystal Lite, but it sounds like you've got enough protein to last a lifetime already LOL... so in the meantime, maybe try mixing it into sugar-free pudding or jello, or mix the unflavored into your cream soups.

Took and USED: - Chapstick, #1 by far - Light, stretchy capri-length sweatpants (workout pants actually, sweatpant material) - Sugar-free Ricola drops....was SOOOOOO DRY from the oxygen they kept me on through day 1 and night! - Phone - Listerine and GasX Strips - Deodorant, Toothbrush/Paste Took and did NOT use: - My own slippers and robe - Book (read during pre-op, couldn't stay awake long enough to read much after surgery) - Makeup (Seriously?!? )

It's different for everyone.... my brother was hungry very shortly after surgery, but at 8 years out, I still rarely feel actual, gnawing physical hunger. I can tell when it's time to eat something, but I can't describe that feeling. The head hunger, where you just WANT something? I don't think that nonsense ever goes away!!

Years ago we had a thread running here where people would list all the things they want to be able to do, or have the guts to do, after surgery. It was great, inspiring...so in that spirit I'm starting a new one! The original, if anyone wants to read it (highly suggested!) is here: I very strongly suggest that all of you pre-oppers and newly post-oppers WRITE IT DOWN! Everything you hope for, everything you want to accomplish, everything that you can't even imagine being able to do right now.... you'll be shocked by how quickly you'll be able to start ticking things off your lists. I've spent an hour trying to find mine (which I thought was on the original thread above) and can't find it and I'm so bummed....so, please copy your list and put it somewhere you know you can find it way down the road. And then share your victories as you go.... OK, who's going first....ready? GO!!

Fatty liver... most of us had it. It's VERY common, but it also shrinks fairly quickly and easily. I had no pre-op diet either, but did do low-carb for 3 days before the surgery and just water the day before, just to help get it out of the way. It just makes it easier for the surgeon to move around in there but don't worry.... once they're in there they're not gonna back out just because of you liver. He's just trying to scare you into compliance. Breathe, follow your pre-op as closely as you can, and know that it won't be an issue!

Never, ever. EVER.

I'm loving this, you guys!! 5K was high on my list as well. When I was young me legs could go forever, but I'm sure I had exercise-induced asthma and my lungs wouldn't let me. When I tried it when I was old, I'd outgrown the asthma but my legs wouldn't cooperate! I started training for my first 5K 6 months after surgery and completed it two months later. You can all do this!!! (the Couch to 5K method is what finally worked for me.)

ABSOLUTELY!!!

Regaining weight is very easy, if you allow yourself to go back to your old habits and graze constantly on crappy food! You'll want to follow the rules until you get to goal. Most people find that eating "on-plan" 80-90% of the time allows them to maintain nicely. The trick is, when you do allow yourself a little treat with the kids, or pizza night, or whatever, to not let that become "Well, might as well have more, might as well go crazy and get back on it tomorrow, might as well finish out the week and get back on it next week....well, next week's [insert holiday or occasion here]...remember that from the dieting years? It's a sneaky, sneaky thing but before you're aware of it your "old" self can come for a visit and move right in. That's not to say that you can't enjoy those things ever...you just have to be vigilant about keeping focused, and not get careless about eating whatever, whenever. And I'm preaching this all over the place: If you feel like you have a "sweet tooth" now, please do some research on sugar addiction ahead of time. It's a real, physical addiction and the ONE thing I wish I'd known about, identified in myself, and been prepared for ahead of time.

I had no surgical pain at all, but I did feel like I'd done 2,000 sit-ups, What you WILL feel that's different, when you start eating more than liquids, is where you feel full... pre-op, you know that nice satisfying (and sometimes nauseating) feeling when you're really good and full, and you feel it in your belly? Well....now with your stomach basically gone, your full feeling is going to be waaaayyyy up high between the boobs, like it's right at the bottom of your throat, because it almost is. That'll take some getting used to, don't be surprised by it!

8 years out, I still have my dent. The scar tissue that forms from the tunnel the surgical instruments to through causes that...gravity makes it more obvious when it pulls the tissue around it downward. If you end up with skin removal afterwards, that adhesion will be removed and you'll be smooth as glass.

Greetings from Grand Blanc, Michigan!

YAY girls!! I'll let you know he's in an older building, not a fancy office, but that's because he'd rather keep his costs down....he cares more about his patients than having a flashy image. It's a great practice...I worked with Cari a little years ago, and I would LOVE to work there!

If you don't want to travel as far as Texas, Mark Pleatman in Michigan has a $11,500 self-pay deal worked out with the hospital. That covers his surgical fee, the hospital fee, anesthesia, overnight in the hospital (or longer if needed for some reason), pre-op testing, and two years (if I remember right!) of aftercare. He's done me, my son, and my brother. His office gal Cari is excellent and they do a TON of out of state patients, so they can help with suggesting accommodations as well.

Peaches and cream sounds goooood! My breakfast for a few weeks post-op was Country Peach herbal tea with half a scoop of vanilla protein in it. May have to try these.

My small work group was my second family and I knew there was NO way I could deny what I was doing, and didn't want to. We didn't all work the same days and only worked together on Fridays, so to save myself a LOT of talking and them a LOT of questions, I wrote them a letter! I highlighted my years-long struggle which they'd all been aware of, my reasons for doing it, what I was having done exactly, and what the first few weeks after would be like, then left a copy on everyone's desk. They were all SUPER-supportive and excited for me. I did tell them that I didn't want to advertise it to all our patients, and asked them not to mention it openly in the gym area, and they were great about that. I had the VSG and scheduled two weeks off with the option for a third, but ended up going back for two half-days 10 days in because I felt great and was SO BORED. With the RNY being a much more extensive surgery, you'd probably want a little more than that, depending on what your job isl

Yep! Just try it at home the first time...it's likely to hit you REALLY fast and hard. Be careful not to make it a regular thing while you're still losing, and know that it can throw your maintenance plans straight out the window if it does become a regular thing later on!

At 8 years out, I still rarely feel real, true physical hunger, although I can tell when I need something. It's the head hunger and sugar addiction that's been my demon. My brother, on the other hand..... swore he was starving beginning a couple of weeks after surgery, started eating things too early, things he shouldn't have been, and basically ignoring the rules. It never did him any physical harm, but he's always maintained more of a "maintenance" kind of diet, rather than following the weight loss rules, and that's why now, two years out, I don't think he's lost half of the weight he should have. Tell yourself you're getting phantom hunger pangs from the nerves healing up, or just feeling that sensation because the stomach acid is sitting so much higher (both of which could be true).... but don't give in. When you start even mushy foods and can't finish a quarter cup of refried beans or cottage cheese, and stay stuffed for hours, it'll be a different story!