Intro time: who's new to the group, who's pre-op, & who just recently made it to the loser's bench?

[dan57 1]

Hi group, I’m Dan currently living in Texas I have a surgery date of April 24th but still waiting on insurance approval. I’m 60 and glad to see some older folks here as well.
It’s great source of information and I like the way I see folks encouraging each other
I know it won’t be easy but I have a 3 year grandson that’s my driving force to see this thru. HW 342 after my 6 months of Doctor visit I’m 303 looking forward to get down to 200 I’m glad I found this forum and good luck to all on reaching your goals. Dan

[Starfish23 24]

Hello everyone,
I am writing this from New Zealand and yet reading all of your posts makes me feel more connected to you all than some people in my own town!
I am right at the beginning. As in, I have decided that I want and need weight loss surgery. I have visited my Dr who is referring me to the surgeon. I have done some blood tests and signed up to this forum. The surgeon has asked that I do another set of bloods as Zinc was not included in the first round. The surgeons administrative assistant has contacted me regarding booking in my first consultation. That is it.
I am scared. That I will regret having the surgery and I end up having reflux and/or vomiting for the rest of my life. Yet, if I follow the set-out routine and diet, I shouldn't encounter it.
What is worse is the constant battle around food that is going on in my head every single day. If not every single spare moment. I have been seeing a CBT therapist and she agrees that surgery Will be a great tool to help me eat less and not eat for emotional needs. I need to live free of this burden.
I feel like a weak person. For choosing surgery instead of 'putting in the mind work'. However this option is incredibly difficult to get my head around.
Here are my questions, of which I shall ask my professionals as well:
1. What is the worst possible outcome for me if I do not follow a healthy diet?
2. Will I ever truly be free of this burden of self-abuse?
3. Why can't I control myself around food at certain times of the month or when I am going through something difficult? How will having this surgery change this?
So far this is all I have. I don't even know which type of surgery to have. I just need to put all this here so it's out of me and in the hands of individuals who have been where I am right now. Even if no one replies, at least I have been able to articulate how I am feeling at this stage of my journey.
Inner peace and outward strength
Natasa

Hi Natasha, don’t beat yourself up. I had the sleeve in 2015 and it was best decision of my life. Never looked back. My advice to you is if you have heartburn, gastric reflux, do the bypass. If you have a lot to lose, do the bypass. Not the sleeve. I wish I knew bcus heartburn is excessive for with the sleeve. My doctor said he didn’t know I had gastric reflux even though out was Stated in my endoscopy results. It’s so severe and meds just take the edge off. So he is now doing a revision to bypass
to stop the Gerd. Although I happy with the 50 pounds I lost, the doctor said sleeve will not lose as much as the bypass. Then you level off and here I am needing to lose another 60. As far as battling with food, you’re not going to be hungry bcus your stomach will be smaller or even craving bcus they remove the hormone in your stomach that causes all that craziness. You will be shocked. At least I was.
Best person to talk to is your doctor. And the nutritionist. Best of luck and reach out anytime. I’m new on this site also. It helps to talk to someone. I love it. Calms the fears

[Hapamomma 72]

Hi Everyone. I love reading about all of the different journies and posts with tips and encouragement. My surgeon is learning toward the sleeve for me -depends what the endoscopy shows and I had that procedure this morning. I have GERD and have had it since I was a skinny child! He may end up doing bypass for me instead ...

I live in Elk Grove, CA. I worked more than full time. I am a married mom of two. I am a self proclaimed “momager” of my dauighter’s competitive soccer team (team manger). My girls and hubby are thin and healthy weight ... can’t wait to feel like I fit in with them. I sure try ... but its gets pretty tough for me on hikes and vacations when I can’t always keep up.

I have one last weigh on on 5/2 then my packet can be submitted to my insurance company. I am SO EXCITED to finally get lose this weight. I’m also scared as hell. Happy to have have this community.

I see that there is a closed FB page .... but it does not look like it is secret. Does any one know about this?

I hope to get to know more of you and cheer everyone on. We’ve got this people!!!

[NatasaMakris 1]

8 hours ago, Starfish23 said:

Hi Natasha, don’t beat yourself up. I had the sleeve in 2015 and it was best decision of my life. Never looked back. My advice to you is if you have heartburn, gastric reflux, do the bypass. If you have a lot to lose, do the bypass. Not the sleeve. I wish I knew bcus heartburn is excessive for with the sleeve. My doctor said he didn’t know I had gastric reflux even though out was Stated in my endoscopy results. It’s so severe and meds just take the edge off. So he is now doing a revision to bypass
to stop the Gerd. Although I happy with the 50 pounds I lost, the doctor said sleeve will not lose as much as the bypass. Then you level off and here I am needing to lose another 60. As far as battling with food, you’re not going to be hungry bcus your stomach will be smaller or even craving bcus they remove the hormone in your stomach that causes all that craziness. You will be shocked. At least I was.
Best person to talk to is your doctor. And the nutritionist. Best of luck and reach out anytime. I’m new on this site also. It helps to talk to someone. I love it. Calms the fears

Thank you so much! This is so helpful to me! Good luck with your upcoming decisions as well x

[karmanodrama 31]

Hello everyone,
I am writing this from New Zealand and yet reading all of your posts makes me feel more connected to you all than some people in my own town!
I am right at the beginning. As in, I have decided that I want and need weight loss surgery. I have visited my Dr who is referring me to the surgeon. I have done some blood tests and signed up to this forum. The surgeon has asked that I do another set of bloods as Zinc was not included in the first round. The surgeons administrative assistant has contacted me regarding booking in my first consultation. That is it.
I am scared. That I will regret having the surgery and I end up having reflux and/or vomiting for the rest of my life. Yet, if I follow the set-out routine and diet, I shouldn't encounter it.
What is worse is the constant battle around food that is going on in my head every single day. If not every single spare moment. I have been seeing a CBT therapist and she agrees that surgery Will be a great tool to help me eat less and not eat for emotional needs. I need to live free of this burden.
I feel like a weak person. For choosing surgery instead of 'putting in the mind work'. However this option is incredibly difficult to get my head around.
Here are my questions, of which I shall ask my professionals as well:
1. What is the worst possible outcome for me if I do not follow a healthy diet?
2. Will I ever truly be free of this burden of self-abuse?
3. Why can't I control myself around food at certain times of the month or when I am going through something difficult? How will having this surgery change this?
So far this is all I have. I don't even know which type of surgery to have. I just need to put all this here so it's out of me and in the hands of individuals who have been where I am right now. Even if no one replies, at least I have been able to articulate how I am feeling at this stage of my journey.
Inner peace and outward strength
Natasa

Hi Natasha
I am one week post op. So far so good. It has been easy recovery ( manageable pain and no nausea). The hardest thing for me so far is the head hunger. It was a big eye opener when I wanted BBQ chips and Mac and cheese on my way home from the hospital. Of course, I physically couldn't eat those things but I was surprised at how strong those desires were. Surgery doesn't cure that. You have to. It's been a sort of grieving process. But, I just journal about it and it goes away.
I had the sleeve with pre existing reflux. The sleeve makes reflux worse but my doctor told me that it was caused by excessive weight and we could manage it with medication until I lost weight. So far I am fine.

So here are my answers to your questions ( just my opinion)
1. The worse possible outcome if you don't follow a healthy diet and change your eating habits is regain, and even worse, that feeling of being a complete failure. Because many of us feel like this is our last resort.
2. Sure you will as long as you do the head work! I can't emphasize enough how important that is! Take this opportunity to learn about yourself. Ask those deeper questions. I am seeing a psychiatrist which I highly recommend for cognitive behavioral therapy.
3. Only you can answer those questions about why. Remember dig deep. Surgery is only a tool but it will all be for naught if you don't look at the psychology behind your particular behavior with food. When I was first asked that question, I said, " I just love food. I love everything about it. Nothing more." Well my psychiatrist called me on that superficial response and made me look at it deeper. Needless to say, I have learned a whole lot about myself!!!
Good luck to you.
You got this!!!! It's worth it. But do the mental prep work.
Kim

[frust8 963]

Excellent advice Natasha, couldn't improve on it if I tried. Bet your countrywoman@Biddy NZ will be contacting you if she hasn't already. She is a lovely smart lady that I have enjoyed the friendship,of and learned so much,from. If all New Zealanders are like her, I'd love to visit someday. Best wishes from Ohio USA.

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[Grammyrusty 21]

I started my weight loss surgery journey in 2013. I had a mild stroke and other disabilities that forced me to go out on disability and early retirement.
Lost my insurance, took 3.5 years to get my social security disability case settled with a lawyer’s help.Then received my medicare.
So finally restarted my program last August. My surgery date is May 8th! 2 weeks liquids before then. So happy!

[frust8 963]

Another Medicare person, Hurrah! If you need a friend please consider my 72 year self. Maybe,I'll have my RnY in May also. If by chance you are planning a bypass there are over50 and over 60 postings on here. At rate welcome from me in the [emoji173]of Ohio! PS we all love sleevers too!

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[GSierraGold 18]

Thank you so much for contacting me! I’m excited and worried about my May surgery date. I still can’t decide between the sleeve or the RnY. How did you choose. I keep thinking, at my age the sleeve would be safer. I am 5’5” and 210 pounds and I have a lot of mobility diseases.

[frust8 963]

Dr Weiner says people with mobility issues should choose bypass, it was covered in one of his YouTube tapes. I would say that would my choice, but I'm not you, its your body, maybe you should discuss it with your surgeon, okay?[emoji12][emoji338][emoji12]

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[frust8 963]

Welcome Dan and hurrah for taking this step forward. Yes your grandson needs his grandpa to teach him things. Your posting made me harken back to my own maternal grandfather and the things I learned from him. That's where I gained my fascination with weather and the changing of the seasons. He would take me for walks around his farm, tell me about different things and sometimes we would just sit and watch the clouds. I always,enjoyed his company and he always seemed to have time for me his little,redhead grandgirl. From him I also learned to enjoy reading the Bible. He told me no matter how many times he would read it he would gain new insights. Your grandson needs Grampy to teach him him how to fish, maybe hunt one day,but,certainly to be his hero and also his friend.Now with the weight commitment you are making there's very good chance you'll,be around to enjoy each other. Pictures are nice but they never replace a living breathing and loving life grandpa ! Best wishes for both of you,now and in the future. And hi from me in the the Central part of Ohio.[emoji13]

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[frust8 963]

Michelekarch if you are still lurking around and I hope you are, I didn't have my surgery at Mount Carmel with Marcus Miller. Amber, his Bariatric Facilitator is wonderful, I loved her and I guess I always will, but Dr Miller & I parted company in February. His idea-- not mine. Don't want to bad-mouth him, he may still be perfect for you. Now planning for surgery at OSU, maybe May? I will still receive my RnY, maybe the delay will strengthen me but I thought I was strong enough already. At any rate sunshine for today and the future![emoji304]
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[RNY2018 1]

Hello all,

I am new to the group. Pre-op, in month 3 of my 6 required. I see Nutritionist on 4/19. I already have a bump in the road! My gallbladder is acting up and I have to have it removed 5/4! I have to wait until then because I leave for vaca (Turks and Caicos) in a week and dont want to be post op in another country! I have had a very positive experience so far! The Bariatric center employees have been stellar and so supportive! I am hoping to be approved for a fall 2018 surgery date. Anyone on a similar time frame?

[fullfiguredmonty 11]

Found out I was approved for surgery on Friday! I have my pre-op surgery appointment on May 1 and hopefully will get a surgery date at that meeting.

[Frustr8 7,886]

congratulations fullfiguredmonty, I'm sure it couldn't happen to a nicer person.😜