New member, getting the gastric sleeve...and nervous

[LadyHermit 3]

Was unsure how to title this but well...I'm a newbie here, but a long time lurker. Thing is, I've been going through this whole process for over a year. Jumped through all the hoops. Have to go for another meeting with the nutritionist on Monday. Insurance hasn't approved me yet, so kind of in limbo. Full disclosure, I'm also experienced with WLS. I have a failed lap band that I'll be getting removed. I also have a hietal (sp?) hernia that causes me to choke and vomit food up that I'll be getting fixed. Plus, I need my gallbladder removed. That's a proud family tradition of mine, lol. So I'll be getting about....four procedures rolled into one.

My type 2 Diabetes is kind of a wild card, along with other myriad health issues. I know that this is the best for me. I need to lose around a hundred pounds.

But I'll be perfectly honest. I'm terrified. My emotions swing wildly and I feel...ambivalent. Yeah, I've got emotional eating issues. I'm addicted to soda (that's especially tough to give up) and the nutritionist is just....I basically have to give up EVERYTHING I like, it feels like. No more pizza. No more burgers. No more salami or sausage or anything with starches like potatoes or Pasta. Well...you get the point. I'll be consigned to boiled vegetables and chicken. That's what it feels like. I mean, I have to give up everything I like, basically. It's a hard transition. I'm hoping to be approved in February or March at the latest. I have started drinking the Protein Shakes, and found I like Atkins best. Premiere Protein shakes have a weird after taste that I don't care for.

I guess I'm looking for...I dunno. Encouragement. Support? Courage? Someone to tell me that it'll all be okay? I feel like I just...need a little hand holding. My emotions are....all over the place. Mostly it's terror of all I'll have to give up. It feels like such a big sacrifice.

Edited January 18, 2019 by LadyHermit

[RinRin 29]

1 minute ago, LadyHermit said:

Was unsure how to title this but well...I'm a newbie here, but a long time lurker. Thing is, I've been going through this whole process for over a year. Jumped through all the hoops. Have to go for another meeting with the nutritionist on Monday. Insurance hasn't approved me yet, so kind of in limbo.

My type 2 Diabetes is kind of a wild card, along with other myriad health issues. I know that this is the best for me. I need to lose around a hundred pounds.

But I'll be perfectly honest. I'm terrified. My emotions swing wildly and I feel...ambivalent. Yeah, I've got emotional eating issues. I'm addicted to soda (that's especially tough to give up) and the nutritionist is just....I basically have to give up EVERYTHING I like, it feels like. No more pizza. No more burgers. No more salami or sausage or anything with starches like potatoes or Pasta. Well...you get the point. I'll be consigned to boiled vegetables and chicken. That's what it feels like. I mean, I have to give up everything I like, basically. It's a hard transition. I'm hoping to be approved in February or March at the latest. I have started drinking the Protein Shakes, and found I like Atkins best. Premiere Protein shakes have a weird after taste that I don't care for.

I guess I'm looking for...I dunno. Encouragement. Support? Courage? Someone to tell me that it'll all be okay? I feel like I just...need a little hand holding. My emotions are....all over the place. Mostly it's terror of all I'll have to give up. It feels like such a big sacrifice.

Hello there!

I was sleeved about 3 weeks ago. It definitely feels like a big sacrifice, and is for a little bit. I was a heavy soda drinker and sweets eater before this and I can tell you, I have NO interest for that stuff right now.

With the sleeve, you can eat some of that stuff again once you are far out enough post op and based on how your sleeve handles food. I’ve nibbled on the crust of a piece of pizza (bread is awful at this stage right now though) and have had a few pieces of macaroni when my boyfriend had it earlier this week. I’m in the soft/puréed food section and my favorite thing to eat right now is mashed potatoes with some unflavored Protein Powder mixed in and string cheese.

My mom had the bypass done years and years ago and she will sometimes eat a small slice of pizza or have some Pasta. She’ll eat a portion of a burger sometimes when we go out.

The main thing to remember is that this is a tool to help you loss weight and get healthier. You’ll maximize all of that by sticking with the post op diet that your dietitian provides you with. But. You also have that option of having the stuff you love, as long as it is in moderation and you’re getting in all you’re Protein.

I honestly just went through the “buyers remorse” phase last week when watching my boyfriend eat French fries while we were out furniture shopping. But then I step on the scale and I’ve lost 30 pounds, my GERD is no longer making me cough consistently throughout the day, and I’m started to not get winded on the stairs. I like seeing myself in the mirror now.

You can do it! And you have this entire forum to help you. I would also see if your surgeons office has an in-person support group for patients, because that has also helped me a lot.

[jenngetsthin 61]

Honestly, it's not so bad. In the beginning, you won't want that stuff anyways. And after awhile, you can incorporate some of the stuff back in but in a healthier way. I eat burgers. I get them lettuce wrapped. I usually eat half and it satisfies me. I eat salami and cheese all the time. I eat an occasional slice of pizza. For me, it's all about moderation and Portion Control. I choose not to think of it as giving stuff up, it's just a new way of eating. I don't really miss Pasta or soda like I thought I would. I can still eat a small amount of bread (half a bagel or one slice of toast).

Whatever you decide, I wish you luck.

[LadyHermit 3]

4 hours ago, RinRin said:

Hello there!

I was sleeved about 3 weeks ago. It definitely feels like a big sacrifice, and is for a little bit. I was a heavy soda drinker and sweets eater before this and I can tell you, I have NO interest for that stuff right now.

With the sleeve, you can eat some of that stuff again once you are far out enough post op and based on how your sleeve handles food. I’ve nibbled on the crust of a piece of pizza (bread is awful at this stage right now though) and have had a few pieces of macaroni when my boyfriend had it earlier this week. I’m in the soft/puréed food section and my favorite thing to eat right now is mashed potatoes with some unflavored Protein Powder mixed in and string cheese.

My mom had the bypass done years and years ago and she will sometimes eat a small slice of pizza or have some Pasta. She’ll eat a portion of a burger sometimes when we go out.

The main thing to remember is that this is a tool to help you loss weight and get healthier. You’ll maximize all of that by sticking with the post op diet that your dietitian provides you with. But. You also have that option of having the stuff you love, as long as it is in moderation and you’re getting in all you’re Protein.

I honestly just went through the “buyers remorse” phase last week when watching my boyfriend eat French fries while we were out furniture shopping. But then I step on the scale and I’ve lost 30 pounds, my GERD is no longer making me cough consistently throughout the day, and I’m started to not get winded on the stairs. I like seeing myself in the mirror now.

You can do it! And you have this entire forum to help you. I would also see if your surgeons office has an in-person support group for patients, because that has also helped me a lot.

Hah, thanks. Yeah, I was supposed to get this done back in oh...November or December, but things got kind of held up. The holidays rolled around, I was mentally prepared to do it but then...well. New years's came and it felt like I lost my nerve. Part of me wants to chicken out. I tell myself it won't be so bad and that I can do it. I talk myself up thinking how miserable it's gonna be and how bad it's gonna suck but really it's....not so terrible. I can do this. I guess it's normal to have some mixed feelings about it. I've never seen anyone that regretted it in the long term. I'll probably regret it in the SHORT term, but that....will pass over.

But see what I mean by the swinging emotions? I can't do this, I can do this....lol.

This is also why I got a therapist. 😛 To help me...navigate some of this post-op.

[RinRin 29]

4 hours ago, LadyHermit said:

Hah, thanks. Yeah, I was supposed to get this done back in oh...November or December, but things got kind of held up. The holidays rolled around, I was mentally prepared to do it but then...well. New years's came and it felt like I lost my nerve. Part of me wants to chicken out. I tell myself it won't be so bad and that I can do it. I talk myself up thinking how miserable it's gonna be and how bad it's gonna suck but really it's....not so terrible. I can do this. I guess it's normal to have some mixed feelings about it. I've never seen anyone that regretted it in the long term. I'll probably regret it in the SHORT term, but that....will pass over.

But see what I mean by the swinging emotions? I can't do this, I can do this....lol.

This is also why I got a therapist. 😛 To help me...navigate some of this post-op.

I’ve definitely had some emotional ups and downs. You can do it though!

The first two months are supposedly the toughest and worst part and then you start being able to eat more things.

[Frustr8 7,886]

It's not about being the best always; it's about being better each day than the one before.

[anl1990 91]

I am going to be completely honest: for me personally, yes it has been hard. I still have cravings. I still want to eat like I used to. But what helps is I try to focus on the positive things - my clothes are fitting me better. People are commenting they can see the changes. Even if I don't see it yet, it's there. Just take it day by day, I have faith you can get through this.