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Newbie .. Surgery buddy ? Advice?



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Great to read so many threads addressing issues we have faced and continue to face in our community. I am lesbian, married for 15 years in July. My partner has always lived a healthy BMI. I need to lose about 160 lbs. It's hard to believe that I'm carrying around a whole person's weight. I think WLS surgery is courageous. Since deciding to have the surgery last xmas, I have lost 72 lbs. I had my surgery, after extensive dietary preparation, on April 18, 2016 and am almost 40 lbs down from then. This experience is more amazing than I could have ever imagined! Exciting, challenging and rewarding. The people who love me were invited along in my journey, the rest I leave behind permanently because I don't need their negativity or judgement derailing my life. To all, proud to be one of your sisters!

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Hello everyone! I was thinking about starting an LGBT thread, but figured I'd do a search first, and here you are! I'm from Long Island, NY. I can't believe they blocked the word "q*eer" ... ridiculous. Anyway, I thought it would also be nice to have a group of other LGBT people to share my journey. My wife had Lap-Band surgery about 8 years ago, before we were married and separated. She has had a decent share of issues with vomiting, but I think more due to her unresolved eating disorder (bulimia). I think if she didn't have so many issues, I might have done Lap-band years ago. I'm glad I didn't, because the sleeve seems much more my speed. I like the idea that there's nothing left in my body (except stitches) and my organs don't get rearranged. As someone who often eats past full, but don't typically go on super-binges, I think the sleeve will really help me if I follow the guidelines. On June 8th, I went for my 1st consult, jumped through many hoops to get clearances and information together and finally got a 2nd consult where I was finally able to get on the schedule! So, I am now scheduled for December 23, 2 days before Christmas. I hope I only have to stay 1 night (I think that's the usual stay), as I don't want to miss Christmas Eve (more of a big celebration in my family ). I can't do it earlier because of my work schedule. Hopefully I will feel well enough to work. I still need to be approved for surgery, so my fingers are crossed! Looking forward to sharing our journeys!

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So, I am now scheduled for December 23, 2 days before Christmas. I hope I only have to stay 1 night (I think that's the usual stay), as I don't want to miss Christmas Eve (more of a big celebration in my family ). I can't do it earlier because of my work schedule. Hopefully I will feel well enough to work. I still need to be approved for surgery, so my fingers are crossed! Looking forward to sharing our journeys!

Yikes! I'd be scared to do it right before the holidays...we focus too much on food in my family!! But hopefully yours is different. As it is, I'm worried about holidays and I was sleeved in July. :)

What do you do for work? I have a desk job (Office manager) and I cant stand missing work due to the way they do PTO here but even still I had to be out about a week. Because of the way I scheduled it (I went in on a thursday, had surgery that day & was back to work by the next wed) I had the time off...if you have time off with the holidays thats an excellent reason to schedule it then. I was too impatient to wait and my partner drives a truck so tiem home was a factor.

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Well, I come from a typical Italian-American family...we know how to cook and we know how to eat. It will definitely be a challenge, but my time-off schedule at work is limited and I don't want to wait until next August. I'm a speech therapist (SLP) and I work with preschoolers. I basically walk down the hall, pick them up (not literally ) and bring them down the hall to my speech room...sit for about 25-30 minutes, then repeat, about 10 times. I think I'll be exhausted the first week or so.

I was trying to get all clearances in on time to have my sleeve done late August, but I ran out of time...I thought I was so close, but I still had a way to go. Now, if everything goes as planned, I will get my sleeve on December 23...only 11 weeks from Friday!

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So, I am now scheduled for December 23, 2 days before Christmas. I hope I only have to stay 1 night (I think that's the usual stay), as I don't want to miss Christmas Eve (more of a big celebration in my family ). I can't do it earlier because of my work schedule. Hopefully I will feel well enough to work. I still need to be approved for surgery, so my fingers are crossed! Looking forward to sharing our journeys!

Yikes! I'd be scared to do it right before the holidays...we focus too much on food in my family!! But hopefully yours is different. As it is, I'm worried about holidays and I was sleeved in July. :)

What do you do for work? I have a desk job (Office manager) and I cant stand missing work due to the way they do PTO here but even still I had to be out about a week. Because of the way I scheduled it (I went in on a thursday, had surgery that day & was back to work by the next wed) I had the time off...if you have time off with the holidays thats an excellent reason to schedule it then. I was too impatient to wait and my partner drives a truck so tiem home was a factor.

Enough about me, how's it going for you, so far?

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Enough about me, how's it going for you, so far?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using the BariatricPal App

So far..good! I'm down around 30lbs so far...25 the first month and then I've been hovering with the last 5 this past month. Eh..im not worried about it being slow as Im loosing inches a lot faster than lbs these days. I've been lucky in that I've had VERY few complications...I dont have any issues eating or drinking. I am tired more than I used to be but that's ok..it will come back. :) Im so glad I had the surgery..it's been life changing. The biggest positive is that my blood pressure is down to a normal level for the first time in almost 9 years! I have a history of heart disease on both sides of my family and my dad has his first heart attack at 40 yrs old. I'm 38 and Ive been on BP meds since I was 30...so the impending heart attack was a big factor for me in having this done. I feel a lot better knowing I'm doing everything I can to help keep me here. :)

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    • Prdgrdma

      So I guess after gastric bypass surgery, I cant eat flock chips because they are fried???  They sell them on here so I thought I could have them. So high in protein and no carbs.  They don't bother me at all.  Help. 
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        It's possible for a very high fat meal to cause dumping in some (30% or so) gastric bypass patients, although it's more likely to be triggered by high sugar, or by the high fat/high sugar combo (think ice cream, donuts). Dietitians will tell you to never do anything that isn't 100% healthy ever again. Realistically, you should aim for a good balance of protein, carbs, and fat each day. Should you eat fried foods every day? No. Is it possible they will make you sick? Maybe. Is it okay to eat some to see what happens and have them for a treat every now and again? Yes.

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      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

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      · 3 replies
      1. NickelChip

        Well, there is actually a formula for "Ideal Body Weight" and you can use a calculator to figure it out for you. This one also does an adjusted weight for a person who starts out overweight or obese. https://www.mdcalc.com/calc/68/ideal-body-weight-adjusted-body-weight

        I would use that as a starting point, and then just see how you feel as you lose. How you look and feel is more important than a number.

      2. Clueless_girl

        I did find different calculators but I couldn't find any that accounted for body frame. But you're right, it is just a number. It was just disheartening to see that although I lost 60% of my excess weight, it's still not in the "normal/healthy" range..

      3. NickelChip

        I think it's important to remember that the weight charts and BMI ranges were developed a very long time ago and only intended to be applied to people who have never been overweight or obese. Those numbers aren't for us. When you are larger, especially for a long time, your body develops extra bone to support the weight. Your organs get a little bigger to handle the extra mass. Your entire infrastructure increases so you can support and function with the extra weight. That doesn't all go away just because you burn off the excess fat. If you still had a pair of jeans from your skinniest point in life and then lost weight to get to the exact number on the scale you were when those jeans fit you, chances are they would be a little baggy now because you would actually be thinner than you were, even though the scale and the BMI chart disagree. When in doubt, listen to the jeans, not the scale!

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      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Now that I'm in maintenance mode, I'm getting a into a routine for my meals. Every day, I start out with 8-16 ounces of water, and then a proffee, which I have come to look forward to even the night before. My proffees are simply a black coffee with a protein powder added. There are three products that I cycle through: Premier Vanilla, Orgain Vanilla, and Dymatize Vanilla.
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      · 0 replies
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