mi75

I'm so sorry for everything you are going through. Hopefully, you will be on the upswing soon. This is truly the best thing I've ever done, and I hope you will feel the same soon enough. I am about an hour south of you if you want to chat!

it is great to read this post. I'm, still pre-op and will begin my 2 wk pre-op diet in a month. the reality of it all is starting to kick in.
after reading all of these posts, it's great to see several people still saying IT WAS TOTALLY WORTH IT.
that is huge to me. my health is so bad right now, and i am absolutely a food addict so moving ahead is very scary. knowing that in the end, no matter what is missed, people still would do it again is a huge motivator for me.
thanks to everyone for their honest responses!

I have told a few selective co-workers and a couple close friends at my kid's school and my hubs/kids/ parents. that's it.
I don't plan on telling anyone else including my siblings, cousins, and other co-workers.
After surgery when my loss is very obvious, if I am asked I won't deny it but also won't go into great detail with anybody that I didn't tell pre-op.
It is a very personal decision and a tough one. Most people don't understand ALL that is REALLY involved and just declare WLS the 'easy way out'.
I also decided early on that this is MY journey and I don't need any negative comments, input or otherwise.

Nah, no need to do that! I promise you'll have all your favorite foods again, just in much smaller portions! I'm 5 months out and the only "favorite" foods I haven't had again are Pasta, rice, and a fully loaded cheeseburger. I go to Red Lobster and have steamed crab legs on a regular basis (with butter!!), have modified versions of pizza which are just as good as regular, and generally find ways to have my treats and keep losing.
Everyone says this is a lifestyle change so make sure the changes you are making fit your lifestyle. There is no one around, not even very thin people and people who have lots tons of weight, who don't have some version of their favorites one in awhile. Black and white thinking about "good and bad foods" will lead to a sense of deprivation, loss, and resentment which will ultimately lead to overeating on the things you love, instead of allowing yourself to have them in reasonable amounts.
Good luck with your surgery! You'll do great!!

My Primary Care PHysician and Bariatric Surgeon recommended the Lapband.. Thank God they did. I have several people in my support group who were sleeved, they are having reflux and/or dumping . The leader of our group had bypass years ago and has lost 250 lbs but lives on Protein Shakes and vitamins.. not sure about your history or how much you want to lose or how fast you want to lose it.. al WLS have good and bad points. For me I did not want my stomach stapled off or re-arranged. My lapband is something that can be emptied should I need nutrition (in case of illness).. All options at your age are to be seriously considered.

Oscar Mayer P3, they are little containers with a total of 2 oz, they have different combo of meat, cheese and nuts. They are about 120-140 calories, and have 12-15 grams of Protein. They have turkey, ham, and chicken, peanuts or almonds, and cheddar, or colby jack.
http://www.proteinproteinprotein.com/
and they are only $1 at Walmart.

i am tentatively either June 25th or 26th

also the series "Independent Lens" on PBS did a great weight loss show last month i think it was called 'all of me' or something similar. the entire show is fully uploaded on their website.

Fat Doctor on youtube...a FAB british show about weight loss surgeons. mostly RNY surgeries, a couple sleeves and a few lapbands. all around though a great show.
really covers post op, eating, family, successes, etc. much better than my 600 lb life.
youtube has the first four seasons totally uploaded and season 5 is coming in a couple months

also the series "Independent Lens" on PBS did a great weight loss show last month i think it was called 'all of me' or something similar. the entire show is fully uploaded on their website.

measuring cups and spoons, plenty of cups with lids and NO STRAWS (drinking from straw post op can pull air into your gut and make it really painful), small bowls with lids to pack future meals for work.
plenty of variety of Protein shakes, your tastebuds may change post op and what was good now won't be anymore.

Fat Doctor on youtube...a FAB british show about weight loss surgeons. mostly RNY surgeries, a couple sleeves and a few lapbands. all around though a great show.
really covers post op, eating, family, successes, etc. much better than my 600 lb life.
youtube has the first four seasons totally uploaded and season 5 is coming in a couple months

i was in the same boat and had initially explored the sleeve. my initial appt with my surgeon didn't really discuss any of the options, just mostly ALL of the testing involved...
then my family doctor gave me a formal lesson in sleeve/reflux. i already have GERD and take a PPI drug twice a day. so i set my decision to bypass.
saw my surgeon last week for the final follow up and he actually says that he believes the sleeve is better for me because with my GI history, i don't want a blind stomach sitting there sealed shut that can't ever be scoped (I have EGD twice a year due to Barrett's disease).
everybody is very different and the opinion that counts most is your surgeon. have a candid discussion and get his/her true feelings about which fits you the best. also, some insurances will only pay for certain surgeries if you have certain diagnoses...

i was in the same boat and had initially explored the sleeve. my initial appt with my surgeon didn't really discuss any of the options, just mostly ALL of the testing involved...
then my family doctor gave me a formal lesson in sleeve/reflux. i already have GERD and take a PPI drug twice a day. so i set my decision to bypass.
saw my surgeon last week for the final follow up and he actually says that he believes the sleeve is better for me because with my GI history, i don't want a blind stomach sitting there sealed shut that can't ever be scoped (I have EGD twice a year due to Barrett's disease).
everybody is very different and the opinion that counts most is your surgeon. have a candid discussion and get his/her true feelings about which fits you the best. also, some insurances will only pay for certain surgeries if you have certain diagnoses...

This show is more intense, shows the actual surgery, it has way more episodes than my 600 lb life. Fantastic series!!

I LOVE this thread. there are SO many things that describe my current issues and it's good to know others are right there with me...
I'm a nurse and one thing I WON'T miss is my patients asking me "When are you due"?...yes. seriously.
I get asked this at least three times a week. I have PCOS and carry ALL my weight in the front and frankly, it looks terrible and makes me so incredibly short of breath and such. but really?
I see my patients on a scheduled basis so i'm excited for the first one to mention my weight LOSS, not my weight!!!!!

I look SO forward to the day when I can say that food doesn't rule my life anymore, or that everything I do isn't surrounded by food anymore.
I know that eventually i'll go back to 'regular' eating, but I feel like i'll be more on an even playing field, with being able to order a SMALL portion and having it be enough, rather than how I eat now- 2-3 portions just to feel 'full'...

You won't have to give up food forever. The pre op and first couple months are the toughest. Now that I am 14 months out I can eat pretty much anything. The difference is that I usually choose not too. Although I still have weak moments I am able to say no a lot easier now. And if I do fall off the wagon the damage is smaller since I can only fit so much at a time. I used to have issues with mindless binges and just can't do that now. Too much sugar makes me Feel icky now too. I still love food but it does not rule my life anymore.

ROAR by katy perry.
seriously, people are gonna see me in a completely new light. i'm gonna shed this weight and my self confidence will bounce back from where it's hidden right now, and i'm gonna be a POWERFUL, STRONG, CONFIDENT WOMAN!!!!!!!!!

I just noticed you said you're a nurse, me too just about to finish my FNP program. Crazy enough to have this surgery during my last semester! Ha

ROAR by katy perry.
seriously, people are gonna see me in a completely new light. i'm gonna shed this weight and my self confidence will bounce back from where it's hidden right now, and i'm gonna be a POWERFUL, STRONG, CONFIDENT WOMAN!!!!!!!!!

Katy Perry ... "Roar" lol .......silly but seems to fit me

I was starting weight 225.5 and wore a 46 DD and am not a 36D. I orginally got Victoria Secrets demi bra but as I lost weight and they hung more, I didn't like how that style stuck out under light weight shirts. Went back to local place...Bras that Fit and got the same style I wore before but the correct style and am happy with them. But...I'm 67 and they would hang anyway I guess!! Mammogram I had yesterday didn't hurt as much!! LOL! By the way, it was benign!!
I'm from Mi too! I had Dr. Gluck in Muskegon, but live in Jackson.

I LOVE this thread. there are SO many things that describe my current issues and it's good to know others are right there with me...
I'm a nurse and one thing I WON'T miss is my patients asking me "When are you due"?...yes. seriously.
I get asked this at least three times a week. I have PCOS and carry ALL my weight in the front and frankly, it looks terrible and makes me so incredibly short of breath and such. but really?
I see my patients on a scheduled basis so i'm excited for the first one to mention my weight LOSS, not my weight!!!!!

diagnosed with PCOS about 12 yrs ago and metformin since then. one IVF baby and one adopted.
I have talked with my surgeon extensively- in fact just yesterday was my final apt- and he told me that although my PCOS should be fairly resolved from surgery, it may not disappear completely. he also stated, as somebody else here said, that the PCOS shouldn't be a HUGE barrier to my losing with surgery, and that in the long term I need to focus on becoming VERY dedicated to a regular exercise regimen to ensure that my PCOS stay controlled...
I DO have multiple comorbids, and i'm just looking SO forward to being off all my meds...