lucill35

I totally apologize to whoever posted this in the active posts yesterday. I copied it and saved for myself for reference after my surgery. When I saw Lorraine's post today I thought it might be helpful for her too. From the LapSF newsletter. ******** Many people can't imagine becoming depressed AFTER losing weight. However, depression can occur after weight loss surgery or when undergoing any time of major lifestyle change. Possible causes of depression after WLS may include: - Mourning the loss of food for comfort. If food has always been your "friend" or something you depended on when feeling sad, stressed or lonely, saying "goodbye" can be difficult. - Mourning the loss of pre-operative lifestyle. For example, feeling left out while socializing, participating in holiday rituals, or when dining in restaurants. - Reactions from others. Relationships with loved ones can change or become strained. Reactions to weight loss may be negative or jealous, or otherwise unsupportive friends/family may resort to "sabotage." Positive reactions or increased attention from others can lead to feelings of discomfort, vulnerability, or resentment. - Having unrealistic expectations. For example, thinking that everything will get better after surgery or that your emotional eating or other disordered eating habits will simply disappear. - Hormonal changes. For some women, estrogen is released while fat is burned to make energy. This release of estrogen may cause mood swings. - Body image discrepancies. After rapid weight loss, you do not recognize yourself or lose a sense of self. You may experience a loss of identity between the inner and outer you. The postoperative blues typically occur during the first few weeks or months after surgery and subside over time. However, if you find that your symptoms are worsening or are beginning to interfere with your relationships, work, or daily functioning, it is time to seek help from a medical professional. Hope you find this helpful Lorraine! My surgery is 1/29/11, so I am preparing to be where you are soon! Take care, Sue

YOU ROCK :D !!!!

Well, I'm glad you weren't offended by my use of profanity but I was afraid to actually spell out the word for fear that I would get kicked off the boards That's the last thing I need at this point. I think lurking about the forums has become my transfer addiction from eating and I need all the help I can get at this point. I'm sure that I can restrain myself from swearing publicly and save it for you for a message I have been doing low carb/high Protein for about two weeks somewhat but really have to put the hammer down starting Wednesday. 10 days from Wednesday will be my surgery!!! WTF, how did I get to this point??? I just went to a WL seminar in November. I never dreamed I would be at this point this soon. Took a different road from what I had planned but I believe there is a reason for everything. Let's definately keep in touch during this process. My mom just asked me the other day if I was ready for the changes this process is going to entail. I told her that I thought this forum was going to be extremely helpful as I had already "met" several people going through the same thing and actually another person going to the same doctor for surgery the same day I am. I think that is much better support than a local support group of people that meets once/month. Not that I am opposed to that, I just don't know if that is enough support for me! Have a great week and let me know how you are doing when you get a chance. ps: did you have a different picture up originally or am i losing my mind in addition to hopefully losing weight???

I saw your post and thought "did i write this?" So much of what you said, I've also lived. I've tried Atkins when it first came out in the 80's, WW, Nutri-System when you used to go to a center, dietician, South Beach, I've done them all. I would lose weight and then get tired of counting the points, want some cake, be like everyone else and then I would find that lost weight. I also moved pretty quickly through the WLS process like you. After finding out my insurance would only pay for lapband or bypass, I decided that I didn't have the 6 months to do a physician supervised diet for a surgery that I wasn't interested in. I wanted VSG. So I did my research and have surgery scheduled two weeks from yesterday. Am I scared sh**less? Absolutely! Not of the surgery but if I can do it. I do realize the surgery is a tool and I will have to do the work but there is still that fear that I am going to be the first person to say, "wow, the sleeve didn't work for me." It's time to break up with my best friend food. Will I know what to do? Well, I have an idea but won't know for sure until I am in that position. I have set myself up with supports through friends, this forum and will see a nutrionist when i return from surgery. Will it be easy? Probably not. Will it be worth it? Absolutely! I will be 44 two weeks after my surgery. I feel like it is a new beginning for myself. I went to get a passport picture taken yesterday. Horrified! Confirmation that this is what I need to do and that I never want to get another picture taken and be horrified at how it looks. I would love to keep in touch with you as we both go through this journey! Sue

Would this soup be something that someone could have post-op on the full liquids stage if after the broccoli was cooked and before the cheese was added, you put it all in the blend and chopped up the broccoli and then added the cheese? I will be sleeved two weeks from today and am just trying to get some ideas so i don't get bored!

Fabulous work! You should be very proud of yourself! My numbers are very close to yours and I am getting sleeved two weeks from today, so your post makes me even more excited! Do you have any secrets to success that you would be willing to share with those of us just starting on the journey? Best of luck to you in the New Year and you should be very proud of all your hard work!

What a great inspiration you are! Just tonight my mom asked me if I was sure I was ready for the lifestyle change surgery was going to require. My thought was, "how do I best answer this?" Well I think I'm ready but i guess I won't know until I get there. Your story makes me believe I can get there! Keep posting and inspiring!

Kris, congratulations! You must be so happy now! I'm glad to hear that you had a positive experience and it makes me think I need to make a paper chain to count down until my day! Than you for such a detailed description of your experience, helps calm my anxiety quite a bit. Please keep in touch and let me know of your progress. I'm looking forward to being in the same place as you soon!

Congratulations and Yay for you! I hope you continue to have a good recovery and am anxiously awaiting all the details!

Your success is so inspirational to someone like me just getting ready for surgery! After reading a post like yours, I'm no longer afraid of my choice but excited and can't wait to be at the point you are today. I also read your blog and thank you for sharing your experience. Please keep us posted on your journey!

Thank you! You are so helpful that I have another question. When you say that you got home and just rested for the rest of your time off, how long was that? I am flying back home on 2/1 and on 2/7 will fly to florida to rest in the sunshine unlike in the midwest where there's just cold and snow. Also my mom is there and will be taking care of me. Do you think that is too soon to fly? It's a direct flight from Indiana to Florida so I won't have to race through the airport and it's only about a 2 1/2 hour flight. Think that will be a problem?

You have such a positive attitude and are an inspiration to those of us getting ready for surgery. Can you tell me what your experience was with Dr. Aceves in terms of anesthesia and a drain? I have seen some posts that people have had a spinal block and others not and can't remember if they were with Dr. Aceves or not. Also does he put a drain in? And were you restricted for driving after your surgery and if so, for how long? I live alone so need to make some arrangements if there is a restriction on driving. I haven't seen anything about it in the info I have received from Nina or Monica. Anything you could provide would be very much appreciated!

That does help. I guess if it is all taken care of in the hospital I will be okay. I just saw some posts where people talked about going home with the drain and it concerned me about having to deal with by myself because I am not so adept at medical type stuff (and that is putting it mildly)

Congratulations and best wishes to you on a safe trip and a pain-free surgery! Please post all the details on your return home!

January 29th w/Dr. Aceves. Scared and many questions!

Nope, that's what I mean. I thought I had seen some mention of it in several posts. If they don't do a spinal I will be more than estactic. Any info about a drain from Dr. Aceves?

In addition to being afraid of failing, I have some other fears. Can anyone give me any information on Dr. Aceves practice with spinals as well as drains? The possibility of a spinal is so scary to me that I am almost dizzy thinking about it. Is this something the dr. does for every surgery or are there other alternatives? Anyone information from anyone who has been through vsg surgery w/Dr. Aceves would be much appreciated. Thank you!

Eloray, I understand your fears and have those same fears myself. I am penciled in but have already purchased plane tickets as a way to ensure that I wouldn't cancel. I also think, "well maybe i can do this myself without surgery" but then realize if that were true, I wouldn't be where I am now. Please keep in touch as it will be nice to have a friend while in Mexico. I am going to try and figure out how to add you as a friend as I am still trying to figure out this site and how to pm and to keep track of my posts. Have a great day!

I'm scheduled for my surgery just before you on 1/29. That is my biggest fear, that i will have the majority of my stomach removed and i still won't lose weight. Scary stuff. I am also interested in the responses you get. Good luck to you!

When i had my sleep study, they hooked me up to all these different probes and wires, on my head, face, something around my chest, wires on my legs and something on my fingers and you have to lay on your back, i thought there was no way i would ever sleep. slept my restless sleep for the first hour until they woke me up to try me on the c-pap and then i slept like a champion. i couldn't wait for the results to get the machine. now as i look forward to having surgery, i can't wait to get rid of the machine!

I have scheduled surgery with Dr. Aceves on 1/29/11. Looking to talk with anyone else who might be going at that time. I'm scared to death. Not of the surgery, not of going to mexico but that I won't be successful again. And if I'm not successful, I will be without 85% of my stomach...I have seen posts about buyer's remorse in the first 30 day period but how did people handle their fears before the surgery? Any tips would be appreciated.

I too am just starting this process so I am also looking for tips/suggestions on how to navigate the process. We have a similar story though as i am knocking on the door to 44 and work in child protective services in the midwest. I believe surgery is the right choice for me but i am having trouble reconciling myself with the idea of having the majority of my stomach cut out because i can't lose weight on my own. i struggle with the idea that i didn't get to this point in my life by having a healthy relationship with food and what will i do to address those issues to be a success with the sleeve? My insurance only pays for lap band or bypass, neither of which i am interested so i am considering self pay in Mexico. The thing that worries me with that is that there are no required pre-testing, no pyschological meeting etc. What if I can't do it? Will I know how to live life as a skinny person? Anyways, I would like to stay in touch and share the journey with you.

Okay, I have been lurking about for about a month and have found this board to be extremely informative. I started looking into WLS surgery about a month ago and found that my insurance only covers the band or bypass. Not interested in either so I am considering self-pay w/dr. aceves for the sleeve. i have many questions not so much about the surgery process but the presurgery process. more like "how did you know this is what you wanted to do?" and "i didn't get to this place by having a healthy relationship with food and would guess that others are in the same boat. how and what did you do to resolve your issues with food?" also since i am looking at self pay and don't need a referral, do i really need to talk to/get permission from my current dr? i have had the same dr for the last 15 years, moved 3 hours away and kept the same dr because i really like him, but in looking back have realized part of why i like him is because we avoid the proverbial "elephant in the room?" Can't sleep, get a sleep study, dx'd sleep apnea, prescribe for it. Don't talk about the sleep apnea is because you are fat. Don't talk about how to resolve the fat part. don't even acknowledge the fat part. so i am wondering how important it is to get his blessing for surgery? sleep apnea is my only co-morbidity. also has anyone used surgeryloans.com and what has been your experience. i applied online over the weekend and have not heard a thing. when i check the status, it still says processing. not impressed. home depot can approve me for a $4000 credit limit in less than 5 minutes. Any advice anyone can provide for someone just started out is appreciated. Thanks!