Matt Z

Do not worry or beat yourself up, cheats happen, just do your best to stay on plan. Not all pre-op diets are the same and most are not "set in stone" if you are having issues, reach out to your team and ask them if you can change things a bit to help you stay on task. Most teams would rather make small changes to keep you focused than not and risk having you go totally off the plan. it's hard, but it does make things easier post-op. Keep focused on why you want the surgery, keep that in mind at all times, it'll help you when you are feeling defeated. You have not lost until you give up.

Fear is so normal! Your mindset that you are afraid you are going to fail is a decent one, just make sure your will is greater than that fear. The success or failure is up to you, it will have moments where it'll be tough, but overall, it's so very worth it! I've traded a few issues for others, but I've got the better deal, My sleep apnea is reduced greatly, my plantars fasciitis is 100% gone, I haven't had knee pain in months, I can do so much more for so much longer now. I actually ran, like RAN at 5 mph for a full 5 mins straight, only had to stop because I didn't stretch out properly before hand... so I was cramping, I must have looked like a total fool just running and grinning a big ass cheesy smile... I ran, and loved it. Don't be afraid of the changes, acknowledge they will be tough and tackle them one at a time. You've got a much better life waiting for you on the other side of that surgery, bust your ass for it... then enjoy the sheet out of it!

I don't even know what being sexy feels like. I'm still dealing with some bizarre body dysmorphia. I still see myself and feel very fat. But thank you.

I've got some dronabinol that I take for sleep that helps a tiny bit, it's just THC though. I don't have any CBD oil sadly. SWIM reports that cannabis helps out quite a bit and nightly use helps with pain. I'm a federal employee though so, *I* can't partake in anything not legal at the federal level (thank heavens the FDA approved a THC medication even though they claim THC doesn't do anything worthwhile... *eyeroll*) but SWIM reports positive effects on pain.

Good luck today! Enjoy your "sleep" LOL

Thank you! (I've also admired her bikini pic, she looks fan-fukin-tastic,I'd love to see before and after photos from her, I'm sure the transition was impressive!)

I can't fathom how in this day and age of information that people don't "get" that water is a critical requirement.

Sadly, I already have my nipples tattooed, I didn't like them, so I crossed them off. Totally true story, shirtless photos of my progression on my page if you wanted to see what tattooed nipples looks like. LOL

Thank you, seriously and honestly. Thank you. I've tried what I can get for pain meds... no joy. The 4% lidocaine patches don't do squat and my doc is telling me it's too late for anti-virals, so... I have to just wait out the pain. Actually home today because the stabby stabby burny burny is just too much to deal with wearing a shirt... Can't use capzasin either I have an "intolerance" to it when applied externally (or I used too much) the one time I used it on my knees, left me crying and shaking in pain for 6-8 hours, to the point where I soaked in milk to try to get it to stop... *almost* went to the ER for it. The Hike, that amount of gear is mostly water, I'll need like 2-3 gallons of water with how much work and how long it's going to be.

I wasn't really scared or nervous really. I mean, there were some, but I fully understand the benefits and risks, as well as being really confident in my surgeon and team, I had the same surgeon that installed my lab band remove it and revise to the bypass, so I had no fear over her skill. Congrats, good luck and here's to a smooth recovery!

Thanks. Dealing with a lot personally too. If anyone of you want to see what a post looks like when I'm pissed... go read that last one I posted to that thread, that was me like shaking mad. In this day and age, to tell someone they don't understand something because they are one gender or another (or one sex or another, your pick) just really set me off. I'm never anything but honest and factual. I go out of my way to be helpful and understanding. That post... concerns me more than anything because this woman is using her 4 kids as the reason she won't go to the ER because she's unable to consume water... yet, me alerting her to the fact that, she could die if she doesn't... is me being harsh. I can't wait to see someone twist my last post into some "mansplaining" bs. I'm dealing with a bout of shingles w/o a rash. So I've got no treatment options other than dealing with the pain, can't take any NSAIDs or pain meds that actually work thanks to the bypass... I still am greatful for the bypass, but this kinda sucks. I'm not going to make 200 before my 20th anniversary or birthday, and that is depressing, even if I fully understand that it's just some arbitrary goal that does nothing to negate my progress, it still sucks. Haven't been sleeping well because of the pain... BUT I am back to the gym most days now... working towards being able to climb a mountain. Need to be able to climb 500 flights of stairs carrying about 30 lbs of gear. The actual climb is going to be about 5000 feet in 5 miles. 10 miles round trip, 5000 feet up, 5000 feet back down.

So.... that dream goal isn't going to happen by the time I wanted it to. I'm ok with it I guess. I mean, I'm SUPER bummed.... but, I'm doing good overall. Still IF'ng. Still trying to get to 200. Getting some flak in the "Anyone regretting this? " post... because I told the OP that if they don't consume water they would get dehydrated and could die... because, well, if you don't drink water, you can die... but damn am I getting slapped around for it.... @FluffyChix I actually replied before I saw your post. editing to tag you.

That's an awesome mindset! Congrats!

Pretty much almost everything is a rant on this websight. Many do not post in correct sections and god forbid...let's not go there.. where people do not search before they post and they start the same thread all over again. It happens. In fact the last line of her original post is that she was just ranting and apologized for ranting. Your words are a little harsh, just saying..your statement she could very well die. She's not dying. She's here ranting. She's a mom and I get it. Your first line says all I need to know. Please do not tell me (or anyone for that matter) that "only mom's get it". I'm a father, and I fully "get it", where do you get off telling people they don't understand what it's like to be a parent simply because of their gender? There is a major difference between "being critical" and "expressing reality to someone that clearly does not want to see it." I'm done with you. You are reading things how you want to read them, twisting facts into some made up criticisms and then follow all that with "Men can't understand". Never said everyone's anything was the same, in fact, anyone that reads my posts can tell you, I know full well that everyone doesn't have the same issues/outcomes/etc. However... guess what is the same for everyone. If you don't consume water, you die and that goes for just about every creature on this planet. It's a hard fact that NOTHING changes. Having issues with consuming the very thing that you need to sustain life, then saying you don't have time to go to the ER to make sure you don't end up with some serious life threatening complications because you have kids that you need to take care of is just... perplexing. If the OP doesn't get help... and doesn't get in what she needs for the bare minimums for water... *WILL* result in bad things. There just isn't any other way around it. And again, not going to sugar coat a very serious issue.

I'm sorry, but I can't disagree with you more. Dehydration is not a joke and will lead to death. Not going to the ER because she has kids, can't drink, etc... just going to lead to some serious issues. I'm sorry that facts and reality are too harsh for you. I won't sugar coat hard facts for important things, ever. As far as the "rant" part, yes, she said that. But all replies to folks attempting to assist show it's less a rant and more a mindset that she won't even entertain changing.

For me... finally getting the bypass was the best thing I've ever done for myself. I really do wish that I went with the bypass back in 2011 instead of doing the band first.

Totally your call. Personally, getting the band removed was one of the best things I ever did. I'm so happy with my revision to bypass, I've hit a goal weight that was not going to be possible with the band alone. If it were me, and you were facing surgery anyway... I'd move to another WLS. The Band is being phased out, a few major manufacturers don't even make parts anymore. Not trying to be anything other than real and honest here, too many people see facts and take them as a negative, if the band works and you want to try it again, by all means. But I can't see posts like this and not advise that the band is on it's way out, less and less surgeons are installing them and there are plenty of reasons for that. Either way, good luck on your decision!

Major complications are extremely rare. Reversals are also extremely rare. The rate of severe complications has dropped drastically in the past 10-15 years as newer medical technologies have come into play. Don't let someone's issue sway your decision. Being overweight typically has more complications than the surgery does.

If they wanted to just rant, there is a section for that, this didn't come across as just a rant though, and the OP keeps stating "I have kids, I can't do XYZ" .... I just wanted to make sure the OP understands that, not doing what is needed, because of the kids... isn't a valid excuse, because if the OP doesn't get help, they could very well die... Dehydration is no joke. I'll provide support to anyone looking for it, I didn't get that from the interactions the OP was making.

You have 4 kids... yet won't do what's needed to ensure you don't die from dehydration? Who's going to raise them if you don't get the care you **NEED** ??? It's too late for excuses. You've had the surgery, now do what you need to do to make it work, for yourself AND your children. Simply using them as an excuse as to why you are not getting the care you need is just daft, dehydration will lead to death, it's pretty simple. No water = No life.

Congrats that's awesome!

Not sure exactly, this might be specific to the person ingesting the nuts. I haven't had any issues with dumping with any nuts, even well over 1 oz worth.

My pain was minimal at best. I had some slight pain getting in and out of bed, but that pain was dulled by the pain meds in the IV. It grew a bit once I was removed from the IV, but by no means was it really anything more than mild.

They might taste sweet, but they have 0 sugar. Anything at this point is going to help!

Search for "stall", the 3rd week and anytime you make large dietary changes, your body has the potential to "stall" and weight loss will appear to stop, or you might even gain weight. Just stick to your diet, ensure you are attempting to get upwards of 128 oz of water and don't stress about the weight loss. Also, when you start working out, expect the weight loss to slow, or a gain to happen, this occurs because of the fluid your muscles will retain when you start working them out again. It won't stay that way, but the first week or 2 can be frustrating. Also, recent studies are showing that daily weight-ins result in more weight loss.