topgun

I've never heard that before. I thought that a leak test was a "must do." Anyway, congrats on your speedy recovery. Keep it up!

All the delays and extra waiting must have driven you loco! Best of luck!

I agree!

Hang in there, baby. I hope I do as well when it's time!

Hang in there, baby. I hope I do as well when it's time!

WTG Chris! It's good that you and your wife are undergoing the surgery because when only 1 spouse loses the weight and the other is overweight, it can (and often does) have a very negative impact on the marriage. One of the reasons for the psych eval is to help determine the strength of the marital relationship prior to surgery. And, as for your goals, I think they're great! "Normal" people just don't understand the travails of obesity and the impact it has on our lives. I don't get sleeved until March 28, 2012 and I can't wait! I'm 64 years old and my wife of 36 years has always been a normal size and she's still my "arm candy." She's never made my weight an issue, but I know she's excited at the prospect of me getting rid of my excess baggage. Best of luck to both of you and get started on that bucket list as soon as you can! Ted

I went to my consult today and got the final approval for the vsg. I was concerned that the surgeon wouldn't take my case because I underwent an intestinal bypass in the mid 70's when bariatric surgery was in its infancy. The type of bypass that I had (jejunoileal) was stopped after only 3 years because of the complications and deaths that occurred and I'm one of the few who never had to have it reversed. Phew.... anyway, it's a go and I'm really excited. Until today I was keeping my anticipation in check out of fears that I would be rejected. Now I've got to get my shopping list together in a hurry now that I'm approved. I have one qurestion... do I really need to buy a blender?? Not that it's a big deal, but I hate buying something that I'll probably use for a week or so and then put it back in a closet somewhere.

Whoops... posted in error

Your fever seems to be low grade, still, so hopefully it's a normal thing. We're all hoping for the best for you. Best of luck!

wtg!!

I know my limitations and one of them is my innate disdain for exercise. I know that's one of the reasons I'm in the shape I'm in but - I'm sorry - exercising just for the purpose of exercising is just plain boring! I have some physical issues that probably hamper my ability to be more active in general but I'm not sure if I'm just using that for an excuse not to exercise, either! I'm considering getting the help of a personal trainer to help guide me through an exercise regime and I wonder if any of you have done the same? I'm thinking maybe one guided session each week, because I know it can get very expensive. It probably wouldn't make exercise any more fun that what it is now, but knowing that someone would be following up to measure my progress might help keep me motiviated, kinda like a mini support group. Any ideas? If you are (or were) like I am about exercising and if you've done something personally to help get yourself on a program and sticking with it I'd sure like to know about it, too. Thanks! Ted

Thank you, drill sergeant! I wonder, tho... were you always this athletic even before your surgery 6 weeks ago or is this reflective of the "new" you???

Heck, yeah...post away! I'm still pre-op and I've been able to better inform myself about the future by mainly reading the posts of others but also by asking questions that pertain to my case specifically. That's what it's all about! Good luck! Ted

Ditto. To hamanyq8 (or whoever you are), I quote Abraham Lincoln as follows: "It is better to remain quiet and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt."

I think the ugliest chunk of fat that you need to lose is your husband. This journey is difficult enough WITH family support. Keep a stiff upper lip. It sounds like you're tough enough to handle it if you have this long. Best of luck.

I've run the entire gauntlet over the years from being morbidly obese, to obese, to fairly "normal" (very briefly, 20 years ago) and now back up to obese. I have never felt normal or thought that I looked normal. Even when at a normal weight, I'd look in the mirror and see myself the same way I always have. I think this is common among people who have been overweight for their entire life. This time, tho, I have a number of "before" pictures that I'll be able to compare to the "new" me after I get sleeved and then reach goal. I'm going to work at feeling normal and enjoying the benefits because I think that's a vital component of long-term success.

The necessity of a 2 week diet such as this has been really questioned a lot. I think the medical community needs to get their act together and come up with a liveable standard that is not so difficult.

I think most of us kow how you feel, but think of the others who have been actively pursuing their goal for more than a year or more. It takes time, but it's easier said than done. Patience isn't one of my virtues either!

There are so many inconsistencies with pre-op requirements it's hard to know which direction any of us will be going! My first thought is "6 months...ugh" but then I remember that my journey started 4 months ago already and I go to my consult next week. It has given me time, though, to throughly think this through and go forward without hesitation. Best of luck.

Great article. Informative and understandable.

I haven't had my consult yet...I go Mar. 9. I don't know what the dr is going to say about pre-op but I'm pretty negative about having to punish myself if he requires 2 weeks of liquids. I went thru the Options Program at Kaiser and lost 48 lbs...more than anyone in the class. That ended about 3 weeks ago and I've now lost a total of 54 lbs. I can't see what benefit 2 more weeks of liquids will be more than what I've already accomplished in the past 3 1/2 monhs. The liver fat (and belly fat) is reduced thru low carbohydrate dieting and that's essentially what I have been on already. I plan on politely objecting to such a strenuous diet but I don't know what good it will do. I will probably just cheat a little for the first week and then slam dunk the second week just before surgery. If the 2 week diet was such an absolute necessity, there wouldn't be the inconsistencies from one doctor to the next. JMO

When was your surgery? Could be a deficiency of some sort (vitamin, mineral, electroyte, fluids)... don't take chances. Talk to your doc.

VSG or not, weight loss is a mathematic equation. If you consistently burn more calories than you take in, you are going to lose weight, whether from fat, skin or anywhere else on or in your body but a certain point it will be become unhealthy, as in starvation. I think the biggest obstacle to attaining goal is going to be the effort we put forth to get there. I understand that the majority of the weight loss that is attributed largely to the surgery is going to happen in the first 6-12 months. After that it's going to take more specific attention to details or we face undoing the progress made or just stoppng our weight loss shy of goal.

When in TJ, as long as you stick to well-traveled areas during the daytime you should have no problems. I have traveled extensively in Mexico and have never had a problem, but I have always exercised due care. If you go shopping, go to a place called Mercado de Artesanias. Ask anyone for directions when you get downtown. It is about a block from Calle Revolucion where all the (expensive) curio stores are. Prices are probably 30-50% less in the Mercado de Artesanias than they are on Calle Revolucion. Rosarito Beach is only about a 30 minute drive from TJ and it's a great place to have a few margaritas and go to the beach. Taxis are cheap in Mexico and - if you're adventurous - public transit buses are a real kick! You cannot take a rental car into Mexico without specific permission from the rental company and to do so is a crime. If you are planning on driving in Mexico, you must have proof of car insurance or risk being jailed if you're stopped even for a traffic violation. We always stock up on antibiotics when we go because they are legal to buy in Mexico without a prescription and very inexpensive. They are legal to bring into the US, too, as long as you are just buying them for personal use. Lastly, when you go there, treat the residents with respect, despite their socio-economic status, and they will respond in kind. Many of these people are Seri indians who have come to the border from the interior because they can at least make a meager living by begging. You will be besieged by the very poor, including homeless adults and street children, asking for handouts. If you give something to one, you will be inundated, so be very subtle. My best to you and your revision. If I can be of help, let me know. Ted

When in TJ, as long as you stick to well-traveled areas during the daytime you should have no problems. I have traveled extensively in Mexico and have never had a problem, but I have always exercised due care. If you go shopping, go to a place called Mercado de Artesanias. Ask anyone for directions when you get downtown. It is about a block from Calle Revolucion where all the (expensive) curio stores are. Prices are probably 30-50% less in the Mercado de Artesanias than they are on Calle Revolucion. Rosarito Beach is only about a 30 minute drive from TJ and it's a great place to have a few margaritas and go to the beach. Taxis are cheap in Mexico and - if you're adventurous - public transit buses are a real kick! You cannot take a rental car into Mexico without specific permission from the rental company and to do so is a crime. If you are planning on driving in Mexico, you must have proof of car insurance or risk being jailed if you're stopped even for a traffic violation. We always stock up on antibiotics when we go because they are legal to buy in Mexico without a prescription and very inexpensive. They are legal to bring into the US, too, as long as you are just buying them for personal use. Lastly, when you go there, treat the residents with respect, despite their socio-economic status, and they will respond in kind. Many of these people are Seri indians who have come to the border from the interior because they can at least make a meager living by begging. You will be besieged by the very poor, including homeless adults and street children, asking for handouts. If you give something to one, you will be inundated, so be very subtle. My best to you and your revision. If I can be of help, let me know. Ted