topgun

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.

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've been using a personal trainer for a year now and I love it. He's great! He gets me, and he knows my limitations and works within them but pushes the envelope juuuuust a little.

Honestly, a trainer isn't going to motivate you any more than you motivate yourself, and as far as measuring your progress - you're not going to care if you don't progress because it sounds like you really have no desire to do the work. The main thing a trainer is going to do for you is show you what exercises to do in order to minimize the saggy skin, build muscle, and tone what's already there. But if you don't decide to get your butt in the gym no matter how tired, how long a day it's been, or what's on TV, you may as well just throw your $ out the window, because that's what you'll be doing.

Get yourself in the habit of walking every night or riding your bike every night, then once you've got the habit, switch it up and join a gym and THEN get a trainer. Until you have the habit, I wouldn't do it.

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

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

Don't feed the troll.

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'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

If you think you are dehydrated, do NOT take any chances. Dehydration can lead to complete organ shutdown and can be fatal. Seek professional care immediately and do not take a chance on your health. I have been there and done that and almost suffered from irreversible kidney shutdown. My kidneys were functioning at less than 10% because of dehydration from a case of the flu when they finally started improving. I was a heartbeat away from dialysis.

Call your PCP or get to the ER.

Ted

I'm with Kaiser in SoCal and I've just recently received my surgeon's referral after completing the Options program and all of the testing. I consult with the surgeon on Mar. 09 and hope to have the procedure soon thereafter.

I started the Options program with an attitude that it was a waste of time but ultimately found it to be very informative. I feel much more prepared for the lifestyle changes ahead.

Everything has gone smoothly so far with Kaiser so I hope it will continue. The surgeons they are using have good credentials and I've not heard anything negative about them.

I am dreading the pre-op "2 week liquids" diet and I hope it will not apply since I have already lost almost 15% of my body weight since starting the program. My SW was 337 and I'm at 287 now.

Thanks, MonkeyNurse and the responders to this post. I look forward to anyone else's comments about Kaiser (especially SoCal, because there are major differences in the 2) because info is hard to come by.

Ted

Hi,

I worked in Health Care for a number of years, and NO you do not have to tell him what kind of surgery you are having. There are what they call HIPA rules and he does NOT have the right to ask you. You have a right to privacy when it comes to your Health Care.

Just tell him you are having surgery and that is all you need to tell him. If he asked tell him that under HIPA rules you are not required to tell him. That should keep him quite.

Hope that helps,

Suzanne

Suzanne is technically correct, but the gossip mill being what it is, you will only stimulate everybody's curiosity by being secretive. When that happens, you are leaving the door wide open to let someone's imagination come up with a big juicy reason why you are undergoing such a secret procedure. That someone who feeds the gossip mill for you will also probably be somebody who is not your best friend and who does not have your best interests at heart. I'd give them a simple answer of some sort and let the matter drop. JMHO By the way, best of luck!

Ted

This is my first post on any forum. I am a 64 year-old male and I now weigh 286 lbs. I have just finished Kaiser's 12 week Options Program and I've udergone all of the pre-op required testing. During the Options Program they asked everyone to lose 10% of their body weight and I actually gave them a 15% loss by losing just over 50 pounds. I expect my consult with my bariatric surgeon within the next 2 weeks. I thought I was SO ready for this operation and now I'm having last minute doubts about my ability to make it work. My problem is - and always has been - habitual snacking. During the last 12 weeks I dieted sucessfully by losing the weight, but I didn't really change my eating habits, I only changed WHAT I ate. While dieting, I would go without food all day in order to save my calories for a big dinner of veggies and lean meat, chicken or fish followed by an evening of Snacks, like popcorn, apples, etc. Will the surgery itself help me to overcome this urge to eat all the time or am I just going to feel deprived?

Any input from others who may have had similar feelings would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Ted