makemyownluck

Girl, you find you another surgeon! I am so sorry you had to endure someone so ignorant. I can't stand when people who are in a position to deal with the public act like they don't have any tact whatsoever. In this state we are already fragile mentally and it sucks that this surgeon was apparently having a bad PMS day that she had to take it out on you. You came there for her to help and support you. I'm sorry for the rant, it is just unnerving to hear doctors be so insensitive, I've ran into my fair share when I was going through a miscarriage, you wouldn't believe the crap I've heard...Keep your head up, there are surgeons that will operate on you. My surgeon told me to lose 30lbs mainly for the purpose of my liver, but he also said it wasn't a big deal if I didn't lose the 30, if I had lost 10 lbs, then that would have shrunk it some. You don't want to deal with that attitude after surgery. I would have cried too, but let her know her customer service skills were lacking and she needed to find a new profession if she didn't like to deal with the public....Sorry, there I go again LOL keep searching hun, you'll find a great surgeon, that is supportive and professional.

Hey! At least you have a date for surgery! I have my 1st surgeon visit on 12/6 so I'm really anxious to see what hoops I have to jump and when I can get scheduled!
I haven't discussed a goal weight, but I know I want to be at the 170 mark. Right now, I'm 459. That's 289lbs to lose! I have every confidence that I can do it, though. From where I'm starting, I'd be happy just to be in the 200 range - which is ironic when you see all the people on here who got surgery BECAUSE they were in the 200s.
Better to do something about it now before you have 400lbs to lose, is what I'm thinking. Wish I would have looked into surgery sooner!
Good luck to all of us! <3

I'm pre-op and have wondered about this, too. I'm not an emotional eater. I eat for the taste. I eat for the feeling of the food in my mouth. IDK, maybe I am an emotional eater? The term "emotional eater" seems misleading anyway - isn't hunger an emotion?
Anyway, I read your post and thought, "Ok, seriously, how can this be fixed?" Besides all the obvious boot camp answers that were given (which is sound advice, but maybe not quite what you were looking for), the only thing I came up with was hypnotherapy. Years ago, I lived in a condo complex and my downstairs neighbor was a hypnotherapist. I was so intrigued by this profession, and I asked him why people would get hypnotized. He said, "Oh, for pretty much anything. Stop smoking, eat less, exercise more, stop drinking, stop shopping, stop biting your nails... you name it, I've done it." I asked him if it worked, and his answer was, "It can."
He went on to explain that it's all about the power of suggestion. Being hypnotized doesn't erase your mind's natural response, it just substitutes a type of reaction. He said it doesn't always work forever, but you can be hypnotized more than once, and eventually, the habit/feeling/thought you're having won't be the natural response anymore. The more you can identify your triggers, the more you can tell your hypnotherapist what to suggest to you during your session.
Now, I get that this could all sound like a lotta ridiculousness. I would normally seek out a more practical solution in a situation like this. But I actually love this idea - maybe my neighbor was hypnotizing me at the time that he was telling me how well hypnotherapy can work. (lol - but now that I made the joke, I wonder if HE WAS!!) I just know that the idea still intrigues me, and it's something that I might look into if I see old habits creeping back up when I'm in post-op land. It's worth at least looking into, and I see no harm in trying it.
Anyway, I thought I'd share that idea with you. I hope you find something that works for you - and when you find it, let the rest of us know! Good luck!!!

makemyownluck... I know everyone's journey is different but you took the words out of my mouth about the irony of what I'd call 100% success being other's starting weight!
I agree, I'm very blessed to have a date... I wouldn't if I hadn't found a way for self-pay (a miracle all its own). My insurance does not cover WLS and the plan manager said specifically they'd not make any exceptions.

Its possible for you to lose all that weight. I have lost 210 pounds so it is possible. and since you are young i would stay away from the bypass. my doctor performs the bypass , band and sleeve and he stated that he would rather me have the sleeve since i am younger. he states that the weight loss when compared to the sleeve and bypass is similair. he stated that it would be better to start with the sleeve since there is less Vitamin deficient problems and that if for some reason i wasn't successful that it could be converted to the bypass. im a year out and 210 down and have about 40 more pounds to go. It is possible i am living proof. If you have any questions you can always send me a message.

I have 300 lbs to lose. I started out at 480 on 9/20/27, this was my pre-surgical testing appointment. My surgery was the following week 9/27/12 and on the morning of surgery I was 453. It fluctuated a bit with hormones and all the Fluid they gave me through my IV, but I'm now 414 at 2 months out. I've got quite a bit to go, but notice a major change in clothing and my energy levels, it's been wonderful! I'm also off of 1 of my BP meds. Welcome and good luck! You can do it!

i worry about the same thing! overweight my whole life - and VERY overweight at that.
if you already have a problem with a hanging stomach (there are some big people who have big stomachs, but they don't hang - mostly men!) then it's still gonna hang when you lose weight.
The best thing you can do is work out to tone up your body, but considering how quickly you lose with rny, it's inevitable. You can't argue with gravity.
However, skin is an organ and very elastic, and eventually it will tighten up SOME on its own. Again, working out will help this process along. Saunas or red light therapy could help and some spas offer wraps or massages targets to weight loss surgery patients that can help firm up the skin. There is no miracle cure to it, though. And a Tummy Tuck is a thousand times more painful than the rny itself with longer healing time.
What I know is that my body is a mess as it is right now. Having surgery will slim me down, but I'm still gonna have flab, stretch marks, varicose veins, etc - those things will require more work after surgery. Even if I have to wear Spanx with everything - if I can get into "normal size" clothes - that's a victory. If I can get off bp meds, that's a victory. If I can go hiking for miles and miles with my friends - that's a victory!
There's options to get rid of skin, or you can learn to live with it. You're gonna be so much happier when you have your life back!!
Good luck to us ALL!

That's awesome! I can see the difference in your face already, you look great!

That's awesome! I can see the difference in your face already, you look great!

I have my sleeve on sept 27 2012 in day of surgery I was 379 I start at 388 in to day IM 335 I lose Frm surgery like 44 pounds I still got lot go but IM cumin down I can't wait to see 299 been long time.

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Keep up the good work! We had similar starting stats...I can't wait to see Twoville either. I'm going to bust out the running man! LOL

Date of surgery 06/07/12
Left pic / Weight 230
Right pic : CW 159
GW 130

A large part of the pre-op process is about making lasting behavior changes....because our post-op success is dependent upon those new, healthier behaviors bing ingrained by the time we start reintroducing foods to our diet. Wrapping your head, and our heart, around not smoking is the same deal. What you think is helping you to relax is actually undermining our ability to build sustained new, healthy behaviors. If you cave on one thing (smoking), for what seems like a good reason, you will be more likely to find "good reasons" for blowing off other new behaviors...even when doing the bad behavior is potentially very risky, post-op.
Focus on the prize, and make good choices....starting now...so that you can be as healthy and successful as possible, after your surgery!
All the best,
Laura

Well tomorrow will be one year to the day and I have to say that I am a new gal, I was not expecting the results that I have had. I feel wonderful and would not change anything that I have done. i waited a while to have this done debating on if this was right for me. I deliberated would this be right and I now which I had not waited on this. I started out over 300 lbs. when I got the process started. I had my surgery and started loosing. I have changed lifestyle choices on food and exercise. I have not been one to count all the Protein and calories etc. but I have made choice on how I eat and this is the best way I have done this. I exercise on a regular bases now and it is not the hard workout but enough to get the blood flowing. I can officially say that I am half the woman I was. I have lost exactly one half of what I weighed when I started this process. If you have reservation or trying to decide about this surgery I would highly recommend it to all who need a new start on life. I have been given a new chance ...

I have a higher BMI, I'm around 70 (I'm 5'4 and when I had my consult with my surgeon I weighed in at 422lbs that was two weeks ago). He will not perform surgery on anyone whose BMI is too high for safety reasons. The liver being enlarged, bruising, etc. He said he would like me lose 75 lbs before he would perform surgery on me. I have a three month diet where he wants me to lose 60, and the last 15 will probably come off during my four week pre-opt diet (or more).
They put me on a 3 and 2 diet that is taken from the Medifast 5 and 1. I eat three high Protein Snacks. I have a Protein shake for Breakfast which I eat around 8:15 why I don't know I just do..lol. Then around 10:30 I eat a Protein Bar which is actually really yummy. Then I get a lean and green meal. Which consists of a lean meat (turkey, tuna, chicken), and a green veggie I always eat green Beans, I am not someone who likes change and can eat the same thing over and over again. lol. Then at 3 I have another Protein Shake, and at 5 another lean and green meal. I do mix the meat up with this meal, but not the veggie, I eat broccoli. I only eat around 800 calories a day. However, I started this diet this past Monday and I now weight 415lbs have lost about 2lbs a day. I was told not to start walking (which is part of it) until the second week. So I'm curious to see how much it will add or subtract from my loss!
My doctor also told me that he thinks that the Sleeve is good for me because of my BMI, I thought I had read that the sleeve was best for those with higher BMI's but I maybe I am mistaken?
Anyway, I do agree with some who said the best thing to do is to start now trying to eat right, and losing weight if you feel that you may have too. I was told to ditch all the bad habits before even meeting with the doctor which I tried to do. I stopped drinking pop, I haven't have sugar or chocolate since Feb. I drink TONS of Water and I'm at the point that I don't like drinking anything but Water and Protein shakes (and yes I like my Protein Shakes even the ones I mix from powder lol I'm starting to think I'm strange.. that may change after surgery though..lol).
Anyway, I wish you the best of luck!! Sorry if this is long.

I started my journey at 465 and I am 5"11. Day of surgery I was 442. My surgeon actually preferred doing the sleeve on me v. RNY because I already had some serious Vitamin deficiencies that would only become much worse after RNY. I'm setting my weight loss goal at about 230. Yes, that's still pretty heavy, but considering where I came from... Oh and today I'm 359 and 5.5 months post-op.

I was 426 and 5 days post op I am now 375. I lost almost all of that pre op on my surgeon's required liquid diet. You may have to do a longer pre op diet to get to a safer BMI. they typically want you to lose 10% of your body weight if your BMI is over 60. I did it for a month. It sucked, but you can do it. I had a very safe uneventful surgery and my surgeon said the weight loss really helped shrink my liver. My advice to you would be to get started now. Do some Protein Shakes and high Protein low fat meals. It will help you adjust. Every surgeon is different. Mine required me to do the Optifast program for a month. It was not fun. Just be prepared. But, you certainly aren't too big. You just may have a longer pre op road than others.

Right now I am 5'11" and approx 352-360lbs. When talking with my doctor she said don't worry about the number as much as your goal feeling and size, for us taller women with larger bones 150 might look icky. I'm shooting for 199... So I can be in onederland... And see how I feel there!

I'm pre op and very depressed and stressed - the way I look at it, I CAN'T FEEL ANY WORSE THAN I ALREADY DO! Anything would be an improvement at this point. And, I gotta say, this whole insurance process isn't helping!! I think getting over the insurance woes, the pre-op testing, the night-before-surgery-jitters - I'll be so exhausted that getting the dang operation over with will bring on a flood of relief and it will only get better from there!
You have to have a positive attitude. You WILL get through this. You WILL feel better. You WILL succeed. You WILL be happy.
"Trying" to be or do anything already implies failure. You have to have the will to see the bigger picture, to keep your eye on the prize, and KNOW IT WILL GET BETTER.
I woulda thought an old hippie lady would know that a positive attitude gets you through anything. Stay strong! You've survived this long as a heavy person - that speaks volumes for your capacity to adapt already! Life isn't easy being heavy. But every movement you make will be easier when you lose weight. Just eliminating the depressing effects of pain, pain you may not even recognize because you've had it so long, will change your overall mood.
I know I'll probably have body issues for my whole life. Things I'll want to change or whatever - like most women have. I'm okay with that. I'm not okay with being the biggest person I know. I'm not okay with struggling up my FOUR porch stairs. I'm not okay with cracking ankles and knees at age 32 because my poor legs were not made to sustain this weight. My body is a mess, I don't expect that to change completely by losing weight (if anything, things could get reallll ugly!). But being accepted by society is so important to me. I bully myself harder than anyone, but I'm so fragile to society because I've been ridiculed too many times. I recognize how I'm treated differently, and I know I'm a smart person! I know I have valid, thoughtful opinions. I know I'm a great, funny, talented person - but being severely overweight, no one sees that!
Wow. This reply got really long. Sorry bout that. I need a therapist stat! LOL

One of the many reasons I went for the sleeve was I revised from the band and it is less risky to go sleeve versus RNY. The first surgeonI saw felt my BMI was too high for the sleeve expecially considering I had already "failed" at a restrictive only surgery.
Well, my BMI was 52 at time of surgery and I didn't fail with the band, it failed me. I found a surgeon who believed I could do well with the sleeve and I have been very successful with the sleeve. One of my fears with the rny was that living with a "pouch" would be similiar to being banded which was awful. i don't vomit after eating with the sleeve and can predict how much food I need to eat without over earing. Maybe the rNY is the same way, but I had such a bad experience with a pouch...
Anyway, you know as well as anyone that starting up so high it is going to be really hard to get to a normal weight BMI. So what, being a few pounds overweight is AWESOME compared to being 150-200-300 pounds overweight - at least in my book anyway!

@makemyownluck...don't feel bad, when I started my BMI WAS 67.1 at weight 477 now I am 405 as if today and BMI down to 64. I am also 5'10 and I would say my surgery was a success. I had no complications and no problems other than the usual side effects.

There are so many factors to consider, it's hard to say. Your insurance may impose a diet, anywhere from 3-6 months long, but some insurance companies have dropped this requirement. Then it depends on the surgeon you go to and what they want - some want you to lose a certain percentage of body weight before scheduling a surgery date, and that will depend on how long it takes you to do it. Other surgeons don't care that you lose weight and just want you on a pre-op diet.
I'm still pre-op as well, and I started the process in July. I got a referral to a surgeon in October and I've gone to the hospital's seminar, now I'm just waiting to get a call to schedule an appointment. But I have no idea what will happen from there.
It's been very hard for me to stay patient, because I'm not typically a very patient person. But I've embraced that I want to make a whole lifestyle change, so I'm taking this time to start working out regularly and changing my diet by cutting a lot of carbs. Spend this time wisely to educate yourself about what post-op life is like, because that's for the rest of your life. The surgery will come when it comes, but when it does, you'll do best to be ready!
Good luck to you!

I agree that complications are frightening - we'd be fools not to be worried about that to some extent. But I'm choosing sleeve because it has the lowest long term risk of complication. Lapband and RNY patients have a whole set of complications they could face at any point in their lives, whereas sleevers typically don't once they are healed from the initial surgery.
Congrats on having a date set! It's right around the corner, lucky you!!

Oops! Just realized I said I had RNY 9 weeks ago. I'm happily sleeved! I fixed it in the original post.