Patrick Curl

Ok, thanks for all the comments.. still not excited about that part lol but.. I'll make it through I guess.

yeah, but I will have to do this by myself daily for 2 weeks, probably make my wife do it, she was a CNA. I hate needles.

Absolutely - thanks for re-iterating. I know food got us into this, but to never ever again enjoy certain foods because of dumping syndrome, or something - well.. that just sucks. I plan on getting down to 200, working out like a dog - joining some competitive athletic activities like Mixed Martial Arts, or maybe an Adult Hockey or Basketball league - something fun that is exercise but that doesn't feel like it. -- When I'm that active I'll be able to enjoy a good mexican meal, or something (only 1/5th as much at a time lol).. It so a no-brainer to me. I am so excited about the surgery, and pumped to get it done, over with, and get past the 6-8 week post op diet, and just get this weight behind me.. Next year is the beginning of something I've never experienced before.. Being Thin'ish (300 would be thin for me lol) - just want to fit into a damn roller coaster again - and I'm going to Cedar Point and Kings Island every weekend for a whole freaking year!

I like the Creamy chocolate Slimfast / Slim-rite(generic) - it's got carbs in though - but what I do is I mix in Optimum Nutrition -the best tasting Protein powder I've ever tasted, and it tastes awesome. I have the chocolate Coconut. I do this 3x a day. I get about 75 carbs a day, 15 fat, 800 calories, 95 protein.

For one - I don't want to not ever be able to eat the food I like again in my entire life. When I hit goal, I would like to enjoy my food - but just in much smaller portions. Also - I don't want dumping syndrome - doesn't sound like much fun. Also - Sleeve has less mortality rate, and the complications that do arise are generally less severe. Also - Sleeve gets rid of Ghrellin part of stomach the hormone that creates cravings. Also - Most importantly though - The sleeve doesn't have the mal-absorption that bypass has - think of being 60 - and needing heart medicine, or diabetes, or whatever else elderly folks take lol My grandma has a whole cabinet full of medicine - and Not being able to absorb the medicine may mean needing to take twice as much as a normal person would - which could also lead to error's in prescribed amounts which could lead to death - not to mention Prescriptions can be costly, and the Vitamin dosage alone for bypass is huge and costly and will be for the rest of your life. Sleeve does require a couple extra Vitamins, but not nearly as bad as Bypass patients. And Lastly: According to studies the Sleeve works just about at the same rate as Bypass, and with less complications - it's a good alternative. Those are just a few of my reasons.

Wow sounds like a rollercoaster ride.. Yeah.. i looked at the scale today and it was a bit.. unfriendly ... I've decided no scales till my last pre-op doctor's visit (June 20th). Instead I'm just gonna push it and workout, lift weights, etc.. keep to my 800 calorie diet.

The easy way out isnt this surgery, it's much worse-, and something I'm sure a lot of people have contemplated, this is just one way out of the pain and misery of obesity. It's not the way for everybody, but for many of us it may be the only way. Normal people dont get it, nobody can understand what a day in our life is like.

I ordered one too - supposed to arrive tomorrow. -- I'm also a July Sleever - July 2nd - Dr Brown @ Kettering Bariatric in Dayton Ohio. I'm excited but mostly nervous lol . Can't wait till my birthday.. Want to get past the hard stuff and look back at the good progress I've made. Currently on a Protein shake fast till July 2nd. Hopefully I can make it... So far on day 2.

I thought I was anxious before, just got off phone with the scheduling lady. I've got to get clearance from Cardiologist and Pulmonologist - which I don't think will be a problem, my Primary did and EKG and my cholesterol / triglycerides are all perfect. I do have some lung issues - but most of that is weight and sleep apnea related. I'm hoping there's no problem there as well. My date is July 2nd, and my final pre-op appointment is on the 20th of June! I'm going to be on all liquid diet till July 2nd to prepare myself for the surgery. By my Birthday I'm hoping to be under 500 - that's 150 pounds in 5 months. Wish me luck!

Thanks!

Yeah, I saw that but - frankly... I'm practically dead already.. I'm not afraid of dieing from surgery - i'm afraid of being bed-ridden and taking my own life out of despair... If I don't change by 35 I might just give up.. and I'm not quite ready to give up because I have always had hope that someday things will change and someday was always some long lengthy distance now it's like 5 weeks lol .. which is scary because I could fail at this too.. but if I succeed, well.. I'll be the happiest I've ever been in my life.. all my depression/anxiety/ etc is weight related. Everything negative in my life is because of my weight. -- I'd rather die from the surgery any day than go on living like this. At least I would die knowing I've exhausted all my options.

Nice! Congrats we'll be going through everything at about the same clip, keep me posted!

This is exactly how I felt like 3 or 4 days ago - I even posted about it -- http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/39749-nervous-and-worried-i-wont-be-able-to-commit/page__p__352984#entry352984 Then a lot of people made me realize 3 things: 1. - Everyone who has done this was scared. There are no exceptions. We are at a precipice, at my current life path - I'll be dead in 10 years either through co-morbidities, or self-inflicted from the pain. Yeah - I've thought of taking the easy way out - -I figure even if I die doing this - at least I'll be done with the pain one way or another and then I'm not so afraid. 2. That there is a lot of support in this group and people will reach out to help you through this- you are not alone - not at all. We are all here for you. 3. Post-surgery - it won't be as much psychological as you think - for one foods you used to love may now make you super sick- at least that's what I've heard, -- and you won't be able to eat more than a few ounces at a time anyhow so even if you did cheat - you'll still lose. Yes we all need to learn to improve our habits.. that's maybe our whole purpose in this life. Once you see the weight dropping off you'll also receive increased Serotinin which will increase your motivation to keep doing it, plus if you exercise along with it- which you definitely should - then you'll also get endorphines - Seratonin plus endorphins are two of the biggest best drugs out there- in fact Serotonin I believe is released when you eat sweets - so you'll get the same effect from your new lifestyle - by doing good things. Gist: Everyone's scared, There's lots of Support here, You won't be as hungry/craving of sweets as you think you will be.

Thanks -I kinda just try to ignore their comments and move on. I blame the parents more then them though for not teaching good manners lol. I also think hey.. I'm getting surgery soon, I'm already losing weight on my liquid diet, and before long I wont' be the fattest person these kids have ever seen.. Just gotta be a little bit patient I guess.

Yeah, I hear you, I was unloading a lot of fluid too. I always get very diuretic on low carb diets. I will probably lose 20 this week in water alone, which will make my swollen joints feel better so I can do more when working out.

Thanks. My doctor does not have any pre op diets, but I want to be sure I can do the liquid diet after the surgery, plus being 650, every pound I lose before lessens chances of complications, and will make recovery easier.

Tomorrow I'm going into the final stretch. I don't have a date set just yet. Last Monday, I had a 2 hour evaluation with the nutritionist, exercise physiologist, and psychologist. From what I understand, I shouldn't have to wait much longer before they set a date - I'm self-pay so money / insurance isn't an issue. Hoping sometime in June, early July at the latest. I'm 650 pounds, most doctors put patients on a pre-op diet, but mine does not have a pre-op diet per se, but I feel like I will be much more successful if I lose some weight before surgery, and get used to eating smaller amounts of food. Today- I ate my last fast food / milkshake until I reach goal. Tomorrow I will be starting my own pre-op liquid diet - basically a glass of Optimum Nutrition for Breakfast, lunch, and a double serving for dinner. sugar free chocolate pudding --on days where I am struggling. I have started walking around the block once per day, and am hoping to push that up to 3 laps by surgery day as well. Anyone have any comments or suggestions on this plan? (I'm a big...planner, I have to have everything planned out before I do something.. ) I just think getting in a good routine now will help me succeed better post-surgery.

Thanks! I appreciate it!

Congrats you're very inspiring, I'm 660 right now - and going to do the same diet you're doing pre-op. Started it today - my surgery is in a month or so - no date yet, but should be soon.

I say go for it - never hurts to get a head start - plus I hear that the less you weigh when you get the surgery, the less you will lose when all is said and done.. ie someone 500 might get down to 225, while someone 450 might get down to 190, not sure how true that is though. But it is safer the more you lose - liklihood of complications goes down with size - which is my motivation for trying to lose 50 pounds in the next month or so.. (I weigh 660, I can sweat 50 pounds of water in a week- i have before on other diets.. so I know I can do it if I just put my mind to it).

oh, I forgot the biggest reason - so little kids stop staring at me and saying 'Mom, that guy is so Fat'... that really hurts, and ticks me off. On the one hand I know they're just kids but on the other I feel like their parent should apologize for not teaching them manners...