LadyIvy

Have you tried switching brands of protein shakes? I hear it is very common, but it could be mixed with a small intolerance to something in your brand of shake. Call your doctor soon, you can get dehydrated so quickly post-op, this is surely not helping.

I also understand that rice can cause a bit of an issue for many people for a while. I hope its no alcohol forever! I'm already giving up cigs and the way I am used to eating. I will be truly sad if I can't have the occasional drink.

I think I have decided on the Joye 510T. Its the tank version/manual (as was recommended). I think the tornado is too big for me, but I did check it out. Also, the lady at cignot seems very nice, but I won't be doing business with them since there is only one point of contact. It makes me uncomfortable to send off money to someone who only has an email and no business phone. Thank you for the recommendations! There is a ton to figure out with these isn't there?

I agree with you completely. Ironically, I find I do my best with eating and chewing food to mush when I am driving. It gives me something to do and I pay close attention to bite size and length of chew vs. when at dinner table in conversation. I am sure I am not going to be happy about my liquid diet, but I think I may do better than many. I already drink a ridiculous amount of fluids and have stopped eating midway numerous times so that 30 minutes can pass and I can have a drink. I already prefer drinking over eating because I am so busy I can take it with me anywhere. I have also found a severely decreased satisfaction in eating food when I have to concentrate on every single bite. We do family dinners every single night and I have always been a slow eater. However, now I feel like everyone is done and hoping I will finish soon so we can all get up. It takes a lot of enjoyment out of food.

Oh, I didn't mention that I do NOT NOT NOT want a bypass, so his answer to this is critical!

Since I am still debating parts of having this surgery, I decided not to wait until just before surgery date to meet with surgeon for my barrage of questions. Made an appointment with Dr. McDermott on my 32nd birthday. Questions I have decided are decision makers: Why would you have to switch to a bypass mid-surgery? (he mentioned having to sign a paper giving him permission to do this in life or death situation) Have you ever had to do that? What if down the road I get stomach cancer or esophogeal erosion? Where is the tissue for repair going to come from? Have you had anyone complain about decreased cognitive abilities after surgery? How often do you have to treat patients for severe acid reflux post op? Have you had any issues with post op esophogeal erosion or GERD? Can you guys think of any other decision makers? I have a long list of other questions too, but those are for after the decision has been made. I will save them for pre-op visit. Stuff like: How much can I lift and when? When can I start using mederma on my scars? Bathing and showering regulations How long will I have drain in etc.

I have noticed lots of people around here have used the e-cig to stop smoking. My husband and I would like to get one with the 0mg cartridges. We really miss the tactile effect of smoking more than anything else. Can those of you that like your ecigs post a website or brand name? I am going to order a set in the next couple of days. Thanks

You can do it. I thought I loved smoking too. I do like the instant gratification part of it. However, after quitting for 6 weeks and not having to carry them, or not having to worry about when I could have my next one was SO freeing. I started gaining so much weight I started again (pre-surgery decision). It was dumb, because I had to start quitting all over again. I found an awesome phone app called quit now. It gives you motivational thoughts, ugly smoker pictures and keeps track of lots of other things. It helped a lot the second time around!

Okay, so I have seen this mentioned on the side in a couple of places around the forum and am starting to put 2 and 2 together. Just 10 years ago, I was clearly and no doubt 5'7". A little over exactly. I was measured for my BMI the other day (and in a couple of different places) and I am 5'5". I am wondering if being heavy long term makes our "gravity" stronger and pulls us closer to the ground. This could sure account for the joint pain overweight people get. My husband is shorter from years of jumping out of aircraft. The constant impact compresses your joints and drops your arches if you do it enough. I wonder if it is the same for us?

You did tell your family you will be skipping Thanksgiving this year I hope

Check out barnesandnoble.com they have some great bariatric cook books. Also, look at the big picture. You have lost almost a pound a day for a month. You will get there. Its actually better to lose it like you are since you are decreasing your risk of gall stones!

Look at the big picture. In 7 days you still lost 5 lbs. That is a lot! Keep up what you are doing. You will lose weight, your body just has to store up some energy for the next big weight loss jump!

Congrats! That is a huge first step (allowing yourself to feel instead of curling up with Ben and Jerry). You even made the second step by deciding to do something about your feelings instead of just sulking. I hope the book helps you find some peace. Keep us updated! Even though you said you complained in your earlier blogs, I hope looking back helped you gain some perspective

I completely agree with everyone here. So why do I feel embarrassed to talk about it with people? This is not like me. I have to examine this.... Thank you for your post!

It is hard for a caring mom to take anything for herself. If you want to be the best mom you can be you just have to start chanting the mantra "if I can't take care of myself, I can't take care of anyone else". Congratulations to you for not only making a healthy change for yourself, but for your family as well. Your kids will learn from the examples you set when you are eating properly and become more active. Maybe learning from you will keep them from ever having to suffer what you have.

I have spent the past couple of days doing a plethora of research on bariatric surgery. I made sure to look at both the good and the bad. I am approved for surgery and want to make an informed decision. I simply do not like the idea of being a guinea pig and am wondering what will happen long term. I already struggle to a small extent with acid reflux and I don't want that to get worse. I don't mind taking medication for it if that is all I have to do. I am a bit worried, because it seems like surgery will be much more complicated if I develop esophageal or stomach issues in the future. I was also reading about a higher likelihood of my stomach twisting way down the line. I know that I need to do this for my health. There is no better option for me. My BP is out of control and I have had entirely too many family deaths due to heart complications. I want to be able to be active with my son and break the cycle of a sedentary, fat filled lifestyle that I was raised with. My best memories with my father all include food. He was a very big man and didn't get control of it until he had already begun to develop the diabetes that would eventually weaken his heart and cause his early death. The surgeon at the bariatric meeting also made a comment that I need to discuss with him. He said that I have to fill out a form saying that if some kind of emergency arises that he is allowed to perform a gastric bypass. I do NOT NOT NOT want a gastric bypass. I should have asked more questions, but at that point in time I was looking at a lap band and didn't really have interest in asking questions about the sleeve. I really want to know if it is just precautionary, or if he has ever actually had to do it. If it isn't going to kill me, I would rather he back out and not perform the procedure at all. These are the things that have been bugging me lately. My husband and I are both really concerned about my health and he just seems to have the most positive attitude about all of this. I tried to impress on him that this is permanent and there is no going back. Our discussions will continue. I have also asked for an early appointment with my surgeon so that I may discuss some of these fears. It may make me feel a ton better to get to know him and know his history better. It is hard to do internet research on military doctors. There just isn't much out there to find. I pray, but not regularly and have found myself doing it much more frequently for guidance on my decision.

I totally understand how hard it is going to be to stay on a liquid diet for as long as the doc wants. I just know that what I cannot trust myself when it comes to food or I wouldn't be where I am needing the surgery. I am going to have to keep telling myself that when I am so mad at the Dr. for starving me for so long. I feel for every one of you that has had to go through this. I'm not to far behind....

In the case of many insurance companies, you are not considered morbidly obese until you have a BMI of 40. A BMI of 35.5 to 39.9 are considered morbidly obese only if you have something on the list of co-morbidities. Unfortunately, (and fortunately too) the conditions you have are not considered "co-morbidities". They probably will not cover your surgery. You may need to look at the self pay route. I wish you the best of luck. There is nothing worse than walking around every single day in pain.

You are not crazy. This procedure is new enough that you have to weigh your costs and benefits. You have to accept the fact that you are going to willingly become a bit of a scientific guinea pig. I made sure that I took the time to research both the good and the bad possibilities that come with this surgery. There are so many unknowns right now it is pretty scary. One of my major concerns regards what will happen if I ever get stomach or esophageal cancer. They usually use stomach tissue for repairs and I won't have any to spare. There is also the hormone called gherlin that you are removing massive quantities of along with the stomach tissue. However, right now I have BP problems and cholesterol issues. My father died of complications with both diabetes and his heart and my grandmother died of congestive heart failure. When I factor these personal considerations into the possibilities it becomes clear that being overweight is so much more dangerous for me. What is good about this surgery is that while I have found some people experiencing "buyers remorse", when everything is said and done, I have yet to find one person that says that they would not do it again. This is why it is such a personal decision. Keep researching while you are waiting for a date. You will know if it is right for you. I have a million questions for my surgeon when the time comes. You are not crazy and should ask every question you feel needs answered (and maybe more than that for good measure). Good luck in your decision making. You will meet lots of nice people on here who have all thought about this in depth. I hope you get all the answers you need to find your peace

I have a concern that I am not sure I share with everyone. Over the years, I have gotten used to (and even come to like) being slightly bigger. I think I look healthy at about 20lbs over what my doctor says is my target weight. Those BMI scales do not take a lot of things into consideration, like muscle mass, bone structure etc. I have been approved and am waiting for a date. However, my husband and I are concerned I will have problems stopping the weight loss at what we feel is good for me. I don't want to get too small. I am only worried because I have a friend who's mother had a gastric bypass and now she struggles every day to keep weight on. I would like to find my "grey" zone and stay in it. Have any of you had problems stopping the weight loss? Has it been a struggle at all? What did you do? Thanks again all

Don't try to change your diet based on what someone says on this forum. Listen to your surgeon, you picked him for a reason and he has the guidelines for a reason. Hang in there and talk to your surgeon before you change anything.

Seems really variable. Am I right in saying when you are finished your weight loss your overall proportions are still about the same? I hear the boobs go first, but in the end it is okay because it starts to even out. For those of you near your goal weight, is this true?

The ironic thing is, skinny people don't eat sugar free, low calorie, reduced fat crap. The chemicals confuse our bodies. Recent research has shown that diet soda is actually quite detrimental to you. Which kind of stinks because I have never been a full sugar soda kind of person. Its just too sweet.

Great find! I also read the other articles on the website as well. I shared this one with my husband so that he isn't blindsided by what will come after surgery! TYVM

I got to circumvent the whole 21/2 hour "couch" experience. I have been seeing a therapist for 3 years about twice a month. Turns out he does bariatric surgery evaluations. The whole thing literally took 20 minutes. He said he already knew most of what he needed to know. He has a couch too, but its like one you would see in your living room. I am so glad I didn't have to go through waiting. I knew when I walked out the door that I had the okay. Also, him telling you the response could take 2 weeks doesn't really mean anything good or bad. He has to find time to look over your responses and prepare a letter. Then he has to put it in a pile for his secretary to type up and send. It is a good sign that he just thinks you "are as crazy as the rest of us". Don't worry too much about your problems with food holding you back. We all have problems with food and that is how we got where we are. The psychologist knows this too! GL with your procedure Thursday!