Silly Phylly

Dithdith26
I think far to often we get use to the "norm" and when the idea of change comes into the picture, the "what ifs" scares the crap out of some people. Most women tend to have a much easier time expressing their true inner feelings, men tend to usually keep their feelings under wrap. Their like an onion sometimes, you have to peel through each layer one by one to get to the real deal, and once your there tears might flow! I never understood why men have such a hard time expressing themselves. Nevertheless I agree with the rest of the forum, reassure him that you do love him and NEED him to be by your side through this. (they need to feel needed). Tell him that your feelings for him won't change and I've always believed in keeping things direct....ask him if he's fearful of something or feeling insecure. But most of all give him that reassurance that you will still be the person he married and the one that loves him unconditionally. Good luck on your journey to sleeve. I can hardly wait to join you!

Some people seem to think that losing weight is easy, and that all you have to do is diet, and exercise.... My Hubby is one of them. Although, I am so thankful that he agreed to pay for my upcoming procedure, July 27th, I know that he thinks it's insane, and drastic, that I am having SURGERY to lose weight. But, then, I also know that he looks at me differently since having our child, and gaining this weight. I'm a stay at home Mother of a rambunctious two year old. I have no time to exercise. My child is constantly under my feet, or glued to my side. I LOVE my child with all my heart, but, I can't focus on myself since becoming a Mother. I've tried losing weight other ways, and it doesn't work. Anyhow, my point is that I think many of us have partners who aren't as supportive as they could be. I'd love to go into my procedure feeling like he supported me. But, I know that isn't going to happen. I have decided to seek counseling for us to start on after the procedure. I know it will be good for us, and for me. People who aren't overweight don't understand the difficulty we face feeling huge, not wanting to go anywhere , etc... I pray my procedure goes well, and that I'm back to my happy, positive, outgoing person , the person I use to be before gaining all this weight. I know that family and friends are going to criticize and judge me. So, I'm not telling anyone . Good luck with your Husband. Reading these forums, I see that we aren't alone in having less than supportive spouses. Best of luck to all who have had the procedure, and to those who are going to have the procedure! : )

I had over 1 1/2 years to prepare for surgery. the last few weeks I went all in and started cleaning out my food pantry, changing dishes and getting new sleeve friendly recipes. since coming home from the hospital I have only vomited once (took my Vitamin on an empty stomach). There have been a few times that I have been in a stall and I change my diet up some and within 2-3 weeks the weight starts coming off again. I have increased my exercise and have never felt better. My main concern was leakage and sincce that didn't happen I say this was one of the best things I have ever done for myself. In my head I still miss food.... but it is not worth it

I guess i was so sick and tired of how I felt I was willing to take a leap of faith. I've been extremely optimistic now, where my whole life I've been afraid and looking up symptoms, taking my temp. every few minutes when concerned I'm sick and imagining blood clots.
I had complete faith in the reviews and reputation of my surgeon, believed I have angels watching over me and in general feel that I am destined for better than what I was living.
That does not mean others who get complications don't have that mindset at all.
But, for me, attitude was and is everything right now. I refuse to live in what I can't have, or how I get those weird sensations (I think "great I'm healing" when I feel them). I got my funky compression socks on, hubby gave me my lovenox shot this morning which I didn't even feel. Some days it feels like a shot and some days I literally wonder if he did it. Then I get that little burn and know it happened. I have a completely bruised up stomach and I'm happy!
You can't turn back. You are going to be heathy and more beautiful and have more energy. I may get depressed later but in my 9th day after surgery I'm so grateful to turn back time in essence. My face is looking like it did 10 years ago already.
I hesitated to have such a positive post because I understand depression, people not understanding, or being condescending but I want you to remember most say it gets better, they don't regret it and EVENTUALLY they get to eat what they like even though it's in small quantities.
I wish you peace of mind and will put that out for you. After doing something like this you deserve to be happy and feel better. All my best!!

I am so sorry that you were not prepared as well as ,you should have been. I am 7 mos out-and I have never been happier. My dr required a pre-op psych exam- and I was asked verbally & in writing about depression . I have not had any gastric issues but I have always followed my dr guidelines and he uses a size 40 bougie. My dr required a pre-op high Protein low carb diet, and he told me flat out he would not do the surgery unless I lost some weight and showed commitment. My preop diet was over 5 mos- so I had plenty of time to decide if I wanted the sleeve done or not. My Dr is only in the local office 1 day/wk but he has office hours at another location and he returns phone calls. His office staff is also very responsive, but ultimately, YOU must do this journey yourself. So I think a person NEEDS to understand that you must change your lifestyle.
My surprise was the way some family members and co-workers treat me. Many think they need to be on a diet and many feel very threatened- like I am making them "look bad", instead of understanding and accepting the fact that I am getting healthy for ME. I am also surprised that I feel so at peace with food now- I now find pleasure in many activities that I dreaded when I was MO and I am having a lot more fun now. ( I think it is a much bigger adjustment if you have never been thin- then I think you need extra professional support). You can't unring a bell- but you should get professional support if you are struggling post-op.

Thank you for posting your experience. I am pre-op & want to hear the good, the bad, and the ugly. I too have clinical depression. It is well controlled at this time, but I'm nervous about afterward.
Wishing you the best in the rest of your journey!

Um, I'd be drinking a LOT of Water before my next weigh-in, if I were you.... just sayin'....

Heck I would start eating everything you know you will never eat again!!!!!! so you gain a few pounds, that will prove your DIETING does NOT WORK! keep us posted... we are all ROOTING for you.... you can and will do this!~!!! Ü

I have been reading great reviews for dr Alvarez. Is his office only in eagle pass? Does he meet w u anywhere else? I'm really considering him. I go tomorrow to seminar w another surgeon. Trying to keep options open in case my insurance doesn't approve.

I decided on Dr. Alvarez off of a personal reccomendation, I know he does seminars, but I really like all his YouTube videos as well. He has his office about 2 miles over the border but an American address as well for business transactions. My insurance denied me, so this was my only option financially. But I'm very confident and excited, best part no jumping through hoops with insurance diets and nonsense. I go there and it's a done deal!

Wow! Fingers crossed that all goes well ... I'm getting all of my stuff together as well and hope for the best (I will be working with UHC).

I am at a BMI of 37 and have the same comorbidities as you! Coverage remains to be seen,but I am hopeful. I am 45 years old and the way I see it this old dog is not capable of learning new tricks, so long as there is a grumbling, growling bear inside of me. I have got to render food powerless over me! With the sleeve binge eating should not be an issue since the sleeve will stop me. Let's start a prayer chain for all the up coming and previously sleeved patients. We need all the help and support we can get with our individual circumstances! Good luck to you and God bless! Keep us posted on your progress and experience!

Who could say it better than that.
To that, I would like to add: I wish there had of been more explained about the risks of the high protein/low carb diet along with rapid weight loss. If you dump weight off really fast (like me) your hair WILL fall out..tremendously. You will probably be bone tired for months. We are all at a great risk for "stones", gallbladder AND kidney. And we are at a much greater risk for getting gout, because of all the meat we eat. Even though we are eating less, it is mostly protein. This causes our uric acid levels to go up. The alternative to this is to use soy protein, but over use of soy increases breast cancer risks greatly. We have gotten rid of many health problems by having the VSG, but we have also gotten some new ones. I just tell my husband, "well, if I die, I will be one good looking corpse"...lol.

I did exactly what I was suppose to do.
If I had to do it all over again, I would do the same thing.
My list of what I did 6 month pre-op.
I followed 800 - 900 calorie diet with 80 grams of Protein - 45-75 carbs
I drank 64 ounces of Water
I charted all my food, Water and exercise on myfitnesspal.com
I started walking in place because exercise was too hard, I eventually worked my way up to getting on my gazelle slowly 5 minutes first day - 10 - then I did two 10 minutes a day, all the way up to 1 hour twice a day
I stopped drinking with my dinner and waited 1/2 hour after eating to drink my water
I gave up coffee
I gave up sodas
I made sure I did my "last supper" before my pre-op shake started and didn't do it the day before. Those that do high carbs the day before they start pre-op shake seem to have the hardest time with the liquid diet.
I found a good decaff tea that was soothing and relaxing to my belly. I swear it got me through the first few days in the hospital. Bigelow Decaff Peppermint Tea with Truvia.
I decided to give 100% to the plan and the surgery and decided to try to stay positive.
I decided that I will not give into the scale when the scale doesn't move and I would not self-sabotage myself if it didn't move fast enough.
I got it ingrained in my head that after surgery I may end up weighing more right after surgery and I wouldn't freak out about it. Day of surgery 229 - 6 days after surgery 235. I didn't freak.
I kept my sense of humor and my wits even when faced with the fact there were complications with my surgery.
I promised myself that this journey would only affect my family in a positive way. I would not take out my lack of being able to eat out on them, and I would do what I could to make sure I didn't make them suffer. (No outburst during dinner that I couldn't eat what they were eating). This still bugs me when I see this to this day.
Realize this surgery is permanent, there are no do-overs, no I want my stomach back. If you are going to have surgery to remove 85% of your stomach, know it's permanent and that this is not a diet fad, this is permanent, for the rest of your life.
Realize that the sleeve is a tool. It's not human, it doesn't make decisions for you, it is not superhuman, it's a tool, the person who controls it is you.
After you get sleeved, it's up to you to realize this is a lifestyle change. The issues that caused you to become overweight in the first place are still there. If you feel that food is your "best friend" your "comfort" then...it's time to get a dog, get a new best friend and realize if you want comfort better find a good blanket, a good friend, or better way of comforting yourself because food is there for nourishment.
Parties are for interacting with people. For the first few months food will rule your life, is it time to eat, what am I eating. If you have a family and you have to cook, know that you will have to cook two times, once for them and once for you. If you can't handle watching them eat steak, burritos, and fun foods, don't eat at the same time until you can start eating the same types of foods.
Let your family know their eating will eventually change. You will want to add more chicken, fish, turkey into the meal and something you will want to know is that everyone around you will most likely change too. People that don't even know that I had surgery are dieting now because they see me.
My husband, son, father have lost weight, my other friends and family that didn't even know I had surgery just started high Protein, low carb diet.
Good luck to you, not sure when your surgery is but I wish you the best. This is all my best advice.
Things to bring to the hospital:
Charmaine Butt Wipes
Your favorite Decaff Tea
Your favorite Artificial Sweetener
Your favorite soft cuddly blanket
Small Fan
Sip sip sip, walk walk walk...

Knowing what you know now about the gastric sleeve would you have done Anything differently pre op to ensure a healthy and smooth transition post op and beyond!???? If so please share!
I am pre op and trying to learn as much as possible in order to live a more healthy and productive lifestyle~ Any and All suggestions are welcomed~
I wish I would have______________ before my surgery!
Looking forward to your feedback~
T~ :wub:

Amber, are you keeping a log with absolutely everything you are (and are not) doing...make yourself aware of you slip ups? Because chances are you are getting in more calories than you think you are. No offense. Just that chances are that is it, and if so, you have the answers to your own problem.
I helped a young lady recently that found about 400 calories a day she wasn't counting - and that was in Creamer and iced tea and mismeasuring portions. It can be eye opening to keep a journal.
Please consider it if you are not...try myfitnespal.
Good luck.

Lots of super great people here willing to help you! You've come to the right place! Don't give up!!!
((((Hugs))))

Ok Auburn girl you need to join our Alabama and Mississippi group! There is only a few of us, but we need an Auburn fan in the bunch! You know we got to have some fun along with all this! See you are headed to Alvarez! He is my plan B if insurance does not pan out. I am going to B'ham to Dr. Miles right now. Congrats on your August date! I don't expect to know anything for 6 months as I am a BCBS of AL patient. Such a bummer! I will have to do the 6th month diet to satisfy BCBS requirements. Ughhh!

My fitness pal, measuring cups and a food scale are how I've been doing it. My Fitness Pal offers different measurements for the same item with is very useful. If you have something that doesn't lend itself to being scooped in a measuring cup you can switch the app to grams and put the weight in instead.

I use myfitnesspal.com to record everything it really helps me keep track of what I am taking in.

My nutritionist told me to look for Protein Shakes that we're high in Protein and very low in carbs and sugar. The shake I chose has a full 60 grams of protein in it and only 1 gram of sugar and 5 grams of carbs. I take that in the morning and then the rest of the day I have broth or sugar free Jello, apple sauce, things like that but only at "meal times". And then of course fill up on my Water intake too! It's a lot to fit it all in but that high Protein Shake is way easier than having to drink 3 separate shakes a day for same protein amount!

How are you measuring food? Measuring spoons,cups or scale? If a scale what kind? Also how do you find the nutriential value of foods you make? I know there are apps or web sites to do this but which ones are good?

Awesome gman! Lol youre in better shape than this 32 year old! And lorna, I love love love hearing from people that are a few steps ahead of me. Keep me posted on your progress! Can you favorite people on here?

I so agree. Vacations just aren't vacations unless your truly enjoying yourself. I can't wait to get sleeved as well. Good luck to you in your journey.