Scaredy Cat

I love edamame with a little sea salt as a snack. I'm 2 weeks post-op today and I'm wi seeing when I can have it again.
And pickles, too! I'm DYING for my pickles!
Anyone know? Thanks y'all!

For all those driving home right after surgery, have your driver bring a pillow and put it in the car for you. When driving, hold that pillow against your stomach - the bumps on the road won't hurt nearly as bad. This is something I learned after having 2 c-sections. Hope it helps you too

Thinking even once or twice a month may be better for weigh in. Want to focus on a better life not a number.

Only my husband knows. I too did not want the negativity and my family trying to talk me out of surgery. I have been overweight since I was a child, I just can't take it anymore. It's hard staying on a diet, and the weight comes back on so fast! I am a slow loser and probably won't have to explain for a while. I am 53 years old and did not make this decision lightly, it took years to convince my husband that this was necessary. I am still trying to believe that I actually had surgery on Aug 31st. I am still trying to believe that this will actually work. So for me, I need this time all to myself, to make the physical and mental adjustments, without being under scrutiny by everyone I know. I hate being questioned about what I should or should not eat, what I should or should not do. It's my life and my health, it's my decision! When I do finally have to explain, it will be when it's obvious that it has been successful.

I'm keeping my support system in the loop but the rest can wonder and be amazed...
Amanda Rae

I have to disagree' date=' at least in my case. I'm not lying or hiding, nor am I not proud of the work i've already done or of the decision to pursue surgery or the work I've had to do so far just to get it. But I have a high visibility position in my career & social life, & value my privacy wherever I can preserve it. :}
I didn't tell them bc if they can't be positive, then I don't need their bad juju swirling around trying to mess up my pink & purple sparkly cloud of positivity & clear action that I've worked so hard to create. And on the other side (family), we're just waiting until there's a surgery date. We don't feel there's any reason to get everyone in a tizzy just yet. And no way am I blabbing on Facebook, bc frankly...too many random people are sharing too much random info.
As for work, I work for a big university & people are overwhelmingly negative & trying to claw their way to the next step & I know this would be exploited as a weakness. So, being that it's none of their beeswax, I don't see any reason to do more than give a heads up that they may need to cover my workload (in case I can't get surg date during mid-semester break).
That's just my situation...not that I even need to justify it, but maybe if by sharing it helps someone then so be it. :}

I had my endoscopy (or EGD) today. It wasn't bad. Got the IV and was completely out for the procedure. Woke up in the recovery/holding area. All went well - no issues. No sore or scratchy throat after, but felt a bit loopy and tired for a good part of the day after. Took a nap when I got home. Oh, and my anesthesiologist was hot, so that was a bonus.

For all those driving home right after surgery, have your driver bring a pillow and put it in the car for you. When driving, hold that pillow against your stomach - the bumps on the road won't hurt nearly as bad. This is something I learned after having 2 c-sections. Hope it helps you too

I'm a wine collector so this was actually a big deal for me. A friend had the bypass (she and her husband are also collectors) and she just cant drink anymore. She's about a year out on her surgery and while it's worked wonders, she misses the wine tasting experience. We are also big foodies and I wanted to be able to still eat out and taste everything I wanted. She is limited because if it's sweet or fat she ends up dumping. So no Desserts at all (she won't take a bite) and no pate, lamb, gad she's got a long list. I didn't want that for myself.

I just had 3 bites of tuna and that's all I could eat. Feel like I ate 3 plates full at Buffet!

There are documented cases of the "sleeve" being performed as far back as as the 1970's. And many references to it being in existance as far back as the 1950's.
The "sleeve" as we know it was originally used as a weight loss procedure in very high BMI cases, when the patient was deemed to be too high risk for a full bypass(RNY). The surgeon would remove the pliable portion of the stomach rather than fashioning a "pouch" because this could be done without having suture lines at the esophagus & the intestine thus reducing the chance for complication. This was all performed with full intent of simply getting the patient down to an acceptable weight to go back in & complete the bypass procedure.
However it was not uncommon for the patients to experience significant weight loss & opt to not return & complete the procedure, hence having a sleeve procedure, though not called this at the time.
Since there is no formal documentation before the 1970's I don't lend much credence to that time period. Though I am lead to believe the earlier cases we're a result of stomach stapling gone wrong.

Gastrectomy (removing a portion of the stomach) has been around since the 1800s, actually. Not necessarily the sleeve gastrectomy, but removing part of the stomach to treat cancer and ulcers has been around a very long time.
I love a gal who's done her homework!

a sleeve CAN be converted to bypass, but it's not really "the first step" of a bypass. With a bypass, your stomach is still in your body, but it is separated into two parts, with you intestines connected to the smaller sac. You can recreate this with a sleeve, but a normal, first bariatric surgery RNY patient will not be missing most of their stomach like sleevers are. The "second step" of converting a sleeve to a bypass is by rerouting the small intestines.
The "bypass" part refers to bypassing the first section of your intestines, which is where your body absorbs fat, calories and most nutrients from the food your stomach has digested. Because of this, you only absorb a small amount of nutrients from the foods you eat. This, combined with the much smaller stomach pouch, is why RNY patients have a much harder time maintaining the right levels of Vitamins and minerals vs. sleeve patients. But it is also why they can tend to lose weight more quickly than a sleeve (tho some sites/surgeons swear the weight loss is comparable between RNY and sleeve).
This difference with resectioning the intestines is also why RNY patients come off their diabetes meds faster. They aren't able to absorb sugar as easily AND because of the small sac, if a large amount hits your intestines too quickly, it will make you sick (dumping). Same can happen with fatty foods.
In short, I don't want anything that can/will make me violently ill. Dumping sounds like a nightmare, and most RNY patients have it at least a few times before they figure out how to control it. But I am not diabetic (yet), so I'd rather try the sleeve, work hard with it, and then reconsider other options if I'm not successful. However, I truly feel I can be successful with the sleeve.
Hope this helps!

I would go to their boss, explain what was done and recommend sensitivity training. Wow, so hurtful!

Get ready for the strange feeling when your skeletal structure begins to surface. Also, when you walk or run and the normal "wall" is missing and you keep right on going.
I remember being quite skinny when I was a young teen, embarrassed by my exposed bones. We have now reunited and a wiser me is grateful for their appearance.

It's true the sleeve has not been around as long as the bypass surgery, but I had read that it's essentially the same surgery that they've been using for decades for stomach cancer and ulcers.
Anyone else read this?

I'm so glad to hear its not just me!! I'm popping out of my FAT clothes ughhhh. I feel like I am sooooo out of control. I HATE it

Hey everyone my name is danielle:)got surgery done a year ago and down 100 pounds.starting was 265,now down to 171.my journey hasnt been easy,but im finally feeling happy confident and sexy again and like a whole new me.very happy i found out about the forum

I think I'd actually like to get a couple hiccups telling me to stop - like an alarm.

Congratulations on getting ur surgery date! How exciting..and i love your titel "new beginnings". Its so true! I was 280 pre op, lost 20 lbs on my pre op diet and i am 248 today. Surgery was Oct 2. No matter what happens, just remember..everyday will be better than the last one! the 2 week pre op liquid diet is seriously a head checker!! Post op it gets easier, because u know you have restrictions. Good luck on your journey and take lots of pictures

My switch isn't any better than it used to be, although I certainly get full on less food. The problem is, I don't eat as slow as I should so sometimes it doesn't go off in time (well, most of the time it doesn't). But now I measure everything and that makes it easy to not eat too much. So now I eat my measured portion and I'm done. 20 minutes later I feel that full feeling, not uncomfortable but satisfied. Why couldn't I have been doing that all along?

I just thought I'd share a new find. I used Blue Diamond Non Sweetened Coconut Almond milk with 2 scoops of Protein Powder, and it tasted just like an Almond Joy!! First shake I've been able to finish post-op. During my liquid diet, my favorite was Peanut Butter, banana and chocolate. Now, the just the thought makes me gag. But not this one!!

I say ABSOLUTELY!!! I've lost 77 pounds in 5 months with the sleeve and I personally feel that with gastric bypass you have more of a chance to regain the weight. There is also more malabsorption of Vitamins in the intestines that you don't have with the sleeve. You still need to take vitamins but I believe the sleeve to be safer and better than the risks from gastric bypass. You still have to work the sleeve. Eat right, exercise, Protein first, and drink Water. I still have 64 pounds to go but I know I will get there!

Have to get new gym clothes. Woo hoo!!!!