VSG AJH

Wow! You two look amazing and like you're having so much fun! Way to go!!

You look amazing! Way to go!!

*available to manage, not avail me tonnage. That was an unexpected autocorrect.

Pardon the mistype -- it's late at night and I'm typing in the dark on a tiny phone. And then autocorrect -- we all know how helpful that is. :/. I meant to say there was always something available to manage her pain that didn't have addictive properties. She just had to ask.

Thanks for the tip!

Madam -- As a stirrer of pots, you are easily one of my favorite people on this here board. It would be so fun to meet you IRL, but the fact that you exclaim "BALLS" and I say "y'all" leads me to believe we're a world apart, geographically speaking. I fully intend to be sleeved and eat disgusting things from time to time. Balance is what I'm after. I will fully embrace "bad eating" now and again, and have no plans to whine -- not even once.

You look amazing! Truly inspirational!!

What an amazing difference! You look great!!

My psych eval was pretty straightforward, too. My surgeon gave me a list of three psychs to call. I scheduled an appointment with one who told me the process would take a minimum of three hours. After reading some posts on here about people getting in and out in 30 minutes or so, I called the other two of the list to inquire about the process. I scheduled a replacement appointment with the one that said they'd be done in 45 minutes. Less time to get myself into trouble. . They emailed me the questionnaire in advance, and I too was careful about choosing answers that didn't make me seem extreme (though I'm not usually an extreme person). The face-to-face Q&A was similar -- simple and straightforward. She asked if I had any history of abuse (I was sexually abused as a child), and asked how I'd dealt with it. I was worried that would be a disqualifier, but careful, thoughtful, honest answers, and she said se felt like I'd addresses my abuse issues head on. I imagine careful, thorough answers about bipolar management for you would bring a similar response.

Welcome, Crissy! I relate to so much of what you said. I too am a stay at home mom with no family help. I can't think of a better reason for both of us to move forward with this deal! I started my process on Aug. 5, my 13th wedding anniversary. My husband's work insurance just began covering bariatric surgery last year after years and years of exclusions, so I have a three-month supervised diet, along with a few other requirements. Everything is done, save for two nutritionist visits and one more support group meeting. Hoping for an early to mid-November surgery date. Best of luck to you!

Oh man, this is not encouraging. I'm still pre-op and I love cottage cheese. I eat it with lite canned peaches (in fruit juice, not heavy syrup), and I was hoping to just pulse those peaches in the blender to bring them into the purée stage. I'm not happy to hear your tastes have changed.

I won't miss being overweight (I'm still pre-op), but I'm terrified of being thin. Not terrified as in I need to have my psych eval redone, but terrified as in it's entirely unknown to me. I began putting on the weight in childhood, and I stayed on the overweight side of average until I met my husband. I ballooned to 276 on my wedding day. All of my teen years, dating years, adult experiences, married life, and role as a mom have been done as a non-thin person, and I'm a little freaked out by the unfamiliar. I will not miss the food, I will not miss the aches and pains and illnesses, I will not miss standing out in my community and church and peer group, I will not miss the excuses I feel I must make for myself ("oh, it's baby weight/stress/Thyroiditis/Adrenal Fatigue."). I am very much looking forward to blending in and being a participant in this life. It's just insane that that's an option for me.

My stomach was sampled and tested for H Pylori during my EGD as part of my pre-op work up. I was so worried the test would come back positive and my surgery would be delayed that I ate Black Sesame for several days before my test. Not sure if it was necessary or did anything, but my test results were clear.

I had my EGD on Thursday, along with a colonoscopy (unrelated to surgery), and the entire top/bottom process was no more than 30-40 minutes. No real pain with IV, no burning with deep sedation meds. As the mom of six kiddos, it might have been the best sleep I got all week -- even with a camera wedged in my intestines. I had no pain afterwards, and we left the surgery center for a lunch date at a local Brazilian Churrascaria. Because of the sedation meds, I didn't drive at all that day, but I was otherwise my insanely busy self.

@LipstickLady -- I don't think you're supposed to take this as a list of suggestions.

Hey, I just read about Protein Cookies from Chris and Heidi Powell's blog. They're made using Protein Powder, and they look like an iced sugar cookie. I wonder if you could mix your lactation herbs into those cookies for a little protein, too. No judgement or criticism -- just really thinking out loud since the lactation cookies are so helpful but sleeved stomach capacities are so limited.

Jujubee -- PLEASE talk to someone IRL. There is NO SHAME in reaching out for help. Seriously, your doctor's office will have resources because you are no alone in your struggle. Many people struggle intensely after WLS and real help is out there. Please.

Obviously, every surgery comes with risks, and I think the doctor would be irresponsible to indicate otherwise. Did he give you any statistics regarding the risk increase? The risk for leaks with this surgery is like 0.02% according to a surgical guide I read last night. Your level of risk might be increased, but what if it made your chances of trouble like 0.03%? I think those are still very good odds. Another thing this article mentioned is that VSG has been used for a very long time as a step-down operation for people with BMIs of >50. RNY and DS have high complication rates in a higher BMI individual, so VSG would be used first to have the patient drop the first hundred pounds and all the comorbidities, then RNY or DS would be done at a later time. As for dieting again instead of VSG? I can't speak for you, but that has worked well for me 0% of the time. I think it's good that you're aware of the risks that come with WLS, but I think that you should balance those with the risks of remaining obese. Each time I feel frightened by the risks associated with surgery, I remind myself of the awfulness of my obesity and the unbelievably scary risks that come with staying this way. Though there are some on this board who have experienced those complications, there are so many who haven't who express their single regret as not doing this sooner. That said, you must weigh all the information available to you and make your own decision. In wish you well as you do so. Here's a link to the guide describing VSG in >50 BMI: http://goodnightsurgical.com/doc/Sleeve_Gastrectomy_Guide.pdf

WorkItOutWoman -- I cannot WAIT for a day like the one you just described. Seriously, I don't think I can even wrap my head around walking into Forever 21 and just picking something off the regular ol' rack.

Thanks for this!