docbree

I have bipolar type 1 and I am well controlled with medication. My psychiatrist wrote a letter to my surgeon stating that I could make decisions about having surgery on my own. The surgeon accepted my letter as my psych evaluation, so I saved some money there. Good luck with your journey. Keep us posted.

Definitely keep your surgeon in the loop, especially if you rely on meds.

I have bipolar and did not have an issue of being cleared medically. I was upfront with them. I rely on meds too. Surgery nov 24.

Well, I would question your judgment if you weren't at least a little nervous! !!
Alot of great tips have been shared but here are a few things I did... I picked a couple of people who I related to (band to sleeve revision, high BMI women) and followed the successful ones. By follow I mean paid attention to them. I learned a lot but it also helped me "believe". I also spent time reading success stories and looking at inspirational before and after photos. I stayed away from the complications and misery threads because I wanted to focus on success.
Let's be honest, most if not all of us dislike Protein drinks and would rather eat fries, but there is a certain amount of "buckling down and getting er done" required. The good news is that down the road you'll be living a normal life, no longer morbidly obese and wondering what all the fuss was about. of course that is why maintenance is so hard...A few years down the road you can eat much more etc. So it takes a different kind of work. It is worth it for me... single digit clothing coming from the 3x land is a life game changer in many ways.

Congratulations!!!

My gastric sleeve surgery is scheduled for October 22nd. I've been lurking on the site for months though and am grateful for all of the support that is out there; only 2 very supportive people in my life know about my decision. I am about 3 days into the pre-op diet. I am a coffee fiend and a smoker and the withdrawal from both the nicotine and caffeine that my surgeon requires feels like poo; so much so that the diet isn't even fazing me. I've gone back and forth between cranky and lethargic and weepy and anxious. I understand that this is normal. I thought to myself, "Why are you doing this!?" I thought I would remind myself and share with all of you.
I've always been fat. I never used words like curvy or fluffy because they just don't do these rolls and blubber justice. Also, because I just couldn't bring myself to romanticize something that I've always hated; my body. I went on my first diet program at the age of 15 and over the course of the last 22 years I have spent thousands of dollars on infomercial exercise devices and weight loss tablets all so that I could lose and gain the same 150lbs over and over and over. It's crazy how I managed to become comfortable being uncomfortable. Last year, I got a sassy short haircut and while running my hand along the back of my head, I felt a fat roll....on my head. Not my first, of course, but a great dawning began. I realized that my highest weight and largest clothing size had been consistently growing over the years. The pile of smaller clothing that I one day hoped to wear again was made up of garments that were no longer fashionable and began to outnumber the clothes that actually fit. I realized how tired I was after attempting to play with my young child and felt immense guilt at just how many activities I begged out of due to my weight and lack of endurance. I realized that it was becoming increasingly difficult to wipe my own behind thoroughly, especially in tiny public bathroom stalls. I realized how much of my thoughts revolved around food and how ashamed I felt to even raise a fork to my lips in front of others. I realized much of this while carrying a basket of laundry to from the basement to the top floor; I had to stop on the ground level to catch my breath.
Why am I doing this? Because despite how big I am, I feel really small. This was certainly not the plan. I am tired of being a slave to food and I am tired of the bondage of this body that doesn't reflect who I really am. I don't recognize the lady in the mirror and I don't like her. I am doing this because I am ready to stop limiting myself. Because I want to live and not exist.
Please share if you will. Why are you doing/did you do this? What moments were really memorable in your decision making process?

I weigh twice a week. I had two mini goals one was to not be obese the second was to hit Onderland. Today I woke up to weigh and I was overweight not obese! It made me feel good. Probably to embarrassed to tell anyone I personally know so I thought I would tell my gastricsleeve family. I have 1.9 pounds to go to hit Onderland which will make me extremely happy. I won't have anyone to tell that to either so I will probably bore you all with that detail too!

I'm so glad I read this post. I am 5 days post op and I have NEVER been able to handle the taste of sugar free. It all tastes like chemicals. So the regular Jello isn't going to kill me?

I told my surgeon the first time I met him that I would not eat anything sugar-free or fat-free due to the processing and chemicals. He said he didn't care as long as I got my Protein in. I think a lot of the material we are given as sleeve patients was originally for bypass patients, since they suffer dumping.
To answer your question about weight loss, I am losing steadily and do not seem to be suffering for my choice to not go sugar-free, low-fat, fat-free, etc. Even if this means I lose a little slower than others, who cares? I have to be comfortable with what I put in my body and I am not going the processed food route.

Ha! Let me know your results. I can so see this as the next diet fad. Theoretically the study is right but it's a bit more complicated than just strapping on ice packs to your belly.

Yes, I am going in with eyes wide open and it is very scary.
I draw a parallel on this to childbirth. I remember as an expectant mother that other mothers, including recent ones all came up roses as well. When asked "how your delivery went?" Every single person said it went really well. For me it was the most horrible gruesome thing I had ever gone through and mine was a fairly normal delivery. Really well, is not what I would describe childbirth as. Yet, I would do it again. But I felt lied to by everyone, even my own mother, who probably was the most honest of the bunch. Everyone seems to think everything is wonderful and rosie. It is odd to me, as I am not wired that way. If you ask me I will tell you the truth. It will be a balance answer about pros, cons, and what the expect. After that experience I tend not to trust others assessments. I read between the lines and have to dig a hole to China for the truth.
I fear I may not be able to cope and that I will be miserable all the time more then anything else. But the alternative is just as bad. Obesity kills and robs you of the chance of having a normal life. So, I have to give it my best shot. It is a leap of faith into the great unknown but it is also a leap of HOPE, one that I do not possess in my current situation. I hope things will workout in the end just like having a baby. Mothers do die in childbirth, some have horrible complications but we all know it's worth it. Many before me had WLS and they ended up okay. Look at everyone on this site post surgery. They are real and their stories inform our futures. You can't grow (in our case shrink) unless you try.

Hello Everyone.....Nov 7 is my meeting with my surgeon to go over all forms and submit to insurance....the DR said my insurance would come back within 2 weeks and then I will get a date. I am so overwhelmed with all of the details and trying to think about how my new life will be. I compare it to waking up one day and living in Mars. I looked at the post op meal plan and I cant phathom 2 teaspoons of pureed tuna fish for a meal.....I cant picture not being able to gulp down a bottle of Water in 30 seconds.....how do you chew your meal until it is like applesauce in your mouth.....the NUT told me I would hardly be able to swallow my pills/vitamins and to get chewable everything.....
Please tell me there are other people out there whose heads are spinning just like mine......everyone seems so excited and ready.....I am scared out of my mind!! I have talked to a few people at a support group and they are all sunshine and roses...I ask what their struggles were and they seem to not have any....I just dont buy it......
I know I will get through this....but I would love to hear from other people who are scared like me so I feel like I am not alone....and I would love to hear from some people who are past this bumpy section ~~~ maybe you have tips that will help me get through this phase and prepare for life on Mars.
Thank you.

Felt the exact same way. But apparently now they know that area, the left over tummy secretes gastric juices/enzymes that aid in digestion. They just meet up on down the line, so to speak....Lol

With any type of weight loss be it surgery, diet, exercise, etc the weight is not going to just "fall off" you have to work at it. You have to put your effort to do it, deciding to have surgery and continue the way you were previously totally defeated the purpose of having surgery. There is no miracle weight loss that is just going to do it for you. You didnt get over weight just breathing!

JamieLogical...here you go!!

I have RA also. I did have the bypass surgery. I stopped taking any IBU probably a month before my surgery. I had never been told I could not use steroids.
I would be more concerned with the GERD that can occur with the Sleeve, I think.
I am glad the polyps were benign. Did they say it would be normal for you to have them return? The reason I ask is because 4 years ago my GI dr found colon polyps which were pre cancerous (2 of them) and he removed them. Then 2 years later he found 4 more. Also pre cancerous. My father had colon cancer so I have to stay on top of it.
If you have the surgery I wonder if they would have to allow for more room in the case that they return. I don't know if that makes sense or sounds weird. I just know that there is not much room in the stomach after surgery for food and if there are polyps which grow back, well you get what I am saying.

I hope what ever is decided is the best for you. I had horrible heart burn and Gerd before the sleeve surgery (even to the point of having a chronic cough from it), I was on Rantidine and it didn't work without the help of tums and gaviscon. After the surgery and up to day 57 (today) I have not had one problem with heartburn. No waking up at night in mid vomiting of fire. They do have me on protonics since surgery for the healing effect (was on it prior and it did not control the heartburn). In my past when I lost weight the heartburn went away, so I am thinking the pounds shed has fixed the heartburn/Gerd.
I hope you can get some relief and some answers.

Wonderful News!!

Glad to hear it! found out mine were benign as well...

Yes the defendant went, and his wife. ( who was his "witness") They must have viewed it as a free vacation considering she had nothing to do with it...But everyone will have to watch our episode to see what happens! LOL

Outstanding! You look great - congratulations!!!

Hey everyone!! I have been keeping a blog about my journey. The only reason I made this blog is to help other people going through this surgery and all these changes. I post 1-2 times a week and I talk about everything from recipes, work out regimes, family and personal stuff, weight loss updates, etc. Check it out!
http://dimandgirl.wordpress.com

One other thing - I have a number of problems after the surgery and one it didn't fix. I was hospitalized for malnutrition badly enough I got told I ws going to die. I still tell people get the surgery.
Because 98.5% of people have no problem and the biggest issue they have is weight gain. I would rather enjoy the quality of life that I had in swimming, running, etc. and the memories of that then sitting on my can doing nothing. I don't regret the surgery. If I can say that, isn't giving your life and health worth the chance? My stuff is rare and I had GI problems to begin with.
If you can get the surgery DO IT! It is worth it.

Sounds to me like he's another obese person trying to scare people about the "dangers" of WLS. Yawn. These people use scare tactics and not real statistics to (for some reason) discourage people from WLS. I've seen it a million times. While all of us are getting healthy and changing our lives for the better, those people will remain on the weight loss roller coaster for the rest of their lives. They also don't understand that this isn't a "quick fix" and we still have to work to get the weight off, we just have a surgical tool to help. Pay them no mind, and continue your path to a happy, healthier you!

@Rovoboy , thank you for checking in on me and thank everyone soooooo much for the support!!! I most definitely need it. He admitted yesterday that he is "beating me to the punch" because I will leave him when I get smaller (which is a load of crap) but none the less he is set on a divorce and unfortunately right now I don't have the energy to fight it. Surgery went really well for me and now I just have to try to stay focused. With the current situation it is pretty hard to get all my fluids in because I am not hungry or thirsty so it is hard to remember to sip all day long while my mind is beating myself up for "why I couldn't keep him happy."
BUT none the less I went threw with the surgery and now I HAVE to think about myself cause no one can drink the Protein for me or make the daily choices that will effect me the rest of my life. So as pathetic as it may sound I am taking my life minute by minute and hour by hour.... .THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!! Thank goodness for BP