docbree

i had moderate Barrett's was diagnosed in 2004. it was the ONLY positive barrett's biopsy i ever had, every year after that was negative once i was on the right meds and the reflux was stopped... had a sleeve done in June of this year. reflux is all but gone.

11/3 will be here before you know it.
I'm 10 months post-op and often refer back to my "decision day" photo. I am so glad I took it - it was the day I decided to have surgery. The day I went to the surgeon's office and cried when I got on the scale. At that moment I thought "this is the worst day of my life", when it was actually the point I decided to change my life. I took lots of pictures of myself along the way - it's funny to go back and re-live the last 10 months thru pictures and see how many body changed, I developed a chin line, my collarbones started to appear, etc.
I also took my measurements - that helped me during those stalls you keep hearing about. It helped out a lot when the scale wasn't moving, but inches were coming off my body. It saved my sanity on more than a few occasions.
Best of luck to you!

I would never ever encourage anyone to be anything but completely honest, but be aware...you might have the process prolonged if you show any hint of binge eating disorder, or even if you exaggerate a little on how much you can eat at a sitting. So be honest, but aware. And know that sometimes the extra therapy might help you in the long run.
Of course, I think that they may use the "extra therapy" to weed out candidates whose insurance doesn't pay as much...just a conjecture, but in some cases it seems to be applied to state provided insurance at a more frequent rate.

@@docbree I have my eval next Wednesday and I'm worried like you are....let me know how urs goes tomorrow!

] @@docbree I saw my bariatrician today and we discussed my depression and anxiety being an issue ...she said the psychologist may require you to do some additional support groups or manage any unmanaged symptoms but as long as you complete what is asked that they should work towards clearing you.

"Eat to live,stop living to eat". Something.my grand daddy told me long time ago. Find something else to live for.

eat until you are full

then

stop 2 bites earlier
Dr. Robert Simons
Syracuse, NY
12/15/11

You know what I say Jane? Some people aren't happy unless they aren't happy. There are people out there who don't like to see others do well. I suspect it's because these folks are not doing well in their own lives. As another poster said...toxic.

Everyone has to make up his or her own mind on this but I will say when I get asked about how I lost weight I am always quick to mention WLS. WLS no doubt saved my life and if hearing me talking about it inspires someone else to make that first step then all the better. I give WLS more credit then I give myself because of my past attempts/failures.
At the same time...
Do I think it is my responsibility to stand on a soapbox and sell it or preach it? Hell NO....I feel awkward enough posting pictures and flashing tickers under my name.
I think I see where you are coming from now Kindle and I respect that you admit your initial post was a little "off the cuff". I agree that intentionally misleading people on how one has lost weight is just sad. It is a personal decision one must make to disclose but in my opinion if one can't be truthful then why answer at all. End of the day you're lying to yourself anyway.
When I was attending mandatory preop support classes there were people in there making statements that they want the surgery, lose the weight and then move on and forget they had WLS at all. These are the ones today that make me think back and wonder if they were successful or not.
Deception is not always about fooling or lying to others. Sometimes it is about coming to terms with your own demons and accepting you needed help.

What are your doctors doing about the anemia? Maybe you need an Iron infusion if you can't get enough/absorb enough orally. I hope they get to the bottom of this and that you start feeling better!

I've read some research that indicates that a very low carb diet can contribute to depression

What are your doctors doing about the anemia? Maybe you need an Iron infusion if you can't get enough/absorb enough orally. I hope they get to the bottom of this and that you start feeling better!

Yup it is true. She took the poll when I was in the hospital with complications due to my choices. We have only talked once and that was the time she told me she had done that. We have had no conversations since. I thought we were friends. But then I thought I was friends with others who dumped me too. I thought for a while I must be a horrible person. But I think what I was was a person who did a lot for others and when it came time for me to need them. They were just to busy to even care. Artificial friends! I have a bunch..Anyone looking for some! LOL

Makes me sad to hear of so many people who have been hurt....not supported by loved ones. I feel so blessed that every soul I have talked to about my WLS and plastics (skin removal reconstruction after massive weight loss) has been either enthusiastic supporter or good sense to remain silent. What the heck is wrong with people? ?

I was on the boards for over a year pre-op, and inhaled all kinds of stories. I was (I believe) adequately prepared for how the VSG would be a tool, would offer a brief time (1 year) to build new skills, deal with surprising upsets about not being able to soothe myself with food. I also realized I needed to be in therapy, during my journey -- I call it my Year of Losing Weight, my Year of Maintaining my Weight, and Boring Real Life. That's my therapy commitment -- three years.
I'm old enough to know that life isn't an endless honeymoon. Boredom, habits and real life end all honeymoons. And then the marriage begins.
So I was well prepared.
I do see those who are starstruck and want to wake up 365 days later and find themselves Cinderella at the Ball being chased around the floor by The Prince. I see some who are, frankly, not smart enough to appreciate what they're doing to themselves and what it will mean. I seem some who thought they were ready, but find it so much harder to adapt than they'd dreamed. Some of those adapt. Some of them don't. I see some who can't be compliant because they're too food-addicted or simply unable to follow directions or those who can't let anyone be the boss of them or those who think they're too special to do it the boring way everyone else does.
I see the perfection puppies, the alcoholics, the ones whose lives are a train wreck with no space in it for self-protection, the wounded adult children, the smart ones who can fix everything but their weight. I see those with bad surgeons and inattentive care. I see those with no support at home or outright antagonism and hate disguised as nagging. People who are desperate enough to have weight loss surgery are not all in mental spaces or physical spaces that are safe enough for them to undergo WLS and its aftermath.
Of course, I see people who do well. A lot of them are older. They know it won't be perfect, but they're patient. They have seen tough times, and they aren't shocked by some tough things about WLS. They're a bit long-suffering and don't bitch about every new food that doesn't thrill their palate. They can tolerate temporary discomfort to get to the easier times two months out. In a word, they're just compliant -- or as compliant as they can be. They don't beat themselves up when they're not perfect and they are resilient enough to get back on the path without being a drama llama about it.
They don't start threads with titles like: "Oy vey ist mir!" or "Will I ever be happy again?" or "Please tell me this won't last forever." They already know they'll be happy again, that this won't last forever, and that ein bischen vey doesn't require a clickbait thread title.

I am 4.5 months post-op and am just a few pounds away from reaching my goal of 23 BMI.
What were you told prior to surgery about life after surgery that was not entirely true or was not the entire story?
Nothing really. Life after surgery (so far) has been just what my Team said it would be.
What do you wish you had fully understood prior to surgery that you did not and what do you believe would have put you in the best possible position to succeed after surgery?
Even though I was prepared for the challenges of handling stress and emotional events without the ability to use my #1 coping method (eating), it was still incredibly hard in the beginning. I didn't realize how critical it would be to have healthy coping options.
What information, if any, was missing in the lead-up to your surgery that gave you unreasonable expectations or that led to disappointment in the months or years since surgery?
I would say that my surgeon was very honest about the risks vs benefits, realistic in his description of long term post-wls living, and did not try to oversell me on anything. The arena in which I have encountered the most 'cheerleading' has been the online bariatric forums.
Something I've noticed in real life and it is well represented here is that most people are okay with just knowing the basics. They don't go into a bunch of in-depth questioning or research and they don't display much self awareness. The responsibility to learn and become educated about anything truly falls upon the individual. If a person is considering WLS and they don't question the process, the diet, the expectations, the long-term lifestyle changes, their own psychology, the aftercare plan, etc. it is because the desire to fully understand (and consequently change themselves) is not in their nature. It's just not. That's not a bad thing...as my Mama says "It takes all kinds to make the world go 'round", but it is just the way it is. We're all so different.

The information is available to those who wish to learn it.

I'm interested in the replies here too. My first support group meeting pre band was quite an eye opener. It's amazing I returned for a second one. The group was for LapBand patients and consisted of a facilitator and two patients, a husband and wife. Both admitted to eating slider foods constantly and vomiting every day. Both were still overweight years after banding and the wife was revising to bypass. I was scared by them and had serious doubts about LapBand after that meeting. It wasn't at my own hospital. But I went to other meetings and went to RNY and sleeve groups and listened to as many people as I could. I found this site and read Alex's book and learned as much as I could, and I still wanted the band.
I'm not a veteran but I'll offer that I wish the medical team had cautioned about band erosion and slipping and never taking nsaids again. I learned all that here and not in the doctor's office or support groups.

Thanks guys. I really needed to hear these things tonight. I made an appt for Monday. Embarrassed but I want to be back on track worse.

Stop that! You are in charge -- you're the patient, the customer -- put those medical professionals to work. Partner up! They are there for you!

Amazing. .. i just found this site about an hour ago and joined. Already so many caring people have shared support. Miss Mac you've got a good guy there.

I've read some research that indicates that a very low carb diet can contribute to depression

You can ALWAYS ask your Surgeon and suggest that you want it to be fixed ask him/her so they will check it out I tell you just my suggestion but let me tell you I am so HAPPY that my surgeon did fix my Hiatal Hernia repair because I haven't had any issues with , heartburn, gerd or reflux since and I still eat spicy foods sometimes , before I would have been choking and having that nasty burning , I haven't touched tums, nexium, or rolaids, or any of that since my surgery .

Surgery was 7/8/14. Starting weight was 270, current weight is 197. Still a ways to go, but so happy with the results do far. Went from size 22 to 16 in 4 months!!!

Not to sure about posting pictures. The little thumbnail looks really weird but I guess by clicking it you see the normal picture. 4/15 is my 6 month. I'm down 73 since surgery. Not bad considering the plan was to drop 85 total.

this is me 11 months post op I've lost 140 pounds and loving the new me!! Never ever going back!