CharmingTortoise

Is there any chance your university has a nutrition class? Maybe it's a class you could audit or even find one of the textbooks fairly cheaply.

Wow! This is really eye opening!

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this thread, every single post. I have to agree a lot with what everyone is saying. I think researching is the key. You have to know what you are getting into. I am an obsessive researcher. I had been reading about VSG before I even went to the seminar. I have read every single thing that I can get my hands on. Reading post-care instructions from multiple surgeons online. I've started an 1100 calorie diet, not drinking with meals, gave up soda, exercising more and thinking about protein in ways I didn't even think were possible. I've ready three books exclusively about VSG and the Beck book on top of Health at Every size. I know that my biggest barrier to weight loss is my emotional eating, hence why I am seeing my therapist every two to three weeks. I have watched every single VSG surgery on Youtube that I could find. Is all of this overkill? Probably. Do I actually feel prepared for this surgery? About as well as I can but I'm sure it's probably like childbirth. You think you are ready until you are actually in the middle of it and then you think - What the HECK was I thinking?!?!?! Is this going to be easy? Nope! Is this going to be the tool that I need to help me get this weight off and keep diabetes from beating my door in - Yep!

bow chicka wow wow. Oh, wait, I mean congratulations, you are looking great.

Hey everyone, just wondering if anyone knows of any problems with the extended release anti-depressants after VSG. I'm not really good with medical/pharmaceutical terminology but my concern is basically that the extended release tablets keep the medicine going for a lot longer than the non extended release meds. I don't know with such a small stomach pouch if it will cause it to not release as well or release too quickly. Anyone have any experience? Doc hasn't said anything about not being able to take my meds. I definitely can't see going through this experience without them!

Hi All! I'm pre-surgery but have a tentative surgery date of August 19. I am working through the Weight Loss Services at McLaren Northern Michigan in Petoskey. My surgeon will be Dr. Nagle. I started the journey at 246 and I'm 228 now. I'm hoping to be around 216-220'ish by the time I have the surgery. The more I can lose now the less I will have to fight with later! Super congratulations to both of the gals above me for their great losses! You are inspirational.

I cannot wait for this side effect! I will finally be able to outfart the men I work with! Imagining their faces is priceless.

Has anyone discovered any good tips for not eating on looooooong midnight shifts. Our favorite hobby in dispatch has always been eating. I've taken to some games on my phone and reading but just wondering what everyone else does to keep the hungries at bay.

Every cruise ship I have seen has a walking deck and an exercise area. Make sure to keep up on the exercise. Maybe take the stairs instead of the elevator every time. shake your booty on the dance floor. Enjoy the heck out of every opportunity you can move. Have Hubby and Friends come with you on the walks and get some good quality time in with everyone. You are definitely going to have to watch what you eat but you can always enjoy a few small bites and not eat the entire buffet! For me personally, i would say that you need to face the fact that you might stall or even gain a couple pounds while on vacation. It would take the willpower of a saint not to gain on vacation. Just get back on the horse when you get back home and start again. It might even give you a renewed sense of strength when you get back. Good luck and enjoy that cruise!

Why would you want such a thing? I must be missing something.

Has anyone actually crafted during their hospital stay? I can't imagine having the concentration for cross stitch or crocheting while I'm hurting. Anyone crazy brave enough to to that?

So completely off topic but I saw the title of the entry and thought - a Groupon for Weight Loss Surgery - All right! Guess noe

Thank you everyone for the input. I really greatly appreciate it. Part of my waffling is that I've gained and lost and gained and lost and gained and lost repeatedly. With the same results as @Nicolanz - depression and loss of control. I'm afraid if I don't get VSG at starting weight 246 that I'll end up having to get it with starting weight of 346. I had made up my mind that I was going to have the surgery and then everyone kept saying, "you are doing well, maybe you won't have to have the surgery." I've convinced myself a hundred times over that this is the best thing for me, just need to convince my family and friends I guess. Thanks again everyone. :wub: I really needed to hear a couple sides of this!

I'm pre-surgery but I know I'm going to be in the same boat you are after the surgery. I, too, am hoping that maybe my depression will diminish at least a little after the weight loss. I know it's a futile thought, but it keeps me going a bit. I know how you feel about eating stuff, even when you know you shouldn't. Even when you know it's going to hurt you or make you sick. I would suggest seeing if you can move up your appointments with the psychiatrist sooner. They can give you some tools to help you when you just can't shake that feeling that you need to eat.

I'm sorry I'm not much "been there" help but I can say that from what I've heard, you are experiencing something completely normal. I think it is really wrenching on your body to have a surgery and you are having to deal with the after affects of having the surgery. I think the crying and being upset that you can't eat with your family is really quite normal. It's hard when you want to be a part of their lives like you used to but your body rejects it. Don't worry about wasting money, take the rest of the food home, someone will eat it. You can eat dinner with your family, you just have to switch it around a little until it works for you. Take a little extra time right now to take care of yourself. Make sure you aren't trying to rush yourself into eating foods that might not work out for you. Fret not, You will be all right.

Hey Everybody! I'm looking for a little advice from the experts. I am waffling something fierce here - and not the good kind with syrup and butter I started my 6 month medical weight loss jaunt in January. On March 8 when I saw the Doctor they put me on a diet and suggested exercise. I've been able to follow an 1,100 calorie diet pretty well and have been getting exercise more regularly, which for me is one to two times a week. Since March 8 I have lost 18 pounds. I am waffling because many family, friends and even the dietician have said, 'if you keep it up, you won't need the surgery.' And for a little while, I even thought that maybe I would make that my goal; to lose enough weight that I couldn't get approved for the surgery because my BMI would be too low. Right now my BMI is 39.1 and my insurance requires it to be above 35 (because I have co-morbidities). It is fairly likely (but not a sure thing) that I could lose enough to make 35 BMI before the paperwork is sent in for insurance approval. I need to lose 100 pounds total - doctor would like to see 120 but unless I'm planning on doing the heroin chic look, it's not happening. Where my waffling comes in is that I'm not sure if I want to. I'm deeply concerned that I will get to the 35 BMI weight and then just quit losing or fall of the wagon and start gaining again. It's like my brain and heart say that I really need to get this surgery. I don't know if I'm trying to please other people or what's going on. I actually have no doubts about the surgery itself, I have all the confidence in the world in my healthcare team. Can anyone help me sort this out? I'm looking for any ideas and input ... either good or bad. Or, has anyone else had these same feelings?

Wow, they asked the name of the President? I would probably draw a blank too because that is not something you would expect to be asked. That kind of made me chuckle though.

Hi all! I have a tentative surgery date of August 19. I've been jumping through the hoops and standing on my head as requested I am going through McLaren Northern Michigan in Petoskey, Michigan. Dr. Nagle will be my surgeon. Here's my journey so far: January 21, 2013 - First appointment with Dr. Baker at McLaren Northern Michigan Weight Loss Services February 14, 2013 - First sleep Study February 19, 2013 - Appointment with Surgeon and Psych evaluation February 27, 2013 - Sleep follow up and got my CPAP machine two days later March 5, 2013 - Had my EGD - found out I have a hiatal hernia and some no big deal polyps March 11, 2013 - Appointment with Nurse Practitioner March 19, 2013 - Second Sleep Study April 8, 2013 - Appointment with Nurse Practitioner and Dietitian I've managed to lose 14.5 pounds by keeping my calories below 1100 a day. I see the dietitian this coming week so I'm kind of curious what she will say. Good luck to everyone! Looking forward to hearing from folks as their journey proceeds.

Would be great if you had a picture from that outing to help you through the rough spots. Tell the little one they better watch out because you'll be right on their heels in no time!

I would at least mention it to your gynecologist. It is not okay for the body to keep building up the tissue month after month after month. The Doctor may suggest you force a bleed just to flush the build up out. They do that with medication(s). I went through this a year ago because my cycles have always been abnormal.

Not to worry. I am "crazy," I have Bipolar II. My evaluation was pretty much the same as Momanonanomo's. We talked about my emotional eating, how long I've been mentally stable, family history, the surgery itself and that it was only a tool, the support group and that I should plan to start attending even before the surgery and such. She had a side note on that to not take away bad habits from the group. If I can pass an eval, you can pass an eval. It was suggested that I start seeing my therapist a little more consistently, which I totally agreed with. But realistically, I don't think it would be a bad idea for anyone going through this process to sit down with a therapist. It's a pretty severe change for most folks. Don't psych yourself out about the appointment. It really isn't that scary of an ordeal. Be prepared to talk openly and honestly with them. Don't try to figure out what you think they want you to say, just answer honestly.

I completely understand. It seems like every time I go to an appointment I end up walking out with two more appointments scheduled. I've got until August and I'm not really sure what all is left.

I am pre-op but my nurse highly advised against "cheating" and drinking with meals. She said that you aren't using the tool of VSG properly when you drink water and flush the food down quicker. She suggested taking smaller bites and chewing thoroughly. She said that if you are aren't able to get a bite down without water you've either taken too big of a bite or haven't chewed thoroughly. I am trying to learn to eat with smaller utensils so that it is automatic to take a smaller bite. Now chewing more thoroughly and thoughtfully - that can be a challenge sometimes.

You could go the old high school route and wrap some thread or yarn on the underside of the ring until you can get a more permanent fix.

I had my EGD on March 5. It wasn't bad at all. They give you sleepy meds and you don't even know what's going on. By the time I woke up I had no clue anything had happened other than I was groggy. Some people get a little throat irritation but I didn't even have that. My doctor ended up finding a hiatal hernia that he said he'd fix when he went in to do the VSG. I'm wondering if it would matter where the ulcer is as to whether they would do the bypass rather than the sleeve. My simplistic mind thinks that if it's in a spot they are going to remove anyway maybe that would be okay?? I'm not really sure.