takingbackcontrol

Checking back in here, glad to see some more posts! I have my surgeon meeting and psych tomorrow. My mind is pretty made up to have the surgery but I plan not discuss these concerns with him. I'm hoping he has plenty of stories about people of our size doing really well! Had a long talk with hubby and we are both in a good place with what to expect. It's just hard to get your mind around the process when you read accounts of people breezing right through the first few months with no troubles, then you read other accounts of people having nothing but misery with nausea,, vomiting, not being able to eat anything, etc. Kind of hard to prepare your mind when you have no idea how the process will go FOR YOU.

I've read that the Torani coffee syrups work great in yogurt too. I'm hoping so, because Greek yogurt plain is really awful to me, haven't tried doctoring it up yet:)

Thank you so much, newat52! I'm overwhelmed that you took so much time to put together a response for me, we do sound similar. You have given me much encouragement in a time of need, thanks so much. I need to digest all this and prepare my questions for the surgeon appt. on Thursday, then I may take you up on the PM.

That's the problem, Tiger. I don't have any co-morbidities YET. But I'm 49 and have never been able to lose more than 11 pounds on any diet because the weight just doesn't seem to MOVE. I was a size 20 for like 8 years, before slowly inching into 22 jeans about a year ago. The weight changes just don't seem to come. But as you said, I am not foolish enough to think the other health issues won't happen eventually. I totally buy into the fact that doing this now will make my quality of life better, have more energy, and be healthier...... I just know that since I'm fighting age, stuck metabolism, menopause, and a frustrating dieting history, it's going to be a frustrating experience.

So I'm 235 and my weight seems to always just stay close to the same no matter what I do. Major diet attempts lose me maybe 3 pounds. Tried South Beach 2x and in the first two week "boot camp" they say you can expect to loose 8-13 pounds-- I lost 3. My metabolism is shot from a lifetime of dieting so I just know I will be a frustrated slow loser. I have my surgeon appt. in 3 days, and need to commit lots of $ and get a surgery date. I'm just second guessing my need for the surgery, thinking it will just be a very frustrations experience based on my other attempts to loose weight. I was totally committed, but after reading forums for months, I am starting to waffle. I really am not sure if this surgery will do what I'm hoping, and I have had so many times where I have REALLY tried, only to lose just a few pounds. Any advice? I'm feeling kind of desperate. Thanks.

I can definitely see it, you're doing great!!

And stop weighing yourself if you haven't. That has always been the fastest and easiest way to get me to abandon a diet!! Get rid of the scale for a while:)

I read somewhere to keep a hard sided glasses case in your purse, holding 2-3 protein bars without squishing them.

Ok, that reassures me that is in my control. I need to work on slowing down before surgery. I hadn't really seen the correlation to chewing more, going slower, etc so I was just thinking it happened as a result of being sleeved. Thanks for the reassurance, I like knowing that its mostly a control-able thing.

It seems like I read more and more about people that are a few weeks to months out vomiting stuff they eat. I know right after surgery this might be expected, but is it the new normal for people having this surgery? I hate to vomit and would be miserable with a life that includes it as a regular event... Am I just reading the wrong posts or is this something that I'm going to have to get used to as a new kind of normal?

I would ask about his safety outcomes, how many leaks, deaths etc and the circumstances in each case. Whether he over stitches the staples, that kind of stuff.

Someone here mentioned retried beans at Taco Bell, and having them add a serving of chicken to it. That sounds great and lots of protein.

I've always heard that Victoria's Secret was chlymidia:)

Somebody suggested Taco Bell pintos and cheese, then having them add a serving of chicken on top... That sounded great to me.

I am absolutely right there with you. One moment I am fine, looking forward to surgery and changing my life, then the next time I come here and read complication stories or regret stories I wonder what the hell I'm thinking. You put it all very eloquently. I did the only thing I could do - i researched the heck out of doctors and actually made a switch from where I thought I was going to another group an hour away from home. I felt an urging from God to check them out, went on Saturday to another seminar there, and found comfort in the choice. It's a big group that has literally done thousands of surgeries, including doctors who were pioneers and are nationally ranked. Yes, an hour away from home is a lot more driving, but I have peace that I am doing all that I can to get that complication figure as close to zero as I can. After that, there's really nothing you can do. Pray and make a leap of faith, asking God to bring you through it with him.

It's my understanding that the no-no is the carbonation. If you want to treat yourself once in a while to the taste, can't you just let it go flat then put some ice in it and enjoy it that way??

wow, just awesome! cant wait to see that kind of transformation!

I went to a presentation today at a group that is pretty "renowned" in Michigan, and the doctor speaking said that he suspects the band will be taken off the market within a few years. They don't hardly do it anymore at all. Interestingly, this big group of doctors now does about 70% sleeves and only 20% bypass now. I was kinda surprised about that percentage of sleeves but it made me feel that I made the right decision.

I read here that SF popcycles count for 2 oz of water.

Boy I hope that happens to me:)

Hey everyone, I too am hoping for a June date. Just met with the surgeon yesterday, and waiting for the nut and psych tests. The timing could be better though. I live in Michigan which is incredibly beautiful in summer, so people pack in lots of fun stuff:). I'm having kind of a hard time finding the best date, may wait till August or September but I certainly hope not! Looking forward to having some support people here:)

Maybe say you are having a girl surgery? Hysterectomy?

Good luck all of you guys! I'm just starting, saw the surgeon for the first time yesterday so I'll probably be done in June or August, too many fun summer things to schedule around! I'm in Kalamazoo, and it seems like nobody else here is from Kzoo. My surgeon will be Dr. Verseman at Borgess .

This is so timely! I'm starting the process for this summer, went to my first meeting with the surgeon yesterday. Prior to going I thought I would try to really educate myself on complications so I too browsed the forum here and lost a couple nights sleep:(. I guess there are risks to every surgery but the stories of weeks and months in the hospital really freaked me too. However I do like that 98% stat, just have to keep that at the top of our minds.

That baseball conversation is one that I totally look forward to, been listening to fun from inside the house for way too long:(