southernsoul

Linda, good luck with your preop diet! What does your surgeon require on the preop? So many of them are very different, both in preop & postop instructions. Like Cheryl, I have noticed a big improvement in my mobility & the amount of time I can walk & stand. I was fortunate that I didn't have many of the other problems like high BP & sleep apnea that are so common, but I see so many folks say how much those things are improved after some of the weight is gone. I hope that happens for you & your husband, too.

At 2 weeks out, I would say that absolutely nothing is "set" for you right now, in terms of food. Things will change & evolve as you continue to heal. But it's way too soon for pasta & ice cream. Stay on your food plan, even if it's boring. I was on liquids for a solid month postop, so I fully understand how bored & tired of it you can get. But stick with it & know that it's only temporary. Good luck!

I think your theory about losing the extra thigh cushioning might be right on the money. I also can't help but wonder about massaging chairs, like at my pedi place...

I'm sorry, I don't have an answer to your problem...but I do think that this is possibly the best thread title ever.

Haha, I don't even have a firm ending goal yet, much less a plan for how to celebrate it. At 320 lbs, the number 180 seemed like a good goal number, but I always figured I'd revise that as I got closer. However, I turned 49 a month before my surgery & I decided that next year when I turn 50 I'm going to celebrate by doing something physical that was not possible for me to do on my last birthday. I will be 11 months post op & I don't care if I'm at "goal". I want to usher in my new decade by doing something that is newly possible.

Most insurance companies probably offer bariatric coverage as an option, but it's up to the employer what coverage they choose to include in the package they put together for their employees. The coverage & requirements may be different from one employer to another, so check with your HR person or call the member number on your insurance card.

I'm a lot like Bufflehead...I often order an appetizer if there's something decent. If I order a main course I choose something that will hold well as leftovers. I have never ordered from the kid's menu, because the ones I have looked at have such crappy food...and doesn't THAT say a lot about how we teach our children to eat! A couple of my favorite local places have been great about fixing me a half portion of my favorite items & they only charge me half price. And I always tip as though I ordered a full meal.

So glad everything went well!! Hooray for you and your son! Here's hoping for smooth sailing from here on out...

I have seen many folks say that their tastes changed, but mine have not. So far, I haven't come across any food I can't tolerate, or any food that I liked preop that isn't good to me now. What HAS changed is my ability, or my willingness, to make different choices now. I genuinely enjoy the high protein, low(er) carb foods that I eat every day. I have had a few chips here & there, a cookie or two occasionally, and shared one fabulous restaurant dessert with the hubs on our anniversary last month. The difference is I'm able to be satisfied with just a little & not need or want more. We don't all have the same experience, of course, this is just mine. Good luck to you!

I also find myself tempted to snack late at night after the hubs has gone to bed. I try to have plenty of snacks on hand that are OK for me (high protein, low carb), but it's hard to hold myself to having just one serving. I don't have a solution, but you're not alone in the struggle!

Globetrotter, this is the one I bought that made me feel like a blow up doll. I don't have the panni issue, but I also wanted one that went down my legs. I can tell you it definitely sucked me in all over! http://www.onestopplus.com/clothing/Allinone-shaper-girdle-with-long-legs-power-control-by-Comfort-Choice.aspx?PfId=389764&DeptId=11780&ProductTypeId=1&ppos=11#.UnHQmeKgagk

Wow, looks like all of us heathens missed this post. Hello, mattsbelly!

My preop appointment was 2 days before my surgery. Part of the preop was done at the doctor's office with the bariatric nurse & then I was sent over to the hospital for registration & bloodwork. I am a total planner, and I remember feeling anxious about getting everything scheduled, too. Try not to stress too much....I'm sure it will all work out just fine. Good luck to you!

Yes, please keep us posted. Healing thoughts & good vibes are coming your way!

I took the bariatric chewables in the beginning & they made me nauseous. My nurse told me to only take them after I had eaten...but I still got sick from them fairly often. I don't know if it was psychological or what, but eventually I gave in & switched over to One A Day gummies. They may not be quite as good as the bariatric ones, but it's better than nothing.

I've been thinking about this thread since Butter first posted it, so I'm finally putting my goals out there. 1. Maintain a minimum of 3 gym workouts a week. 2. Increase weight by 10 lbs on each exercise. 3. Complete the 30 day plank challenge. (I'm going to print this out & tape it to the TV cabinet so I remember every day.)

Mine came out through the incision he made inside my belly button. It was definitely more tender afterwards & took the longest to heal.

Just my two cents, but if you're happy & your lab numbers are good, why should anything else matter? You keep right on doing what feels right to you, even if it is "the road less traveled", so to speak.

I wonder if the hospital has somebody, maybe like a patient advocate, who could come and sit with your son while you're in surgery? Given his diagnoses, it seems like they might be able to arrange something. Might be worth calling tomorrow to check. It sounds like you've done everything you can, and that's all anyone can do. Best of luck to you & your son!

I'm sure you will get responses from folks much farther out than me, but for me personally this has been the best decision I could have made. I was 320 at my highest, right before the start of my 2 week preop diet in June. I was sleeved on June 19th & I'm down about 73 lbs so far. I have mobility issues & I used to be in pain every day. Now I can walk and move much better. I have about 70-80 more pounds to go, but the difference is already quite significant. I enjoy the foods that fit into my high protein, low(er) carb eating plan. I feel full & satisfied after I eat, and I'm very surprised at how much I am genuinely enjoying exercise. There is no way I could have lost this much weight in the amount of time on my own. My ongoing progress keeps me motivated & keeps me mostly on track, food-wise. It is absolutely a lifestyle change...and one that was very much needed in order to improve the quality of my life. Good luck to you!

My surgeon held me to just walking for 8 weeks, but then I was cleared for all exercise.

The early days can be really tough, between the discomfort, the liquids, the healing challenges, etc. Head hunger is a really big obstacle to overcome, too. Like any other major change, this takes some adjustment & some missteps. You mentioned seeing a psychiatrist before, but psychiatrists are often more medication-oriented than therapy-oriented. Why not try seeing a counselor/therapist, perhaps one with some experience in eating issues? The surgery is not reversible, so the focus now should be on creating and living the best and happiest life you can. A good therapist can help you get there, and give you a safe & non-judgmental place to get out all the frustrations you're feeling. Good luck!

Is it weird is it that I almost never wore shapers before?? I guess I just figured that I was already so big that a shaper wasn't going to make much of a difference. Did anybody else start with the shapers after some weight loss, rather than before? At the weight I am now, roughly halfway to my tentative goal, I am much more open to the idea of wearing them. At least I thought I was, so that's why I started buying them. I just bought a size 14 dress that is still a bit too snug, but the blow up doll shaper might make the difference. I'm going to check out the tank top thingies, too.

Wow, you look wonderful!! Thanks for sharing!

BAHAHAHA!!!!! The first time my husband attempted to take off my bra for our "first time" was like some kind of pre-pubescent boy's nightmare of elbows and grunting and knocking me in head....and he was 40 years old at the time!! I'm still somewhat stunned I actually had sex with him after that. I adore my guy, but he is not the smoothest operator around. If he tried to take a shaper off my body, he might choke me to death.