lovealways

Lol same here! Around what month do you plan to get the surgery? I finish my 6 months in December.

Metamucil and colace stool softener!

Yup! You heard right! Weight loss surgery. Gastric Bypass to be exact! Am I excited? More than ever. Am I ashamed? Not in the least. If there's anything you should know about me, you should know I can't keep a secret. I can't keep things to myself, especially exciting things. Everyone in my life knows not to tell me anything, because I always end up spilling the beans sooner or later. It always starts out this way. I'll tell one person one thing and then think to myself, well, I already told one person, so why not tell another? One person becomes two, two becomes three, and so on and so forth. This is how it happened over the weekend while traveling by bus to NYC for my first day of graduate classes with my long time classmates. These are girls I've been in the same intense undergrad program with for two years. We're also potential social workers, so they're used to hearing about life transitions and making big decisions, etc. so I kind of felt comfortable with them knowing my "secret". Plus, I figure they're going to be wondering why I'm absent from classes for a week, and wtf is going on with me when I start shedding the weight. So, I told them! I told them all! It kind of just slipped out. I finally got to the NYC campus for my first day of grad classes, and noticed the desks were unbearably tiny (despite paying $30k a year, guys) and decided why panic? This will all be over soon! I'm proud of my decision to get the surgery. I have nothing to hide. I *have* tried every diet, been successful, unsuccessful, gained, lost, gained, etc. I know myself well enough to know this is something I want and need. Plus, I think by telling people rather than keeping it a secret, it helps to reduce the stigma attached to weight loss surgery and being obese in general. Typical bullshit responses I've gotten so far: Oh, well, my father's friend's mother's aunt got the surgery, lost a TON of weight, but regained everything back after like...3 years! Oh, gastric bypass? So you'll never eat again and be on a strict diet for the rest of your life? Oh, I see. They do WHAT to your stomach?? I hear you're going to spend the rest of your life throwing up...you don't want that One of my co-workers gained all the weight back and more. She eats McDonalds every day on her lunch break...and gained all the weight back...you don't want that, do you? You'll never be able to eat pizza again and all that good stuff. Maybe you should try another diet? I hear the FDA is approving a new weight loss pill this fall! You know..maybe if you just try exercising you may be able to lose some of the weight You're going to be needing iron infusions for the REST of your life So I have a few answers for this people... I'm NOT your father's friend's mother's aunt's sister's boyfriend's uncle...I'm ME Yes, I know what I'm doing No, you can't change my mind Yes, I've researched And YES, I'm ready to begin a new life!

Good to hear! Has it been a week yet?

Also, how's your sodium intake? If you're eating foods high in salt, that can cause water retention as well

Are you moving your bowels at all? Silly question, but sometimes when things aren't working as efficiently as before surgery, that can cause a little bloat.

The waiting will be well worth it for us all Just gotta remember that!

Can I ask why you are doing a revision from sleeve to bypass? I will be getting the bypass, but my sister just had the sleeve. How did the sleeve fail you?

Very frustrating, but we'll all get there soon enough, I hope

Oh and it sucks, I know. I have no patience lol.

I wish it were possible to avoid the dreaded 6 month weigh-ins, but I don't think it is. If insurance requires it, there isn't too much of a way around it. In the end, they're paying for the procedure and probably want to try to weed out those select candidates for surgery who aren't patient enough and serious enough to wait the 6 months. Kind of just need to endure it.

Ahh 3 years in Canada?? I can't imagine!

I am pretty much done with my pre-op testing, but need to wait till my 6th month weigh in in December before submitting to insurance. After all is said and done, I am probably looking at surgery in January since my bariatric office is so slowwww with scheduling appts because they're super busy. Anyone else HATE waiting? I keep seeing posts on here about everyone getting their surgery soon and mine feels years away. Anyone else stuck doing the dreaded 6 month weigh ins?

http://www.sanctuaryforfamilies.org/index.php Here's another great resource

http://www.nyc.gov/html/ocdv/html/services/housing.shtml Here are shelters for victims of domestic violence for women and children in nyc

Is there a shelter you could go to?

I'm not sure of that actually! I know that when I did the atkins diet, which is no carbs, that put my body in a state of ketosis. You usually know you're in ketosis. Your breath will smell rancid as well as your pee lol. Interesting stuff! Most, if not all WLS patients enter into a state of ketosis if they follow the rule of high protein/low carb/low sugar rule.

We're all rooting for you!! Good luck!

I'm actually terrified to resume sexual activity given the chances of getting pregnant rises incredibly. My surgeon says to stop BC pills 6 weeks before surgery and for 4 weeks after, so I'm a little hesitant about having sex again. I couldn't imagine just having surgery and then finding out your preggers. Omfgggg.

I was also told to wait 4 weeks!

54 is quite an accomplishment!

Ketosis is described simply in detail here. http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/faq/f/whatisketosis.htm