fit2Bme2014

After losing so much weight, I'm sure there's an issue with loose skin. Is your partner affected by that? I'm worried that it'll gross my partner out too much... I'm already grossed out thinking about it.

Things are starting to roll now, and as much as I try to stay objective about it all and kind of view it from a third person, it's really starting to get REAL, real quick. I feel almost on the verge of panic at times. I had my Endoscopy on Friday. For quite some time I've been experiencing nausea and occasional dry heavie'ness. My G.I. tract tends to be a bit sensitive , and a bout bronchitis back in November and the subsequent round of antibiotics seem to have set it off, causing ulcer like symptoms. Before I left my doctors office, I was given the report his findings. Prior to the test, my major concern was Barretts of the esophagus. My surgeon told me that if I have Barretts, they would not be able to do surgery. Now back to that report: my esophagus looked fine, no Barrett's (yay!); however, I have erosive gastritis, of which he took several biopsies; he removed a polyp, which will also be biopsied; and finally, he took a biopsy specific to check for celiac. My concern now, is the erosive gastritis. I'm hoping that it will not prevent me from having surgery. At least now I know what's been causing the nausea. Has anyone else had experience with this? Might this interfere with me having surgery?

Where did you get your information on how to eat if you did not have a nutritionist? You've been super successful, and I want to be that successful when I have my surgery too. ????

You look amazing!!

Runny nose, sneezing or hiccups? Did I miss something? Never heard those to be signs of being full...

I need some advice... I had my Endoscopy on Friday. For quite some time I've been experiencing nausea and occasional dry heavie'ness. My G.I. tract tends to be a bit sensitive and a bout bronchitis back in November and the subsequent round of antibiotics seem to have set it off, and I have been having ulcer like symptoms. Before I left my doctors office, I was given the report his findings: my esophagus looked fine (yay!); however, I have a erosive gastritis, of which he took several biopsies; he removed a polyp, which will also be biopsied; and finally, he took a biopsy specific to check for celiac. My concern is the erosive gastritis. I'm hoping that it will not prevent me from having surgery. Has anyone else had experience with this? Thanks for your input!

And, if you really feel that the surgeon was at fault in this, I hope that you have made the appropriate notations on the various sites out there where people can check the health grades of the doctor. Your sisters experience could save somebody else's life.

Thank you so much for sharing your sisters journey. The more information We have regarding the surgery, the better off we are. To think that we're going to go into this and it's going to be a bed of roses would be ignorant on our part. Everything in life comes with a risk...when we stop taking risks, we stop living. And, I think many of us know what that's like. I'm glad that you were still able to go forward with your own journey, and I pray that it will be a successful one. I do have one question: did you have the same surgeon?

Thanks! It's an exciting time. I love hearing about everyone else's victories. Makes me feel like my goals are obtainable.

When is your appointment? I just wrote a blog about my first appointment so I could get it out of my head. I'll write another about all the questions I came up with. Maybe I'll post it to the forum too.

Please forgive me. I really need to get all of this out of my head, however, I'm emotionally exhausted after my appointment today, and this is probably going to be long and rambley. It's more for me, than you anyway, but if it helps you, great! After a sleepless night, I met with my Surgeon this morning at 9am. A one hour appointment lasted almost 3. They weighed me (350.4 ), took my height (5'8" ) and before photos (glad I did my hair and makeup, because I certainly didn't expect that ). Side note: when I was younger, I had surgery to correct scoliosis; after surgery, I was told I was 5'7 3/4". As an adult, I'm usually told I'm about 5'6", and assumed shrinking. Today, they measured me at 5'8" on the dot. I felt the thingy on the top of my head, lightly, but unlike usual, I really tried to stand up straight (and proud). Though I'm rather dubious about this, I'll stop saying I'm 5'6" and go back to saying I'm 5'7 3/4". Anyway, about the appointment. A nurse took down all my stats, bp, pulse, temp. I questioned her over my bp and pulse; both were remarkably NORMAL, which couldn't possibly be... I could have sworn my heart was going to beat out of my chest, I was so nervous about the appointment. Then she proceeded to log all the meds and vitamins I had brought in as per their request. The majority of the vitamins I don't take on a consistent basis... maybe if I did I would be healthier. When the nurse was done with me, the surgeon came in. I'd met her briefly before, at the orientation several weeks before. She shook my hand and sincerely asked why I looked so familiar When I told her I went to the seminar, she remembered me, which was surprising because there were well over 25 people in attendance and I didn't speak with her after as others did, I just thanked her and handed in my application. That simple act put me at ease though. I forget how the simplest acts can often mean the world to others. She went over my medical history, why I was considering surgery, and we talked about the enigma of obesity and how researchers are getting closer and closer to understanding why some struggle with it and others don't. She says they are right on the cusp. Which is exciting, and nice to meet a doctor who really understands this is more about more than just 'will power', I mean, hell, I'm one of the most stubborn people you'll ever meet, cut my nose despite my face, so I know will power, I have will power... just not always over food. And, I don't know why. It's like a switch. She examined me, and felt up my liver. I was amazed she could feel through all my chub, but she said she could, and she was impressed it isn't as enlarged as she would expect it to be for my size, and because of that, I don't need to lose as much weight before surgery as she originally thought. She says 20#. I told her I wanted to lose 50# before surgery. She said, "Ok, 25#"! Lol! She also commented because I carry my weight 'all over' (not an apple or a pear) I'm relatively healthy. I ended up having well over 30 questions, and really thought my surgeon was going to be seriously irritated with me. She was just the opposite, saying she appreciated the questions, they were smart, and being better informed will help me have appropriate expectation. She actually remarked she felt I was intelligent and highly motivated and should do well with the surgery. We discussed what my weight loss is expected to be. It was a little disappointing. She said, based on their calculations which include height, age, current weight and ?? I am only expected to lose 60-70% of my excess weight at the one year point. That would put me at 220#. She did say she would like to see me below 200# and it would be hard. She also said I should lose 50% of my excess weight in the first 6 month, and after a year, you really don't lose more weight, it becomes about maintaining the weight you've lost. A bit disappointing. I have unrealistic dreams of being 135#. Lol! So what comes next? Well, because my BMI is over 40 and I have co-morbidities (high bp and sleep apnea), my insurance doesn't require I go on the standard 6 month weight loss program prior to surgery, as soon as I get through all my pre-op appointments, lose my 25# and am medically cleared, I can proceed to surgery!! They gave me a very informative notebook I need to take to all my appointments: Labs Treadmill Stress Test Venous Duplex Test (looks at legs for clots) Mammogram Upper Endoscopy Psychological Evaluation Nutritional Consultation (my ins. doesn't cover seeing the Dietitian beyond this appointment because I am not diabetic) Evaluation/Clearance from my PCP The Upper Endoscopy will be interesting. I have gerd and if there are any changed to the tissue of my esophagus or if I have a hiatal hernia, they wont do the sleeve. Due to physical issues, I use a LOT of nSAIDs, which with the RnY, you can NEVER take again. So it's imperative I get cleared for the sleeve. All I can do is take a deep breath and keep moving forward. THE END.

I’ve had weight issues my entire life. I’ve dieted and exercised successful... for short periods of time, before the cycle began again, bringing with it depression and self loathing. There are so many reasons I overeat. It’s a distraction, tasty, comfort, protection… and it’s killing me. This is the second time I’ve considered wls. The possibility of death scared me away. This time around, I realize that If I don’t lose weight, I’m going to die anyway, and it will be slow and painful, not to mention, the life I’m living now... it’s not living. I went to a wls orientation a few weeks ago, and this coming week I have my first appointment with a surgeon. From there, I'm not exactly sure where this is going to go. I know there are evaluations, approvals, insurance approvals, procedures that I have to get through before I can have surgery. Right now, I'm just trying to learn as much as I can so that I can make an informed decision for myself and if I do go forward with surgery, I wont be so horribly surprised by what happens after.

Thanks! I couldn't sleep but when I calmed down, your answers, along with the 30 others I came up with in the hour our so before my appointment, made me look 'intelligent' to my doctor. She didn't bat an eye when I pulled at my list and even thanked me and told me not to apologize when I tried. I just really want to go in to this with my eyes wide open with appropriate expectation.

Is like to have the sleeve. I haven't been able to sleep at all... smh

I'm suddenly overwhelmed at the idea of my first appointment with my surgeon, that my mind has emptied out and I've lost ever question I had. SO, I though I would ask you. What questions did you or do you wish you would have asked your doctor prior to your surgery. Hopefully, this time tomorrow I will be on my pre-op diet plan. Questions, please.

Ahhh, there are some of us out there! Awesome. I'm weird, but even though everyone is different, just seeing the raw numbers some how encourages me... and calms me. I meet with my surgeon tomorrow and hopefully will get my pre-op diet. Fingers crossed!! Anyway, thanks for the info, peeps! You ALL have done amazing, and I'm so proud of you! And, I can't wait to join you!

Isn't one of the Proteins in matrix, Hydrolyzed Wheat Gluten? I wonder how that effects someone who is Gluten sensitive. It's the first time that I've ever considered what the Protein source was.

A friend had surgery a couple of years ago. When asked how she's losing weight, she says, "a lot of pain and hard work" (all true depending on how you look at it) and leaves it at that. I think I'm going to take that approach. So far I have only told my mom, who is also considering having the surgery as a cure for diabetes and a couple of friends who have already had the surgery. I have yet to mention to my best friend or boyfriend that I am contemplating this, and to be perfectly honest, I don't want to tell either of them. Not that I don't believe they wouldn't be supportive, but because I don't want them to slip and tell someone else, but because my boyfriend and I plan on moving in together this spring/summer, if I do have surgery, he's going to have to know.

That's really interesting. I'm more of the, "Yum, pizza, I'm hungry!" and that thought is unrelenting until I actually eat something. This tells me that obesity really is a 'disorder' if not a true 'disease'. I have no idea what I am going to do about the head-hunger and that terrifies me!

Wow! What an amazing post! You all have such wonderful stories, and Kia82, you should be very proud of yourself for all the positive changes you have been making! Can't wait until I am on the road to a new me!

What?! 50%?!! I've already had some loss from a total hysterectomy last year, which always happens to me when I have surgery; my mom says it's from the anesthetic. Anyway, in relation to wls, I've heard that not getting enough Protein for your body is the reason for the hair loss. I'll have to keep the Biotin and silica in mind. I have a biotin/silica shampoo that my mom go through Swanson's Vitamins... hmmm...

I'm not sure how to add you, but I'm fit2Bme2014 and you and anyone else can add me. I'm just not using it yet, though with my first appointment with my surgeon this week and the reality of having to start the pre-op diet, I'm going to need to start tracking, if even for the novelty of it.

For me, when I have my surgery, I want to use an app for a bit to get back in the swing of counting calories, Protein, etc, however, I don't like the idea that info is available to others who might get all judgy about it. Wouldn't it be nice if they came out with a Bariatric SPECIFIC tracker!

I'm not sure how accurate that information is. People have been eating meat for thousands of years. You have to do what's best for you.

Yay for you!! Sending you peaceful thoughts for a speedy recovery! Can't weight to hear all about your experience!