Skywalker

Met with the nutritionist and she gave me the blow by blow. I'm finding most of it surprisingly easy to follow (swearing off carbonated fluids and caffeine, I don't really need them), so I've basically been drinking all Water. The thing that's hard is not having water with my meals because I'm so thirsty. It feels stupid waiting around for the 45 minutes to pass just so I can have a drink, and I often can't do it. I found myself eating more once just because I was thirsty and trying to get fluid/etc. out of the food. How solid is this rule for "no water during meals"? If you have water with your meals, will it stretch out your stomach and will you regain all the weight? This just feels horrible not to at least be able to sate my thirst that the food brings on...

Congrats, and to all the post surgery people out there--be careful you don't conceive (after surgery) until you're ready to! The weight loss does boost your fertility and the nutrition class warned us about that.

For the first one, I have had many gos at a low calorie restricted diet with Weight Watchers. I don't find it daunting, I just got really upset when it didn't work or worked slowly (all the while I was still hungry). I don't mind limiting certain things, really, but when it doesn't work and I don't feel in control of the weight situation it just deflates my morale. About the loose skin, no I wouldn't really want that either, but what I hate even more is being obese everywhere and not able to hide (with sweaters or whatnot) the way I look. As a fat person I don't feel attractive at all. Maybe you have a different viewpoint than I do on those two issues, I was just giving you my take and why they were both no hindrance at all to my decision to get the procedure.

I agree with VSNAnn....those friends were just nasty and unsupportive. Their comments were totally unwarranted. This is sad that your weight loss showed their true side, but in the end it may have been a blessing since they weren't real friends anyway. -I was told, "I don't like this on u, it's not YOU, you're not meant to be this small"...SMH" I shook my head when I read this. So they mean....you're not meant to be healthy/happy? Did they stop to consider what a healthy vs. unhealthy weight means before they made this statement? Thin shouldn't have to be a privilege enjoyed by the rare few.

Hello to everyone. I'm a VSG on the 17th. Best of luck to all of us (and hope we don't get these crappy seasonal colds floating around!)

I am sorry you had that experience. Doesn't it just piss you off when people do that? My father in law is like that. I was pregnant when I got married and we asked him (as a courtesy) not to tell anyone. He went ahead and told "only" his mom, who told everyone she knew. He knew she would do it too. Then he has the audacity to turn around and say he's the best secret keeper there is (i.e. "I was the only one Billy Joe told about what happened to him in Vietnam, because he knew he could trust me..."). Some people have no consideration whatsoever for others.

That's so encouraging. Great job

I guess the good thing is you have plenty of time to get your ducks in a row. The only two insurances I have available to me were Medicaid and Veterans Administration (which is truly awful and denies everything they can). I'm glad the Medicaid goes along smoothly with most requests and fortunate to be able to have it. The last time I had private insurance was when my husband had his job with the State of California, but my weight wasn't really bad then. We've been stuck in kind of a low income/no job struggle since then....I'm sure the stress played a factor in my weight :-(

Scarlett, Actually I'm having my surgery in 11 days. Wow, we're right at the end of this wait, huh? It still hasn't hit me yet. I went on Colorado Medicaid earlier this year, and as I predicted, it didn't give me too many problems. 6 month diet/supervision, and they approved me within a couple days. I'm ever so grateful I have decent insurance (especially at my income level) that works with me.

I agree. Thirst and peeing at night have to do with the onset of diabetes (most likely). sleep apnea can be a side effect of obesity, and also a comorbidity that helps one qualify for the surgery.

Awesome I'm glad to hear it!

God bless you and I'm glad you're taking to it so well (and thanks for checking in with us!) Just a couple questions--what was wrong with the anesthesia? Also, why the 6 lb weight gain (maybe IV fluids)?

We're only in competition with ourselves--I think you're doing great! Besides, if you lose at a faster rate, there's probably a greater chance of saggy skin as the elasticity struggles to keep up.

My husband and I are going to be one disparate pair, in terms of eating. We went to Taco Bell five minutes ago; I ordered one bean burrito and he ordered two large entrees--and had polished off one of them before I got halfway through my burrito. This will be even more pronounced afterwards. I just wish he was open to having the procedure (His response -- "Hell no.")

Hi Tori. I'm 12 days out to get surgery. My surgeon only wants a two day prep as well, but I'm thinking of taking 5 days or so....the first couple for a liquid Protein and Soup diet, and the last two days for the mandated clear liquid diet. Have already stocked up on broth, some Protein powder, some premiere Protein drinks, etc.

Great! You look less heavy and more awake/aware. Something about losing weight makes peoples features stand out.

Mine is December 17th. Excited but a bit scared. If anyone wants to text back and forth for support feel free to PM me to exchange numbers.

December 17th here (don't remember if I posted in this thread but I don't think so). Best of luck to everyone.

I've only told husband and two kids, who basically needed to know because they live with me. I haven't told my parents, haven't outright told my co-workers, my brother, etc. My parents and brother would probably be really supportive, but I didn't want to because I felt this was my own thing and none of their business (we're a dysfunctional family, very long story). My mom has actually been asking me to get a surgery like this for some time and my brother's wife confessed to me she will be getting this surgery. So I know I'm in good company, even if they don't have a clue what I'm doing. I forbade my husband from telling his family, and will have to Force choke him if he does :-P His father, in particular, is sexist and judgmental, and I absolutely don't feel like fielding his questions/ignorant insinuations as to Why were you so lazy and didn't just diet and exercise? and I don't want my tax dollars to pay for your $XXX procedure, damn Obamacare blah blah blah

This is going really quickly, at least it did after my six months was over. It's hard to believe the wait is at an end. I don't know if it's a good or bad thing that I'm getting this so close to Christmas and will not enjoy the Christmas food but hey, there will be other holidays to enjoy in the future. I tried to time it between semesters (just as finals end and before the winterim classes start), so it's tight. A little excited and nervous/scared at the same time. I hope this goes smoothly and ends up being as rewarding as everyone is saying it is.

Interesting. My bariatric surgeon mentioned in passing that I might get off the thyroid meds, but I didn't press him for details. Way back ten years ago when I was put on thyroid meds, the Dr. said some people take it their whole life, and some bodies just adjust naturally and they are able to go off it.

Waiting to set a date with the Dr.'s office, but it will be around December 18th. I was blessed that the six month process and medical approval for surgery (Medicaid) went through so quickly and without any denial hassles. We should all get on here throughout the month and support each other, we're going through a life changing event this month/holiday season.

Oh wow. What you're describing feels exactly like after I gave birth and had a C-section with complications/infection. I had depression for a long time after that and felt my life was pointless. It took me months to pull out of it. I also went to the hospital overnight last year for gastroenteritis and the next couple days felt very off and depressed. This time, I recognized the symptoms and tied them to my physiological state. I think when the body has gone through something major it affects the brain chemistry somehow. If you can logically tell yourself you're just depressed post-op and ride it out, I think it will pass and get better day by day.

This might be something you want to try to kill two birds with one stone; its a drinkable Multivitamin that tastes pretty good (you add it to water). I'm thinking this is the thing I'm going to make and sip nonstop with the help of my new best friend, Mr. Gas X. http://www.ecodrink.com/ I know what you mean about water feeling heavy. Whenever I'm sick or have a sore throat, water is extremely uncomfortable for me to pass. Gatorade always went down much better/lighter.