Valerie Mercer-Spencer

Yes at my pre op visit I was 312lbs and 11 days on opti I am down to 294. Yea!!

I am 62 yrs young and the last time I was below 200 lbs was 39 yrs ago. Will I know this person when I meet her again? Im not sure. Very scary for this woman but i am READY!!

Yes you can private msg me I will try to send you a friend request if I can figure this out. I will answer any questions that I can and yhose I cant im sure between the rest of us all we will find the answers.

I am in Ontario and my surgery (RNY) is on April 22nd. They never told me that yet that I remember. I was told no lifting anything heavier than 10 lbs after surgery. Interesting. I know there are some differences between the States and Canada. I think that I will probably be seeing a nutritionists before leaving the hospital. Thanks for the info

I too am looking for chewable calcium citrate :-)

Wayne, did your Dr. Tell you they would be doing laprascopic surgery? If he did then that is what they would do I imagine. My surgeon told me that mine will be done laprascopicly. I have an old scar from a prior gallbladder surgery don 39 yrs ago. My surgeon has told me if he goes in and finds too much scar tissue he may have to do the sleeve instead of the RNY. He further assured me that, that doesn't happen very often. Rest assured if they were going to open you up I think they would warn you a head of time that this might be a possibility. Breathe easy and all the best of luck. :-)

Answer to your question feeling all of the above and I have already started my pre op diet. Mmmmmm yummy lol

Hey my surgery is in April on the 22nd. When is yours? I am really excited but also very nervous. Currently I am on week two of my Optifast. It was hard for the first 3 days until I figured out what I could Dr. It up with. Better now. I use instant Decaf and tomorrow I will try some cocoa. Trying very hard.

Wow Bellahugz you have certainly gone through the ringer. I am so glad that you are finally on your way to health and happiness. Thanks for sharing your story it was very enlightening for me. All the best as you continue your journey. :-)

I keep seeing people talk about a fill or a fill in. What does this mean?

Wow! Soooo much information to take in. I am glad that I made my decision and actually I dont believe that I was given the choice. I went to my family Dr. Told him I want some info on WLS. He sent me to a Dr. That has a practice in Michigan and also practices surgery here. He told me that I was perfect candidate for Garstric Bypass and that got me to my surgeon Dr D. Lindsey. Long story short he told me that RNY and not the sleeve was what he would bedoing. Dont ever remember being given a choice. I am excited and cant wait for April 222nd. :-)

A good support system is very important. My daughter and I are also taking this journey together. She had her surgery 5 months ago RNY and is down over 140 lbs. So her knowledge is a huge asset to me. My Hubby is my biggest supporter. I really thought that continued cooking for him was going to be difficult but so far it has been fine. One thing I have noticed though is how often while cooking I atomicly go to lick my fingers. Ha! So many bad habbits. :-)

Today is the start of week #2 for me on my pre op Optifast. I normally take a size 9-9.5 but my step daughter gave me a new pair of sneakers size 8 and they fit very well. I know I have lost a lot of Fluid or puffiness off my feet and it can stay gone as far as I'm concerned. Hoping my feet do stay smaller. Hoping for alot these days :-)

I guess what ever option we choose the point is you have to change the habbits that got us there in the first place. As far as my diabetes goes my choice of surgery will only be a helping tool. I must keep to the program because if I dont I know this disease will be back on me just like before or possibly could be worse.

Thats great! Yes the first day was rough for me as well. Today was day 6 for me and it is going much better now. I am in Elliot Lake and have to come down to Toronto. I will be going to St. Josephs Hospital. Hang in there it does get better.

No I have to be on the Optifast for 4wks. My surgery date is April 22nd. Cant wait!

Well I hear you. I too am dietetic. I was undecided untill I went for my pe op visit. After going through that and speaking with everyone I knew bypass was what I needed to do for me. I have been on the opti for 6 days and have already cut out one pill and over half my insulin has been dialed back so far. For me its the only way to go to save my life because if I keep going heart attack or stroke is imminent. This is seriously the biggest decision of my life. My surgery date is April 22nd and it cant come soon enough for me. Good luck

Make it really cold. I use Decaf coffee with mine. Someone said coco in the vanilla is good as well. Im going to try it hot as well. Goodluck

I would go right back to the basics the beginning. My biggest fear is going through this and not learning from it. Doing a good job and then slowly slipping back into old habbits. Goodluck to you :-)

Hi I am in northern Ontario. Have Internist appt on Jan 15 then one last time with surgeon before I get my date. That is if I don't need any other tests along the way.

I am from Mississauga I had surgery November 17 2012 starting weight 346 and current weight 180 my goal is 145. I am finding it so hard to lose the rest. Any suggestions?

Still trying to figure this site out. The Opti was hard at first but is getting better every day.

HHey i am not from Windsor but i am from Elliot Lake On. I started my Optifast on Tuesday and my surgey is on April 22nd. Scared but really excited.e

He