Ginger Snaps

@@beachplum -- make sure you're moving around enough -- try to get out in the sunshine -- meet with some friends or something so you don't isolate yourself. It takes more effort to do those things right now so soon after surgery but getting back into "normal" life (if one exists) will help you get over the blues quicker.

OK, so I'm a girl and I liked the article (at least some of it). I've never been afraid to lift weights -- actually lifted pretty heavy in my early 20s thinking I would build up some nice muscle -- toned up but never bulked up probably because of hormones and not taking supplements. I work out in that scary "men's area" where all the free weights are and do just fine. I prefer free weights or body weight exercises because you get so much more from them instead of just staying on machines. Yeah, the guy sounds like he hasn't met too many smart girls, but he does have some valid points and I've seen some of the same craziness he has at the gym. Let's go pick up something heavy and put it down.

My doctor told me that most of the stomach acid is produced in the lower part of the stomach. So, with bypass, that gets disconnected and you won't have all that acid coming up in your throat. With the sleeve, you still have some lower stomach there so you may still have problems with reflux.

@@niroha How beautiful!!!

I agree with one of the other posters -- if you talk to her and feel she can't help you with the weight loss issues maybe you can see someone else specifically for that but still see this therapist for general therapy. It's hard to find a therapist you "click" with so you don't want to walk away from a good relationship if you don't have to.

I'm having bypass... I didn't even consider the sleeve because I have reflux and the sleeve can make that worse. I also wanted to go with bypass because it has a better success rate and a higher percentage of excess weight loss. I wanted to go with what gives me the best chance of success. You have to take Vitamins and supplements regardless of which surgery you have.

So a friend at church approached me this morning and said "I hear you're having surgery. Is it the band or bypass?" Weird thing is I don't know how she knew because I have only told 1 person at church (well I guess then I do know how she knew). I told her bypass and she said "oh I talked to my doctor about surgery but she wants me to do it the hard way with diet and exercise." Two things... This friend has no idea she is one of the reasons I looked into surgery. She is very overweight, unable to stand for long during choir practices and has diabetes and high blood pressure. I don't want to see myself in her situation in 5-10 years. Watching her struggle made me start to look into surgery. And secondly, her doctor says she wants her to do it the hard way but in my friends case it will most likely never happen without surgery. Very sad After she sees my great success, I will slip her the name of my surgeon and encourage her to ignore her primary doctor and go for a surgery consult and take the easy way out! Lol

In general, heating is for muscle pain while inflammation needs cold. I know when I've had the gas pain before from surgery and putting a heating pad on that area feels good. Ice is probably good for incision pain -- heat will draw blood to that area and might make it hurt or get inflamed. Agree -- ask your doctor.

You're going to need Clear liquids for at least the first week or so based on your doctor's plan. Maybe you can get chicken broth with food stamps? After the first 2 weeks or so it should be easier... Peanut Butter, cheeses, eggs -- good Protein sources. Maybe you should see if you have some insurance coverage or something that might help you with the protein supplements early on.

On one of my first online dating experiences, I was "chatting" with a guy by email for about 3 days before he started talking about how we were soulmates. He kept talking about wanting to hear my sexy voice, so I gave him a call. He gave me a sad (garbled bad connection) story about how his job had him out in San Diego and he was at a hotel but had lost his credit card and that he needed $50 to pay the hotel to reinstate his internet so we could keep talking. On about day 3 -- asking for money. I could have ended up on the Dr. Phil show with all the other women who had been scammed by catfish! lol

Welcome to the forums... you'll find LOTS of great information here to help you prepare for the surgery. Good luck!

Really scary when that ticker says you're only 9 days out! lol Congrats!

The way my surgeon explained it to me, bypass does help improve GERD because the majority of acid is made in your lower stomach which is now separated from the digestive path. But, there still is some acid in the pouch, just not as much. Revision in TX sounds like they have some good ideas about what might be going on.

I was surprised when I asked my surgeon about exercise -- even with a hernia repair, he told me I could start working out with weights again 3 weeks after surgery. I'll have to see how I'm feeling then but I hope I'll be doing great by then and ready to roll. Guess it depends on the surgery and your recovery.

Your body burns calories during the night so I guess it's possible. You also breath out and sweat out some Water, so that could contribute, too. We tend to only think of calories in and calories out bt remember your body also burns calories when you're doing absolutely nothing but being alive.

My date is June 9th. RNY was my first choice. I have sleep apnea and GERD. The reflux scared me away from any consideration of the sleeve. Anything that might potentially make this reflux worse is OFF my list! Honestly, I don't see the hesitation about bypass versus sleeve. The bypass is the gold standard and most common and tested surgery. The % of excess body weight lost is better with the bypass and I see so many people on this site revising from sleeve to bypass. I wanted to go with what would give me the best success. Of course, it's scary to think about malabsorption but my surgeon told me that newer research is showing that it is not as bad and they first thought. And besides, with either surgery you have to take Vitamins anyway -- I don't see a big difference. Just my 2 cents and I completely understand you're feeling whammied by the last minute change. That would have thrown me for a loop too. I had an emergency c-section with my first baby and I was devastated But with bypass or sleeve, the aftercare isn't that much different and I think you'll do fine as long as you prepare yourself mentally.

I'm the ninth... so ready to get this going but at the same time can't believe it's this soon.

I'll have to request to see what mine wrote -- he's a weird bird so who knows what he wrote.

I'm June 9th...have my preop testing Tuesday. I guess it's really gonna happen! I don't have a preop diet so I've been spending time going through my closet, packing up the nice winter stuff in bins and bagging up the old beat up big winter clothes. I won't throw out the bags or donate the nice stuff until after surgery, just in case something happens but I'm looking forward to never wearing size 16s again.

Thanks! Just ordered some!

My 20 yo son told me I'm not as fat as I think I am (his words). Then when I told him no more birthday cake, he freaked out! When I told my 14 yo about the eating plan, he said "so you're having medically induced anorexia". 23 yo daughter is like "so, you like going under the knife" God made kids babies first so we'd have to love them. Then they develop the power of speech...

@@☠carolinagirl☠ -- How GREAT is that picture!!! I'm going to print it out and post it on the fridge with this picture of my dogs (who just happen to be begging for treats!) Actually, I don't have to post their picture on the fridge, because any time I'm standing at the fridge, they are going to be in this same position which happens to have been taken while I was standing at the fridge -- with them begging for treats.

@@Rena's got this --- Go for the shoes! Had a funny experience yesterday -- the cardiologist wanted me to have a treadmill stress test before surgery and the nurse was really nice. He looked at me and said "Oh, you'll do fine on the test... the technician and I have noticed everybody with Nike's does fine on the test." Then he showed me his shoes -- Nike's. So, Nike's come highly recommended! lol

My doctor said he doesn't put people under BMI of 40 on a preop diet for the reason your doctor said about it making patients weaker and possibly malnourished before surgery. For larger patients he said he might require some preop but not for a long period of time -- just to help shrink the liver some. It's interesting how many different varieties of plans doctors have. You would think there was one "master plan" that they all adhered to or something. Regardless, glad I don't have to follow anything other than Clear liquids the day before surgery. I'm no good at dieting (not a yo-yo dieter, just a can't stick with it dieter). That's why I'm having surgery in the first place -- no good at dieting!

You're saying lower stomach -- do you mean low on your abdomen? Or around the belly button where the bottom of your stomach would be? I had pain like that right behind my belly button -- sharp stabbing pains that would come and go along with vomiting. Then the pain started moving over to the right side (in line with the belly button) and coming across to behind the belly button. Got to where I couldn't stand it (after 5-6 hours) I had an intestinal blockage and ended up in the hospital on IV antibiotics for 4 days. I'm preop -- this had nothing to do with any surgery. I also had scar tissue from c-sections and used to have very bad stabbing pain low in my abdomen -- would happen a few days before my period started (but I was irregular so never knew for sure if it was related). I finally had laparoscopic surgery and the doctor found I had scar tissue (from c-sections) attaching my ovary to the abdominal wall. It would start hurting prior to my period because things swelled and moved some. Once they clipped that scar tissue, never had that pain again. Definitely something to contact your doctor about!