Dexter1118

Hello! I am having VSG surgery on July 7. Super excited, scared, and anxious. I have a question about Low T. I have been dealing with it for a couple of years. No treatment because we want to have kids and testosterone replacement therapy is an issue when it comes to fertility. My question is this.... Has anyone seen an increase in their Testosterone levels after VSG and weight loss without treatment? Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

Dumping is possible with people who haven't had WLS.

I am dealing with the same thing. doc said it will go away...when it happens I take a breath or two in and it goes away...it is not a good feeling though.

My doc has me on them twice a day for the first month at least.

I have shared it with people I know I can trust. They have all been supportive. Strangely the most common reaction I get is "What about all the skin afterwards?" That is not at all my concern right now! God Luck!

Hi Everyone! I am currently in my pre-op phase and I am being sleeved on 7/7/14. I have a couple of questions. 1. I am SCARED about the anesthesia. I had surgery once when I was 12 to get my tonsils out. I don't remember the experience except I got to eat a lot of ice cream afterwards. I weigh 548lbs as of today, hopefully down to 530 or so by the time of my surgery. I am really worried about complications with the surgery to the point where I am anxious. Is this normal? 2. I feel like absolute Cow Dung on this 800 calorie Optifast diet. I have no energy, can barely stand for more than 10 seconds and and very washy in the head. Am I going to feel like this post-op on 800 calories? I know everyone is different but has anyone had a similar experience beforehand and then felt fine afterward? I am making myself NUTS with all this thinking. Help! -Dex-

Thanks for your reply!

Well....I started the pre-op diet at 574 or so. This morning I was at 554. So 20lbs. in 12 days? I guess that is good haha. I lost the rest of the weight slowly over the past could years. The liquid diet is 100% Optifast with sugar-free Jello and popsicles allowed. It is hell mentally but I am getting through.

I have to buy two seats but I weighed 600lbs. last time I flew. In my experience if you only buy one seat they can ask you to leave the plane and you are stuck. If you buy two you are covered.

It is ALL liquid...Optifast...nothing else exempt for sugar free Jello and popsicles...honestly...it is hell. Haha.

I am day 11 into a 28 day pre-op diet and I can honestly say that this is the hardest thing I have ever done. Physically, I feel great except I fatigue easily with any exertion. Granted I am a rather large man so other people may find it less difficult. I don't know how I could work out feeling the way I do! The hard part is all mental for me. I have spent the past 20 years justifying the way I eat in my head. I have a huge battle going on in my head. I just want one more big meal or one more meal at McDonald's. I am finding that I need visual imagery and positive self-talk to keep on track. I haven't cheated and I won't...but this isn't easy.

Inspiring! Thank you for sharing!

Day 10 of my 28-day liquid diet. I am supposed to be down 50lbs. before my surgery date and I have lost exactly 7 pounds. Has anyone else has trouble with Optifast and not losing weight? I am not in ketosis. In the past when trying really low calorie diets I haven't been able to lose weight. This is making me want to give up completely and go eat a steak or a cheeseburger...Any insight would be great.

My biggest concern is that I am going to have this surgery and I am not going to lose weight....it seems like low calories like this don't do much for me.

Congrats! 7/7 is a great date! (it's mine too). Good luck with your pre-op diet. Sounds better than what I am on...28 days of protein shakes.

4-week liquid diet here. Seems like every doc has their own protocol.

choosinghealth - I went in thinking about a bypass but ended up choosing the sleeve. I have a lot of weight to lose and I met someone there that was my size and had the sleeve. He had lost 265 pounds in 18 months! Talk about inspiration. I also like that the GI tract is kept intact. Isn't it great to trust your doc?

I am the same. I decided to do the surgery the second tuesday of May after a seminar. First appt. May 28. Sleeve same day! July 7. Self-pay is a quick route but it is kind of scary. I can't imagine doing 6 months of prep for this...I think I would go nuts. Good luck!

Because sugar is empty calories. Plain and simple. Maybe you should try Stevia? It's all natural supposedly.

I am currently at 562lbs. At my biggest I was 632. On day 6 of 28-day pre-op diet which I started at 574lbs...Changes are afoot.

I am finding that blending the Optifast with ice bulks them up a bit. It actually makes the chocolate shake taste like a Wendy's Frosty. Haha. Good Luck! You can do this.

It seems like that there is a huge variety of approaches to the pre-op diet. I am on day 5 out 28 days on Optifast. Right now I could kill for a cheeseburger. My doctor said that I should lose about 50 pounds on the Optifast before I have my surgery. Trying to keep my on on the prize!

I just found out my date is moved to July 7! No idea why haha.