Mike4132

You guys are right, each day has gotten better since surgery and so far day 3 has been no different, although this is the day it got ALOT better!
Last night I was in pain again so I took lortab and a couple Gas-X strips before going to bed. I knew the lortab would help me sleep but didn't have a lot of faith in the Gas-X accomplishing anything. Wow, was I wrong! 4 hours later I literally woke myself up in the middle of the night with the greatest passing of wind the world has probably ever known. Seriously, I wish I had a stopwatch handy because it had to have been some kind of record for the sheer duration of it. I can't say my wife was as impressed as I was but my dog certainly seemed to be.
And just like that, almost all my pain was gone! The new only pain I feel now is the incisions and that is very minor and completely tolerable.
Sorry to be crude but this was a milestone in feeling better for me and I'm just sharing my experiences as they come. I hope the rest of you who have had surgery recently are feeling better today also.

You guys are right, each day has gotten better since surgery and so far day 3 has been no different, although this is the day it got ALOT better!
Last night I was in pain again so I took lortab and a couple Gas-X strips before going to bed. I knew the lortab would help me sleep but didn't have a lot of faith in the Gas-X accomplishing anything. Wow, was I wrong! 4 hours later I literally woke myself up in the middle of the night with the greatest passing of wind the world has probably ever known. Seriously, I wish I had a stopwatch handy because it had to have been some kind of record for the sheer duration of it. I can't say my wife was as impressed as I was but my dog certainly seemed to be.
And just like that, almost all my pain was gone! The new only pain I feel now is the incisions and that is very minor and completely tolerable.
Sorry to be crude but this was a milestone in feeling better for me and I'm just sharing my experiences as they come. I hope the rest of you who have had surgery recently are feeling better today also.

You guys are right, each day has gotten better since surgery and so far day 3 has been no different, although this is the day it got ALOT better!
Last night I was in pain again so I took lortab and a couple Gas-X strips before going to bed. I knew the lortab would help me sleep but didn't have a lot of faith in the Gas-X accomplishing anything. Wow, was I wrong! 4 hours later I literally woke myself up in the middle of the night with the greatest passing of wind the world has probably ever known. Seriously, I wish I had a stopwatch handy because it had to have been some kind of record for the sheer duration of it. I can't say my wife was as impressed as I was but my dog certainly seemed to be.
And just like that, almost all my pain was gone! The new only pain I feel now is the incisions and that is very minor and completely tolerable.
Sorry to be crude but this was a milestone in feeling better for me and I'm just sharing my experiences as they come. I hope the rest of you who have had surgery recently are feeling better today also.

Hi, all -
I'm at the midpoint of my pre-op adventure. I've attended the informational session, met with the dietician and psychologist, am scheduled for my sleep test...but have not been approved by my insurance company yet. From my discussions with them, it shouldn't be a big step to get approved as long as I'm over 40 BMI. I'm right on the bubble at 5'5 and 239 lbs.
All I want to say is this. For years I've lain awake at night planning how tomorrow will be different. I'll hold back on my eating. I'll walk the stairs for 45 minutes. I'll be a good little dieter. I'll loose weight and keep it off this time. Nothing worked. I felt stuck. Trapped in my own fat body.
When I finally discovered that my insurance would cover bariatric surgery after years of specifically excluding it, I was elated. Now, I look at myself in the mirror and say, "By next year, if I follow the rules and do my part, I will look very different." I'm hopeful, excited, and maybe a bit obsessed with the idea that I've been thrown a life raft, if I can only climb aboard.

I'm following your stories with great interest and attention. With a bit of luck and a lot of hard work, I hope to add mine to yours so that others may learn from the paths we have taken.
All the best to you and you press on. Fight the good fight...

So the vet and I were out working cattle today. We had to vaccinate, trich test, deworm and tag 14 bulls. Basically, they are run into the chute one at a time, we do our thing and then release them out the front. At that point there is nothing between us and the bull, but they normally just wander off towards the open gate where they are released into another pen. Well the ranch hand responsible for this step was not running them out of our pen in a timely manner, so 4 bulls ended up together in the pen with us and two of them started to fight. At this point, all you can do is run for your life! They were slamming and crashing into everything and I managed to scramble to the top of a six foot fence. But before I could jump down on the other side, they came crashing right through the fence I was on. Fortunately, it was near the big barn door and I leaped up, grabbed the door frame and swung myself up off of the splintering fence as the bulls scrambled around under me. I had to hang there, basically by my fingertips until the bulls ran off into another pen.
The ranch guys were quite impressed and I played it off as no big deal....Just all in a day's work. But there is no way I could have even made it to the top of the 6 foot fence, much less pull myself up out of the way 100 pounds ago! So catlike reflexes and superhuman agility are now my new favorite NSVs.

Unjury makes a chicken broth flavored Protein Powder that is fantastic. (High in sodium though)
Syntrax unflavored is really good for adding to things also.

Bob,
I work for he federal government in an agency that regulates food.
cynthiarm2000, I admire you for eating the way you do. I would very much like to be eating organic...grass fed...ethically treated...minimally processed...uncured.. ...foods. I would like to have my own chickens, so I know they are humanely treated in the eggs I eat. Unfortunately, I don't have the money to purchase organic, grass-fed, ethically treated products. They do cost more than the factory farmed ones in the grocery store. Working full time, I don't have the time to raise my own chickens.
How has my identity changed since surgery? I'm now called "skinny". I concentrate on getting my Water in, Protein in, taking supplements, getting regular exercise and doing things one day at a time. I try not to preach weight loss surgery to those I am so tempted to prosleytize to. I know that people have to come to their own decision about weight loss surgery, since it is highly personal and everyone is different.
Before surgery, I ate whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. Now I have to do a considerable amount of planning regarding what I will eat, when I will eat it and how I will prepare it. Because I am not a cook, work full time and have a busy life, I live on GENEPRO Protein powder and Quest bars right now. I would like to do more cooking when I retire in 7 years. I hope to raise chickens in 7 years but I'm thinking that may change too. I would like to travel when I retire as well. Having chickens to take care of and traveling don't work well together.
I think you'll find some adjustments to your occupation as a "food guy" but I wonder if it may give you an opportunity as well. You will be in a position to create new recipes that are high in Protein and lower in carbs. IMHO there will be an opportunity in the near future for those businesses catering to people like me who are needing high protein, low carb meals. I notice advertisements are proclaiming how much protein their products have. I LOVE it when I can go to a restaurant and they have something tasty on a menu which fits into my food plan. Something that doesn't come in a HUGE portion that is high protein and low carb.
​I don't know if my rambling helps you or not.
​I wish you success with your surgery and hope you have an easy recovery.
Blessings,
Kathleen

Hey there.
I know what you mean. I work in a food coop and have most of my life. I have actually decided to leave the coop after my surgery and work in a non-food environment. I have always been the modern day hippie, only eating organic...grass fed...ethically treated...minimaly processed...uncured.. ...screaming for food justice....all of that. Now, I'm going to leave all of it. It is hard because my friends are all in the same business. I don't know how things will change for me. Sometimes I think this is just my test and if I can make friends with food and be in this environment without overeating that would surely be a true sign of success. On the other hand, I've been obese since I was 9 years old and I so want to give myself a break and remove the temptation from my life. I want to stop telling myself to buck up and resist and feeling bad when I can't. For me, leaving the foodie life is part of my determination to be good to myself. I have other talents I can develop. This WLS is the start of a whole new life for me...and I am determined to make this new life better.

Putting my shoes on from the side.
Being winded after one flight of stairs.
Buying continuously bigger clothes.
Not being able to buy the clothes I want because they don't make them in my size.
Just being fat......

A while back I came across this quote..and I have made it one of my life's motto's.
What you allow is what will continue.
So good for you for not allowing these things to ruin your day, or night or your life. We all get tied up into other people's BS now and again and that's all part of our connection, but when it becomes uncomfortable we have the right to put a stop to it
I have to remind myself of that far too often!!

I'm telling everyone at my office and I'd love to say I just don't care what they think, but in a way I do. I'd prefer not to be judged or be the topic of gossip but I also think I would feel worse if I tried to hide it and they discovered the truth anyway. Then I would REALLY be the topic of gossip.
My hope is that by being open about it people will get over their initial reactions, and move on. Besides, I plan on being in better shape than most of them by next year and then any remaining naysayers can kiss my butt.

I think you have one of the best reasons I've heard for wanting/needing this surgery and think you should be proud of yourself for having the courage to do what it takes to make sure you are there for your family.
The "easy way out" comments will probably always come and they always suck to hear because people just don't understand and they certainly don't think before they speak. Try to keep in your mind that that the "easy way" probably isn't all that easy, but it is definitely the most statistically successful. Your goal should be to take the safest bet for achieving long term health and wellness because you can't afford to lose that bet due to pride.
No one will come to an obese persons funeral and say "It's a shame they died so young and left their family behind, but at least they didn't take the easy way out. I sure do admire them for that...."
I also think you've come to the right place for support and advice as there are many on here who are tremendously supportive and helpful. If friends and family aren't always understanding, you can always come here and either get encouragement or solid advice when it's needed.

I did Atkins for about 7 years and was quite successful at it with exercise. Obviously, I stopped and gained back the weight and then some. However, I never forgot how my carb cravings were curbed by Atkins and a low-carb lifestyle.
I started eating low carb and lower calories pre-surgery and my nutritionist advises lower-carb, lower-fat, high-Protein post surgery. It seems nutritionists are looking more closely at glycemic impact/index now than Atkins. For example, certain legumes like lentils and black Beans are recommended because they're higher in Protein and the carbs are lower glycemically so they don't impact insulin as, say, a potato or carrots would.
I've found I can eat these lower glycemic index foods and not get into carb cravings later on.
Yes, you could still binge eat, but in smaller quantities. However, if you wanted to eat a bag of Cookies, you likely could over the course of a day or maybe sooner. If you are still having binge feelings you need to talk to a bariatric counselor or a therapist. The sleeve will only help with physical hunger and Portion Control. We have to work on our heads.
I highly recommend that you attend a bariatric support group with others who have had weight loss surgery. I find it incredibly helpful to discuss my journey and to hear others' journeys, good and bad.
Best of luck to you!

I've tried Atkins in the past and for me there are many differences. I'm on Atkins and go to a restaurant with plans to have a lean piece of fish and vegetables and they bring a bowl of bread to the table. I want that bread. I would love to have some Pasta instead of fish since I already ate some bread and ruined my diet. It is about choice and I would usually give in and cheat on my diet.
Fast forward to now and we go to Red Lobster and I plan to have some crab meat and a little bit of salad. They bring those delicious biscuits to the table and I look at them with horror because the last time I tried to eat a half slice of toast, I was in agony for 2 hours. I don't want Pasta because I threw up the last time I had a 1/4 cup of it. It really stinks to get sick but it's one hell of a reinforcer.
If I eat bread, pasta or anything fried, I get sick. I am forced into making healthier choices. I'm sure someday I'll probably be able to tolerate these foods but I sort of hope it doesn't change or maybe I'll just get so used to not having them that I won't miss them.
And as for other foods that I can tolerate that don't fall into my eating plan such as the 1/3 piece of pumpkin pie I had on Thanksgiving. That's where my restriction helps me a lot. Even if I eat something fattening, I can only handle a few bites. That helps me physically stay on plan and psychologically not feel defeated because I didn't have 3 pieces of pie and blow my diet. I just had a few bites.
I'm on a few months post op and right now I feel like I would have to try pretty hard to fail at this. I know that as the restriction lessens, this will not be the case. that's why now is the perfect time to build new habits and get in a healthy routine.

I think you have one of the best reasons I've heard for wanting/needing this surgery and think you should be proud of yourself for having the courage to do what it takes to make sure you are there for your family.
The "easy way out" comments will probably always come and they always suck to hear because people just don't understand and they certainly don't think before they speak. Try to keep in your mind that that the "easy way" probably isn't all that easy, but it is definitely the most statistically successful. Your goal should be to take the safest bet for achieving long term health and wellness because you can't afford to lose that bet due to pride.
No one will come to an obese persons funeral and say "It's a shame they died so young and left their family behind, but at least they didn't take the easy way out. I sure do admire them for that...."
I also think you've come to the right place for support and advice as there are many on here who are tremendously supportive and helpful. If friends and family aren't always understanding, you can always come here and either get encouragement or solid advice when it's needed.

What's different this time is that you have a new "tool" to work with. So yes, the low-carb is what helps the weight come off quickly, but it's also the fact that you have a tiny tummy now too. For me, I have to take the abstinence approach to carbs in the form of processed sugar,etc. Once I have one thing it just triggers my food addiction and leads to a days or weeks long struggle to get back on track. So for me, I know that is just how I have to eat. Some people say they can have a little something carby and be fine with it and go right back to eating right. I guess it just depends on you.
For me what has made the difference this time in keeping the weight off is working on what was going on under the eating. So I've been going to therapy weekly to address my eating issues and that is what has helped me the most, to be honest.
But, to answer your other question. If you were a binge-eater in the past, yes, the sleeve will make a binge less damaging to some extent because you can't eat as much. However, you can still binge eat....you just do it over the course of a day instead of all at once. So, I guess my point is that it is a tool that WILL work if you work with it. And for me, a lot of that work was emotional work that I needed to do on myself.
Good luck to you!

As soon as I got over the nausea from the VSG surgery, my hunger returned. However, I don't overeat because even though I might be ravenous when I begin eating, I get full so fast that each meal is kind of disappointing. I have also found that carbs are a lot less attractive than they used to be because I fear that they will make me sick, not just gain a few pounds.
I had the same exact experience as @dupexi. I lost more than 100 lbs 15 years ago using the Atkins diet, and then threw it all out the window when I got bored with it.
I believe that my new eating pattern has a better chance to stick this time. There is a definite physical aspect to my avoidance of empty, high calorie foods and overeating is pretty much unthinkable. It would be too uncomfortable. I am trying to be as compliant with my nutritionist's recommendations as I can while my restriction is still at it's strongest. I hope that will help me extend the restriction for as long as possible.
And my current stint in the hospital (where they keep serving me high carb meals that I can't eat) has shown me that my restriction becomes stronger the less I eat. This is pretty good news. Maybe all I have to do to get and stay slim is what I'm currently doing. And maybe I'll be able to do it over the long haul because my new stomach will help me.

I did low carb for 3 years, lost about 70 lbs, and eventually went off because I was severely constipated and tired. I gained back the lost weight plus quite a bit more.
Discovered I had a thyroid condition. I thought that by treating that I'd lose the weight but I didn't, and I put more on instead. Tried low carb again, never really able to make it stick. Plus being lactose intolerant meant no dairy. Right now, the mount of food
I'm eating is too low to trigger much of a lactose response, so hey, cottage cheese!
I am now about a month out with the sleeve, down 30 lbs, and I've lost all interest in food. I'm not hungry. I've been setting alarms to remind myself to eat. I had some early fatigue, a lot like going into ketosis (I attributed it to healing & meds), but that's gone.
Right now it just feels like such a chore to eat anything, and none of it is great food, just boring mush. When I get past this stage, maybe I'll have more interest. I love food, and I can honestly say I have never experienced this level of being not hungry - to the point that I've been having trouble getting all my Water and Protein. I've never had trouble eating all my calories before!
I've switched to unflavored Protein powder in broths, cause I can't stand the artificial sugar in the Protein shakes any more. And my one attempt at scrambled eggs make me throw up, not doing that again for a while. I'm still early, so maybe the hunger will come back, but I imagine this lasting quite a while.

I think you have one of the best reasons I've heard for wanting/needing this surgery and think you should be proud of yourself for having the courage to do what it takes to make sure you are there for your family.
The "easy way out" comments will probably always come and they always suck to hear because people just don't understand and they certainly don't think before they speak. Try to keep in your mind that that the "easy way" probably isn't all that easy, but it is definitely the most statistically successful. Your goal should be to take the safest bet for achieving long term health and wellness because you can't afford to lose that bet due to pride.
No one will come to an obese persons funeral and say "It's a shame they died so young and left their family behind, but at least they didn't take the easy way out. I sure do admire them for that...."
I also think you've come to the right place for support and advice as there are many on here who are tremendously supportive and helpful. If friends and family aren't always understanding, you can always come here and either get encouragement or solid advice when it's needed.

I'm about 3 1/2 months out and I've only been out to eat a few times, mostly lunch and I just tried dinner. I'm finding it difficult, nothing on kids menu that appeals and at the places we like the appetizers are mostly hi carb hi fat that I'm trying to stay away from. For lunches a half a sandwich does the trick, dinner is going to take me a while. I got a fish dish, it was so so and after about a half a salad, glass of wine, I could only eat a few bites of fish, so I took most of the meal home. I kind of left feeling like its more effort than it was worth.
Before surgery my wife and I had our once a week date night, neither of us had any problem finding places we liked. Now I look at online menus to get an idea of what I might have at a particular restaurant, but not much sounds appetizing and I have no desire to go. Also, I eat so much slower and I can't eat much, I just don't look forward to dinner out. Should I hope that changes?
But not so sad, I am feeling better, and a lot healthier, I wouldn't hesitate to do it all over again. I just need to learn not to be food centric, and that's going to take a little time. I still enjoy being out with my wife and freinds, I do enjoy foods and I am motivated to finish this journey. Interestingly, about a couple of months after surgery we went out for lunch and I chose a chicken salad wrap, all I could eat was half and it was more than enough. Before surgery, I could get a foot long sub, a bag of chips, and a tall soda, and an hour later I'd be hungry. I've come a long way.

I started thinking tonight about a lot of things and I was wondering if it was regret. I started feeling bad because I can't eat two large pizzas anymore in one sitting. I can't fit into my size 38 pants any longer. I can't wear a 2 Xl t shirt any longer.
I can't eat a whole double cheese burger. I can't drink soda. I don't know if I can drink alcohol as I've been afraid to try.
I then realized that all the things that I think I gave up I really needed to give up but I couldn't do it without the help of surgery.
I wanted to change what my future looked like. If we go off of our family history, I was at major risk for Diabetes, high blood pressure, cancers, dementia, seizures etc. I watched my father die of brain cancer, diabetes, dementia etc. My older brother is having seizures and he is huge. I want to tell him I'll pay for his surgery if he'll do it but haven't approached it yet. I am sure his response will be that he is healthy etc and he doesn't need to lose any weight. He's shorter than me (I'm 6 7') and he weighs 380#.
My father was bi-polar and unfortunately I followed that path. He would never see a doctor or get help. I sucked it up and wasn't afraid to see a doctor or take medication for it. After Surgery, I've noticed I'm not depressed and I don't have mood swings any longer. I take no anti-depressants or bi-polar meds any longer.
So I realized that once I looked at the over all picture, I think I made the right decision and I think it was for the best. I'm only 7 weeks post op now, and of course things can change. I might have mood swings again, but hopefully they stay away. Research that I've found suggest that a lot of bi-polar symptoms are related to the food we eat and all the chemicals in the food.
I didn't do this to simply look good. I did it for the health reasons. I can admit, I wanted to be thinner again, but it wasn't the only reason why for the surgery. I didn't want to have ED at the age of 32. I didn't want to be embarrassed every summer when we go on a family vacation and I'm afraid to take my shirt off due to my size. I'm looking forward to Cancun again in 2015.
I would do it all again if I had to.
No regrets. If your feeling regret, look at the whole picture. Think about why you did it. Think about what you are gaining in terms of good health. Think about your spouse/bf/gf/better half etc.
I also found out that the acid pill I needed was available over the counter. I feel so stupid for not finding this out sooner. Amazing what one little pill can do.

November 25th is one year post opp for me and I wanted to share my observations for the year. Here you go....
Unwarranted Pre Opp Fears:
I was super worried about complications and recovery and felt like I was seriously risking my life. In reality, surgery was a breeze. I had 2 or 3 uncomfortable days and then was quickly back on my feet. I dreaded pre and post opp diets. The pre-opp diet was harder for me, because I knew that my food days were coming to an end and I sort of had to mourn all the things I loved to eat. The post opp diet wasn't fun, but since I really couldn't eat anything (nor did I have any desire to), it wasn't all that difficult. Now that period is just sort of a distant memory. Standing out for eating like a mouse / not being able to dine socially -- I have a job that entails a lot of entertaining, business lunches and dinners and was really worried about this. In reality, it's been no big deal. After a while, I got used to ordering the right stuff and just picking away at my plate. When I'm done, I just put the silverware on the plate and the waiter whisks it away. This is actually what most people without eating issues do! It turns out the big eaters and the table are really focused on their plates and not yours. Every now and again, people will make a comment like "you barely ate" or "was the food not good", but they're very easy to dismiss away. Pleasant Surprises:
I started the process at 255 (275 highest ever) and was hoping to get down to about 200. That goal seemed like a big stretch because the best I ever did on my own was 225 and that was by starving myself for months and working out like dog and I was only at that weight for about 5 minutes. About 9 months after surgery, I bottoming out at 175 and currently hover between 178 and 182. I didn't think my current weight was even possible, but it turns out I feel and look great at this weight. I wear a medium shirt and have a 33" waist, down from xxl and a 42" waist. This is just shocking to me. Everything is easier. sleeping, tying my shoes, clipping my toe nails, sitting in airplane seats, shopping for clothes, exercising, playing sports, etc. My joints feel better and my frequent head aches have gone away. I was pre diabetic, had high cholesterol, and elevated blood pressure. All gone. Not having food monkey on my back. I still think a lot about what and how much I'm eating and have some bad habits (see below) but the monkey is gone! For as long as I could remember prior to surgery, I woke up every morning hoping that I wouldn't overeat that day and went to bed every night feeling guilty about all the eating. Food just doesn't occupy my mind like it used to. Annoyances:
Every once it a while, it would be fun to man down a big meal. I recently went to an amazing new BBQ joint in town and it would have been a great time to wolf down a huge plate of smoked meats and sides and wash it down with a few beers. That's just not possible. I had a glass of wine before the food came and ate about 20% of the plate of food I ordered and was absolutely stuffed. It would be nice to eat and drink at the same time. Breakfast with coffee, lunch with Iced Tea, dinner with Wine -- I've been doing this for 40 years but again, that just doesn't work with VSG. Sometimes I eat and sip (small sips) but that's about it. I was prescribed omeprazole (prilosec) right after surgery to control heart burn. If I take it everyday, I have zero heart burn. If I stop taking it, I have a little (not horrible) heartburn. I was kind of hopping to not have to take a pill for ever, but I think that might be the case. Bad Habits / Struggles / Watch Areas:
Slidder foods -- chips, ice cream, candy, etc. I can pretty much eat these foods in the same quantities as pre opp and will munch away if I'm not watching it. I've found that the best strategy is to eat the good stuff (proteins) first and then there's really no room for junk. Starting with the junk first is a bad idea. Alcohol -- I liked to drink pre opp and that hasn't gone away post opp. In fact, since food is much more effort, drinking sort of becomes easier. I now see why people caution about the dangers of substituting. Eating too quickly or too much. Food still tastes good and if I'm not concentrating, I can still eat too much and really regret it. This happens less and less now that I'm 12 months out, but it's still something I'm always watching for. In sum, VSG was the best decision I ever made. If I could go back in time, I would have done it 10 years sooner. Comments or personal messages / questions welcome.

I'm scheduled 12/10 ????????☺️

There are well known facts on the internet these days that may help you make your scheduling decision:
1.) December Sleevers experience .015% less post op hair loss than those sleeved in November. (Weird but true apparently.)
2.) Sleeves performed in November could result in uncontrollable flatulence in 99.98%, or less, of the recipients. (I've read that it has something to do with the tides and moon phases affect on the formation of the pouch during that month.)
3.) December Sleevers have been scientifically proven to be able to "Trust a Fart" 2.43% more than a November Sleever. (They are more patient and less likely to take a chance according to the research performed.)
4.) December Sleevers "Rule"....... while November Sleevers, may in fact, "Drool". (Although this is still a theory, some feel it is soon to be definitively proven to be true.)
5.) December Sleevers may be a tad envious of their November brothers and sisters and are 100% likely to fabricate statistics based on said envy.
(My surgery date is Dec 10th)

December 15th in Tijuana for me also. Nervous. Scared but need to get it done while I am Off work. Also need to have health issues resolved. YIKES!! I am really doing this