samuelsmom

I am still wearing the clothes at 58 pounds down and it is really ok- they are big and I am ok with that! That being said- I have several sizes in my closet and am starting to go into them. I also have bought a few new jackets/blazers for layering as I have to look professional in my job also. I have to admit, this is a great problem to have

I was literally terrified of this pre-op since I am a fast eater and did NOT slow down pre-op. What has helped for me is the old fashioned advice to chew each bite 30 times. When i first started with solids I actually sat and counted. Now that I am 2 whole months out it is now a habit and I don't think about it. When I am having something I really like and find myself speeding up, I start counting!

Great thread! I do Protein shakes and bars because they are convenient. Otherwise, I don't do any "diet" food.

I also couldn't stand the premier Protein. I do the the GNC Lean shakes. The vanilla is ok, the strawberry is my favorite, and the chocolate is best when blended with a banana!

Good shoes for walking-- I brought in my crocs as they were easy on and off and still give decent support. I highly recommend that you do NOT walk in the slipper socks provided by the hospital. If there are any hazards or spills, those sock will not protect you. A set of comfortable clothes and the pillow previously mentioned for the ride home too. I also had my cell phone and charger. That's about it. Good Luck!

Good Morning, Thanks again for posting this challenge. It has really helped keep me focused this week! Weight: 241

I agree with both of the prior posts; it sounds like it's time for a specialist. I would also emphasize nutrition. If you are nutritionally depleted it is harder to fight off infections. Good luck. Hope this clears.

Christopher and Banks has a full range of sizes. I currently shop at the "plus size" store CJ Banks and they have wonderful clothing for professionals. They are not cheap, however, they have great sales- I just bought a beautiful sweater perfect for layering in this weather for less than $20 on clearance! I have only been on the outside of their "normal" sized store but it also looked very nice. Good Luck and Congratulations on your weight loss!

Glad you're feeling better!

@brie8989 Honestly, it's been better than I expected. The weight loss has slowed down and I am ok with that. As long as the numbers keep going down, I am a happy camper! One of my big fears was that I would feel like a freak-- go out with my family and sit there having Water while they had steak! For me, I can now eat anything- just in small quantities. I'm so happy when we go out to eat and I can order a regular meal and have it for lunch and maybe dinner the next day Good luck with whatever procedure you end up having.

I can certainly understand all the angst. For me, I really did not want to make a big deal out of this. I told my husband, 2 grown children, 1 of my 4 siblings, 5 people from work, and 2 from church for 11 total. For me, it was a good decision. I have appreciated the support I have gotten and not been overwhelmed with questions. It's not that I mind other people knowing, I just needed to be able to focus with a small support group.

Anyone who is seriously overweight can relate to this. I'm so glad you were able to turn your life around. Congratulations on your amazing weight loss! At 7 weeks out from surgery, your stats are an inspiration!

My wating period was 3 months. I had my first surgeon's consult on July 28th, dietitian in August, September and October. Had the psych eval, lab tests, and stress tests in September. Last visit with dietitian on October 24th. Paperwork submitted after last visit, approved in one week and surgery on November 19th! It was really very smooth looking back. At the time it seemed like so many hoops but it really wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. Fortunately didn'thave to have a ton of pre-op testing so it wasn't too bad. I would suggest talking with the person in the office that deals with scheduling. They should have a good idea of how long the process will take and length of time to get a surgery date once approved.

@@CowgirlJane I can answer this! 60% is the average excess weight loss according to the statistics, however, it is just that, an average. For example, an average flat screen tv might be around $500, however, we all know that you can buy a TV for anywhere from $150 up to $3500 (or more). No one should use this average as a predictor for themselves. We all know there are people who don't succeed and lose nothing and those that lose 120%. All of that is included in the average. It is just another piece of information. I personally would never base a weight loss surgery decision on this.

@ 1) 2009 is ancient for an insurance manual. However, it sounds like you should be covered. 2) The dietitian's visits are enough as your weight will be checked each time. No need to see your PCP unless there is another issue. That being said, if your PCP will be the most helpful- then go ahead. You want to surround yourself with caregivers who will give you the best support. 3) Surgery choice: I can understand your physician's recommendation for the sleeve. There is no reason to expect that you will not lose weight or that you will regain it. that is possible with each surgery. DS requires 3 + hours under anesthesia raising the liklihood of complications. Quite a few surgeons routinely do a sleeve first to limit the amount of anesthesia at one time. As you may know, that is how the sleeve got it's start- it was used as the first part of the DS and so many patients did well and never needed part 4) You seem very motivated. With that level of motivation you sound like someone who would do well with the surgeon's recommendation. You also mentioned you are ok with supplements and labs, however, the problem is malabsorption syndromes and you are very young. I am a strong believer in patient choice, however, as a nurse, and bariatric patient, I think your surgeon's advice was very wise. Good Luck in your weight loss journey!

I really enjoy the unjury chicken broth. My doctor's office had a sample I could try. You can always ask if you want to try first. I also bought one of several types of shakes- the Muscle Milk, Carnation powder, GNC, etc. All have sugar- you may want to ask your doctor for how many gms are allowed. My personal favorite is the GNC Lean Protein which is premade- I have no time or interest in making my own shakes so this works very well for me. Good Luck

From WLS stats the average weight loss is about 60 % of your excess body weight. What my surgeon did was subtract my starting weight from what the weight charts had as my ideal weight. Then take 60% of that. So if you have 100 pounds excess weight, the average weight loss would be 60 pounds. Please note that this is average. Some people lose way more and some don't. Good luck.

@jerseyjules Good Luck. I saw an interesting new product that the FDA has just approved which is surgically implanted and controls hunger signals. Hopefully you will do great and not need any intervention. However, with technology you never know what may be available when you need it!

Glad to hear you got through ok! The first week post-op I just really concentrated on getting liquids in and walking. It is normal to have a slow go with fluids. There is swelling where the surgery was done and it is very normal to have to drink fluids very slowly. It is also ok to feel tired. Your body has been through a lot! I was out of work for 2 weeks and felt like "myself" after 4 weeks. Good Luck!

If not for the sleeve I would have never considered WLS. I don't believe in causing malabsorption and rerouting digestion as in RNY. I respect other people's choices, it was just not for me. As for the band- having a port and the risk of slippage was enough to turn me off!

Good Questions! 1. If you've had the Gastric Sleeve, would you do it again? I would have to say yes. I spent a year gaining and losing the same 15 pounds! It was time. I really did not want to go the surgical route. I also knew that if I could have done it on my own, I would have. I am down 55 pounds and enjoying being lighter. For me it was the right move. 2. What was/were the thing(s) that surprised you the most after you had the surgery? a) Lack of post-op pain-- I took the IV pain meds 3 times to sleep, not for pain. After 2 c-sections, this was nothing! Incredible gas pain-- Had no idea gas pain could be so intense. If I didn't know it was gas, I would have thought I was having a heart attack as I had a band of pain around my entire chest. c) The amazing effect of walking-- it took the gas pain away almost instantly. I knew walking would help- but not that much. d) The ability I still have to eat bad stuff-- for example I can eat chips and not get full. I chew them to dust and then swallow and it was a little scary the first time I did it and found that out. I thought I would feel full quickly but I did not. I don't keep chips in the house and don't eat them when I am out. chocolate also slides down without a problem. I stay away from it as I don't want to eat too much. I do have some dark chocolate as very small amounts are satisfying.

Good Luck! Hope it all works out.

Greek yogurt is always good as are cheese and scrambled eggs. I try to have fish or chicken for dinner as they both have quite a few grams of Protein. I also have a hard time getting in all the protein so I still drink Protein shakes every day or 2.

Checking labels for sodium content may be a good idea. Some broths are loaded with salt. You may also want to make sure your scale is accurate. If none of those, I would recommend calling the doctor's office. It sounds like you may be retaining Fluid as a large weight gain in a very short period of time is indicative of that. Also, may want to clarify if you are actually to have Clear liquids for 10 days; most pre-op diets are full liquids. Clear liquids are common the day or 2 before surgery.

Good Luck tomorrow! For future reference-- Clear liquids refers to any beverage that is transparent- such as broth, Jello, tea, black coffee etc. is considered to meet that standard. The big item that doesn't fit in clear liquids is dairy, as that is not transparent. Full liquids is just as the name implies- beverages, cream Soups, puddings, ice cream, yogurt, etc. Just as a disclaimer-- I have written basic categories above. Some practices excluded certain items and all, to my knowledge require low fat/no fat and no sugar/low sugar/ or no added sugar versions for any of the above.