2twinkle

Chad, Oh yeah. My biggest FEAR pre-op was that I would miss my relationship with food, and feel hungry all the time. NOT SO! I fill my senses with smell and sounds and taste. I don't really get hungry anymore, just eat when its time.

Hi Chad! I am a 64 yo female who is 4'11" who began this journey at 262 pounds. After loosing 10 pounds on my pre-op diet I stalled for 6 months. On surgery day (July 17, 2015) I weighed in at 252. Before surgery my BMI was 54 and I was categorized as "super morbidly obese." I have been type II diabetic for many years, but diet controlled, and in the past year my diabetes was out of control, and I was on my third medication to control it. I was getting an attitude because all the diet & exercise I was doing wasn't helping and I had been gaining weight; even on Atkens and Weight Watchers. My knees and back were often sore. I had an umbilical hernia repaired in 2012. In 2013 I had my gall bladder removed. I had developed sleep apnea, and atrial fibrillation. For which I had a cryoabalation in 2014. I am Native and IHS doesn't fund bariatric surgery. After getting on my BCBS plan at my new job I inquired about surgery and they agreed to pay 85%. So, I decided to go for it. It was the best decision I ever made. I have had not troubles or complication from surgery. I awoke in the hospital diabetes free I also felt like I was invincible and could do anything. After a month I got back to my gym, and added yoga to my workouts. In October I added resistance training. I have now lost 78 pounds. For my 3 month visit I was "Right on track" My 6 month is coming up in Feb. And I think I'll be fine. My AIC is about 6 right now. I feel GREAT and look FABULOUS ! I wish I had done this years ago. I could have avoided so much discomfort and maybe those other surgeries. It can seem like an elusive or unattainable dream when you are pre-op. Hang in there. You only get one body. Do your best for it.

YES! Pre-op I was told there would be changes and to prepare for them. My biggest fears were I would grieve the loss of my relationship with food, and that I would be HUNGRY. Well I wasn't hungry at all, not even yet. The only thing I struggle with is keeping on track for my supplements. So I got a smart phone to remind me. I also got a new computer, a new car and I am seeking a new job. I have been purging my house and I no longer have time for other peoples BS. I took my first yoga class and I liked it. I joined SNAP fittness. I order Protein shakes from unjury and bodybuilding.com Life is great. My one regret is that I waited so long.

Howdy Folks! The recently opened store on this website is not bad. What I find interesting is that they have samples or variety packages of many products. Protein supplements can be an investment, this way you can find the ones that suit you without throwing away a lump of cash. I have found works for me is that when I end up buying something that I don't like, there is someone in my local bariatric support group who can use it, so I just pass it on instead just trashing it. Mayo clinic gave me some pages of recommended Protein drinks. I did the math on the protein/calories and ranked the stuff on the sheet. Aikins, Carnation, ranked pretty low. Isopure was the best. Followed by Nestle's Beneprotein. So I went looking for Isopure - and couldn't find it at Walgreens, Walmart, Target, Market Place Foods, or Super One. Someone suggested it may only be available through a gym/fitness club. I live in a small isolated community and I needed to get going on this so I settled for whatever I could get from our local stores and food coop. I hate sweets. That being said, I love unjury Protein. They make unflavored and chicken bouillon. I can use those two powders as bases for some of my protein creations, or mix them with those sweet drinks to get rid of the stickiness. I have also recently found a website called bodybuilding.com that sells a bizilion kinds of Proteins powders, RTDs and meals. I haven't ordered from them yet, but I like the site because it RATES all its products, and it shows you the cost per serving. The rankings agreed with the way I would have ranked the ones I had tested. It was the price per serving information that was an eye opener. Isopure rants, high, but is also quite pricey. Me, I'd rather add Water to a powder for $1 a serving, than have someone else do it and pay over $3 a serving. So, yeah, I am happy with my Unjury. And, I think I'll expand into some of the products from bodybuilding, if I can find something unflavored or savory.

#69I have to say I never in my wildest dreams thought I would fit into a size 6 Petite pair of jeans, but yup, went shopping and 8's were too big. Amazing though.. My BMI still says I am Obese at 31.5! Makes no sense to me! Who sets these numbers! I have to go from obese to overweight before I am normal range! Really, is normal a size zero for heaven's sake! I am a grandma (age60) wearing size 6. Couldn't be happier and I will just ignore the BMI stats! Yeah really! I like my curves.

Howdy folks! Glenn, I was just remembering my excitement the days before the surgery. Due to BP and the Mayo Clinic team I was pretty well prepared for it. It went swimmingly for me! No problems, no issues, no pain. The only thing I really experience is: Now that I finally can loose weight, feeling impatient to get to my goals. I removed my 'surgery date' ticker when I hit Onederland. My only regret is not doing it sooner. Like in my 50s or even 40s.

Clothes are gone. Thanks ladies.

Google. And you have a new name.

This poll makes me feel sad.

Last week my employer decided employees cannot merge their walking time and lunch, so it will be impossible to use the gym during lunchtime. Only after work. I spend 3 hours a day driving to<->from work so I have Little time left over. Now I just hit the gym on the way home.

My local Bariatric support group is great. It was started by a RNY community member, a nut and a shrink. I also go to BariatricPal, and try to exercise smarter. Last time, I added a yoga class, and increased my time at the gym. Then I used a trainer to teach me a basic free-weight routine. Then I started online trackers and reminder apps.

Yes. And I think this will be a lifelong support.

I went to the top clinic and asked for the best doctor.

When I awoke after surgery I had a splitting headache. Nothing else bothered me. Nurses kept telling me I should not be having a headache. They gave me the medium level pain med for it. Next morning headache still, but it faded in and out. They gave me a tylenol at noon. That evening I figured out it was the caffine jones taking the top off my head. (HELLO?) Missed it at first, but stayed away. For my positive one month check-up I went nuts and had a cup of decaf. Now I do decaf occasionally for a treat, or when I know I'll be around lots of coffee. But, I'm good. I like the taste. And sometimes I add unjury (unflavored) to it.

My main insurance has been IHS, who also employs my primary doctor who was not supportive. I wish I could have done this years ago, when I knew I needed help. With my new job, I got a better insurance company (Blue Cross Blue Shield, gov) which paid most of my surgery and is very supportive with my aftercare. They are paying for my gym, and host some online coaching programs I use. Oh, yes, I also found a new primary care provider who is supportive. My diabetes was getting worse, and all my other health issues could be tracked back to my 54 BMI. Once I knew the insurance would cover it, I decided to go forward, and let nothing stand in my way.

The RNY was my third a final choice. It was the top recommendation of my surgical team. My first choice, Lap Band is no longer performed at Mayo Clinic. My second choice, a DD Switch, was thought to be better for folks with a sweet tooth. The Doc & his minions said for folks like me who love fats and salty foods RNY gives best results. I am very happy I trusted myself in their hands. They are, after all, the experts.

But really, no bars are truly low cal.

Phat, Me again. I almost forgot to mention - I was getting very gassy from some Protein products. Turns out many bars contain an alcohol sugar that causes gas. My nut says read the label, and avoid the ones containing sugars that end in "ol." Blew me up like a birthday balloon.

Hey Phat! I fantasize about someone inventing a pill we could take every morning that covered all our nutritional needs. So when's that gonna happen? Actually, I was recently cautioned by my docs at Mayo Clinic to space out my Vitamins ( with iron) and Calcium a bit more. I was gulping them all down in the morning so I could clear my mind from useless trivia during the day. Well OK, I did know about the body's ability to only consume a certain amount of each supplement at a time, but I was thinking it would simplify my life to just do everything once a day. As for Protein, yesterday I went to a site called "bodybuilding.com" that sells an amazing number of protein powders , shakes and drinks. My first impression was it was that there was too much testosterone there for my taste, and I bumped out. (I am turned off by extremely deformed muscle jerks.) And kept coming back. There you can sort the zillion products for: samples, protein, weight loss, top reviews and more. I have been using unjury, which I order online, and love. It would be nice to add other options to my pantry. Maybe Meal Replacement or RTDs. Turns out that website has an enormous selection! They even calculate cost per serving for you. Some places will just throw together a sample pack for you to help you find what works for you; they might. Also, THIS website (BariatricPal) has an interesting store as well. Its on the pull down tabs at top, the red one on the far right. I avoid milk myself, and prefer savory to sweet, so sticky sweet shakes do not appeal to me. Watering things down can help with that. I do have a ranked list of protein supplements from Mayo. I'd be happy to post it if you'd like. Let me know.

JenyP, My surgery went very well, I was off pain meds the first day, (except Tylenol for my caffeine withdrawal). I am down 57 pounds, now. My waist measurement went from 44 to 36. My bariatric buddy from Eau Claire who went thru at Mayo Clinic the same day as I did, tells me she has lost more than 90 pounds. They say we are all different, and I know she had some pretty scary issues with hers. She's much better now, and no longer has high blood pressure, but is experiencing some shoulder pain. Me, type II diabetes is under control, and only yoga class makes me ache.