LisaS73

Oh, boy.
Guys, you're forgetting that marijuana is used medically in many states, and is used to treat many chronic pain problems as well as an assortment of medical issues/diseases.
Please educate yourselves and get out of the dark ages.
Many, many people who you never would suspect use marijuana do. I'm one of them. I've got two degrees, run two of my own businesses, and have debilitating chronic pain issues that I *might* wish on my worst enemy but certainly not anyone else. I've been a stoner for many years, and have been using it to treat chronic pain issues (metal rod fused in my spine) for several years. I'm grateful it's an option. You don't just have to smoke it-you can vape, do edibles, use a tincture drop under your tongue.
I'm 7 years out with my LapBand, and don't have much of an appetite these days. It actually helps me eat. It helps me sleep. It helps with so many things, and I wish people would stop being so closed minded about it because they're not educated about it.
I'm not sure I would recommend it on a regular basis as a new bariatric patient, because of munchies, that I will agree on. You're trying to learn new habits over years of developed bad habits, and I could see that as being detrimental in some cases, but certainly not all.
Once a week is not a frequent user. Not a bit.
If it helps you relax, and you can retain control over the munchies, you go right ahead.

I do use it ....... has helped with pain , nausia , helps me relax ....... the munchie not so much and your tummy tells you no so i havent had any issues ............

@@jadama22 Post op day one and two: I was in so much pain and uncomfortable that I inhaled two "puffs" from my vaporizer of some good kush and it helped immediately with the pain. However, because you will just have had anesthesia and your lungs will be weak, I would advise to use discriminately.
It did not make me hungry.

I would also think cottonmouth would be really tough when you can only sip, sip, sip......

Interesting topic
Glad to see an open discussion about a very prevalent herb that not only has been around for centuries, but seems to be making legal inroads in the us. Seems like some tolerate it and others are anti ..
I would think appetite stimulation is not cohesive with WLS. Others report it is useful at bedtime to sleep
I'm not here to judge anyone's preference on how to enjoy life on their own terms ( ok. I will judge how I really dislike methamphetamine and it's culture and poisons used)
I Just like open discussions.
That is why I like this forum so much

I promise I will try it after my surgery and I'll give a shout out about my experience. (some of these responses truly had me laughing out loud!! folks need to "lighten up"!)

I have to agree, once a week is not frequent, funny thing is that I have not smoked for the last month because is something that I can stop at free will. To me an addiction is something you can't willingly stop on your own, such as tobacco users who can smoke up to a pack a day. I have recently stopped just because I don't need it, just like I don't need wine - While several months ago, I was having wine every week, I now have wine maybe once every three months, but with Marijuana being so widely used and now being legalized in several states, I was just curious. I am sure everyone has their own perception, and I have agreed for myself that smoking marijuana would not be best for me after surgery, but I would welcome open minded perspectives to this subject on those that have used it and what was the experience.

Lucky for us, the sleeve doesn't cause dumping so you may be able to eat whatever it was again some day. Whether you should or not is another question. ????
A lot of times when you give up carbs, your body goes through the carb flu (Google it, it's a real thing) and headache and fatigue are both common. So if your new diet is low carb, that may be it.

I started nursing school the summer following my sophomore year of high school and completed the program and received my nursing license only a few months after graduating from high school! By this time, I had reached my highest weight of 325 pounds.
The first year and a half after completing nursing school, I slowly lost about 40 pounds; during the last three months of my surgical prep, I managed to lose another 30 pounds! I am down to 262 pounds as of my last weigh in!
My vertical sleeve gastrectomy surgery is scheduled for 7.21.15!
Is there anyone else scheduled to have surgery around the same time?
What do you plan on taking with you to the hospital?
How long have you planned to be out from work?
Thank you in advance for sharing! I look forward to hearing from you all!

Lol... Oooo... My mistake... Reading while driving... Don't do this at home ????
And your right I'm thinking about the same thing... But I won't be seeing the same one I saw for clearance... But I have been looking into a pysch for weight loss after this post today... Lol

Y'all ladies are encouraging me to reshedule my appt.

I know during the pre-op stage it can be incredible difficult and you may be questioning your decision or struggling through the pre-op diet, wondering if you will ever get through your insurance requirements, wondering if it will even work or be worth it. I thought I would post really quickly with some encouragement. I know everyone's experience is different, but for me, the sleeve surgery, and the abdominoplasty to remove excess skin after losing 155 pounds, were the VERY best decisions I have every made in my life. And...the proof is in the pictures!
I posted the following in another forum, but thought that someone here might benefit from it as well. You can also see my blog (in my signature line and linked in the text here for all of the ups and downs of my journey from the 1st pre op appointment in Jan. 2013 to today. Hope this helps someone!!! :-)
I am now 1 year and 9 months post op. I reached my goal weight at about 10 months post op (140-145) and in the year since then I've felt that things have been moving very slowly. Well, I was ordering a dress online the other day and I had to take my measurements. I hadn't taken then since reaching goal weight almost a year ago. I was shocked to see that even though it felt painstakingly slow, I lost an additional 20 pounds and 22 inches in the past year, putting me at my "dream goal" and feeling pretty freaking amazing.

My husband and I just got back from our anniversary getaway and we took a picture together. When I got home I decided to see if you could really tell a visable difference from me at 1st goal weight and dream goal weight a year later and I think you can. I was pretty surprised. I'm feeling super happy at my weight and health and fitness level right now, and having kept it off for nearly 2 years I"m feel pretty good about the prospects long term as well.

Well then I decided to go a little crazy, and I went back and found my anniversary pictures from the past 5 years and decided to do side-by-side comparisons. I'll only include the one from last year (goal weight) to this year (dream goal weight) AND one from my highest weight (278.4) to now (125), but if you want to see the rest of them, just click on the link here to the blog post with all the pictures from the past 5 anniversaries:
"The Proof Is In the Pictures" Post

Here is goal (June 12, 2014) to dream goal (June 12, 2015) and highest weight - 278.4 (June 12, 2013) to dream weight - 125 (June 12, 2015). Enjoy!

I thought the attached document might be of some help to those seeking some guidance that may not have been provided to them by their medical team. Even though I am 7 months out from surgery, I still refer to this document from time to time to remind myself of some of the details.
Our life after surgery does take work. Having good information on hand helps.
Now that we have a new tool to help us lose our excess weight, our success is up to us.
GASTRIC SLEEVE INFORMATION - modified.docx

Ask your surgeon for another recommendation... I asked mine and she told me that if this Pysch didn't clear me she had another she can recommend

Hey scarlep... The first time i went to the psychologist (April 23) I got denied as well due to being depressed. He told me he couldn't clear me just yet. He recommended i see another therapist in the same practice. I saw that therapist for one session (May 15) ... I saw the first psychologist again today and got cleared. But I'm also in a different state of mind then I was back in April... You have to think positive... All the negative energy you are surrounded by TRY YOUR BEST TO GET RID OF!!!! Only you can make the changes necessary in your life!!!

I will ask my nutritionist I honestly don't like that psychologist

Did you have to clean your plate when you were a kid? Most of our patients enter the program with a history of having to clean their plate during childhood. This habit often follows you into your adult life. This is your learned fullness.


Think about how full you feel after a meal. If you often feel too full or stuffed, then you’ve learned to overeat. After surgery, you don’t have room to overeat even a teaspoon too much. Finding your natural fullness requires that you take the time to slow down your eating and chew well.
Natural fullness is when you feel comfortably full and satisfied with the amount that you ate. You realize that a couple more bites would leave you feeling a little overfull. It takes about 20 minutes of eating before your brain recognizes that your stomach is full. By slowing down and chewing to applesauce, you will be able to feel fullness on less food.< /p>
Weight loss and better digestive health are benefits of practicing the skills that help you recognize your natural fullness. This skill is covered with our patients during their first appointment with the dietitian. Learning to slow down and chew well will cost you some time and frustration, but the payoff will help you stay safe with your eating after surgery.

OK... I am not saying this is AT ALL the case with you... but from his perspective, he may have concerns about you following through with all the requirements. Only because you said that you asked for a referral to a psych. and never went, and that you were prescribed medication that you then did not take. With WLS, you absolutely have to go to all your appointments and take all the medications/supplements prescribed to you, and follow the phase diet before and afterwards. Again, I'm not saying that you won't be compliant; I'm just trying to consider what you told the psychologist from his perspective. In your next visit with him, I would be sure to mention that you understand the importance of post-op care, are committed to following the surgeon's instructions, and will promptly go to your surgeon, nutritionist, therapist, PCP, or whatever with any issues that may arise after surgery. Good luck!

I've been going to therapy for years. It really helps being able to talk to someone you trust who's impartial. As for the surgery, I went to a psychologist who just goes these evaluations, who was recommended through NYU, and she cleared me right away.

I didn't get cleared right away by the psychologist at my surgeon's office, either. I have depression, but for me, the concerns were more due to my deep-seated need to be perfect (an "all-or-nothing" mentality) and my nagging sense that maybe I just don't "deserve" to be healthy and happy. So while I was initially upset that I "failed" my eval (hey, more "all-or-nothing" thinking!), I realized that, yes, I do need to be in therapy. I started going to a great therapist who is really helping me get to the root causes of my negative view of myself and will be able to help me throughout my post-surgery process.
A lot of it has to do with making sure that you have a good support system and can manage the ups and downs of the process--yes, your depression may be directly related to your weight, but are you prepared if you have complications, or you don't lose as quickly as you want to, or have stalls? Not saying you aren't prepared, just that this is the sort of thing that the psychologists consider.
Is the psychologist within your surgeon's practice or one that they work with routinely? If not and is just a random psychologist you found that takes your insurance, you might want to ask your surgeon's office for a referral to a psychologist that they recommend or that other patients of theirs have used. I say that because you mentioned that you got the sense that the one you saw thought you should try losing weight on your own. If he's not someone who routinely works with bariatric patients, he may have a bias against WLS and not be the best person to evaluate a surgical candidate.

I hope that we get clear because I can't wait to have surgery and be healthy

If you resolve the issues in your mind that keep you stuck, and overweight, then you will be successful. Your mind has the power to make you slim, and healthy.
And your mind has the power to keep you overweight, unhealthy and stuck.Your greatest wealth is your health and wellbeing.


The excess weight you carry, or your disordered eating habits is simply a consequence of you rewarding, and commiserating with yourself with food; stress and comfort eating; sugar cravings, and a myriad of old habits, and beliefs that are no longer helpful for you to lose weight, or be as healthy as you can be.
Your mind plays an enormous role in how your body is allowed to manifest health, and slimness together with the ability to make the right choices to ensure you eat for nourishment instead of self-punishment.
Carrying excess weight is never about being greedy, or about a lack of willpower. That’s why diets simply do not work - but you already know that!
As therapists Sally Baker and Liz Hogon target your body by changing your mind.
YOUR MIND IS WHERE YOU WILL CREATE YOUR WEIGHT LOSS, AND WELLBEING.
Surgical interventions alone...won’t do it.
Any "step-by-step approach"... won't do it.
"Forcing" yourself to go without... won't do it.
Any preconceived ideas... won't do it.
It is time to finally explore, and release your mind of old, unhelpful beliefs, and negative thinking to become a manifestation of good health, and well-being so that you can achieve a slimmer, happier you.
If you resolve the issues in your mind that keep you stuck, and overweight, then you will be successful.
Your mind has the power to make you slim, and healthy.
And your mind has the power to keep you overweight, unhealthy, and stuck.
It's your choice to free yourself.
If you understand this, just whisper "yes" to yourself. It is time to acknowledge it out-loud to make it real.
The underlying reasons for emotional eating are similar to the layers of an onion, so it’s important to peel back those layers in the most effective way releasing, and resolving deeper, and deeper issues as you progress. One effective way of approaching this work is chronologically.
Tracing your past
Focus on increasing your understanding, and insight into your own life events, and memories around your weight. Write down times in your life when your weight and your eating has felt more in balance, and times in your life when your weight escalated and your eating felt out of control. This exploration is called The Time Line Protocol. It’s useful to begin with your earliest recollections, and go right through to the present day. What was happening for you emotionally around those key times in your life, and most critically what judgements do you make about yourself from those memories, and events?
Blaming yourself is exhausting, and keeps you stuck. “It’s all my fault,” and other negative self-talk is dispiriting and undermines your self-esteem. Many people who struggle with losing weight think very poorly of themselves so making changes to how you think about yourself can be key to effectively clearing negative self-beliefs.
Sally Baker, and Liz Hogon recommend two free therapy tools to help you explore, and resolve any negative judgements triggered by the past, and release your negative thoughts. You can use EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique), and PSTEC (Percussive Suggestion Technique) as two easy to learn self-help therapy tools available for no charge from www.your7simpleteps.com/Resources.
This will assist you with everything practical you are doing for your own transformation.

I drank only 4 Protein Shakes and drank tons of Water during mine. My shakes were 160 calories a peice. So I would have been around 600 calories.

As far as I know - as the patient - you have a right to read any report they write. So Lisa - you should ask your surgeon for a copy. Same thing scarlep - when your psychologist writes it - ask for a copy. I did, and I got one directly from my psychologist.

My liver shrinking diet is for two weeks prior to surgery. I drink 3-4 (no more than 5) Premier Protein shakes a day with one string cheese and one hard boiled egg (OR two string cheeses).
All in all, I was told not to go over 900 calories. I think 600 is decently low!