Sony09

I changed it all because waiting after the surgery would most likely be a nightmare, like being the surgeon and not ever going to med school. Learning as you go is too much stress and this is a serious surgery. I even did a mock post op of 3 days w/o solid foods, it's what you would have to do newly post op. It took me 3x to be able to go three days on a freshly RNY post op life... that was the last lesson for the "for life" signaling to me "I can do this!"
That was what I did and YTD I am glad I did it. No rushing through pre-op training and being honest about this being for a life time made the difference for me.

I changed it all because waiting after the surgery would most likely be a nightmare, like being the surgeon and not ever going to med school. Learning as you go is too much stress and this is a serious surgery. I even did a mock post op of 3 days w/o solid foods, it's what you would have to do newly post op. It took me 3x to be able to go three days on a freshly RNY post op life... that was the last lesson for the "for life" signaling to me "I can do this!"
That was what I did and YTD I am glad I did it. No rushing through pre-op training and being honest about this being for a life time made the difference for me.

I use the Celebrate chews for Calcium and Flintstones or Centrum Complete for my multi depending on which is on sale.

I'm here!! I had my by pass a week after my 56th birthday! I consider the surgery one of the best birthday presents ever!

Imagine this. You and your doctor agree that you need to lose weight. You tell your doctor you’ve been thinking about weight loss surgery. Your doctor lets you know his or her thoughts about WLS, and they’re very negative.
You may not need to imagine it because it may have happened – or be happening – to you. What should your next step be when your own doctor is not supportive of WLS?


Doctor’s Orders: Lose the Weight
Almost all Weight Loss Surgery patients and nearly everyone who’s considering getting WLS had a similar experience to the following. You go for a routine visit to your primary care physician, endocrinologist, or regular doctor, and you get the news you’ve come to expect: you’ve gained a little weight since the last appointment and you’re developing obesity-related problems. Bottom line, your doctor says, is that you need to lose weight.
It’s no secret that you need to lose weight. You’ve probably tried a thousand different diets. They may have worked, but only for a time. Then any weight that left came right back, with a few extra pounds. You recently started thinking about weight loss surgery, and you bring up that idea to your doctor.
“Weight Loss Surgery Is the Wrong Choice”
Some doctors are against weight loss surgery. They have the same reasons as anyone else who may be against weight loss surgery. They say it’s the easy way out, or you can lose weight on your own, or you might have complications. It’s great for them to express their concerns to you since that’s their job. But it’s not okay to deny you the opportunity to lose weight just because they don’t like the idea of WLS and may not have ever done any research into it.
The Ideal
Doctors are supposed to be compassionate, understanding, and competent. If that sounds like a tall order, it is. But it’s not unrealistic. You need to feel comfortable discussing your health and health decisions with your doctor without your doctor making you feel like a failure for not losing weight already and for considering Weight Loss Surgery.
You Come First
Your doctor should put you first. Putting you first means taking into consideration your future health, your dieting and weight history, and your own beliefs about whether weight loss surgery is right for you. Your doctor should put you ahead of any personal beliefs or biases about weight loss surgery, or lack of knowledge about it.
Seeking a “Second Opinion”
You’re always entitled to a second opinion when it comes to your health and healthcare decisions. You may not need an official “second opinion” on whether you should get WLS if you’ve already decided you’re going for it. What you do need is an opinion from a doctor who will support you.
You can consider switching your primary care doctor if it’s important to you that your PCP be supportive of your WLS journey and during it. You may even want to find a doctor with some understanding of WLS and how to help you prepare for and recover from it. That’s not always possible, for insurance and logistical reasons. It may not be desirable if you like your PCP otherwise and don’t want to jump ship.
A Supportive Bariatric Surgeon
Whether or not your family doctor approves of Weight Loss Surgery, your surgeon absolutely needs to be on your side. While you can expect bariatric surgeons to be supportive of you getting WLS, that’s not the only thing to consider. Consider whether the surgeon makes you feel confident you’ll get the support you need and that you will succeed.
Whether because of their poor bedside manners or lack of attention to detail, some surgeons will keep you in doubt about your decision. Those are not the right surgeons for you! You may need to have initial consults with one, two, three, or even more surgeons before settling on the one that’s going to boost you up.
A Personal Decision
Ultimately, weight loss surgery is your decision. You can decide to get it, or not to get it. It should be a decision based on what you think will help you lose weight, how much risk you’re willing to take by going “under the knife” (although it’s laparoscopic these days!), and how you think it stacks up against your other options.
It should NOT be a decision based on what your doctor thinks or how uncomfortable you feel talking to your doctor or surgeon about it. It’s up to you.

Soon it's 2016 and next year I'll be 56. Almost three years out, Feb 2016 will be 3 years post op for RNY. I am still below goal.... my choice. Pains are a way of letting us know we live and we still feel and some times we just need to see the doctor. Some time that's as good as it gets. I try to search alternative food types including adding different nutrients that help with physical pain, exercises, and meditation types, and don't for get your daily Bariatric style Vitamins. Most of the things I've tried help, but there is no perfect solution and no perfect remedy.
WLS; this is a tool not a fix it or a one step solution to obesity morbid or otherwise. It's here to help us mange and improve our lives with the best that we can. Remember to read your food labels, check out the ingredients you're eating and drinking... some of those things can aggravate your condition or have been causing you extra pain with out knowing it because of what's in the recipe and used to make it. Best wishes and feel better soon.

Glad to hear these FYI. I get it. I'm almost 3 year post op and stuff keeps getting more weird. People freaking out since I'm not obese anymore. My bra size is less than my 6th size and a lot smaller than a today's 4th grader. I'm learning (still) to cope with peoples reactions to change. Some days are better than others and I am continuing on and just being the best that I can be. If they can't deal... tough. I started my journey to improve myself, but downing myself for them to feel better about their self.. NFW! RNY b 2013; HW 297, SW 252, and today 117.

Soon it's 2016 and next year I'll be 56. Almost three years out, Feb 2016 will be 3 years post op for RNY. I am still below goal.... my choice. Pains are a way of letting us know we live and we still feel and some times we just need to see the doctor. Some time that's as good as it gets. I try to search alternative food types including adding different nutrients that help with physical pain, exercises, and meditation types, and don't for get your daily Bariatric style Vitamins. Most of the things I've tried help, but there is no perfect solution and no perfect remedy.
WLS; this is a tool not a fix it or a one step solution to obesity morbid or otherwise. It's here to help us mange and improve our lives with the best that we can. Remember to read your food labels, check out the ingredients you're eating and drinking... some of those things can aggravate your condition or have been causing you extra pain with out knowing it because of what's in the recipe and used to make it. Best wishes and feel better soon.

Glad to hear these FYI. I get it. I'm almost 3 year post op and stuff keeps getting more weird. People freaking out since I'm not obese anymore. My bra size is less than my 6th size and a lot smaller than a today's 4th grader. I'm learning (still) to cope with peoples reactions to change. Some days are better than others and I am continuing on and just being the best that I can be. If they can't deal... tough. I started my journey to improve myself, but downing myself for them to feel better about their self.. NFW! RNY b 2013; HW 297, SW 252, and today 117.

Hi ChooseHope
No sleeve for me! Because I WAS an insulin-dependent diabetic, by-pass was my best option. Also, I suffered from GERD for years and years and the sleeve, again, was a no go.
The biggest advantage of having this surgery after 50. Hmmm....besides having maturity and wisdom? Well, we've had 50+ years of eating behind us. Been there, done that. Also, my diabetes is in remission, I won't be having those knees replaced, and I feel good. As I inched closer to the retirement age, I secretly knew that with all my health issues, I wouldn't be around. If I was lucky enough to be around for retirement, I probably wouldn't have feet because of diabetes. What a fun retirement I had to look forward too. Dead or an amputee. Can I have more motivation than that?
Biggest disadvantage: My mental demons. But the demons are there, if I had surgery or not. I just have to apply everything I learned through the years and from my five years of therapy I am strong. I am worth this. And the biggest one: My wit and intelligence are my shield, not my fat.
Biggest struggle: Not getting discouraged when the honeymoon period is over. I am working on healthy habits now so that when that time comes, I will be mentally and physically ready. Struggles are opportunities to overcome and prove you can do it. I love the feeling of accomplishment over a challenge.
I'm glad you started this thread. We aren't the majority, but we can relate to each other.

I had an RNY on 7/24/15 and I am REALLY struggling emotionally!!! Oh, by the way, I am 58. My food is good for the most part and weight loss is good too but my main issue is severe loneliness. I have NO ONE that I can discuss or anyone for that matter that even cares about the new changes in my life. I lost my best friend due to this surgery (my pending changes were to much for her) and she did not come to help me during my recovery (she lives in another state). I talk to her rarely now but it is very difficult because I am still hurting deeply. I am divorced and my two adult children are not supportive either. They have never been anyway because they are so selfish. They emotionally abused me by starting confrontations the same week I came home from the hospital. I have NEVER been what I call a "needy" person but my sadness has become so severe that I now know that I need to reach out. There are no good WLS support groups in my area so I am reaching out here, thanks for listening!

I just turned 55 and am having RNY In 10 days. Wow that feels weird to say!
Really glad you started this post. I hope to hear from more people with long term success. Went to my local support group this week and every single person there has gained back enough weight to be back in the "obese" category makes me wonder if I'm just embarking g on another "diet" that will fail in the long run.

Hello! I am 55! I had RNY in 2013. I feel renewed! I am so glad that I did this. No more GERD, no more HBP, no more high cholesterol, a lot less sleep apnea, no more insulin for Type 2 (allergic to the pills), no more scary meds(read those MSDS folks),I can tie my own shoes, cross my legs, and the energy is wonderful to say the least of reclaiming life. The best thing I take away is the results and the knowledge gained. I was morbidly (BMI +50) too long and it did rob me of not just doing physical fun things. Not any more!

51 & having band to sleeve conversion TODAY!!!!!!

Is your weight loss history standing between you and your current success after weight loss surgery? If you’re not getting the results you want, there’s a good chance it is. In Part 1 of the series, we brought up the idea of learning from your past, not running from it. Now, we take a look at a few more ways your past might have brought you down, and what you might be able to about it.


Problem: Depending on Others
This one’s not always so obvious, but it may be keeping you from reaching your full potential in weight loss and, frankly, in life. Of course, it’s normal and healthy to depend on others for some things. Maybe you rely on your spouse to pick up the kids from school, and you depend on your parents to parents to take care of your house when you’re on vacation.
But what about the important things? What about your health? Do you take full responsibility for it? Or do you do what you did as a kid – depend on someone to make sure you had the food you needed and expect your parents or the doctor would make you better if you got sick or hurt?
You’re still living in the past if you have not taken control of your health. You are the one who needs to purchase and prepare healthy food; set aside time to work out; eat the right foods to avoid complications from surgery. Others can help, but you need to be in charge.
Problem: Looking for the Quick Fix
If you look for a quick fix, you’ll probably find one. You can lose weight quickly using any number of strategies, and you’ve probably used them all from juicing to low-carb to low-fat. The problem with quick fixes is they’re quick to break, as you’ve found out when you went off the diets and gained the weight back. After WLS, don’t look for the quick fix. Be patient, and know you’re in it for the long haul.
Looking for the quick fix can be something obvious that you recognize in yourself, but it is not always. Looking for the quick fix can be as subtle as subconsciously thinking of what and how much you eat as a temporary diet or thinking of your exercise program as something with a start and finish.
You may be subconsciously looking for the quick fix if you’re unwilling to sign up for a long-term gym membership, or to invest in a kitchen scale or bariatric surgery recipe book. If you feel these things aren’t worthwhile, think about why. Is it because you don’t honestly see yourself needing them for long because you’re not really invested long-term into weight loss surgery success?
Problem: Not Building Your Support System
Many obese people struggle with late-night eating. Even if they are able to make it through the rest of the day eating reasonably healthy, night-time binges can strike furiously. If you weren’t able to overcome them previously, it may have been because you did not build enough of a support system.
This time, don’t underestimate the power of your support system. Include people, such as friends and family, as well as alternate plans. You can set up many layers of protection against late-night overeating. Don’t store junk food at home, and don’t drive home past trigger spots like drive-through burger joints. Have two or three friends or family members whom you can call or talk to if you’re about to make a bad choice, and choose a pre-determined activity to do before eating, whether you decide to blog, sew, or take a walk. Also, have plenty of ready-to-eat healthy food around so it’s easier to grab than any junk.
Problem: Lack of Self-Confidence
Have you ever heard of a self-fulfilling prophecy? You think something will happen a certain way, so you act as though it will happen that way, and then it does.
For weight loss, that can be a bad thing if you let it. “I know my diet’s going to fail, so I’m not going to bother weighing my food.” Then, guess what – you don’t lose weight! “I knew I wouldn’t lose weight.”
But self-fulfilling prophecies can be just as positive as they can negative, especially if you have self-confidence. “I know WLS will work for me, so I’m going to hit my Protein goals and weigh my portions every meal.” When you don’t even let doubt creep in, you can be more empowered to follow the behaviors that lead to success.
Weight loss surgery can be a fantastic tool for weight loss, but it’s only as good as you make it. To make it more powerful, don’t run from your personal history. Recognize your past, identify what went wrong, and fix it. Make sure this time really is different.

This has been an issue off and on again for many of us...and I thought this rant was on point, so I am reposting it. HELP THOSE WHO WANT IT – OTHERWISE WHY WASTE YOUR TIME?
BY: DAN KENNEDY ON: DECEMBER 10TH, 2015 8 COMMENTS My good friend James Tolleson once said,


“Only when a person wants, needs and most of all, will appreciate your help, can you help them.”
We sure waste a lot of time, energy and money in our society trying to help people who are simply not ready to be helped.
Lyndon Johnson is largely responsible for implementing this very bad idea on such a grand scale that it has sucked up so much of our economic resources that our citizenry and industry are grossly overtaxed, highway and bridge infrastructure is collapsing and our national bank account is overdrawn.
Just as it’s bad public policy, it is bad private policy to try helping somebody close-minded to it or does not demonstrate any initiative seeking it.
Just for example, as soon as I discern somebody asks for my advice but then does nothing different as a result of it, I stop giving it; I may need that breath later.
Successful entrepreneurs fall into this trap dozens of different ways: employing lazy, indolent family members and trying to turn them into something is one very common miss-step.
Sales managers frequently invest 80% of their energy trying to help the 20% worst salespeople they’ve got, who, in truth, are doing nothing to help themselves, when they should be helping their top 20% peak performers do even better.
I’m frequently asked for help with business or marketing problems, but when I start telling the person what they need to do to solve their problems, it becomes apparent they do not want a list of things for them to do nor do they want to work to get better at needed skills; they want me to solve it for them.
Embroiling yourself in attempting to help those who will not actively partner in the process is neurotic behavior, to be avoided.
If you WANT help…
If you NEED help…
If you WILL take action…

With plastics I'm finally rocking a bikini at 49 yrs old. I would only wear a tankini before plastic surgery.

Hello! I am 55! I had RNY in 2013. I feel renewed! I am so glad that I did this. No more GERD, no more HBP, no more high cholesterol, a lot less sleep apnea, no more insulin for Type 2 (allergic to the pills), no more scary meds(read those MSDS folks),I can tie my own shoes, cross my legs, and the energy is wonderful to say the least of reclaiming life. The best thing I take away is the results and the knowledge gained. I was morbidly (BMI +50) too long and it did rob me of not just doing physical fun things. Not any more!

Glad to read you are getting surgery. Success is waiting for you too.

You are definitely not alone!
Welcome and congrats on being on you way to weight loss surgery. I'm a little over three months out from my RNY and couldn't be happier!

Welcome! You are definately not alone.
Good luck as you begin your journey.

So I think I can "officially" call myself "pre-op". I met with a surgeon last week who recommended gastric bypass. I've toyed with idea for years and was inspired by an old high school classmate sharing her journey on Facebook over the last 18 months.
I started last year trying to get approved by my insurance (who does not cover WLS) for issues w/hiatal hernia, GERD, acid reflux. fast forward about 8 months (with still no luck)I sign up for my annual benefits for open enrollment & what do I see?? Starting Jan 1st UHC is covering bariatric surgery!!! I am over the moon!
My weight has been an issues since puberty so I AM nervous about just being "smaller" in general as it will be such a different experience! I am positive that I will use this tool to continue healthy changes!
I am at the very beginning of my journey, I see my PCP next month & will start the 6mo physician followed diet then. I won't be able to see the psychologist or nutritionist until after Jan1
I want to say I have read so many posts that 1. Affirm I am making the right choice 2. Reinforce I am not alone in this 3. Show how supportive this community is! So thank you in advance!!

Don't stress the program. Don't try to get ahead of the program, since it is not a race. Just follow what they prescribe and be honest about what your are doing. The South Sac Kaiser is an extremely excellent program. I went through it and found my way, my voice, and my strength... I got what I needed and what I wanted by WLS and the many people who support WLS in the area.
If you do the exercising, go to the classes and group support, follow the Bariatric food list and Bariatric meal plans, daily Vitamins, chewing 30X for your foods, Portion Control and 64 ounces of Water (liquids) daily you will be successful... Sounds simple but it will take practice to really do it consistently.... and to be successful for the rest of your life... journey never ends.

A moment of reflection: Ok, this is for the now trying to get rid of the past negative stuff. Before, co workers friend and family members... Just eat less and exercise... that's all you need to do... have some self control... push yourself away from the table. "WLS is the easy way out." You don't need WLS you just need to stop eating so much. I can't find something pretty to wear so I'll stay home. Have you heard these before?
Post op Coping skill from the ever growing box of coping skills: A facet: to help cope with the physical change seen in the mirror. These are things I heard and were said to me too. After having the surgery going through post op issues daily, and yes daily... the masses seeing the change and the change continues until there is no more... stuff from the above list.
Now it is... "OH you are too skinny!" "Are you sick?" No boobs + no butt. You get the strangest comments from friend and family... it's not about how you look now... It makes them reflect and maybe not so comfortable about their own situation. It's always a lot easier to focus on other peoples issues and or problems. Turn it around. Make it positive! Learn more about WLS and share what you learn. Be an advocate for WLS and help stop the shaming from WLS and morbid obesity.
BTW: The new body is not new, its been dormant waiting to bloom.

Hello All: Glad to be here and the journey continues. I started this journey, early 2000s, not knowing anything about WLS but that I wanted to loose weight. I was obsessed about diets and dieting, but nothing was working. I saw my co-workers getting the surgery and then loosing massive amounts of weight. It seemed like overnight, BUT it was not. I got accept for surgery right away and I thought that was great, but as I soon found out there are lost of classes to take and tings to learn before you find yourself on the loser's bench. well that was going too slow for me, and I got mad and decided I could loose weight with out the WLS and that all I needed to do was be stronger. I got every book, every DVD, recipes, and watched lots of videos about the subject of WLS. Well during all the learning, and knowledge gathering, still thinking I could do this without WLS, I got more sick. I already had HBP, and high cholesterol and sleep apnea... slowly coming on board being pre-diabetic and in denial about my condition. I did low-cal, Jenny Craig, and even weight watchers. I actually gained 25 pounds with Weight watchers! The super situation of having full diabetes and permanently damaging my eye site from unchecked diabetes. I was in ER the second time in 2 weeks with blood sugars over 600. Later during the second week I met an old co-worker in the grocery stores and she told me that her mother just died for a diabetic coma, and her blood sugar was 627 when it happened... Another hash tag counting up the reasons I needed this WLS... to save my life. SO by then it was 2012... I was too busy being tired and over weight to do not much more than be on autopilot for the rest of my life and no quality of life. I needed a change and I wanted better quality of life. I did not want morbid obesity to kill me. Things moved quickly with the motivation of living better and having a better life. I took the classes, and was honest... being honest with myself was the biggest and best coping skills for making things work with a plan. When I saw the surgeon in Nov 2012, they already had an on going list of my conditions and that I wanted to try again for having WLS. I stuck to the Bariatric food list, and meal plans... (notice I did not say diet?) another key coping skill = "mind set." I even practiced on what it would be like post op for 3 days of having nothing but liquids. I failed in the first few attempts but eventually got to it successfully. Planning it all out pre op made things run smoothly post op. It's been just a little over 2.5 years since my surgery and Y-T-D things are really good. People change and people got weird for seeing my body change... and I just deal with things as best I can. These days I cannot use food for comfort and knowing better that it's not what's needed for coping. You can never have too much education nor too many coping skills post op. That is what will make sure you stay on track and keep on being successful with this life long journey. Remember it is for life, and for the rest of your life. Finally stats HW= 297, SW= 252, CW =115... I call this my second chance and I don't want to miss a thing!