mngreeneyes

I found that when I cut out dairy products my rumbly gut went away. I now eat greek yogurt and occasionally cheese and they bring it back, but if I stick to just Fairlife milk, I have no rumbly gut problems. Perhaps that will help you too. pam

You look fantastic. And I k now from reading your posts feel pretty good too! Keep it up. You are an inspiration! pam

I have found this process to be easier than I expected, but that was because the surgery itself scared me. I had surgery November 18, 2015 and having never had any kind of surgery before, I was deifinitely expecting the worst. Fortunately, I have had no complications so that part went much easier. Lifestyle changes are another story. Although I am seldom hungry, I do have my moments. I have managed to make it through both Christmas and Thanksgiving with minimal issues. At Thanksgiving I was only a week out from surgery and on liquids so that was much easier. At Christmas, I allowed myself a bite of holiday treats, but only at meals with my family. I haven't had a lot of desire to eat Cookies and candies, which has been helpful. The big thing for me has been to focus on my Protein first and a taste of the other things so I don't feel completely denied. I even went to a friend's cookie baking day and helped bake cookies. I made sure I had eaten my food before I went and when I got hungry, I stopped and ate some chili she provided, and I helped back 4 or 5 batches of cookies and candies throughout the day. I didn't even try one. I also took a couple of plates home to take to work on Monday. Those cookies, etc. traveled in my car all weekend and they didn't even speak to me and all the homemade caramels that my coworkers never knew existed in previous years arrived safely at work on Monday! I think my key to success thus far has been the work I did before hand. I was a diet coke addict, but in preparation for the surgery, I gave up diet coke. Its been 5 + months. It was one of my go to comfort foods. just succeeding at giving it up gave me so much confidence that I could do this. After giving up Diet coke, I started drinking Water religiously. I was up around 100+ oz. a day before surgery. This was a habit I worked hard to create before surgery. I am drinking less now, but Its a habit that is already ingrained. I also was religious about following the 30/30 rule. I stopped drinking with mealsand for 30 minutes on either side in July and again, it became a habit before surgery. I also have learned to eat slower and chew carefully. When I haven't, I have had issues and the feeling of being stuck is horrible. I hate vomiting, but I don't mind so much when that stuck feeling goes away. Not to mention, I am MUCH more careful with my eating aftewards. I still struggle with head hunger, but so far what I have noticed is it has more to do with seeing a commercial on tv or hearing one on the radio and thinking, I could just go to X fast food place, and pick up Y and that would be so easy. So far the fear of dumping has prevented my following through, which I am okay with for the time being. It is giving me time to learn to talk myself out of head hunger cravings before I follow through. The longer I can hold out hte more of a habit that becomes too and the stronger I become. The other thing I have done to combat head hunger is to make sure that I don't allow any of my old treats into my apartment. I find that if I focus on protien at the grocery store, I am less likely to even enter those aisles that were my trip-ups before. For me this is easier because I am single and live alone so I have no reason to have to buy goodies for anyone else. I tip my hat to those who have families and find a way to fight the head hunger when its calling from the kitchen cupboard! Okay, that's enough from me. I wish you the best. pam

I am only a month out from surgery, but I have been having a blast "shopping in my closet!" I have bought things that "I will get into later" for years as well as saving my favorite things from a variety of smaller sizes. I wore my leather jacket for the first time today! It came up around my ears when I sat in my car seat this morning. It was pretty stiff from years of hanging in my closet. I also am wearing a pair of pants that I bought second hand last winter when I needed black pants. I hate trying clothes on so when they didn't fit, I just kept them "until I fit into them". I bought them before I even started thinking about surgery! NOw they fit and are going towards too big! pam

I am just over 1 month post op. I was tired a lot the first weeks after surgery, but I didn't have any trouble with my moods. I suffer from depression and am on antidepressants. I don't know if that equalized my moods or not, but ... I was really worried about the moods swings I had read about. I spent a week at home with my parents and was worried about how I would deal with my Dad's sometimes thoughtless comments. I enlisted my mom to help shut him down if needed and a couple of friends who I could call for reassurance, but Dad behaved! and I didn't have the mood swings. All I can tell you is that it all gets better. This too shall pass! Happy Holidays, pam

I am just over one month post op and I can assure you that it gets better. My best advice, which you will likely hear elsewhere, is WALK, WALK, WALK! I walked almost every time I woke up while I was in the hospital. I am a wimp about pain and having heard the stories about the gas pain, I was terrified of the gas pain so I was pushing the nurses to let me walk ASAP. I still had gas, but I think it was more manageable because of the walking. When I got home, I went for short walks 3 times a day building up a little more in length or time with each walk. Initially I then would go home and take a nap after each walk, but... You can do it. It will get better and this will all be but a memory! pam

My family that I will see at Christmas have been great and they all saw me at Thanksgiving just a week after surgery. The event that I am most interested to see how it goes is my oldest nephew's wedding in February. I have only told my brother and my second nephew. I don't know who else they mentioned it to, but I specifically asked them not to tell my SIL. She is not the nicest person on the best of days and she has major hang ups about weight and has no problems sharing them with everyone. (She also is a size 2 after 4 C-sections!) For her weight loss is simply calories in calories out and anyone who is overweight is not putting enough effort in. I have been overweight the entire time I've known her. I still will be overweight in February, but I should be noticably smaller and the only clothes I intend to pay full price for in the next 6 months or so is the FABULOUS dress I plan to wear for the wedding! I don't know yet what that dress will look like, but I have the entire month of January to shop! I know she will be vicious, but I think I am ready for it and have learned many good lines from everybody here! pam

I am 4 weeks post-op today! YEAH! I think I have had a charmed recovery because I have had NO issues. Except for the scars and eating less food, I sometimes wonder if they really did surgery or this is just a mind game! That being said, I wish I had done this sooner. I am 44 now and I can't believe all the things I didn't realize I was avoiding because of my weight. I've lost nearly 30 so far and am hoping to be cleared for exercise at my 4 week appointment tomorrow so I can keep this downward trajectory going. My goal is about half of my starting weight so I have some work to do! Just keep at everything the docs and nuts tell you and look for the positive. There's a line in Lion King that I always loved. Rafiki hits Simba over the head with a stick and Simba wants to know why. Rafiki wisely responds, "who cares? Its in the past!" Or something to that extent. I know it is still a couple of days in front of you, but soon it will be past and you can move forward. Always move forward! pam

Surgery week is here! My surgery is Wednesday, November 18th. I've got most of my stuff packed. I am packing for the hospital and the weekend after as I am staying with a friend at her apartment that has an elevator! My kitchen is cleaned out except for post-surgery items. I have the rest of today and the morning tomorrow to work and then two weeks+ off for recovery. One more trip to the pharmacy to refill prescriptions and get a few things and I'm ready. This journey started when I was put on my first diet at the age of 6 because I wasn't thin. (I wasn't fat either, but I wasn't thin.) I've never been thin, but its only been the last 10-15 years that I've really put on the weight. Like everyone else, I have tried everything. In July I realized that I was sick and tired of being sick and tired. My knees were starting to hurt climbing stairs, my feet were starting to become a problem, my diabetes (A1c) and blood pressure were creeping up, my wardrobe was soon going to need to go up another size and that was getting harder to find, and I realized that I had reached the point that I was ready for surgery. I had exhausted my last option and was ready and willing to make this step. So here I am almost the eve of surgery excited, contemplative, and scared. Ready to just get on with it and not have to be anxious anymore. To everyone else have surgery this week! Best wishes! pam

I am 43 now, but I am hoping to have my surgery before my 44th birthday in December. I just got insurance approval letter on Saturday and am just waiting to schedule the surgery date! pam

OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! I got the letter from the insurance company on Saturday that they have approved me for RNY! I am waiting for the surgeon's scheduler to call and schedule my actual date!! I am having a hard time sitting still! I knew nothing would happen over the weekend so I kind of put it out of my mind, but now I think its really sinking in! This is really going to happen! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! pam

I live in St. Paul. I was just approved by my insurance for my surgery! pam

OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! I finally got my insurance approval on Saturday. Now I am waiting for my surgeon's scheduler to call and schedule the big day!! I am hoping for NOvember 18th otherwise it will be in December.

Thanks, Dub for the suggestions. I am in the process of switching from summer to winter clothes and I am looking forward to creating a box to sell in the Spring. They won't take them now at the consignment store. I like the ordering stuff idea. For now I am not buying anything but food. I have about 4 sizes of clothes in storage. (Don't ask!) so I should not run out of clothes or go naked anytime soon! I am looking forward to needing to do a little shopping next spring for summer clothes. pam

Thanks retzpa. Somewhere I heard that if they are prescribed then insurance will cover them, but I don't know how to get a prescription for vitamins!

Thanks for the suggestion about calling my insurance. I will do that right away. pam

Has anyone tried to get their supplements covered by insurance? What does it usually take? I need to remember to ask tonight at WLS Support Group. pam

I need a patience shot or something. This process has and continues to be a hurry up and wait kind of process. Hurry up and make an appointment and wait several weeks for the appointment to come. HUrry up and lose your weight, and wait for the next appointment to come. HUrry up and give up diet coke so you don't have to go through withdrawal and recover from surgery at the same time, and wait - Its been nearly 3 months since I had a Diet Coke!!!! I was an addict. I even have a Diet Coke Shower curtain! So I finally got cleared to see pick and meet my surgeon. I met him last Thursday. Now I have to wait until my insurance processes the paperwork. Dr. says 1-2 weeks. Well, get on with it. I have to be approved by insurance before I can schedule surgery. Now I have spent my time learning and also choosing my procedure, gastric bypass, which the Dr. said he would have recommended for me. So now I just need some patience. As one of my friends from WLS support group says, this does not come with brain surgery! I always hate waiting. Any suggestions on what I can be doing pre-surgery to make the time go faster at least in my own mind? I don't have anymore boxes to check off! There is NOTHING I can do to move things along! BTW These forums have been great to read during this journey so far! pam

That's awesome. I hope you saved that paper!

I am preop, hoping to get a surgery date tomorrow. I just finished my veggies and beef and broccoli from Panda Garden (while reading Bariatricpal forums) and read my fortune cookie. "A fascinating project is in your future!" I thought this was an appropriate fortune considering where I am in my journey. My newest project is me! pam

I am hoping to get a surgery date scheduled tomorrow. I have been selective in who I tell about my surgery, but the worst most nonhelpful comments keep coming from my father. Several people have been like "hmmm, that sounds like a good idea!" No one has told me I am not big enough. I have been dieting since I was 6 (I'm almost 44 now). My weight has always been an issue for my parents. I had a very large grandmother and several of my dad's sisters are pretty big. My dad has always been tall and thin and has never really dieted in his life. He thinks he's being helpful. "after my knee surgery, I won't be able to give you rides on my motorcycle until you lose weight. Maybe that will motivate you!" This was the day after I told my parents about my plan for the surgery. "I don't think you are disciplined enough for this surgery to work." This was after almost 2 years of working out 1-2 hours a day and trying to eat healthy and only losing 20 lbs. I am staying with my parents for most of my recovery so I anticipate several more comments post surgery from Dad. I just keep reminding myself that he thinks he's helping, he just doesn't get it. I think I have mom on my side to try and reign him in if he gets too obnoxious after surgery. pam

Thanks everyone for your comments. I am focusing on the wrong thing(s) right now. What happens will happen. I am trying to focus on what I need to do to get ready for surgery. I get my psych eval results on Friday and my 3rd (last) NUT appointment is October 6th. Until then I keep reminding myself not to get ahead of myself. No amount of planning is going to change what I look like post-weightloss. Maybe I will even find a way to embrace it! Thanks again. pam

I am hoping to schedule my surgery in late October or early November so maybe I am jumping the gun a bit here. I've read the posts by married WLS veterans who have amazing spouses who have been with them through it all, but can't quite relate. I am single, never married. I have dated off and on since high school, but only had one long relationship. I am not in a relationship now and don't necessarily anticipate starting one before my surgery. So one of the many questions that keep coming to mind has to do with sagging skin and new "friends". When you are fat, that is obvious. You can see that a person is fat with or without clothes. If one isn't turned on by fat people, one don't ask them out, hit on them, etc. Once you lose the weight, how do you handle the first encounter sans clothes? Is it better to tell your new friend about your surgery early in the relationship before it is an issue, or wait until the clothes are getting ready to come off and spring it on them? Does it feel like a bait and switch if you look good with your clothes on and then "oh, BTW..." I carry a large amount of my excess weight in my belly so I anticipate a sizeable apron. Maybe I am just being a bit neurotic and should just let what happens happen. Any suggestions, anecdotes, advice?

Hi all. I am Pam and I live in St. Paul and work at the U. I am 3-6 months from my surgery. I had my first appointment last Friday at Fairview Southdale. I am hoping for late October or early November for my surgery. I am still trying to decide sleeve or RNY, but I have some time yet on that. I am fortunate not to have an insurance requirement for time, just whatever my clinic has. Do you have any get togethers coming up? I would love to meet and talk to others who have had/are having surgery. best, pam

Thanks everyone for the great responses. I have my very first appointment on Friday. (I've been to the info session already). I have done all my homework about my insurance, etc. I have my Psych evaluation on the 21st. I have coworkers who I have told and my friends in my support system since I am single and may need to rely on many of them during recovery. I haven't told my family. I have promised my boss and good friend that I will follow the psych's recommendation on whether to tell my family or not. My parents have gotten more unpredictable as they have aged. I too think they will think I am taking the easy way out, but I also know it would hurt them terribly if I don't tell them and they find/figure it out. You have posted so many great strategies. Thanks again! pam