Reason to Believe

I am grateful to the veterans who post on this forum. I lurk most often. I was in therapy for two years before I was even ready to consider the surgery. Then I attended a seminar in July of 2015. Started the process in January and had my surgery in July 2016. Surgery went fine and I did really well for two weeks and then was violently ill for 3 weeks. Turns out my gallbladder needed to come out. Since May I have lost 78 lbs. + 8lbs I gained each surgery in fluids. I know that some of it is because I literally could not eat or drink for 3 weeks but I still give myself credit for every pound. Now i am learning to eat again with the sleeve. It is still hard to get my liquid in but doing well with Protein. Head hunger can be a real thing at times but I know that my body cannot handle the things my head wants. Since I have recovered from the gall bladder surgery, I am getting more and more confident. When I have questions, I come here and find posts from veterans that have already answered them. Thank you, Lipstick Lady and others. BTW, I am meeting one of my heroes this Tuesday and will be getting my picture taken with him. It is the first time in a long time that I am looking forward to a photo and I am still more than a hundred pounds away from goal. Feeling better about myself everyday.

While my husband is not an asshat and is very encouraging and supportive of my decision to have WLS, his level of support ends at the dinner table, and actually even before that. He still comes home from work and immediately pours himself a glass of wine, he eats whatever he wants in front of me, and at less than 1 month out, he held up a bottle of wine and asked me if I was ready to have some.
I also have three family members who have all had WLS before me. While they have given me great advice about what to expect and what medications to have on hand (Gas-X, Miralax) their food choices are poor and the example they set is less than stellar.
My surgery was a line item exception on my insurance, so I had to self-pay and was not required to take any classes or participate in any pre-surgery diet. At my 2 week follow-up appt, my surgeon switched me from liquids to solid foods. When I asked him a specific question about food choices, he told me I was overthinking it.
While I agree with the initial rant and understand the frustration that caused it, many of us are on here because we literally do not have the support or knowledge necessary to make the best decisions. I am still learning and will listen and take advice. I may sometimes be offended by the tone, but I get over it, take what I need to from it and move on, hopefully better for the knowledge.
Thank you to the veterans who are so generous with their time and knowledge, and please be patient with those of us who are stumbling through this and asking you to help guide us (or sometimes pick us up)!

Well if you want to rant about WLS patients making really bad choices, you aren't going to rant about it on a makeup forum. This is the Rants and Raves section on a WLS forum so that is what it is going to be about.
You knew this was going to be a post about something you didn't want to read again, but you popped your ass in here and commented yet again. You are as much of a problem as the problem you are complaining about.
@@rolosmom7
You are very lucky, most people don't have that kind of family support and are married to asshats.

@@LipstickLady @@WLSResources/ClothingExch
I honestly don't know how you stick around and deal with this ****! I'm very thankful that you do though!!! I think the people who are the worst are those that tell the OP not to worry that they just ate a fat filled, carb loaded meal two days before surgery because they did too and after all "there surgery went fine" or "you can't just stop eating what you want because the Dr said to". Not that I want anything bad to happen to these people but just once I'd like to see the surgeon cancel their surgeries! The "cheaters" are the first to b***h and moan when something goes wrong or they aren't skinny when they wake up from surgery! I really love the post-op people who "test" their surgery because they think there sleeve/pouch isn't small enough or they expected to dump and didn't so something must be wrong with the surgery. WTF people - do you not know what your insides look like after surgery and that you could die from complications. Okay - I'm done with my rant. I had road rage earlier - my BP was 142/92 at the Drs and now I'm getting BP rage! LOL

I'm not real good at looking away if you haven't noticed. Why? Because there are SO MANY LURKERS in this forum who are reading, reading, reading and if no one speaks up, they are absorbing bad advice and patronizing warm fuzzy validations.
Am I wasting my time? Absolutely. Am I ever going to win any popularity contests for having strong opinions and a big mouth? Probably not. (And I really don't care. I have real life friends who live outside my computer.) Did I get my fair share of finger shakes', eye rolls and kicks in the pants as I went through this process? YUP. Did I learn from those "meanies"? Without a doubt (and DANG I miss them!!) Was I always happy about it? NO FREAKING WAY. But I listened and ultimately, I earned back my health and a MUCH smaller number on the scale.
Giving myself permission to eat what I wanted against the advice of WWs and Jenny Craig and Atkins and South Beach and my doctor got me to 264 pounds. Clearly I **didn't** know my body best and caving to the head hunger and cravings did some permanent damage to my body that can never be undone.
So if even one person can be reached and jolted back into their new reality of WLS, FABULOUS. That's why I waste my time.

You put in the time.
You put in the money.

You go to all the appointments and you jump through all the hoops.
You do the pre-op diet.

You have the surgery.

You cared enough about yourself to make the commitment to WLS and you physically and permanently alter your body...


And then you get mad because someone tells you not to eat the d@mn taco? Not to drink alcohol or soda 2.783 days after surgery? To put down the freaking pizza'? To stop eating bread/rice/pasta/bananas/hoagies/20oz steaks TEMPORARILY while your body heals and you get to your goal weight? To actually stick to YOUR doctor's plan?

Even better, you get mad when they only do so AFTER you ASKED????

SERIOUSLY PEOPLE?

Yes. I'd guess most of us have head hunger and cravings. I'd guess most of us had a nibble or sip of something off plan. I've no doubt that most of us were not 100% compliant 100% of the time. But I'd also guess that those of us who have done this, gotten to goal weight and stayed there have been compliant the majority of the time. I'd also guess that many of us who have been successful would appreciate a swift kick in the rear if/when we ask a question I bet we already know the answer to.

It's not rocket science and this isn't Romper Room. Make good choices, stick to your doctor's orders or don't, but don't get mad if you fail to get the results you want when you refuse to do what you are supposed to do. And don't get mad when someone tells you that what you are putting in your mouth isn't the best idea in the world even though you want it right now.

Value yourself more than that. Seriously.

I get it. Sometimes I'm incredulous and other times I manage to look the other way. The latter is more productive for me. It's one thing to waste time on myself, quite another to waste it on a stranger. Yet I know I'll be sucked in again. A favorite are the ones hoping not to be required to lose weight pre-surgery, preferring to keep gorging until the OR. They get major huffy when I write that surgery is a grown-up proposition and losing weight prior announces that one is serious.
Hope you feel better for ranting.

6'4"
Starting weight July 2015 = 478 lbs
Weight on surgery day October 2015 = 423 lbs
Current weight in September 2016 = 290 lbs
Weight related injuries and co-morbitities were dragging me down. I was miserable. Hurting all the time and having to consult with circulatory surgeons, spine surgeon, knee surgeon and my pcp was very concerned with me. I was 47 years old and making it much into my 50's was looking more and more like a challenge that I'd lose.
One memory of those days occurred in June 2015. It sums up how things were for me post op....more accurately, it sums up where I was and where I was heading. It was not going well.
It was early in the morning and I was doing my best to get ready for a doctor's appointment. It was with a spine surgeon. I was in intense pain the likes of which I'd never experienced before or since (including post op pain from knee and hernia surgeries.....this back issue had me in the dirt).
Made it through a shower and mostly dressed. Simply could not get my socks and shoes on. Asked my wife for help doing this last thing before she drove me to the appointment.
She did so....but told me I needed to "man-up".
Those words cut through the pain. They cut through the haze of the double dose of pain meds and muscle relaxers I'd taken in preparation for making the 30 min drive to that appointment.
They pissed me off......not at her so much as at myself. I was mad for letting myself fall into such a rut. The back injury could have occurred if I'd been lighter.....but not so likely.
Turns out I was unable to get into her car....it was too low to the ground and I couldn't do it. I finally managed to get behind the wheel of my little pickup and drove myself to that appointment.....yelling out in pain at every railroad track or pothole. It was a morning full of suck. My little 4WD truck is a stick shift....no way she could've driven. I made it there and back....using crutches and cussing a lot.
Spine surgeon's advice that morning was to load me up with a battery of meds.....and get me to weight loss surgery. I didn't protest and a few months later I had my sleeve surgery. In many ways, I owe the spine doc tremendous gratitude. He did nothing other than review my x-rays and MRI and write some scripts......but his advice was spot on. Grateful I took it.
I went into a whole heap of detail with the above description of a single morning of my life........but it was how things were then. I missed 6 weeks of work for that back problem......and then 3 more weeks recovering from my sleeve & hernia surgery. This from a guy who's never hardly missed any work in 21 years with my employer.....only for surgery recoveries. Tough times.
I'll be much more brief in describing life since my sleeve surgery.
Let's just say that I seldom miss the opportunity to "man-up" now and I put my back into it.
I am almost 11 months out from surgery and a long way from where I want to be.....but I am enjoying the process and have learned a great deal about what makes me tick and what I want in life. More importantly....at 47 years old, I can now see having plenty of life left to live and enjoy.
This was pre-op me......taken the day before my October 2015 VSG & umbilical hernia repair....you can see the hernia looking like it's going to explode, lol. No wonder my back was messed up. I was 55 lbs lighter in this pic than I was at the beginning of my bariatric appointments in July 2015. So....this was the "new" slim and trim me, lol.
Old stretched out 6xl tee-shirt in the pic, too.


Most recent pic I have....taken on September 1, 2016.....10.5 months out from sleeve surgery.

Here's a goofy couple pics........but the last full length pics I could find. I was trying on a brand new 2xl t-shirt.....over the top of the shift I was already wearing.
It fit.


No more daily prescription meds for high blood pressure, cholesterol, pain and etc.
There is no single aspect of life that's not been improved....some by a little.....some by a tremendous amount.
Approaching my 48th birthday but feeling more like I did at 28 and grateful for it.
carpe diem

If you still have your gallbladder, ask for an ultrasound of it. I was sleeved on 7/7. I had two good weeks and then four miserable ones. They finally discovered that my gallbladder was bad. After they took it out, I was able to get liquid and Protein in. I have an 11 inch wound though and am in a lot of pain.
Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I take Baritrack which comes like a pixie stick. No trouble getting it in.
Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I take Baritrack which comes like a pixie stick. No trouble getting it in.
Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Ask them if your middle finger looks thinner! You are less than a month postop - it's too soon to expect visible difference especially in pictures (and wearing different outfits)! Your 18lb loss is amazing - be happy!
Sent from my KFFOWI using the BariatricPal App

I prefer Core Power, they were suggested by my NUT.
Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

My surgery is tomorrow morning, I'm really nervous about this, I need something to calm my nerves. Any suggestions to help me would be greatly appreciated.
Sent from my SM-G900T using the BariatricPal App

This morning the scale finally read 199.8!!!! I had surgery on 5/16/16, my highest weight was 252, surgery weight was 226.4.....So a total of 52.2lbs down!!
I know with my current weight being so close to 200 I may very well see that 2 again......but dang it, I made it and I'm going to cheer about it!!!! Yay me!!!

I keep saying that my stomach is making insane noises.
Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Stay off the scale. Most people retain fluids from surgery for at least a week, more like two weeks.

@@Reason to Believe - we are all the same...in that we are all different. It was nearly 10 horrible days for me. But apparently my bod wasn't getting rid of them for a reason, needed it to heal I guess. Oh what a relief when everything down there starts working normally again.

Hi there I had surgery on 7/7 as well and am also home recovering since around the same time yesterday.
My surgeon did tell me to start working on Protein drinks today but to focus on fluids first. Are you getting in Water? Surgeon wants me to make sure my urine is running clear as a sign that I'm getting in enough fluids.

We've been expecting you.
Welcome.
Sit awhile.
Take a deep breath.
You've come a long way and have a long road yet to traverse.----so take the time to rest--for now.
For now, be kind to yourself.
Work on getting your fluids in, then protein.
You're on a journey not in a race.
Surround yourself with "yourself". Be proud of your accomplishments that have gotten to the "Losers' Bench". That alone would bring a Ninja to her knees!
Enjoy our R&R----THEN
Get your arse up and get mov'n!
Your joyful journey is waiting for you.
Make it happen!

I was sleeved on Thursday and have been home since 5 last night. Have only been able to get down half of an Atkins Lyft drink that has 20 grams of Protein. My stomach is gurgling and groaning. Pain is minimal but I have some time in the restroom. Should I be worried that I am having problems getting the Protein in?
Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Tomorrow! Tomorrow! Just waiting on the call with my time of surgery.
Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Tomorrow! Tomorrow! Just waiting on the call with my time of surgery.
Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I still have a ways to go.....but man it feels good to get rid of that first 50 pounds!!! First picture is me at my heaviest 252 taken on Easter Sunday, second in the pink shirt is just a few days ago.....
My surgery was on 5/16/16
heaviest weight 252
surgery weight 226.4
current weight is 201.8.....(1.8 until ONDERLAND....really?)

I am July 7 and have found oddly that I am getting less nervous as it gets closer.