MNSkolGal

Fun thread. You know you lost weight when
You have to get new shoes because they are to wide for the feet.

Glad you figured out what is going to work best and that your surgeon is flexible enough to work around your schedule. I, too, usually end up scheduling my surgeries around my work. I Had my neck fusion at a University Hospital 5 hours from where I live. I scheduled it when I was already going to be there for a conference. I scheduled my VSG right before Christmas to minimize the days I had to take off work. I'm having my gallbladder removed the day before Thanksgiving to take advantage of the long weekend to recover.
Good luck with your new position and surgery!

Thought I'd give an update.
I talked with the surgeon and have decided to continue with the process. I have a date! My surgeon was able to get me in the last week of the year. I think this will give me enough time to get acquainted with the new job before making this big change!
The countdown is on...woohoo!

I have one of the top surgeons in my state and I felt the exact same way you do. I felt that way right up until they gave me the shot to knock me out. It is very normal to have jitters or even doubt your decision.
I can tell you that the first few weeks may be hard. If you are like me you may hate yourself after surgery for the first 2 weeks because you made the biggest decision of your life. THEN.... you get to day 9. (or maybe day 6 or day 11) Then you realize that you are so happy with your decision. I am 2 months out and it is the best decision I have ever made in my life. THE BEST!!! I completely forget I even had surgery sometimes. I feel normal. I just don't eat like I used to.
What you are going through is completely normal.

@@lauraellen80 I think it depends on the person. I am just 2.5 weeks out. However I was on Senna Lax 8.6mg tabs 4 a day for years prior to surgery. I get constipated very easily. Constipation causes me massive pain. Right now is an exploratory time, I am trying to figure out what works in what doses and how often. Thus far I have had two states, either plugged up, or the exact opposite. I am trying to find that middle ground. Adding to all this is the fact that I still have Isopure left and MY BODY HATES IT, but damnit, I spent $50 and no matter how my ass feels about it, I am going to drink every gram of it. I'm cheap what can I say?

I am actually working out and emergency ass kit to carry with me to cleanup and restore my ability to be in a group. I am a full time college student. I retired from one industry and decided to do what I have always wanted to do. Now another year and a half of school and I'll be set to do so.
I had "an emergency" in the park last week. Three miles into a six mile walk. To my left ten feet away was the Nashua River (BIG HUGE DEEP River) to my right about 100 yards of woodland. It got to the point my ass informed me one of two things was about 10 seconds away from happening. Either you are going right here right now, -or- you can grab a couple of handfuls of those ferns and try to make it to that big tree..... I went the tree option. Was about 1.5 seconds shy..... Thank god I carry a knife on me. I was able to remove my underwear, and between them and the ferns did and acceptable job cleaning up. I was also lucky I was wearing my biggest hoodie that day and it hangs all the way down over my ass. I got home and decided I needed an emergency kit, I am just trying to decide what to include and how to package it. I don't take my backpack with me everywhere so I am thinking of some kind of standalone case. I guess a pair of sweat pants, wet wipes, a bunch of those big huge folded paper towels, baby powder perhaps. Oh and some ghetto cologne, Axe, lol.

This morning, after my morning coffee, I felt it coming on and knew I had to run to the bathroom....
Yeah, I didn't make it. Luckily, I work from home, so the only people who saw and smelled my poopy pants were my 3 Basset Hounds.
You are and continue to be an inspiration to me. Like you, I wouldn't change a darn thing. Except my poopy pants.

I say go for it. Life is all about change for the better.

Thank you for the replies!

I think I'm going to go ahead and see if I can get scheduled later in December. 6 weeks into the new job should be enough time to get a good handle on how things work.
I meet with the surgeon next week, and I'll be sure to get his opinion.

My surgery was March 31,2015 and to date I am 110 pounds down. I started at 341lbs and today I weigh 229. Now I should be over the moon happy. My weight loss has been awesome, however I realize more now than ever there is so much more to losing weight because I feel more alone today than I ever felt at 341lbs. I'm sharing this to help anyone thinking about bariatric surgery to understands that the reality of not being able to eat through your feelings is hard. Worth it but hard. I just have to sit in the feeling of loneliness or whatever it is until it passes or I can sleep it off, even exercise helps but once the coping mechanism of overeating is gone things get real......fast. I knew this was a component of surgery and I thought I was prepared but I wasn't. Soooo one day at a time. But the struggle is real.

I would do the surgery as scheduled. Recovery is usually quick and then it's a waiting game for the weight to come off.

Yup, as early out as you are, the sleeve helps control your hunger. That won't always be the case. It's great that you're hard and fast on the rules right now, because that definitely helps someone stay successful, but don't fool yourself. This whole thing gets harder and harder the further out you are as hunger slowly returns and restriction loosens a little. It's very easy to feel so confident as early out from surgery as you are. I know I was. But life happens, tragedy happens, Holidays and celebrations happen, "normalcy" happens. The weight is gone and compliments about your weight loss are less so your original motivation wanes, and it becomes harder and harder to resist the temptation to graze or over eat day in and day out. That, unfortunately, is the cold, hard truth. That's why it's so hard for some to keep it off.

I'm early in my sleeved experience but attend a support group where a few members are struggling with regain. One gentleman had regained close to 40 pounds, another 50 pounds (out of 175 pounds lost) and a lady who is about 7 years out had regained close to 60 pounds (out of 200 pounds lost).
The reasons why included big life blows as @@VSGAnn2014 noted but also moving away from the nutrition and activity guidelines. They shared that there is a point in this experience where one might feel or decide that they just want to eat whatever they want, Protein needs be damned. They also stopped tracking and exercise stopped being a priority.
In the case of the guy who gained 40ish pounds, he adopted a vegan diet and has since lost 67 pounds. He also has started tracking, planning and cooking again. The others did not share how/if they are doing anything differently.
what i found interesting was the amount of shame and self-disgust that people expressed. I was really struck and pained by it because to me, they are not failures. they have not failed their weight loss efforts or surgeries. they still have the tool and can develop/resume the habits needed for success.

DISCLAIMER: This FAQ is in no way intended to replace or undermine the advice of your physician. Every person is different, every surgeon has different guidelines, and no two situations are identical. Therefore if any of the answers below are unclear or contradict your physicians’ instructions, always follow your physicians’ instructions. The responses given are a compilation from multiple sources and references.
How do I embed the weight loss ticker? Click on the liquid stage? During your clear liquid stage you can have anything that you can sip through a straw that is translucent, meaning see through. For instance: Water, juice, broth, sugar free popsicles, sugar free Jello, Isopure Protein Drinks, Gatorade, Powerade, Decaf tea just to name a few. Once you move on to full liquids you may add liquids that are not translucent. For instance: creamed Soups, soups with the chunks strained out, milk, Protein shakes etc…
When do I start mushies/purees? Every surgeon has different guidelines for the progression of your post-op diet. The majority of post-op diets progress as follows:
Day 1-7 Clear Liquids
Day 8-14 Full liquids
Day 15-21 Purees
Day 22-50 Mushies
What’s the difference between mushies and purees? The major difference is that purees are anything that has been blenderized/pureed to a baby food consistency and has no chunks. These should not be watery, but instead a thicker pudding like consistency. Mushies are soft foods that have not been pureed.< /p>
Should I be counting calories or carbs or both? Both. Again, every surgeon is different, but the majority of sleevers will be on a 600-1000 calorie/day diet with carbs kept at 60-80g or less. The general guideline is this: When eating, protein is always first, veggies are second, and if you have room carbs/starch last. The majority will rarely have room for the carbs.
How much protein should I be getting per day? The recommended protein intake may vary from 55 to 100g per day, depending on your individual needs and the bariatric diet provided by your surgeon or dietitian. The generally accepted minimum protein requirement for women is about 50 to 60g per day and men need at least 60 to 70g of protein per day.
How much liquid do i need for the day? About 60-80oz
When can I eat salad? Once you reach the point where you’re on normal solids you can try salad. Start with a small amount and see how your sleeve tolerates it as it can be difficult to digest.
Best Protein Shakes? This one depends on your particular tastes, however most seem to enjoy powders? utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury.

What else counts as a liquid? Anything that can be sipped through a straw or that will reduce back to a liquid. For example: Jello, sugar free popsicles, frozen yogurt/ice cream (these are generally no no foods)
How long will my surgery last? Typically about 45mins assuming there are no complications or other procedures (ie: hernia repairs) being done at the time of your surgery. Every surgeon is different so for a more accurate answer you should consult your respective surgeon.
Why can't I tolerate plain water, is this normal? It’s called water nausea and it is completely normal. This is very common during the first few weeks following surgery and should eventually subside.
What is sliming/slimes? Sliming or slimes occur when you eat or drink something and then regurgitate a slimy, foamy, saliva like substance, usually when belching.
What is grazing? Grazing is when instead of consuming your standard 3 small meals and 2 small Snacks per day, you simply munch all day grabbing a handful here or a bite there. The rule is that your meals should take you 20-30 minutes to eat and should be about 3 hours apart with only fluids in between.
What do all these acronyms mean?
In no particular order:
WLS – Weight Loss Surgery
NSV – Non scale Victory (ie: smaller clothes, compliments, climbing a flight of stairs etc…)
NUT – Nutritionist
PCP – Primary Care Physician
VSG – Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy
TOM – Time of the Month
SF – Sugar Free
WFL/WFD – What’s for Lunch/Dinner
How much did you lose at 1 month etc.? How much can I expect to lose in what time frame? Everyone’s body is different and so is everyone’s journey. There is no set amount you should expect lose in a set amount of time, and you should never compare your journey or your progress to someone elses. As long as you’re sticking with the program and following your surgeons guidelines, the weight will come off.
What is a stall? How long does it last and how do I break it? A stall is a point at which the scale stops moving for a period of time. The length of the stall varies from a few days to a few weeks and sometimes a few months. Non VSG’ers typically call it a plateau. Stalls are perfectly normal and to be expected. As we lose weight so dramatically, our bodies need time to catch up physically - this typically happens during a stall. While the scale may not be moving, you may notice an increase in compliments. This is because while the number on the scale isn’t getting any smaller, you are physically getting smaller. There are many tips and tricks for breaking a stall (increase your fluids and protein, increase your activity, up your calories…) but the reality is it will break on its own.
When can I have sex? When you’re ready. Keep it simple for the first few weeks post-op and don’t attempt any tricky positions. Be careful until you’ve been cleared by your surgeon for strenuous activity.
When can I start exercising? Typically right away, though the types of exercises you can do will be limited. Most surgeons restrict weight training/resistance training for about 3-4 weeks after surgery, but you should be walking/speed walking at least 30-45min daily starting from the day you get home.
What do I do with flabby skin? What's the best exercise etc.? The severity of the flab will vary based on many different factors. While there’s no way to tell how bad it will be or whether it will even be bad, there are a couple of proactive measures you can take. Make sure you’re using a moisturizing lotion with Vitamin E and Keratin several times daily. The vitamin E will help add elasticity back to your skin and the keratin will add moisture, both of which may help your skin bounce back as the weight falls off. The best exercises to target your problem areas are resistance and strength training in order to tone and build muscle to replace the fat. Lastly, be patient. Just as your weight stalls while your waist catches up to it, your skin will sag until it gets the signal to shrink. While it probably won’t ever be as tight as you’d like, it will shrink.
Will I lose hair? How much? What causes it? When does it return? Do Vitamins help? The truth is, yes, you probably will lose hair. Because of the drastic changes going on that are caused by the extreme reduction in protein and vitamins coming in as well as the hormonal fluctuations caused by the rapid weight loss, it takes our bodies a while to adjust. Don’t worry, as our hormones level out and our bodies get used to the new us, it will come back. There is no set time frame for it to do so however.
I’m constipated - what is it okay to take, especially in the beginning when newly sleeved? Will it get better? Worse? In the beginning a simple stool softener like Colace should do the trick. You don’t want to take a laxative or anything that may irritate your new sleeve. While you’re in the liquid/puree stage, Constipation shouldn’t be an issue, but as you reintroduce solids you may have to go back to your stool softeners. If you do find that stool softners are only offering temporary relief, try increasing your fluids and Fiber and decreasing your cheeses.
I’m having very loose bowel movements, is this normal? Totally. You do need to monitor stools of this consistency to ensure they contain no blood, but very loose stools, even watery stools, are completely normal for a few weeks post-op. When in doubt – ask your surgeon.
Will I feel fatigue? Will fatigue go away? Yes and yes. Your body has just undergone major surgery and it needs to heal. While it’s healing you will feel more fatigued than normal. Subsequent to having such a large portion of your stomach removed is the fact that you can no longer take in as much food (read: fuel) and therefore your body has to adjust and find a new fuel source. Your body will eventually begin to burn fat for fuel and some of the fatigue will subside. Your surgeon should also prescribe a B12 supplement which will also help with energy.
When can I go back to work? How much time should I take off? That will be entirely up to your surgeon. Most return to work within 2-3 weeks.
How many days in the hospital? Your hospital stay will depend on your recovery. When you are able to keep down liquids, are up and about and walking as directed, and your surgeon and nursing staff are confident there are no complications, you’ll be released. Your surgeon should be able to give you an expectation of the length of your stay.
Do the staples dissolve? No. The staples used to close the stomach are titanium and do not dissolve. The stomach tissue will eventually grow over the staple line. Your staples do not make metal detectors go off or make you ineligible for an MRI. They are completely benign.
Why am I always hungry? The most likely culprit is either head hunger or reflux/heartburn. Head hunger is a false sense of hunger triggered by boredom/emotions/the clock or any number of things which make you think you’re hungry when you’re really not. Heartburn is the most common culprit of constant hunger. Even though you may not feel as though you have heartburn, you may find that a simple antacid will eliminate that constant hungry feeling.
What is a stricture? A stricture is what happens when scar tissue builds up in your esophagus (sometimes caused by reflux) that causes your esophagus to narrow and makes swallowing difficult.
What is a leak and what are the symptoms? A leak is an opening along the suture line of your sleeve that allows bile and other digestive fluids to leak into your abdominal cavity. The symptoms of a leak vary but the most common symptoms are pain radiating across the abdomen, fever, rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, dizziness, vomiting, nausea, fatigue, and abdominal cramping. It is important to note that leaks are rare and only occur in about 1 out of every 100 cases.
Can you get a leak any time after surgery? Or is it just immediate? Most leaks happen very soon after surgery, but there is still a risk for about 4-6 weeks after. Again, it is important to note that leaks are rare and only occur in about 1 out of every 100 cases.
Some of my incisions are oozing - is this normal? If they’re oozing a green or yellowish Fluid, absolutely not. Green and yellow are the colors of infection and should be reported to your surgeon immediately. If your incisions are oozing a pinkish or clear watery fluid it’s your body’s way of keeping your incisions clean and isn’t usually a concern. When in doubt, ask your surgeon.

I don't know if I felt the same way as you but I definitely have always struggled with feelings of never being good enough. It comes from having a perfectionist personality but growing up overweight. All I ever wanted was to make my parents proud, especially my dad, but I knew he was always disappointed with my weight. So I was very well-behaved, made great grades, an all-around overachiever and always on a diet.
In time the self-hatred grew because my weight was the one thing in my life I couldn't control. I had a complete breakdown about this time last year because I had been doing a juice fast and I couldn't take it anymore. I decided I needed weight loss surgery. A surgeon recommended it a few years before and I felt insulted he thought I couldn't lose the weight on my own. I realized he was right and I hated him for being right and I hated myself for letting him be right.
Here I am nine months after surgery, I'm 89 pounds down and 11 pounds from my goal weight. While I'm happy with my progress I'm not as happy as I thought I'd be. I keep thinking, "just get to your goal weight" but I know when I get there it won't be good enough. Now I want a Tummy Tuck but I'll need to wait at least a year before I have that done. Will I ever be happy with myself? I hope so.
One thing you'll read on this forum is that they do surgery on your stomach, not on your brain. If you have issues before surgery those same issues will be there even when you reach your goal weight.
My goal now is to work on accepting my flaws (those new forehead lines, my saggy tummy and thighs, my fine/thin hair) and having a normal relationship with food. I've been reading "It Starts With Food" and it's turned on a light for me that seems like the missing piece of this journey I've been on this year.
You deserve this surgery. Everyone deserves the best shot at getting healthy and you are no exception. Anytime you have a negative thought about yourself tell that voice to shut up and compliment yourself.

Well I was told yesterday I was approved for surgery and now I need to make an appointment to see the surgeon and he will then give me a surgery date. Waiting for them to call me to make that appointment.
Did anyone ever feel like they couldn't see themselves getting the surgery or for whatever reason they were undeserving of this surgery and therefore expected something to go wrong that would cancel the whole process? I thought I would be denied, not because I had a reason to but simply because I can't see myself smaller or healthier. I feel like I self sabotage in a way because for whatever reason I am undeserving of being happy healthy and thinner. Seems like I have dug a self hate hole with my obesity that I am going to have to work on climbing out of. Anyway did anyone ever have feelings like this and if you are post op have you felt more deserving of this blessing of having the surgery?