songsmith

Welp, the monthly support forum has not been updated for 2016. I know there's a thread somewhere for December & January sleevers, but thought I'd include you January peeps in honor of the upcoming year. Share your dates, doctor/nut/psych visits, tests, hopes, and whatever else you want to share pertaining to your surgery. Feel free to offer encouragement and cheerleading as warranted. Maybe everyone can link up with some sleeve buddies! I'll start. I have 100 to 130 pounds to lose (no goal set yet). My sleeve was supposed to be in January. Instead, my husband needs to go out of the country on business in the middle of the month and can't guarantee he'll be back, so I'll probably be sleeved in February. It's frustrating to me because my insurance requires 6 months supervised diet. I finished that the week before Thanksgiving (U.S.) I'm scheduled to attend the final "class" they require all patients to take on Dec. 17. My endoscopy is Jan. 13. I could easily have made it in December, but hubby didn't want me restricted over the Holidays. (I had thyroid surgery with complications last year just before Christmas, so I understand how he feels.) Still, you can imagine my frustration now that my surgery needs to be pushed back again! Who's next? *Mods please move this to the appropriate forum when you update the support groups.

I'm often amazed when I see people on the forums asking basic questions (water/protein) that I know and I haven't even been on the pre-op diet yet. I'm even more amazed when I see people asking about what sounds like a serious medical problem (pain, fever) who ask here rather than bother their doctor. Many people need the social element a forum provides. Sometimes they do "know" this information and might be stuck on the "how." You find that out when you read further comments from them. Sometimes people need the shared experience and reassurance that, yes, they are doing things right and, no, don't worry, you're body is behaving the way it ought to. Some people just need the experience of others saying, "Yep. Been there, too. Understand what you're going through." Others clearly have not been following nutritional guidelines (slider foods, amounts, food choices). They want someone to either kick them in the butt so they get back on track or for someone to tell them that WLS will work despite themselves. They seem to be in the minority here. Most are like the examples above. It's frustrating to read the latter. The former don't bother me. Who knows? I might be one of them in another month!

Size 14 is one of my dream NSVs! I was that big when I met my husband 34 years ago and haven't looked back since. I really, really want to walk into a "regular" store and take advantage of the sales that are always so much better than the ones offered for plus sizes. You are amazing! You must be so happy.

I'll either be very late in Jan. or early February. Depends on when my husband gets back in the country. I wish they would update the monthly support group forum for 2016. Still only up to Dec. 2015.

My surgeon has his patients attend a final class so everyone understands what they need to do, what they'll be eating pre and post-op, how to prepare meals, what to expect, complication symptoms and perhaps to teach us a secret handshake. There has to be a secret handshake, right? I attend mine next Thursday and am super excited. After this the only thing I need to do is the endoscope and blood work-up (Jan 13).

I'm confused. If you weight your red meat it doesn't matter if it's denser. You know how many ounces you will be eating so you can avoid eating too much. Do you just feel more full because the red meat fills you up more? I also use MyFitnessPal (FitDay whatever online app you want) and plan out my meals beforehand because it "keeps me honest." I have never purged, but I know how much my tummy hurts after I vomit. I doubt your solution is helping your sleeve any more than stretching it would. Use this time to come to grips with your issues involving food. I've been seeing a therapist to help me deal with my old thought processes. Maybe you would find it helpful also? 75 pounds is a tremendous success! I hope you

Exactly. I don't let my pets' veterinarian sell me foods (that often are subpar) for the same reasons. To be fair to my surgeon, they tell you what you need in a vitamin, so it's not like they force them on you. I'm sure they'll be flogged in the my upcoming final class, though!

I'm another one in her 50s who has never been able to explore her style due to the dearth of reasonably priced stylish (is that an oxymoron?) plus sizes. We should start a group.

Too funny! I like your hubby. Oh, man. I can at least take in my bras for a little while. I completely forgot about undies! (Already determined to invest in a belt.)

My surgeon's practice sells vitamins. I give them (the vitamins) the side-eye. I haven't checked out the prices but wonder if they are significantly more expensive to similar vitamins I can buy elsewhere. I'm also interested in the replies here!

It's perfectly fine to keep your surgery to yourself. You are not your friend's keeper. I'm sure she's aware these surgeries exist. Now she's armed with more specific information. The ball is in her court. You may change your mind after your surgery. If so, you can mention it then. If not, still good. It's your life. You cannot live for someone else. (I still haven't decided whether to tell my only close relative before my surgery or wait until I've lost a significant amount for the very reasons you mentioned.)

My thyroid came out last year at this time. It took my PCP ten years of arguing with various ENTs and sending me for consults and tests--inconclusive. She could tell there was something wrong by looking at the way I swallowed. Guess what? She was right. My little butterfly had grown into a 9 1/2" Mothra! It's good your physician wants to keep an eye on this. I am pre-op, but I have successfully lost weight while taking synthroid. You might say I'm the most "hypothyroid" you can get! As I understand it, medication will make your hormones act correctly so you may even see an improvement in ease of weight loss. I know I did. One thing I did read (and which I have adhered to) is to not eat right after taking your thyroid medication. Have no idea if that's valid, but I have always waited at least an hour. I found that advice online, so definitely take it with a grain of salt!

You don't need to eat to have fun Holiday times with your kids. It's the togetherness you love, right? As others have said, there's plenty of fun traditions to do with your kids. How about make a special ornament each year so your children can have them when they're off on their own? Think of the memories they'll have! Far better than the fleeting taste of a cookie. I'm pre-op (I always offer that as a disclaimer) but I have seen lots of blogs from people who enjoy cooking who post recipes adjusted for post-WLS meals. One of my favorites is Welcome to Egg Face's (Michelle Vicari) Pinterest pages.

@@Daisee68, can you provide a name or link to the place that accepts donations? I think that's a fine idea! I have some very newish bras I know I won't be able to wear for long after surgery. I've promised to treat myself to at least one Stella McCartney bra when I hit goal. Her stuff always looks so fun. Hopefully I'll be able to wear them.

My nut classes taught me nothing as well. Basically, she said, "What have you been doing this month?" and I told her. No advice. Nothing. Not even a handout. I found it really frustrating. Their class is basically surgery prep: what will happen, what you should be eating and how, etc. It's the final thing (other than the endoscopy).

The important thing is that you're getting back on track. I'm not sure since I've never been a regular size but I suspect this is what people who don't have a weight problem do. They Celebrate, they look at the scale, say "oops I gained a bit there. Time to watch what I eat for a couple of days!" So don't be mad at yourself. You're acting like a thin person! That extra will come right off.

@@Daisee68, sometimes bras don't fit correctly because they're the wrong style for our shape. Boobs can be close together, splay apart, be fuller in different ways. If you spill over, you might want to try a different shaped cup. That's harder to do when you still wear a larger band size. Bra manufacturers will make cup sizes all the way up the scale, but 90% of them won't scale up larger band sizes to match those cup sizes! Maddening. I am not looking forward to bra replacement. I just know the retailers are singing that Pink Floyd song. (Money, money, money~)

Same. I don't have my final 3 hour class until next week. Hope to know by then!

Good bras are expensive, ladies. Please make sure you fit yourself properly. A 10" difference in band and cup means you should be looking at a J-cup. Anyplace trying to sell you something smaller than an I or J has not measured you right. (Don't let them try any of that "upper bust sizing either. Ridiculous.) A J cup may sound huge, but cups are sized according to the size band they're on. A 34-E is far, far smaller cup than a 42-E. For example, my daughter wears a 32-J. I wear a 44-J. The cups on our bras are two very different sizes. (Victoria's secret tried to put her in a 34-DDD, btw.) Even specialty stores used to tell me that I could just "shape" the underwire and tried to sell me DD or DDD bras in larger band sizes. I wore the wrong cup size for so many years and always thought my bras didn't fit like the ones depicted in ads due to my weight. No. They didn't fit because cup size was far too small. 80-90% of women wear the wrong bra size. Yes, this is one of the things I will rant about, but I hate to see women spending money on ill-fitting bras. Band should be comfortable. You should not show any back or side boob/fat. The center should fit flat to your chest between your breasts. If the band pulls up in back, it is too large. Straps should never dig into your shoulders because 90% of the support should come from your band. On the sigh side, I'm pretty sure my girls will point due south once I no longer have a belly to hold them up!

Nah. I reread what I wrote. It was all in "professional voice" because at 2AM I could barely manage words. That does come off snippy on the reread! (Once you get to know me, it'll be blatantly obvious if I ever decide to let loose!) Anyway, I am all for butt kicking--especially when it's this extra weight I'm carrying around's butt! I feel bad that I misread the original article and frightened some people. I didn't think I had any real fears/worries about my upcoming surgery, but it only took one misunderstood article to send me running here wringing my hands and asking for reassurance.

@@heather5565, Sorry? My reply wasn't meant to be snippy. I misunderstood the article and asked about it due to that misunderstanding. I was agreeing with your statement. /confused

I haven't practiced an all-liquid diet, but I have been sampling various approved protein supplements so I will know which ones I can tolerate and which ones make me want to hurl. I don't want to be down to liquids only and left with a protein drink I can't stand.

@@Cervidae I think @@Inner Surfer Girl was right. The article talked about total weight (e.g,. I began at 265) not excess weight (which for me is 100 pounds or so). 25-30% of 265 is a far higher number than 25% of 100! As I said, I don't math well, but pretty sure that would put the amount on the low to middle end of the projected excess weight loss. At 6 mos. out, there is no way you could have stopped losing! I have not yet had my surgery, but I (and probably you) have lost a lot of weight before and once experienced a 6 week stall. Sometimes it takes awhile for our bodies to catch up. Please, please don't fret. Keep following your guidelines and your body will catch up eventually. @@heather5565, I directly quoted the article. It sounded odd to me because I had been told the 50-70% (and even more!) numbers. I'm also aware that people on average will gain some weight back after two to three years. The trick is to not allow that weight gain to be the excuse to return to bad habits. In fact that was in a series of articles suggesting reasons why some do gain weight back. I don't think the doctor was doing anyone a service by expressing weight loss in terms of total weight instead of excess weight. @Inner Surfer Gal - So right! None of us would be here if previous diets had long-term success rates. @@Babbs, I have turned to the surgery for just that reason--a tool to help me maintain my weight loss.

It really is a YMMV thing. Our tastes and texture preferences all differ. The best thing you can do is obtain samples (don't spend a ton of money!) on Protein supplements approved by your surgeon and try them to determine which ones you can tolerate the most. That's how I knew I didn't take to the

Shriner37, we do indeed have the same surgeon! He and the entire outfit have been super informative. I mistook that 20-30% as percentage of beginning body weight and not excess weight lost. Huge difference! Inner Surfer Girl, you have better reading comprehension than I do. I saw that 20-30% and thought they were talking about the weight lost (that 50-70% most procedures mention) and not the percentage of total weight. Knowing that alone eases my mind! Have I mentioned I don't math well?