SHOTzY*

Good for you! Stick to your guns about your choice, too!! I have no opinion good or bad about gastric sleeve-I'm completely neutral. I did a long research on both and decided to hear what the WLS clinic had to say. My clinic simple doesn't advise or perform the sleeve on patients with a higher BMI-49/50 and above. It is the surgeons and WLS teams ethical and joint personal opinions. They do not feel the sleeve does enough nor teach your body and brain enough to meet the needs of the extremely or "super obese" patient. Likewise, if your "X" amount of weight, they do not perform Lao band on that patient. For the same reason: they don't see it working enough and ultimately a second surgery ends up happening. To them, that's not ethical.
So, that's why I chose my surgeon and clinic, and that's why I TRUST THEM to advise me in the best technique for my needs.
Sounds like you are doing your homework, too!! Do what you really feel. Don't hesitate to ask question, this is your life and well being!! You answer only to you, no one else. People mean well, but this about you and the road you have traveled and will travel in the future????!! We are behind you. We got your back-as they say!

Hi!! I can tell you what my Dr/Clinic recommends; they advise you go with a high quality, bariatric specific complete line of Vitamins and minerals. Your Vitamin and mineral supplements are absolutely essential for the rest of your life. Not getting the proper amount and ratios of vitamins can cause serious and permanent damage to your nervous system and other organs.
Bariatric Advantage, Celebrate VITAMINS are just two top companies that specialize in bariatric science/nutrition. There are a few more out there that are also very good for bariatric supplements.< /p>
Please research carefully, and have your Nutritionist give you a print out of what you need specifically for each vitamin/mineral-if you don't already have them. Hope your issue gets better and I really hope you find and get on the best quality supplements to ensure you health and safety!!
Feel better ????, and take excellent care of yourself. After all, you didn't come this far to feel bad or not be healthy!!

So very happy for you!! I hope you wake up from surgery and your mind is at peace knowing that it has become a reality!! Are you from upstate?? Nice to know another Land of Lincoln resident is also having a life changing transformation. Kind of takes your mind of the BUDGET FIASCO . Ha ha ha!!!! I'm not scared or nervous-yet. It will happen at check in I think. I will look around me and then likely get emotional. I know one thing for sure: I will meet you and all these wonderful supportive people right back here after I'm -WE-are post op!!!
:-)

You can do it!! ????. It is hard, but the time will fly by with each day of limited eating. I'm almost done with my pre op diet, and I have gotten to the point of not really caring about meals or "oh my gosh, I need to eat!!" I think it helps to know that at the end of this short diet, you get the PRIZE-so to speak-of a second chance to be a better and more healthy person ????. I see the surgery team tomorrow. I do the clear liquid and citrate of magnesium laxative on Sunday. I don't think it's sunk in yet. I think I'll get nervous the day I have to go to the hospital ????.

So very happy for you!! I hope you wake up from surgery and your mind is at peace knowing that it has become a reality!! Are you from upstate?? Nice to know another Land of Lincoln resident is also having a life changing transformation. Kind of takes your mind of the BUDGET FIASCO . Ha ha ha!!!! I'm not scared or nervous-yet. It will happen at check in I think. I will look around me and then likely get emotional. I know one thing for sure: I will meet you and all these wonderful supportive people right back here after I'm -WE-are post op!!!
:-)

So very happy for you!! I hope you wake up from surgery and your mind is at peace knowing that it has become a reality!! Are you from upstate?? Nice to know another Land of Lincoln resident is also having a life changing transformation. Kind of takes your mind of the BUDGET FIASCO . Ha ha ha!!!! I'm not scared or nervous-yet. It will happen at check in I think. I will look around me and then likely get emotional. I know one thing for sure: I will meet you and all these wonderful supportive people right back here after I'm -WE-are post op!!!
:-)

Monday surgery for me! Also in Illinois :-)

I started my pre-op diet today - surgery is on the 17th. My surgeon's office uses Bariatric Advantage. I can have 3 shakes, 2 bars, up to 24 oz of broth, up to 3 sugar free jellos or popsicles, and one banana a day. Plus a ton of Water of course.
I tried adding coffee extract to my chocolate shake. Mistake. The extract just made it taste like dirt. I choked it down.
I tried adding sweet drops root beer (stevia) to my vanilla shake. Mistake. I added too much and I'm gagging because it's just too sweet.
The good news is that the chocolate Peanut Butter Bariatric Advantage bars are not bad.
I believe I will be blending the strawberry shake as-is to avoid above mistakes.
My delicious find in all of this is Crystal Light Cherry Lime drops - soooo good in Water and crushed ice...almost like a sonic slushie
All of this comes out to just over 1000 calories per day. Lord give me strength!

My experience with tough stuff like this is, I just DO IT.... Now of course I probably wouldn't be in the position where I need this surgery if I had always been able to just DO IT.....
But this is a new road, a new life/world for us, now we really do HAVE to do it. And we will

Well, ha ha ha!, I'm not dying-yet!! ????. I've lost about 15# so far, my days are almost up. I've lost a total of about 45#, and I'm very pleased with that. I see my surgeon and the rest of the surgery team on the 4th to go over the surgery and do any last minute stuff he wants done for pre op. Then Monday its time to go! It's all been worth it, but still intimidating. ????

I go to surgery on Feb 8!????. I am very glad and also anxious. Trying to be a good girl and finish my 24 day pre op diet. I think I'm doing pretty good; I'm getting tired of all the Protein shakes! As the pre op diet goes on, I've lost my appetite almost completely. I don't feel hungry and eating feels like a forced affair. Weird!! But I'm trying.....????!! Best wishes for everyone, I'm rooting for all of you!!

You can do it!! ????. It is hard, but the time will fly by with each day of limited eating. I'm almost done with my pre op diet, and I have gotten to the point of not really caring about meals or "oh my gosh, I need to eat!!" I think it helps to know that at the end of this short diet, you get the PRIZE-so to speak-of a second chance to be a better and more healthy person ????. I see the surgery team tomorrow. I do the clear liquid and citrate of magnesium laxative on Sunday. I don't think it's sunk in yet. I think I'll get nervous the day I have to go to the hospital ????.

Hey sassyfrass....you just go on and have that pity party! ????. I can't imagine how your feeling, but I know I would have exploded in a temper tantrum and dissolved in to tears. So, I'm assuming since you made your post, we are all invited to your party?!?!! ????
I admire your willpower; you don't need that donut (and we all have been at that place), you did the best thing by coming here! As everyone has said, make your dr and clinic earn their money and get this solved. Keeping you on my mind!! ????

Well, ha ha ha!, I'm not dying-yet!! ????. I've lost about 15# so far, my days are almost up. I've lost a total of about 45#, and I'm very pleased with that. I see my surgeon and the rest of the surgery team on the 4th to go over the surgery and do any last minute stuff he wants done for pre op. Then Monday its time to go! It's all been worth it, but still intimidating. ????

Would have never thought about that being an issue ????!! I'm a heavy chested girl, and I have a few of those front clasp "items". I'm going to really think about that the daylong and after surgery this month. Thanks for the heads-up.

Hi!! I can tell you what my Dr/Clinic recommends; they advise you go with a high quality, bariatric specific complete line of Vitamins and minerals. Your Vitamin and mineral supplements are absolutely essential for the rest of your life. Not getting the proper amount and ratios of vitamins can cause serious and permanent damage to your nervous system and other organs.
Bariatric Advantage, Celebrate VITAMINS are just two top companies that specialize in bariatric science/nutrition. There are a few more out there that are also very good for bariatric supplements.< /p>
Please research carefully, and have your Nutritionist give you a print out of what you need specifically for each vitamin/mineral-if you don't already have them. Hope your issue gets better and I really hope you find and get on the best quality supplements to ensure you health and safety!!
Feel better ????, and take excellent care of yourself. After all, you didn't come this far to feel bad or not be healthy!!

Best of luck to you!! Be thinking of you tomorrow ????!! All those things you want will materialize. Your new tool will help you. Keep in touch with your team and your nut. and you will do great!

Vent all you need to; WE are listening and I know almost everyone has had well meaning, maybe even rude, relatives and family nay-say and chide our decisions. No one truly understands obesity at this level unless they have walked in your and our shoes!
This is a tremendously hard journey! It is hard mentally to get to this point, start the process, and reach the goal of surgery. It is emotionally exhausting and you have to fight depression, self doubt and even self loathing, and the fear of others opinion of you and you decision!
I'm so glad you did not give in and that you believed in yourself-loved yourself-enough to know that this saving your life!!
Your going to make it; you will have a precious chance to live healthy and be happy with yourself. And you get all the credit for your hard work????!

Hi!! I can tell you what my Dr/Clinic recommends; they advise you go with a high quality, bariatric specific complete line of Vitamins and minerals. Your Vitamin and mineral supplements are absolutely essential for the rest of your life. Not getting the proper amount and ratios of vitamins can cause serious and permanent damage to your nervous system and other organs.
Bariatric Advantage, Celebrate VITAMINS are just two top companies that specialize in bariatric science/nutrition. There are a few more out there that are also very good for bariatric supplements.< /p>
Please research carefully, and have your Nutritionist give you a print out of what you need specifically for each vitamin/mineral-if you don't already have them. Hope your issue gets better and I really hope you find and get on the best quality supplements to ensure you health and safety!!
Feel better ????, and take excellent care of yourself. After all, you didn't come this far to feel bad or not be healthy!!

I first thought I wanted to get the sleeve too, but then I started seeing the statistical chance of having to have a bypass revision is pretty high. I, too, started at a pretty high weight - over 400 pounds when I first started at the bariatric center. Yes, the sleeve is a little less invasive, and has less absorption issues. But when I went to the seminar and listened to my surgeon talking about the pros and cons of both, and then also based on all the research I did on my own and the sleevers and rny-ers I talked to, I changed to the bypass. My main reasons are these:
- I started at a high bmi (upper 60s) and most of the people who had the sleeve at that high weight ended up in maintenance before they had even lost all their weight, and also many of them ended up with a bypass anyway.
- I wanted to avoid going under the knife for a second time, and since so many people get revisions, the bypass just seemed smarter.
- I wanted the extra accountability. One of the big reasons I got surgery in the first place was to give my body the best tool I could for controlling what I eat and how much I eat. The bypass goes a step beyond the sleeve and also gives you malabsorbtion.
- In the end, ultimately, I chose the bypass for all these reasons and because I want the most bang for my buck. If I had started at a much lower weight, perhaps my current weight, I might have chosen the sleeve.
As things stand for me now, I'm very, very happy that I chose the bypass. I have PCOS and even now after losing 160 pounds from my highest weight, I still have to fight my body tooth and nail to continue to lose. I'm nowhere near maintenance (282 pounds as of this morning) and I'm glad that I chose the more intensive surgery.
In the end it's your and your surgeon's decision. I would recommend the RNY for someone who began as heavy as me, but that's just me.

@@beachgal2935 that is so wonderful of you to post those recipes!! Those look really good, and I appreciate the nutrition information. It's stuff like this that helps all of us stay focused and still have good quality of life! It is so uplifting to be able to come here and get tons of support and tips to stay healthy and happy! Thanks again!!

Good for you! Stick to your guns about your choice, too!! I have no opinion good or bad about gastric sleeve-I'm completely neutral. I did a long research on both and decided to hear what the WLS clinic had to say. My clinic simple doesn't advise or perform the sleeve on patients with a higher BMI-49/50 and above. It is the surgeons and WLS teams ethical and joint personal opinions. They do not feel the sleeve does enough nor teach your body and brain enough to meet the needs of the extremely or "super obese" patient. Likewise, if your "X" amount of weight, they do not perform Lao band on that patient. For the same reason: they don't see it working enough and ultimately a second surgery ends up happening. To them, that's not ethical.
So, that's why I chose my surgeon and clinic, and that's why I TRUST THEM to advise me in the best technique for my needs.
Sounds like you are doing your homework, too!! Do what you really feel. Don't hesitate to ask question, this is your life and well being!! You answer only to you, no one else. People mean well, but this about you and the road you have traveled and will travel in the future????!! We are behind you. We got your back-as they say!

Good for you! Stick to your guns about your choice, too!! I have no opinion good or bad about gastric sleeve-I'm completely neutral. I did a long research on both and decided to hear what the WLS clinic had to say. My clinic simple doesn't advise or perform the sleeve on patients with a higher BMI-49/50 and above. It is the surgeons and WLS teams ethical and joint personal opinions. They do not feel the sleeve does enough nor teach your body and brain enough to meet the needs of the extremely or "super obese" patient. Likewise, if your "X" amount of weight, they do not perform Lao band on that patient. For the same reason: they don't see it working enough and ultimately a second surgery ends up happening. To them, that's not ethical.
So, that's why I chose my surgeon and clinic, and that's why I TRUST THEM to advise me in the best technique for my needs.
Sounds like you are doing your homework, too!! Do what you really feel. Don't hesitate to ask question, this is your life and well being!! You answer only to you, no one else. People mean well, but this about you and the road you have traveled and will travel in the future????!! We are behind you. We got your back-as they say!

I had to wait about 6 months to move forward due to my insurance not covering and having to wait for new year to switch to my wife's.
For the longest time I was set on getting the sleeve. Seemed easier to have done, less time off and easier to live with (i.e. less absorption problem, less Vitamin and more flexible diet.) and provided similar weight loss.
Then I spoke to a girl I went to school with and she had bypass. She said she felt the dumping syndrome helps and that being able to eat more things would make it harder to maintain.
At my first doctors meeting nurse practitioner said based on big weight loss swings I've had and that and that you get a little more bang out of the bypass (I'm about 300 lb over idea BMI weight) that it would probably be better for me.
I'm still worried about making the wrong choice. There are certain medications I'd like to take and may not be able to (ADHD meds.)
Plus its seems like a more intimidating surgery.
So did anyone else have this issues and or fears and how did you decide or over come them?
Thanks

Glad you posted those 8 statements of positive thinking! Don't let any of those self doubts or negative energy sway you from your decision to change your life. You know why you're here; you got here because of that very focused desire and drive. That will sustain and drive you on to your goal. You know it will be ups and downs sometimes, but you have this place to come to, and your own personal support people. By posting your private thoughts and fears you, and as others have too, you help us all confront those demons ourselves. It's empowering ????!! Good luck and best thoughts!