WitchySar

I'm going to say this again... I am fully committing to WLS. I am planning 100% to change what I'm eating (in fact already have) and will not sabotage the surgery. Sorry if I sound snippy but I feel like people aren't actually reading my words.

If you are truly staying overweight on "too few" calories. Weight loss surgery won't help you, you have something else going on. How many are too few? There are days when I struggle to even eat 1000 calories. My doctor in the past said for me to lose 1lb a week I should be eating between 2000-2400. Because of my thyroid I gain weight if I even LOOK at a carb. So eating a diet consisting of mainly carbs was causing me to gain weight. Not because of total calories but because of the type of calories.

I plan fully on committing to this. I never said I wasn't going to. I was asking if this can help when weight gain before was from eating crap vs eating large portions of everything.

Well I've been tracking my foods and I struggle to eat enough calories in a day. Even my thin husband comments on how little I eat. So it really isn't portion control I have a hard time with, just the choices. I know that after putting in all this work and pain to have surgery I'm not going to want to sabotage it so I think it'll help me make the better choices for what I need to eat. I just needed to hear from someone else that this really will help.

Mostly carbs. Things like chips, pasta, pizza. Sugar is delicious but I can stay away from it for months at a time without a problem really. I can't have the RNY because some meds I have to take can't be taken with it so I'll be going with the sleeve. I don't mind putting in work with will power but having a tool that makes it harder to eat those things would be nice.

Like the title of the thread says, will WLS work if the reason for being overweight isn't from overeating? I don't overeat but I definitely choose the wrong foods.

My biggest sleep issue is a problem falling asleep, so not something related to apnea. If something wakes me up at night (like a cat jumping on my head, knock at the door, those kinds of things) then I have a hard time falling back asleep again. So no signs of apnea at all. I can't wait for my appointment next month so I can talk to the surgeon and it all.

Thank you for that list! This has confirmed for me that the sleeve is the way to go.

So you can have more meds with the sleeve?

I've seen several long lists of medications you have to avoid if you have gastric bypass but I haven't found a list for the sleeve. Is it the same? Specifically I'm worried because I have severe allergies, I have to take 3 allergy meds a day (zyrtec, claritin, and allegra) just to be able to leave my house, and my allergist told me to always have benedryl on hand in case of a severe reaction. Most of those meds were on the *do not take* lists I've found. This worries me. I'm planning on getting the sleeve though so hoping maybe there's a different set of med rules for this surgery.

Some things I'm looking forward to: Being able to find clothes at local stores instead of having to order online. Not feeling like someone is stabbing my knees when I try to walk upstairs. Being able to sit on my husband's lap without worrying that I'll crush him. (He swears I won't but I'm terrified anyway). Horseback riding.

I've used mine to carry kittens before. LOL I used to store pens in there at a previous job. Often times I'd come home at the end of the day, take off my bra to air out the ladies and several pens would fall out from under my boobs.

Thanks, I've never heard of that test. I Googled it and took it. Comes up as low risk, as I suspected.

Well I chatted with a friend who had WLS, as well as her husband, and they didn't have to have sleep studies. So hopefully I won't either.

This has been an interesting thread for me. It really seems that the amount of pain is so individual. I've had three children, each all natural, no pain meds at all. Easy peasy. I had my gallbladder out laparoscopically and they had to give me dilaudid while in the hospital because I was in such pain. I was on oxycodone for almost 2 weeks after because the pain wouldn't go away. I literally couldn't stand up straight for over 2 weeks. Worst pain ever. I really really hope WLS doesn't hurt like that.

With my anxiety there is zero chance I will be able to sleep anywhere other than my own home, unless my husband is with me, and even then it's unlikely. And I freak out when anything is on my face, so no masks while sleeping for me. Not unless they are willing to knock me out first. I'm talking full on panic attack, hyperventilating, etc. Even with my last surgery they left the oxygen mask off my face until I was knocked out. I really hope they're willing to work with me on this. With my husband's schedule I normally don't go to bed until about 3:30 am, not even tired until then.

Ugh. I already have such a hard time sleeping. I've suffered with sleep troubles my entire life. My psychiatrist said it's related to my anxiety and bipolar. I also can not sleep AT ALL with anything on so I don't anticipate being able to complete a sleep study since they probably need me to actually sleep during it. *sigh* Because of side effects I don't take any sleep aids so no ambien for me. I know I'll have to figure something out, and will talk to the surgeon about my concerns as well since I'm sure he'll order one. My husband has told me that I only snore when I'm sick and horribly congested but that's pretty normal, and he says he's never seen or heard me stop breathing while sleeping, so I'm really not worried about sleep apnea. And I've already had surgery just last year and had no issues with not breathing during the surgery. I get that it may (most likely) be required but it just sucks. Not enough to stop me from pursuing WLS but still... bleh!

They can be done at home? I've always heard of people having to go into the sleep study center place. I could handle it if I'm at home. Maybe. I'm a terrible sleeper and having something attached to me would probably make me stay awake all night. I just had surgery last year, no problems with breathing but they probably won't take that as proof.

Did you surgeon require you to have a sleep study before surgery? I admit I'm terrified at the thought of one (I have severe anxiety) and really really hope I don't have to do one.

I decided to go with the dietitian at the surgeon's office instead of with my primary. The office said I could do them there since I'm out of town but after seeing how little my primary new about bariatric surgery requirements I decided against it. Last thing I want is for something to get documented wrong and then I'm pushed back another 6 months. I'm also definitely not going vegetarian. It's not a good choice for my body, especially since I have to stay away from anything with soy in it. Kinda limits me. As far as my primary goes I'm going to go on South Beach, but in reality I'll be doing closer to Atkin's since I'm familiar with it and have had good results on it.

I'm not in Springs but I'm not too far away in Pueblo. I haven't had the sleeve yet but I'm starting the process. I have my initial visit with the surgeon on July 21st.

Thank you all for your answers. I personally like how I look at this size, and looks are super important to me, so it's going to take a lot of work to get prepared for my post-surgery body. No, it isn't going to stop me from doing this, but I envision lots of time in my therapist's office working through these issues. Good thing I see her tomorrow. I know my husband loves me but I feel like he's not being realistic about the changes that are coming. He keeps saying things like, "oh it won't be that bad", but what if it IS that bad and it takes him by surprise? I just wish I could get him to stop being so blasted optimistic and start being realistic, at least about this. I do sincerely hope he still finds me just as sexy after the weight loss as he does now, but I'm worried the reality will be too much of a shock to him. In middle school and high school I was a DD cup, and right now I'm a G cup. Almost as big as I'd personally like (yes, I like BIG boobs). I've always been fat though my entire life so I don't know how much of that was ever breast tissue vs fat. I hate admitting it but I'm shallow too. My looks have always been super crazy important to me. Unfortunately, realistically, I'm not going to have a way to fix my appearance after surgery. I don't work (haven't been able to because of a disability, not one that WLS will fix either) and my husband makes only about $30000 a year to support a family of 5. There is zero extra money in there to save for plastics later on. I think that's what has me the most nervous. If I could afford to fix it later on then it wouldn't be a concern for me. But I can't.

I saw my primary today and she confirmed there are no bariatric surgery centers in Pueblo. And no place she can technically refer me. I did find a center on my own though. Getting to the appointments will prove to be a challenge but my husband said we'll rent a car every month if needed. So I have my initial appointment at The Bariatric and Metabolic Center of Colorado in Parker Colorado. My first appointment is July 21st. I wish it was closer! In the meantime though my primary took note of my desire for surgery, documented my weight, and made a diet recommendation. She suggested vegetarian and lower fat, but also said I could try South Beach. I think that's the route I'll go for now. I had great luck on Atkins in the past (about 13 years ago) so I know low carb can work for me (though thanks for aging it doesn't work AS good now as it used too). And then on 7/21 I meet with the dietitian at the surgical center and will begin working with her instead. But this should be a nice boost to show the insurance that I'm starting it now instead of waiting.

Thanks all. I'm hoping my insurance only requires me to not gain during the medically supervised period. I talked to my primary today and she didn't know. I also called 4 different centers around Denver. One said it was their policy that I had to lose weight on the diet or they wouldn't even submit to insurance. When I explained that I don't lose weight well on diets and exercise alone she said I just wasn't doing it right. Guess I'll pass that along to the doctors I've worked with in the past. They were telling me the wrong way to do it I guess. I didn't like the attitude she gave me so I'm not going to that center. I did find one that I think I like though and I have my initial consultation on July 21st.

Thanks for the info. It's really frustrating how different it can be from insurance to insurance and surgeon to surgeon. My insurance doesn't seem to list a requirement to gain or lose, just have to be on the medically supervised diet for 6 months. If they have a preference beyond that they don't make that info available. Hopefully my doctor will know.