justhere4theshow

I am the first to admit that sometimes the truth hurts! Some situations just can't be supported. I would want to know the truth if I were doing something to hurt myself.

I was the world's worst sugar addict!!! I have learned along the way that my body does not do well with sugar. It makes me hungry and tired and fat. I went through a LOT of worry and uncertainty about how I would ever let it go, though. I honestly tried to just love myself fat and accept my body, etc. etc. All just so I could keep my beloved sugar. When it became a health issue, I had to face it head on. I became prediabetic and just could not get the weight off. I had to do a lot of work on my issues with food; it was my favorite way to cope. Fast-forward to today, and I can honestly say that I am so happy to have made peace with giving up the sugar. It takes a while, it's hard, but SO worth it. You will feel better, I promise. Your palate will change over time. I recently ate a couple of bites of Key Lime pie on vacation, and I felt ill afterward. I couldn't wait to get back to my sugar-free self again! I was so shocked! The sugar sacrifice became my preference, not a punishment. I feel free. I enjoy fruit a great deal (still limited, but it's my treat now) because I still love sweet things, just not cane sugar. Be patient with it, and know that you will succeed if you keep trying! Sugar free popsicles are very good when cravings hit, by the way. Hang in there!!

All insurance is different, but I hope you are pleasantly surprised with a fast approval. It's a very exciting journey, isn't it? Take the pre-op preparation time to make some changes if you haven't yet. Drink lots of Water and practice eating more slowly and chewing a lot. The time will pass pretty fast. Soak it all in; you are on your way to a new life!

You are doing great. I know exactly what you are feeling, though. I expected this to happen much faster for me, too. I have learned a lot about my body and what I respond to better and what I don't respond to at all, etc. Sometimes we feel as though nothing is happening, when in fact our body is working pretty hard at making huge changes. These things take time, but you will get there if you stick with it. Best wishes to you! Keep the faith!

That's awesome. It's good to share your good experience as well, so that people are aware that it may not suck as much as it possibly can, LOL! I wish I had come here before my surgery...I would have had so much more wisdom when I needed it most. I really enjoy the vast variety of information here.

I am really glad you had a great experience. But yours is the experience I had been led to believe that I would have, and when it was nothing like that, I have to admit that it hit me pretty hard. I am definitely doing much better now, but I felt really mislead because I wasn't warned of other difficult circumstances that might arise as a result of the surgery. I certainly don't think that my experience is the "gold standard", but I really don't want pre-ops to assume that everything is going to be ideal. I wish everyone could have a recovery without difficulties, but it's just not going to work that way for some. Thanks for your comment; it's inspiring! I hope the rest of your journey is great, too!

I have spent a small fortune on vitamins, protein powder and protein bars. I think I spend less at the grocery and more at the bariatric clinic. I find it a worthwhile investment.

I have gone back and re-read the thread here, and I really need to call myself out and apologize! I never wanted to come across as such a bitch. I really do respect all of you, I am grateful for your wisdom, and I just realized I did the very thing that I was complaining about. I really need to get a handle on my attitude (I keep blaming it on hormones, but that's pretty weak!) Let me just say that I now realize it is our differences that make us so valuable to each other. I am sincere when I say that I really hope to be more tolerant and respectful to all of you. There was no need for me to stir the pot.

I just come here to learn and share. I need to learn the very valuable skill of not engaging in every argument/debate that I see. Y'all have a great day!

There is a difference between a "Fake, warm fuzzy persona" and just being a mature, civil human being. How sad is the world where people can't be nice without being called fake. I simply expressed how silly I think it is that we can't seem to make this work without people getting pissed and "leaving" every other day.

I am not sure why all the negativity seems to prevail here, and that people constantly say "well I'll just leave the group, then". Expecting respectful and civil behavior from adults is not unreasonable! No one should be treated poorly because they lack information or describe an experience that differs from another. I don't think being a "veteran" should be an excuse to be mean or condescending. It's not that hard to be supportive or simply ignore something that you find offensive or ignorant. If I have ever offended anyone with an insensitive remark, I readily accept responsibility for my comments and offer my apologies. Just *another* opinion.

I hope everything goes well for you ladies! Glad you got something good from the post

I am not disputing the fact that "stomachs don't vary based on who cuts it out". What I mean when I say to go by what your doctor wants is this: Stomachs may not vary, but treatment options do. Some doctors will let you take NSAIDs occasionally if there is no other alternative. Usually, there are other options for pain relief and reduction of inflammation, but you will need the guidance and supervision of your doctor in order to explore those other options and be monitored while doing so.

You have to go by what your surgeon wants. I have a sleeve and was told no NSAIDs. I get by, but sometimes I have to take Norco to take the edge off of my pain. I have fibromyalgia and arthritis in my back. I get the 5/325 dose, and usually half a pill makes me feel better without feeling loopy. You will just need to work with your doctors on this. And I do have a medic alert with "no blind NG tube and no NSAIDs" Good luck to you.

http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/373877-what-i-wish-i-had-known/ This might help, or it may not...just some things I learned along the way.

So, here are a few things I wish I had known before I had my surgery (I was sleeved 5/23/16): The gas...oh my goodness, the gas. It hurts, it stinks, and sometimes you can't trust a fart. Lovely. Surgery doesn't make it easier to lose weight. It actually makes it more complicated! Protein, carbs, sugar, fat...It's all scientific now. If I don't get my protein, I hold Fluid and don't lose weight. If I eat sugar, I don't lose weight. If I don't get all my Water for the day, I feel hungry, tired, and--you guessed it--I don't lose weight. I even landed in the ER getting 4 bags of fluid and a CT scan to check for complications. And my insurance got a bill for $7,000. After the one they got for $29,000 just a month previous...more on that later... Mood swings from hell will descend upon you, and you will be powerless over it at first. Now, I am learning that I tend to cry right before a stall breaks. Fat stores hormones that have to go somewhere when the fat goes...extra PMS? Yes, please! NOT. Yes ladies, your period may go completely haywire for a while. FUN... Speaking of stalls...the weight won't always come off in a predictable pattern. It may not come off as fast as you want it to. If you stick to your plan, you will lose weight, but along the way you will stall. You may not lose anything for a while, even though you're doing everything right. You will get concerned, you may think the surgery isn't working, but if you stick to your plan the weight will come off. On it's own schedule, though, not yours. The human body is incredibly complex and very good at learning how to NOT starve. Some people believe in starvation mode, some don't, but don't test it. You don't want to get sick and malnourished. You may need to exercise more and log your food to make sure you haven't slipped up, but the stall will break. Eventually... You will become acutely aware that people who know you had the surgery are watching you. Watching what you eat, when you eat it, and how much of it you eat. Watching to see if you lose weight, and if you don't lose weight FAST, everybody has an opinion about whether or not you should have had the surgery and if it will work, and you may hear horror stories about somebody's friend/sister/brother/cousin/coworker who had the surgery and gained all the weight back. Or never lost it at all. Stick to your plan, and remember why you made the decision to have surgery. Be ready to avoid toxic people as necessary. If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem. So be careful who you tell. If you are married, consider your spouse's feelings. Talk about it. You will need them on your side if at all possible. If they aren't, it could be problematic. Be ready to have hard conversations and make decisions based on those conversations. You may learn things about your relationship that you never knew, which can be good or bad. You will have regrets. Mostly in the beginning, but be ready to wonder what in the hell you were thinking when you had this surgery. It's hard! There is an overwhelming temptation to believe that this was supposed to be easier. It's not. It's effective, but it's a lot of work and it takes a lot of self-discipline. People may judge you and say that you took "the easy way out". See the previous paragraph. And then see the second paragraph. You may have to educate a few people. Or tell them to get lost, your choice. If you didn't already know it, you may find out that you have a serious problem with food. Get that fixed, and do it before you waste a lot of time and heartache. Go to therapy. The surgery will NOT fix your brain. I cannot stress this enough! You will find out that food is the glue that holds our lives together. We Celebrate with it, we mourn with it, we reward ourselves with it, and sometimes our social lives revolve around it. All of that has to change. Food is fuel. Period. You will not enjoy eating out for a while, if ever. The portions are RIDICULOUS, and most of it is nothing you should be eating anyway. "I'll just have a small salad..." No, you won't, not for a while. You won't be able to eat raw vegetables for a long time, and never before your doctor clears it. It's the last step. And it may be never for certain foods. BECAUSE... Your taste will change. What your stomach can tolerate will (obviously) change for a long time, and maybe forever in some aspects. You may hate what you once loved and love what you once hated. Go with it. And get over your addiction to caffeine, because that has to go, too. Not forever, but your surgeon will have an opinion about when it's okay again. If you smoke, a reputable surgeon will not do weight loss surgery on you. They will most likely test you for nicotine, so don't cheat, just quit. You won't heal as well and it's just plain bad for you. You will have no vices for a long time. Because...you can't drink alcohol either! Not for a LONG time. Just look that one up, because I quit drinking a long time ago and I don't even care about this part. Except: you may trade old addictions for new ones. You may need therapy to fix this. If food was a coping mechanism for you, you had better have a plan for new coping skills. BECAUSE... This is stressful as hell, if you hadn't figured that out. You hair may come out. Be ready. Biotin is rumored to help, but it isn't a sure thing. You will need to take Vitamins for the rest of your life. Don't be cheap and skimp on this one. You need bariatric vitamins. Deficiencies can set you back in significant ways. It's not worth it. Take your vitamins. Now. If you're still reading this, you may think I am one hell of a "Negative Nelly". Nope! I am a realist. You should be scared. You should think long and hard before you have weight loss surgery. If you even qualify for surgery, you've cleared a significant obstacle. If your insurance covers it, that's another significant obstacle out of the way. Soooo...If you have a surgeon willing to do it, and you can get insurance to pay for it (or if you can make it happen as self-pay) DO IT. If you still want to have weight loss surgery despite knowing how much it can suck, then you will probably do well. BECAUSE... IT'S WORTH IT. All of it.

I am so sorry you're feeling down. Life definitely has a way of knocking us down sometimes. Try to remember that you are not worth any less because your ex is seeing someone else. She's not better, just different. You will need time to come to terms with everything; divorce is a life-changing event that most people need therapy to get over. Focus on taking good care of yourself. Eat well, try to get some exercise, get enough sleep and keep telling yourself that this will not last forever. You will feel better. Just don't give up.

And, THAT makes you my new best friend *giggle*

I have to avoid sugar like the plague...it does awful things to me! I can't stress enough to anyone trying to lose weight: Sugar is only going to cause you heartache. It causes inflammation and really messes up weight loss. Try to keep it very limited...

They don't dissolve well. My surgeon has seen some labwork come back with some deficiencies with Gummies so he stopped allowing them.

This may sound stupid, but I find it hard to go out to a bar (my husband and I don't drink but we play darts a lot) and I just order Water. Sometimes I get a feeling that they think I am just being cheap. So sometimes, if I get a reaction I will just politely let them know that I had surgery on my stomach and water is all I can have. Plus I always tip for the service, not a percentage of the tab. Seems to work well, but I always dread a new place where they aren't familiar with me.

@@jaimelu I have Blue Cross. I got referred early and they approved me after three months because I had done all the classes and was already diagnosed with sleep apnea. I think Blue Cross is pretty supportive of WLS. They know it lowers future claims for diabetes and other obesity related issues. Glad you got approved! Is your pre-op diet bad? Mine was 2 weeks of nothing but liquids...it was rough but I would do it again!

Insurance usually goes by your starting weight to qualify you. Then you may be asked to lose a certain amount to prove that you can make the necessary changes for success with the surgery. I will tell you that every insurance policy is different, so please verify what is expected in order to qualify. I was told to only lose 5% of my weight and they went with my starting weight to qualify me.Biggest thing is not to gain. This is very important. Good luck to you!

@@emtobin75 It's so frustrating. I never expected it to be this difficult. But I will not give up! Hope your stall breaks soon!

Steady loss is a gift from the weight loss Gods...you could be like me and not losing anything for 3 weeks. Be glad you're not stalled! I'm sure what you're eating is fine; that's good loss.