TracyBar

Increased sex drive? Except that the husbands have been a victim of hormone dump so maybe getting close won't be doable! lol

It sure does make it easier!

Yep, for me it took 20 years and 2 marriages to complete losers to be in a place in myself that I could find and recognize this guy as the gold mine he is. All mine needed to hear was that I would likely be able to lose the CPAP and my pain with my auto-immune arthritis is very likely to improve, and he was on board but had a few concerns about the risks. Talked those through with him, and his only question was "how soon can you do it?" He appreciates the warnings about the hormone dump that has the potential to turn me into a fire-breathing dragon for a while after the surgery, but says it will be worth it if I end up healthier. Yikes. I think I have many more details to discover! Hormone dump?! Please explain! lol Funny, my husband said the same thing "how soon can you do it?" Wasn't until you said that that I remembered he said the exact same words! I believe my increasing weight has been a real concern for him - but what husband is stupid enough to actually VOICE any concerns when it regards their wife's weight! LOL I've had testing for sleep apnea but the doctor said it wasn't really bad enough to require a CPAP. But I can tell the weight around my neck is causing discomfort and breathing issues. It just crept up on me! Anyway, if there are other things regarding this surgery I should know (and I really need to know the good, the bad and the ugly) please enlighten me! I've had a few concerns from things I've learned just in the last few days - the latest being that this surgery means that you may need to wear a medic alert bracelet and that concerned me (even the wallet card option gave me pause). I can't wrap my head around the necessity for removal of SO much of the stomach. Why 85%? Why not 75% or 50%? And now the hormone dump! These are things one needs to understand.... :-)

My husband is an easy-going guy. Never cares what dinner is, just appreciates that he gets home late from work and there's something to eat. I'm pretty sure he will like it better when I'm more slender, just simply because not only will I look better but I'll be happier. And healthier. When I told him the other day what I was thinking of doing, he didn't say too much until I said that it will mean I will be much less likely to have to deal with weight-related issues like diabetes - he was pretty quick to say "well, that's all the reason you need then to do it". Just feel so much better knowing he's o.k. with this. Guess we're lucky huh? :-)

My husband (like me) was a bit put off by the removal of so much of the stomach. And like me again, wondered "why so much? Why not 50%?"

We certainly do need them on board. Watched a surgery?! Not sure I'm ready for that :-)

Thanks everyone! I find this site so supportive - and it's nice to know it's here for each step of this journey. I'm actually not sure where a better place would have been to post this? I'm open to learning how and where. I think I thought because it was pre-surgery that I was in the right place... Thanks again! (And yes, my husband was so supportive and I was taken aback. He isn't the most expressive sort of guy, and can be hard to read because he's generally quiet about his feelings, etc. (whereas I'm the total opposite! lol). I couldn't be happier to have his support - it'll make such a difference if I do get the surgery. Making a decision on my own, and then proceeding with each step on my own would be a lonely and scary journey, particularly if your partner is not onside. Now...I just need to come to terms with the whole surgery thing!

Sorry - I'm new here and didn't realize...

I hadn't heard about this issue - what is blind NG, and why can't you have NSAIDS and other things?

Today a good opportunity came up for me to discuss getting WLS with my husband. I was nervous - I just really didn't know what his response would be. My guess was that he'd be against it - the surgery and spending the money. However, he surprised me! He is totally onside with it! He said that if it'll make me happy then I should do it. I think at first he thought I'd be able to get it done at no cost (I'm in Canada), which I could if I wanted to wait years - so I said, no, we'd have to pay. Again, he was fine with it. It's good to get that hurdle out of the way. Our young daughter was away all day with friends so he and I spent a wonderful day on the deck in the sunshine and chatted for hours. I told him the surgery will be difficult at times. There's no going back, etc. But that I was on the way to weight-related diseases with about 100% positivity. He said, that alone would be enough reason to have it done. Of course, my mind was slipping into a bad direction - is he embarrassed of me and would do anything to have me look better?! I said as much to him, and he said 'of course not!' It's not fair of me to think that way - I'm embarrassed of myself looking this way! Anyway - it's nice to have his support :-)

Can you tolerate homemade broths? You can use what you want as far as meats and vegetables, control the salt, etc.

Cheaper there maybe but add in the flight and hotel - quite a lot more expensive I imagine! Although I would really love a trip to Belgium! lol How much is it in comparison? So far, I've found a surgeon in Montreal where I can get it for $13,500 CDN. (+ flights and hotel I imagine, unless they put patients up in a hotel)

Good for you! My daughter just received her first degree (Psychology) and wants to be a nurse - more school! She's applying to two universities here in Canada and also Hawaii. Her dream would be Hawaii but so expensive for an international student, plus cost of living there, and our dollar. We'll see... :-)

This is the first I've heard of the blood thinners. Recipes: I would think you could just make broths like you would for chicken Soup or beef stock and then strain everything out. See if you can get hold of the post op food guide so you know what you can and can't eat, i.e. amounts of salt allowed, etc. The pureed foods I don't know about but I would still make some of that ahead - I'm not sure if you can just puree what you're making for your family on a particular day or not. If you could do that then it would be easy to just puree potatoes, meat, etc. separately. Hope you're feeling less anxious!

@@theantichick - are a doctor?

I haven't moved ahead with talking actual surgery yet - I'm researching it right now. But sending you good vibes and hope you feel calmer once you know the date is set and you can change your mind to preparing for the event itself rather than focusing on the fear. Keep busy! If I do move ahead with this, I plan on making food (pureed) and homemade broths for myself and freezing them. As well as making and freezing meals for my family since I do all the cooking. Just want to make it easier for everyone including myself. Why do you need blood thinners?

Thanks Karine76 I see you just had your surgery. How are you doing? Are things going well? Happy you went ahead with it? And finally - how long was your wait for surgery? Surgery was ok, I'm doing very well, healing pretty well also. Just got back to work today. Very happy I had the procedure even though I'd give anything to have a bite of a Poutine right now. As for my initial consult to Surgery date I had my first talk withmy Doctor on June 3 and my surgery was on June 27 (self paid). one night at the clinic, and 1 and a half day in a hotel near clinic with round the clock nurse care. Really? In Canada? Where are you? June 3 initial visit and June 27 surgery? How much did you pay? I didn't think we had that ability in Canada (to pay out of pocket). Interested to hear more! Good to hear you're doing well - poutine! One of the best and worst foods ever! lol

that's a very scary thing for sure. It's a difficult decision. I'd rather have it here at home in Canada. Wish it wasn't so long a wait...

Thank you for your reply Alex. How do you go direct? When I used the contact link I (think) I left an email and somebody contacted me - can't remember exactly. It was a facilitator. Since a doctor here recommended this place to my friend I felt that perhaps it was a safe place. Do you have any information on it other than being a clinic vs hospital? And does that make a difference?

Thanks Karine76 I see you just had your surgery. How are you doing? Are things going well? Happy you went ahead with it? And finally - how long was your wait for surgery?

Hi - just wondering if this is indeed a medical expense. WLF Medical in Mexico is where I'm considering going for surgery (wait is SO long in Canada). I'd like to know if I can claim the surgery as well as travel expenses hopefully. WLF Medical website says it's a line 330 medical expense - would like to know this for sure before I depend on that. Thanks!

Hi - I've looked at the CRA website and can't find WLS listed as an eligible medical expense. I was hoping I could claim it - on the website for the Mexican clinic I'm considering they say it's a line 330 medical expense. Would really like to see it for myself and also, to find out how much they'll cover - the surgery as well as travel expenses. Anybody here claimed this as a medical expense on their income tax?

Hi all - have any of you heard of WLF Medical in Mexico? It's not the cheapest place to go to, but I believe it may possibly be the most modern and safest clinic. It's the only one I've researched though - a friend of mine told me about it as she was frustrated with yo-yo dieting and asked her doctor about the sleeve. Her doctor recommended this place. I'm in Canada and the CEO of this clinic is Canadian. I was quoted $13,600 for just me (no companion), however if you look on the website they show a comparison of their surgery facilities vs the cheaper options. Now I just have to come up with the money! (Although this surgery is free in Canada the approval process and wait time is just way too long - can be years in fact).

Hi, I can't have soy or dairy - what options (that hopefully don't taste terrible!) are there for Protein shakes?

I too don't like narcotics. Luckily I've had only a couple surgeries (appendix and c-section). I don't like the way they make me feel either. However, if it was morphine you didn't like for instance, perhaps there's an alternative. I'm not sure but usually if you explain past reactions to drugs they will work with you to make things easier. Good luck!