Sherrie Scharbrough

YAY!! You are taking back and control of your life!! The decision to get out of your comfort zone is the beginning of something so WONDERFUL!! It isn't a quick fix r a "taking the easy way out." You will have to do the worj for sure. WLS is a TOOL we have to work with our tool to get where we want to be!! But let me tell you each and every step that you take, when you fall down, and get bacxk up YOU will be AMAZED when you get to your goal weight. I had my RNY July 2, 2013. I have kept 124's off for 3 and 1/2 years. I went below my goal weight and got to 117#'s. I thought it was all good my family were worried sick that I was losing to much and to fast. But now at 125#s, I feel great. I had lots of health problems and took 12 different meds plus I took 100units of Levermire 2 times a day now I am off all diabetic meds and only take 4 meds plus my vitamins!! That in its self is awesome!! You will be sucessful you are already setting your mind in the right place!! Good Luck and please keep us posted about your Journey also welcome to BARIATRICPAL.

Can you tell me what Slastic is? TIA

Wheen I had my ENDOSCOPE I was told no drivin, no making major decisions or signing any papers. It is true it only takes a short time. But you get to have one heck of a nap. LOL

I really like this. It does kind of feel like that. I have hated gthe scales all of my life. In High School I was around 130 or 135, I nthought I was sooo fat. Heck I didn't know what fat was. Fast forward my hatred just cntinued to grow. I would cancel Dr appointments or not make a appointment to begin with. And do you know why? THOSE DARN SCALES. I have found thru my life that I can and will say "I'm not weighing today> PERIOD I fell like the only reason I should be weighed is if I am sick and they need to know how much of a dose I will need. Even after I have lost 124#'s and now weigh 125, I still hate the scales!! I wish everyone would stop judging us onhow much we weigh or how much we don't weigh. Just a fellow hater. LOL

I had the RNY July 2, 2013. I weighed 249#'s (I was 285#'s but managed to lose some thru the time before my WLS) My Surgery weight was 232 my lowest weight was 117#'s my current weight is 125#'s. I lost all of my weight in 6 months. And I have maintained 125#'s for 3 and 1/2 years. I chose this surgery because I figured that I had one shot to do this and I should go big or go home. I was Insulin resistant and took 100units of Levermire 2 times a day plus 500mg of Metformin 2 times a day. I took 12 differnt medications but now I take 4 plus my Vitamins. No more diabetes which is a HUGE WIN for me. This WLS rates up there with my marriage of 43 years and the birth of my 2 children who are grown and have given us 8 beautiful grandchildren!! Life is great!! Which ever surgery you and your Suregon decide on will be good just remember WLS is a tool. You have to do the work. Good Luck and keep us posted.

I love Diet Peach Snapple 0 calories. I also found Diet Green Tea berry Flavored both 0 ca and pretty tasty also. We also buy those packets of Root Beer and Orange flavored add in packages. Now they taste exactly like Root Beer soda (without carbonation) and Orange Crush. You can find them in $ general $tree for 98 cents for 6 of them. Cheap and very tasty. Good Luck

WOW!! Congratulations!! That is one heck of a LOT of skin. When I ask my PS how much weight I would lose afterwards, he said "This is by no means a weight loss surgery" I did lose around 7#'s but he removed 10 plus pounds. Everything kind of moved around in there. I tell myself that I am almost 61yo and because of the allergic reaction I had with my Panni I think I am ok here. I had a hernia surgery when I was 6 Yo. I was allergic to the muscle relaxant and was put in an Iron Lung. Tha is real telling of my age. LOl So any way went I went into the hospital I told the Anesthesiolgist that my mom had passed away and I didn't know what the medication was, she told me that she would look up what was used for my RNY surgery. But...she didn't and she used the muscle relaxant that I am allergic to. I spent 8 hours in ICU paralyzed. I came to in recovery not able to open my eyes and she was shocking my temple saying she isn't coming thru. I couldn't MOVE anything!! Because of her I had a tube down my throat and they would not remove it until I was awake. My insureance paid $32,000 because of her not listening to me!! I I did call the patient advocacy and she told me that she would let her Supervisior about it. I have used that hospital since 2013 having my RNY and needing to go back in for my Endoscopes. It really makes me mad!! Now I have the allergy on my ID braclet. This IMO is neglect. I am super duper happy that everything worked out for you!! Take care and keep us posted.

Hi Ya!! I have had multiable open surgeries on my stomach. My 1st surgery was a hernia repair at 6 YO. I then had one appendix taken out at 12 YO. I had a hernia repair (open) when I was 19Yo. Had a Gallbladder surgery at 24YO. Hystro at 35ish, back surgery at 40ish. (THAT one was HELL double time) 2 ovary Surgery's at around 35 and 1 at 38ish. I had my RNY at 57. I know I have led a exciting life. Right. LOL Like I said above my back surgery was totally the worst surgery ever!! Now you see that I was pretty young for a lot of them and my body has always been good to me. Most of them were not to bad. I was pretty yound when I had my hernia surgery and of course my body healed very fast. I have never had problems with any of them. (except the back) It really is a mind game just phyic yourself up and grin and bear it. I hope you have someone to help you some. Take your time and let yourself heal. Good Luck.

Hi and Conratulations on your upcoming Panni!! I had mine Sept of 2015. I am not happy with my results. First my PS didn't come thru with what he told e would happen. He cut me on my bikini line also up the middle. Now I don't know how you are built but most of my weight was carried in my stomach. He told me that the Panni would pull my excess lose skin on my Fupa. NOT!! He told me that he would pull all of the skin to the front from my back NOT!! I complained about not being happy with my upper stomach, he told me that it was swelling. I ask him to make sure I didn't end up with "dog ears" yep both sides. The last time I seen him he rtold me that I was blessed to have excess skin on my lower belly and my upper stomach. I re plied that I didn't think it was a blessing it is a curse! So after all of that he told me that I needed Lipo and he would give me a good deal, he would do the Lipo and a breast lift for $6,000 to $7,000. I feel like he was just making more work for himself!! BUT....the bottom line is I would have paid the extra to get what I needed to have done!! If Only!! Don't get me wrong I am not telling you this to upset you. And I don't know how you are built but if possible I would check into Muscle repair and a Tummy Tuck. If you don't carry your excess weight in your upper stomach then you will love your Panni I am sure!! My insureance paid 100%. So happy there. I still kick around if I want to have more done, but I am 60 almost 61 and even if I had the nice flat tight stomach no one would see it except my hubby and I. Good luck Keep us posted on your results!!

Congratulations!! You are in for some AWESOME things coming in your Journey. KEEP ON KEEPING ON!! One great NSV!!!

I am almost 4 years out and I lost my weight very fast!! I lost 132#'s in 6 months. Because I had stricturres and needed 5 endoscopes with 4 dialations with a ballon. It started right after my RNY, I got to where I couldn't even hold down Water. This started in Nov of 2013 with my last endo dialation on Jan of 2015. Strictures are like scar tissue that closes your opening so nothing gets in or it takes a long time to go down. It felt like the food or water would sit on the top of my pouch and then went down slowly. Only to make me vomit it all back up. So I developed a Food Adversion, because I was so afraid to eat. I lived on oatmeal, Baby Bell cheese and Cheeto's!! Which my Dr knew about the whole time. I was told that if I had to eat whatever it took to nourish my body. But up side of this is I am great!! I have finally been able to branch out at what I can eat beleive me. LOL Not one Counselor knew what to do. The one I went here in my town didn't have a clue of what to do with me. Finally, I called my Surgeon who set me up with a Bariatric Counselor. But I didn't like her anwsers. She wanted me to eat every 1/2 hour that I was awake. She had me buy BOOST High Calorie junk!! I was so frustrated!! I told my hubby that I just traded one eating disorder for another. Now for the good stuff here are my stats: HW 249 (this time I had lost down from 285's) SW 232 LW 117 CW 125'#. So I have maintained my 124# loss for 3 and 1/2 years. I really don't know if my quick weight was a probem with my skin issues or if it is my age because I had lost 135#'s during one of my ups and down dieting. I didn't have any skin issue then but I was 52 and very very sick at that time. I have had a Panni done in Sept of 2015. They removed 10 plus pounds off my lower stomach. Now thats another story. LOL Sorry that I wrote a book. I just have lots to say!! You should meet me in real life. My hubby threatened to buy a Chastity belt for my mouth. LOL When we were first married. LOL Those memories just pop up sometimes. Any how have a great Sunday. Congraulations on your journey. Look forward t following it.

Preperation H or Tucks work good. I ysed them after each time I went poo!! They are the PITS for sure. Before my RNY I had "the back door trots" every time I ate!! It makes for a very sore bum. Now I have a hard time going but I would take that over constant runs any day!! Good luck I hope you find the thing you need to help you with the go.

I am totally with you on the leftovers. I really don't care for them. Now bac in my FAT DAYS I loved fried spaghetti, left over fried rice. Not any more. I'm with you on throwing away the extra food. I can't or won't eat it and I hate the waste of food. I would just stay home and have a slice of bread (of course Whole grain) with a little mayo 1 slice of ham and 1 slice of cheese. I also eat something I like until I just can not do it another day. I guess we all have our little food stuff!!

Isn't funny how things change. When I was dating (I know I am a older person) going out meant something totally different now than then. They call it going out if they are hanging out together? Say WHAT. What happened to going steady? Just me I guess. Then they say they are going out but he lives 100's of miles from her. (which is fine for me and her mom) LOL So very thankful I don't need to do that anymore as I have been married going on 43 years this August.

Hi jadeskys, I have Fibromylgia also plus Psoriasis arthritis and Osto arthritis. I know tat you proablly have been told that exercise is the key to helping us with our Fibro. I got so tired of hearing that but...now I know it is true!! My pain isn't gone by no means but man o mighty has it got better!! You are early out from your WLS. You need to just push yourself to get in your fluids as you already know from being in the hospital. My Suregon always told me that fluids and the Protein is what we need to concentrate on. The protein helps with healing and it doesn't take long to get dehydrated for sure. Your post sounds like mine. LOL I do still have some problems with my Blood pressure but I am so much better. I use to take 12 different medication. I was so insulin resistant I couldn't get my blood sugars under control I was on 100units of Levermire 2 times a day plus 500mg of Meteformin 2 times a day. I am off all diabetes meds, I take 4 precriptions now. Of course my Vitamins. Here are my STATS: HW 249# (I had lost from 285#'s before my WLS) SW 232 LW 117# CW 125 I lost down to my lowest of 117#s which means I had lost 132#'s but I did gain 8#'s back. Which is and was totally ok with myself and my DR. Just KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE keep doing everything your Surgeon 's guidelines and it will work out. I hope you can get to feeling beter so you can do more and this will help with your FIBRO, depression and anxity. I have so many illness like you. depresson, fibro, high blood pressure, anxiety, and panic attacks BTW your Wl is good. You are just 1 day shy of being a month. When have you been able to lose weigght and keep it off? If you are like myself, I have lost 100's of #'s over and over again. Hang tight you will get there. This is a journey not a quick fix. Hugs you've got this!!!

I had my RNY on July 2, 2013. I was 57Years old. I am now almost 61 ydears old. My PS was amazed at how fast my body healed after my Panni which was done last Sept. I am telling you IT IS SO WORTH IT. For the gas pains (I still have gas issues most of the time it is because I ate to much or the food just doesn't digest ) I have taken PAPAYA ENZYMES they have saved me so many times. They are chewable so I chew up 4 of them and lie on my left side. It works better for me than GAS X. With them you need to drink to get em down. When I have that gas going on I can't drink or eat anything. You can buy them at Walmart for less than $5.00. Plus they are 100% natural. LOVE THEM

CRINOLOGISTCRINOLOGISTAs was said there are many things that can make you need MORE INSULIN. but my hubby has also been on insulin forever a very long time. His Nutrtionist and his RD told him that each meal he was to have 45grams of carbs. which is 3 carbs per meal and that is when he weighed over 400#'s. There is a difference in TOTAL CARBS and GRAMS of carbs. Also you can deduct the Fiber in the foods and then it is NET CARBS. Each person needs to work with their ENDOCRINOLOGIST and a DIETITIAN to figure out the amount of carbs and calories that you will need to be able to lose weight and keep everything on a level plan to be sucessful. It is very frustrating I know, my hubby had a hard time when he was told to lose weight and get his A1C down to a 8 to get his surgery done. He had to do one or the other because they didn't happen together. He ended up going to Mexico to get WLS. That is another story. Good Luck and KEEP ON KEEPING ON!!

Hi Dave, I had my RNY July 2 2013. Before I discuss my weight loss story I was insulin resistant and had diabetes for 30 plus years. I took 100 units of Levermire twice a day plus 500mg of Meteformin twice a day. Without getting my sugars under control. I took 12 different medications. Now I take 4 with three of them for high blood pressure. I really wanted to be off those too but I just don't know how to unstress myself. If you figure it out let me know. I am able to get out and walk. I walk 3 to 4 miles 3 to 4 days a week. Which I also have Fibromylgia, Osteo arthritis, Psroriatic arthritis also. All I heard from my DR's was exercise will make it all better. But...how can you do the exercise when you are in pain and it makes it worse to do it. It kind of just goes to the wayside for sure. It defintly helped me with my pain levels I'm not saying I am pain free but to be able to get out there and feel so good about what I am doing is a blessing for sure. Now here are my stats: HIGH EST WEIGHT 249#s (this time I managed to lose from 285#'s before on my own) SURGERY WEIGHT 232#'s LOWEST WEIGHT 117#'s CURRENT WEIGHT 125#'s!! The best thing is I lost 132#'s in 6 months. I did gain 8#'s back but I have maintained my 124# loss for 3 and 1/2 years. Still going strong. I won't say that I wish I would have had it sooner because I was not ready for the work it takes as WLS is a tool!! We have to do the work. Would I do it again YES YES a million times YES!!! Now you and only you with the help for your Dr can decide which surgery you need to do. Good luck and I am sorry I wrote a book. Keep us posted and I look forward to following your progress!!

Sorry I read your post wrong Ithou

Just now, Sherrie Scharbrough said:

1st I would drop the pop. It isn't very good for us at all. Anyone. Then I would try to go back to basics. Do Protein 1st always. Take your time to eating. You still have it in you to fix things. You know what worked for you when you lost your 100#'s. Also remember the WLS is a TOOL. You have to do the work. When you do all of the basics I'll bet you will be surprised at how well your tool works for you. Good Luck

I didn't read your post right, I thought you said that Pop was the only thing you had started back up. LOL Just skip that one. LOL

1st I would drop the pop. It isn't very good for us at all. Anyone. Then I would try to go back to basics. Do Protein 1st always. Take your time to eating. You still have it in you to fix things. You know what worked for you when you lost your 100#'s. Also remember the WLS is a TOOL. You have to do the work. When you do all of the basics I'll bet you will be surprised at how well your tool works for you. Good Luck

Also, I have heard that "it isn't a stall unless you don't lose for 2 months. I only had one quirk while I lost my weight. It was early on and at that time I weighed every morning. I jumped on my scales and it said I was 2#'s up. I was scared to death that I was going to fail at this too. But...the very next day I was 3#'s down. WOO WOO!! I wouldn't increase my calories like was said by catwoman7 because you are so new out from surgery. Keep doing your program as your team has said and you WILL come out "THE WINNER"!!!

Thomas and wynellgray, My hubby weighed over 500#'s. Way back 17 years ago. He presued WLS back in 2000. His Surgeon convinced him that he needed the Lap Band. He lost 100#'s but had nothing but problems with it. In Sept 2013 he went in for a revision to the RNY. The band had eroded into his Liver so they removed his band and gallbladder then told him in 3 months after he healed they would do his RNY. He ended up with abcesses and was deathly sick for 9 months. (3 of them he doesn't even remember!! So after that he found out he has Cancer in his Kidney (which Tuesday he goes in for a ebalsion to kill the Cancer. He weighed to much for them to do anything, this was a huge reason that he needed to lose more weight. Fast forward to June of 2016. We went to Mexico and again they gtried to do the RNY not happening!! His total eft side was solid scar tissue!! So he got the Sleeve!! Now he has lost 135#'s. We are so excited!! Like I said earlier he gets his Cancer zapped like popcorn in the microwave. LOL That is what his Dr said. thought it was a great metaphor. Any how I wanted to share some of his walks in the fast lane. Both of you KEEP ON KEEPING ON!!!

Hi SassyPants, (I love your name) I hope that everythiong works out for you. I really don't think that we were the only one that had these experience. Just be careful. I am sorry that I am a DEBBIE DOWNER but I do care what happens to others. I still need some skin stuff and I know of people that have went to Mexico for their skin removals, but....even tho it would be cheaper I wouldn't go there. I just ask my hubby if he would go to Mexico even with the things that we both went thru. he said he still might. But it wouldn't be Juarez Mexico. He would go to Tijuana. We have heard good things about them. Personally I might notice I said might go thru Tijuana. It will be how much I want it and need it first off. I'm not sure but this site may have Skin removal Dr's. Take care. Hope to see you around sharing your Journey.

Hi, I don't want to rain on your parade. But my hubby had his Sleeve done by him. I WOULD NOT chance it. That Hospital isn't good. They have a hard time with understanding what you are saying. The nurses never washed their hands, only 1 nurse used the santizer, I am not lying they removed my hubby's IV without using gloves. Not once did they use gloves. The sad thing about that is my hubby has HEP B. We paid for a suite and they put us in a crappy room. He started doing surgeries early that morning and did them all day until 10pm that night. The medication that you pay $50.00 for is a joke, it did nothing for pain. If he had been in a lot of pain he would have been in trouble. He was released without discharge papers at all. When he was supposed to get the RNY but it ended up being the SLEEVE. When I ask for paperwork for that surgery they told me that RNY and Sleeve are the same. Which they are NOT. We had to bring our own washclothes from home. When I tried to explain that he was sick to his stomach they had no idea what I was talking about. We went thru the site called "BELITE WEIGHT LOSS" they were supposed to have everything taken care of. NOT They want their money right away. Which was not a probem at all. We paid for the RNY and when he didn't get that surgery there was a refund coming but they didn't give the amount that they should it was less. Them stating that his surgery was so complicating was the reason. At that time we just wanted it to be over and get home!! Just beware. You can also ask one of the adminstrator here on this site what they have heard about them. I hope everything goes ok.

I really have had very bad experience's with the VA and my hubby!! It took them 3 years to tell us that he has Cancer on his kidney!! It was horrible. An advocacy told us that we have a case and we should get a lawyer and sue the VA. But we can't find a lawyer who will take on the GOVERMENT. Sad but oh so true. Our local VA is the ones that took so long. Now FINALLY he is going up tomorrow for his Preop appointment. Then on the May 30th they are going to do a ablation which destroys the Cancer and then they will keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn't come back. He is way lucky that it is a very slow growing tumor. BTW we ARE NOT using this VA. We are going to Portland, Oregon to that VA. The great thing about this is the well known excellent hospital OREGON HEALTH AND SCIENCE UNIVERSARY is connected to the VA and they work together on cases if needed. I totally get what you are saying about the VA. I can say this because he was in the NAVY, I get what they call CHAMP VA I get all of my meds by mail free and I don't have to pay co-pay when I see my DR's. I get better treatment than he does because I get to pick my own DR. I'm grateful as all get out. II will have this for the rest of my life!! YAY me