Rainbow_Warrior

Be over the moon for this! I had moments of doubt and put off surgery from 2006-2010 ... once the mortality rate fell below 0.35% (under one person in 550 operations), I knew it was mathematically safe even for a formerly super morbidly obese person as I was. I had two lots of ten seconds of "Is this the right thing?" before the anaesthetic. Those were 20 wasted seconds. This is an ultra smart thing I have done ... and there's over 99% chance that it will be very good to excellent for you too, @Todd_196 ... and, just as a further good omen, I live on a street called TODD Street and my wife's birthday is 19/6 (how we write June 19 in Australia). You gotta be blessed having me comment. <GRIN>

No ... do the reset diet. And do it ASAP. Complete_Five_Day_Reset_Diet.pdf

You have to re-engage. Give your 15yo son a role model to be proud of.

No, not in my case. Food tastes as it did before surgery ... I'm just better at avoiding trigger foods now.

Possibly. Maybe you need to get some more protein shake into you.

I use a side plate, NOT a dinner plate, for my meals. I leave food on the plate if I can't fit it in or if I am feeling full enough or sated. I use a cocktail fork with three small tines (rather than a regular dinner fork with four long sharp tines). I eat cereal and soup with a teaspoon. THESE WERE ALL IMPROVEMENTS FOR ME PRE-OP and POST-OP.

No ... was told "NO IBUPROFEN-BASED PAIN KILLERS OR ANALGESICS". It was in big print in the clinic folder.

That is okay ... I'm 115 days post-op. That's sixteen and a half weeks. It's six and a half months ... 28 weeks since i met my surgeon. Total loss = 36kg (80 pounds). Loss since op = 20.1kg (45 pounds). You're doing fine. Your trend is good ... like mine ... and way better than being obese! NOTE: I am male, 62 yo and I swim 2 to 3 hours daily.

Have you considered adding two or three teaspoons of Benefiber or Metamucil to your protein shakes or water? Works for others.

I find that sort of doing both is a good option ... i.e. a nice mix of high protein and lower carbs. I aim for a ratio of Proteins:Carbohydrates of 5:3 at best and 5:4 as acceptable. It's generally working for me. With exercise, every loss I make at my weekly weigh-in is a 9:1 ratio FAT:LEAN ... It may not be best for you but worth a try if your dietitian and/or your surgeon agree.

75% of Australian supermarkets have them.

Ditto that. I keep one (and nice aromatic toothpaste) in the centre console in my car. I am conscious of a quick brush before each job I do or each client I speak to.

No ... was not anywhere in the oral session nor the copious support notes that the clinic provided.

Mmmm ... My wife says that the worst thing for her about my ketosis period was the change in the smell [READ: lingering smell] of my urine. Even after only seconds in the toilet bowl and an almost immediate flush, she said that it was a very different odour than anything in our life together. All is okay now but she said that it was a very testing 6-7 weeks and we went through two aerosol packs of Glen20 and two pump-packs of Nil-Odour to save her nose. I could NOT tell any difference but she said it was quite pronounced.

I'm not a surgeon or your surgeon but I was allowed to shower the first few days and to bath after my review at about 24 days. My op incisions were healed (i.e. no glue, no hanging stitches or suture threads) by day 11.

I've never eaten a spoon. :-) I have a thin coating of hommus on a Ryvita crispbread before adding shaved chicken or sliced poached egg or tomato or avocado or some combination thereof.

It would seem the best thing for all. Had the O.P. clearly stated what she alleged the doctor's nasty comment was [IN HER INITIAL POST], I'm sure the advice given by the many people in the first couple of pages of this thread would have been different.

No ... it would be an unconscionable thing to say. When I responded I responded to the O.P.'s very first post. I stated I wasn't there in the meeting with the surgeon (and that I knew nothing of PeachesCat's psyche or history) and needed to know what constituted a nasty remark/comment IHHO. [n.b. some people react very strongly to doctors and practitioners telling them hard rules or procedures.] - - - If, in fact, PeachesCat's surgeon used that term, he deserves censure. I do hope she referred it to the clinic business manager (or the practice manager) verbally and in writing. If those are the words the surgeon actually used, it does not show empathy considering that the overwhelming majority of bariatric surgeons are well aware of the sensitivities and prejudices that obese people experience. - - - Here, in Australia, if one feels one's doctor/surgeon/practitioner is rude or brusque or demeaning, there is a form of redress and a way to complain via the Health Complaints Commission and the surgeon's professional association. I presume similar procedures are in place in the USA. No? PeachesCat should be drafting her complaint ASAP.

I wasn't there and I have no concept of your psyche or your emotions but I can see that you feel aggrieved. Put yourself in the surgeon's place for a minute or two. He's given you the task of showing a relatively continuous weight-loss trend leading to surgery. In other words, he's asking if you're committed to your side of the task prior to his surgical intervention. If he was to go ahead with surgery when you were not showing 100% commitment to losing weight weigh-in to weigh-in, he might be censured by insurers or his professional body. It might have a severe impact on his professional indemnity insurance costs if he plays fast and loose with patients who don't demonstrate 100% commitment to their own cause. - - - Define "nasty" or share the main elements of what he said so that we (readers) can assess his words. (Not that we'll hear his tone or yours!) - - - Err ... perhaps you do. Convince me why not!

Your husband is facing a two-edged sword: 1. He may genuinely feel that he will lose you on the operating table and is, therefore, trying to prevent that through whatever crappy reasoning he's using. 2. He may (separately or jointly with # 1) feel that you will improve your body, your life and lifestyle significantly over 18 months to two years if you have WLS. If that occurs, he may (in his confused forward thinking) assume that you will meet and run off with a better quality man. What to do: A. Tell him clearly why you are getting the surgery and ask him to give you his support. B. Tell him that if he refuses # A that you really will still go ahead with your solution to your health/lifestyle for yourself. Add that you are not pleased about his objections but that you have to look after yourself for all the reasons you've outlined. - - - If, ultimately, he's not strong enough to support you, LET HIM GO.

If your buoyancy changes anything like "normal", you will mirror my experience. As I have lost 36kg (80 pounds), my body sits lower in the water. MY REMAINING BODY IS FAR MORE DENSE. I have lost some of the less dense visceral fat. According to my sister and another of my swim buddies, I am 50mm-80mm lower in the water ... i.e. 2" to 3" difference.

A basic backyard pool is $AUD12000 ... unaffordable for most people. A three-month pass to the local indoor swimming centre is $AUD123. No general time limits (other than closing time). I usually stay three to five hours per visit. That's better value than pool ownership.

Ditto. When I first went back to swimming (170kg or 375 pounds) I could hold my breath for 15-18 seconds. Now (at 138kg or 304 pounds) I'm good for 45-50 seconds.

Goes with ketosis. Will improve but it is a productive of the change to a high-protein, low-carb existence.