Mattymatt

Agreed, @James Marusek. If healthcare really cared about people instead of profits, they would do as you suggest.

I am pretty much forced to make changes and this is really a good thing. I have to get my A1C below 8% and my blood sugar was not well controlled. As of my last test, it was 10%.

When I first got the news, I moped around. Then, I got my butt in gear. At the beginning of this month, I began carefully tracking sugars and eating the right carb to Protein ratio. Now my average reading on the meter is 129 which puts me well below the 8% threshold. If I can maintain this momentum through December, I think I can meet my goal. I'm glad that I have to do this. Otherwise, I might have continued to gain weight and just said to hell with it.

On 11/8/2017 at 3:19 PM, Heagler said:

I had my surgery June 20th, 2017 and so far I am down 74 pounds. I'm currently 221 Pounds. I have quite a bit more to go but I'm getting there!

You look fantastic! Keep it up!

Well, I am not a fan of making healthcare HARDER to access. I think the point that @James Marusek was trying to make is that the changes coming are not good ones and run antithetical to better health. The changes in the British NHS have 0 to deal with health and everything to do with politics and money. If I had to hazard a guess, this is actually a play to begin to lower taxes for the wealthy and shift the burden onto the working class. By spending less money, the NHS would naturally need less money from the tax base so tax cuts can strategically happen for the wealthy. I'll bet England's wealthy elite have their eyes on what is going on in the States and they want some of those same tax advantages. Yes, I am more than a little cynical.

Call me callous, but I do not understand why people would cheat during this phase. I mean I understand that there is temptation but the surgery is so close. For those getting covered by insurance, many of us have to wait 3-6 months. To me, cheating would seem like too much of a risk of having to start the entire process over again because the surgeon cannot operate due to the liver size. My wait is only 3 months and even that seems like an eternity. I am not about to let 2 weeks potentially get in the way of having the surgery done. When I first started the journey back on Oct. 23rd, it felt like late January - early February might as well be 10 years away. Now that I am about to have my second nutrition appointment and the psychological, be damned if anything that is under my control is going to derail this.

13 minutes ago, BigTex said:

Good sir let me tell you! They do decrease and you will feel so excited!! I actually had my measured at Victoria secret (DONT YOU JUDGE ME) and started off in the I's. I'm now down to a 48 F. I'm determined to get these moobs out my life!

Sent from my SM-N950U using BariatricPal mobile app

Humor is the best way to deal with this! Thanks for the laugh. My moobs are perhaps the only thing that I am really self conscious about. The rest of my body, well, I could give less of a ****. But those man titties need to go.

Yeah, I'm not well controlled right now. I'm just trying to get A1C at or below 8%. If I can just achieve that much, I'll be so much better off.

Well, I think I discovered something very interesting this morning. On the advice of one of the people in this bariatric support group that I attended over the weekend, I tried a low carb Breakfast at only 7 grams of carbs. This morning I woke up with a blood sugar of 121 and 2.5 hours post-breakfast, my blood sugar is 90. My insulin resistance must be pretty bad. Well, I now see that this journey is about a permanent lifestyle alteration. I am so over pricking my finger 3x per day to check my blood sugar. Also, I am done swallowing those Metformin horse pills. I am going to have to start collecting some food ideas.

1 minute ago, GwennyPenny said:

I was being treated with Janumet and was getting close to needing insulin. I had to stop the meds the day before surgery. I had the bypass on Aug 10th and never went back on them. My blood sugar has been under control for 11 weeks. I thought it might change once I was back on solid food but it's still in remission which is what the surgeon called it.

Sent from my CPH1607 using BariatricPal mobile app

I'm on insulin and hoping for the same result as you. My endocrinologist said that after surgery, I would be sent home with nothing. I would be told to stop Metformin and Glipizide as well. I cannot wait!!! Type 2 Diabetes sucks.

I went to a support group for bariatric surgery this past Saturday. I learned so much that now I'm sold on the idea. Even though I'm still quite a ways from a surgery date, the learning has been invaluable.

One thing I really struggle with is Breakfast because most breakfast foods are carbohydrate rich. Someone recommended taking some canned chicken and mixing it with mustard. Made quite a delicious and filling breakfast. I added some pecans to the mix as well.

Sometimes we get so ingrained in our habits that we forget that we can go outside the box. Hearing other people make recommendations was so helpful.

I learned of another great idea. Take a premiere Protein Shake, caramel flavor, and mix PB2 with it. I never heard of PB2 but the person's description of this Protein shake made my mouth Water.

37 minutes ago, Berry78 said:

It seems like everyone has low vit. D. 6 weeks.. that'll be right around Christmas/New Years!

Funny, my Vitamin D was low too. Even though I'm not even one month into this journey I'm learning so much.

Just now, FloridaElle said:

Thanks, Matt! The more I'm reading, the more it sounds like it's not much different in terms of diet. Where in PA are you?

I'm in West Chester. I'm going through Penn Medicine's program.

On 11/2/2017 at 8:15 PM, Pat Pac said:

Hello Charpower:

I agree that reducing weight will reduce my dependence of insulin &/or diabetic meds. but when I told my doctor that I want the Sleeve surgery, he told me that the bypass surgery is better for me because is the one that will reduce my diabetic.

my question is if somebody know the difference between both surgeries and why one is better to reduce diabetic than the other when both surgeries help to reduce weight.

My doctors recommended RNY for the same reason. It was their opinion that RNY would be better for type 2 diabetics. They all said the chances of reversing diabetes is better through RNY.

3 hours ago, FloridaElle said:

Hi!

Long time reader, first time poster. After several years of researching, I finally decided it was time. I went to a highly regarded surgeon, I completed my six month mandatory (per insurance) wait. I met with the nut, I had my psych eval, I had blood work, EKG, etc. I even lost weight. Then, on my last visit with my surgeon, I happened to mention that I get heartburn every once in a while, nothing that can't be relieved with Tums. He asked about reflux, and I told him the only time it has ever happened, I was eight months pregnant and ate hot wings.

He decided he wanted me to have EGD, just to be safe. Wouldn't you know it came back as Barrett's Esophagus ( No dysplasia.) I am DEVASTATED. I have spent MONTHS reading and learning and preparing for the sleeve, and now it's all in jeopardy. My surgeon said since there is no dysplasia, that he would still sleeve me, but I needed to be aware that I may have to be converted to RNY down the line if the GERD gets worse. He also advised me that I was limiting my treatment options if I was to ever develop Esophageal cancer. After a long few days crying my eyes out and discussing with my partners- I decided to go ahead and just have the RNY. I figured I'll do the hard part now, ( longer recovery, etc) than do the sleeve, and have it hanging over my head that I may need to go back in for a revision each time I feel a tingle.

So happy to have found you!

Elle

The recovery is not necessarily longer for RNY. I've been told it is about the same but it really depends on the individual person. The RNY is a good way to go. The statistics favor RNY for long term success. Even though I really don't have GERD, I'm still doing the bypass because all of my doctors think it will work better for me.

On 11/10/2017 at 7:00 PM, cheezeater said:

Hello, this is my first post, very new to all this. I'm in the middle of my required bariatric program before having the procedure. If everything goes as planned I'll be having surgery around March...I been prepping for the sleeve but it seems like my doctors are leaning me towards the bypass. Is there anyone out there that has changed their mind about the type of surgey? What made you decide?

Sent from my SM-S902L using BariatricPal mobile app

I changed my mind. Initially, I was going for the sleeve but I decided to do the bypass because I tend to be a sweet eater. I'm hoping I'll get the dumping syndrome so I will be strongly discouraged to eat things like donuts and cake.

If you're losing 10 pounds a week, that's fooking incredible!

I'm so sensitive about my moobs that I won't swim without a shirt on.

I treat people whom walk in the same shoes that I am in with empathy. I meant that I would never forget from whence I came.

Well said @ChaosUnlimited. Once I reach goal weight, I will not discriminate against heavy people. In fact, I have a moral responsibility to be empathetic and understanding, having walked the mile in their shoes.

2 minutes ago, BigTex said:

Man titties are the bane of my existentence right now

Sent from my SM-N950U using BariatricPal mobile app

Well, at least there is an eventual end to it. At least mine are soft. ROFL! Big Tex, you and I will probably get more weight off than we've set our goal.

2 hours ago, hmills653 said:

So I found these Cookies today. They are called "My Cookie". They have 18 gms Protein, I was so focused on the Protein that I didn't pay attention to the carbs. What's your input. Are these ok, or finish them and find something different.

This does not look nutritious at all. Yes, it's high in protein but it is still relatively high in carbohydrates and calories. As an occasional snack, I think it's not bad but I wouldn't make this a daily thing.

9 hours ago, James Marusek said:

This morning, I read a humorous article titled Man Boobs From Hoppy Beer? An 'Earth Poet' Says Yes, Science Says No. https://www.acsh.org/news/2017/11/01/man-boobs-hoppy-beer-earth-poet-says-yes-science-says-no-12061

But it does bring up an interesting topic. For several decades prior to my RNY gastric bypass surgery, I had enlarged breast. As a man this is rather embarrassing condition, especially when I go to the YMCA for a swim. According to this article When the enlarged breasts are a result of obesity it is called pseudogynecomastia. I am now over 4 years post-op and my breasts have returned closer to their normal size. Has anyone else noticed this effect?

I sure as hell hope that I lose my man boobs. Jeez, they're a little embarrassing.

It's understandable that a surgeon might require some weight loss, depending on the surgery. Surgery always has risk involved and overweight patients present a higher risk to the patient. That much said, I hate fat shaming and that kind of behavior is never acceptable.

12 minutes ago, sleevedshereen said:

@ChaosUnlimited I know exactly how you feel! In 2014 I was maybe 150lbs...guys used to open doors for me, approach me, give me attention. Fast forward to 2017 when I was 228 lbs, guys did not hold the doors open for me, did not approach me, no attention. It was a really crappy feeling. Once I started losing weight, 43 lbs...i'm starting to get that attention back and it's actually really messed up that guys wouldn't show a girl who weighs a little more the same respect to hold a freaking door open!! It makes me angry. It has been interesting to see just how differently I was treated as a plus size woman not only by men, but by society when it comes to shopping, what's on tv and social media...it's sad that we're treated as second class citizens because of our size. It really affected me seeing the difference in how I was treated at my biggest, vs at my smallest.

Men are also on the receiving end. I've had pitiful looks and outright glares of disdain from women. It certainly is very hurtful, and for the most part, I am simply taking that negativity and turning it into a stronger resolution to beat this weight problem into submission. I am the decent, kind-hearted person on the inside and out. The only thing is that I am heavy: it's neither weakness nor character flaw. Anyhow, I don't like my women super skinny. A little meat on the bones is okay with me! When I say personality matters, I mean that personality matters. We all age and even movie stars cannot keep their looks forever.

It's funny, it never occurred to me that they bias could be biologically-based. That's pretty insightful!