hope4momof4

Thank you so much in taking the time to write me it means so very much to me I have been in fact bullied most of my life for weight related issues especially by my family and it's very hurtful so I did not feel the need to say anything to them regarding this and it's very comfortable to know I am not alone and I appreciate you greatly for taking the time to write [emoji846] I am sending many blessings your way good luck to you and I hope you have nothing but success

Well, I am just taking the "this is my choice and is what I am doing and if u don't like I don't really care" approach. If people ask, I will tell them. I am at the point I need to lose 100 pounds to be healthier and happier. I am doing this to help reduce my chance of becoming diabetic or having a stroke or heart attack and to help increase my energy level. Of course I want to look better, but my main focus is becoming healthier and more active. Some people will be supportive, some will judge, but at least i will know who your supporters are and aren't. I have educated some people who have asked but why are you doing this, and it gave them a different outlook. I never thought my parents would be onboard, but I said I can have this surgery and be healthier and live longer or not have the surgery and die younger and be miserable. Surgery is just a tool though, I am preop but I am working on changing my eating habits and exercise habits. I am so excited to have lost 10 pounds in the past two months, but I still have 100 to go. I am approaching this as a lifestyle change and not just a diet. I am tired of plateauing at 220-225 pounds and never getting below that point. I know this can help me get past that point and into onederland. I haven't been in onederland for 20 years! So, I say stop worrying what everyone will say and show them why you made this choice, because you will be successful, healthier and happier! We have allowed people to talk about us and our weight behind our backs so why worry about what they are going to say about surgery? We can't change those people who will judge or gossip, but let's not waste our time worrying about it or them either. keep your head up and be proud!

Hi hi hope4momof4!! Caring for my children has been no problem. The first 3-5 days I was tired and my husband had to work so my mom helped out. I would plan to stay wherever you have the procedure done for at least 3 full days after. That should manage any initial post op difficulty. But it’s really easy with kids, I just told mine I didn’t feel well (sick). Also, told friends that too. No one ever questioned anything. Why would they? I also did talk about my plans to “go hard” again on getting my weight down around the time of the procedure. Due to summer travel & other events I said I’d have to get on track after. Essentially preparing people for my weight loss. I have told no one about having this done. My mother, mother-in-law and husband and the only three people. I didn’t want any judgment and it’s been a great choice. I do however feel that this procedure could help some of my close friends but I’m still not planning to share at this point. Regarding my kids, I have even baked Cookies and banana bread and pancakes every Sunday. Not a single bite! I cook meals every day that I don’t eat with no problem.

My pre-procedure requirements were very easy. No blood work or anything. Just 2 days of Clear Liquids leading up and 1 day post clear liquids (the clear liquid stage was a bit challenging) then full liquid after.

Regarding how much I paid, I’m not sure what I’ll be charged yet. My doctor bills this procedure as an Endoscopic procedure ( not as a ESG). We haven’t received a bill yet but don’t expect it to be too much[emoji4].

I truly and with all my heart could not recommend this procedure more highly. It’s been incredible and from what you said to Melesg, I was right where you are now...feeling so frustrated with my weight and letting it spill over into other areas. For me having lost 25+ pounds 3 times since my 3rd baby (she’s 3.5 now) was born... has been so deeply depressing. I almost didn’t recognize myself, my happy joyous ways were so muted and I was hiding. My husband was hesitant initially when I brought this to him but I became very educated before I spoke to him so it wasn’t long before he was super supportive. He has watched me work so hard to loose then have it all come back. This will be a gift to you and your family.

Thank you Mel. I have been looking into this procedure for months and was excited that it was being offered in certain locations in the country. I was initially interested in a gastric balloon but changed my mind after reading reviews from people who have had it. I was even thinking of traveling to Canada or Mexico to have the balloon done before the FDA approved it in the USA. It was reviews from real people like you that have had the balloon that made me change my mind and wait for something more effective that would be worth the money spent and the discomfort of going through a procedure. I really believe that having an ESG may be the exact thing I need to help me finally take control of my eating habits and give me the result I’m looking for which is an initial decent weight loss and then a possible gradual weight loss over time. So far everyone who has had the ESG and posted about it has recommended it. I’m so glad I waited. I’m also so glad I joined this forum because people like you are kind enough to take the time to answer all my questions and concerns. I have already started saving up on the side for this and probably will go forward once I figure out how to tell my husband. Thankfully you just gave me some peace of mind about my teenage boys who probably won’t even notice. I don’t think they’ll get their eyes off their phones or iPads long enough to pay attention lol. Thanks Mel. Please keep me posted on your progress. Sounds like you still struggle at times but at least you’ve seen results will hopefully continue your success. All my best.

Oh one more thing Mel, sorry I meant to ask you. Was your procedure endoscopic or was it a traditional gastric plication where there were incisions? I’m just wondering because you said you were gone for a week and ESG is supposed to be a same day procedure.

Oh wow Mel your post almost put me in tears. You are so right about spending $ on our children in a heartbeat even if it will only slightly improve their quality of life. I do want to do this not only for myself but for my family to be honest with you. I really think that if I am able to achieve a decent amount of weight loss, I mean 30 or 35 pounds, then my entire outlook on life would improve. I know it is not the answer to all my problems but it would definitely help. Do you know how many times I’ve felt bad about my weight and let those emotions spill out into my general mood for the day? How many times have I heard my husband ask me what’s wrong and why am I upset or cranky! I can’t even give him a decent answer. I can’t even verbalize my day to day struggle with my self image. It’s really “weighing” down heavily on my life. You’re right I need to do this. I just hope it works well for me as a tool. I do exercise and try to eat healthy but my weight has crept up on me and I’m tired of the constant struggle. I will keep you posted and please continue to post about your progress. You have inspired me to go forward. I want to know that you are there as a senior or pro at this procedure. My continued blessings to you.

Yes my procedure was endoscopic. As I lived out of state they required me to stay for 7-10 days to ensure any complications could be dealt with quickly. I was well enough to drive the 10 hours home on day 5 as I was fine. They also had an infusion clinic that we could attend as much as we wanted which was so good. For 3 days I had Iv fluids and lots of Iv drugs to make me feel better. My dr has us nil by mouth for 3 days post procedure so the fluids really helped. I think this is not the norm though as most esg clients drink soon after.

I'm so glad that we are able to connect and support one another via this forum. I know how valuable it was to have questions answered honestly so that I really knew what I was signing up for.

It really does affect your entire life. I don't remember a time when I haven't been on a diet or preparing for the next one. It feels like such a cycle that just wears you down to the point that it dominates your whole self worth. Despite success in other areas of our lives, it is still the one thing that is always out of reach.

Remember that with or without this procedure, you are loved beyond measure by your family. Perhaps it's time for us to all be a bit kinder to ourself and Celebrate all the things we do well.

Take care
Mel.

Thanks so much bell3endosleeve. So kind of you to answer me in such detail. I am so happy that your procedure went well and it was a success! I was wondering how it is now dealing with caring for your children and getting back into a normal routine. How long did it take for you to feel well enough to go back to your routine? What was your pre procedure requirements like diet and blood tests, etc. ? I can see that you had some pretty bad nausea for the first few days but were you completely debilitated or was it sporadic fits of nausea until day 3 when it got much better? Did others around you notice that you had a procedure done or was it not something strikingly obvious unless you told them? How much did you pay to get it done on the west coast? I was quoted between 10-11 thousand. Thanks so much for all this information and please don’t hesitate to tell me that I’m asking too many questions if I’m overwhelming you. Your responses are truly so valuable to me right now as I am still indecisive. All my best.

As soon as me and my doctor started discussing the possibility of having bariatric surgery I knew my family would be dead set against it! Although I knew they wouldn’t agree I also knew it would be impossible to keep it from my husband. So, I told him and my best friend. I explained to them why I didn’t want to tell my parents, sisters and kids and swore them to secrecy. Now, I’m am two weeks away from surgery so the idea of telling the rest of my family has become a huge burden. But I’m okay. Some may see it as a cowards way out, but last weekend i took the time to write each of them a letter; I wrote one to my parents, my sisters then my children, which I forwarded to my best friend and on the day of surgery as I’m going into the OR she will send them out. Imagine your family is filled with some very strong willed and opinionated folks like mine LOL! I can understand why you wouldn’t want to share with them but I think you should find at least one person I found a lot of support from a coworker (she’s even doing the liquid diet with me, she’s the best) - u need that someone in your corner because this process is very stressful and having someone there alongside you will be very beneficial.

hi there. I'm a newbie but this topic is the most agonizing part of my decision to have a weight loss procedure done. And just like tahoegirl96118, I can't tell my family because they will not support me. What makes it worse for me is that I can't even tell my husband because he would never support that decision either. I will get the usual line of ,"You're not that big", and "Don't you think that is a bit extreme, you can lose weight by exercising and eating right." If losing weight were that easy then we wouldn't have an obesity epidemic! This is probably why I was contemplating getting the endoscopic sleeve because there are no incisions and it is done as an outpatient procedure. This decision is scary enough let alone dealing with critical haters. I hope I can pull this off. I am honestly not sure how at all. Has anyone actually been able to get any procedure done without telling anyone? Please give me advice guys!!

Hi, I'm a 51 year old male, 6'2" and 305 lbs (BMI 39), living in the Houston area who like many has struggled with managing my weight ever since college.
My weight began to yo-yo in my 30's and has fluctuated by 30 -50 pounds per year since then. Initially I could lose 20-30 pounds just by getting more active, cycling and some gym work. As I got into my late 30's I needed some caloric restriction and a much more active gym regimen. Also from my late 30's I began a gradual increase in my weight, adding about 25 pounds every 5 years.
In my early 40's I added things like CrossFit and severe caloric restriction, even with months of this I could only get down to a weight that was about 50 pounds over my goal weight of 225 lbs (BMI 29). At 45 I added a personal trainer 3x/week to my routine to try and get back in control, I was fluctuating from 70 - 90 pounds over my goal weight.I have kept up this regime into my 50's but have gotten as high at 330 lbs in the last year or so. I did a Vegan cleanse to bring my weight back down towards 300 lbs, but don't feel like this is a sustainable approach to manage my weight for the rest of my life.
ESG is a good fit with my work and lifestyle, I can't be out of the office for an extended period of time and prefer the endoscope to an incision.
I am considering two doctors in the Houston area, it would be great to hear opinions of those who have worked with them:
Dr. Todd Wilson - University of Texas Minimally Invasive Surgeons of Texas (UT MIST) Dr. Robert Marvin - Houston Surgical Specialists I haven't finalized a doctor or scheduled a date yet but have talked to both doctors and nutritionists. So far the prep and post procedure diets I have heard of are very similar. I'm happy to answer any questions as I progress and would love to hear from others in a similar situation or who have completed ESG.
Thanks for letting me share, it's really helpful.

Hi hope4momof4,

Welcome to the forum. Just thought I would add some comments in case they help ;0).

I am now 6 weeks since my esg and have 3 teenagers. They still don't know I had the procedure and I even had to go interstate for a week to have it done. Gotta love teenagers!!! Expect a few days after the procedure to feel fairly ordinary but most of us seem to be feeling quite well after this time. The nausea and cramping for me ranged from a 7/10 down to nothing during the first few days.

Pre surgery requirements seem to vary. I had blood tests, h pylori breath test and had a pre op diet of shakes and a Protein meal for 2 weeks.

As Belle said, short term pain for long term gain. My weight loss was initially fast and has really slowed now. It definitely takes ongoing commitment to healthy eating and I see this treatment as a big help to becoming fit and healthy but not the answer by itself. I could still overeat and do not feel overly restricted but it still is working. It seems to be easer to choose better food and to stop eating sooner. Sounds strange I know but your body seems to crave healthy options. I know I couldn't lose the weight without help and I don't regret my esg one bit. I was happy to avoid the risks of surgery and love my esg team. I speak to the nutritionist every few weeks, psychologist once a month initially and dr review every 6 months.

It's a big decision. Ask all the questions you need - we have all been exactly where you are.

Mel.

10/1/2017
Hi everyone! I had my ESG three days ago. In all honesty it was a very very rough first and second day. My procedure was delayed due to the surgery scheduled before me going way over. I was scheduled for Thursday 2pm ...I didn't end up going in until 7pm. I woke at 2am Friday feeling absolutely horrendous. And continued to feel extremely bad until Saturday morning. I am feeling much much better now and am working hard to get food/protein smoothie down. I feel no hunger whatsoever but am weak so I know I need nutrition. There wasn't ever a huge amount of pain just extremely nauseous and a very strange tight uncomfortable feeling in my stomach. Both have subsided significantly - however a lot of very loud strange rumbles and grumbles are going on in my abdomen. Upside, I have already lost. Feeling hopeful and positive!!!

10/22/2017
I am feeling amazing, I've lost 20 pounds since I started weighing I think 5 pounds the week prior to procedure - 13 since surgery day. First few days were record books bad. I felt really really bad but then it just got better right away. I love how easily I get full!!! After those initial few days in which I had some pain and perhaps a small amount of reflux...There really has been no reflux, no Constipation ever, & no pain ...no side effects. I cant believe how easy this was really. I have more energy then ever and feel extremely clear headed. I'm following a low carb, high Protein, vegan as often as possible...but I'm definitely not vegan. I do very little dairy and no breads or wheat...I'm gluten intolerant- perhaps even may have celiacs (several people in my immediate family have been diagnosed). I'm excited to see what the future holds with this. Everyone is starting notice, a lot of my old clothes are starting to fit again and it's really exciting. What a gift this procedure has been.

10/23/2017
I have lost rapidly I'm expecting a plateau soon ( I don’t want one of course but will be okay with it)
I'm eating 1-2 meals per day and 2-3 Protein Shakes and just as much liquid as I can consume in a day. 48-64 oz which I feel has a HUGE effect on knowing whether I'm feeling hungry or thirsty. I also use PURE by crystal lite, it's super tasty and has none of the bad stuff. They have one with caffeine so I drink 24-32 oz first thing in the am before any meal. So an average day will be:


8:00am: 32oz water/Pure with caffeine
9:30am: 10oz high protein low carb ( using Garden of Life Yum) with unsweetened vanilla almond milk
10:30 24/32 oz water/Pure no caffeine
11:00 snack : 17 almonds or cashews- yummm
12:30: salmon salad, chicken salad, or tuna salad
130pm: 24 oz Water with Pure
2:30 pm: nut snack/edamame snack
4:00pm: 24 oz water Pure
500pm: Garden of Life protein with unsweetened almond milk
7:00 sugar free hard candy or sugar free Jello with a spray of sweet whip cream.

I walk some but am waiting to exercise much as my doctor said to wait to do heavy exercise as it may seriously increase my appetite. I've been eating 800-1200 calories per day and do not feel tired at all throughout the day. I did for the first week but then made sure to get enough protein in a day 75-85 minimum grams with oftentimes more.

Overall so far I couldn’t be more ecstatic about my choice. In the scheme of things the suffering was so very very short for the major payout so far. Of course I’m still only 26 days out. So I need to check back in 6 months or year plus. But I feel so motivated by how easily I get full it’s wonderful- I love it. I make great choices every single meal because I don’t have much room in there. I’ve make a mistake once and ate something not on plan and I suffered for hours with a horrible feeling in my stomach. That’s all it took.

Hi Bell3endosleeve and all other endosleevers. I was particularly interested in knowing how bell3endosleeve's procedure went. I hope that the procedure went smoothly and that you didn't experience pain or discomfort. I am interested in knowing why you decided on the endoscopic sleeve. Your numbers are so close to mine that I would love to know how you are doing postop. You should be about one month out now. Do you believe it was worth it? How much weight did you lose being that your BMI is on the low side? My BMI is 32 and I'm also a 43 year old mother of 4 boys however. Unlike your little ones my boys are all older. They are 19, 18, 15, and 11 so I'm finding it difficult to make this decision because they are at the age where they are aware of things and this will be hard to hide. I'm confused and looking for a little guidance and advice from someone who has had this procedure done and if they were able to continue with life as usual or was it really a long downtime. Thanks in advance for any help or advice.

A large percent of pre-op weight loss surgery candidates feel that once their waistline changes, so will their thinking, and their dead wrong.




Today, during one of my pre-op psych evaluations, I heard a woman say “I just feel like once I start losing weight and start feeling so much better about my self- I will stop doing all the destructive things that got me here. Don’t you think?”
My response was “no I don’t agree.” I went on to explain that hers was a common assumption, a dangerous “magic-bullet” fantasy about what weight loss surgery can do.
Here’s why: The part of our brain that is responsible for the thought : “wow I look so much better, I better not mess this up,” or “I feel better than I have ever felt in my life, I am a changed person,” is not the same part of the brain that wakes us up in the middle of the night and says: “go on, finish that 1/2 pint of Chunky Monkey in the freezer, there’s only a little bit left anyway, and I have been so good here lately.”
We are dealing with two very different brains; the frontal cortex and the reptilian mid brain. The frontal cortex is the most newly developed (relative to other parts of the brain) part of the brain. It is the component that separates us from animals. It gives us the ability to think about consequences, plan, and execute. It is the “higher” part of ourselves, that often says “why do I keep on doing the same things I keep saying I won’t do anymore?” Or “I feel so out of control. This _______ (eating, smoking, drinking, gambling, pick your poison) is a temporary solution that produces long term pain. I have to find a different way.”
Our reptilian midbrain is the Commodore 64 to our MAC; it is the palm pilot to our iPhone; the horse and buggy to our Prius; the Tommy Lee to our Oprah. Our midbrain is antique equipment, long ago evolved to keep us alive and hence the reason it is still with us today- it keeps us alive. Our midbrain contains the parts of the brain that make us recoil at the site of a snake or a spider in our peripheral vision. It is hardwired to not have to go through superfluous channels of the brain that might otherwise say “hmmm what is that crawling over there? How do I feel about that? Oh its just a spider, my aunt had a collection of spiders, maybe I should collect things, etc etc.” We just jump, and process later.
That very system has helped humans survive for thousands of years. There is an adaptive quality to a brain that proverbially acts and asks forgiveness later. That very old structure once kept us out of harm’s way when a pack of tigers were first seen galloping across a horizon, or when a rivaling tribe could be heard in the far off distance, threatening to pillage our territory.
Our midbrain is associated with learning and reward. Learning what makes us feel bad, what eats us (in the past that would be in a literal sense- like tigers, but presently it might be a mercurial supervisor or unending debt), and even more relevant to this article- what makes us feel good. When our brains come across something that makes us feel good (ex: sex, drugs, food), we are then flooded with an influx of the powerful neurotransmitter- dopamine. Just like not everyone that is exposed to drugs will develop an addiction, not everyone that eats a Nutella crepe will develop a food addiction.
Much of the research on obesity currently, postulates that food addiction, no dissimilar than alcohol or drug addiction- is a reward system dysfunction or dysregulation, born out of genetic predisposition. It’s almost as if some brains think “if one slice of pizza feels good, how would four slices of pizza taste?”
To break these two very different parts up in a different, more basic way; our frontal cortex is the voluntary, while our midbrain is the involuntary.
This very dangerous fantasy, many people carry into weight loss surgery is a myth that I try to dispel quickly. This type of “magic bullet’ thinking is the very thing that gets so many gastric bypass and sleeve patients into trouble years down the road. No one wants to look at triggers. No one wants to sit with a therapist and devise a strategic coping plan. We want a pill, a surgery, a 16 minute solution to a 40 year old problem.
This is not to say that weight loss surgery is not a solution, just that its only part of the solution.

Despite our best intentions, we are still in some ways animalistic, hedonically-driven to feed our most basic impulses. This is part and parcel of why recidivism is the rule not the exception when it comes to recovery from most addiction. So what does this mean? Are all weight loss surgery patients destined for disappointment and disenchantment when the WLS honeymoon ends? No. But the answer to long term change lies more in two-pronged approach to long term weight loss success; surgery + behavioral change.
Simply thinking ourself slim is a fantasy. Think about your specific triggers for eating. For some it is that golden hour when all the kids are in bed and Narcos is queued up on your Netflix. For others it is that 2-3pm mid day slump. For some - it is when they are alone, the only time they can eat with abandon free from others’ judgement or their own embarrassment.
Whatever your triggers- the key is to identify what need is being met in that moment and to find a non-food alternative to meet each particular need ( many people have multiple triggers for over eating). If it is because its “your time,” after the kids are in bed- maybe you invest in a foot massager, or cultivate a self care space with textures, aromatherapy, candles, and books. If your trigger is that mid day slump, maybe you develop a yoga routine easily done in the office to help re-energize you. If it is the secretive quality to the trigger of being alone and eating, maybe it is finding another thing that is just your own that no one knows (going to a movie in the middle of the day, getting an overly priced facial on your lunch hour, playing hooky with your kid one day, etc).
The rule of the brain is : what fires together, wires together. So over time- if you have paired 8pm, Narcos, and nachos- you have created a neurological super highway. The moment 8pm rolls around, you are likely already getting the chips ready and didn’t even realize the thought pathway that just occurred. The idea is to repair our triggers with alternative behaviors and over time “clip those wires” or create “toll roads” to our superhighways (aka neurosynaptic pruning), so that we no longer experience such strong urges and can call upon the higher structures of our frontal cortex to guide the way again.
When we are in the midst of addiction, it is important to understand that our frontal cortex is not at the wheel. It has been duck taped and tied to a chair in the basement by our hedonic midbrain who is used to getting what it wants when it wants it. The closer we come to accepting this principle, the closer we come to being more mindful of our midbrain’s powerful rationalizations and sick contracts and see them for just that. We are better able to dis-identify from the thought, knowing it is not coming from our best self, but from our most carnal self.
Think of that distant cousin that only shows up when they need something, the Uncle Eddy that tells you he’ll move the RV when he leaves next month, indifferent to how it makes you feel. Except in addiction- that distant cousin has taken over, pretending its you until you can no longer tell the difference.
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Best wishes to you and a steady hand and steely eye to your surgeon.

Yes! It will work because you will do your part to make the most of the support that this procedure offers. May your procedure be safe, easy and super successful. Tomorrow is the beginning of a whole new and wonderful life for you. Congrats!