beingdina

Yesterday I completed my first week of pre-op. Clear liquids + protein shakes and a regular dinner. Today I start my next phase of pre-op which consists of all clear liquids and protein shakes. This phase will last 3 weeks. Surgery is 9/25 and then I'll follow this same pre-op diet for at least 4 weeks post-op. I'm doing pretty well so far until people get into long conversations about food. Then I get head and heart hungry. Physically I've not experienced a whole lot of hunger as I feel like I'm sloshing most of the time from all the liquids. Staying strong.

I finally have a date! 9/25/18!!! All my pre-op appointments are done as of today. I have been told to start pre-op now as I have a very high BMI. So I’ll be on 1 week of modified diet, then 3 solid weeks of liquid pre-op and then another 4 weeks of the same diet post op!

My binder says to call the office if this happens and go back to post-op basics to try to nip it in the bud.

Best of luck everyone! 

Oh Frustr8, how you hit the nail on the head! Don’t forget that apparently all fat women also want to look like flowered muumuu queens or even better how much I really love wearing shirts with Winnie the Pooh characters on them because apparently all fat women want to wear that crap.

I think it’s interesting how many of us watch My 600 pound life.

I sent an email to HR directly and asked at what point would I be eligible for protected medical leave. They can't really talk about that with my supervisors so I felt comfortable about that. They told me I was eligible at my 6 month anniversary for the state medical leave (Oregon) and then told me at 1 year I would be eligible for FMLA. They seem incredibly similar and I double asked if this would be enough to protect my job if I needed to take 2 weeks off and they said yes. I would encourage you to send an email directly to whoever handles the medical leaves in the company you work for to ask. My 1 year is in February too, with my 6 month being 8/20 so I made sure my consults won't be until after that date too.

I think it depends on how long you've been somewhere. Like I had said, I've only been at my job for 5 months... as nice as they are I'm still a probationary newbie and can't mess up my getting a permanent position. Overall, I am fine with people knowing, since at 405 pounds they will quickly start to see the changes in me. I think the biggest thing for me was when a coworker told me to not talk about it with another coworker because she would try to use it against me in some way. I am the largest person in my department and know they will be glad to see me lose the weight for my well-being (and their discomfort with obesity probably, I'm not naïve), but I just don't want to lose my job over it. I'm not technically eligible for FMLA until I've been here for a year, but there is state medical leave that I am eligible for at my 6 month anniversary that I am taking advantage of.

Also I have an interim male supervisor that hates dealing with stuff like scheduling etc, and I’m terrified to say anything before the end of my probation because I feel like that will be used as a reason to not keep me permanently.

Ok so I’m in EXACTLY the same boat. I’ve been at my job for 6 months and my probation period ends 8/20. My consults are on 8/27, and my hopeful surgery date is 8/25. I’ve told my two cube-mates about it and they have been supportive and one other coworker I did not intend to tell overheard me talking about it and asked what was wrong so I told her. Then a couple weeks ago another coworker pulled me aside and told me to stop talking about it with one of my cube-mates because she will use it against me as ammo if she needs to. So that freaked me out. I quit talking about it with her. I have emailed HR asking about protected leave for medical reasons and know that the day after my consults I will be filing for medical leave and will have to tell my Manager that day as well. I’m super nervous about that too. I later read a post that mentioned telling everyone it was gallbladder surgery and now I wish I had just kept my big chatty mouth shut about it completely but I don’t have a big social circle and spend 45 hours a week with these ladies and we get along ok so I figured what the hell. I have decided they know, and I’m not going to be ashamed of it or secret about it. It’s a lifesaving decision just like any other surgery like gallbladder or appendix, etc and I’m not going to worry about trying to hide it. I’m most worried about taking 2 weeks off in my first 7 months at a new job.

I am feeling this post. I’m 2 months away from surgery (if everything stays on track) m. My best friend for years has told me how bad of an idea surgery is “because she’s seen people not be successful”. So of course I was afraid to say anything to anyone. But as I started telling my family and my close friends and even a coworker or two, they were pretty supportive, however yesterday when I was telling a coworker about hair falling out and risk of malnutrition she started telling me that wasn’t the way to lose the weight etc. The old me would have taken it to heart, canceled all my appointments and then went and ate a burger. Just remember that none of these people know what it’s like to be you, in your big body, and what your inner demons are about your weight and remember they are all going to be ignorant about it. Some may be jealous, some may be afraid attention will be taken away from them, some may not understand how to relate to you in any way except with food. And that’s all ok. Just politely tell people that this is something you have to do for you, and please not mourn food with you. I would also quit talking to anyone except your closest confidants at work about the surgery. If anyone outside of that circle asks, just tell them you would rather not discuss it. It’s your private protected medical business and not up for discussion or debate.

WOMEN ONLY PLEASE! Someone started the 300+ thread but I haven’t seen much about women 400+ when getting VSG. I would love to hear about how you prepped for surgery, how successful were you, what are your biggest challenges before, during , and after? Before and after pics? What should I do to prepare being a super plus woman? Thanks all and I’m so glad we’re here together!

Oh man did I miss something?

How long was your pre-op diet? I haven’t had my pre-op appt yet to see what they want from me but I expect something will be required. I do have food issues but feel like I will do well to be so much more Limited. Too many options and I fall off the rails. When I have surgery, I’m not eating the junk anymore. You’ve lost 84 pounds since March and that’s awesome!!! You are so close to two-derville! You can do it! Thanks for responding!

Thanks for replying! Great job on your pre-op weight loss so far! That’s awesome and must feel great! I definitely know I should probably get Bypass over Sleeve due to my high BMI, however it’s not covered by insurance at all and I can only afford Sleeve 😕 so I have to make the best of the tool I have access to. It sounds like RNY is probably best for you. When did you start pre-op? Since I am self pay I won’t find out until my pre-op appt a month before surgery what they want me to do leading up to surgery day.

EDNOS. I binge but don’t purge. I have food hoarding and food sharing issues that stem from childhood.

No one? I’m the only woman going into this at 405?

I too will be doing an entire purge of all my cupboards once I have a date set and know what day I start pre-op diet. I love to bake, and love to eat so it’s got to go. Instead I will work on stocking up on protein shakes, bariatric snacks and meals from my local bariatric store (Monarch Medical Weight Loss), and making room for my new life. My brother and sister in law both had Bypass (I’m having sleeve) and they bought a beverage cooler (like at a convenience store) and stocked it with waters, protein water, protein shakes, gatorades, etc. That became their “snack” cupboard. Hydration and protein are key. I can’t afford a cooler like that, but will have my pantry full to keep a fair supply in the fridge at all times.

She sounds like a b***h. I have been talking to my two cube mates about having surgery just after my probation is up at work so I can file for protected medical leave. Thursday a coworker pulled me aside and recommended I not talk about these things with her any more because she will use anything and everything against someone if her back is up against a wall for any reason. So now I have quit discussing anything like that with her. If I were you I would get your protected leave on the books ASAP and get your surgery done. It doesn’t need to be during her vacay but eff her for being the selfish one. You are trying to save your life.

I’m looking at surgery at the end of September. I’m feeling awful lately. Needless to say I have some time before I start the pre-op diet but I want to start it so bad! Anyone else in a similar situation? I need an all or nothing solution to last me the next 6-7 weeks. What do I do?!

It’s a tough row to hoe for sure. Good job on moving more at work. I actually started a new job 4 months ago and I walk a lot more at this new job but I know I need to start walking on my breaks more. I’m starting to get back into geocaching too which is a way to get steps and activity in while you hunt for treasures. 😁 Good luck in your journey! Feel free to message me any time!

Thanks Ash!

I eat those things pretty often (favorite is a mac and cheese lean cuisine with a packet of tuna) or a cup of cottage cheese with a fruit cup of pineapples. I don't eat PB&J's or Pb at all for that matter, or baloney. LOL. I love fast food, restaurants, etc. because I hate cooking when I have to work full time. I love being served because I have to do it all at home, so when and where I can I find myself trying to get the same treatment my family gets from me. But I get what you are saying. For sure! I know that eating crap got me where I am, and I need to make better decisions. I think people are not understanding what my OP was about... it was more about how desperate I am to have the surgery so I can start my new life... because anything I do now feels like all the other attempts over the last 20 years of my life.

I definitely and fully understand how much it will be a lifestyle change and how it can truly affect my relationship with food. I'm ready for it to be different. I just really want to get to a point where tracking doesn't feel like a ball and chain or a chore, and I'm fine eating healthy, because I'm not living to eat, I'm eating to live. I may give another shot at MFP. It's on my phone now. I'm going to start trying to track everything starting in the morning (since today's half over). I'm telling myself that starting on Sunday, I'm going to not eat out by myself anymore unless I'm buying whole healthy food from a grocery store. I'm also going to wean myself off of the carbonated water and find myself a great 64oz water bottle to lug around with me with the goal of drinking 2 a day (before surgery) and at least 1 a day after.

Yeah, that makes sense. I mean, just like everyone on here I've been battling this fat demon for years and years. I've done juice fasts, smoothies daily for a year for breakfasts, Premier shakes for breakfast off and on for years, shakes as snacks, etc. I'm so SICK OF IT ALL to be honest, but have to keep moving forward, right? Like that part I struggle with the most: tracking AGAIN. etc. What tracker do you use? I've used MFP for like 6 years, but ready for a new one.