Zemi

I saw her every month for six months. And I couldn't miss a month or the insurance 6-month clock would reset to zero. So don't miss an appointment, even if you have a gain! I also took a seminar. And now post-op, I still see her every month because she facilitates the local support group I attend. I love her. She is so real and down to earth and provides a touchstone and accountability for me. And she works within my comfort zone for foods.
I encourage you to find a bariatric RD whom you trust and with whom you can build a solid "forever" relationship with!

I only met mine at the preoperative class I was required to take. She does come to the monthly bariatric support group too but I don't see her on a one to one basis.

I saw her a few times before surgery and I've seen her a few times on routine trips to see my surgeon afterwards. I thought the information I got about Vitamins and the pre and post surgical diets was helpful. Since many of us are dieting pros and have been for years, I didn't get much else out of it.

nice that you are really starting to see the impact and acknowledge it! looking great

@catwoman7 thanks for explaining some of the things you did pre-surgery and how they helped; and well done on your weight loss .... it's really helping reading a little of others experiences
@GradyCat congratulations on the weight you've lost since surgery; and that's so encouraging to read that the surgery has helped you with the emotional eating as well; and to know i'm not alone in wondering regarding the hunger compared to emotional eating issue. Thanks for what you've shared
@Orchids&Dragons thanks very much for your reply here. Definitely not something to do as a first option. i've done the loss, maintain, regain thing ........ a number of times. I've read some of the stories of sabotage after wls, and this is definitely something i want avoid, and to try and sort through before the surgery and find ways to reduce that happening. So working on my head, and finding new coping tools; that will then help with the surgery (as another tool) seems to be the direction I need to be taking

@Purpledva great news on the surgery go ahead and the heart news 😉 excited for you

i hope things go well and smoothly with seeing both surgeon and cardiologist and you will be cleared soon

I set my goal weight because I was 140 in 2010 and I feel like I looked healthy then.

Great question!
Things I am looking forward to:
- Blending in a crowd. (Being a major,major introvert, I HATE being the BIG GIRL standing out all the time.)
- Gardening and breathing, all at the same time.
- Feeling like I have taken back some control over my own body. Making peace with it. Knowing it will always be a work in progress, even a struggle, but something that I CAN now do.
- Being in a position sometime down the road to "pay it forward" by helping someone else dealing with their weight issues.
- Breaking up with my CPAP machine.
- Never having to make a list of joys/goals that is based on how my current weight affects those things I want to do, Ever,ever again. LOL!

I’m looking forward to ( and already have done )
1- wearing the clothing in my closet that I kept because I l promised myself I would fit in it again one day..
2- getting off insulin ( use to take 80 units a day , I’m down to only 10)
3- running a 5k and then maybe even a longer distance
4- more energy for my new born son ( he’s 7 months old and I’m 48 )
5- Having my wife look at me the way she use to when I got out the shower ( she still did , but I was insecure of myself so I never accepted her compliments)

i had mine done one week after surgery no problem did not have to really clean out had no food in there made it pretty easy to do best news was it was all good whoohoo!!!!

thanks, i'm going to try again and see what happens as a start and hopefully it was just coincidence
i'm glad you both didn't have issues with it

the good thing is you are noticing this and ready to make those changes to be more accountable 😀

Thank you. I'm a little down right now gained a few lbs. Been cheating. Went to 4 birthday parties in 1 month and didn't turn anything down. I'm back on track just gotta be accountable for my bad food decisions. I really love this new life and never wanna give it up food again. I wish you well on your journey too. One day at a time right?

Nope - one ‘reaction’ could be badly timed coincidence though?
I never took much to the Optifast shakes but loved the solid bars. Maybe try one of those and see how you go...

I was on Optifast for one month preop. I used all strawberry shakes (premixed). My husband and I both loved them and never had an issue.
I agree with the poster above. Maybe the headache was caused by something else and was just coincidental.
Always best to check with your dr though.

i hope things go well and smoothly with seeing both surgeon and cardiologist and you will be cleared soon

Thanks to everyone who posted! I really appreciate hearing the perspectives.
I’m putting in my request with my primary physician. Then I’ll be able to take the class they have on wls.
I’m scared but I want a better quality of life in the future, for me and my loved ones.

Zemi,
I have an appointment this week with the surgeon. After my visit with him, hopefully I can call my cardiologist and get in to have all these things checked out. I will keep everyone posted. I have put this off for almost 8-9 years. And I want to be able to move forward...........Stay tuned..........

I too get super bad cramps and have chronic pain i took gabapetin to turn down my sensitivity. As for cramps i decided 2 days a month was worth 28 days of being pain free and having more energy. I havent taken anything for pain in 7 months and no more gabapetin 4 wks post op now.

Sent from my VS986 using BariatricPal mobile app

Hello Teri,

I think we mostly hear from people who are “miserable” because they require support and they come to this forum and are able to get it - which is great!

That said there are those of us (lots of us I’m guessing) who have been fortunate to have near smooth sailing on this journey. I am just over 6 months post op. My recovery was smooth, I was back at work 4 days after surgery. I progressed through the stages as planned, am steadily losing weight and am closing in on a healthy BMI. I told nobody and somehow have managed to keep it that way (and yes, I do go out in public haha).

To top it off, my mental health, confidence and energy are strong. I am already noticing a career impact (shame on society that this is even a thing), and I am able to say “yes” to fun things with my kids without worrying whether I’ll have the stamina to do it.

My only small grumbles so far... my scars aren’t fading the way I had hoped (keloid maybe?), and I have been discarding clothing at an alarming rate ($$). Last night we ordered Thai food... normally I’d have a large plate loaded with all my favs. This time, a few bites and I was done... but my brain wanted more :(

Also, yes, you’ll want to get Water in and make Protein a priority, but one of the best things about this surgery for me, was NOT continuing to obsess over my meals and the scale. I eat well and don’t beat myself up for an occasional small treat. I go weeks where I forget to jump on the scale. It is a part of my life, not my entire life.

I in no way want to downplay the struggles and difficulty that some have had in this journey. I know how fortunate I am to have had it go so well!! Best of luck on your journey Teri... I’ll wish smooth sailing for you too!

FWIW, before a surgery ( not my VSG) a few years ago, my EKG came back wonky. Had to go to the cardiologist. Turns out, first person put the leads in the wrong places for someone with big boobs (I was about a 42H or I at the time) and if the tech puts the leads in the wrong place it comes up as long QT syndrome. I was fine and we had a really good laugh about it.

My doctor suggested RNY, but I preferred VSG. He said his suggestion was because I was on 4 diabetes meds.
I had the sleeve 9 months ago and have lost 94# so far....just 15# more to goal. I'm off all meds and sugars are 70's-100! sleep apnea gone...GERD gone!! No matter which one you choose, you'll still have to change the way you think about food and exercise...instead of loving food and not loving exercise, it'll have to become the opposite or you'll be back where you started. Food is just fuel. I've seen friends gain their weight back many times and am determined not to let it happen to me.

hi panda, i’m in a similar position to you and also trying to decide ... so thankful for your question and the responses. Wishing you all the best in what you go ahead with

I was pretty sure I wanted bypass then when I met with my psychiatrist and therapist, they both suggested the sleeve instead, saying it was "less radical" although it seems to me it's "more radical" because it permanently cuts out part of your stomach, but I listened to them and did the sleeve. No regrets. No complications, No problems.