AllieCat1993

Thank you everyone for your feedback, it really helps I appreciate the insight, advice, and links to what can help.

I have seen some posts about how the relationship with food changes after surgery. Some have even referred to it as a grieving process. What are some changes I might expect after surgery in reference to my relationship with food? How might this affect me emotionally? What was your experience? I want to be as prepared as possible, thank you

Wow, thank you so much skinnyshortcake! This is very touching and I really appreciate you sharing your experience with me. It does help hearing real stories from those who have been through it. I'm wishing you the best of luck on your journey and a speedy recovery!!

No, I have not. That is a wonderful suggestion, thank you!

Thank you for sharing your experience with me, Poppyseed. Congratulations on your weight loss!!

That sounds scary, I will be sure to monitor that. Thank you for your response

It's okay, thank you for your response

Congratulations! That's exciting. I hope you are recovering well

Oh, how neat! How far along are you in the program?

I live in NC and have established care with a surgeon for WLS. I just found out we may be relocating to Sioux Falls SD per my husbands job. I've been researching the area in the event we do move (there's a very strong chance we are moving), but I'm wondering if anyone is from the area and can recommend surgeons/bariatric programs/etc. I'm at a total loss because this came up so unexpectedly. I am feeling frustrated and anxious that this might be a setback, but maybe it's for the best? Thank you

Those are really great questions, thank you for posting. There are some you brought up that I forgot to put on my list. Thanks again Also, I'm wishing you the best of luck on your surgery!!

I figured it was a typo, but I had a good laugh Congratulations on your success!!

Dr. Bermudez with REX Bariatrics*

I'm going through REX Bariatrics in Raleigh

Hey there, NC friend! Thank you so much for sharing with me. It helps to hear real stories, sometimes. Congratulations on your success!!

Hey NC Friends! I live in Jacksonville, but I am going through the REX Bariatric Program in Raleigh. I still have some time to go, but it's I could have surgery as early as December. As long as all the testing is done by October, my surgeon told me I will be looking at a December surgery! Very excited! And a huge congratulations to everyone here, I wish you the best of luck! -Allison

Congratulations on your weight loss!! I haven't had my surgery yet, but I do struggle with depression. I have struggled with depression for years and that is a big reason as to why I am this heavy. Sometimes we have to roll with the wave of depression, so don't be too hard on yourself. Gently remind yourself that this moment will pass, and you will get through this obstacle. I have recently been struggling with lacking motivation and my therapist suggested I write a list of why I want to lose weight. So, I wrote a list of what motivates me to work out, why I want to lose weight, and what I will be able to do once I lose weight (stuff that I can't do right now). I keep this list in a journal and refer back to it when I am feeling down or unmotivated. However, I also know there are times where absolutely nothing can make me budge from my depression. On those days, I am kind to myself. I urge you to be kind to yourself, as well. It has taken me a long time to get to this level of acceptance with my depression. I see a therapist on a regular basis and I wouldn't be in such a good place if it wasn't for her. Between my therapist and dietitian, I am in a better place foodwise where I am not emotionally eating anymore. Now I am left with an unhealthy body from years of emotional eating, and I am ready to change that. I am excited for this journey, but definitely anxious for those dreaded depressed or unmotivated days. I'm wishing you the best of luck, YandereAngel!

Hi Postop. Yes, they do the traditional DS. I agree in informing doctors because it can impact any course of treatment. That is a very wise way to think of it. The last thing I want is for that to be the only thing people want to talk about, no matter how proud I will feel. Thank you!

Thank you very much for your response. That is very impressive and sweet that your son showed an interest and took such good care of you! I especially like your motivation, frustr8, and I know you will go far. Wishing you the best of luck!

Thank you, GradyCat! Those are great things to ask my surgeon. I appreciate your input

Hey there, I am 25 and I can relate to how you are feeling. I have always struggled with my weight, except it is out of control now. Two months ago when I went to my doctor, I weighed 442 lbs- the heaviest I have ever been. I am 5'6", now at 424 lbs, with a bmi of 68. I honestly wish I would have followed through with WLS sooner. I talked to my doctor about bariatric surgery and have since been researching different places to get it done. I have settled on REX Bariatrics (I live in NC). I have gone to a seminar, orientation, and nutrition meeting. I have my first meeting with my surgeon on 6/10/19. I am doing the research to make an informed decision. I have high blood pressure, I'm asthmatic, and I am prediabetic. Having this surgery can change all of that for me. I know what got me to this point. I became depressed and ate my emotions. Now that I have been through and continue therapy, I am in a much better place emotionally, but I'm stuck with this unhealthy body from the depressed behavior. The frustrated side of me wishes family could understand that I am doing this to better my health, and that it is not something I decided to do on a whim. Like many of us here, we have tried it all. We've tried the diets and different diet pills. We've tried eating less and working out more, and for some reason, it didn't work. Unlike most family members, I have more than 20 lbs to shed- more like 250 lbs to go. I think it is really hard for them to understand because they haven't been in our position. It's hard to support something you don't understand. Gently remind them you are doing this for your health and that having support will help you. I know it's important to feel their acceptance, but at the end of the day you are an adult and can make your own decisions. You are making informed decisions and have put in the research and hard work to get to where you are. Try to shake off negative comments because it doesn't change what you are doing. You can do this! I wish you the best of luck in your journey!!

Hi Everyone, I hope you are all doing well. I am making a list of questions to ask my surgeon in preparation for my first visit with him on 6/10/2019. This is what I have so far: 1. Am I a candidate for surgery? 2. What surgery do you recommend? 3. How is the surgery done? 4. How will the surgery help me lose weight? 5. Will my surgery be performed laparoscopically? Is there any situation in which my surgery would be open? 6. Will my gallbladder be removed? 7. How will I take my medicines after surgery? Do I take them regularly, or do I need to crush them? Will the medicine still work if it is crushed? 8. I remember something from the seminar about taking blood thinners while in the hospital, why is this? 9. What are the risks associated with this surgery? Am I at more risk for one factor over another? 10. What are some signs that things are wrong? When should I seek medical attention? 11. How could the surgery affect other health problems I have? 12. How much weight can I expect to lose? 13. I’ve been looking into vitamins and found vitamin patches. Are vitamin patches just as good as taking vitamins orally? 14. Can I still get pregnant? 15. What will my life be like after surgery? If anyone has any questions to add or things I may have forgotten, please comment your suggestions below. Thank you

Thank you. This gives me an idea of how I might feel, and I appreciate that. How long did it take you to finish your pre op appointments? My doctor has sent referrals out for everything but I haven't heard anything back yet. I was told that if I had everything done by October then I could have my surgery in December. I'm really striving to have everything done before then since my insurance renews at the beginning of the year.

Thank you, misskim Thank you for sharing how having everything set for after surgery helped you feel better. Congratulations on your surgery!! I am a planner and I like having control over situations. I think that is why I am so anxious, because I haven't been through this before and it is out of my hands. I will do my very best to be as prepared as possible, and try to take it one day at a time. Can I ask you a few questions? How much pain were you in while in the hospital? Was it worse than you were expecting, or were your expectations worse than the actual pain? Thanks again!

Thank you, gabybab I think it's a great suggestion to wait. That's what I have been leaning towards, anyways. I've heard different family members judge other family members and friends who have had WLS and I don't want to go through that at all. Congratulations!! That is wonderful! I wish you the best of luck as well, gabybab. Thanks again!