mlmx1138

If I as to plan it all again I would start in the kitchen pantry. Clean and organize to make finding your favorite things easier.
Next I works get dedicated measuring cups, small plates/bowls & Water bottles, pill organizers, etc.
Last I would clean my house to make everything easier to find if someone will help you during recovery.
I would only get a small amount of post op foods/protein shakes before surgery because your tolerance may change.
I can't remember needing more than that the early weeks post op
Good Luck ♥️

Wow it's coming in fast.
I got a call today, they want to schedule my bypass surgery for Oct 26, exactly 2 weeks from today! I am totally unprepared! I don't have any supplies! I am not sure I call pull it off by the 26th. Plus, it is very short notice for time off from my job!
I am very stressed about this. First they told me early November and that is great, perfect even. They are going to get back to me if they have a November date, if not I will be taking the 26th of Oct, and start fasting the day after tomorrow!
I'm not sure where to start. Not sure what kind of Protein Water to buy, etc.
I started this journey in August of 2019, lost my job and insurance in Oct 2019. Was blessed to get a new job with the same insurance in April. Now my bariatric checklist is done. My health is terrible and I can't this surgery soon enough. However I want to be able to do it right. Any advice appreciated!

Wow it's coming in fast.
I got a call today, they want to schedule my bypass surgery for Oct 26, exactly 2 weeks from today! I am totally unprepared! I don't have any supplies! I am not sure I call pull it off by the 26th. Plus, it is very short notice for time off from my job!
I am very stressed about this. First they told me early November and that is great, perfect even. They are going to get back to me if they have a November date, if not I will be taking the 26th of Oct, and start fasting the day after tomorrow!
I'm not sure where to start. Not sure what kind of Protein Water to buy, etc.
I started this journey in August of 2019, lost my job and insurance in Oct 2019. Was blessed to get a new job with the same insurance in April. Now my bariatric checklist is done. My health is terrible and I can't this surgery soon enough. However I want to be able to do it right. Any advice appreciated!

"Bariatric Surgery is probably one of the most effective interventions in health care."
- Laurie K. Twells, clinical epidemiologist at Memorial University of Newfoundland [2]
Are you lurking on these forums debating whether or not you should have surgery? Unsure about making a permanent change to your lifestyle and body, or thinking that since you lost x number of lbs before, you can do it again? Heard about all the horror stories of complications and regain? This was me, one year ago. I want to tell you about the study that changed my mind.
This study[1] looked at three groups: 418 patients who sought and underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (surgery group), 417 patients who sought but did not undergo surgery (primarily for insurance reasons) (nonsurgery group 1), and 321 patients who did not seek surgery (nonsurgery group 2). They performed clinical examinations at baseline and at 2 years, 6 years, and 12 years to ascertain the presence of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia.
Let me highlight a couple images from their study. These charts graph the amount patients lost as a percentage of total weight (NOT excess weight) at 2, 6, and 12 years relative to their baseline. First, this graph is the individuals who did not seek surgery.

This group lost only 0.9% of their total weight 12 years after the study began. Those empty triangles? Those are people who ended up getting bariatric surgery anyways. Lets look at the second group, people tho sought out surgery but couldn't get it. So at least we are aware that this group is invested in losing weight.

This group fared slightly better, as patients lost a mean of 2% of their body weight at 12 years out. This excludes patients who got surgery (they lost an average of 10%). Lets look at patients who did get the surgery.


Patients lost an average of 26% of their total body weight even after 12 years. I found this difference absolutely remarkable. To reach that average 26% body weight loss without surgery, you would need to be in the top 5-10% of losers. Think about that.
I used to see getting the surgery as an admission of my own personal failure at willpower and dieting. But this study makes it clear that the probability of success for non-surgical options is astoundingly low relative to bariatric surgery. Studies [3], [4], [5] reinforce the positive impact on health that bariatric surgery has on patients who choose to go through with it. Reading these helped put my mind at ease. Bariatric surgery is one of the best decisions I could make for my health.
I encourage you to skim through the studies to see other benefits I didn't outline here. The NYT[2] article is also a great read for seeing why bariatric surgery is so effective. It distills a lot of the studies into facts that you can use to arm yourself when speaking with family and friends who aren't supportive.
Sources:
[1] https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1700459
[2] https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/13/well/why-weight-loss-surgery-works-when-diets-dont.html
[3] https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11695-012-0718-9
[4] https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/oby.21322
[5] https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamasurgery/fullarticle/2546331#Introduction

Hi everyone. Just saw the Bariatric program nurse and we were troubleshooting what happened. She feels that even light mayo is too much fat to tolerate at the purée stage for some. She recommended using fat free plain yogurt instead. We discussed how not having good coping mechanisms for stress led me to seek out pleasure from food and take in more then was appropriate. I’ve had stress with my mother, my daughter and my dog this past week and my normal way to deal is to devour something rich and put myself in a food coma. Because I tried to use my old method with my teeny stomach pouch I caused a bolus of food to get stuck. In some ways I wonder if I did this so I could get everyone to get off my back this week. Not consciously but maybe a self sabotage so everyone would have to fend for themselves. I see it now but I didn’t see it then. I’ve got to stay self-aware while eating. This was too traumatic of an experience to repeat.

Hello all. I am in a room in the hospital and the doctor felt I had a temporary obstruction from eating canned fish that wasn’t moist enough with mayo. He is trying me back at square one with Clear Liquids tonight. I was so petrified because of the uncontrollable vomiting. I also got drenched from head to toe with sweat. I screwed up by eating too much at a time I ate at least five ounces of salmon in less then an hour. Too overconfident! Plus I don’t pay attention when I eat. I watch television at the same time. No more of that! Very scary experience!

Thanks for sharing this, I am so afraid of Hair loss, my hair is already thin!
Can you tell us what dissolvable Biotin Vitiman you took please?

I'm sorry, WishMeSmaller was right, I meant laparoscopic not laser. Please excuse my ignorance *facepalm*

Congrats on starting this journey! Do you by chance mean laparoscopic surgery? I have not heard of anyone doing Bariatric surgeries with lasers. This was my second laparoscopic surgery (first was laparoscopic, robotic assisted for hysterectomy). Honestly, both surgeries were really easy recoveries for me. I have minimal pain and bounce back pretty well after the first week post-op. The hardest part of this one was my issues with eating some foods. My surgeons plan was basically one week of full liquids and then puréed foods week two. I definitely tried foods my body wasn’t ready for too early and ended up suffering as I already discussed. But even then I felt good overall, like right after puking. I also had a hiatal hernia repair, which likely caused or contributed to the post eating pain and puke episodes. Everyone is different though. Some people go back to work the next day, and some people need a month off to recover. I have never had a traditional open surgery, but I would imagine a much tougher recovery. Good luck!

My first experiences with fish (salmon and tuna) during puréed stage did not go well. I got the pain about where my pouch is and horrible cramping for about 6 hours both times, while I puked it all out. Not fun. I recommend egg salad and refried Beans. Both went down exceedingly well. Reset to full liquids for a day is a good idea. Keep on keeping on!

I won't miss sharing clothes with my 2x husband.
I won't miss shopping in the plus size section.
I won't miss huffing and puffing every time I go up a flight of stairs!
I won't miss being shy and not giving people eye contact because I'm not confident.
I won't missing always trying to find a place to sit midway through shopping.
I won't miss weighing more than my husband through most of our marriage.
I won't miss trying to find those Wide shoes.

Yes, I have decided to not share my surgery with anyone. My children and mother are the only ones I have told. Not that it’s a secret, just none of anybody’s business. The struggle is hard enough without judgement and questions.

you may end up being fine - some people don't lose much - if any. I was really worried about it as well, but I hardly lost any. I barely noticed let alone anyone else. So maybe you'll be one of the lucky ones!

You need to take a dissolvable Biotin Vitamin. I took 5000mcg a day. My hair was super thick before and started falling out in clumps. I had to cut it short for about a year and I religiously took the biotin. Within a year my hair started getting better, thicker and longer. It’s never gone back to the thickness it was before, but it’s a lot better

The important thing to understand is that it’s not a straight line. Even within a single day right now the body fluctuates in terms of recovery. I’m trying to document it best as possible for those coming after me down the road to recovery.

Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us! It is truly helping me a great deal. You are in my prayers and I wish you all the best!!😊

I didn't think you could live without a Pancreas?

people lose weight at all different rates due to a host of different factors, many of which you have little to no control over (i.e., age, gender, metabolic rate). Just focus on the factors you DO have control over (sticking to your plan and staying active), and the weight WILL come off, regardless of the speed.
Most people lose in the 15-25 lb range the first month, although there are outliers. I lost 16 lbs. But it's sort of pointless to compare yourself to others because some will lose 15 lbs and some will lose 30, and again, a lot of this isn't really within your control. Just stick to your surgeon's plan - in the end, your level of commitment is what determines your success - not how quickly you lose the weight.

Well said...and you are right about the benefits to gain. For me one of those will be being able to stand more than a few minutes without my body hurting. That will be worth giving up bread or anything else!

Well said...and you are right about the benefits to gain. For me one of those will be being able to stand more than a few minutes without my body hurting. That will be worth giving up bread or anything else!

I am 4.5 months out and down 95lbs and I have been thinking a lot lately about my progress. I started to think about how I would assess myself over the various key areas that will result in successful weight loss post surgery. Feel free to add your own major categories.
Daily Water intake B. Still room for improvement but on target atleast 5 days a week
Daily Protein intake A. Consistent here with very few slip ups
food choice C. I still have too many sugars, starches, and processed foods
Portion Control A+. I could not be happier with this respect
Mindful eating C. I eat slower but my meals do not take 20 minutes. I dont focus on eating extra well because I have not had issues with digestion
Exercise F. I still maintain the same level of activity I did at my highest weight
Vitamins D. I always seem to forget these on the weekends

I’ve had both too. Sleeve didn’t give me the weight loss or restriction I needed to be successful, and by the time I needed GBS because of GERD, I was a diabetic! Sleeve did not resolve my GERD, even with hiatal hernia repair. So GBS was a Godsend, as I’m now off Metformen, my blood sugars are normal, I’m down 37 lbs and it feels great! I’m losing slower than some because of my history of PCOS, but I saw my surgeon Monday for follow up and he said I was absolutely fine, slower was actually better in the long run and to just keep at it, eye on the horizon and my body would keep letting go of the excess weight. Probably not in a straight line down like a slicky-slide, more like a staircase, with stalls, etc., but it was all normal. I was afraid of the more drastic surgery too, but it’s been fine. 😉I’m so glad I finally got GBS!

Yeah Panda I started OSU with a 50+ BMI, nice weight for a nice thick Redwood tree but a mite heavy for an Obese Woman. And my half- off, I started at 365+ , just weighed myself this AM, after eons of wanting to chuck weight scales out the nearest window or in a Dumpster, actually did the latter once, one of those sarcastic electronic voices " Do You Realize Your Weight Today is...? Yep, smart-Aleck scale, marched out to the Dumpster and threw it as hard as I could to the rear- that way it would LIE NO MORE!
Well my current one, weighs you , then sends an elecronic gentle zap up through your bare feet, never felt a thing, then It calcuates BMI, % fat, % Water, and how many calories to maintain, that one I don't pay attention to because I am still in Losing Mode. But it is digital instead of a dial whirring and speaking out loud.
And I weigh this morning 181,7 pounds of Happy Happy Camper so over 180 less! And I am going to do my durnest to make it down to 175, loss is slowing BUT not stopped yet! Go over to the NSV thread current and see what else I am boasting about.😜And a Peaceful Sunday to All!

I'm still pre-surgery...hopefully will have a date in october......I've went back and forth too and for the most part was Pro-sleeve. seemed easier, less complications. sure there was the increased acid relux but I've never had that so not a risk for me. But for me, someone who is overweight not from overeating but from pcos and other things, somone who diets and can't lose a pound, i needed the true metabolic change that the bypass brings. Also....in the pre op stuff they did discover i had acid reflux, although it never presented itself to me. additionally, my bmi is 50...so I want the proven long term results that the bypass brings. If you know of anyone or follow these boards, for some reason many people gettting the sleeve gain the weight back or have to have a revision. Not everyone, mind you..but a lot.
My pre-op psychologist said it best. Whatever surgery you decide on, you have to believe it's the one for you or it won't work. Dont' get the sleeve with any doubts in your mind. Don't get the bypass with any doubts in your mind.
🙂 Good luck!!!

Well I’m assuming that you’re referring to healthy low-carb, high Protein food because otherwise why would a person even consider WLS if they don’t plan to radically change their diet, right?

That being said, I’ve tried a few things in my 7 months that aren’t truly on the “approved” list.
Mostly alcohol. Anytime I have alcohol it goes and stays down just fine, but the price I pay is slowed weight loss for a few days so I truly pick and choose those times carefully.
Went to a wedding July 4th and had 3 glasses wine, some bbq brisket, smoked chicken , Mac and cheese, cole slaw and a couple bites of a piece of bread, and half a slice of wedding cake.
Quite honestly everything except the brisket and smoked chicken (that I ate without the sauce) were the worst things I ate. All the carb-ey stuff tasted kinda weird and gross. The cake was just “okay” and people everywhere were raving about how delicious it was. *shrug*
The wine was simply awesome and I’m kind of sad in a way that I haven’t lost my complete and utter love for wine. OTOH, at least I still do have this every now and again indulgence I can turn to.

Okay, so let’s talk “healthier” options.
One food I used to LOVE was eggs. Any kind cooked any way. I loved me some eggs.
Now I can’t really even tolerate part of a boiled egg on salad bc eggs give me horrible cramping.
Also mayo. Cannot have even a smidge of mayo or insta-cramps. Some would think maybe my gall bladder is acting up, but so far that’s been ruled out.

I used to be (and still am) a complete salad mix freak. Thank goodness I can still put away a cup or more of leafy greens without difficulty. Some people can’t so I’m thankful. In fact, I’d be willing to bet over half my carbs daily (which isn’t much) comes from different salad greens.