AlwaysCruising

That’s the first thing I checked when I read the post, thinking I was going to see some European country. Who knows, maybe your surgeon went to some seminar and learned about it and decided to use it!

Not at all common in the U.S. - can’t speak to whether it is used often elsewhere. Never known of anyone to use one before you and I have worked in healthcare for too long 😹

It all feels like a lot I know. No matter what, it will be okay and you will get through it just fine. 🙂 @abiebaby I also don’t have to be on the liquid diet - crazy glad far it too!

Oh - Same group! Gorjala is doing mine! I think most of the ones they do are robotic (I hate the gas, but better than a muscle incision for sure). > and hello to all the new June people! 🌈☀️ @Puffin robotic is in a way a kind of laparoscopic surgery, they operate it like robotic arms (many are done that way now). 😊 edit: And what Lisa said (she posted while I was typing. Didn’t mean to duplicate.

Wow and I thought that mine was short notice with only 3 1/2 weeks! You hardly had time to blink!

Hi Lisa! I will be at Northside. You?

Disagree if you like, but almost every bariatric surgeon and mental health expert in the world would agree with me. I didn’t pull that out of nowhere, it was not just a personal opinion. From what you posted it seems that you believe that you think you know better than all those healthcare professionals. There are so many studies and articles on the topic, but here are only a very few: Discrepancy Between Ideal and Realistic Goal Weights in Three Bariatric Procedures: Who Is Likely to Be Unrealistic? Published in Obesity Surgery https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19789932/ Unrealistic Weight Loss Expectations of Bariatric Surgery Patients. On Weight Loss Surgery News. https://www.wlshelp.com/news/unrealistic-weight-loss-expectations-of-bariatric-surgery-patients/ Evaluation of expectations and knowledge in bariatric surgery. In Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1550728907004960 One of the factors being assessed by those doing pee-surgical screenings is whether or not the patient has reasonable goals since unrealistic goals too often lead to failure and disappointment. Telling people to have reasonable goals is not the same thing as saying someone should not work hard toward a goal. I lost 100 pounds after menopause through diet and exercise with a thyroid disorder and PCOS, so know that I’m really well versed in what it takes to meet big goals. But as someone now 8 years out from that loss, I can assure you that results 1 year out aren’t the same as 5 years out and further (no matter how the weight was lost). So it might be good to be a bit less certain of the future and ongoing results and allow that perhaps there is more to what happens with our bodies that putting our mind to it. That is, after all, why most are having this surgery vs. losing it via Jenny Craig, yes? People have very different physiological systems, resources, and abilities and just wanting something doesn’t make it happen (that only happens in magic). The point of my post was to say that the original poster should stop beating herself up - surprising that anyone found something to argue with about that. For most people these boards are a stopping off point for a while, as it Is that for me. I am not here to get into power plays or high school like squabbles. I don’t need people to follow me or agree with me. But science doesn’t lie and the facts are the facts. A motivational speech doesn’t change any of that.

True. A very small percentage reach completely normal BMI. I know the expectation that with the surgery we will lose all our excess weight is common and one that most of the surgeons try to guard against; it is usually discussed the first visit for that reason. It doesn’t mean that I can’t happen, but what is possible is fairly far removed from what is probable. Expectation can doom us in both directions. @middlet thanks for that info. I just hope that you will be fair with yourself. And whatever you do try not to compare yourself to other people. I lost 100 pounds seven years ago, and on average it was only a half a pound loss per week. That was sticking straight with the diet and exercising 1 hour almost every day. Would I have liked it to be different? Yes. But wishing alone changes nothing. As long as you’re doing what you should do, I think you have to know your body has an impact in the outcome and acknowledge you don’t have 100% control over outcome. 😊

I may have missed it, but is this a goal you came up with per your surgeon or only a personal goal? I ask because most people are unrealistic about the weight they will lose via bariatric surgery (according to the research). The expectation is that those with a sleeve will lose 50-70% of the excess weight (some lose less). So the likelihood for most of reaching a truly normal point is very low. That isn’t me being negative, those are the facts. So when you are judging yourself, just judge by realistic, fair standards.

Some surgeons do not require a liquid diet at all before surgery (mine requires a 1200 calorie diet for 2 weeks). Many will explain that as “liver” related as a quick explanation, but it is actually more about fluid retention - they want that fluid gone that people “lose” the first week of a diet that people tend to think is fat instead of fluid. There is a huge variety in pre-surgical protocols - maybe some surgeons don’t stay up on the research, maybe some have clinical experiences that make them lean a certain way, maybe both.

I just started, but assume my surgeon really only wants me to get rid of the fluid (that big “weight” drop that comes when you begin eating cleanly, which is almost totally fluid and not much fat beyond a couple of lbs a week). I expect to lose maybe 4 lbs in 2 weeks (or fat) since I am on basically a 1200 cal diet.

I work in healthcare and so insurance /referrals are way too much of my world and these things are true: (1) most insurance companies do not require a referral for bariatric surgery (that actually would be a very rare requirement except perhaps for a few very stringent managed care plans) and 2) there are not many insurers that require your own PCP sign off on surgery (after all, that would take away your freedom), although the insurer may require a medical clearance from SOME physician (and that doesn’t have to be your PCP). I don’t know all your details, but I do know you can VOTE with your feet and get a new doc. Good luck 🌈

I hope we both get lucky and have restrictions lifted prior. When he had to have a heart cath I spent the night on a cot in jeans. I didn’t sleep much, they came in the room a lot, but there was no way I was leaving. He is going to feel guilty not being there even if it isn’t his fault. I will cross my fingers for you - we are in Atlanta and with such a diverse population (as well as the world’s largest international airport}, we got more than our fair share of covid-19 cases. I hope that you’re in the area that had very few cases, maybe their restrictions won’t be a staff. 🤞🏼

Hello again! Sorry I missed this post the first time. As to your question on cooking veggies - this may sound strange, but after being on weight watchers for five years I figured out that I could actually sauté vegetables in broth. And it’s good! I would use that better than broth paste, get a little bit of it with some water and use it almost like butter for sautéed in a stirfry and the vegetables. You can add more you need to. You would think it wouldn’t work, but it works beautifully! p.s. we were actually headed your way in June, but then our cruise was canceled. We were so bombed it had been years and we thought this would be a perfect time of year to visit again. But we will return. My pre-op diet is easy thank goodness. It’s basically two healthy steamer frozen meals under 300k and 2 snacks each day for 2 weeks (so I just started it)l Those healthy choice meals were actually ones that I used every day for lunch, so that works perfectly. I am 5’ 7.5” , about 225 (at least before the covid lockdown, not sure what it is now 😹). Having the sleeve done at an Atlanta hospital (we live about an hour’s drive outside). I had lost 100 pounds on my own through weight watchers over the course of three years, but with a leg injury then the death of my mother, my weight just ballooned again. Was heart breaking after all that hard work,

Yay! Nice to have someone to share this with! I am in Atlanta, where are you?

My surgery is slotted for June 18th! I didn’t see any other posts for that date (but several for the 17th). I have a total of 4 weeks notice on my date so it was like 😮 ! Everything is looking good except one thing - because of covid-19 my husband can only see me in the recovery room but cannot be with me in the room at all at any point. 😢 Not going to lie, I am so seriously bummed about that. We live more than an hour’s drive from the hospital so he will have to guess when to return. I have an issue with my left leg and right hand (just the luck huh?) snd I would feel so much better walking with him after surgery than someone else. But just feeling so rotten after surgery (as I did 48 hours after my hyster due to the gas) I would like someone there who can help as well as someone for just love and support. We are both super bummed. Maybe a miracle happens and that gets corrected over the next 2 weeks - here’s to hope!

A friend of mine who is an endo really likes Hart. To be honest that’s who she wanted me to have my surgery with, but he was so far he might as well I’ve been on the moon. Your surgery will be the day before mine, good luck!!!

Hil I see a number of people being rescheduled for surgery, but my surgeon’s office still has the notice on his website about only seeing patients in the offfice for emergencies. I know the hospital where he performs surgery began doing some elective surgeries on May 11 and my endo (in a huge group practice in the same medical building as the surgeon) has now re-opened for in-person visits. Of course there is no way to know what is going on behind the scenes, but I was curious whether other pre-op folks in the Atlanta metro, GA area have been re-scheduled - and who their surgeon’s on and where they perform surgery? Thanks all and have a great weekend!

Glad things are going so well for you! Love the dog pic 🙂

To be honest, since psychologists have to be in college/grad school for like 12 years I always shocked here when people act like they are being ripped off when they pay much. I don’t mean you acted like that at all, but others on these boards have. I don’t know if some don’t have a concept of the education required or the usual costs, but $200 is so low it makes me wonder what they did, you know? I mean attorney’s charge 250/hr and up, physicians too, psycholgists go to school longer than either of those on average. So 1 hour interview and then the time to review and pay for the test stuff and then write up a 2-4 page report would reasonably be at least $500. But so glad you got done with everything!!!

I didn't have a date before since my first visit was around mid February. Luckily the fast track allowed me to get everything completed more quickly and before things go way out of whack, so I got the call at the first of the week and I am scheduled for June 18! I didn't expect it so quickly. I had taken care of most everything, but then having major surgery in addition to work, life, etc. is always a bit overwhelming. Plus, the day after I got that news I learned that I likely have a basal cell carcinoma (type of skin cancer) on my shoulder; I get the biopsy Tuesday. It won't stop the surgery, but that is never news that you want to hear!

I think it’s a good idea to require psych evals, it’s a huge life change and there are psychological contradictions as there are physical ones. I don’t know any surgeon’s here who don’t require one although I am sure there are, most insurers def do, glad everything has gone well for you 🙂

Was just curious what those who would be willing to pay would pay 🙂

That was my guess. Do I get a prize??? Glad things are going well for you!

I agree - we never pull back tips (I thought I would tackle this woman standing in front of me on an expensive cruise complaining about how this was 5 people she had to pay this on and couldn't afford it! Yikes, if she can pay for 5 people to cruise don't steal a few cents a day from each person who served them during each day). I was mumbling and trying to be loud enough she could hear me. I gave her a stink eye the rest of the day LOL I can't imagine what they have done during this, so many were laid off. But I think many of those of us who are clearly obsessed cruisers will be very generous on our upcoming voyages - doesn't make up for it, but at least they will know we understand their situations.