The Greater Fool

To put less [apparently] catty. We each obviously have different requirements and situations. I had far, far, FAR more weight to lose, "Eating a full meal" obviously meant something very different to you than to me. I needed to change what "eating a full meal" meant. I wanted to change every last eating habit, other than my preferences for protein and cheese. I had people try to sell DS to me on much the same terms you use, "eat a full meal", "no restriction", etc. Honestly there was a large appeal to it, but I knew I could easily (EASILY) out eat any such surgery. You may have been sure you would never wake up and decide you wanted out. I wasn't so sure, as I knew my path wouldn't take months, but years to get to goal, if in fact I ever got near it. As I said, I had a long row to hoe. When I lost 200 pounds, it was a promising start. RNY's are often modified, not that I counted on nor cared about that option. I am every bit as enthusiastic about my choice and my reasons as you are yours. I was once even as evangelical as you are. I've mellowed, which surprises me somewhat. Good luck and continued success. Tek

I get that you don't get it. You don't need to. Good luck, Tek

Not that MGB was an option for me in Las Vegas, but lack of reversibility was one of the selling points for RNY for me, as I feared I would take that "out" if the going got tough. I'm an "all in" kinda guy, and I had a long row to hoe.

I was waved away from bread because it tends to ball up and plug the pouch, which I eventually learned first hand. I don't recall how long I waited, or waited after discovering the reasoning was true for me. I've since learned to sip a bit with bread to thin the resulting paste. Raw veggies, like salads? Never been much of a fan, so don't remember how long I left it alone, but I don't think it was an actual rule, at least not one I recall now. I eat the occasional salad, but not in normal rotation. Alcohol, I have to believe there was a prohibition of some length, but again, too long ago to recall the specifics. I don't believe I drank until I lost all my excess weight. I had pretty much abandoned alcohol years before surgery as I tended to binge, well, everything. I've had alcohol since surgery, it goes to my head quicker than pre-op, and if I drink over much the hangover hits quicker and ends quicker so by morning all effects have passed. I really only drink now on vacations with fruity drinks during the day and after dinner cognac. Good Luck, Tek

I was always unrealistically sure I could do it with good 'ol diet and exercise, even at 700+ pounds. I happened to read an article that hid it's true topic about weight loss, so learning about WLS snuck up on me. Other than weight and some related DDD and knee issues, my health was good, but the writing was on the wall. By time I finished the article I spent the weekend obsessively researching until I decided WLS was for me. I rejected the available surgeries other than RNY for various reasons, selected a local surgeon, and started doing tests to get approved. It took about 4 months from that weekend to getting approved and having surgery. Never once regretted my decision. My surgery addressed every issue I asked of it and I followed through on my promises to myself. 18 years later and we are both still doing our jobs. Because of all this I've done things both big and small of which I never thought I'd do in my wildest dreams. Good luck, Tek

No adults have told me I'm fat, but they did bump into walls, poles, miss steps, etc. because they were staring at me. I rather stood out, crowds parted for me to walk through. Now I have to push through like everyone else. Tek

This post along with it's lack of replies has been bugging me for days now. I've been debating with myself on if I should reply or not. I guess it's obvious which side won. First, let me applaud your attempt at putting out some positive energy. With the life issues you've been posting about it's quite a turn. Keep working at being positive and don't let the lack of response to this attempt frustrate things. I'm not one that usually participates in "grateful" threads, what with being the curmudgeon that I am, but I have seen a lot in my time. So let me give a tip or two. Include what YOU are grateful for, the gratefulness that spawned your post. This give readers the option on joining in with your grateful thought or jumping in with a similar thought. "Just because" doesn't give folks anything to work with. People generally don't like jumping in when they don't have a sense of what the thread is really about. Good luck, Tek

You may want to start a fresh thread since this is an old one and not many people are looking back this far. When you start your thread, describe what "worst experience" entails especially symptoms. There are several things that can create "worst experiences" ever. Good Luck, Tek

You may not want to put your email in a subject line, it can open you up in unpleasant ways. If you're posting here, there is no reason we would need your email. Emails are best shared in private. Congratulations on upcoming surgery. "There is no try, just do." Good luck, Tek

Just as one element of dealing with Alcoholism is avoiding triggering situations, the same can apply to at least some eating disorders, that you should avoid triggering situations. If you are triggered by this sites food talk you can get the same information from other places without the triggering food discussions. I stopped going to my Surgeon's support group because the talk was about how to cheat, or at least that's what I got out of it. So I stopped going. There is no law that says we have to allow ourselves to be triggered. Even if others think it's nonsense. Perhaps especially. Take care of you, do what you need to do. Good luck, Tek

I'll bet you learned the same lesson I did all those years ago: Don't eat new dogfood in public. Sniff around it? Sure. But bury it somewhere safe and eat it later in a safe place. Good luck, Tek

I had a complete meal for lunch the day before surgery. I was going to have a nice dinner but I just didn't feel like doing it. My Docs only rule about eating was not after 6:00pm the day before surgery. I was never on a liquid diet, but on a more rational low calorie diet. Food you ate even 12 hours before surgery is no where near the surgical field. So a couple grapes is not the end of the world. Relax. Good luck, Tek

Every post-op here was once a pre-op, so on that basic level we can relate. Some of us started at a lower weight than you, others at a higher weight. Not all of us had hip or knee replacements, but those that did can relate, and those that didn't can relate to the chronic pain we suffered anyhow. I'm sure some number of folks here have experienced the same combinations of diagnoses and interventions that you have. A lot of others come close. One thing most of us learned is we are not as unique, nor are we as alone as many of us thought. Good luck, Tek

I never found much of anything that helped with the under pannus issues. My recollection is the yeast infections, irritations, smells, etc. got better as I neared and passed goal. Compression garments helped (I used running tights) keep the pannus from going one direction while I was going another. Get yourself to a doctor and get your issues documented, as it will make your abdominoplasty (Tummy-Tuck) a "reconstructive" procedure for which insurance will pay, as opposed to "cosmetic" for which insurance will generally not pay. A history of failed attempts to deal with issues is important, or at least it was for me. Good luck, Tek

I don't believe "Veteran's" in this context is about military service, rather it is about having had WLS a number of months, years, or decades in the past. Good luck, Tek

There are several about. I'm a happy camper. Good luck, Tek

Congratulations! Tek

I eat 3oz protein, 1oz veggies per meal or when my pouch says to stop, whichever comes first. There are days when it's 2 bites and the meal is done. I very rarely go over. I learned long ago that in a battle of wills my pouch wins hands down. Good luck, Tek

I think it's root is 'Distal' so making the existing bypass more distal, more intestines bypassed. Good luck, Tek ETA: Revision of Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass with Limb Distalization ...

Hi. I'm not in your target demographic, but I dislike seeing posts asking for help that don't get a response. At 3 months my program was 3 meals a day, no snacks. Meals consisted of 3oz protein, 1oz veggies, sometimes with a smidgen of a starch. The protein was usually chicken, pork, beef, often with a touch of flavorful sauce, but in a pinch things like cheese, beans. While I didn't do snacks, if I got hungry I would do SF popsicles, this way I had flavor and 5 calories to give my stomach something to do. SF popsicles were a life savor for me early on, so I tended to lean on them a bit later too. Gosh, I think I'll by a box next grocery trip. There was a time at about 2 years post-op that I was binge running (about 90 miles a week) where my plan was increased to 6 meals per day plus a protein shake. I hated it, I felt like you that I was constantly eating, about the only time I wasn't was when I was running. Oh, I'm not saying you should do my plan. Many people I knew back in the day did 3 meals and 3 snacks. Many did protein drinks for a meal or even two. I think the primary thing is they ate to plan to be successful, just as you're trying to do. You have a good goal working to conform your eating to plan. keep at it. Good luck, Tek

Yes, I eat the same plan as I did from at 6 months. I've never counted calories. Good luck, Tek

I mostly eat to plan. My plan is my normal, daily eating style. I never counted calories or grams of protein or ounces of water. I eat a lot of pork and a lot of red meat, though they are very much on my plan and always have been from day 1 post-op. Nothing is out of your diet forever except those things you can't handle in moderation. There are also plenty of things that should not make a frequent appearance in your eating... well, at least my eating. The weird thing of it all is I don't know why I have stuck to this plan for 18 years, but I could never stick to a plan pre-op. I have theories that involve sticking to plan and positive feedback, but it's not well formed. But, my surgeon never had a concept of "after I lost my excess weight." The plan was forever. Good luck, Tek

Perhaps that's best. Good luck, Tek

While it's true that all humor is best when explained in excruciating detail, in this case I was working out an alternate reality concept that does not lend itself to a coherent explanation. It's best just to live with the confusion and move on lest I choose to explain it anyhow, then you'll be sorry. Good luck, Tek

To be honest, you should have checked with us on the whole "Should I get Covid?" question. I think a majority of us would have come down on the "No" side. Here's hoping you reconsider the results of the test and choose "No", just to be safe. Good luck, Tek