Angelina1210

When I decided to have the surgery I was a "50% quit, but I vape as a replacement" smoker, and over the 6 months leading up to the surgery I was able to completely quit combustable cigarettes and was on 100% nicotine replacement (which my surgeon was fine with in my case, just no burning tobacco)...it was worth it. I have since went from an all-day chain vaper to a "couple puffs a few times a day" person.
Any kind of inhalable nicotine is going to be putting additional stress on your esophagus and the sphincter that separates it from your stomach which can make things like acid reflux worse. You need to quit and be ok with quitting before you proceed with the surgery.

Surgery on the 15th. Kinda freaking out. Nervous.

Oh hun! I feel you! 2 days before my surgery I became so overwhelmed with anxiety and fear. I almost cancelled. I was so afraid! 4 days post op now and I had absolutely nothing to be afraid of. I'm relatively pain free and off my pain meds. I'm able to walk around and climb stairs. I'm tolerating my pure liquid diet and looking forward to when I can move on to puree! The pre surgery jitters are normal. Try and not think about it, you're going to do great!

My date was set yesterday - 10/13/21 - for the Sleeve. I'm self-pay, so everything is moving pretty quickly. I had to cancel a few sets of plans, but it'll be worth it!

Hi Crystal! Im in San Diego My surgery is 10/19 and I can't wait to feel better and d/c BP and cholesterol meds!

I'm scheduled for December 23rd, after 2 reschedules. I'm hoping that they don't postpone again! 🙄

Hi! I’m scheduled for December 10th. I am nervous but I’m also excited and I’m looking forward to feeling and looking better. I’m sick of the yo-yo dieting and feeling the way I do. You can do it! WE can do it!! ☺️

Wow you are total inspiration. You look great! Congratulations on your anniversary!

Hi. I’ve struggled with my weight for most of my adult life. My weight has fluctuated so much and I’m tired of looking and feeling the way I feel. I lost my mom four months ago and it hurts like hell. I wish you all the best and I pray for your comfort-emotionally, psychologically and physically. I’m scheduled for surgery on December 10th. I’m nervous and worried but I’m also excited to look and feel better. My back and feet hurt constantly and my anxiety and depression is all over the place and I dread taking pictures and going out because I’m so ashamed of my weight gain. Since my mom has passed food has definitely been my comfort.

Hi. I’ve struggled with my weight for most of my adult life. My weight has fluctuated so much and I’m tired of looking and feeling the way I feel. I lost my mom four months ago and it hurts like hell. I wish you all the best and I pray for your comfort-emotionally, psychologically and physically. I’m scheduled for surgery on December 10th. I’m nervous and worried but I’m also excited to look and feel better. My back and feet hurt constantly and my anxiety and depression is all over the place and I dread taking pictures and going out because I’m so ashamed of my weight gain. Since my mom has passed food has definitely been my comfort.

This is such an interesting observation. I have never regretted it since the day after the surgery. I learned about it in Jan. 2020 and had my surgery in March 2020. For me, it was the fact that my metabolic symptoms were getting worse, and I was nearly the age when my dad got diabetes, and he seems pretty miserable now. Maybe you are right. The people who think about it longer may still be less sure about their decision, even after they've made it.

Nevertheless, I do want to tell the OP and the other posters who are feeling regrets - for me, the painful/uncomfortable physical effects and some of the negative emotions (like feeling left out and feeling like a failure that you had to do this) were still very strong over the first ~9 months - but they are much better now. I don't feel pain when I swallow even Water too fast; I rarely feel faint and need to lie down after meals. Also - at first you have rapidly changing hormone levels from fat-soluble hormones being released as you lose weight, and this WILL affect your emotions. In a year or too, you will likely start to feel better physically - much better than you do now, but also better than your old body did to at a year or two out.
I'm 1.5 years out, and generally very happy with my decision, but I am still getting used to my own body and my new life. I still sometimes feel partly like an alien in a new world. That is a rough process. It takes time.

Emotionally, it's normal to mourn when you undergo a major life change. The old you IS dead. There is no going back. Change is always hard, and that causes anxiety because you don't know yet how it will turn out. And while you hope that the future you will be healthier than the old you, of course you're also having trouble envisioning how happy that future will be. Certainly some of the pleasures the old you enjoyed have been lessened. Of course you'd rather be fat and happy, than slim and miserable! I would too.

Let yourself mourn that. Sadness is a real, natural, normal feeling. Feel it.

But don't forget to put some effort into the new you also. Right now you're taking a LOT less pleasure in food. But don't let yourself just wallow in depression forever. (Unless you can't help it - then seek outside help.) Think about having some new experiences and finding new pleasures. Or, perhaps think about if maybe there's something really painful in your life that you've been using food to avoid - perhaps there is a better way to solve that problem. Then, later, when most likely some of that pleasure in food returns, you'll be in a better place.

I actually take much more pleasure in food now because I don't feel guilty and out of control around it, and the new changes in behavior have finally become habit. I can just focus on actually enjoying the flavor of food, not to mention the satisfying journey between anticipation and completion, hunger and fullness. I was always so hungry before - I never felt 'full' - I always just felt 'uncomfortable'.

Also, there will be people who actually do feel worse in the long term. If that happens to you, seek out a therapist, or a particularly good friend, whatever you need to be able to talk about it. Feel free to send me a message if you need to talk. I may not regret this particular decision, but have certainly been other changes in my life that were irreversibly negative.

I’m really not okay I’m sad I’m hurting ever since I did my sleeve from Feb 10,21 gallbladder removal March 26,21 then in September 23,21 I’ve just had double hernia surgery my body been through a lot I’ve lost a lot weight this November 17 will be my mommy birthday she’s no longer here it’s been 7yrs since her passing I’m still hurting from my mom passing I realized I’ve never grief of her passing I’m not sleeping I’ve not been okay since I did my surgeries please every one please pray for me

This surgery changes hormone levels, and it's a bit rocky for awhile. Our bodies have over 300 hormones, when one or more are altered our moods are greatly affected. And it's used to being insulin resistant - most everyone that is obese is suffering from insulin resistance and inflammation. Now add to that our abuse of food to alter mood, cope, and to socialize and it's a perfect storm. You have to replace those previous 'behaviors' with something else that satisfies those 'needs'. I believe exploring this in therapy or group support is a constructive option everyone needs to do. It is a HUGE process to make these changes, both in your head and physically as we have arrived in this situation after years of living with our collective experiences and relationships with food and people. Be gentle with yourself.
Sometimes it also takes medication, ongoing therapy, exercise, and time. And you can't look back, push on and know that the physical health you get with this surgery is amazing. Good luck.

I had the exact same thoughts.
I had my sleeve done 2 weeks before Christmas.
I was still on liquids when everyone was happily eating their beautiful meals.
It wasnt the food I missed, I felt left out, i felt lonely.
But I can assure you that it does get better!

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I'm so thankful for everyone who commented, it genuinely made me feel much better knowing that it is a common thing that most of us who did the surgery went through it too. It's honestly so comforting to have a forum like this to constantly talk about my experiences with the surgery to people who are either going or have already gone through the exact same things as me.
I will be looking forward to completing my 2 weeks so start feeling better.
Thanks again everyone!

Holy Moly it’s been a year this month! I have attached a photo and it’s actually hard to look at! I have some work to do yet and I have moved my goal weight around so I am not done yet but what a ride If I can do it at 50 anyone can !

December 17th here! 😁

Hi! I’m scheduled for December 10th. I am nervous but I’m also excited and I’m looking forward to feeling and looking better. I’m sick of the yo-yo dieting and feeling the way I do. You can do it! WE can do it!! ☺️

I found the Fairlife to be way too sweet. I preferred the vanilla shakes from Prermier Protein, but those are still a bit sweet.
If you can (and want to) have cafeine, the Latte from Premier Protein is not sweet, and you can warm it and have it hot.
But for total non-sweet you need to do what @vikingbeast said above. You can even add Isopure to those Soups from Panera.
You can also make (or buy premade) chicken broth, make it salty, and add Isopure.

I'm not sure where you are from but we have an opioid crisis in the US. Doctors are using different techniques to reduce opioid use and reduce pain, including nerve blocks that last about 4 days. Requiring a patient to experience pain is never necessary and does not do anything to indicate healing! I've been in the medical field for over 40 yrs and have seen binders used many times for abs surgery, especially cesarean sections. If something as simple as a binder provides the support you need to move around, go for it. I'm talking about light support not compression garments, that's a completely different thing.

I asked my surgeon about these binders and he specifically told me NOT to use one. He said it’s important to keep using your muscles and that the pain is a very necessary indicator of your body’s boundaries during healing.

I’m on my 8th day of the 2week liver shrinking diet. It’s gotten surprisingly easier, I’m not as hungry as I was the first 5days. My gastric bypass surgery is scheduled for November 8th. I’m excited and nervous at the same time. 😬

Hey everyone!
Just had sleeve yesterday morning.
I was a self pay.
first day was the worse than today. I’ve been nauseous ever since I woke from surgery.
it’s hard for me to distinguish from gas pain and nausea. I managed to get 8 oz down yesterday. I threw up the gabapentin immediately. Feeling scared to try anything. My nurse said he’ll have me try the Tylenol at some point.
belly just feel like I worked out my abs, and getting up takes some work.
I’ve walked until I get tired, which a about 5 laps around my room.
today is better than yesterday, but boy does this suck!!!!
And my room freezing.
nothing good today yet, just that today is better.

My surgery is November 4 with Dr. Fok Russell through Medicalmex in Tijuana. I live in Missouri and wish I could've had it here but my insurance didn't cover.