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Possum220

Gastric Bypass Patients
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  1. Like
    Possum220 got a reaction from kmac1 in “YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!!!”   
    So very well done. Brilliant effort. It really takes determination to have made it to where you are. I love it when you said that we are going to tip toe back into the old life. This is so true for me. Old habits and poor choices snuck back in but got myself back on track this week and got some good results.
    Yes. We fight the good fight. 💚
  2. Like
    Possum220 reacted to swimbikerun in Revision Surgery Recommended for Hiatal Hernia?   
    I just had a repair and revise. He's correct - I had been given the same thing. You already have a sleeve that is going back and forth, the chances are greater, if you leave it and just do the hernia repair, that it will return. There's already diaphragm weakness.

  3. Thanks
    Possum220 reacted to kmac1 in “YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!!!”   
    Who knew 3 years ago that on September 24, 2023, I’d be crossing the finish line after 12 hours, 33 minutes and 38 seconds of hard work in the Chattanooga Ironman! Since February 5, 2021 I have stayed focused, followed the plan, and worked hard to lose a 160lbs. And those decisions are got me here!

    I share this not to brag or seek attention, but to show others who have questions or doubts of what is possible! If you have or are considering proceeding with bariatric surgery, go into it with the decision and desire to live life differently moving forward! The old way doesn’t work for us wired the way we are! You have to want to do better and be better for this to work! The surgery is a tool for change! It’s going to be difficult, you’re going to face temptation, you’re going to tip toe back in the old life… but discipline, consistency and effort is the way forward! You deserve it! But you also deserve to give your self grace when mistakes are made along the way! But know that one poor choice doesn’t define your path forward, it’s just about trying to make a better decision the next time. Ok, off my soapbox…

    Good luck everyone and keep fighting the good fight!
  4. Like
    Possum220 got a reaction from Chel1 in 4 Days Post Op - Revision Update   
    Surgery on our bodies is a very big deal and also the anesthetic and pain meds are also an assualt on our body and mind. After a bypass and hernia repair my own body swelled up with the IV fluids. My feet were like balloons. Hernia surgery was quite painful too.
    Happily the swelling did go down and I was able to ease off on the pain meds. Hopefully you will fell better and better as each day and week pass.
  5. Like
    Possum220 got a reaction from Chel1 in 4 Days Post Op - Revision Update   
    Surgery on our bodies is a very big deal and also the anesthetic and pain meds are also an assualt on our body and mind. After a bypass and hernia repair my own body swelled up with the IV fluids. My feet were like balloons. Hernia surgery was quite painful too.
    Happily the swelling did go down and I was able to ease off on the pain meds. Hopefully you will fell better and better as each day and week pass.
  6. Like
    Possum220 got a reaction from Arabesque in Need Encouragement!   
    You are right it is a long term thing. For a little perspective - You will be eating something for the rest of your life. The choice is do you eat something that will nourish your own body or eat empty calories that do nothing for nobody and make your body be sick and have to struggle through life? You got this. Pick yourself up and rejoice in life. Start a new hobby or make a new friend. Do something that you enjoy that doesnt involve copious amounts of food.
    Having the sleeve is just another stepping stone. It will provide you with more skills and more control with food. It will be worthwhile.
    Health is a long term goal. You wont see changes every single day but they will happen if you take care of the body that helps you get around in this world. The days turn into months and the months turn into years. If your are trying to heal your emotions with food you will fail every time. Decide. You really can do this.
    A year on from having the bypass - I can go for walks. I sleep much better. I can buy clothes in a normal store. I am more confident and I now more active in community groups. I have made new friends. I can take care of myself and not need to rely on others. I feel so much better in my own skin.
    You really do want to give yourself the gift of life. You got this.
  7. Like
    Possum220 got a reaction from Arabesque in Need Encouragement!   
    You are right it is a long term thing. For a little perspective - You will be eating something for the rest of your life. The choice is do you eat something that will nourish your own body or eat empty calories that do nothing for nobody and make your body be sick and have to struggle through life? You got this. Pick yourself up and rejoice in life. Start a new hobby or make a new friend. Do something that you enjoy that doesnt involve copious amounts of food.
    Having the sleeve is just another stepping stone. It will provide you with more skills and more control with food. It will be worthwhile.
    Health is a long term goal. You wont see changes every single day but they will happen if you take care of the body that helps you get around in this world. The days turn into months and the months turn into years. If your are trying to heal your emotions with food you will fail every time. Decide. You really can do this.
    A year on from having the bypass - I can go for walks. I sleep much better. I can buy clothes in a normal store. I am more confident and I now more active in community groups. I have made new friends. I can take care of myself and not need to rely on others. I feel so much better in my own skin.
    You really do want to give yourself the gift of life. You got this.
  8. Like
    Possum220 got a reaction from Arabesque in Need Encouragement!   
    You are right it is a long term thing. For a little perspective - You will be eating something for the rest of your life. The choice is do you eat something that will nourish your own body or eat empty calories that do nothing for nobody and make your body be sick and have to struggle through life? You got this. Pick yourself up and rejoice in life. Start a new hobby or make a new friend. Do something that you enjoy that doesnt involve copious amounts of food.
    Having the sleeve is just another stepping stone. It will provide you with more skills and more control with food. It will be worthwhile.
    Health is a long term goal. You wont see changes every single day but they will happen if you take care of the body that helps you get around in this world. The days turn into months and the months turn into years. If your are trying to heal your emotions with food you will fail every time. Decide. You really can do this.
    A year on from having the bypass - I can go for walks. I sleep much better. I can buy clothes in a normal store. I am more confident and I now more active in community groups. I have made new friends. I can take care of myself and not need to rely on others. I feel so much better in my own skin.
    You really do want to give yourself the gift of life. You got this.
  9. Like
    Possum220 got a reaction from Arabesque in Need Encouragement!   
    You are right it is a long term thing. For a little perspective - You will be eating something for the rest of your life. The choice is do you eat something that will nourish your own body or eat empty calories that do nothing for nobody and make your body be sick and have to struggle through life? You got this. Pick yourself up and rejoice in life. Start a new hobby or make a new friend. Do something that you enjoy that doesnt involve copious amounts of food.
    Having the sleeve is just another stepping stone. It will provide you with more skills and more control with food. It will be worthwhile.
    Health is a long term goal. You wont see changes every single day but they will happen if you take care of the body that helps you get around in this world. The days turn into months and the months turn into years. If your are trying to heal your emotions with food you will fail every time. Decide. You really can do this.
    A year on from having the bypass - I can go for walks. I sleep much better. I can buy clothes in a normal store. I am more confident and I now more active in community groups. I have made new friends. I can take care of myself and not need to rely on others. I feel so much better in my own skin.
    You really do want to give yourself the gift of life. You got this.
  10. Like
    Possum220 reacted to catwoman7 in I can gulp water 2 weeks post surgery- normal??   
    liquids move through you really fast. food doesn't. You'll especially feel restriction when. you get on solid food (maybe not purees - but you probably will once you move to solid).
  11. Like
    Possum220 got a reaction from BeanitoDiego in How to get all my protein in?   
    Most surgeons will not be much help in regard to what you need to be eating post op. Please check in with a bariatric dietician to sort out your food choices.
    You can have eggs. You can have baked Beans. You can have a fillet of fish with vegies. You can have custard and that will count to your Protein. You can add Protein Powder to your shakes. You can have smoothies with protein powder in. You can even add protein powder to tea and coffee.
    I am adding a link to a site in Australia that sells Tasteless protein powder. https://costpricesupplements.com.au/tasteless-protein-collagen-500g-by-feel-good-protein/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=tasteless_protein&utm_term=tasteless%20protein%20powder&utm_content=138100867419&gclid=CjwKCAjwr_CnBhA0EiwAci5siq4K5LLhUSBAsPkQkza1QEg4FXhXg6aTlkA9D1xJdMOKSZAsupmjmBoCoVUQAvD_BwE It will end up cheaper for you with the exchange rate.
    Hope that the bariatric dietician can expand your food choices.
  12. Like
    Possum220 got a reaction from BeanitoDiego in How to get all my protein in?   
    Most surgeons will not be much help in regard to what you need to be eating post op. Please check in with a bariatric dietician to sort out your food choices.
    You can have eggs. You can have baked Beans. You can have a fillet of fish with vegies. You can have custard and that will count to your Protein. You can add Protein Powder to your shakes. You can have smoothies with protein powder in. You can even add protein powder to tea and coffee.
    I am adding a link to a site in Australia that sells Tasteless protein powder. https://costpricesupplements.com.au/tasteless-protein-collagen-500g-by-feel-good-protein/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=tasteless_protein&utm_term=tasteless%20protein%20powder&utm_content=138100867419&gclid=CjwKCAjwr_CnBhA0EiwAci5siq4K5LLhUSBAsPkQkza1QEg4FXhXg6aTlkA9D1xJdMOKSZAsupmjmBoCoVUQAvD_BwE It will end up cheaper for you with the exchange rate.
    Hope that the bariatric dietician can expand your food choices.
  13. Like
    Possum220 got a reaction from Cary38 in 3 Months Post-Op: 50 lbs dropped! But, I am Weak   
    You have lost a massive amount of weight. Congrats.
    Given that you are 6ft you may need to be eating more to sustain such a weight loss and have good energy levels.
    Are you currently under the care of a bariatric dietician? If not please check in with one so that your tiredness can be investigated. Have you been having regular blood tests done to see where everything is? Having a bypass may result in malabsorsion of nutrients and lead to deficiencies that can show up in blood tests.
    Being back in the gym will also require more fuel for energy. You may want to throw yourself back into the thick of it but dont. Slowly increase the rate and weights that you exercise with. Dont pop another hernia by rushing things. Does the gym have an exercise physiologist that can give you guidance? Please seek one out. Walking is a great place to start.
    Your wife IS right. You just had major surgery and that by itself will take time. Dont try to run before you can walk.
  14. Like
    Possum220 got a reaction from Cary38 in 3 Months Post-Op: 50 lbs dropped! But, I am Weak   
    You have lost a massive amount of weight. Congrats.
    Given that you are 6ft you may need to be eating more to sustain such a weight loss and have good energy levels.
    Are you currently under the care of a bariatric dietician? If not please check in with one so that your tiredness can be investigated. Have you been having regular blood tests done to see where everything is? Having a bypass may result in malabsorsion of nutrients and lead to deficiencies that can show up in blood tests.
    Being back in the gym will also require more fuel for energy. You may want to throw yourself back into the thick of it but dont. Slowly increase the rate and weights that you exercise with. Dont pop another hernia by rushing things. Does the gym have an exercise physiologist that can give you guidance? Please seek one out. Walking is a great place to start.
    Your wife IS right. You just had major surgery and that by itself will take time. Dont try to run before you can walk.
  15. Like
    Possum220 got a reaction from BeanitoDiego in How to get all my protein in?   
    Most surgeons will not be much help in regard to what you need to be eating post op. Please check in with a bariatric dietician to sort out your food choices.
    You can have eggs. You can have baked Beans. You can have a fillet of fish with vegies. You can have custard and that will count to your Protein. You can add Protein Powder to your shakes. You can have smoothies with protein powder in. You can even add protein powder to tea and coffee.
    I am adding a link to a site in Australia that sells Tasteless protein powder. https://costpricesupplements.com.au/tasteless-protein-collagen-500g-by-feel-good-protein/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=tasteless_protein&utm_term=tasteless%20protein%20powder&utm_content=138100867419&gclid=CjwKCAjwr_CnBhA0EiwAci5siq4K5LLhUSBAsPkQkza1QEg4FXhXg6aTlkA9D1xJdMOKSZAsupmjmBoCoVUQAvD_BwE It will end up cheaper for you with the exchange rate.
    Hope that the bariatric dietician can expand your food choices.
  16. Like
    Possum220 got a reaction from BeanitoDiego in before surgery and after surgery exercises from those of you that have lost over 100lb/45kgs   
    In answer to your question ........ I was a couch potato before my RNY back in last May last year. Walking past three houses was exhausting. So I rarely walked. So I began walking. Each week/month I went a little further and further. i can now walk 5 k easily. Walking is a great way to start to get fit.
    Then I started to do a small amount of strength exercises. It only been the last month that I have done cardio. I walk, use a recumbent bike and use limited weights. For me the whole thing is just about getting fitter. I do feel fitter and happier in my body.
    At my size I am going to have loose skin.
    How much you exercise will be determined by what you want to achieve and how much you are prepared to do. Losing weight is one thing but in order to keep the weight off exercise will need to be part of your life long journey. I hope it all goes well for you.
  17. Like
    Possum220 got a reaction from Chel1 in 4 Days Post Op - Revision Update   
    Surgery on our bodies is a very big deal and also the anesthetic and pain meds are also an assualt on our body and mind. After a bypass and hernia repair my own body swelled up with the IV fluids. My feet were like balloons. Hernia surgery was quite painful too.
    Happily the swelling did go down and I was able to ease off on the pain meds. Hopefully you will fell better and better as each day and week pass.
  18. Like
    Possum220 got a reaction from BeanitoDiego in New here and just had surgery   
    Could it be an anchor stitch that surgeons put in to keep everything in place? Hope the surgeon can get back to your before the weekend.
  19. Like
    Possum220 got a reaction from SleeveToBypass2023 in New NSVs, new chapter in life, old dreams becoming new!!!   
    So very well done SleveToBypass2023 Amazing that you are have persisted in this journey and achieved so much. You must be feeling so much better in your body and mind.
    You reached for the stars and you caught them. 💖💖

  20. Like
    Possum220 got a reaction from Chel1 in 4 Days Post Op - Revision Update   
    Surgery on our bodies is a very big deal and also the anesthetic and pain meds are also an assualt on our body and mind. After a bypass and hernia repair my own body swelled up with the IV fluids. My feet were like balloons. Hernia surgery was quite painful too.
    Happily the swelling did go down and I was able to ease off on the pain meds. Hopefully you will fell better and better as each day and week pass.
  21. Hugs
    Possum220 reacted to Theia103121 in New to this and facing anger   
    I think that's some of my anger- anger at myself for needing the help, for having so many issues with food. It seems like such a weakness. It's funny, too, because i would never tell someone else it's a weakness or believe it was. Only for myself. I've been in therapy for a long time now and we've talked about my weight, of course, but never as honestly as I've been forced to since I made the decision to do this. I also am big on feeling in control, and I feel like the surgery is going to take control away from me. I know that's not how it works; I know it's the opposite- I'm not in control now and the surgery will help me regain control. But something about having rules around food just is a huge trigger for some reason.
  22. Like
    Possum220 got a reaction from Theia103121 in New to this and facing anger   
    Have a big dummy spit. It is hard and it is awful. You have been set up by society two ways. Society sets us up by having a system that dangles so many tempting foods in our face while at the same time limits our normal everyday movement by having cars and computers machines that do the heavy lifting for us. No manual labor for us. Many people are chronically overweight but are a victim of our modern society. Our metabolism has changed. Our bodies are hard wired to retain fat in order so that we can survive in times of famine. You are allowed to be angry. You got lots of help from society to be where you are. So while is is important to acknowledge our own behaviours we had so much help from our environment,
    Obesity is a chronic modern day disease.
    BUT..... (You knew this was coming)....
    You can make a choice to put self care strategies into place. Stop treating your body like a trash can. Your body has a way to heal itself with your help. You can give your body a better chance. It will be okay.
    If you google search Dr V Masterclass on youtube you can find some stellar info on this journey. I want to encourage you to care about yourself and your future.
    In your post you mentioned giving up certain foods or having sugar free products. This is a new road for us and no two journeys are the same. I thought I would not be able to have chocolate any more after having my RNY bypass. Turns out that I can still enjoy chocolate but in much smaller amounts. Not a big sacrifice. I can still eat pretty much everything I used to eat, but again in smaller amount. Many people lose hair after this OP but not all do. I didnt.
    Reading about this journey in a pamphlet or on social media is one thing. Things might or might not happen. Only by doing this will you find out what is is really like for you and what issues you may or may not have.
    Having a medical procedure is one thing. It is another ball game to address reasons of why we eat and getting some psychological help. A medical procedure like this Is just an effective tool to lose the weight but being successful requires a combination of physical and psychological work.
    Life is so much easier now that I have shed some weight. I can walk further. I can take care of my physical needs. I feel so much better and am off my diabetes medication and bp medication and off my reflux meds. I dont have to be scared anymore about breaking chairs. I feel better in myself.
    Be mad and move past it. Get ready to love yourself.
  23. Like
    Possum220 reacted to Theia103121 in New to this and facing anger   
    Hi!
    I'm new here. I went through about six months of the process for WLS about four or five years ago, but I didn't lose weight during the six-month pre-op phase, so things stopped. I had also been running across many horror stories (mostly on social media), which made me think that maybe it was for the best, anyway.
    Well, five years later, I weigh no less than I did back then. I have a huge list of co-morbidities, some of which are related to weight, some I had prior to my weight gain, and a couple that cause weight gain. I'm on over ten meds a day, and I'm only 42 (well, 43 in a few days). I feel like I'm falling apart.
    I think the last straw was that my oldest son got married in June. I saw myself in the wedding photos. I ruminated on that for a few weeks, and then woke up one morning and decided I was sick of obesity and everything that goes along with it. So, I asked my PCP for the referral, and I have my first appointment in September. Because I did six months of their program and because I read their patient handbook, I have a better idea of what is expected of me than I might otherwise.
    But I'm angry. I'm angry that I'm going to have to give up my favorite foods or accept sugar-free versions (and I can't stand artificial sweeteners; I'm actually really worried about it because most Protein drinks/powders seem to rely on them). I'm angry that I won't be able to eat like everyone else. I'm angry that I'll have to go through so much physically. I'm angry that I have to lose weight to have surgery to help me lose weight that I need because I can't lose weight on my own. And I'm angry that it's such a long process. If I have to do it, tell me what to do, let me sulk over it for a few days, and then let's just do it. I know that's not how it works, and I don't know why I'm so angry. I have no one to blame but myself for being in this mess. I made a list of positives that could come from the surgery, and I got a full two pages. So I shouldn't be angry. And I realize my reaction shows that I have inappropriate attitudes toward food. I've discussed it with my therapist, and we're going to work on it, but I guess I was wondering if anyone else dealt with this and what helped them get past it. TIA!
  24. Thanks
    Possum220 got a reaction from Summermoose in They cancelled my 8/15 surgery, after I expressed my concerns!   
    The term nurse infers care. The nurse is not a nurse she is a bully.
    This is beyond disgusting behaviour. I googled the new surgeon and they do check out. But his current support team should also be sacked. Support being the operative word. There is no support and they are gaslighting you for their own sad performance. Even if they are able to find you another date I would hate to think what follow up care you would be provided with. Please Please put this down to experience now and find a better provider/team. You deserve so much better. Saying that you would not comply to do the necessary things post op is a sickening joke.
    Run do not walk to another team that can support you. You need to be looked after not treated with disdain and blame for this very serious and life changing surgery. Maybe your general doctor can suggest another provider? This team need to be reported for their lack of professionalism.
    Dry those tears hunny bun. You are loved. 🤗💖
  25. Like
    Possum220 reacted to SacB in I don't want my neighbors to see me   
    Update: I got an elliptical! Problem solved. It's amazing what people get rid of on Facebook Marketplace. There were over 30 ellipticals to choose from, with at least half of them anywhere from free to $50. I paid $35 for this one, and am over the moon. It glides so smoothly, and only takes up 2-ft by 3-ft of floor space.

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