Dave_NW

Don't forget I'm still out here, too.

Dave

Hey Dave - can't answer your questions...but wanted to say HI to someone in the NW! I LOVE the NW. We spend 1-2 months on Whidbey Island every summer. =)

Well, hey back! Wave the next time you drive by my house! :001_smile:

Dave

Trying to plan ahead. When you had your sleeve surgery, how long did you stay in the hospital? How soon after release did you go back to see your surgeon? (Or did you go see your regular doctor?) My surgeon is a couple hours drive from my home, and I'm trying to figure out what to expect.

Thanks,

Dave

I'm solidly working toward having surgery at the end of the year. I've read a lot of excellent threads here, and really appreciate the candid things people have had to say. You're really helping educate me. Thanks for that. But for all my reading, I haven't read an answer to this question. I'm wondering if someone here can help me learn what to expect. (I hope I can explain this so it makes sense, so bear with me.)

A little background: I'm one of those people whose stomach doesn't tell me when I'm full. It seems I can eat, and keep eating, until I'm suddenly stuffed and miserable. I've learned to manage the volume of what I eat now, so as to not have this occur most of the time. I stop eating when I think I've had enough, not necessarily because I feel full. In some cases, an hour later I'm feeling hungry again. I hate when that happens.

But I'm also one of those who can't focus, function, or sleep when I'm hungry. (Or when I THINK I'm hungry.) As a result, forcing myself to eat less has always been a problem. No matter which diet I tried, I kept feeling like my hunger was never satisfied. Only after eating extra portions of things did I finally feel full. And as we all know, that makes the diet ineffective.

So here's the question: Since the sleeve removes the portion of the stomach that produces ghrelin, it's my understanding that hunger pangs are reduced or eliminated. So how do you know when you should eat, and how do you know when you're full? Does hunger ever truly happen after surgery, and how do you know when you're satiated? I've heard the feeling of satiety is one of the benefits of the sleeve, but I don't know that I've ever felt that. (I hope that makes sense.)

As for post-surgery eating, do you truly have to measure and plan everything out ahead of time for every meal? If you know your sleeve can handle 6 ounces of food, do you always eat 6 ounces at a time? They say don't graze, but how do you manage eating meals? Is it a volume thing, or forced Portion Control, or ? I read here about people who say they're having trouble "getting all their Protein in" or whatever. Is that because they feel full too soon? But if your sleeve should be able to handle a certain amount, and it's meal time, how does that work? Why can't you "get all your protein in?"

My concern is that if I don't ever feel full, how will I know if I've had enough? I don't want to set myself up for getting sick after every meal by overeating, but I also don't want to eat and then feel hungry again in a short time.

I hope this makes some kind of sense. Anyone have an idea of what I should expect?

Thanks very much,

Dave

Why oh Why don't we have a costco here

I know it's a stretch, but the closest costco to you is in Greenville. Costco.com says that's 130-some miles from you. A couple hours drive? It'd be worth it to make the trip once in awhile, just to stock up on the non-perishable foods you want. Might be worth it to make a day trip of it, maybe take a friend along, and joint-shop. Since things often come in double- or triple-packaging, you could share some of the larger sizes of things with your shopping buddy, if you don't want the whole package. :thumbup:

Just a thought from a Costco fanatic.

Dave

Others here are likely much better at this than me, but it seems to me that if you're stuck at a certain weight, and you know you're doing what you're supposed to with your eating, then change something else. Weight loss for me has always been a math equation - basically, put out more than you take in.

I'm the last one to tell someone to get more exercise, but it seems like if you keep eating as you are, but increase your activity just a bit - like a walk around the block a time or two - that would be just enough to tip the scales back in the downward direction.

If your body is balancing input and output, do one thing or the other to upset that balance.

Good luck!

Dave

Welcome, Rob! There are a lot of great folks here with a real cross-section of experiences to share. Best of all, for me, is nobody sugarcoats anything. They share the good AND the bad. For someone trying to decide how to proceed, it's a great place to soak it in.

Good luck!

Dave

Redmond is actually a very nice area, close to Seattle but not too close, kind of out of the way, but not too far from a whole lot of things to see and do. Schools there are very good, and there is a lot of recreation for your kids. Once you get settled in, and start checking out the area, you'll find all kinds of ways to be busy, both as an individual, and as a family. Depending on which direction you drive, within just an hour or two you can go snow skiing, boating, walk on an ocean beach, visit Canada, see Mount St. Helens, go hiking, camping, fishing, see sports events, live theater, music concerts - the list is endless, and bound only by your imagination. And if you like to shop, there are a TON of outstanding shopping areas and malls in and around the Redmond area. You're going to have a great time up here!

Dave

Yesterday we got what we were expecting, a job transfer from Texas to Washington State. So in 6 weeks I will be living in an apartment that I have yet to see in a new state I've only visited once. Our extended family will continue of course to live in Texas so we are on our own. I hope the sense of something new and adventure will keep me distracted from the reality of my situation and the body I do not want.

Hi Carrie,

I can only imagine what you're going through, and try to offer you as much encouragement as possible. And while I can't change your mind about your surgery, perhaps I can offer something positive for you to look forward to:

I live in Washington state, and I would be happy to try and help you and your family transition up here at this difficult time. If you need information about anything, or if I can "grease the skids" any for you from this end, I'd be happy to do so. It really is a very nice place to live. Send me a PM if I can help in some way. There are many friends waiting for you to meet here. You just don't know us yet.

Best,

Dave

Congratulations, John! Looking forward to hearing further good news from you.

Dave

Welcome to the Boards. I'm a relative newbie as well, and am in the same process you are. I have an advantage in that my insurance doesn't require as much poking and prodding, and will probably approve me for surgery based on my surgeons recommendation. I expect to have that at the end of September. With luck I could be post-op by the end of the year.

I also started out thinking I wanted the lap band. But the more I researched it, the more I was against it. My reasons were likely a lot like yours - much of it about not wanting a foreign body inside of me. The kicker for me was finding out the band doesn't provide the kind of weight loss I'm looking for. My BMI is "only" about 45, but I still have nearly 150 pounds to lose to be where I want to be.

I found the band to be an easy initial choce because I knew I could have it removed if there was a problem. I thought it was safe, and I didn't have to commit all the way. Then as I started researching more deeply, I started reading about the failed bands, and the patients who had to have a second procedure done. And then I met a bariatric surgeon who is also a patient. And he had the sleeve. When I asked him why he went with it, instead of one of the other choices, he said it was the best choice for him and his lifestyle, and he would do it again. That was pretty reassuring.

I also need to take certain daily pain management medications for severe degenerative osteoarthritis, so the RNY and lap band would be harder to handle for that. One thing about the sleeve I like is that medications and pain drugs are less likely to cause problems.

So at this point I'm committed to the sleeve, and hope it will get me to where I want to be. If not, RNY or a band is still an option later on. But reading the success stories here has shown me I'll probably be satisfied with just the sleeve.

Good luck in your journey, and here's hoping things work out well for you.

Dave

Best of luck, ladies! Hope all goes well. Looking forward to reading your further posts/

Dave

Brian, as I ramp up toward my surgery later in the year, I'm encouraged to read of your success thus far. We have similar numbers, so you've given me something to look forward to. Congratulations on things to this point, and here's hoping the rest of your weight loss is just as uneventful. Good luck!

Dave

Thanks. Nice to know it's not just me. This is such a strange journey for me. I've always been the tough-guy caregiver type, so having to ask for help and advice is foreign to what I normally do. I've never felt guilty about food (which is probably a big part of why I'm obese) but suddenly I'm having a craving and wondering if my body is pre-judging me for what I plan to do to it. It's definitely a different mental perspective. :thumbup:

Stay tuned...

Dave

Hi all,

I'm a ways away from surgery, and working toward that goal. But I noticed today that ever since I got my upcoming marathon appointment with my surgeon's staff at the end of September, I've been aware of what I eat, and how badly I want to eat things I haven't had in a long time.

I'm not usually much of a dessert eater, but suddenly I want dessert after every meal. It's not (my) normal, and I'm wondering if anyone here experienced that. Is this just a phase that will pass, or am I psyching myself up/out for my future?

Not sure what to make of this. Anyone have an opinion to share?

Dave

Welcome Dave! My husband grew up in the same little town you live in - small world! What practice are you working through for your surgery?

Thanks, everyone, for the kind welcome. It's going to be a fascinating journey, and I'm looking forward to sharing it with you.

My small town is getting bigger every day, but it seems everyone knows someone who lives, lived, or wishes they lived here. It's a nice town. :confused:

My surgeon is Dr. Ross McMahon and his staff at Swedish Hospital in Seattle. They have a pretty impressive website: www.swedish.org/wls

Dave

Hi everyone. I'm Dave, and I live in a small town north of Seattle. I've been lurking for a few weeks, reading and researching. I finally decided it was time to step up and say Hello. I've been working up to this for awhile now, have attended several seminars for the various WLS surgeries available here, and have decided on the Sleeve. I'm a month away from a marathon day at my surgeons' clinic, where they do all the assessments in one day. I expect to have the recommendation for surgery that same day. I'm told my insurance is quick to approve after that, and surgery could happen within about four to six weeks later. So I could easily be post-op by the end of the year.

Your stories are amazing, and I'm really encouraged by all the variety I'm reading here. It tells me everyone's journey is unique, and there is no one perfect way to go through this. I really appreciate the candid posts I'm reading. I'm hoping as I get to the point of having events to share, I'll be able to pass along encouraging words to those walking the path after me. Thanks for allowing me to be a part of this with you.

I'm looking forward to being a shadow of my former self. :scared0:

Dave