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I’m pre-op and have my final weigh in on the 17th. I’m 10 lbs away from the pre-op weight they set for me. We’re required to lose 7% of our total weight in 3 months which was about 23 lbs for me. I’m struggling so hard. I’m a Dispatcher for a police department and we constantly have cake, pizza, donuts, etc being brought in almost daily. The temptation to eat the sweets is almost unbearable. I know this is a mind game. I want this more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my entire life. But I cannot seem to simply say “no.” Anyone have any tips or have been through this before their surgery too?

November 19, 2018: My lovely wife took this picture of me right before they whisked me away to surgery. I wanted to memorialize this last point before my surgery.

VGS Surgery tomorrow 12/10/18 @ 0745… getting excited, nervous, all at same time.

LOL. This isn't magic bean surgery. You have to (at least IIIIIII have to) put the work in. LOL. I weigh/measure and track my food every meal. And I log it. It's the only way I know when I go sideways and then I absolutely know what to fix. Instead of rationalizing and bs'ing my way back up the weight loss charts to full blown obesity. It's as simple and as hard as that. At 6+ years post op, your tum is very mature and I bet able to eat a full plate of food. Which should scare the livin' fu*k out of you. I can eat 1/2 a plate at 10 months and I'm terrified!

12/15/11 (DOS sleeve) 235 lbs 😣 =============== 12/19/18 132 lbs GOAL 😊 kathy

Weight by date: 270 1/4/18 253 2/15/18 242 3/22/18 (surgery day) 233 4/2/18 228 4/5/18 219 4/17/18 212 5/6/18 189 6/24/18 181 7/13/18 170 8/26/18 162 9/19/18 158 10/13/18 154 10/26/18 153 11/13/18 151 11/29/18

Didn't plan to join the PICC club, thought RnY was exclusive enough. But Man proposes, GOD disposes, and here I am, a new inductee. PICC line placed 11/28/2018. first TPN feeding 11/29/2018. dismissed from OSU afternoon of 12/05/2018. and here I be sitting waiting for Saturday's feeding to conclude. My pump runs for 14 hours pertine so since I didn't get it started until 10:30PM it's still feeding me. Why do I have it? Three month veteran of RnY surgery, developed stomal stricture and 5 new evil ulcers, 2 in the pouch, 3 remaining on back wall of jejunem, Had endoscopy October 9th and 26th, November 9th and 28th. Followed stringent rules Dr Noria, my surgeon's partner set down. Remain on Stage2 liquids, frequent hydrations, take all meds including Carafate. I take that 6am,noon,6pm, midnight. Enrich every thing Precious Pouch will accept with protein powders. I need the protein to heal those ulcers. And like Mrs Rumpole on the BBC series" Rumpole of the Bailey" Precio6s Pouch also came with an disclaimer" She who must be obeyed" , a turkey-egg sized ball of flesh RUNS my life! She upchucks on whim, accepts no cereals or puree unless she is in VERY GOOD MOOD. Last endoscopy was not a happy endoscopy, Precious was red, inflamed with unhappiness and discontent, at least 1 Emesis episode daily, and the evil ulcers were starting to March down my bowel. Done the logical interventions Dr N suggested, I don't smoke, neither does Tomkitten, we don't allow it in my home, but we also curtailed being in prescence of smokers, either active or with residue on their clothing. So Admitted to Bari/surgery floor 10th Doan yet that morning, and was a guest for a full week. Diagnosis: insufficent protein ingested to heal those ulcers, so digestion on holiday, TPN until I heal. How Long? Afraid that knowledge has not been imparted to me, praying just until end of the month, that way I start 2019 unencumbered. Been Googling, Wikipeding, most literature quotes other conditions it can be used for, mine- nada-zilch- NOTHING. Thinking of naming it Catherine for catheter, tended to always name my possessions. Besides if I say Catherine is giving me fits, people think I am just having BFF problems. So if anyone has suggestions, wants to stroke my wrinkled brow and say " Poor poor Frustr8" any sympathy always welcome. 😪😥😭😕

Sorry that's happened to you, I'm kinda glad I'm not the only one. I've been stalled for 10 days now (started 3 days post op) - it blows my mind. Having it happen right after surgery is the worst, that's right when we could really use the motivation of seeing the scale drop

Considering one for me, 1 post-rny, some surgeons say yes because we have a non- continous stomach and digestive track, others say 1st responders seldom start stomach/n.g. tubing so really a "moot point"? 2. Should I name my PICC line or are we "dating" for a short short time? They sent me home, did the medical equivalent of gently swating my rump and telling me to " Go and Sin No More", well masked people I hadn't been THAT SINFUL until now! Okay my pouch is Precious Pouch, I'm open. to suggestions for the PICC , leaning toward Catherine for "catheter", I think Orchids and Dragons reminded me Catherine of Siena had a torture wheel motive? I've been speaking to St Luke, the Great Physician , do hope he is not emulating his earthly counterparts, either gone to voice mail or hired a messaging service and I never get "patched through". Don't mean to sound flippant but I'm sitting here in mild misery. Should get dressed , go to my nearby house of worship, hmmm what outfit I can still wear that goes with a black backpack 18-20 inches long,7.5 inches wide and makes gentle whirring sounds along with beeping when it feels threatened. And NoBODY has given me a time. table that we are a couple? End of 2018? January, February? Spring-time 2019? Anyway I think 1st responders might want to about THIS? Spend money on a bracelet and then it's removed? Maybe I'll have Catherine PICC catheter the rest,of my misbegotten life? And I forecast a Hard Candy Christmas, pretty bleak, pretty sad. While I was a guest of OSU's Bari- Surgical floor, also known as Doan 10, Wal-Mart sold out every one of the Christmas trees Tomkitten and I had our eye on, would Wal-Mart.com still have them or are they gone Forever and Forever? Been trying to sell my kerosun Heater, worth $150 new, gently used, this house has more reliable heat, offered $50, no takers, $40 no takers, $ 30 one guy came out, I needed new C batteries for the ignition, but it was nice looking, not dirty although it had been moved to my backyard shed. Brought into my kitchen. so he could see it. He's "Thinking" about it, been studying on it close to 2 weeks, maybe he's a Slow Thinker? That $30 might have bought Tomkitten and I each a FurTrimming for Christmas, now we go around semi-shaggy, his hair curls at the nape of his neck, I threaten to kiss them like I used to when he was a baby Tomkitten.Ooh he doesn't care much for the prospect. And the people of my community are Cheap, Cheap Cheap, sure I could set it out by the curb, it would disappear but give me money? Can't be bothered!

I had UHC plus and it took them 10 business days. I was required to do 6 months pre-op. My BMI was 48 and I had hypertension, but I was told it’s much easier to get approved with UHC than Aetna. Also they didn’t care if I gained weight during that 6 month period just as long as I didn’t miss any supervised dieting appointments. Maybe that helps? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

41. Did my sleeve on 10/29. Doing well so far. Cleared to slowly incorporate any (healthy) foods I want.

44 and had my sleeve on 10/23. Sent from my moto z3 using BariatricPal mobile app

I’m doing quite well. I walked 70+ laps before discharge and worked all my gas out. I’m post op day 3 today. I was able to take 75 oz today (between water, protein shakes and power aid zero) I also tried 10 spoonfuls of cream of chicken soup that my nutritionist recommended. That filled me up quickly. The pain has all but left, and Tylenol is all that I need now. (There is still quite a bit of visceral pain that is very positional though, but it’s very tolerable)

Week three check in Down 10 pounds (88 lbs total)  Still losing 2-3 pounds/week Attended my class once this week. I’m thinking of trying something new, as this class is no longer motivating or challenging

My surgery center gave me about 10 medicine cups. They are 1 ounce each

Checking in: Challenge Starting weight: 168.8, now 161.4 Current weight lost: 110.6 Losing or maintaining weight: losing Fitness/exercise goal: To get back to walking 7 days/week Total weight loss at the end of challenge: (Post January 1st 2019): ??? Check in: Tell us how you are doing - (How is your diet and exercise plan going? Any struggles? Stress level? What have you overcome? Any strategies that have helped) Lost about 7 lbs since the challenge started. Wish I could say it was because of my excellent behavior, but no, just sick as a dog all Thanksgiving week. Doing better now, but mother-in-law arrives for one of my twin's college graduation on Friday. She'll be staying 5 days. Pray for me!!!

feeling great, lost 100 plus lbs since surgery. biggest issue i have is the gas and flatulence that occurs too often. stinky farts all day mostly. at times accompanied with loose bowel movements. any thoughts idea on how to stop this or at least control it. is there any specific pro biotics or digestive enzymes i may need. help would be appreciated. thank you.

First calm down and 5ake a deep breath, I'm sure you're pretty prepared, just give yourself credit for getting this far! Biotene for your dry moth, GasX for gas, chap stick for your lips, your own toothbrush if you're not standard, toothpaste, deodorant, many facilities furnish these some don't. Hairbrush, didn't care much about makeup but didn't want my hair getting flat and matted in back and I was never a comb person! A notebook and pen, either to journal your feelings or write down questions you want to ask. Charging cord for your ☎, my facility said I could use theirs but never coughed one up, so I took my 10 foot one I got at Staples, Tomkitten said it was foolish money but I didn't think So! Slippers although most placesfurnish non- skid Sox they hurt me to walk very far. But then my tootsies are prone to aching and complaining. Try to tie up loose ends at home, leave foods for spouse, animals and kids. I felt crappy enough if house hadn't been relatively tidy I would have tried to get up and do something and torn something loose in ME. And then relax your mind, your body, keep peace and hope on your 💓 , believe in your surgeon, believe in You and Darlin' You'll Do Just Fine! But keep us updated, You Hear? Love and Prayers🙏👼Your Frustr8

Well I did never finish my train of thought from the 6th, did I? It was time to start my infusion that night and instead of just opting to finish later I hit "send", but you knew I should return didn't you? Well a little more of these trials and tribulations, okay? it is not a whole lot of fun having this extra Tail dragging along with me. When this is full and freshly started it is 3000 ml, don't know what weight in American that is but heavy. Was in BR doing the duties one does there, went to swing it back onto my back cause that way your back muscles can be used to bear the weight, overbalanced kind of over balanced, started to fall, trying to balance me hit the door with my rear half and slid to the floor on my rump, Tomkitten , showing his usual sympathy and great intelligence, comes trotting in from an adjoining room to ask " Are you all right?" well that's rather dumb isn't it? Most days I only pray for adequate! And sitting in the doorway of a bathroom with ceramic slate-type tile in a pair of microfiber jammie bottoms on her nearly 73 year old bottom? Yes I certainly put a request to God to spend my late Friday evening there! Then Mr Wit and Wisdom ( takes after Me doesn't He?) says Shall I try picking you up? Now I have lost over a 100 pounds since my high weight last October 2017 but I still would make a team project for the Local Paramedics. No dang it, you touch that left arm, wrench out the tubing or break it off inside me and you better get your Funeral suit out Junior, you're going to need it! So finally I figured out how to get Me up without wrenching anything loose. Wasn't pretty , betting it would make 500 likes on YouTube , but except for great embarrasment and a scrape on my good arm I'm pretty okay! And something Weird Weird Weird! My BMs are more easy to pass and frequent. Hnnh? My junior surgeon said even though there was no noticable foods going through my GI tract, my bowel had enough excretion capabilities to keep things Tikety-Booming-Booming along. At the hospital I got q.s. to get my oral meds down and a shaker cup of Liquidcell PeachMango drink filled up. As long as I drank down 48 or more oz they were gratified. Me, let's get honest, I feel like the Little Match Girl with her nose pressed against the brightly lit toy-shoppe window.She knows there is warmth there, lovely toys there, even maybe warm food inside but it's not for her. And little Match Girl Me cries until the years freeze on her face. I have gone back to my limited bleak diet, a couple high protein shakes, broths, strained soups and calorie free liquids, 2 oz at a time. Dr Needleman wrote on my discharge resume Stage 3 diet, well his partner Dr Noria rescinded THAT early October because of Precious Pouch would not accept only a few things sans vomitting. And she said " Until I give YOU permission DO NOT ADD one thing, I will TELL YOU when your chronically inflamed pouch and angry ulcers will accept it! Reminds of a Great Big list of requirements, at the end it Says: "Permission Will Not Be Granted" I actually look better, feel better, more like the Pre-Surgery Frustr8, if it weren't for the Danged inconvenience and the Scarey Larry thought in the back of my mind of dislodgement, sepsis and my local hospital , a community one being staffed by the Keystone Kops, could THEY keep me alive long enough to send me to Columbus where I could get decent care? I would be wagging my tail like a happy Irish Setter, appropriate because we Both have Red Hair! I have sent a message to God,🙏 Could I have this out after January 1st 2019 and maybe inch closer to Stage3, Stage 4 and a 🍜Real Food Diet? I know He Is Busy running the🌈 Heavens and the🌏 Earth, but perhaps give it some consideration?👼

Hi there, I had awful daily heartburn and had hiatal hernia repair during my surgery. I have not had heartburn ever since my surgery and my issue appear completely resolved. I have been taking daily protinix since my surgery on 10/15.

I think I'll follow this thread 'cause you bring up something that might trouble me in the future. I actually am not due for colonoscopy until 2022 in theory, since normally it's every 10 years of you're healthy. But alas I was all smooth and uninterrupted the way My GOD created me in September/October 2012, cannot make That Claim anymore, can't I? And with my clouded upper endoscopic history NOW I have more spots than an Appaloosa. I figure it's just a matter of time that one of my myriad of surgeons, and I wonder since Ohio State University Hospital-Wexner Medical Center is a teaching hospital maybe I serve as a BAD EXAMPLE in one or two of the Medical School courses? Long long title but YOU OUGHT see their campus! I swear they have a hospital or section for almost anything Man is prone to develop. My recent hospitalation, I call it incarceration because I Was There for 7 and quarter days, beginning to think I might be there as a Research Dummy, accent on 2nd half, I was in Doan Hall, who was Doan ? IDK, maybe a benefactor with more money than Good Sense? but the main section of the Hospital, where admissions et al is, that's Rhodes Hall, named after James Alan Rhodes one of Ohio' s former( I remember him, actually met him when I was President of Knox County Teen-aged Republicans, a really nice person and had a daughter just my age) maybe I shall win the Piwerball or Mega Millions and endow me a building MYSELF! Hmmn, the Frustr8 Bariatric Patient bulding for the Chronically Bewildered, yep does have a🔔 Ring to it!!! Anyway a Proctologist or Gastroenterologist is going to get a Bright💡 Idea, "Lets Go Plumb Frustr8' s hind quarters" and it will be Hello Fiber-optic Tube? My question, the Mag Citrate power cleanser through me, faster, slower, same duration of time or can it not be used at all? Inquiring Future Victim Wants To Know!😱😥😪😭😰

Hi Linda! I had occasional acid reflux before surgery and *knock on wood* haven’t had ANY since. Surgery was 10/1 :)

Ha! low paid HS graduates. f**k whoever wrote that because this **** is false. lol HIPPA compliance officer, you'd be better of asking for a supervisor. Any "HiPPA compliant officer" won't know jack **** about your case. Their sole job is make everyone's life hell by making us sit through hours of boring meeting every with the same information repeated; "Don't tell patient's business or the government will fine us a **** tone of money!" That's it. That's is. That is the extent of their job. They don't deal with patients. They don't handle requests. They don't know anything about you or your surgery. As for the low paid HS bit. Don't confuse medical reviewers with customer service. There ain't no High School students reviewing a damn thing. Period. Nurses and Doctors only. I don't know who came up with this but it's a farce. Do however ride you're Insurance companies ass as if your life depends on it! Because it does! Don't take no for a answer if you can help it! Here is the a real tip and secrete. Medical policy isn't black and white. It's still the RN or the MDs sole discretion in most cases. Sometimes that first denial came from an a*****e, or a "by the book consultant". When you appeal your denial, it cannot go back to the same reviewer. Thereby increasing your chances of getting someone feeling more favorable. As for your appeal to be expedited! It most cases you only have up to 10 days of the denial to request this. Expedited appeals have to be completed with 72 hours because uncle same says so! When they ask you if your life would be in danger if the appeal isn't expedited say yes! Say you're in unbearable, unmanageable pain! I took this a bit personal but this is my career.

As many have said... you just need to suck it up and go. I recommend finding the least popular time to go for the first few trips, to minimize contact with your fellow gym-goers. In most places / at most gyms, this means NOT going first thing in the morning or anytime between 5-7pm. This is when the most serious and focused athletes are there, and I totally understand that they can be intimidating. However, on the flip side... the most serious and focused athletes are worried about getting their workouts done and getting on with their day. They are not noticing you / watching you / gossiping about you. They are focused on their own crap. Having said that, if you can do in the middle of the day or late at night, it's likely to have a more chill vibe. There's also a HUGE uptick in gym attendance at this time of the year - increasing in December, peaking in January, starting to drop off in February. So it's almost guaranteed you won't be the only newbie in the joint at any given time. Personally, I'm a serious gym rat (I'm there 8-10 times a week, depending on weather), and I go out of my way to welcome new and lost-looking people. Don't assume that the fit person next to you hasn't been an unfit newbie in the recent past. You're me, just a couple of years removed.