Hi All

I'm so excited. I passed me psych eval and got word from my insurance today. I am approved for surgery! Hooray! My next step is a group consult on the 23rd. It feels more real now. I hope to be able to have surgery in December. I will have about three weeks off of work.

I can't wait to get started on my new life. I do have a few worries, as all of you likely did, or do.

1. Will I miss food? I have read that it often becomes a chore to eat. That seems so strange to me preop. Food has a hold on me. Sometimes I feel like I am so impulsive. I can't control myself. I'm not even necessarily enjoying eating. It is just what I do. I will need to totally change my way of life and learn more appropriate ways to spend my time.

2. How does dropping to so little calories not slow down your metabolism? It is well documented that your body goes into "starvation mod" when you do not eat. Is it because we eat so often? The body does not worry about when the next meal will come?

3. How to say this delicately.... I had my gallbladder out. Now if I eat a lot of fat in a meal I need to be near a bathroom! Sorry but it is true. Will this get worse? I am sure that fatty food is a no no but I don't want to have dumping like symptoms....

So tired I can't think of anything else by I know I will! Thanks all. Night! Dee

First off congrats on your approval! I'm only 4 weeks out but can share what I've gone through so far and by your surgery in Dec I'll be almost 4 months out so feel free to message me anytime with questions as I get a little further down the road...

#1. I would think it safe to say food has had a hold on a good majority of us who have had the surgery and yes it is a BIG change. I had my surgery in Mexico so there was no physc evaulation or really any prep for the emotional side of the changes I'm going thru. In just 4 weeks I've experienced 'head hunger' (very beginning) and the just missed the sensation of chewing food. I've also attached food to so many things in my life that's been a hard adjustment. We use food to Celebrate, to go out to dinner and be social, to comfort me when I'm stressed or feeling down, and even me cooking big meals for my family was a way I showed them love. Certain foods were like a cigarette when I used to smoke...instant tension relief. Now that is all gone and so is 30 lbs! I've been fighting some depression now as I learn my new ways to live. Foods I used to love before (Baskin Robbins chocolate milkshakes) have no taste anymore. It's very weird. At this point I'm sick of Protein shakes...now that we have to eat to live there is no time for empty calories...everything has to be planned so you can make the most of what you can get down. And you can't just hit a drive thru to get the nutrition you need. It really is a chore to eat these days but I've been told all this gets better with time. That someday I will be able to somewhat eat as normal again just a lot less.

#2. Not sure yet about this question but there are a lot of mentions on this site about 'stalls' and it is recommended to increase your caloric and protein intake when you hit a stall to get your metabolism moving again.

#3. I've also had my gallbladder out and although I haven't eaten a lot of fatty foods yet everything seems normal there. I still have to be close to a bathroom when I eat certain things but not anymore than before.

That's great I question the sleeve at times then do some research and feel a little better