Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Guys Group: Seeking Buddy/Mentor



Recommended Posts

Hey fellas; I'm in the southern suburbs of Mpls/StPaul Minnesota, and just starting to research options. 6'0", about 450#, BMI 60+, hitting 40 years old next year. High stress job, 3 young kids, and an incredibly supportive wife. I need to be around for my family, and feeling like WLS could be a game-changer. Likely RNY path, though VSG intrigues me. Either way, just getting started; if all lines up, then possible surgery date late 2015/early 2016.

I'm lookin for a (or a few) buddy/mentor that I could interface with on q's, experiences, the good, the bad, and the ugly of your individual process. I'd welcome speaking with those that had recent surgeries as well as the veterans of the group.

Thanks to all for your postings, etc. Combing thru the forums is really helpful.

Jake

jacobjohnson76@gmail.com

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Jacob, good on you for getting going on this when you are still young. I waited until I was 64, post heart attack etc. But, 100# down since the April RNY, and feeling very thrilled with the results. No real problems. The rapid weight loss leaves me a bit tired all the time, but this is temporary, says my Doc. I have had some hair loss but not too bad, just got it cut short and now don't notice. The main thing is that the diabetes, which was out of control even with good compliance, is 85% better, and many other co-morbidities gone or almost gone... I am much more in shape, enjoying walking, swimming, and soon biking again.

Good luck on your journey to health, I don't regret the RNY for a minute.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hey Jake, glad you found this site it is an excellent resource for a wealth of information. I am going the vsg route and am scheduled for it in just a couple of weeks,so I can't speak of the things to come just yet. however, I personally feel this procedure is the right one for me. It might be a good thing to research some surgeons in your area and set up a consult to get the ball rolling. I hope you're able to find the right fit for you and can accomplish your goals. Best of luck to you......Andy

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

@@jacobjohnson76 I had the VSG in March of this year. I don't regret my decision, I do just wish I would have done it earlier. I turn 50 in January and hope to reach my goal by my birthday.... Good luck on your journey!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I had a sleeve done in June. Down 85# I'm 38 and I'm glad I did it. It's work but worth it! Good luck buddy

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I had the sleeve in August, and I am two months out tomorrow. I started my pre-op at 286 (my highest two years earlier was 314) and I am down to 214 as of this morning. It's a great procedure that doesn't leave me feeling deprived of anything. I can eat basically anything now (though still use shakes for extra protein), just in dramatically smaller portions. Even refined carbs cause me no problems, and after a few bites I am full. I still try to avoid them lest my restriction should atrophy over time.

My surgery went off without a hitch and I had no complications or pain. Hunger made its last stand when I was about two weeks out, but hasn't been an issue since then, unless I go a long time without eating anything (12+ hrs), which is not a good idea. Your surgeon may go one of two routes. He may conclude that the RNY is unsafe unless you reach a lower BMI alone, in which case he may offer the lap-band to help you get down to a place where the RNY is possible. Or, if he thinks the RNY is safe, he may recommend that as it does have slightly better weight loss statistics than the sleeve (with more digestive complications). If he thinks it is safe then he will leave the decision almost entirely in your hands.

The sleeve has also been used as the first step in a duodenal switch procedure, mainly for people in your BMI range. What you would get is the VSG, and then you would lose substantial weight. Then, it would be up to you whether you wanted to complete the switch portion of the procedure. If you like your weight loss then there would be no reason to continue any further.

Best of luck with your decision, and congratulations.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I was VSG sleeved back in late Dec, and so far I can say it was the best health decision I could have made for myself. I have been morbidly obese my entire adult life. Today at 10 months post surgery I am down almost 90lbs. Overall I am roughly 302lbs from my heaviest weight just 19/20 months ago. I went from being a type 2 diabetic taking anywhere from 50 to 60 units of insulin a day, to not taking any insulin at all. I still have to monitor my blood sugars but they rarely reach at or above 120.

Before the surgery and change in eating habits I was constantly in the 350 -400 blood sugar ranges. I felt like crap, and always had issues with my hands and feet sometimes going numb. The weight also was starting to cause me bad back issues too. Now, I haven't had any issues with my back in a year. I am on here and MyFitnessPal under the same user name as here if you want to add me. There you can kinda see what I am consuming 10 months out and how I am tracking exercising and calorie burning.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×