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Newbie .. Surgery buddy ? Advice?



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Great to read so many threads addressing issues we have faced and continue to face in our community. I am lesbian, married for 15 years in July. My partner has always lived a healthy BMI. I need to lose about 160 lbs. It's hard to believe that I'm carrying around a whole person's weight. I think WLS surgery is courageous. Since deciding to have the surgery last xmas, I have lost 72 lbs. I had my surgery, after extensive dietary preparation, on April 18, 2016 and am almost 40 lbs down from then. This experience is more amazing than I could have ever imagined! Exciting, challenging and rewarding. The people who love me were invited along in my journey, the rest I leave behind permanently because I don't need their negativity or judgement derailing my life. To all, proud to be one of your sisters!

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Hello everyone! I was thinking about starting an LGBT thread, but figured I'd do a search first, and here you are! I'm from Long Island, NY. I can't believe they blocked the word "q*eer" ... ridiculous. Anyway, I thought it would also be nice to have a group of other LGBT people to share my journey. My wife had Lap-Band surgery about 8 years ago, before we were married and separated. She has had a decent share of issues with vomiting, but I think more due to her unresolved eating disorder (bulimia). I think if she didn't have so many issues, I might have done Lap-band years ago. I'm glad I didn't, because the sleeve seems much more my speed. I like the idea that there's nothing left in my body (except stitches) and my organs don't get rearranged. As someone who often eats past full, but don't typically go on super-binges, I think the sleeve will really help me if I follow the guidelines. On June 8th, I went for my 1st consult, jumped through many hoops to get clearances and information together and finally got a 2nd consult where I was finally able to get on the schedule! So, I am now scheduled for December 23, 2 days before Christmas. I hope I only have to stay 1 night (I think that's the usual stay), as I don't want to miss Christmas Eve (more of a big celebration in my family ). I can't do it earlier because of my work schedule. Hopefully I will feel well enough to work. I still need to be approved for surgery, so my fingers are crossed! Looking forward to sharing our journeys!

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So, I am now scheduled for December 23, 2 days before Christmas. I hope I only have to stay 1 night (I think that's the usual stay), as I don't want to miss Christmas Eve (more of a big celebration in my family ). I can't do it earlier because of my work schedule. Hopefully I will feel well enough to work. I still need to be approved for surgery, so my fingers are crossed! Looking forward to sharing our journeys!

Yikes! I'd be scared to do it right before the holidays...we focus too much on food in my family!! But hopefully yours is different. As it is, I'm worried about holidays and I was sleeved in July. :)

What do you do for work? I have a desk job (Office manager) and I cant stand missing work due to the way they do PTO here but even still I had to be out about a week. Because of the way I scheduled it (I went in on a thursday, had surgery that day & was back to work by the next wed) I had the time off...if you have time off with the holidays thats an excellent reason to schedule it then. I was too impatient to wait and my partner drives a truck so tiem home was a factor.

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Well, I come from a typical Italian-American family...we know how to cook and we know how to eat. It will definitely be a challenge, but my time-off schedule at work is limited and I don't want to wait until next August. I'm a speech therapist (SLP) and I work with preschoolers. I basically walk down the hall, pick them up (not literally ) and bring them down the hall to my speech room...sit for about 25-30 minutes, then repeat, about 10 times. I think I'll be exhausted the first week or so.

I was trying to get all clearances in on time to have my sleeve done late August, but I ran out of time...I thought I was so close, but I still had a way to go. Now, if everything goes as planned, I will get my sleeve on December 23...only 11 weeks from Friday!

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So, I am now scheduled for December 23, 2 days before Christmas. I hope I only have to stay 1 night (I think that's the usual stay), as I don't want to miss Christmas Eve (more of a big celebration in my family ). I can't do it earlier because of my work schedule. Hopefully I will feel well enough to work. I still need to be approved for surgery, so my fingers are crossed! Looking forward to sharing our journeys!

Yikes! I'd be scared to do it right before the holidays...we focus too much on food in my family!! But hopefully yours is different. As it is, I'm worried about holidays and I was sleeved in July. :)

What do you do for work? I have a desk job (Office manager) and I cant stand missing work due to the way they do PTO here but even still I had to be out about a week. Because of the way I scheduled it (I went in on a thursday, had surgery that day & was back to work by the next wed) I had the time off...if you have time off with the holidays thats an excellent reason to schedule it then. I was too impatient to wait and my partner drives a truck so tiem home was a factor.

Enough about me, how's it going for you, so far?

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Enough about me, how's it going for you, so far?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using the BariatricPal App

So far..good! I'm down around 30lbs so far...25 the first month and then I've been hovering with the last 5 this past month. Eh..im not worried about it being slow as Im loosing inches a lot faster than lbs these days. I've been lucky in that I've had VERY few complications...I dont have any issues eating or drinking. I am tired more than I used to be but that's ok..it will come back. :) Im so glad I had the surgery..it's been life changing. The biggest positive is that my blood pressure is down to a normal level for the first time in almost 9 years! I have a history of heart disease on both sides of my family and my dad has his first heart attack at 40 yrs old. I'm 38 and Ive been on BP meds since I was 30...so the impending heart attack was a big factor for me in having this done. I feel a lot better knowing I'm doing everything I can to help keep me here. :)

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    • 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!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • 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.
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