Hi Everyone, I had my gastric bypass surgery in December 2014. My surgeon was Dr. Jason Suits in Longview, Texas, and he is amazing! I've been overweight for over 20 years. I am 5'8" and at my highest weight of 294, I was done. I was tired, sick, and had been on blood pressure medication since I was 25. I was pre-diabetic, had borderline high cholesterol, and the beginnings on heart disease. I was on the fast track to an early death.

My surgery went smoothly, and I was in the hospital for 3 days until I could drink enough Protein shake to make everyone happy. I experienced very little discomfort, and asked for only Tylenol and Ibuprofin while still in the hospital. After arriving home, I was lucky enough to be able to take 3 weeks off of work to recover and pay attention to drinking enough and healing.

I was lucky in that I never threw up or have had bad side effects. I do have the dumping syndrome when I eat too much sugar (for me it's anything over 12 grams), eat high fat, or drink while I'm eating. 1 1/2 years out I still have this happen to me, and it's a great tool to keep me in check.

My other struggle initially was finding Vitamins and supplements that worked for me. I literally spent hundreds of dollars experimenting with different things, and as all GB patients know, you have to take a lot of different things to get our nutrition in. A friend told who was post weight loss told me about a product she takes called Zeal, and highly recommended I try it. Zeal is a whole foods, total wellness supplement, and for me replaces my Multivitamin, and is loaded with everything I need. I still take a small Iron and Calcium tablet seperately, but that is all. I've not gotten so much as a cold since my surgery, have energy and focus all day, and all the nutrition that I cannot get from food alone.My blood work is done every 6 months, and so I've just had my third round done. My surgeon was so impressed that he asked me what I was taking, and then told me to keep doing what I was doing, because everything looked perfect. The awesome thing about Zeal is that it is completely absorbed on a cellular level and you can almost feel the vitamins going into your bloodstream. I feel amazing. If you are interested in this, please don't hesitate. Give it a try. I mix scoop into a 28 oz mixer bottle each morning, fill it up with cold Water, and drink that first thing each morning. It helps me get my daily water goal started, too. Here is the website I get it from: www.zurvita.com/jjwhitman

To date, I've lost 120 lbs. and am down to 174 lbs. I've not really exercised as I should, but am starting to work on that. I am planning to lost 24 more lbs. I am post menopausal, and so this is a realistic and healthy weight for me according to my doctor. I look and feel like an entirely different person. It is definitely one of the best things I've ever done for myself!

My advice for anyone who is considering it but is afraid, would be that you can't live your life in fear of the "what ifs." Do your homework, get the best surgeon you can, be committed to do the work, and go for it! I am living my dreams. I am going scuba diving and taking a dancing class this year. I'm finally living my life to the fullest!

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Congratulations.

Hi Everyone, I had my gastric bypass surgery in December 2014. My surgeon was Dr. Jason Suits in Longview, Texas, and he is amazing! I've been overweight for over 20 years. I am 5'8" and at my highest weight of 294, I was done. I was tired, sick, and had been on blood pressure medication since I was 25. I was pre-diabetic, had borderline high cholesterol, and the beginnings on heart disease. I was on the fast track to an early death.

My surgery went smoothly, and I was in the hospital for 3 days until I could drink enough Protein shake to make everyone happy. I experienced very little discomfort, and asked for only Tylenol and Ibuprofin while still in the hospital. After arriving home, I was lucky enough to be able to take 3 weeks off of work to recover and pay attention to drinking enough and healing.

I was lucky in that I never threw up or have had bad side effects. I do have the dumping syndrome when I eat too much sugar (for me it's anything over 12 grams), eat high fat, or drink while I'm eating. 1 1/2 years out I still have this happen to me, and it's a great tool to keep me in check.

My other struggle initially was finding Vitamins and supplements that worked for me. I literally spent hundreds of dollars experimenting with different things, and as all GB patients know, you have to take a lot of different things to get our nutrition in. A friend told who was post weight loss told me about a product she takes called Zeal, and highly recommended I try it. Zeal is a whole foods, total wellness supplement, and for me replaces my multivitamin, and is loaded with everything I need. I still take a small Iron and calcium tablet seperately, but that is all. I've not gotten so much as a cold since my surgery, have energy and focus all day, and all the nutrition that I cannot get from food alone.My blood work is done every 6 months, and so I've just had my third round done. My surgeon was so impressed that he asked me what I was taking, and then told me to keep doing what I was doing, because everything looked perfect. The awesome thing about Zeal is that it is completely absorbed on a cellular level and you can almost feel the vitamins going into your bloodstream. I feel amazing. If you are interested in this, please don't hesitate. Give it a try. I mix scoop into a 28 oz mixer bottle each morning, fill it up with cold Water, and drink that first thing each morning. It helps me get my daily water goal started, too. Here is the website I get it from: www.zurvita.com/jjwhitman

To date, I've lost 120 lbs. and am down to 174 lbs. I've not really exercised as I should, but am starting to work on that. I am planning to lost 24 more lbs. I am post menopausal, and so this is a realistic and healthy weight for me according to my doctor. I look and feel like an entirely different person. It is definitely one of the best things I've ever done for myself!

My advice for anyone who is considering it but is afraid, would be that you can't live your life in fear of the "what ifs." Do your homework, get the best surgeon you can, be committed to do the work, and go for it! I am living my dreams. I am going scuba diving and taking a dancing class this year. I'm finally living my life to the fullest!

Congrats and thanks for the tip about Zeal. The more I can condense my routine and still be successful post op the better it will be.

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This post was on point. I am afraid that I will be sick and can't get the fluids in. I will be on a two week clear liquid pre op and two week full liquid po-op. I am so afraid that I can't do it. I keep looking for a sign from God telling me I will be okay. Please help me settle my nerves.

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This post was on point. I am afraid that I will be sick and can't get the fluids in. I will be on a two week clear liquid pre op and two week full liquid po-op. I am so afraid that I can't do it. I keep looking for a sign from God telling me I will be okay. Please help me settle my nerves.

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Don't worry! Although the liquid diet pre and post op is hard, it's not impossible. Trust me. I'm a food addict, and it was tough, but you will make it. Just load up on sugar free jello cups, sugar free Popsicles, soups (miso soup was a nice treat), and drink lots of water...I flavored mine with lemon or crystal light to change it up. I have to tell you...every surgeon will tell you something different. Mine had me start sound liquid three weeks out by giving up one meal for liquid, then at two weeks 2 meals replaced with liquid, and then third week was all 3 liquid, but it didn't have to be clear until 3 days prior. My liver was shrunken up perfectly according to the doctor. The harder part for me was post op, but only because I had to go through final sugar withdrawals. So don't worry. This is much harder in your head than reality will be.

Hi Im Audrey and my date was April 22,2015 Im afraid I may have stretched my new tummy because I feel Im eating more and making bad choices. Time to get on track and lose more weight i have been lost 150 pounds but i fell like im at the same weight on the scale for awhile now hmmmm I need help......urghhhhh

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