What I wish I had known...

[TracyBar 132]

Everyone is different. Believe me I miss food so much. I play tricks on myself. Sunday dinners I keep myself busy and sit down and eat when people are almost done. Alcohol is not a problem. I don't drink as much as I did but I still go out and have a good time. The smoking I quit but sometimes I have just a puff or two. It is all in your mind. I still sometimes think what the hell did I do to myself when I am craving a hamburger or deli sandwich and know if I eat the bread I will throw up. It bugs you in the beginning but when you go from a size 20 to 12 and feel 20 years younger than it is worth it.

Hi Neeser - when did you have the surgery? And why are you unable to eat bread? I'm just learning about everything right now. Thanks!

Everyone is different. Believe me I miss food so much. I play tricks on myself. Sunday dinners I keep myself busy and sit down and eat when people are almost done. Alcohol is not a problem. I don't drink as much as I did but I still go out and have a good time. The smoking I quit but sometimes I have just a puff or two. It is all in your mind. I still sometimes think what the hell did I do to myself when I am craving a hamburger or deli sandwich and know if I eat the bread I will throw up. It bugs you in the beginning but when you go from a size 20 to 12 and feel 20 years younger than it is worth it.

Hi Neeser - when did you have the surgery? And why are you unable to eat bread? I'm just learning about everything right now. Thanks!

[piemonade 25]

I don't doubt anything you've said, but I have to say my experience couldn't have been any more different.

I felt like I was on a fairly strict diet for 6 weeks before surgery, but it was easy because I stopped drinking alcohol.

After surgery, I had no pain, no side effects, and no hunger. I followed the 30 day post opt diet to a T and by 6 weeks out, I eased back to a normal life, just ate less.

Oh yeah, never had a second thought, mood swing, or anything but joy over the new me!

The only thing I wish I'd known was how easy it would all be. I would have done it 20 years ago!

I am really glad you had a great experience. But yours is the experience I had been led to believe that I would have, and when it was nothing like that, I have to admit that it hit me pretty hard. I am definitely doing much better now, but I felt really mislead because I wasn't warned of other difficult circumstances that might arise as a result of the surgery. I certainly don't think that my experience is the "gold standard", but I really don't want pre-ops to assume that everything is going to be ideal. I wish everyone could have a recovery without difficulties, but it's just not going to work that way for some. Thanks for your comment; it's inspiring! I hope the rest of your journey is great, too!

Yes... I believed this was how it would be for me, as well. I knew the actual incisions would be painful, but I didn't expect the rest. I truly was in the dark and wish I'd been better prepared.

Though I'm only a week in! I hope it gets easier, but even if not, I know it was worth it.

Also sooooo very glad that I kept it to myself. My husband, his parents, and my kids (kinda) know. No one else. I only shared that I was having a hernia repaired, and I couldn't be more grateful for that. I don't want to be watched or to "hear it" from the negative worry warts in my life.

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[Cape Crooner 589]

Connie - One problem I did have and have warned others about is the reaction of others.

Most folks - even those with complications, lose a lot of weight very quickly. Depending on how large your circle of friends is, this could lead to what seems like a never ending conversation about "how did you do it?"

In my case, this was undoubtedly the #1 negative of the entire experience. And the "watchers" and stupid comments while eating in public.

I did choose to limit who I told to 6 family members, but this too had left me feeling bad about not "fessing up" to my closest friends.

That said, I'm now 10 months out and the watchers seem to vanishing.

[JJCool 104]

Its good to know that the watching doesn't go on forever!

Having said that, for the people who I haven't told (non have said anything yet but Im only 5 weeks out) if they ask I'll just say I'm on high Protein, low carb diet and that I'm counting calories. It's the truth! Sort of

Jo x

[shelbys mom 70]

I don't doubt anything you've said, but I have to say my experience couldn't have been any more different.

I felt like I was on a fairly strict diet for 6 weeks before surgery, but it was easy because I stopped drinking alcohol.

After surgery, I had no pain, no side effects, and no hunger. I followed the 30 day post opt diet to a T and by 6 weeks out, I eased back to a normal life, just ate less.

Oh yeah, never had a second thought, mood swing, or anything but joy over the new me!

The only thing I wish I'd known was how easy it would all be. I would have done it 20 years ago!

Thank you for your encouraging post. Very reassuring, after hearing all the other posts.

@@TracyBar

My dietician is not much help anyhow, I always feel rushed as like they just want to see next patient. I'll be doing mine in Houston with UT Physicians. Syc counsel was a joke a few questions about anger, depression, etc....

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That was probably your Psych Eval. Therapy/Counseling can be very helpful if you have a good therapist. I found therapy much more helpful than nutrition (although that was because I knew most of what the NUT had to say already). @@TracyBar - I'd recommend counseling if you can find a good psychologist familiar with Bariatric Surgery and emotional eating.

@@TracyBar

My dietician is not much help anyhow, I always feel rushed as like they just want to see next patient. I'll be doing mine in Houston with UT Physicians. Syc counsel was a joke a few questions about anger, depression, etc....

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Sent from my SM-N920P using the BariatricPal App

[Cape Crooner 589]

Its good to know that the watching doesn't go on forever!

Having said that, for the people who I haven't told (non have said anything yet but Im only 5 weeks out) if they ask I'll just say I'm on high Protein, low carb diet and that I'm counting calories. It's the truth! Sort of

Jo x

My line is "I gave up on fad diets and did EXACTLY what my doctor told me to do".

[Neeser 6]

Everyone is different. Believe me I miss food so much. I play tricks on myself. Sunday dinners I keep myself busy and sit down and eat when people are almost done. Alcohol is not a problem. I don't drink as much as I did but I still go out and have a good time. The smoking I quit but sometimes I have just a puff or two. It is all in your mind. I still sometimes think what the hell did I do to myself when I am craving a hamburger or deli sandwich and know if I eat the bread I will throw up. It bugs you in the beginning but when you go from a size 20 to 12 and feel 20 years younger than it is worth it.

I don't know bread, rice and Pasta are still really hard for me. Which is a good thing. You really don't need them anyway. I guess starches still make me actually throw up every time I eat them. I just don't eat them. Sometimes I say it's worth a good throw up to take a bite. hahahahaha Not very often.

[Neeser 6]

Everyone is different. Believe me I miss food so much. I play tricks on myself. Sunday dinners I keep myself busy and sit down and eat when people are almost done. Alcohol is not a problem. I don't drink as much as I did but I still go out and have a good time. The smoking I quit but sometimes I have just a puff or two. It is all in your mind. I still sometimes think what the hell did I do to myself when I am craving a hamburger or deli sandwich and know if I eat the bread I will throw up. It bugs you in the beginning but when you go from a size 20 to 12 and feel 20 years younger than it is worth it.

Hi Neeser - when did you have the surgery? And why are you unable to eat bread? I'm just learning about everything right now. Thanks!

>Everyone is different. Believe me I miss food so much. I play tricks on myself. Sunday dinners I keep myself busy and sit down and eat when people are almost done. Alcohol is not a problem. I don't drink as much as I did but I still go out and have a good time. The smoking I quit but sometimes I have just a puff or two. It is all in your mind. I still sometimes think what the hell did I do to myself when I am craving a hamburger or deli sandwich and know if I eat the bread I will throw up. It bugs you in the beginning but when you go from a size 20 to 12 and feel 20 years younger than it is worth it.

Hi Neeser - when did you have the surgery? And why are you unable to eat bread? I'm just learning about everything right now. Thanks!

Yes no starches at all. They all make me full way to fast and I throw up immediately. I had my surgery in December. I started the

process in September and I am down 80lbs.

[trekker954 421]

Connie, can I ask your age. I often wonder if age has a key in who will suffer vs who will breeze through the recovery process. As well as for those that are successful or not. I'm sure age has to matter. I'm a tad nervous about that because I'm 62 1/2 scheduled for the sleeve next week.

[Neeser 6]

Connie, can I ask your age. I often wonder if age has a key in who will suffer vs who will breeze through the recovery process. As well as for those that are successful or not. I'm sure age has to matter. I'm a tad nervous about that because I'm 62 1/2 scheduled for the sleeve next week.

Hi Connie, I am 57 years old. I wish I would have done this years and years ago. It is unbelievable the energy that

you have. Makes you wonder about your poor heart. I just emailed my brother about taking his grown sons kayaking this weekend. After I emailed him I sat back and thought OMG 7 months ago I would have never suggested that. A movie and popcorn maybe. Kayaking NEVER. hahahahahah Good Luck.

[justhere4theshow 462]

Connie, can I ask your age. I often wonder if age has a key in who will suffer vs who will breeze through the recovery process. As well as for those that are successful or not. I'm sure age has to matter. I'm a tad nervous about that because I'm 62 1/2 scheduled for the sleeve next week.

I am 46.

[OKCPirate 5,323]

@ - Sigh wish I had done this at 46 Oh well. Funny, I kind of figured out most of this on the front end watching YouTube videos of those who did well and those who fell on their face. It all boiled down to research and attitude. You knew it was a tool, not a magic wand. And that is clear from your story (and it is a very good and very real one BTW).

Thanks for sharing. My hope is that those thinking about this would read your story first and quit thinking this is automatic permanent weight loss. I can't/won't talk about all the personal struggle messages I get into with people who are fighting other demons that pop into their lives post surgery. But HELL YEAH it is a great tool and I would do it again in a heartbeat. I just wished I could have planned better for the hormone dump as a single guy (wink wink, wow that was fun).

[justhere4theshow 462]

@@OKCPirate I am glad you liked my post. I can imagine the hormones are a nightmare for men, also!

[Christinamo7 4,041]

But HELL YEAH it is a great tool and I would do it again in a heartbeat. I just wished I could have planned better for the hormone dump as a single guy (wink wink, wow that was fun).

thankfully reading about the hormone dump prepared me and allowed me to prepare my husband because boy have we had a lot of fun with that also!

[OKCPirate 5,323]

@@OKCPirate I am glad you liked my post. I can imagine the hormones are a nightmare for men, also!

"Nightmare"? Hell I loved it. Can you imagine being a 17 without the teen angst, and know what in the heck you are doing? That is fun stuff when you are a responsible adult with his own house and hot tub. Just saying