Weight Loss Surgery

original_mami
original_mami Posts: 35 Member
edited November 7 in Introduce Yourself
This is forum is for anyone who is thinking about weight loss surgery, has had it and in the process.

Hi my name is Michelle I'm currently 260lbs and I am on my 3 week liquid diet I'm going to have the gastric sleeve my surgery date is scheduled for 9/9/14.

The reason I made this forum is because we could all use a support system NO JUDGING a place where we can be honest and lift each other up when we need lifting.


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Replies

  • tesha_chandler
    tesha_chandler Posts: 378 Member
    I'm not having it done but I just want to wish you good luck!
  • original_mami
    original_mami Posts: 35 Member
    I will be documenting my process before and after surgery posting pictures and healthy gastric surgery approved meal recipes. I would love for you to join me I want your input your process your story your ideas on recipes lets be our support system lets go through it together!
  • original_mami
    original_mami Posts: 35 Member
    Thank you! I'm extremely nervous and excited all at the same time LOL
  • RWilliams_Fit
    RWilliams_Fit Posts: 81 Member
    My boyfriend had it a year ago and it is the best thing he has ever done.

    Good Luck and congrats on making a decision that will change your life in so many positive ways
  • original_mami
    original_mami Posts: 35 Member
    I wish Fit pal had a [LIKE] button LOL thank you so much!
  • klcovington
    klcovington Posts: 376 Member
    Hi! How has it been going since surgery? I was sleeved on 9/18/14 and just "graduated" to some soft foods like eggs, fish, and soft cheeses.
  • toniroderick
    toniroderick Posts: 1 Member
    I am having the sleeve soon!
  • Rosie5151
    Rosie5151 Posts: 57 Member
    My sister had this done end of Sept. and is not doing well. Yes, she is losing weight rapidly, but she has almost died because of infection. She had a staple tear her "new" stomach and the infection went through her body. Was back for second surgery / in hosp. for another week and back in now. She is not well. She can not even drink water and throws up everything. I feel so bad for her and wish you well. She regrets this decision she has made terribly. She can not enjoy life and there is no end in sight for her. I hope you re think this. Not everyone goes through hell I'm sure but watching her I'm not sure why anyone would do this to their body.
  • delainepittman
    delainepittman Posts: 8 Member
    I had the roux&y gastric bypass in 2002. I weighed 250 pounds. I had no complications or problems. I lost 98 pounds total. I maintained that for 5 years. Over time, I was able to eat more and sugar and fat didn't give me any problems. By 2013 I was back up to 208 pounds. I am now losing weight slowly with diet and exercise. Please consider having psychological therapy before your surgery. If you don't fix the real reasons you overeat and gain weight, even the surgery won't be effective long-term. Good luck.
  • livanneluv
    livanneluv Posts: 5 Member
    Excellent advice, and I'm taking it! :)
    delainepittman wrote: »
    I had the roux&y gastric bypass in 2002. I weighed 250 pounds. I had no complications or problems. I lost 98 pounds total. I maintained that for 5 years. Over time, I was able to eat more and sugar and fat didn't give me any problems. By 2013 I was back up to 208 pounds. I am now losing weight slowly with diet and exercise. Please consider having psychological therapy before your surgery. If you don't fix the real reasons you overeat and gain weight, even the surgery won't be effective long-term. Good luck.

  • petrmoon1126
    petrmoon1126 Posts: 1 Member
    I am planning to have the gastric sleeve in January. I think what a way to start the new year to start with working on my self both on the outside and in the inside. I do plan to do long term therapy as I am sure there a lot of issues that have lead me to gain and not lose. I do not ever want to be where I am now again. It is a huge decision and a scary one at that. Please keep us updated with your progress. I agree that this will be a great support group.
  • sdterpasl
    sdterpasl Posts: 4 Member
    I had RNY 10-14-14 I am doing wonderful! I did have 6 months of education and emotional prep. I also have a huge support system. At first I didn't want to tell any one, now I will tell any one who asks. I don't regret this at all, I feel amazing!
  • Djrundle13
    Djrundle13 Posts: 54 Member
    Hey guys, just wanted to poke my nose in here too. LOL

    I'm in the preop process myself for RNY. i go for my psyche testing and others next month. Really excited and can't wait to get started on the post op journey

    Would love to have a group of MFP pals to have on my friend list. If anyone would like to add me, please do so.
  • AugustPearl
    AugustPearl Posts: 1
    Hello! I've started the process to be approved for RNY. My insurance requires I be on a diet for 6 mos. I'm frustrated about it b/c I've been failing at dieting for 25 years. I know I should be using this time to start working on the mental side & changing my life style, but right now it just feels like another diet I'm going to fail, so I'm struggling w/ motivation. Any advice?
  • bumuling
    bumuling Posts: 7
    Finally having a weight-loss surgery might be your key to success. I read somewhere recently that weight-loss surgery might actually change your taste buds-- scientists did a study on it (I'd have to look this up, I don't remember the details)...

    I still need to track calories and exercise, but having the surgery and following the doctor's instructions has actually changed some of my feelings and desires around food. I am sad that I'm not eating some of the foods I loved, but I like that I can feel satisfied with less food, and I'm enjoying sort of learning what I want to eat now.

    Socially, it's a pain in the neck. I eat out with friends, eat about a cup of food, and watch them chow down mightily on three courses. Just be aware, ya gotta learn to do this and be happy that whatever you're having in smaller quantities is still tasty. I don't eat salads, my friends-- I just eat tiny portions of the things I would have eaten anyhow.

    In my 50's I found I couldn't lose weight-- diets and strategies I'd used successfully in the past didn't work for me anymore. I felt undernourished and frustrated. I had a lap-band done on June 20, and I've lost 80 pounds (down from 294).

    Fitness Pal has been a huge help-- mostly I use it just to track my daily calories and nutrition-- it's so easy! It's a good way to write down everything you eat, which they told us in lap-band education was key to our success.

    I *highly* recommend weight loss surgery-- just follow your doctor's instructions, and take advantage of whatever support they offer. I live too far away from my doc to attend support sessions, but I've called their nurse educator and I consult frequently with my hometown doctor and a therapist.

    Good luck to all!
  • bumuling
    bumuling Posts: 7
    edited December 2014
    Here's the article I was talking about-- "Weight-Loss Surgery May Change Taste Buds: Stanford Study"-- my point being, even if you've struggled in the past, surgery might help in ways you haven't even thought about.

    http://www.NewsmaxHealth.com/Health-News/bariatric-surgery-weight-loss-taste-buds/2014/11/05/id/605433/#ixzz3Ki4DtyAA
  • PALady4JC
    PALady4JC Posts: 99 Member
    sdterpasl wrote: »
    I had RNY 10-14-14 I am doing wonderful! I did have 6 months of education and emotional prep. I also have a huge support system. At first I didn't want to tell any one, now I will tell any one who asks. I don't regret this at all, I feel amazing!
    Keep moving forward, girl! We're in similar boats. :-)

  • PALady4JC
    PALady4JC Posts: 99 Member
    bumuling wrote: »
    Finally having a weight-loss surgery might be your key to success. I read somewhere recently that weight-loss surgery might actually change your taste buds-- scientists did a study on it (I'd have to look this up, I don't remember the details)...

    I still need to track calories and exercise, but having the surgery and following the doctor's instructions has actually changed some of my feelings and desires around food. I am sad that I'm not eating some of the foods I loved, but I like that I can feel satisfied with less food, and I'm enjoying sort of learning what I want to eat now.

    Socially, it's a pain in the neck. I eat out with friends, eat about a cup of food, and watch them chow down mightily on three courses. Just be aware, ya gotta learn to do this and be happy that whatever you're having in smaller quantities is still tasty. I don't eat salads, my friends-- I just eat tiny portions of the things I would have eaten anyhow.

    In my 50's I found I couldn't lose weight-- diets and strategies I'd used successfully in the past didn't work for me anymore. I felt undernourished and frustrated. I had a lap-band done on June 20, and I've lost 80 pounds (down from 294).

    Fitness Pal has been a huge help-- mostly I use it just to track my daily calories and nutrition-- it's so easy! It's a good way to write down everything you eat, which they told us in lap-band education was key to our success.

    I *highly* recommend weight loss surgery-- just follow your doctor's instructions, and take advantage of whatever support they offer. I live too far away from my doc to attend support sessions, but I've called their nurse educator and I consult frequently with my hometown doctor and a therapist.

    Good luck to all!

    I chuckled at the comment "watch them chow down mightily on three courses"...haven't you found though that most people really don't chew and enjoy their food? The need for bariatric patients to chew their food so thoroughly has really made me aware of how fast and gluttoneously a lot of people eat.
  • sdterpasl
    sdterpasl Posts: 4 Member
    AugustPearl wrote: »
    Hello! I've started the process to be approved for RNY. My insurance requires I be on a diet for 6 mos. I'm frustrated about it b/c I've been failing at dieting for 25 years. I know I should be using this time to start working on the mental side & changing my life style, but right now it just feels like another diet I'm going to fail, so I'm struggling w/ motivation. Any advice?

    I can't tell you how important the work you do before is!! Make habits, know that you will not fail. The hard work now WILL payoff. I promised.
  • eggheadsalad
    eggheadsalad Posts: 2 Member
    I had my RNY on Nov 17th- I'm down 52 lbs at last weigh in, which was two weeks ago. More importantly I'm feeling so much better and am much more active now. I'm wondering if anyone had back aches while they were losing? I've got some degeneration in my spine to begin with but now that my tummy is going down, my back is hurting! Any advice?
  • JudiMoving2
    JudiMoving2 Posts: 77 Member
    Just read through this discussion board and am happy to have found it. I am in the program for surgery, and am looking to have the by-pass completed. Next month I meet with the Psych Dr. My insurance requires that I complete the program in a 90 day period. I am hoping it is enough time to change my habits so that I am successful.

    At this time I am trying to make better choices, and chew, chew chewing my food, also researching in my history the reasons I got to this point. I am nervous that I will not maintain after surgery. I have seen people fail with surgery. I want to win this weight battle, and it was (and is) hard for me to admit that I cannot do this on my own.

    Are my fears normal at this point?
  • sharifit53
    sharifit53 Posts: 54 Member
    JudiMoving2, your fears are normal but hopefully you are also excited, hopeful and determined? Chewing food and self evaluation are important things to practice now. I'm glad you have seen others fail with surgery (not glad they failed, but glad you are able to see that it is possible). You will need to use that knowledge on a daily basis even after surgery so that you can be resolved not to follow their footsteps.

    I had lapband almost 3 years ago and have lost weight, but it has not been without problems. If you want the full story friend me.
  • angelmed17
    angelmed17 Posts: 5
    I am 9 years out from my RNY gastric bypass. I lost 172 pounds and have regained ~40. I would definitely like to lose those 40, but I still feed proud for having maintained a 130 pound loss. Bariatric surgery is not a magic bullet, it is a tool. If you use your tool and you are mentally ready to do the work you will be very successful! HOWEVER, if you slack and go back to thinking that you can eat and drink anything you want the way that you used to you WILL gain weight just like anyone else. I don't wonder why I've regained, I know EXACTLY why. I am going to have to work at it now, it won't be like it was that first year where the weight just melted off - BUT I still have that tool and I can use it.
  • angelmed17
    angelmed17 Posts: 5
    eggheadsalad wrote: »
    I had my RNY on Nov 17th- I'm down 52 lbs at last weigh in, which was two weeks ago. More importantly I'm feeling so much better and am much more active now. I'm wondering if anyone had back aches while they were losing? I've got some degeneration in my spine to begin with but now that my tummy is going down, my back is hurting! Any advice?

    I had the same issue with my back and then later with my knees and hips! The way it was explained to me is that your muscles are used to carrying a certain amount of weight and being in a certain position - once you have lost a good portion of weight your body has to learn a new way to hold itself which stresses the muscles in a different way. It will pass, I promise!
  • mykaylis
    mykaylis Posts: 320 Member
    i'm pre-op sleeve and have had the psych go-ahead but will need further review before they book the surgeon appointment. i'm making some much better choices in accordance with their recommendations - i've lost 17 lbs in 10 weeks - and i think the sleeve will be a great tool in my arsenal.

    for those of you who have already had SLEEVE surgery, i have a question. is it difficult to fit in enough nonstarchy vegetables and fruits? i know you need to focus on protein first and starches are always easy to eat (hello, mashed potatoes. what a lovely slider you are.) but if the body requires a large volume of green leafies etc, how do you make that work?
  • skinnyminime5
    skinnyminime5 Posts: 64 Member
    I am 3 years happily banded! Lost over a 100lbs but gained a bit back. So I am back to tracking on MFP which I find helpful.

    Friend me...I am always looking for friends :)

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  • sarahlondon12812
    sarahlondon12812 Posts: 9
    Almost 2 years out RNY. I've had my ups and downs good days and bad. My journey is not over yet I've got much more life to live. I always welcome new WLS friends.
  • bAseballmom122
    bAseballmom122 Posts: 6 Member
    Hi. I am 10 years out and have gained 50 lbs back. Now starting the struggle to get it back off. If u ever need to talk message me
  • Osu2k1
    Osu2k1 Posts: 116 Member
    My sister just had the sleeve done and now I am considering it as well. Thankfully my insurance covers it (hers didn't-she went to Mexico) so I am beginning the process. I can't decide if I want to do the sleeve or lap band. DH says I should just go for the sleeve since I keep saying that the lap band can be removed. He said that this is a life long thing, not temporary; I need to look at it that way-something that cannot be changed.

    How long did it take to get into the OR from when you started the process, and what insurance company do you have (if you are okay sharing it)? I have Cigna. Thanks!!!
  • MKEgal
    MKEgal Posts: 3,250 Member
    edited January 2015
    original_mami wrote:
    This is forum is for anyone who is thinking about weight loss surgery, has had it and in the process.
    Actually, this forum is for introductions. That's why it's titled "introduce yourself".
    There are groups extant for people to discuss the various surgeries, the lifelong health problems they cause, regaining, etc.
    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/groups

    **********************

    For those who are only considering surgery, please get lots of information, learn about the lifelong problems.

    If you can succeed in their pre-surgery control-your-eating program & lose the weight necessary before having surgery, you can succeed in doing it to lose the excess weight without surgery.

    The Cleveland Clinic says of gastric surgery:
    "Most patients will lose between 66 and 80 percent of their excess body weight"

    51637601.png
    That's a 28% loss from my starting weight in 1 year, or about a 70% loss of my _excess_ weight (110 lb).
    Naturally done, body still whole, able to eat what I want. I've just learned self-control.
    (And yes, for a few months I used an appetite suppressant which allowed me to learn to eat normal-size portions, and now even without it I'm not constantly ravenous like I used to be.)

    When I first met with my weight loss doc, he offered to start me on the track for surgery.
    I'd done my research, knew that there was absolutely no way I would ever do that, did not want to suffer the lifelong problems & restrictions that come from it.
    Last checkup I had, they had an intern who was doing his endocrinology rotation and was apparently of the opinion that nobody could succeed at losing weight without surgery.
    So they introduced him to me. :smiley:
    And I may get profiled in the hospital info magazine.
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