A little something for this years septembers pre-ops

I'm gonna add my little story. My consultation weight was 334 , When I went for my pre op testing I was 321. I had surgery September 28,2005 . It was open RNY . I came home Oct. 4 didn't have much pain. But did I smell ! Since hubby said he smelled that in the hospital we figured it was normal. I AM NOT TELLING YOU THIS TO SCARE YOU ! JUST TO LET YOU KNOW SOMETIMES THERE ARE PROBLEMS.... My wound started draining alot so I called the doctor and he said to come in. He checked me out and found out I had an infection. I was readmitted to the hospital. I had no fever or any other symptom except the smell. I had to be "cleaned out" three times in the OR and was given three types of antibiotics a couple of times a day. I was discharged on my birthday (Oct 14) The doctor ordered a " wound vac" to help me heal.( It is like a sponge in the wound attached to a vacuum type machine to clean it out. ) Hubby was an angel who waited on me hand and foot making sure I had plenty of protein to heal. .. It took me a little longer to heal but I feel good now. I now weigh 230 . If I had a choice to do it again would I ???? YES ! DEFINATELY ! In a heartbeat ! I am not losing as much as everybody else but I figure I didn't put that weight on in a year it's going to take me a little longer. But on the bright side....I weigh now what I weighed 22 years ago. Suggestions ??? Make sure you get in your protein. It helps you heal faster. ( thats what my doctor told me ) Keep sipping water you feel better. Measure yourself before surgery. When you hit a "stall" .....measure yourself. Just because the scale doesn't move doesn't mean the surgery failed. It just means your body is readjusting yourself. Take your time when you eat. I have found out that when I eat fast I eat more and feel sick afterward because my body didn't have time to realize I was full. You will have gas.....some people have hiccups to let you know you are full.....The first few months I had trouble sleeping.......This is the time for you to take care of yourself. Let them wait on you for a change. Don't pu**** too hard. And last but not least .......Enjoy the journey soon you will be on the " Losers Bench" Good Luck Sandy

Hello :0) My surgery date was September 8, 2005 surgery weight: 328 current weight: 169 loss: 159 tomorrow is my anniversary and I am hoping to be at -160 When people ask me about the surgery, all I can say is that I am very, very blessed. This surgery gave me a life I never knew before. I weigh now less than I did in high school and actually less than I did in junior high. The biggest bit of advice that I can give other than follow the eating rules--which I do very religiously--is to measure your inches. I have measured my inches each month on the 8th. I have lost 137.5 inches. The great thing about measuring is that when you aren't losing pounds you are probably losing inches. So, when I would be discouraged because I wasn't losing pounds I would check inches and sure enough I would have lost some. It seems for me that I lose pounds for about 2 weeks and then for 2 weeks my body has to readjust and shed the inches. The one thing I wish I knew before the surgery--that when I came home from the hospital I would gain weight. I gained 9 pounds from the day of surgery to the day I came home. I was utterly disgusted to think I was the only person in the world to go to have WLS and come home and gain flippin' 9 pounds. That would be fluids....and they do go away... And they didn't go away in a 2 hour frame of time... I was chronic about weighing...like 10 times a day LOL It will come off! good luck and God bless! You will be GREAT! Tracy

Hey all! Your day will be here soon and we all want to do what we can to make it great for you. My pre op weight highest was 275. I now weigh 173 The one thing I wish I had known preop was how your weight will play with your mind. Do not let it. There was times at 3 months out, six months, etc. where the weight is stalled or down 2 lbs up 2 lbs. One week I gained 7 pounds in 2 days and FLIPPED. But, it was gone the next week and then some. Very strange ways your body reacts. It is really hard for me to put into words how thankful I am one year later. I feel like a totally different person and in some ways I am. Really. I know you think.. not possible but it does happen on some levels. I feel like I did 20 years ago and feel alive. I will always be grateful for this second chance at health. I vow to help anyone I can get where I am. If I was having surgery this year instead of last, I would start a daily vitamin now. I would eat more protein and take biotin before the surgery. I know everyone says to excercise and be in the best possible shape before surgery, and that is true.. but to be honest.. my surgeon said my swimming and walking before tightened up my stomach muscles and when he cut them for Open RNY- I think that made the few days after surgery more painful. My wish is for all of you to have wonderful surgeons like I did, find WLS sisters in YOUR town and hang out with them. It makes the bumps and the celebrations more rememorable. You will form bonds that become unbreakable. Any time you get scared, nervous or have questions,, come see us on our board. We are here for you!

Shelly, sorry you are getting all these.. I think it best just to link to your post... OK.... Here's some encouragement from Another Sept 2005.....to Sept 2006 Start: 358 lbs Now : 224 lbs Goal: 185 lbs?? Surgery: 9/14/05 I'm 5'6" Something I wish I would've known before surgery...... To be honest I researched so much HERE on OH, that I pretty much had it covered, between the Sept 2005 board, the Main Board & TX board, I KNEW what I was getting into... you can also attribute the fact that it took 3 YEARS to make up my mind.. The BEST thing I could have done, is just have doen it SOONER!!!!!! Do your research and "JUST DO IT" If I was starting out my surgery this year now, instead of last, I would excersize more, it's so much easier said than done........................ ADVISE: 1. Get involved with other WLS'er's........... It helps keep you on TRACK!!! a. Here on web b. Hospital or Dr support group 2. Take pictures & measurements BEFORE surgery, and then every month after!!! (You will be amazed what this does for you!!! It's normal for WLS people to look in the mirror and STILL see the FAT person looking back, if you have the pictures, it can bring you back to REALITY!!) 3. After surgery like many has said... it's no picnic.... but IT GET'S EASIER!!!!! I just can't re-iterate this ENOUGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 4. If at all possible DO NOT TEST YOUR LIMITS ON SUGAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I did this early, and know that I do not dump.... I think I might have lost more by now, if I DIDN'T knw that I can eat this or that........ 5. Crystal Light(or generic @ WalMart), can be your BEST friend if you have a tough time with getting your water down. They have a lot of flavors. My favorites are: Peach Tea, Raspberry & Fruit Punch(this one tastes like Hawaiian Punch without the SUGAR!!!) 6. The only DUMB questions is the ones you NEVER ask. There's usually ALWAYS someone on the board who is willing to listen or tell you what they have learned... Feel free to wonder over to other boards like Sept 2005!!!!!! 7. Organize all your different size clothes BEFORE surgery, and keep trying them on after surgery... If you are bigger over 26/28 size it does take some time to lose a size , but once you do, it goes fast. I kow SO many people who get excited and start buying clothes, when they notice they NEVER wore the clothes, cause they were too BIG, by the time they tried them on.... I reccommend when you get to the next size... look for a bargain on the next size down, and buy 1. You then can keep trying that one on, until it fits!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Good Luck & God Bless to all you Sept 2006 SURGERIES!!! We on the Sept 2005 are CHEERING FOR YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tanya L

1. Surgery date was september 21, 2005 2. Pre op weight 248/ current weight 166 3. the one thing we wish we had known preop---- more about the hairloss and about the stalls 4. the thing we are most thankful for now that we are about to be one year out- I am most thankful that I feel great...look great... and I can do more with my kids 5. the one thing you would change if you were starting this surgury this yr and not last yr.- I would have found this place sooner... I would definetly work out more to help with the saggy skin Good luck you all....... This is only a tool.....you will need support in here it really does help

Thank you to all of you who took the time to talk about your personal experiences. I for one appreciate it. Thanks for the advice. I am having surgery on Sept 20th!! I think my biggest fear at this time is failing at this too. I am so afrain after all the diets I have been through that I will fail at this one too. I want to succeed this time. I will really try and follow all of the rules and take all of your advic e. I know this is the last resort and I have nowhere else to go after this surgery. Congrats to all of you on your successes in losing the weight.

Hi all just adding my own two cents: Listen to my friends - I have a great support group in my surgeons office, but these people here 9/05 have been my biggest . I have lost more than most at my Dr's office due to the advice and support I have gotten on line. Surgury date/type: LAP RNY Pre op/ current weight: 281/169 The one thing we wish we had known preop: Take pictures before. It is not the easy way out. It will be a lot more work than you think,,, but it will be ten times more satisfying than you can ever imagine. The emotional roller coaster you will encounter. There is a time when depression can set in, even when your loosing weight. I was also surprised by my reaction and the reaction of those around me. People can become cruel when you start to weigh less than them. Everyone may know you as the "fat" friend and not want to give that up. Don't buy a lot of protein powder- your taste buds change. Watch your relationships if married or with a significant other-- it will change. Your personality will change, usually people become much more out going. Learn to work with your partner to make it a positive experience. If you become more active, make it something that the two of you can enjoy. Ballroom dancing, walking together etc.... Don't buy a lot of cloths. You will have things you won't even wear. You may even jump right over a size... YES you will, borrow what you can. BUT every once in a while you need something new to cheer you up and make you realize how good your doing. Don't get caught up wearing cloths 5 sizes to big. The thing we are most thankful for now that we are about to be one year out: I love being very active. I am so full of energy and life now. I am always on the go. The one thing you would change if you were starting this surgury this yr and not last yr.-- don't try foods that you shouldn't. I would not even go that road. Stick to the diet more. Word of encuragment for their journey-- you have a bunch of friends on line here. Enjoy the ride. You can and will succeed if you try hard enough. It has been awesome. Good luck and welcome.... come on over to the 05 board and lets us know how you have made out.... The other donna

I'll be one year out on Sept 29th. Beginning weight: 330+ (my scale stopped at 330) Today's weight: 210 Total lost so far: 120lbs Inches: A LOT Size last year: 30/32 W Size this year: 16W pants, XL shirts One thing I learned from having this surgery is that it does work if you work it. It is just a tool. You can fail it if you eat in between meals and don't follow what your doctor says. One thing to take with you for right after surgery: EAT ALL OF YOUR PROTEIN. Protein is essential for healing. Protein is essential for keeping fat down. Start your protein NOW, so that you're ready for a great and successful recovery. DRINK YOUR LIQUIDS...at least 65 oz a day. It helps flush out the toxins from surgery, but also helps with the weight loss and keeps you hydrated. Everything they teach you pre op is true. Protein first, liquids and exercise. Walk, a LOT. Start now! You'll recover faster. If I would change one thing if I was doing it this year and not last, would be to exercise more...I'm lazy. I wish you all a wonderful and uneventful surgery. A rapid recovery and MUCH weight loss. Don't fret if you don't see the scales moving right away. Usually when the scale doesn't move, it means you're losing inches and your brain is trying to catch up to what you've put it through. The weight loss WILL HAPPEN! Good luck, paula