"Unrealistic Expectations"? Slam me if I'm having them...

 Okay, I've done my research, read, read, read, read.....and then turned around and reread everything the other day.  I'm posting this because of a post on the main board, and I want to make sure I'm not having unrealistic expectations.  I chose the DS because I'm only going to do this ONCE...not a fan of needles or scalpels or doctors.

I'm a hard headed individual who likes to argue with my doc about meds they want to put me on.  I know I'll have to take the vitamins NO MATTER WHAT and labs are mandatory.  I cannot argue about any of this.  Do I have that part straight?

I EXPECT to lose at the very least 125 lbs, and at my current weight of 322 (once again...yayyy for the 1 flippin lb I lost this month...*insert sarcasm here*), that'll put me at the 170 ish mark.  Fine by me...I may be on here whining about that last 20 lbs, but I sure don't expect to.

Eventually I'll be able to have a beer now and then...or some type of alcoholic drink, unless my tummy gives me problems with it.  Not much of a drinker, but I do like to listen to Vern Gosdin and George Jones now and then, and moan the blues.  It's a kind of "therapy" for me....get it all out and stuff..

My cigarette smoking days are OVER....PERIOD.  I love them, but they will kill me with this surgery right?

Not really sure of whether I'll ever be able to eat potatoes and bread again...from what I've gathered, it's white carbs and they're bad.  I do love tater's and bread though.  That's going to be hard.

When I get out of surgery, my main focus is to sip, walk, sip, walk, sip walk.....and so on.  I won't starve to death, but I will die from dehydration.  

The first part of weight I lose will probably be gained back due to the body's treacherous ways...thinks I'm starving and stores the stuff...etc., so I need to suck it up and wait a bit.  I also don't WANT a scale at all....is it necessary?  Other than the doc?  I have enough depression probs, don't need a scale helping it along.  I always tell the doc to keep my weight to herself and the charts, UNLESS I've lost some, then she's allowed to tell me....

I'm going to feel like an absolute piece of dog **** when I awake from surgery (notice I've progressed to "when" I awake, rather than "if"), heavy lifting, exercise and excessive housework is prohibited....yeah, I'm REALLY good with that.  I know I may have some energy, but it's a trick...because in a few weeks, I'll feel like Rip Van Winkle and want to sleep alot.

I EXPECT my Type 2 insulin diabetes to be over with.  It can say "bye" and be gone....right?

My sleep apnea MAY be cured, but possibly not.  Most everyone in  my clan has it, but then again, we're all fat, so who knows.

Ok....now here's something I'm not real sure about.  I THINK I'm premenopausal, all though my doc says I'm too young (god, I love my doc!  LOL) my tubes are tied, I might have a two day period every 3 or 4 months......NO CHANCE OF PREGNANCY....RIGHT???  Please God say I'm right.....

My already hanging booby chandeliers are only going to get worse.  Still trying to figure out a medical reason I might use to get that fixed by insurance...LOL

I EXPECT to be able to walk easer and more with less reliance on O2....maybe not needed at all.

I'll still have my mental issues...my weight has nothing to do with these.  I'm worried about a change in personality....does that happen?  

I'll have gas and **** from hell, but it should stabilize further on out.  Actually kinda looking forward to paying the old man back with some of this.  Although I'm very afraid of retaining gas, which makes me wonder if I ought to ask for an open procedure.

I'm not expecting to be able to eat for a month or so.  When ya'll talk about liquid diet, does that mean I can puree stuff and drink it....or is it limited ONLY to shakes?  Protein will be VERY important after the initial stages right?

HOPING to drop a shoe size AND a few ring sizes.  I'll still have "fat chick" mentality, although that really doesn't bother me right now.  Not saying it never will, but I'm fat and sassy now, I imagine I'll just be thinner and sassier then.

I know this is a TOOL, there can be failure, but the DS is pretty good with that.  As in, if I say, screw up a time or two (and I'm trying to be realistic, it usually happens with people),  and I get back on the wagon, it will still work for me.

I will be able to eat normally again after a time....say in 6-8 months, give or take a few.

I may lose my hair, have bad breath, break out with zits (have never had a problem before, will this cause it?), flabby droopy skin, but vitamins and other products will help....ok, except with the droopy skin....then I'm on my own.

I'm sooooo sorry for the long post, but I keep going over this stuff in my head, and want to make sure I basically have it straight.  If I'm wrong....hit me upside the head with something, one of them critters everyone swings will work.  I'm sure there's more, but good lord, peole don't have all day to read my crazy crap, so these are what stuck out in my head.  My basic desire with this surgery is to be healthier, be able to move more, shake my ass on a dance floor somewhere and not feel like **** every blasted day of my life, go back to school, chase my grandchild and be able to live outside of a blasted computer.  Is this all realistic?

Comment removed because OH violated users privacy by posting pics and posts to FB without the users prior knowledge.

 Twyla- This is an amazing post and from what I can tell, I think you've got a really good handle on what to expect with your DS.  So did you stop smoking last weekend for good? 

 Grrrrrrrrrrrrr....I posted it on my facebook....Score is Cigs 6, Twyla 0  I've had my butt whipped AND handled to me.  Nicotene has kicked my rather large ass to the curb and had the NERVE to spit on it.  I'm wayyy down and I hate to be controlled by anything, so it's a real touchy spot with me.  I've stated, that if I don't stop smoking COMPLETELY, very soon, I'll put the surgery off.  I'm just not comfortable having it with my breathing problems.  I do very well...then I get nervous and instead of taking my NERVE pills, I grab a cig.  OMG....I'm SERIOUSLY considering duck tape and a chair.  I'm not kidding.  I'll just have the old man come by and spoon feed me, give me more nerve pills and lock me in the room.  I'll probably have to be gagged too, or the whole damn "hood" will come alive, and my bassett hound will probably chew the door frame off to get to his mama.

Seriously...my mom died last year of lung cancer, and I thought for SURE I'd lay it down then...my health runs a strong paralell to hers.  I've been telling myself stuff like....I never know when I smoke the next cig, if that's going to be the one that starts the cancer cells developing.  I'm trying to do a "mind fluck" on myself....sometimes it works, other times, I just want to literally GNAW a hole through my husbands belly button.  Grrrrrrrrrrrr....grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr and GRRRRRRRRRRRRR again!

Twyla- You know yourself that the cigs must die, die, die.  I doubt any surgeon worth his salt would operate on a smoker and not only that but they may ask you to stop for at the very minimal 30 days beforehand.  I can't say what this addiction is like because I've never smoked but I do know it has to go come hail or high water.  Also, there may be a part of you that wants you to keep smoking just so you CAN'T have surgery.  Have you ever used Chantix? I've heard mixed reviews.

A long assed post deserves a long assed reply:

I don't drink alcohol anymore and didn't for quite some time prior to surgery. Yet anecdotal lore says you can still listen to George Jones the way he was meant to be listened to.

Smoking kills,  surgery or not.

Sip, walk, sip, walk, etc.

Ignore the scale immediately post-op.

If you're lucky, you'll feel like dog ****  Them's little turds.  Think elephant poo or big turds.

Maybe your diabetes and sleep apnea will go away.  My sleep apnea is gone, yet others still use their CPAP and there is no 100% guarantee with the diabetes.

I eat potatoes and white bread with little harm.  No more 4 slices of toast and a whole baked potato the size of my left foot, but I do eat them.

Protein is ALWAYS important, but immediately post op, any fluid is more important.  Dehydration probably won't kill you because you're too aware to let it get that bad.

Yeah, your shoe size and ring size is included in the realm of changing sizes.  Don't gt your rings sized too soon.  I still but things too big thinking I'm bigger than I really am, but I'm getting better at eyeballing things for my body.

You will not be 100% compliant.  You will be 100% human.  Slip ups don't kill.  Repeated misbehavior does. 

You best stay sassy.

Oh, Lord love a duck, you did write a lot and my typing sucks so I'll just say you're pretty much right on.  Don't be surprised if things vary a little.  Some will pleasantly surpass your expectations and other will disappoint.

Oh, and I'm thinking of a week end in Chattanooga.  Already did the thing with the railroad cars, yet want a real nice hotel the next time around.  What can you recommend?

 Seriously?  You can listen to George Jones without a drink?  You are from the south, right?  LOL j/k  Not sure on the motels, crackheads and dealers have set up shop in so many of them.  Let me look around and check with some of my friends that come down here from Nashvegas every now and then---they'd probably know more than I would.

Dog poo was the first thing that came to mind.....apparently my two dogs have had the DS, cuz they are some NASTY smelling heatherns.  So basically, I should just stand out in the middle of the highway here and let a tanker hit me, and then I'll know?  LOL

Ok...the diabetes thing SUCKS big time....and with me hating tummy aches so much, if I do screw up, one tummy ache will cure it....trust me.  I'm a weenie.

I think you've got it pretty much right, though it can actually be a lot easier for some of us. I was a very lucky one-especially considering my age (old) and bad health.
You will only need to do this once and will have no regrets if you do it right. I thought I would be happy at 160ish and I was, but it is great to actually be in the normal BMI range. You and your body will decide that. I lost most of my weight by one year out. I seldom ate refined carbs until that time and I still am careful with them. In small doses they do not bother me but they will be absorbed and lead to weight gain. I can still eat anything I want but don't crave things like I used to and am readily satiated.    No alcohol for me. My diabetes had put me in kidney and liver damage that I am still working to repair. I probably have 4 or 5 drinks over the course of the last two years. LOL
I loved y scale because I could hop on it once a week and see that big drop in weight. What a trip that was. The only negative was when I stopped losing at a normal BMI, but was unreasonably disappointed to stop seeing the numbers go down. Nutty
I had very brittle diabetes for over fifteen years that could not be controlled with two or more oral meds and huge amounts of insulin. Perhaps some permanent damage was done to my pancreas by the huge doses of medications so that I have some type one diabetes? I don't know.  I now test daily but do not always need insulin. Sometimes I take a small dose to keep the BG in line. From what I can tell I am in the 2% ? that are still treating their diabetes.
My doctor let us have solid food in our hospital meals. He gave us recommendations that made sense and included lots of solid foods. Let your doctor be your guide.
You made a very realistic post and I think you will do great!

Post Date: 10/30/11 9:37 am
 Okay, I've done my research, read, read, read, read.....and then turned around and reread everything the other day.  I'm posting this because of a post on the main board, and I want to make sure I'm not having unrealistic expectations.  I chose the DS because I'm only going to do this ONCE...not a fan of needles or scalpels or doctors.

Then you are smarter than I am.

I'm a hard headed individual who likes to argue with my doc about meds they want to put me on.  I know I'll have to take the vitamins NO MATTER WHAT and labs are mandatory.  I cannot argue about any of this.  Do I have that part straight?

I believe so, especially if you mean you will keep reminding your PCP and other specialists that you have special needs.

I EXPECT to lose at the very least 125 lbs, and at my current weight of 322 (once again...yayyy for the 1 flippin lb I lost this month...*insert sarcasm here*), that'll put me at the 170 ish mark.  Fine by me...I may be on here whining about that last 20 lbs, but I sure don't expect to.

I got to about 20 pounds of what I would have considered just hunkey dorey and then I had regain.  BUT...and this is important...I was a revision and we don't usually do as well as virgins.  I'm sure I'd be happier and healthier with 40 pounds less on me...but that would take some effort and eating reasonably and THAT may be beyond me.

Eventually I'll be able to have a beer now and then...or some type of alcoholic drink, unless my tummy gives me problems with it.  Not much of a drinker, but I do like to listen to Vern Gosdin and George Jones now and then, and moan the blues.  It's a kind of "therapy" for me....get it all out and stuff..

A year.  No booze for a year.  And than fasten your seat belt.  Many of us get ripped on a half of a drink and then get sober just as fast.  My husband teases that I'm both a cheap drunk and a designated driver.  (But he doesn't drink at all, so he's really the driver.)

My cigarette smoking days are OVER....PERIOD.  I love them, but they will kill me with this surgery right?

They will cause problems but even more than right now, no PS will want to touch you while you're a smoker.  That habit slows down the blood supply to the extremities and it takes longer for you to heal and you don't heal as well.  So give it up.  And besides, if this is REALLY about your health...and so on.

Not really sure of whether I'll ever be able to eat potatoes and bread again...from what I've gathered, it's white carbs and they're bad.  I do love tater's and bread though.  That's going to be hard.

I can eat taters...and SMALL bits of sour dough bread if smothered in butter.  HOWEVER, you will have limited real estate and if you park the junk cars on it (the simple carbs) instead of the limos (the ribeye steak) it will lessen the value of the entire neighborhood. 

When I get out of surgery, my main focus is to sip, walk, sip, walk, sip walk.....and so on.  I won't starve to death, but I will die from dehydration.  

Yes.

The first part of weight I lose will probably be gained back due to the body's treacherous ways...thinks I'm starving and stores the stuff...etc., so I need to suck it up and wait a bit.  I also don't WANT a scale at all....is it necessary?  Other than the doc?  I have enough depression probs, don't need a scale helping it along.  I always tell the doc to keep my weight to herself and the charts, UNLESS I've lost some, then she's allowed to tell me....

I think it's a YMMV thing.  I weigh myself everytime I see a scale.  If it's up, I come here and post grumpy things; if it's down, I go look for an older old lady to help across the street.

I'm going to feel like an absolute piece of dog **** when I awake from surgery (notice I've progressed to "when" I awake, rather than "if"), heavy lifting, exercise and excessive housework is prohibited....yeah, I'm REALLY good with that.  I know I may have some energy, but it's a trick...because in a few weeks, I'll feel like Rip Van Winkle and want to sleep alot.

Yup...people with lap surgery have more trouble--I think--with this concept, because once the incisions look healed, they think they're all better.  Nope.  They are recovering from a HUGE assault on the body.  Sit down, shut up, watch movies, read a book and give orders.

I EXPECT my Type 2 insulin diabetes to be over with.  It can say "bye" and be gone....right?

I dunno about this.

My sleep apnea MAY be cured, but possibly not.  Most everyone in  my clan has it, but then again, we're all fat, so who knows.

Yup.  There ARE thin people with sleep apnea.

Ok....now here's something I'm not real sure about.  I THINK I'm premenopausal, all though my doc says I'm too young (god, I love my doc!  LOL) my tubes are tied, I might have a two day period every 3 or 4 months......NO CHANCE OF PREGNANCY....RIGHT???  Please God say I'm right.....

I dunno about this, either.

My already hanging booby chandeliers are only going to get worse.  Still trying to figure out a medical reason I might use to get that fixed by insurance...LOL

I did.  And I *DID NOT WAIT* to meet some PS's idea of "the right time."  I met the criteria for a breast reduction.  That made me the proud owner of a pair of, I guess C's...bigger when I gain weight.  I met medical criteria for that surgery.  And I nether my PS nor I mentioned weight loss as one of the reasons.

I EXPECT to be able to walk easer and more with less reliance on O2....maybe not needed at all.

I ties in with my smoking.  At sea level, I breathe with less effort.  At 2000 feet of elevation, I can't keep up with a group.  At Yellowstone, they ambulance my ass--five hours and three thousand dollars btw--down to Idaho Falls convinced I'm having a coronary event.  But with less fat pushing UP on your lungs they will work better.

I'll still have my mental issues...my weight has nothing to do with these.  I'm worried about a change in personality....does that happen?  

You will probably have different issues.  (I don't know what yours are and I'm no expert.)  But there are a LOT of changes, involving things like strange men holding doors open and no longer being invisible and having a pissed off BFF becasue SHE is now the fattest girl in the room and...possibly...YOUR having to deal with the fact that maybe your weight was NOT the reason Whats Her Name treats you like she does...maybe it's something else.

~~~~~~~

I'k get back to these later:

I'll have gas and **** from hell, but it should stabilize further on out.  Actually kinda looking forward to paying the old man back with some of this.  Although I'm very afraid of retaining gas, which makes me wonder if I ought to ask for an open procedure.

I'm not expecting to be able to eat for a month or so.  When ya'll talk about liquid diet, does that mean I can puree stuff and drink it....or is it limited ONLY to shakes?  Protein will be VERY important after the initial stages right?

HOPING to drop a shoe size AND a few ring sizes.  I'll still have "fat chick" mentality, although that really doesn't bother me right now.  Not saying it never will, but I'm fat and sassy now, I imagine I'll just be thinner and sassier then.

I know this is a TOOL, there can be failure, but the DS is pretty good with that.  As in, if I say, screw up a time or two (and I'm trying to be realistic, it usually happens with people),  and I get back on the wagon, it will still work for me.

I will be able to eat normally again after a time....say in 6-8 months, give or take a few.

I may lose my hair, have bad breath, break out with zits (have never had a problem before, will this cause it?), flabby droopy skin, but vitamins and other products will help....ok, except with the droopy skin....then I'm on my own.

I'm sooooo sorry for the long post, but I keep going over this stuff in my head, and want to make sure I basically have it straight.  If I'm wrong....hit me upside the head with something, one of them critters everyone swings will work.  I'm sure there's more, but good lord, peole don't have all day to read my crazy crap, so these are what stuck out in my head.  My basic desire with this surgery is to be healthier, be able to move more, shake my ass on a dance floor somewhere and not feel like **** every blasted day of my life, go back to school, chase my grandchild and be able to live outside of a blasted computer.  Is this all realistic?

Awesome post!!  I've read about everything on here, except one...bad breath?!  Damn, I want none of that.  What is the vitamin that helps this one?

From the research I've done, it looks like you are right on with everything.  Good luck!!  When is your date?