Realistic Expectations

Hi!
I am new to the boards and I have a question for people that are post-op.

I am 2 weeks away from my surgery date and I was wondering if those of you that are post-op could give me any words of advice, provide me with some realistic expectations of what things will be like after surgery (right after surgery, a couple months after surgery, a year or years after surgery)?  Also, does anyone have any regrets, in regard to having the surgery?  Is there anything you would different or wish you would've done before surgery?  Could you tell me how your life has changed since the surgery, both good and bad?

I have been going to some support group meetings, but outside of that I don't know anyone personally that has had the surgery so I'm looking to others to provide me with the knowledge they've picked up along the way both pre-op and post-op.  I think any and all responses will be great for not only me to read but for those others that are pre-op like myself.

I appreciate any and all responses.  Thanks so much for your time & I look forward to posting & responding more to the other fellow Minnesotans!! 

Hi-

I am in the very new newbie state.  All I have to say is I would do it all over again in a heart beat and I'm still in the clear liquid stages.  I wish I would have made myself start an exercise program before because I have to do that now and it is really hard to get the motion in the right direction when you have no tone to your muscles or no routine to slide back into.
Donna

Hi, welcome!

I'm 11 months out and had surgery at Fairview. Was very happy with my experience there.  One big thing I would stress to you is prepare for slow downs and stalls with your weight loss. Some people lose really consistantly, and others, like me lose a couple or 5 or 6, and then don't for a week or 2 or more, then another chunk comes off.  I wasn't prepared for that. 

If you're in the cities, definately go to a Saturday coffee gathering. Everyone is always very welcoming and supportive.  That, along with OH has been so helpful to me. A great place for really quick answers and lots of opinions and feedback.

I'm very happy I had surgery. I wish I wouldn't have waited so long.  I'm about 10 pounds from my original goal and went from an all time high of 356 in 2005 to 189 this morning.  When I was first weighed at Fairview, I was 325, and was 309 the day of surgery. I went from tight 3x and 28s to L or XL shirts and 16 bottoms. I'd like to lose maybe 10 or so more, or just end up in around a 12 or 14.

I just posted a before (2008) and after October 09.

Good luck, you'll do great!

If you are in the twin cities, I'd hook up with one of the Saturday coffee groups that are available through here.. everyone is really friendly and happy to answer any questions you have. I wish I would have started further out before surgery than I had. It's a great resource and support!

I have no regrets. I had RNY lap done. I just felt like i had done a million sit ups. no true "pain". I had it done at Abbott. I was up and walking a few hours after surgery. I was only in the hospital 24hrs almost to the hour.

My life has only changed for the positive from surgery. All the positive things that come with losing weight. I did a 180 as far as eating and exercising and lifestyle changes. I now eat healthy.. I now exercise on a regular basis.. It's a fabulous feeling. I feel 1000% better than I did when I was 60lbs heavier... it's an amazing process.  I lose pretty steadily, but like Kristy mentioned, I've definately had my stalls.. but keep in mind that when you stall #'s on the scale, you are almost always losing inches still. I went through a 3 1/2 week stall in Oct and then all at once the scale went down 8 lbs in just a few days.. and I had lost inches in the meantime.

Sure... you have to learn how to eat and drink... Almost everyone pukes because they drank or ate to big of a bite, too fast, or the wrong food. I still can't eat chicken other than canned the last time I tried it again it was instant pukers again.  I am a total sugar dumper.  Alot of it just ends up being trial and error and you figure out what you can and can't tolerate, how much you can eat or drink at a time, and how fast. Learning your own body ques is part of it too. You figure out really quickly how much of what kind of foods you can eat. 

Also keep in mind is that you will go through a process of mouring food. Don't let this surprise you. I went through it pre-op because of the liquid diet I was one. Also as you lose weight so fast you'll go through some major hormonal swings... fat hangs onto estrogen and when you rapidly lose you'll go through phases of major hormonal changes because of the estrogen release from the fat loss. There have been some days when all I've wanted to do was bawl my eyes out.. other days where I felt like I should go hibernate because I was so crabby... but i know its just the WLS.

You'll learn how to eat healthy, portion control, and how to relive your life. It's really amazing.

Also.. just know that no subject is taboo here. Ask it all... we are here for ya!

congrats on your journey! You're almost there!

Stacy

I will tell you Exercise, Water, Vitamins are key.  Stick to your program and remember the rules and you will do well

Just curious what surgery are you having? your profile says VGB?  That's not one I am familiar with..

Hi again!

Thanks so much for all of your responses!  It is great to hear your suggestions and the ups & downs of life after surgery.

I will be having RNY surgery (laparoscopic) at Fairview Southdale Hospital, in Edina.

I was wondering, how do I find more information on these Saturday coffee meet-ups?  Is that information listed on here, as to where & when people meet on Saturday's?  I think that would be great to come to one or two of these before my surgery to meet more pre-op & post-op people.  I love to "pick the brains" of people & hear about their experiences, and I think it would be great to come on a Saturday to get to know more people.

I'm both excited & nervous for the big day (11/19).  Only 2 more weeks.  I worry about being put out, about what things will feel like when I wake up, etc.  I was wondering, was most of the time you were in the hospital kind of like a "fog"?  I know you are given pain meds and are still waking up fully after surgery, so I wasn't sure if the time you spend in the hospital just flies by with you feeling kind of "out of it"??  Also, if there's anyone that has had their surgery at Fairview Southdale, did you share a room with someone during your recovery?  Did a spouse or friend or anyone spend a lot of time with your in the hospital (was that ok)?  The only time I've ever spent a night in the hospital was after the birth of both my daughters (and my husband spent the night with me both times I was there) so I'm not used to staying in a hospital alone. 

Did anyone have any side effects right after surgery or did your recoveries all go well?

Thanks!!  :)

Good luck to you on your upcoming surgery!! I am 7 months out now, I too had surgery at FVSD and had no problems w/ the hospital stay. I have had alot of surgeries in the past so I knew basically what to expect. I was groggy and tired after surgery but than the next day I was more alert just needed to take alot of naps. I had a room all to myself but my hubby could've stayed w/ I just didn't want him to. Otherwise I really didn't want alot of people around because than I couldn't sleep whenever I needed to I felt like I needed to stay awake and visit. I never saved a pair of jeans from my biggest size and I wish I would've and also keeping good measurement charts would've been something I would've liked to keep up w/. Honestly the weight for me came off so quickly I couldn't keep up w/ what was all happening. I thought it was going to take me a year to lose 100# and I did it in under 6 months. I was sick and had a few struggles the first 3-4 months but I am doing much better now. Just expect a few bumps along the way, nothing is ever perfect! Good luck and feel free to message me anytime!!

The next two weeks will probably fly by, but do take time to take your measurements.  That's my biggest regret, because I know there were weeks when no weight was lost but I was losing inches.
No post op problems, dumped twice and got some chicken stuck once.   I have been verrrry fortunate so far!

Best of luck to you!   See you on the loser's bench!

Tuna

ps   Someone usually posts something about Sat coffees.  they are at Maple Grove and sometimes Roseville, Oakdale, Woodbury.