Do you have questions about Weight Loss Surgery?

Hi Everyone, 

I know it is such a big step to have Weight Loss Surgery.  Then what kind and where are some of our next concerns you must be thinking about.  I had WLS  3 years ago in Mexicali, Mexico.  I did a lot of research for about 6 months before I made up my mind what doctor I was going to have do it.

I also went by myself.  I had people who would go with me, but it really was easier and better that I went alone. Some people will want someone to go with them, and that is good too.  Do what makes you feel comfortable.  I am so pleased that I had this done in 2008.  I lost 105 pounds and have kept it off.

I  want you to know that I am out here to answer any questions that you might have when it comes to Weight Loss Surgery.  I had a "sleeve" and honestly that was the best surgery I could have ever had.

So please feel free to send me any of your questions that you might have.  That is how I educated myself, I asked a ton of questions from a lot of different people. There are no bad questions, and there isn't anything that we can't talk about?

Hugs,

Suzanne
Sleeved 10/21/2008

My big question right now is about fluid intake.  I'm trying to continously have something to sip on.  I've started marking down how much I take in during the day so that I know I have enough fluids.  What do you do to make sure you take in enough fluids?


Thanks.

Hi Stephanie,

I know how difficult it is that first month to get in enough liquids.  Anything liquid you eat also counts as part of the liquids.  I used to measure out 64 oz of water each day.  The first month I was never able to drink all of it.  I just want you to do the best you can.  I used to carry around a water bottle and was forever sipping on it.  Room temp water worked better for me too.  So, don't panic, do the best you can.  As time goes on you will get better at it.  We were so used to drinking when we ate, now they tell us to wait until after we have eaten to drink.  I was full from my food and there was no way I could drink much after I ate. 

Remember your new stomach can only hold about as big as your thumb is, because it is swollen from the surgery you had.  As the swelling goes down you will have more room for liquid that you are drinking.

So for now, just do what you can.  If you have any more question I am right here for you.

Hugs,
Suzanne

Here's what I'm wrestling with -- how will I completely change my eating habits and not end up sabotaging myself. Right now I'm in the process of deciding which doctor and doing some preliminary appointments. I hope to have the VSG in Jan or Feb. But I have to tell you, I'm afraid -- not of the surgery or potential pain, but of the changes in my mind that will be required of me. My weight issues have been a part of me my whole life. The first diet I remember was when I was 8 years old and my Mom put me on a diet. The physical stuff I will be able to manage, but the mental/emotional stuff -- well, I'm nervous!

Many of us *****member being put on diets as a child, and have a life of weight issues, are obese because we have metabolic issues. Many others too, but being a fat kid despite everything is a good clue. You should make sure you look into the DS before you choose a surgeon, as it best addresses the stubborn metabolism.

I get your question about doubting whether you can change your eating habits. I knew I couldn't. I can now have a goody and know it won't show up as 10lbs of lard on my butt. I could eat a healthy diet before, and refrain from treats, and that would only let me maintain, I just couldn't lose. Then a slip with a treat or bread, and immediate weight gain. I love the sleeve if quantity control is all you need, but if you have a stubborn metabolism, you may be better served with a DS.

Hi,

You know what your biggest challenge is going to be--you are half way there to being able to fix it.  It will be the mental part of it.  Our "head hunger" can become ugly and it tries to play some games with us.  I would suggest that you get come counseling and that may help you deal with it.  Also once you start losing the weight you get pretty excited at the fact that you are losing the weight.  You just have too keep having "talks with yourself"  Do I REALLY  just want this or do I need it. Most of the time it is we just WANT the food. 

You honestly have to make this be a lifestyle change and NOT a diet.  You have to control the food, DO NOT let the food control you.  You eat to live not live to eat. You will never be on a diet.  You will be able to a lot of different kinds of food, but you have to start making your choice be healthy foods. Get rid of those food in your house before you have the surgery.  Don't bring things home what will not be healthy.  I am not saying that I never have a cookies or some cake.  I have 1 or 2 small cookies NOT the entire bag.  I have a very small piece of cake, not 3 or 4 large pieces of the cake.

Your head starts to learn this and it works with your stomach for the first time in your life.  NEVER give up on your dream of having the "Sleeve".  It is the only thing I have done when it comes to losing weight and keeping it off that has EVER worked for me.  I eat small amounts of food now.  I love my new body and that it doesn't hurt. I love my new clothes and shopping for them.  I love it when people do not recognize me.  I don't have the medication that I used to have to take. It is all good!

Exercise was something that I hated.  I walk all the time now, and I love it and I feel so much better.  This is my form of exercise.  Find some form of exercise that you like and that works for you--try to exercise at least 40 minutes a day for 3 or 4 days per week.  It makes keeping the weight off a lot easier too, and I know it is good for me.

There were times when I thought what have I done to myself.??? When you go out and eat, you will notice how people enhale large amounts of food.   I will never be able to eat like I used to--meaning large amounts of food.  Now I feel so very lucky that I can NO longer eat large amounts of food. 

Just being able to have a small amount satisfies my need for the food and the taste of it.  You will find ways to work around this if you really are serious about losing weight.  You are going to die faster from being fat that you ever will from make a lifestyle change that will help you become healthy and your body sure is going to thank you for not having to pack around all that fat.  Yes, I call it fat, I was fat and I know it.  There are more polite ways to say it, but fat is fat.

If I can help you in any way please keep sending me your questions, I am here.  I went to Dr. Aceves and he is fabulous if you are trying to pick a doctor.  You will never find anyone as good as he is or be treated and cared for as well as his staff and hospital treat you.

Hugs,
Suzanne

 I've made up my mind that WLS (probably DS) is what I need to do to control my health and ultimatly my life. I have never had surgrey before and I've come to grips with having someone rearrange my insides. I've grown to be ok with the risks - The way I figure if I do not do this the likley hood of my losing the weight and getting healthy is slim to none.  If I have not done taken my health by the horns yet (at 26 years).... what lays ahead in my current obese path far scares me more than sugrey. I had - 1 Grandma die to heart issues (unhealthy living), 1 great grandma loose her legs to diabities, my mom and my grandma are diabetic and ***** their fingers and I do not want to deal with that...i like my legs....though currently they hurt 98% of my day.

What i'm dealing with now is I've never had to take pills every day for more than 2 weeks - maybe anti-biotics or pain medicine for a sprain ankle - What ways do you help yourself become organized and remember to take your meds and suplemen? Sometimes I'm lucky enough to remember my badge for the door at work....it's rare but sometimes I forget. 

2ndly - I'm ok with going under for surgrey - esspecially if I won't remember it...what freaks me out is the thought of tubes hanging out of me after the surgrey - just sitting here reading the posts about the tubes and things - esspecially the J-tube I think it's called...wow. I just get chills thinking about it...is that normal to be freaked out about it? 

and when people say it'll be rough drinking fluids afterwards - what's the feeling like sipping water - is it that you're full and don't need it - does it hurt? 

Hi,

Your mind is working overtime.  Mine did too.  How do I keep organized on what medication I am taking?  Well, I honestly do not have to take as much medication now after losing 105 pounds.  But, you can buy pill organizers--usually in the pharmacy area of most any stores.  They have the days for each day of the week on them Mon, Tues, Wed, Thur, Fri, Sat, Sun.  Some have AM  for morning medication the other side had PM for the evening medication.  Look for them. They are plastic and in different colors.  They are very helpful to organize your meds and you just leave it sitting out in the bathroom or kitchen, some place you are sure to see it each day.

OK, as far as the tubes, I only had one tube--for two days, and that was a drain tube because I had a sleeve.  It is all part of having the surgery.  It is for your health and recovery.It is time to try your best to not think about them, and just tell yourself this is just part of what I have to do to become healthy for the rest of my life.  A very small price to pay for living a healthy and great life. You are putting your life in the hands of these doctors--trust that they know exactly what they are doing by putting these tubes in.  Sometime we just have to work through our fears to have what we NEED in life.

Hugs, and keep asking the questions OK.  I am always here for you.

Suzanne

 I'm scheduled for VSG December 30th.  Now it feels much more real than it did when I was waiting to see about insurance approval.  What is eating me?

I'm worried that the sleeve will not be enough to get the job done due to metabolic issues (PCOS).  I've never been anything but big.  My lowest weight ever at adult height was 160 when I was 17 and exercising like mad.  I wasn't able to maintain that for very long.  It would really stink to do this, go through the pain/recovery, and deal with permanent restriction and not have a good result.  OTOH I don't feel confident in my ability to keep up with the vites requires with DS.

I'm worried that I will have problems with food intolerance, reflux (already have some and this could make it worse), and unhappiness with restriction in the long term.  I'm not feeling sad about giving up food.  Went out for breakfast today with DH and had a waffle and he mentioned that I might never do that again and I didn't feel a bit sad about it.  That said, I don't want to feal like a freak when I'm eating meal with other people because of restriction.  In my head I had thought that I could deal with having 1 cup of food, something like a half sandwich, or a small bowl of soup, but then I'm reading folks on here that say they can not eat a whole egg at a year out, which kind of scares me.

Hi,

Honestly, the restriction is just what you need.  Not having a restriction has allowed you to eat more than you should have and it is not working for you. It didn't work for me either.  I will say the first few months are not easy.  The 1st month was the hardest month I ever had to do.  Then it got a lot easier when it came to the second month it got a whole lot better.  As time goes on you can eat food just like other people eat, only small amounts of food.  Eggs are just something that doesn't work for some people--I have NO idea why.  I could eat about 1/2 of a scrambled egg and felt full and satisfied.  But it was about month 5 before I could do that.

You do NOT owe anyone an explanation why you are NO longer eating large amounts of food if you are going out to eat.  I use to resolve this my ordering a cup of soup--NOT a bowl, but a cup of soup.  I would eat maybe half of that and then a few bites of a dinner salad.  Sometimes waiters would ask me if something was wrong with the food.  I would always answer no it was GREAT, I am just not eating large amounts of food anymore. 

It is totally a "head game" in the start, kind of like what your brain is doing to you right now--all kinds of doubts.  It can get pretty ugly sometime, trying to convince you that it NEEDS this food RIGHT NOW.  99% of the time it is what we call "Head Hunger."  It wants the food, not needs the food.  For most of your life you ate that way.  Now it is going to be different. You will be relearning how to eat the right things after the 1st month.  You will be making lifestyle changes and NOT be on a diet.  Here is something I wrote and it might help you.

I do promise you that in time this will be a lot easier than you think.  Right now you are allowing these doors to be put in front of what you want to do.  We have all done it.  Close the doors and try not to let them control you and what you are thinking. Your new eating habits will become a way of life for you and the more you do it the easier it gets. I have dessert now and then, but just small amounts of it. 

The sleeve is the best way to go.  I am 66 years old and I can't count the number of diets I failed at and I thought what if I am the "one person" this will not work on. LOL it worked for me.  So if I can do it, so can you.

Read this and if you still have questions I am always here for you,just keep asking over an over OK.

***********************************************************
When some of these things started to happen to me, I thought WOW am I the only
one that this is going on with. Well, let me tell you NO, I wasn't. So I made
this list and try to post it at least once a month for the new people who have
just had surgery, about to have WLS,or someone who is just sitting quietly out
there reading these posts, trying make up their mind if they want to do this or
not.

You have just had surgery and for a lot of you, you have read all the things
everyone has posted on Dr. Aceves Web Site. They are helpful and encouraging. I
spent some time with a lovely lady yesterday on the phone because she was sure I
would have some of the answers for her. I hope I did and I think these are
things that all of you can hear and use if you have just had weight loss
surgery. So I will post this from time to time for all the NEWBIES.

I am sure you have heard me and others say MANY times over "the 1st month is the
most difficult month you will do." You have also heard me say that your brain
will work extremely hard at play tricks on you. You read it and think oh sure,
I can deal with that—and some of you are sure that this will never happen to
you. It will happen to so many of us and we aren't even aware it is happening.

This person was absolutely positive that she was just starving and was really
hungry. She told me what she had been eating. She also said she was weak. I
asked if she had been drinking her water and her answer was just like mine was
that 1st month. "Well, I can't begin to drink all tha****er"—remember your new
stomach will only hold about 2 oz. when you are trying to drink all this water.
And like me she was having a difficult time getting in the amount of protein she
should be having 70 grams—no wonder she was feeling weak. After your stomach has
healed most new stomachs will hold 6 to 8 oz. of food or water. That is what we
wanted permanent restrictions so we can lose weight.

So I will say this again, you MUST SIP on your water all day long when you are
awake and the same goes for the protein that you are using—drink what you can
and then sip the rest until you get it down. You need the protein to help your
body recover. Your new stomach has experienced surgery and is swollen and will
only hold liquids about the size of your thumb. This is our relearning time,
and for most of us we have developed some extremely bad eating habits. Our OLD
thinking brain tells us that we need to be eating more food, and we are not used
to clear liquids for 10 day and creamy liquids for 10 days and then mushy foods
the last 10 days. I want you to tell yourself this is only for 30 days and you
can do anything for 30 days. It gets better as time goes one, I promise you.

If you think you are hungry and you are positive that you are having physical
symptoms of hunger this is YOUR OLD thinking brain playing those tricks we have
talked about. You now have to start learning to educate this OLD brain into
being your NEW thinking brain. Ask yourself do you just "want to eat" or do you
really "need to eat" because it has been 3 or 4 hours since you have eaten
anything. It is amazing what our brains can and will do to sabotage our old
eating habits. You may be challenged by this OLD brains way of thinking for
many years. For me I just have to have some self-talks with myself. We have an
addiction and our happens to be food. There is no way around avoiding food, so
we need to find the set of skills that will allow us to change our lifestyle. I
eat to live, I NO LONGER live to eat! Food is not my main focus in life.

It does take some time to retain yourself in eating and I know that first month
it is such a process just trying to get all the food in that you need to get in
because of your new restrictions. In time it does get a lot easier. Some
people mourn the loss of food, because you will NEVER EAT the quantity of food
that we used to eat---YEAH that is how we are going to lose the fat and maintain
that goal weight that we want to have for the rest of our lives.

These are the things that you will deal with in that FIRST MONTH and I am trying
to be fair and honest about them.

Hugs,
Suzanne