Pretty much new...any advise

Hello to all!! Just to introduce myself...... My name is Roxanna and I'm from Waycross, Georgia. 31 yrs old, 477 pounds (BMI 72.5), married almost 3 yrs to my loving sole mate, & no children yet.  I have Type II , sleep apena w/Cpap, high triglycerides, female incontinence (at times) & cronic pain in jonts & back. Hoping and praying to have the laposcopic RNY. Also I'm a stay @ home wife who cares for my father-n-law w/ stage 6 Alzhiemer. That's a hand full for even the average size person never the less someone my size. I have already been to my seminar, 1st dr. consulation, and next appt for shink&diet on the 16thNovember. Also have to attend a weekend work shop on the 17&18th Nov. After that the Dr. office says that my paper work will be sent in to insurance. So I just hope everything goes well for that to go through w/out any problems. So is there any pointers for me pre-op and post-op?? My ears & eyes are open to any and all suggestions.

Hi Roxanne, and welcome! You are doing the right thing by asking before your surgery, it can save you a lot of frustration in the long run. Which is my first suggestion... do tons of research! Ask everyone you know, come to OH often and read, read, read. It makes a difference. I had to wait a year due to insurance problems and I am so glad I had that year - it was an emotional roller coaster but I was able to learn so much more about what the surgery really meant to me and prepare myself for the inevitable emotions that come with it.  I'm lucky that I haven't had any complications yet but I learned about every possible one before I got on the table. I don't know how well I would of handled them but at least I knew it was a possibility. A couple of other random thoughts: 1. You WILL have a stall, lots of them. It is perfectly normal and it doesn't mean you are a failure-it's just your body figuring out how to handle the loss. 2. Your emotions will be all over the place, especially the first 6 months. Just go with it, don't fight it.  It's just your hormones adjusting to the changes - it does get better. Just prepare your spouse for a slightly different, emotional wife for a while! 3. Don't compare yourself to others - this can cause so many problems in the long run. Everyone loses differently and comparing yourself will just cause your brain to melt (seriously I've seen it happen ) Also, what others eat may work for them but not for you. I personally can eat anything and I have never been sick. i have figured out what works best for me eating wise but most others couldn't eat what I eat. You have to figure out what is best for you, and you will. It takes time to figure out this new body but it's kind of fun in the process. 4. Exercise! Start now, even if you don't feel like you can. Do little things, like sit in a chair and do leg lifts. And after surgery start to walk immediately and never stop. Exercise is key to long term maintenance and finding something you actually enjoy doing is a big part of it. I love to work out, but I do it so that I can do other fun stuff that I enjoy, like rock climbing and hiking. 5. Document everything - take pictures of yourself now (I know, it's hard to do, but so worth it!) and take pics every month to track your changes. Sometimes you won't be able to see the changes in the mirror, but a picture seems to work in terms of seeing what your body is really changing into. 6. HAVE FUN!!! With all the changes it is easy to obsess about each little pound or inch. It's so easy to do! (I have actually given my scale to my neighbor when I get a little obsessive about the scale! She keeps it far from me until I get into 'normal' mode!) It's a wild ride but worth every minute. I'm sure there are many other things you can do and I am sure others will pitch in, but I thought this might give you a good start. This board is a great place to come and ask questions or rant or share wow moments - it has been my lifeline for 2 years and I love everyone here!!!

Dear Roxanna,

Welcome.  The previous poster said some great things.  All I can add is to be sure you start rethinking your relationship with food right now.  Is it a sign of love, both yours to others and others to you?  Do you use it as a form of self expression?  What role does it play in your life, both good and bad?  Because that generally needs to change.  I had to get to a point where I had removed the emotional context of food so I could use it as just nutrition and not as self-expression (creativity, quality, discipline, fun, etc.).  That made it easier to throw food out and not see that as a "waste."  I'm single, so after eating on something for a week, I am pretty much done with it!  Even a recipe that feeds four often lasts longer than that for me. 

Start developing habits that can take up the time that you used to devote to eating.  Do you knit, scrapbook, needlepoint, etc.?  You would be surprised how much free time you'll have even with your father-in-law. 

I found keeping a DietMinder diary was very helpful for the first three months.  I weighed my food and recorded everything.  I was very strict with myself those months.  I didn't really try much until my 10th month.  But the longer you can put off trying less than great options (i.e. starches and sugars) the better.

And remember to keep your body expectations reasonable.  Even if you lose every excess pound, you will still not look like women on tv.  You will have excess skin.  And even if you go the plastic surgery route, you will still not look like the women on tv!  But you can look good, feel good, and have a great life with a less than perfect body. 

I wish you the best.  I wish I had done this when I was 30. 

Good luck,

Sally

Hi, Roxanna and welcome to our little corner of the internet.  PJ and Sally, the prior posters, have both offered the same advice I would have, so I'll just say howdy and welcome aboard!   Kellie

  Hello and Welcome!! Best wishes to you on your WLS journey! I am sure you will do GREAT!! *huggles*
     

Hi Roxanna, I'm relatively new to all of this (3 months post-op) so I'm not sure I have any advice, but I want to say hello.  Welcome to the best messsage board on OH, and good luck to you.  I am a little younger, started a little bit larger, but I also want to have kids after WLS.  We have some things on common with our age and weight and future goals, so I look forward to getting to know you.  Best Wishes! Jenn

Welcome Roxanna. You have come to a place where you are accepted and supported no matter what.  I am having the Lap RNY a week from tomorrow!  The only advice , as a fellow newbie, I can give you is to communicate with us your fears and anxiety.  We may not have all the answers but we are a loving compassionate bunch. No one understands you better than a fellow fatty. God Bless your courage to take control of your life. I wish you all the best!