Calling All Post Ops -----> Need Encouragement !!!

Hello, my name is Amanda. I live in Houston, TX and have decided to have RNY Gastric Bypass surgery with Dr. Garth Davis here in Houston.  I am super excited. I have done my psych eval (lasted about 2 hours) and went to my first nutritional appointment (that went well, she was really nice) and I have a meeting with my surgeon on Friday.  I am 5'7 and my current weight is 367lbs. I was 405lbs 3 months ago when I started researching the surgery. I changed some of my eating habits and cut out the cokes (man that was hard)  so now I am needing to loose another 36lbs before surgery... that is what the dr is wanting.... All of you that have been there and where I am right now are there any regrets? Would you do it over again? Now that the process has started I think that I am more nervous as now it is more of a reality.  Excited and Scared all at the same time.

great progress so far.  You will have those 36lbs gone before you know it.  Your doctor is requiring quite a bit of weight to come off before surgery! I would do it again in a second.  I'm so happy with the results.  I feel better, already I've had health improvements (no more sleep apnea), and of course I am realy happy with fitting in smaller sizes.

Hi Amanda, Congrats on making the decision to have surgery!!!  I had my RNY almost 10 weeks ago, and I would do it again in a heartbeat.  I have lost about 55 pounds so far, and know I will lose more.  I am so excited to be able to be "normal"  My clothes are already getting big, and I am starting to feel more energy.  The emotions can be a bit of a roller coaster, but I think still worth it.  I do have one regret, not doing this years ago!!!  I am really hoping this adds a lot more quality to my life.  Feel free to ask any specific questions you might have!! Good luck!! Caroline

Thanks all. I am 30 and have two kids. Just hoping that this will allow me to spend more time with them. I am worried about not having the money when this is all said and done to have the plastic surgery that I will need to have the skin removed, but one thing at a time. I think I would rather deal with the skin then have to live like this for another 20 years.

You are really motivated and doing wonderfully.  I was 51 and weighed 450 lbs. the day of surgery.  With the exception of lymphedma and severe arthritis I had no other co-morbidities.  Would I do it again??? IN A NEW YORK SECOND.   Good luck to you, you are going to do great!!!!! Jeanne  

I started at 440, and I'm at 275 now.  No, I don't have any regrets, but it also hasn't been an easy journey either.  No sugar coating it, this is hard work, and I sometimes feel like crap.  Its better each day but I still have days where I just physically feel bad.  I just try to remember how much worse it was 160lbs ago, and enjoy the little things I can do now that I couldn't do before.  Well done losing so much already!

I have no regrets and I'm only 1 1/2 weeks post-op.  I will second what others say...this is a lot harder than I ever thought that it would be, and I didn't expect it to be easy.  It's a very emotional thing.  I am not someone that cries easily, but  I've done a lot of crying in the past 5 weeks since I've been on the liquid diet due to all the emotions and the hormones that are released with weight loss.  You also have to find new interests and hobbies. 

Good luck, Amanda!  Dr. Garth, huh?  Cute!  Did you have Mary Jo as your psych?  She scares me!   I'm 5'7" also.  My highest weight was 479, started the process at 402, and had surgery at 380ish.  No problems at all!  My regret is I didn't do it sooner. You have to work it every day and you have to learn to eat the right way.  Good luck on cutting out the Coke...your first step to a new you! 

Congrats on already making the necessary lifestyle changes...you are right...it is hard, but sooooooooooooooooooo worth it in the end.  I was really pissed that I had to do 6 weeks pre-op liquid diet but....looking back...I know it helped with my carb addiction and made the changes I needed to make, so much easier.  You have done very well on your own which shows motivation on your part. Good for you!  All of your emotions are typical right now. Just know that we are here for you good or bad and thru it all. I suspect there will be much more good than bad for you!  Keep us posted.  HUGS Jeanine

Hi, Amanda in Houston!  Congrats on moving forward with your journey towards weight loss surgery.   I'm 33 months post-op and I have absolutely no regrets.  I would have WLS again in a heartbeat.  I started out at 396 pounds and am now at 185 (I'm 5'7").  I'm healthier and more active than I've ever been, and it's fantastic.  It's not, however, an easy journey and anyone who suggests that it is, frankly, is out of their mind.  It's going to be hard work, but it will also be really worth it!!!  I'd encourage you to really work hard on examining why you became SMO, and working through those issues.  I know that for me, that work was very important to my success and it was actually harder than the surgery itself.  Based on seeing Dr. Garth on Big Medicine, it seems that his team does a great job of helping folks work through emotional and psychological issues, so I'd encourage you to take advantage of that help.   Also, congrats on cutting out the cokes and on losing 38 pounds!!!  WAY TO GO!!!!!!  The more work you can do pre-op to help change your palate to prefer healthier foods, the better off you'll be as a post-op when you're dealing with so many changes at the same time.   Anyway, I hope some of my ramblings are helpful.  I look forward to seeing additional posts from you, and to sharing your journey -  Kellie