Pre-op people

HI!!!! I am so glad to find this message board. I am just begining my journey. I am in the Portsmouth NH program and trying to meet my pre-surgical goal weight. Finding a gay & lesbian support community is wonderful because sometimes I feel a little isolated in the "mainstream" support group for my area. Would love to hear strategies on how people stay motivated to lose the pre-op weight.  

Welcome to our little group. I am also frustrated that I don't know more local LGBT WLS folks in my area.

I lost 32 lbs pre-op, although my surgeon did not require any loss before surgery. He did require that you not gain any weight. My motivation was mixed. Some came from the fact that i had decided to change my life and I wanted to get started. Some came because I was trying out some of the things we discussed in pre-op class. I think the best you can do is remember why you are on this journey and do the best you can. Losing weight before surgery is hard. If it were easy, you wouldn't need the surgery.

Also, I used OH a lot while I was gearing up for surgery. I read everything and learned a lot. It helped prepare me and realize that my struggles were fairly common.

Best of luck.

Hi Thanks for the information, I agree if losing weight  were easy, I would not be looking at the srgery as a tool to help!!!! I I feel the same way about wanting to change my life and I think the pre-op groups have been very helpful for me too but I agree it would be nice to have GLBT folks in the mix as well. The pre-op class has given me a good picture of what to expect and I was so happy to find this forum, I have been picking up good tips from folks.  - Thanks!

Hi and welcome!  I wasn't required to lose weight prior to surgery (although it was encouraged).  I wasn't able to exercise pre-op (still on restrictions) due to calcific tendonitis of both achilles tendons, but starting Zoloft and doing the pre-op liquid diet caused me to lose 8 pounds total.  Not much, but my surgeon was pleased nonetheless.

I had my RNY surgery this past Tuesday and have been home, hopped up on Percocet and oxygen since Thursday.  The oxygen apparently is normal for many in higher altitude post-ops for about 2 weeks.  Not thrilled about it, but eh....could be worse.  Still in the post-op clear liquid phase (and hating it), but it will get better!

Thanks for sharing your experiance with me. I hope the recovery goes well for you! I have heard the clear liquid and liquid phase is hard. I will send good wishes your way!

Welcome aboard fellow New Englander!

I stumbled on this board looking for the Men's forum and was elated! I know...the main boards can be a little...how do I put this lightly...straight, conservative, republican, holy rollerish at times...LOL..BUT they are in invaluable resource! I got sleeved (VSG) 6 days ago...have been on the site since 8/27 and just found this 12/11...so I have 3.5 months of learning and chatting on the VSG Forum...EVERYONE has been so great and supportive.

I met with Julie Nolan, the patient advocate at my hospital on Thursday...also a patient of my Doctor...we talked about starting a group for GLBT and possibly a Substance Abuse/Addiction Transference entity as there seems to be a lot of that going on...I've been clean & sober 23 years, smoke free 20....yes, my only vices left are work, chocolate, coffee & sex...unfortunately in that order!

For me...I had two wake up calls that finally got me on the road to losing weight and getting healthy. I actually lost 14# between my peak in November & starting w/nutritionist in January, then dropped another 60# through diet & exercise...but you know...I've done that sooo many times before...lost 20, gain 25....30, lost 35, gained 40...45...I was not willing to go down that road again. 210...here I come! That's my goal, to get back to LA/ATL weight & shape...I need to be a healthier James..Like the others, my Doc didn't have a specific weight loss goal for me to hit, we didn't know if I'd get approved in the first place (Hep C/Liver issues), he just wanted me to lose as much as I could. So we just did the 6-month trial/testing procedure to see if they would approve. Cigna wasn't covering VSG in January but started covering it in April or May...and after all the notes were in I got the approval in September/October...phew! 

My two wake up calls: 

First from my gastro in Boston saying that not IF, but WHEN I need a liver transplant...I'd never get on the list...and even if I had a donor, they would not perform the transplant, as it's just way too risky....

And second...dear old Mom...the nail in the coffin...so to speak...last year at my biggest she *tried* hugging me and could only touch the tips of her middle fingers...she said "James, if you don't do something about this...I'm going to end up burying you before you bury me...and that's not supposed to happen! Besides, I can't keep giving you the double finger/bird behind your back!" Leave it to Mom to make the poin****inge of guilt and follow up it w/a laugh...

So, I'm on the road to recovery, to better health, to a slimmer & in better shape James...I spent 8 weeks in the gym pre-surgery getting in better shape for the operation & can't wait to get back in there!

Feel free to message anytime!

James

James,

My mom has Hep C and liver issues as well....unfortunately with no health insurance, which worries me to no end.....I plan to donate to her if she can get a way to pay for it.

Hi James,
Congrats on being clean & sober 23 years!! and thanks for the support! A GLBT group for eating issues would be great. I know what you mean about wake up calls. I am hoping to go through this surgey for health (crappy genetics), and my mom is currently batteling Duadenal Cancer...so it is kind of a writing on the wall thing for me. The Portsmouth Hospital pre-op program is great, it really prepares you, but the challange of the required weight loss is so hard for me. I have been getting great tips from folks on this site, and I am greatful for them. My partner is very suportive, we have been together for over 10 years. But I am aslo worried about how the surgery may affect our relationship after. No sure if anyone has had any issues with this?

Anyway - thank you for sharing your experiance!

Welcome to the group, Xico! I'm new here, as well....also pre-op. My ins. co. requires a 6 month diet/exercise program prior to booking for surgery, which I am about half way through. The thought of surgery itself motivates me, even though it's probably 6 months away. Being checked by a nutritionist every month is a motivation, too. There's a book I began reading called "The Beck Diet Solution" that uses cognitive therapy to change your problem thinking, I definately recommend it!
I figure I'll have to battle these food demons at some point, so I may as well start now and have some stratagies available when I really need them. Good luck to you and let me know what works for you!
Nancy A

Thanks Nancy,

I will look for that book. I know what you mean about the motivation factor.
Changing problem thinking may be a great tool. I am attempting acupuncture and find it is helpful...the challanging part for me is the exercise. NH is somewhat rural and not a lot of spaces to walk in the winter....I am attempting tapes at home. Good luck to you as well Will share tips as I find them; thanks for sharing yours!