Hi, new here.
Hello, I'm glad to find a men only forum where I can hang out. I've been reading posts and this seems like a friendly group. I am in the beginning stages of getting surgery and will likely have a few questions. Like many folks of our gender I am not really touchy-feely, I am happy to have found this forum.
Welcome. I hope everything goes smooth with your preop stuff. We will save a spot for you on the losers bench. 
“Victory is won not in miles but in inches. Win a little now, hold your ground, and later, win a little more.? Louis L'Amour quote
Thanks everyone for the warm welcome. A little history: I am nearing 50 and find I can not do the things I could when I was younger. I developed sleep apnea, mild asthma, and back/ joint problems. I am in awe of folks who have lost 100+ pounds or are one the way there, congratulations. I have always been comfortable in my body and at 280 lbs I am morbidly obese but never "felt" like it. I am looking to have WLS to extend my life, prevent more problems or prevent the problems I have from getting worse, and hopefully get back some of the mobility I have lost. In the past I have dieted but they were half-hearted attempts because i did not recognize my weight as a problem. After I married my wife it crept up on me, I was always "stocky" but did anything physically that I wanted to including riding a "century" on my road bike (100 miles in one day, still have the bike and the patch!). I am not afraid of the surgery and feel like I am researching the process thoroughly. I previously had a low-back discectomy and carpel-tunnel release. So, how is that for a little history?
Questions: My doctor is listed on this site but her reviews are not recent, is this indicative of a problem? The reviews are excellent but the newest is from 2008. I initially called to make an appointment on 12-26, it took 2 days for anyone to return my call and I have yet to get a date for my initial visit with the surgeon. Realizing it is the holiday season and folks take time off etc., am I expecting a response too soon? How long did it take you to have the surgery after your initial consult? I don't expect any issues with getting insurance approval due to my co-morbidity and because my insurer does not require a history of failed weight loss. What type of pre-surgery diet was required? What do you miss most post-surgery? Thanks for your patience and keep up the good work everybody! Brian
Questions: My doctor is listed on this site but her reviews are not recent, is this indicative of a problem? The reviews are excellent but the newest is from 2008. I initially called to make an appointment on 12-26, it took 2 days for anyone to return my call and I have yet to get a date for my initial visit with the surgeon. Realizing it is the holiday season and folks take time off etc., am I expecting a response too soon? How long did it take you to have the surgery after your initial consult? I don't expect any issues with getting insurance approval due to my co-morbidity and because my insurer does not require a history of failed weight loss. What type of pre-surgery diet was required? What do you miss most post-surgery? Thanks for your patience and keep up the good work everybody! Brian 
Hey Brian,
I turned 52 on Halloween this year. This time last year I weighed 305, was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and on oral meds, meds for high cholesterol and meds for high blood pressure, and I did not have sleep apnea diagnosed ,but I snored like a lumberjack sawing logs. My pants were size 42 around the lower waist and the shirts were 3 to 4x. My first consult was in May 2011, some appts with psycologist and dietician and a surgery consult, some labs and a request to lose 25 lbs. before surgery. My surgery was on July 5th, 2011, my weight was 265, I had lost 40 lbs. on my own pre-op, preparing for what was coming.
Fast forward to today (check the stats on the Sunday Morning Weigh-in posted by Mike), I am at 190lbs. NO diabetes, NO high cholesterol and BP is 115 over 75 with those meds cut in half and soon to be discontinued. and the wife says I stopped snoring and spinning in my sleep. My jeans are size 34 and getting loose and the shirts are size large or XL for sweats and sweaters. Sweatpants and underwear are mediums.
People who have not seen me for a few months either do not recognize me or ask someone I know if I am sick. The truth is I am healthier than I have been in 30 years. I go to the gym and run on the treadmill and do weight training- not an option last year. I do not fear seats in sports arenas or diner seats or airplane seats. My surgery was relatively uncomplicated and is progressing satisfactory with myself and the bariatric team at my hospital. (Tufts New England Medical Center, Boston, MA)
Surgery will not fix your cravings for food, although initially you will not experience full blown hunger. It is a tool to help you lose alot of weight relatively quickly, while you are adapting a healthy lifestyle. In the whole scheme of things, I am just getting started, and some of the guys on this forum who are further out from surgery are going to provide some valuable info and support for me and that is what I need to keep on track. There is nothing that I miss post surgery that I can't look in the mirror or step on the scale and not justify my decision.
Hope this helps, and welcome to the OH Men's Forum. Just sayin,
Tim T.
I turned 52 on Halloween this year. This time last year I weighed 305, was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and on oral meds, meds for high cholesterol and meds for high blood pressure, and I did not have sleep apnea diagnosed ,but I snored like a lumberjack sawing logs. My pants were size 42 around the lower waist and the shirts were 3 to 4x. My first consult was in May 2011, some appts with psycologist and dietician and a surgery consult, some labs and a request to lose 25 lbs. before surgery. My surgery was on July 5th, 2011, my weight was 265, I had lost 40 lbs. on my own pre-op, preparing for what was coming.
Fast forward to today (check the stats on the Sunday Morning Weigh-in posted by Mike), I am at 190lbs. NO diabetes, NO high cholesterol and BP is 115 over 75 with those meds cut in half and soon to be discontinued. and the wife says I stopped snoring and spinning in my sleep. My jeans are size 34 and getting loose and the shirts are size large or XL for sweats and sweaters. Sweatpants and underwear are mediums.
People who have not seen me for a few months either do not recognize me or ask someone I know if I am sick. The truth is I am healthier than I have been in 30 years. I go to the gym and run on the treadmill and do weight training- not an option last year. I do not fear seats in sports arenas or diner seats or airplane seats. My surgery was relatively uncomplicated and is progressing satisfactory with myself and the bariatric team at my hospital. (Tufts New England Medical Center, Boston, MA)
Surgery will not fix your cravings for food, although initially you will not experience full blown hunger. It is a tool to help you lose alot of weight relatively quickly, while you are adapting a healthy lifestyle. In the whole scheme of things, I am just getting started, and some of the guys on this forum who are further out from surgery are going to provide some valuable info and support for me and that is what I need to keep on track. There is nothing that I miss post surgery that I can't look in the mirror or step on the scale and not justify my decision.
Hope this helps, and welcome to the OH Men's Forum. Just sayin,
Tim T.
On January 8, 2012 at 7:14 PM Pacific Time, Tim T. wrote:
Hey Brian,I turned 52 on Halloween this year. This time last year I weighed 305, was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and on oral meds, meds for high cholesterol and meds for high blood pressure, and I did not have sleep apnea diagnosed ,but I snored like a lumberjack sawing logs. My pants were size 42 around the lower waist and the shirts were 3 to 4x. My first consult was in May 2011, some appts with psycologist and dietician and a surgery consult, some labs and a request to lose 25 lbs. before surgery. My surgery was on July 5th, 2011, my weight was 265, I had lost 40 lbs. on my own pre-op, preparing for what was coming.
Fast forward to today (check the stats on the Sunday Morning Weigh-in posted by Mike), I am at 190lbs. NO diabetes, NO high cholesterol and BP is 115 over 75 with those meds cut in half and soon to be discontinued. and the wife says I stopped snoring and spinning in my sleep. My jeans are size 34 and getting loose and the shirts are size large or XL for sweats and sweaters. Sweatpants and underwear are mediums.
People who have not seen me for a few months either do not recognize me or ask someone I know if I am sick. The truth is I am healthier than I have been in 30 years. I go to the gym and run on the treadmill and do weight training- not an option last year. I do not fear seats in sports arenas or diner seats or airplane seats. My surgery was relatively uncomplicated and is progressing satisfactory with myself and the bariatric team at my hospital. (Tufts New England Medical Center, Boston, MA)
Surgery will not fix your cravings for food, although initially you will not experience full blown hunger. It is a tool to help you lose alot of weight relatively quickly, while you are adapting a healthy lifestyle. In the whole scheme of things, I am just getting started, and some of the guys on this forum who are further out from surgery are going to provide some valuable info and support for me and that is what I need to keep on track. There is nothing that I miss post surgery that I can't look in the mirror or step on the scale and not justify my decision.
Hope this helps, and welcome to the OH Men's Forum. Just sayin,
Tim T.
We are practically neighbors. (I live on the South Shore). thanks for the warm welcome. I have heard that it is best to lose as much, as fast as you can before the pouch stretches. Sounds like that is the time to form better habits too, true? Great job on your weight loss and continued success.
OneFinger
on 1/8/12 2:08 pm
on 1/8/12 2:08 pm
Questions: My doctor is listed on this site but her reviews are not recent, is this indicative of a problem? The reviews are excellent but the newest is from 2008. I initially called to make an appointment on 12-26, it took 2 days for anyone to return my call and I have yet to get a date for my initial visit with the surgeon. Realizing it is the holiday season and folks take time off etc., am I expecting a response too soon?
My doctor also has no current reviews on this site. But, there's not a lot of people from my state participating here. Personally, I wouldn't trade my doc for anyone else. He did amazing work and his reviews here are meaningless.
I would be more concerned if the doctor's office is a Baritaric Center of Excellence. I've found this to be a much better endorsement than other factors.
How long did it take you to have the surgery after your initial consult? I don't expect any issues with getting insurance approval due to my co-morbidity and because my insurer does not require a history of failed weight loss.
I had my initial consult in July and surgery in October. FYI, I was approved by my insurance on the first try.
What type of pre-surgery diet was required? What do you miss most post-surgery?
I didn't have a pre-surgery diet. But I did stop all carbs, caffine, carbinated drinks, etc. about 2 weeks before surgery.
Lately, I've found that I've developed a post-op problem with carbs. Eating carbs causes me to get very tired and fall asleep (even in public). So, I avoid unnecessary carbs at dinner and my evening meal is usually a salad.
My doctor also has no current reviews on this site. But, there's not a lot of people from my state participating here. Personally, I wouldn't trade my doc for anyone else. He did amazing work and his reviews here are meaningless.
I would be more concerned if the doctor's office is a Baritaric Center of Excellence. I've found this to be a much better endorsement than other factors.
How long did it take you to have the surgery after your initial consult? I don't expect any issues with getting insurance approval due to my co-morbidity and because my insurer does not require a history of failed weight loss.
I had my initial consult in July and surgery in October. FYI, I was approved by my insurance on the first try.
What type of pre-surgery diet was required? What do you miss most post-surgery?
I didn't have a pre-surgery diet. But I did stop all carbs, caffine, carbinated drinks, etc. about 2 weeks before surgery.
Lately, I've found that I've developed a post-op problem with carbs. Eating carbs causes me to get very tired and fall asleep (even in public). So, I avoid unnecessary carbs at dinner and my evening meal is usually a salad.
High Weight = 310 Surgery Weight = 300 Dr's Goal = 200 My Goal = 190 
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