New to board & have surgery date set:

Hello everyone! I've been reading the last few posts and this sounds like a very nice group of people. I got my surgery date set for May 8. I could have gone earlier, but I'm going home to Florida for my Grandma's 90th birthday and then my parents couldn't be here before May. So.... I'm ready, at least as ready as I think I can be. I'm excited and terrified! This is a decision I've contemplated for a couple years, then in January I got a scarry diagnosis of liver cirrohsis (non-alcohol related). :beer: The doctor said I had to loose at least 50#, preferably 100#, or I would be dead within 10 years! It hasn't been the incentive you'd think it would be to loose weight. :-@ Just the opposite. Anyway, I'm all set for the lap RNY and can't wait to get skinny. I wish I could be at the April get together, but that's the weekend I go home. I did attend the monthly meeting @ Baptist this week (for those in attendance, I was the one in scrubs -went to work after). I'm looking forward to getting to know everyone. I have a question: How many people kept their plans for surgery to themselves? My parents know and I've also told my best friend at home, some co-workers and some in my Sunday school group. But I haven't told anyone else in my family and that's a significant number of people. I'm not sure why I don't tell them (I've had a couple cousins have the surgery). :-S I just wanted to know what others have gone through. My other issue is my fear of never enjoying a meal or my favorite food again. I'm sure everyone can relate -I ENJOY MY FOOD!!!!! :haha: In our society, every occasion is celebrated with food. How has everyone dealt with this issue? :help: Well, this is quite long enough for my first post. Thanks in advance for your responses. ~~Elena :wave:

Welcome Elena!! You are quite right about this board everyone here is great. Want to say Welcome and wish you all the best on your journey!!

Hi Elena! Welcome to the TN boards. You will find a lot of support and answers here. Congrats on getting a date for surgery. That is wonderful. I am sorry to hear about your liver problems. I hope this surgery helps you. I think most everyone goes through food withdrawal after surgery. Some go through it for a day and some go through it for weeks. It is just all dependant upon you. I know I went through "depression" over food for quite a while after surgery. It wasn't that I was hungry and I didn't really miss certain foods because I didn't have cravings right after surgery but I just wanted to eat and eat something that taste good. The first few weeks after surgery you are on liquids and pureed foods and that was hard. How can you count pureed food as food? haha. But it was fine. Just know that you will come through it. The best thing is that you really are not hungry so you will not tread that part. I would recommend staying with a support group. As far as telling people about surgery, I have a very small family so my family knew and a couple of close friends. I did not really tell the whole world. Even now, I would not know how to answer someone who hasn't seen me in a while and asked how I lost weight. I am sure I would be honest but it just isn't something I talk about to everyone because it was a personal medical decision between me and my Dr. But that is just me. A lot of people feel very comfortable talking about it and educating people about the surgery. I think it is based on your personal feelings. One thing I think you will be surprised at is how many people will be very supportive of your decision. Welcome again to the boards and let us know if you ever need anything. Keep us updated on your progress. Misty

Welcome Elena and congrats on your surgery date. Another of our recent post-ops was found to have non-alchohol related cirrhosis of the liver. Hers was caused by her weight and all of the meds she has been on as a result of her weight. Her liver is now regenerating itself and is functioning at 100%. I was very selective in who I told before my surgery. I just didn't want to hear the negativity I was sure would come. I had done my research and knew I was making the right decision. After surgery...I tell EVERYBODY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If I can be an encouragement to just one person who is sitting on the fence about having surgery, I am willing to share my experience with anyone. I have really been surprised at the support I have received. Of course, when you are standing there as living proof of successful surgery and can testify about the health improvements, it's kind of hard for anyone to be negative. As to the fear of never enjoying a meal or favorite food again...I still enjoy my food. In fact, I probably enjoy it more because I now make my choice based on what I really want instead of what is going to give me the biggest serving. I too enjoy my food! But, now when I get together with folks for a celebration, I celebrate being with the people I care about instead focusing on the food. I still enjoy most of what were my favorites before surgery. I have found though, that a lot of what I loved pre-op just doesn't have the same appeal to me now. Susan

Welcome Elena, You will find a lot of support on this site, I have found this to be a very caring group of folks. I am glad you waited to go to your Gram's 90th. As for telling folks about the surgery, I just did it on an individual basis. The people that I felt were receptive to it positively I told, others I didnt tell. You don't need any negativity, you are going through enough emotions without having "WLS Stupid" folks add to it. Congrats on your decision and look forward to seeing you post here often. Darlene

Congratulations Elena!! Your day will be here before you know it! I'm far from the poster child for WLS. I indulge in family get togethers.. I'll have a bite or two of everything and be completely satisfied. Though, I focus on protein first and avoid the full fledge sugar desserts. You'll learn that family get togethers are about being with family...not eating. I now enjoy cooking for these kinds of occassions even though I know I can't gorge myself on these goodies... also, when I do the cooking, I can make healthier/lighter versions and just don't tell anybody lol They never know the difference. Good luck!

Elena, I am the one that Susan was describing to you with the same liver poblems, I was also at the meeting Tuesday at Baptist, ("The Sonic Girl") I am sure now that you will remember me. If you have any questions feel free to send me a personal message in my profile and I will do my best to answer you. I will let you know this, It took me five years to make my decision and I am glad I did because I did not know until Dr. Spaw actually did surgery on me and they said that it would probably would not have been discovered until it was too late. Therefore, this is the right decision in more than one way!! Shelia

Thanks to everyone for the replies, it's all great information! SHEILA ~~WOW, I never would have put together your picture and the new you! You look great. Yes, I certainly remember the Sonic conversation; that was funny. I was a bit angry with my liver diagnosis because I have been dealing with acute episodes of severe pain & sickness for about 12 years. I'm upset it took this long to get a diagnosis and no one ever focusing in on my liver. But I am glad I finally know what the problem is; it was the final "nail in the coffin". Anyway, I'm glad to be here and to finally be on the WLS journey! I wanted to ask about the April get together; is it something that is done monthly or how often? Just wanted to find out when to plan for the next one. I'm looking forward to meeting everyone. Thanks again ~~Elena :wave:

Well, it is funny that you mention about suffering for 12 years, I have had some problems for several years and no one could figure it out. I keep going and going and going, I have been sick and sick, missing work and feeling like a crazy person, because no one could figure it out. I at times wondered if I was just one of those people that was just making it up in my head. Last July I spent a week in Vanderbilt Hospital, after being admitted from the ER and they ran multiple test, they finally concluded that it must be the Rx IBU that I took for pain and told me to not take it anymore, because it was upsetting my stomach. Yes, I have been told I had a fatty liver but that was it. Therefore, this was a complete surprise. Now everything is at 100% function and the Liver is the one organ if caught early enough has the capability to regenerate itself and it is. They would have never found it, because they would done the exact tests because I do not drink and I will just be 38 in June, I just don't fit that normal category. As far as our meeting, this one is a special protein party and it would be very beneficial, so if you can come do plan to attend. Otherwises, we meet the second Saturday of every month for Lunch somewhere in the Cool Springs area, the time and place is TBA at a time closer to the date. It is so much fun and everyone is welcome, at the last luncheon, we began a clothing exchange and now we are making that a monthly tradition as well!! We also take a picture of the entire group, I have pictures in my profile of the last one in my profile. This was my first lunch that I attended and I was so touched by the group I just cryed. Come and join us, you will not regret it, the Protein party will be a great benefit after surgery!!! Shelia I am trying to change my avatar, but having dificulties. I did post some new ones in my profile.

Your new avatar looks great! I wish I could be at the meeting, but I'll be in Florida that weekend for my grandma's birthday. Guess I'll have to catch the next one. I'm 35yo and have had various tests done when I've had my "flair ups". I would have excrutiating pain and (pardon me) diarrhea & vomiting. I've had a lot of lab work done, barrium enema, barrium swallow (which showed reflux), several ultrasounds, xrays. After my last bout in November, I went to a GI doc and had an EGD (endoscope), colonoscopy (showed IBS -irritable bowel syndrome), upper GI series (again swallowing that nasty barrium and having xrays done) and my lab work showed elevated liver enzymes. This was a first, so the doc decided to do a liver biopsy. That hurt! And was scary waiting for the results. I have NASH (non-alcoholic steatohepatitis). I guess it's similar to fatty liver. It's caused cirrhosis and scarring of my liver. So with that diagnosis and prognosis, I made my final decision to have WLS. I guess the next luncheon will be the weekend after my WLS. I'm looking forward to meeting everyone and hearing everyone's story! ~~Elena :wave: