To all Lurkers,

And I would like to personally invite you to join in and feel free to post. Everyone is welcome here!

I agree, all is welcome here.  Jump in here and tell us a little about yourself.  Where are you in your journey?  Just starting to collect info to see if WLS is for you?  Doing your 6 month supervised diet?  Awaiting your surgery date?   Just starting your liquid diet?  or perhaps you just recently had your surgery and have questions.   There's no such thing as a dumb question here.  Ask away.  Look forward to hearing from you  :)    Cindy

Hello LW board!

I am in the early stages, doing my medical tests w/ my PCP and I am starting my required 6-month plan. (Even though my PCP said I should just maintain since I am right at 40% bmi). 

I want to make healthy changes now but I am not too sure what I can do--AND not lose weight.  I know I can get weighed in bulky clothes but that is going to get tough towards the spring.

I also found out that I have 2 large Gallstones, so I am going to discuss getting the Gallbladder removed.  I also have Kidney Stones.

Tomorrow I will find out if I have any other issues so keep me in your prayers.

Hello, nice to meet you!  How exciting that you're embarking on this journey! 

I've read about people putting on a weight belt to get weighed, or wearing ankle weights.  Wear some nice heavy Dansko clogs. 

I'm sorry you have gallstones.  I had mine removed 3 months before my VSG.  I wi**** had all been done together but I hadn't even gone to orientation when they took it out.

I'll keep you in my best thoughts that tomorrow is successful for you!

I totally get what you're saying about being fearful about losing weight.  Even though my NUT told me that they used our initial weights, not the final one, I didn't trust it with my insurance company, so I didn't let myself lose weight until after I'd been approved.  It's awful that we have to think that way, but it's the difference between a new life and having to keep the old one.  I chose new!

Anyway, good luck in all of this preparation.  Relish all you get to learn about the new life ahead of you!

Wishing you good luck on this initial journey and beyond. Keep us posted.

--gina
 

Hey! That's ME! I'm totally a lurker, but I swear, I check out this site almost every day! And all of you are an amazing inspiration! 

So, a little tidbit about me: 

Had surgery on 6/01/10. I went from 231 the day of surgery to 161 (today's weight). I'm 5'6.5 and I feel great.

I've been lucky in that I've really had zero problems with the RNY gastric bypass. I never had problems with any food after surgery, and I rarely get sick on anything.  I've had something stuck once (sliced ham) and I don't dump.  Sometimes I get sick if I eat too much dense food (like cottage cheese). But really, there have been very few issues at all.  Which actually poses a dilemma ...since I haven't been "forced" into good behavior.  So I've had to really work at good habits...like eating protein first, not drinking with food, and counting calories. And staying away from the wine (which has been a real challenge!) This is just as difficult as it was before the surgery, the only saving grace is that I can't eat as much as I used to...so that really helps.  But that doesn't mean I couldn't cheat if I wanted to (by eating slider foods slowly...all day long...or drinking too much red wine).  So I really see how difficult it is, and that I have to watch my weight every day, and watch my habits constantly.

I've been good with vitamins, and so far, so good.  Every week I fill up my pill boxes for the week ahead.  And as I do this, I repeat to myself all the reasons I had the surgery, and all the reasons I have to be careful to keep at it, so that I don't gain it all back. My biggest fear is that someday I'll still have to take all these vitamins (vitamins I never had to take before the surgery) but that now I'll be 300 pounds doing it...and thinking that it was all for nothing. So, I try to remind myself on a weekly basis... every time I fill my vitamin boxes, and every time I take a vitamin... I try to remember what I gave up, and what I gained, and how precarious this is. 

Sorry this is so long! But I haven't posted all this before. I'm sure there's a ton of other lurkers out there like me.  I'm so happy I did this, but I'm still so scared I could screw it up! I thought I'd put it out there, since I know there are others that feel this way. 

Thanks everyone for being there for me, even though you didn't know it...and being such an inspiration! I know I'll need your support and inspiration for years and years to come, since this isn't some kind of overnight fix. So I plan on lurking for many years to come! 

It's great to meet you!  

Quick question:  what should we call you?  I'm Rosa, which is my middle name.  (My first name is too unusual to allow me much of an opportunity for privacy.) 

It sounds like you're doing great, and I totally get your fears/concerns.  It also sounds like you have a great way of responding to them!  

Thanks for sharing, and please, don't be a stranger!!!

You've done a great job, babeee!

--gina

Hi, I've posted once or twice before but mostly lurk. I had an endoscopic plication procedure done last year as part of a research trial and when I posted either here or on one of the other forums I had a fairly harsh response from someone whose posts I had initially respected and found very informative. She told me that I would never be able to have either bypass or sleeve because of this previous procedure and that it's a horrible procedure to have done. I don't think I've posted since then. I was very put off by her comments but then I thought about it. What does she actually know about it? It's still in the research stage! I'm glad I forged ahead and went for my consult!
Well, I'm here to tell you that the surgeon who performed the initial procedure said if I wanted, he would remove the suture anchors and convert me to either bypass or sleeve as one procedure.
I have, however, met with a different surgeon who is also highly regarded and is within my hospital system and is therefor more desirable as far as cost. (I'm a nurse in Charlotte, NC) I respectfully declined the offer to convert but will be meeting with him to discuss the removal in early January.
My chosen surgeon for bypass said that as long as he doesn't see anything that would prevent him from moving forward once he gets in there, he would do the bypass. If not, he would sleeve me; after my signing consent and getting approval for both procedures.
I have my psych, dietician and fitness appointments on Thursday January 6th. I cannot wait to get this ball rolling and I will definitely be visiting this forum and posting more often. Like many others, I find this particular forum to be much more supportive and less judgmental and "know-it-all" than some others.
Thanks for listening!
Tiffany