Question:
If you could give me one piece of advice.
Regarding WLS what would it be? I have surgery 1/27/04 — Vitabella (posted on January 11, 2004)
January 11, 2004
Janeen,
If I could ask EVERY pre-op to do one thing, it would be to make 100% sure
that you are 100% sure that you've chosen the best WLS procedure for who
you are. You know you. You live with you day in and day out. You know
your failings. You know your strengths. Knowing all of this - then go
over to AMOS listing of different types of WLS procedures
(http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/m-surgerytypes.phtml) and make
sure you're 100% committed to what it takes to be a successful post-op for
whichever procedure it is you choose to proceed with. Don't let insurance,
geography, anyone or anything tell you they know you better than you do.
Remember - WLS is for the rest of your life. Make sure that it's a happy
rest of your life - filled with peace that you've made the right choice for
you.
Blessings,
dina
— Dina McBride
January 11, 2004
To relax. Don't sweat it, and take it one day at a time.
Have you done before pictures, measurements, these make a difference. If
you can please don't weigh yourself everyday, this will make you nuts if
you lose 3 pounds one day and gain 2 the next you will wonder what you did
wrong, trust me you wont mess it up. I hope you enjoy your new life. If you
have a support group make sure you go, if not try to find one, they are so
helpful. Best of luck.
— domestic G.
January 11, 2004
One? Okay - don't test to see if you dump or not. I did it like two weeks
after surgery - found a Starbuck's Frappacino in the back of the refrig
-giant size no less - and tried it. Didn't dump. This knowledge has made
fighting carb cravings (particularly 6 months down the road when I could
eat most things) much harder. I DID dump about 7 months post-op - NOT FUN!
- and that's helped. I've done great -276/248/180/158-but I took away a
very helpful tool by being a big stupe (as we used to say in third grade).
Best of luck to you - it's going to be a great adventure!
— [Deactivated Member]
January 11, 2004
Take your measurements. I did not do so before surgery and have regretted
it ever since. I just could not bring myself to put a tape measure around
my thighs or rear. I sure wish I would have now. The plateaus would have
been so much more bearable had I done so. Get out that tape measure and
write em down. You'll be glad you did. Congratulations on your decision
to have WLS!! Its an amazing adventure ~ ~ You're going to be a whole new
person! (Nearly overnight) *HUGS* Michelle Roberts Open RNY 1/3/03
330/182/175
— chelle3081
January 11, 2004
I agree with Bette , DONT try sugar to see if you dump .. assume
you do .. I tried it at about 4 months and didnt dump , makes it twice as
hard knowing I CAN eat it . Also excersize from the min you can and do it
everyday . take full advantage of your 6 months .. I lost 94 in 9 months
with out it , kills me now to think how much farther along I would be if I
had excersized like I should have . Now Im 23 from goal and its harder to
lose , I will lose it but its going to take more work . Dont miss one days
oppertunity during that first 6 months because it will pass in a hurry and
you will never lose weight that easy or that fast again . Love Ruthie in SC
— ruthie
January 11, 2004
Everyone else has given great advice. I also suggest keeping at least one
of your largest pieces of clothing. It's tempting to just dump it all once
it's too big, but I've found that keeping that one pair of non-stretch
jeans shorts and a dress really helped me see the weight loss at times I
would get discouraged. For me, it was really hard to see the difference in
my size, even after losing substantial amounts of weight. The day I could
fit all of myself into one leg of the jeans will be a moment to treasure
for life.
— Vespa R.
January 11, 2004
Ok - Along with every one else I agree with their posts on measurements,
trying no-no foods too early, etc. But the one thing that I think you need
to know is make sure you take a set of long tongs or a long handled spoon
with you to the hospital. My friends thought I was nuts until it was their
turn and didn't have them. They will be of great use to you when trying to
provide hygiene while in the bathroom. Also, make sure you walk and use
your incentive spirometer (the blowey thing) in the hospital. Walking
helps relieve gas and pressure and the incentive spirometer will help to
prevent pneumonia. And one last thing, when you hit the plateaus (and you
will because we all do) don't panic, it too shall pass. Best of luck to
you on your new journey.
— adeas
January 11, 2004
Almost 3 years post op here. I have more than one...
Like folks said below -- hold off on the no no foods for as long as
possible. Now that I can eat anything I am thankful that I made it to goal
and knew how to get there and know what it feels like so when I get off
track, I know what I'm missing. Weigh everyday once you get close to goal.
Will keep you honest during the day when you're tempted to make bad
choices. Make exercise a habit. This is the single most reason why I can
eat what I want...regular sweaty, no joke exercise. Take accurate
measurements and keep one "fat outfit". i didn't do either of
these and do regret it. Join online email support groups and develop a
support system. Good luck and God bless! Kim 324/155 6/26/01
— Kimberly L.
January 11, 2004
How about 2? First, follow the rules, they exist for your health and
safety. Second, keep a POSITIVE and HAPPY attitude. Makes all the
difference in the world! God bless and good luck!
— ScottieB86
January 11, 2004
Before my surgery I had read about how people wonder if they did the right
thing, right after surgery. I was almost panicky after my surgery, because
I was afraid I did the wrong thing. I am now about 7 weeks post op and
those feelings are gone. Just remember a lot of people have those feelings.
— greg17
January 11, 2004
Appreciate that the surgery will have as much an emotional impact on your
life as it will a physical one. As a result, include friends and family in
your recovery and try to find a support group in your area.
— SteveColarossi
January 11, 2004
To educate yourself on the true weightloss stats. They are lower than
people think. You will probably not lose 100 lbs in 6 months. More like 8
or 9.
— mrsmyranow
January 11, 2004
Be patient with yourself and your results. Always keep in mind that
anything uncomfortable during recovery and any problems along the way are
only temporary. This too shall pass.
— joeandteri
January 11, 2004
Know what you are getting into....completely.
— RebeccaP
January 11, 2004
Make sure you know all of your options. I'm always amazed at how many
people aren't even sure what type of surgery they had! There are many other
types of surgery available other than RNY. That might be the right choice
for you, but you still need to know what else is out there. I've had so
many people tell me that they wish they had known about the Duodenal Switch
being available, but had never heard of it. Do your research! Best of luck
to you.
— MargyB
January 11, 2004
take lots and lots of pics. if you can take some at different angles the
day before surgery that would be nice to have. i only had one picture of
the front veiw(it was also the first pic i let someone take of me in ten
years) i wish i had taken pics of all views. because once you lose that
chance to take pics from the begining....ya can't get it back. keep a
journal even if you only update it once a month. if you are having medical
problems after wls a private journal is also a good way to keep a medical
history of your own of when symptoms started and ended ect.if you think
your weightloss is not going the way you want, you can look back at the
journal or have your peers read it and maybe get some help that way. lots
of time people write questions and need answers that we would love to help
them with, but can't because lack of info. good luck to you on your
surgery!!!
— franbvan
January 11, 2004
Follow the protocol of your WLS surgeon/doctor to the tee.
— Shari M.
January 11, 2004
I would say, stick to your doctor's rules TO THE LETTER OF THE LAW,
especially for the first 6 mos. That will give you maximum time to heal
and re-educate your diet habits. Secondly, get in a routine and follow it
religiously as far as when you eat, when you take your vitamins and when
you exercise and do it EVEN WHEN YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE IT. My doctor told
me that one of the things that gets his patients in the most trouble is
sticking with an attitude of "I don't feel like eating" or
"I didn't feel like exercising". He said there will be many
days, especially in the first year when you don't feel like that and with
that attitude, you compromise your success.
— Cathy S.
January 11, 2004
Be ready for the head-hunger. This surgery isn't surgery on your brain,
and regardless of what you can and can't eat, you will still have the head
hunger that tells you to eat when you're bored or sad, that tells you to
eat bad things, etc. Have something in place to help with that, whether
it's counseling, alternate plans (go for a walk, try a new hobby, etc).
The part of me that loves pizza still wants to eat a big ol' pizza from
time to time, it can be frustrating. Don't ignore that part of it and
expect that head hunger not to be there anymore, because once in a while it
still rears it's ugly head!
— beeda
January 12, 2004
Therapy. This is stomach surgery - not brain surgery ;) My surgeon did the
first step of the process, but if not for some great therapy, I don't think
I could've been as successful in the long-term.
— kultgirl
January 12, 2004
just one??? oh wow! ok. Understand that your journey starts the day you
have surgery. It is going to be just that....a journey... with many ups and
downs. Understand that there will be hard times but you will get thru it.
Just as in life you learn as you go. Not everyone is the same post op.
Education is the number 1 thing. Talk to those who have had it, listen ,
ask questions. You have been given a second chance at LIVING. Do
everything in your power to be happy and accept this new life change.
Best of luck
kristi ky
— tinalivesay
January 12, 2004
FOLLOW ALL THE WLS RULES. DON'T TRY TO EAT OR DRINK AROUND THEM.
— ZZ S.
January 12, 2004
I agree with all the other posters. But I think the most important thing
is "enjoy the journey". Don't beat yourself up if you slip one
day. We are all human and as such, have good and bad days. You'll get to
the end, just faster than some and slower than others. You are an
individual. Never compare yourself to someone else.
— lharbison
January 12, 2004
My advice might sound simple, but it's not always easy - HAVE FUN! Enjoy
the journey. I became rather obsessed with playing with the numbers,
trying to figure out if I was on course, was going to make goal, if I was
losing slow, etc. I wish I had listened to my sister who said "Will
you just relax and quit worrying?! You're losing weight without even
trying right now - do you know how lucky you are?" Everyone seems to
fall into this trap. I'm on a mailing list for people who had surgery in
Sept 2002, and at times it seems every single one of us were convinced we
were a "slow" loser, even those with the greatest weight losses!
Try to enjoy every little "first" and be aware of all the little
ways in which surgery changed your life for the better. Know that the
window doesn't slam shut at 6 months or a year, or even after that. Know
that the surgery is a tool, and even if you get off track you aren't
derailed - you just have to use your tool correctly. It took us all a
lifetime to gain this weight, yet we all seem to get so disappointed if we
haven't lost 100 pounds in six months. It's definitely an emotional roller
coaster, fraught with worries that you will be the one person that surgery
doesn't work for, or that you'll mess up and gain it all back. There are a
lot of ups and downs, and some mourning for the food that used to comfort
us. I hate to sound like a sap, but try to stay positive and realize all
you've accomplished instead of fretting over what you still have yet to
achieve.
— sandsonik
January 12, 2004
Set reasonable goals for yourself and as hard as it is, judge yourself by
how you look & feel NOT BY THE SCALE! Good luck to you. It will be
worth it...open rny 11/20/2002 315/150 *at goal*
— klinzey
January 13, 2004
I agree with the previous poster ... you do have to be smart about what you
want to achieve ... follow the WLS rules, HOWEVER ... as my doctor told me
(after I was obsessing quite a bit) ... "sit back and enjoy the
ride" ... stress definitely doesn't help, so be smart ... seek help
and advice when you need it ... and accept that this is a life-long change
... not always easy, but a very very good change. Best wishes. LAP RNY
06/18/03 -88
— Karyn B
January 13, 2004
my two cents worth of advice is ..Have someone stay with you at the
hospital. Best of luck ..it is SOOO worth it.
By the way..I woke up and said * YESSSSSS*...was thrilled
— Kathy S.
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