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on 9/28/22 1:44 pm, edited 1/13/23 7:41 am - Irvine, CA
Topic: Share Your WLS Journey, Your inspiration!

Hello OH Friends and Family!

We would love to share your WLS Journey in a Before & After featured article on our ObesityHelp.com home page and social media platforms! Or perhaps you would like to blog about a topic that is important to you? Your journey and words can help to inspire so many others! Whether you are 20-plus years as a post-op or a few weeks out, or considering surgery...your words matter! Please email [email protected] for brief guideline details.

FinallyBecomingMe
on 9/28/22 8:19 am
Topic: RE: NYSHIP - BMI is 33

I too was an extreme " lightweight " ( lol I had eighty lbs to lose!)

Which I am MUCH happier and healthier feeling keeping off 12 years post op along with my co-morbities high blood pressure and diabetes neither of which I need to medicate anymore.

Most " lightweights" qualify for bariatric surgery because of serious and life shortening co morbidities . Its very important health wise to get rid of those if at all possible and bariatric surgery very often succeeds in doing that - a virtual miracle !

sor09
on 9/26/22 3:14 pm
Topic: RE: How Do You Deal With Boredom in a Non Food Related Way?

At the beginning of your journey, Pre-op.... did you take a group of classes to help you understand what BAriatric surgery can and cannot do? COPING skills are all you got post-op since the surgery is just surgery. It cannot fix or control your mind and your thoughts about food. That's a tool that has to be used with the others to get/ keep/ stay successful post-op... yup, it's for the rest of your life. Folks doing pre-op diets/ pills/ and even revisions to get it. All this stuff needs to be worked out with your PCP and your bariatric psychologists and all are based on your private medical records. You need facts to get you success. As you've read... it's not easy and it's just not the surgery.

 

                
sor09
on 9/26/22 3:04 pm
Topic: RE: NYSHIP - BMI is 33

Don't know a lot about you and asking for surgeries.

The surgery can't fix stuff. You'll have a period of not eating... If done correctly, only 75% of access body fat could be lost.... are you looking to lose fat that's even part of your healthy fat stores? Lower body fat is harder to get rid of and you have to exercise even before the surgery.

Just the surgery? You need to practice using all the tools. TOOLS: exercise/ coping skills learned in a bariatric pre-op training/ hydration/ vitamins/ bariatric foods and menus working collectively with the surgery. If you're low already you will just be that much lower can it could expose you to other issues related to excessive weight loss. A surgeon won't risk your life to losing small amounts of body fat.

There are lots of websites with professional bariatric support and your personal doctor evaluating your private medical history, and then bariatric case managers, and bariatric psychologists to help you with you managing your health and weight necessities. Check out the folks on YouTude Vlogs that are/ did/ go through it and learn from them. This is a journey that was meant to be the last resort to health and wellness.

 

                
FinallyBecomingMe
on 9/26/22 10:48 am
Topic: RE: NYSHIP - BMI is 33

Eat Chinese food and salty snacks the night before your weigh in ....keep eating salty and sipping liquids until you step on the scale -

bet you end up 35 !

good luck !

Kelly S.
on 9/24/22 7:19 pm
Topic: RE: Is Your Weight More or Less Stable Years After WLS ?

I'm 13 years post op, never reached goal weight of 125, but weight is stable around 165 with little effort.

Struggle with vitamin deficiencies and keeping protein levels up, have other medical problems, but don't believe they are related to GBS.

Still have sleep apnea.



20 pounds lost during two week pre-op diet.

califsleevin
on 9/24/22 7:21 am - CA
Topic: RE: NYSHIP - BMI is 33

The 35 (with comorbidities)/40 (without)BMI is pretty much industry standard in the US, so it's unlikely to find coverage outside those limits. Some surgeons may go to lower levels on a cash basis, but most in the US stick to the industry standards. The lap bands (and I think balloons as well) have been FDA approved for BMI 30 and above, so that may be what your PCP and RD are referring to, but neither are particularly viable or long term options, though may have some benefit in special cases.

1st support group/seminar - 8/03 (has it been that long?)  

Wife's DS - 5/05 w Dr. Robert Rabkin   VSG on 5/9/11 by Dr. John Rabkin

 

Cautiously_Hopeful
on 9/23/22 8:51 am
WLS on 07/15/22
Topic: RE: Nervous about surgery, advice?

Congratulations on your upcoming surgery! I had a modified DS in July.

I second what was said about following plans and progressions based on your doctor's advice.

My personal experience is that it wasn't so much the pills I had problems with, it was being able to drink enough at one time to get them down. My practice had me taking pills within a couple hours of surgery. I had a pretty big Tylenol a few times and started taking the Omeprazole almost immediately. They should also review your entire list of medications with you to understand what you need to do for each of them. If they don't, I'd recommend asking.

On protein, I had to sip protein (and water) for five hours to get discharged from the hospital. The shakes were hard for a while due to small stomach, swelling, and thick protein. It took a lot of concentrated effort those first few days to meet goals. It's time consuming but worth it to avoid dehydration.

Best of luck to you!

HW 282, LW 123.4 (8/29/23), CW 144.4

Pre-op-33, M1-12, M2-17, M3-14, M4-11, M5-14, M6-5, M7-6, M8-5, M9-22, M10-6, M11-5, M12-2, M13-2, M14-5

White Dove
on 9/23/22 5:47 am - Warren, OH
Topic: RE: Nervous about surgery, advice?

When I cannot get pills down, I take them with a teaspoonful of applesauce. I do split them if they are large and if the doctor says it is OK to split them.

Real life begins where your comfort zone ends

Kamafu
on 9/23/22 4:08 am
DS on 09/27/17
Topic: RE: Nervous about surgery, advice?

Thank you! Yes, I have reached out to my psychiatrists office to ask if it's okay to cut it up, or even cru****

I appreciate your response.

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