Hi Everyone,my name is Kim,I had my orientation a few weeks ago in ssf Kaiser,now I have 3 more appt coming up in june at Kaiser,looking forward to that.I am currently going to weight watchers,trying to incorporate the preop diet with ww.Anyways,I posted a post on ww board and no one that had the surgery commented,just people who had their opinions about wls.Not very good comments too.

Anyways I thought it would be safe here to post.I hope you all can share your experience with gastric bypass surgery also and how you are doing? Would you do it over again?

I am almost 300 pounds.

Take care Thanks alot kim

Kim, Here is some info about me.... If I had to do it over again I WOULD IN A HEART BEAT!!!! EVEN EARLIER THAN I DID....

Are you approved yet?

A little about myself....

I have had a weight issue for 26 years and had been on several diets, weight loss programs with mixed results. In the last 2 years my health had really gone down hill and I knew I had to take drastic measures or I might not make it very much longer. I was at the end of my rope... I had sleep apnea, high blood psi, insulan resistant, type 2 diabetic leading into type 1, emotional issues as well. I was taking 7 meds a day and feeling like crap. Well I finally fessed up and said enough was enough. I went to a bariatric hospital and meet with the doctors and finally did it. After 6 months of waiting and endless tests I was approved and had my surgery, Bastric bypass. It was a day I will never forget and a day to start my new life. I had surgery on
Dec 4th 2006. I have had my ups and downs and it took a little while to get the hang of the new lifestyle but I am not regreting it at all. I am now 5 1/2 months post op. My max weight was 440 lbs and am now down 105 lbs as of this morning. I just went out and got some new clothes and was shocked that I was down 5 pant sizes and 2 shirt sizes so far. I belong to a suport group that meets 2 times a month and really recommend it to all that have the surgey if possible. I am sure I can add to the boards with my experiences if needed.

I am no longer taking any meds, have normal blood psi and am also no longer diabetic (Thank You Lord!!)

I realize this is a tool not a fix but it has its times that help when there would not be. I just wish I had done it several years earlier.

Mike

Kim, I'm really sorry you got some negative responses on the other boards. Seems that alot of people get their nose bent out of shape when some one mentions WLS.

Yes sweetie, you are safe here feel free to ask anything you want.


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Hi Kim-

No regrets whatsoever! I had my WLS in 2002. I was about your size and went down to 150. I run up against the prejudice against WLS all of the time- still! It's just jealousy and ignorance, it really is. Only 2% of people who lose weight without WLS manage to keep it off. It's a LOT higher with the band and WAY higher with gastric bypass, at least it was when I talked with my surgeons.

Also, some of those people you are talking to might only have 20 lbs. to lose or personal trainers/chefs/abundant childcare/etc. Until someone has been 300 pounds, with the extra fat cells working against you to lose weight and keep it off and just the extra stress with being that overweight, they don't know what your life is like. I think it is absolutely terrific that you are trying to improve your health! Good for you!

Google obesityhelp and take a peek over there too. There should be some links to research and lots and lots of before and after pictures. I also want to say that Weight watchers has traditionally been (I feel) awfully high in sugar and sodium. I would never have lost 150 pounds following that program. Forcing myself with WLS to cut out the sugar changed my life. I still stick to 5 grams or less of sugar as a general rule.

My post op diet was much, much closer to what I am following now at Metabolic Research. High protein/no sugar/lowcarb, small portions, and lots of manufactured protein. Similiar diets are probably LA Weight Loss and Atkins.

Good luck to you, sweetie!

HI I wanted to thank you all for replying to my post.I really really appreciate it.Sorry I haven't got back before now,but I have been sick. I did get to a pre-op post-op support group last nite and it was really good.I will check it out again next thursday.I appreciate all the tips and nice kind words.

take care Kim

I wanted to also say Thanks, even though it was Kim who asked the questions, I have been debating on WLS for a while now. I probably would have had it already if it wasn't for my family and their negative response to it. My DH is completely supportive and has also thought about the WLS but again our family is against it.

Infact when we brought it up to my in-laws, my FIL got very upset about the thought of us getting it done. He said that we are too young to go through such major surgery when we could do it on our own. Well its like you all said, unless you have been 300 lbs or more (and he definitely has not been), you just do not get it. MIL didn't say much because she is a large lady too, so she knows what it feels like. Her Best Friend had the surgery done and that is what brought up the conversation. Her Best Friend is doing very well too I may add. We both have high risk health risks as well. DH has high blood pressure, high cholesterol, acid reflux, infact our dr said that one of his results for his cholesterol was a very very high risk for a stroke, he also has sleep apnea and knee problems.

I am a diabetic (type 2), I have had high cholesterol problems since I was a teenager, stomach problems since I was a teenager, depression, I have acid reflux, I have a spine injury from 10 yrs ago and the weight definitely does not help, I get winded walking only a little bit. Now my dr has put me on yet another new diabetic drug, trying to get my Blood Sugar down and so far it is working on that end, but the side effects are not pleasant. Muscular pain and WEIGHT GAIN are just two of the side effects. So far I have had the muscular pain and today I went to the store to get some milk and a few things, by the time I got to the back of the store I felt like I had ankle weights on. I did not honestly think I was going to make it back to the front of the store, but I did. I've never ever had that happen before, so I'm not sure if its the new medication or what, but it definitely was not pleasant, infact it was very scary!

Anyways. Thanks for all the inspiration.

Hi Kim,

I get so frustrated with people that have such negative opinions about gastric bypass. All I can say is it saved my life, literally. I was 300 Lbs as well and now I weigh approx. 180-185. No, I'm not perfectly thin, but at 5'7 I look just fine in my size 12 jeans (according to my husband, that is!). Yes, I would like to lose another 20lbs, but it will happen when I'm ready to buckle down again.

Anyway, do not be afraid, or hesitant. I can tell you as someone who went through the surgery and had some MAJOR complications (e.g. staff infection), I would still, without hesitation do the surgery. I'm an almost 3 yr post op and maintain my new weight easily. Yes, I do have moments and have gained up to 10 pounds, but now I know to catch myself and when I go back to basics, eat mostly protein, low carbs, the weight falls right back off.

Be grateful for your new lease on life to come, all the beginning suffering will be more than worth it in the long run.

Best to you!

Brando

Hi, you all. I'm pre-op also. Got my surgery date, June 20th. I'm reading these posts like crazy trying to get all the info I can. I will be having the RNY and I do plan on posting as soon as I get home and also have a journal. I went to the pre-op page and bought quite a few items that it said I would need when I get home. Hopefully I have everything together now except a loose fitting dress to wear home. I'll be traveling for two and a half hours home so certainly want to be comfortable and not binded. Any thing that I should know or check or buy, please inform me. Gotta go now. It's time for more water!!! LOL.

If I had to go through getting lap banded again, I would do it in a heartbeat. Before surgery, I had eaten myself back up to a size 28, was on nine different medications, had sleep apnea (now a milder form, but it will be gone eventually!), been treated for cardiac problems from age 35 up until February of this year, had high blood pressure, and have arthritis of the knees to the point I had to walk with crutches, just to name a few things...all before the age of 45. NOT a way to live.

Now I am down to three medications, no longer walk on crutches, have normal blood pressure, my cardiac problem is actually reversing itself, and currently, I have started to fit into a size 18. Everyone who has seen me has commented on how much happier I even look and act.

So those who pooh-pooh WLS? I wouldn't pay much mind...they don't know what it is like until they've been there and all other options have failed. Contrary to popular belief, it is NOT an "easy way out" or a permanent cure.

But to those who are pre-op, best wishes to you and a great journey to better health!

Hi This is Kim,I appreciate all the great reply's I got.Everyone here is so kind.My modem blew up so I was without a computer until today uuuggh I sure missed it.Kindof addicting lol No calories though

I am doing the pre-op 1200 calorie diet that kaiser wants me to do.Doing ok for awhile and then the last 2 days not so good.It's frustrating loving food so much.I was doing good with letting go of sugar which was a miracle since I am a sugar addict and then today and yesterday I had sugar the cravings are back.Can anyone please give me any tips to help get off this sugar and I have to go off caffeine but haven't yet.I go to kaiser ssf in about 2 weeks for 3 appt one with head of bariatrics,one with the dietician,and one with the physchologist so I am looking forward to that to be one on one with them. I hope everyone is doing well hugs

take care

Kim

nice to see you back, Kim. as for the sugar thing - no real advice here. although i DO find that if i eat a piece of fruit just about every day, the sugar cravings lessen considerably. notice i didn't say DISAPPEAR!!!!

gotta get to work! drat.

Hi thanks for emailing me.It sounds like sugar is just a constant one to be worked on . thanks for the tip on the fruit. I wish you a great day

take care
Kim

I've noticed for me, if I eat more fruits and stick to whole grain/healthier carbs, I do so much better with my cravings. My worst craving is something sweet to drink. I'm a coke fiend, and unfortunately even sticking to whole grain/healthier carbs can't even bust that craving.

Good luck!

Hi thanks for replying.I understand coke drinks with sugar in them are hard to get off. Just take it odat. Are you having surgery?or have you had surgery already.Take carehave a great day
Take care

Kim

I'm working on my 6 months' medically supervised weight loss. I am hoping to be banded, but won't know which one my surgeon will recommend until after my 6 months are up.