Gastric Bypass Surgery Support Group
Gastric bypass (GBP) is any of a group of similar operative procedures used to treat morbid obesity, a condition which arises from severe accumulation of excess weight in the form of fatty tissue, and the health problems ("co-morbidities") which result. If you are considering gastric bypass or have had it, join the community where we share our experiences and find support.
I thought I would compile a list of a few things I am learning as I go through this process. Might be of some help for those of you beginning the process or considering the steps. These are not in any particular order, just typed as I think of them.
* It is a marathon, not a sprint. Don't expect to wake up the day after surgery and see a smaller wasteline. Line out your goals, and talk them over with your Doctor. Make sure you are realistic in what you want. Fast weight loss is exciting, but it will slow down, and it will take effort on your part to get there. This is not magic.
* The six month pre op process feels like it takes forever, until right after surgery, and then you feel like it should have been longer.
* If you have trouble making changes pre op, you will struggle big time after. This includes giving up soda, fast food, eating fast, drinking with meals and more.
* You can expect to go for weeks if not a few months of not eating anything with any taste. By the time you do your pre op diet, full liquids, puree, and move on and try to find things you can eat. It is a long and frustrating time. Make sure you are prepared.
* You WILL HAVE to drink protein drinks you get what you need. Start the search pre op and have your sources lined up. Your tastes may change, so don't stock up, but be aware of the options.
* What works for me, may not work for you. Don't get frustrated at the differences. Each battle is individual, as are the way the body reacts to everything.
* Dont expect tomorrow to be like to today. You never know when your body will throw a tantrum. Today may tough, and tomorrow better, or the other way around. Don't expect to eat the same thing daily, because that dang pouch will keep you guessing. What I eat for dinner at 6 pm, will not sit with me for my lunch at 3 am. (vampire shift work)
* It will be months after surgery before you feel physically hungry, but that dang head will mess with you constantly. Plan your attack prior to your surgery. Find your triggers and decide how to address them. It will help with the food mourning and the head work after.
* Make sure you are prepared to give up food that you love pre op. There is a better than average chance that you may never eat a Pizza, hot wings, soda, cheesecake ect ect ever again. Are YOU prepared to give up your favorite foods forever? Remember that some things will make you physically ill after just a bite or two. So it is more than just saying I am not supposed to have this, your body will kick your rear for it. This causes some pretty serious mourning post op. You will read about depression after surgery, and this is a big contributor.
* Practice your vitamin schedule ahead of time. I am finding it a terrible pain to remember a multi 2x a day, and calciul 3 x a day, but not close to each other. I am also taking stuff for ulcers that came on post op, 2 meds 2 x a day and not close together. It is exhausting to remember and I just can't get the routine down yet.
* Drink drink drink. Start getting used to 64 oz of fluid now. No soda, no caffeine, just good ole fluids. It does not seem like much, but those first weeks after surgery it feels like you are trying to conquer the world. Start getting the feel of the amount so it is second nature.
* Be prepared for some changes. Body odor and bad breath come along with the process. I feel like I could brush my teeth 6 times a day and still have a terrible taste in my mouth. Deodorant just doesn't seem to cut it right now. Summer time makes it worse.
* Energy levels bounce. One day you are on top of the world, the next it is a struggle to move.
To be continued..... Feel free to add on peeps.
* It is a marathon, not a sprint. Don't expect to wake up the day after surgery and see a smaller wasteline. Line out your goals, and talk them over with your Doctor. Make sure you are realistic in what you want. Fast weight loss is exciting, but it will slow down, and it will take effort on your part to get there. This is not magic.
* The six month pre op process feels like it takes forever, until right after surgery, and then you feel like it should have been longer.
* If you have trouble making changes pre op, you will struggle big time after. This includes giving up soda, fast food, eating fast, drinking with meals and more.
* You can expect to go for weeks if not a few months of not eating anything with any taste. By the time you do your pre op diet, full liquids, puree, and move on and try to find things you can eat. It is a long and frustrating time. Make sure you are prepared.
* You WILL HAVE to drink protein drinks you get what you need. Start the search pre op and have your sources lined up. Your tastes may change, so don't stock up, but be aware of the options.
* What works for me, may not work for you. Don't get frustrated at the differences. Each battle is individual, as are the way the body reacts to everything.
* Dont expect tomorrow to be like to today. You never know when your body will throw a tantrum. Today may tough, and tomorrow better, or the other way around. Don't expect to eat the same thing daily, because that dang pouch will keep you guessing. What I eat for dinner at 6 pm, will not sit with me for my lunch at 3 am. (vampire shift work)
* It will be months after surgery before you feel physically hungry, but that dang head will mess with you constantly. Plan your attack prior to your surgery. Find your triggers and decide how to address them. It will help with the food mourning and the head work after.
* Make sure you are prepared to give up food that you love pre op. There is a better than average chance that you may never eat a Pizza, hot wings, soda, cheesecake ect ect ever again. Are YOU prepared to give up your favorite foods forever? Remember that some things will make you physically ill after just a bite or two. So it is more than just saying I am not supposed to have this, your body will kick your rear for it. This causes some pretty serious mourning post op. You will read about depression after surgery, and this is a big contributor.
* Practice your vitamin schedule ahead of time. I am finding it a terrible pain to remember a multi 2x a day, and calciul 3 x a day, but not close to each other. I am also taking stuff for ulcers that came on post op, 2 meds 2 x a day and not close together. It is exhausting to remember and I just can't get the routine down yet.
* Drink drink drink. Start getting used to 64 oz of fluid now. No soda, no caffeine, just good ole fluids. It does not seem like much, but those first weeks after surgery it feels like you are trying to conquer the world. Start getting the feel of the amount so it is second nature.
* Be prepared for some changes. Body odor and bad breath come along with the process. I feel like I could brush my teeth 6 times a day and still have a terrible taste in my mouth. Deodorant just doesn't seem to cut it right now. Summer time makes it worse.
* Energy levels bounce. One day you are on top of the world, the next it is a struggle to move.
To be continued..... Feel free to add on peeps.
Thank you for taking the time to write this.
Betsy
Great post! Gives a person just beginning al lot to think about and get serious about changing their lifestyle forever!
* One big thing I notice- While the online support group is a great place to share stories and visit with others in the same boat, PLEASE remember that this is not a replacement for you Doctors advice. Be on the safe side and call the Dr office with any questions related to medications, what to eat when, health concerns and the like. You have paid them big money to take care of you, let them do it.
* As an add on to previous comment, it seems that there are different plans and programs for every Doctor. I am sure that there is a reason that each Doc has decided on the program that they use. It is very important to follow your Doctors plan. Keep in mind that there are different surgeries amongst us, and the eating plans vary as well. I believe that sleevers are allowed more food in less time than RNYers. There is a reason we are put on liquid diets, and pureed. Please please follow your doctors plan. it is in place to keep you safe and to help you reach your goals.
* This board is a wonderful place to come and hear great stories of success. As you spend more time here you will notice a trend of people fading away at points after surgery. Some early on, others will go for a few months, and some great supporters stay for longer. The most exciting part of WLS is following surgery. You lose your most weight then. Make sure you are keeping your expectations realistic for a long term plan. I can tell you that I am averaging .84 lbs a day, but I am only 8 weeks out and I am destined for a stall. That average will fall.
You will also notice that the people with the greatest of complications rarely post. That does not mean they are not happening. I don't say this as a means to frighten anyone off of this life changing journey, but to make sure that expectations are real. We see the happy stories for the most part, but there are hard stories out there as well. Talk to your Doctor and ask what he has seen.
* This ride is a Roller Coaster. One day you are floating on air, the next you feel you can't get out of bed. Again, I am only 8 weeks out, I can't say when it will balance. Be prepared to deal with this.
* Plan out how you will deal with social situations. I personally don't want to be considered special in my choice. I still want people to feel like they can comfortably come to my home and not feel like they are offending me in anyway because I made the choice to to change my eating habits. If you want to come and sit in my living rooms snorfing on chips and drinking soda, please do. I will learn to deal with my cravings around you. This is a choice you have to make for yourself. Will you banish your friends and their junk food, or will your maintain your current social life and work on your own head.
* You can share with your friends, your family ect, but in the end you are alone in this journey. No matter how many people pat you on the back, and cheer you on, the choices for life are all in your hands. Are you ready to walk this fine line alone? I have two teenage boys. They support me, but they also still eat like teenagers.
I think all my posts today are a bit of a downer. I have had a great journey, but feel like I am at a point of great struggle right now. I am not getting enough to drink, my vitamins and medications schedule is full time work, don't eat or drink before or after ect ect. Most food just does not taste good, and if it tastes it does not sit. I think I am at a point of great mourning for the foods I loved before, and need to come to terms with the fact that I will probably never eat those things again.
If you are considering this surgery DO your homework. Get the good, the bad and everything in between and decide if you are ready to handle it. Would I go back if I could? Hell no! I am down 70 lbs, and almost to a point I can live my life again. I have many changes in my personality, and my outlook on life. Do I feel like I have dedicated my every waking moment to trying to get in my protein, fluids and vitamins? Yes. I would love to just wake up and go through a day like I was able to 3 months ago, (minus the pain and misery.)
I compare this to having success with Jenny Craig, or any other diet. You lose the weight and it is great and exciting. But then you quit eating the prepared foods and weight creeps back. When you have WLS, there is not sneaking out for a treat, and you can't just quit eating the plan. The plan is always there. If you hated living the Jenny Craig plan because the food was boring, start researching and eating recipes for WLS and see if you can live that lifestyle FOREVER.
At Christmas, I tried to talk to my mom about this, in hopes she would look into it and follow suit. She is pre diabetic, heart problems, high blood pressure, chronic pain. Now that I have had the surgery and know how hard it is, I know that my mom would never be able to handle the struggle. She can't bring herself to use FF mayo. Try not to let deperation put rose colored glasses on you.