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pennclar058

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Good morning,
My medical doctor referred me to get weight loss surgery, and even though I am complying with everything on my pre-surgery list, I have a lot of questions that is making me uncertain about having this surgery. Not only do I feel alone on this journey, but I don't know who I can confide in about my thoughts and fears.
 
Glad to meet you. If you don't mind my asking, what made your dr recommend you having WLS? Have you tried losing weight and then regained it and a little more each time? That is part of the journey almost all of us have experienced. Unfortunately once we became overweight/obese, our body diligently works to keep us large and hungry, making long-term weight-loss extremely difficult. Hence, choosing WLS is the tool we have used to begin a new, healthier lifestyle. Even if we struggle, it is gratifying to lose much of our excess weight and feel so much better physically and mentally. Good luck making your decision. You'll find lots of non-judgmental support here.
 
pennclar058 said:
Good morning,
My medical doctor referred me to get weight loss surgery, and even though I am complying with everything on my pre-surgery list, I have a lot of questions that is making me uncertain about having this surgery. Not only do I feel alone on this journey, but I don't know who I can confide in about my thoughts and fears.
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Welcome! You will find so much knowledge here. So glad you're on your journey with us!
 
Dianeseattle is an enormous wealth of information and wisdom. She is a valuable person of experience here. WLS is a journey and a new way to look at food, it is not easy and don’t let anyone tell you it is. May you find the nswers you are looking for and answers to questions you didn’t think to ask. Be safe have fun
 
MANDY2910 said:
Welcome to the group! Ask any question and we will be happy to help.
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KarenWV said:
Glad to meet you. If you don't mind my asking, what made your dr recommend you having WLS? Have you tried losing weight and then regained it and a little more each time? That is part of the journey almost all of us have experienced. Unfortunately once we became overweight/obese, our body diligently works to keep us large and hungry, making long-term weight-loss extremely difficult. Hence, choosing WLS is the tool we have used to begin a new, healthier lifestyle. Even if we struggle, it is gratifying to lose much of our excess weight and feel so much better physically and mentally. Good luck making your decision. You'll find lots of non-judgmental support here.
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Hi there Karen and thanks so much for making me feel welcome. I am 59 years old with a history of back problems and currently on disability after having surgery in 2018 to remove a bulging disc and herniation which was caused from an auto accident. The surgery was successful in removing the bulge off of a nerve but have left me in constant back pain and nerve damage to my right leg. Due to the pain, I loss my independence for driving and other social activities as well as my ability to exercise, sit, stand and walk for long periods of time. Not only did I lose my independence but I became isolated from everything and everyone that meant something to me and it left me feeling broken, forgotten, lonely, and depressed so I started stress eating and gained back weight that I had lost when I was able to exercise and more.

The WLS was recommended by my PCP because of my lack of regular exercise and a concern for my health due to my weight. However, since January 2022, I felt that I have been on a roller coaster ride with this pre-surgery stage and with only two more clearances left to go, I am struggling with uncertainty due to some of the unanswered questions that I still have.
 
pennclar058 said:
Hi there Karen and thanks so much for making me feel welcome. I am 59 years old with a history of back problems and currently on disability after having surgery in 2018 to remove a bulging disc and herniation which was caused from an auto accident. The surgery was successful in removing the bulge off of a nerve but have left me in constant back pain and nerve damage to my right leg. Due to the pain, I loss my independence for driving and other social activities as well as my ability to exercise, sit, stand and walk for long periods of time. Not only did I lose my independence but I became isolated from everything and everyone that meant something to me and it left me feeling broken, forgotten, lonely, and depressed so I started stress eating and gained back weight that I had lost when I was able to exercise and more.

The WLS was recommended by my PCP because of my lack of regular exercise and a concern for my health due to my weight. However, since January 2022, I felt that I have been on a roller coaster ride with this pre-surgery stage and with only two more clearances left to go, I am struggling with uncertainty due to some of the unanswered questions that I still have.
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No wonder you are feeling a little gun-shy after having complications from a previous surgery! I'm sorry for all of the pain and loneliness you feel. Food seems like it's always there for you so it makes sense that you would emotional eat! Glad you're here.
 
dianeseattle said:
There are 12,000 archived posts. Search by topic to find wise responses. I've never found smarter, more caring people than the ones who live here.
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Hi Diane, thanks so much for your support and kindness. I am truly happy that I found this support group and for your response to help me find the information that can help me make my decision and feel better about it. Thanks again!
 
There are definitely a lot of hoops to jump through before they will give you approval for WLS. They want to make sure that you are going to be physically and mentally able to use your tool properly. I actually had to wait an extra 2 1/2 months due to lockdown, but I am still grateful for the time before surgery that allowed me to focus and get myself in the right headspace.

What are your most pressing concerns and questions? We can't answer if you don't ask. I can almost feel the trepidation radiating from your posts. You can ask. You can tell us what is going on We've all either been through it or are going through it. We're not going to be shocked if you say "I don't WANT to stop eating!" We're not going to blink an eye if you say "I think surgery is cheating and I should be able to do it myself!" We've been there, done that. So ask away. We will give you the best advice we can from our own personal experience.
 
missyinacage said:
There are definitely a lot of hoops to jump through before they will give you approval for WLS. They want to make sure that you are going to be physically and mentally able to use your tool properly. I actually had to wait an extra 2 1/2 months due to lockdown, but I am still grateful for the time before surgery that allowed me to focus and get myself in the right headspace.

What are your most pressing concerns and questions? We can't answer if you don't ask. I can almost feel the trepidation radiating from your posts. You can ask. You can tell us what is going on We've all either been through it or are going through it. We're not going to be shocked if you say "I don't WANT to stop eating!" We're not going to blink an eye if you say "I think surgery is cheating and I should be able to do it myself!" We've been there, done that. So ask away. We will give you the best advice we can from our own personal experience.
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Hi there Missy, I am not a shy person and I am sorry about the delays but I've been writing in the mornings before I go to my various doctor appointments and because I am hurting a little more than usual when I get back home, I usually go to bed and don't get back online until the next day. So forgive me for my silence.

One of my questions is that as someone who is a picky eater, I am being told that I can't eat certain types of foods. I usually eat what I like and most of the time I have to be in the mood for that particular food. I don't eat a lot of deserts, chocolate, sweets and if I have to choose I would rather eat a home cook meal than I would eat fast foods. I love bread, potatoes, rice, beans, peas, and some fruits, but these foods are considered carbs and I am being advised to eliminate them from my diet. However, I am having a hard time trying to figure out what are good carbs and what I can use to substitute the foods that I like. I actually have eliminated most of my carbs but I am having a hard time with bread. I went from two slices, to one, to whole wheat thins, to half of a pita bread. I know that there is more to just eating salads but I find that I am timid and afraid of eating at times and until I can get better clarification on what and why, it will continue to be hard for me to fully let go of the food that I love.
 
Good carbs come from fruit and vegetables, cheese, Greek yogurt, things like that. I love bread as well. You can buy low carb low calorie tortillas that are really good, make Keto “cloud bread”. There are several low carb options. Remember however that bread of any kind fills up your pouch so it’s important to make sure you have your protein in before you indulge. The tortilla that a lot of us use is from Mr. Tortilla. Lots of different flavors to choose from. Hope this helps
 
Bread craving used to be a major part of my old life. Something changed after WLS. I had read extensively how simple carbs quickly turn to sugar in the bloodstream ( for quick bursts of energy), but are stored as fat if they aren't burned up by exercise/movement. This was great for evolutionary reasons so we could survive famine, etc., but not helpful for losing weight!

After weight loss surgery, I must have brainwashed myself into not craving carbs any longer, or the surgery changed my taste buds, or I had/have a combo of both. I am so fortunate that I no longer want to eat bread, rolls, noodles, potatoes, corn, and sweets. I'm not sure if that always will be the case, but it sure makes eating healthier a bit less challenging in that aspect. I do eat Kroger's carb master yogurt, the protein shakes are plenty sweet for me, and I occasionally eat fruit now that I'm 10 months out from gastric bypass.

Beans like pintos are complex carbs, and are much healthier and will keep you fuller longer as you progress. Those low-carb tortillas are a good substitute if bread is a must have. I totally stopped buying any empty carb snacks, because even a few bites of cheese puffs etc. might unleash the Krakon!!!

Good luck on your journey. Take things day by day.
 
KarenWV said:
Bread craving used to be a major part of my old life. Something changed after WLS. I had read extensively how simple carbs quickly turn to sugar in the bloodstream ( for quick bursts of energy), but are stored as fat if they aren't burned up by exercise/movement. This was great for evolutionary reasons so we could survive famine, etc., but not helpful for losing weight!

After weight loss surgery, I must have brainwashed myself into not craving carbs any longer, or the surgery changed my taste buds, or I had/have a combo of both. I am so fortunate that I no longer want to eat bread, rolls, noodles, potatoes, corn, and sweets. I'm not sure if that always will be the case, but it sure makes eating healthier a bit less challenging in that aspect. I do eat Kroger's carb master yogurt, the protein shakes are plenty sweet for me, and I occasionally eat fruit now that I'm 10 months out from gastric bypass.

Beans like pintos are complex carbs, and are much healthier and will keep you fuller longer as you progress. Those low-carb tortillas are a good substitute if bread is a must have. I totally stopped buying any empty carb snacks, because even a few bites of cheese puffs etc. might unleash the Krakon!!!

Good luck on your journey. Take things day by day.
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Hi there Karen and to all that responded to my post! I am so glad that I found this support group because the information that you all have given to me has really helped in making me feel a lot better about this journey. Karen I especially want to thank you for your response because it kinds of simplifies things for me especially with regards to bread and other carbs which has made it a lot more easier to let go than before. So, thanks guys for helping me find the strength to get over the huddle.

I am not all the way out of the woods yet, but I am on the right track and as someone had suggested, I have been doing my research by reviewing some of the post in the archives and looking at some Youtube videos which is helping me to be a little more informed than before. As of last week, I have completed all of the pre-surgery clearances and hopefully will find out what the next step in the process will be when I see the WLS team next week.
Thanks again everyone for your help and support and I pray that you all have a wonderful day!
 
I also used to be a picky eater and Kraft macaroni and cheese was my all-time favorite food. So, changes had to be made lol

I like Karens explanation about carbs. I think too many people think they're all bad and you should avoid them, which isn't true. What you should try to avoid is highly processed carbs. The easiest way to figure out which carbs are "good" is to look at a diabetic dietary guide or the glycemic index.

My program suggested eating protein first, then veggies and carbs last. The fact is, you're not going to have a lot of room for the carbs if you focus on the other two first. I am 2 years out and not everything I eat is "good for me" But I mostly stick to real food and try to avoid added sugars. That's it.
 
pennclar058 said:
Hi there Karen and to all that responded to my post! I am so glad that I found this support group because the information that you all have given to me has really helped in making me feel a lot better about this journey. Karen I especially want to thank you for your response because it kinds of simplifies things for me especially with regards to bread and other carbs which has made it a lot more easier to let go than before. So, thanks guys for helping me find the strength to get over the huddle.

I am not all the way out of the woods yet, but I am on the right track and as someone had suggested, I have been doing my research by reviewing some of the post in the archives and looking at some Youtube videos which is helping me to be a little more informed than before. As of last week, I have completed all of the pre-surgery clearances and hopefully will find out what the next step in the process will be when I see the WLS team next week.
Thanks again everyone for your help and support and I pray that you all have a wonderful day!
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congratulations on finishing all of your pre-surgery clearances! You're on your way!
 
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