Obesity Surgery WP Blog

Hiya Groovy peps! Just thought I would introduce myself and give
ya’all my story. I am a travel agent in Portland, Oregon. I am 27
years old, fat since the age of 10, I have been on lots of diets,
joined lots of gyms, pretty much the works only to gain back more
than I lost.
I decided to look into WLS when I stumbled across a WLS story while
looking for diets of all things! I have my first general information
meeting with Dr. Patterson in Portland, Oregon this July. To get the
basics pretty much. I am still looking to purchase individual
insurace to cover this as my employer doesn’t provide any type of
health insurance. So I am in the begining stages of getting it done,
but I have decided to go all out in my quest. I don’t even know what
type of surgery I want yet, so I look forward to hearing everybodies
post and pre-op stories!
Wish me luck!
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*sigh* Well I made the mistake of telling a few co workers that I
plan on having the surgery and i got thumbs down from EVERYONE! One
of my co workers even told be about her 2 aunts having the surgery and
regretting it. Seems they can’t eat like they use to. Well DUHA!!
Did they think they would be able to eat like they use to and STILL
keep the weight off??!! Another co worker is telling me don’t have
it (mind you see is 285 pounds and is 5 feet 6 and is ALWAYS on some
sort of diet.
*sigh* Now i wish I hadn’t said a word. I had set my mind to having
the surgery. I know about everything that could go wrong, but i also
know about how great it’ll be not having to take 10 blood pressure
meds a day and not having to stick my self 3 times a day because i’m
on insulin.
Can anyone calm me down again? I was really doing ok about this whole
thing. I need a pep talk. lol *SIGH*
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Hi everyone,
I am just curious how many on the list have had leakage??
Michelle C.
BMI 52
Surgery Date: July 15, 2003 @ Brigham and Woman Hospital.
313/???

It’s not true about losing weight slower because of age, atleast not in my case.
I had wls surgery on 10/30/02. Six months later, I am within ten pounds of my
goal weight. I was 53 years old on April 20th. What we believe about ourselves
determines outcome. What is true for you alone?
Sharon

Hi all Has anybody gotten gall stones after WLS. I was told it could
happen…what are the symptoms? I am having pain alot .. it feels like its
through the front and out the back…I have a doc’ s appointment soon and will
discuss it then but would like opinions from you guys. Also…how do you know
if you have a hernia…when I eat…sometimes a part of my stomach (outside one
of course:)) looks pointed????? Disclaimer: Not looking for medical
opinions…and none will be taken as such….just looking for plain ole
opinions. :):):):):) Annette

My doctor’s concern about these types of medicines is only in PART ulcers.
His real concern is the abuse the liver takes in the quick weight loss phase
of wls. As your body loses weight, the liver gets over taxed. To add to
that pain meds that are hard on the liver may be overkill and can damage the
liver. That is why he actually tells us to “tough it out” unless it is
REALLY severe pain and then he prefers a narcotic over over the counter…I
personally think after the weight loss period and your liver has had time to
recover there is LESS risk for occasional use of otc pain meds.

I know we have been discussing this food addiction issue at length lately and
I have a question about a healthy food.
Anyone who has ever been to Sweetwater Tavern may be able to relate. How
soon after surgery is it safe to eat salad in a reasonable post op portion
size? I am concerned about the possibility that the lettuce or corn kernels
might potentially get stuck in the stoma. I love salad, especially in the
summer and I know I read some post-ops still enjoy it because it has a lot of
water in it for hydration.
Sweetwater makes a GREAT salad with finely chopped romaine lettuce, fresh
corn kernels, diced tomatoes, shredded cheddar and montery jack cheeses
(protein!), diced cucumbers and probably something I am forgetting all tossed
generously in a buttermilk dressing. Mmmmmmmm!! Okay, now I want one!
I am 2 weeks post op (I know, I know…why I am even thinking of eating solid
food so soon?) and have done well with the cottage cheese, yogurt, minced
tuna with low fat mayo, moist chicken in small bites and chewed to nothing,
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I had a real problem with food pre-op. I was a sweet eater and
actually would just about anything I could get my hands on. I was
noticing pretty recently how I eat now and how I used to eat. The
one thing that I have shyed away from is ice cream. I could sit and
down a half gallon of ice cream in a couple of sittings (all in the
same night). Now, I can eat a couple of bites and that suits me just
fine. I can remember going to McDonald’s with my children and buying
a 2 cheeseburger extra value meal supersized and I could down each
and every bite and get refills on my supersized Dr. Pepper. Now, I
can go to McDonald’s, eat a couple of french fries of my kids meals
and eat a side salad with my water. I can remember going to Subway
and getting a footlong tuna on wheat with Mayonaise, pickles, black
olives with chips and a drink and scarf it all down and be
satisfied. Now I get a veggie delite salad and eat about half of
it. I never realized until post surgery how much of an emotional
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Does anyone know of a wls cookbook out there suitable for someone a
couple of months out?
Teresa

I think I understand where you’re coming from, but I also think it’s not
messed up at all to be thinking about things like wedding cake or when
one will be able to go to a restaurant, especially a preop thinking
forward. A wedding is usually one of, if not the most important things
to happen in a person’s life - I know it would have been a big deal to
me if I thought I might not be able to eat *any* of it, that’s one of
the big ceremonies of the wedding reception. And going to a restaurant
is fun, and lots of people enjoy it more for the company than the food.
It kind of reminds me of getting pregnant for the first time. I (and
most first time moms) wanted to know everything I could about what it’d
be like after the baby came. It is my nature to consider all the
possibilities and to try and know all I can before the fact. So I
understand a preop going through all the potential conflicts in her
mind. I don’t think that says anything about her potential success.
Maybe more that she’s someone who likes to know what’s ahead instead of
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