Surgery on May 25th- but debating and nervous if I should do it

[Jboogie80]

Hi All!
I am a 44 yr old male and I am at 270lbs with high blood pressure and sleep apnea. I chickened out for my first attempt in April and trying again I two weeks but debating again. I am nervous about eating. I have a relationship with food and afraid I won't be able to eat foods I like again. I am 270 but a lot is muscle cause I used to powerlift but I know I have a gut too. I have tried many diets and lost weight but always gained back and hoping this will help me keep the weight off.
Is there anyone in the same situation or was in same frame of mind and had surgery? I don't drink beer much once and a while but I do enjoy a diet soda now and then and know we can't have it after surgery. I read a NYTimes article that said taste changes and things you like and craved before you no longer do because of hormone changes.
Any advice or help is so greatly appreciated

Also, has anyone suffered from the hair loss issues I hear about?

Thanks so much for welcoming me to this forum.
Joe.

[Luna354]

I don't think any of us can tell you what the right thing to do is. I can tell you my only regret is not doing it sooner. Your sleep apnea and your high blood pressure will be gone not long after surgery.

In my experience (everyone's is different), mine is like that article. I have had a sip of my once loved diet coke since surgery. I thought it was disgusting. I can tolerate an occasional beer (mich ultra). My tastes for food have changed a lot. I used to never eat beef. Now I crave it. I also want everything with hot sauce (this can be funny since we can't drink and eat at the same time after surgery).

Have you addressed your concerns and relationship with food with a therapist?

[Jboogie80]

Thanks Luna for posting and giving me great advice. I don't have a therapist, I only went to one to get clearance. I am happy to hear about tolerating a beer and the confirmation on the taste changes. I found it interesting about that fact. I was weary that I can't enjoy the foods I love, obviously in much smaller portions.

I am very dedicated to thing once I get started and see the improvement. When going on diets prior I was strict to my life style change but it was when injury prevented me from working out I would back track. Most of the time it was because I was hungry all the time. I have to follow the rules they tell you, not to eat in front of tv, when bored, stressed, etc.

Thanks for your insight. Do you find yourself hungry any more?

[country101]

I have mine scheduled for May 23rd, and I'm nervous as well. If I don't go through with it I will regret it. I'm actually feeling pretty good about it. I had to have heart surgery last summer. Some of the issues I still have are probably due to being overweight.

[KORY]

I was nervous about getting mine done and I don't regret it at all. Your food do change and there are days I get frustrated because I can't eat how much I want, but.att the end of the day when you see that scale dropping, it is worth the sacrifice. I was a Diet soda addict and I don't crave it one bit. I say do it, but you are the one to live with your choice.

[Jboogie80]

Best of Luck Country, we'll do it together.

[Jboogie80]

Kory thank you. Nice to hear you don't crave the diet soda. I know I liked to drink it once in a while when smoking cigars, etc. Thanks again!

[Donald G]

Based on what you said about having a relationship with food you would not have been cleared for surgery through the program I went through. You wouldn't have been cleared by the programs therapist for surgery until they had your food relationship solved. The good news is there really isn't to much you can not eat if you really want to you just eat far far less of it after surgery then you did before. I know a few people who still drink soda they just let it go flaat first before drinking it so the carbonation doesn't give them a problem.

[Jboogie80]

Thanks Donald, I appreciate the feedback. You had your surgery recently and have been doing outstanding with weight loss! so cool!! Congrats.

[country101]

Awesome, I'm not alone then..lol

[RehabNurse]

I have a relationship with food and afraid I won't be able to eat foods I like again.

After your stomach heals and relaxes, you can eat anything you can tolerate.

However, there's the concept of moderation versus abstinence. Some people can moderate their intake of favorite foods, whereas others must abstain to keep from going off the rails.

If you admittedly have a relationship with food, it might also be a great idea to develop a professional relationship with a psychotherapist or counselor. Obesity is not really about the food. Rather, 90 percent of the battle is mental. People have regained 100+ pounds with a sleeve, so a reduced-size stomach will not stop the compulsion to overeat.

Good luck to you!

[Jboogie80]

thanks RehabNurse, I get scared too from hearing people gain all the weight back in 2-3 years after surgery. Then it's like what is the purpose? I know I can eat in moderation, it was the fear of never being able to eat foods I like again. I am Italian and we eat all the stuff that packs on the pounds. I like to have some pastas, pizza, etc...but I can limit myself. If I get full I can stop, it's rebuilding new eating habits and if I get full faster with the surgery all the better. I know i can enjoy these foods again, but at a limited scale. It's just the taste of the food that will satisfy me. Thanks again.

[sraebaer]

Nothing changed for me except I eat less! Same delicious foods as before, and I enjoy them just as much as I used to. My tastes didn't change at all. I do however make much better choices than I did before, typically a protein and veggie. And living with a gourmet cook, that protein and veggie is always amazing.

I still crave junk once in a while, but when I do l have a little and forget about it. Like my former favorite food was chicken tenders, and I have probably tried them about three times in the past three years. Same with Chinese food. Doesn't appeal to me much anymore. Still love pizza though, but one piece is delicious and all I need.

I'm a rebel, I still drink diet soda. My doctor never said no, said it bothers some people. Not me. No food has ever bothered me.

[Jboogie80]

Thanks sraebaer!! That is great to hear. I start my two week pre op Friday this week and know that is going to be hell but I know it will be good long term. You had your surgery a couple years ago do you see any weight gain or issues? What about vitamins and eating the protein do you still maintain 60g? Did you experience hair loss issues? Thank you.

[sraebaer]

Thanks sraebaer!! That is great to hear. I start my two week pre op Friday this week and know that is going to be hell but I know it will be good long term. You had your surgery a couple years ago do you see any weight gain or issues? What about vitamins and eating the protein do you still maintain 60g? Did you experience hair loss issues? Thank you.

I lost all my weight in about 9 months and have maintained ever since, almost 3 years. I do weigh myself daily, and If i'm up a pound or two I get right back on track. I think it was WAY easier to lose than maintain. Losing the weight just fell off, and really fast. I still take all my bariatric vitamins, and yes still concentrate on protein. Tonight it's Red Snapper and broccoli. I lost some hair, but have really thick hair so it's not at all noticeable. (I haven't heard of anyone going bald!) I only had to do 5 days of liquids before surgery, I guess I was lucky. In my opinion, this surgery is the best thing ever invented, it gave me my life back. And with no complications at all, for me it was amazingly easy.