Bariatric surgery and woods prep

silenthunterstudios

silenthunterstudios

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I am getting bariatric surgery in April. The long term goal is to be healthy enough to hike the Appalachian trail in it's entirety. I've hiked small portions in MD and PA, less than three miles. I was put on the fast track due to my great insurance, my insurance company probably threw a party when they found out I was getting the surgery. It is not a magic bullet or pill, but I am excited regardless. My weight and past injuries have held me back.

Thinking about woods walking scenarios, constant drinking of water and literally having to remind yourself to eat are both very important after surgery. Has anyone here had the bariatric surgery, I'm getting the bypass, or do you know anyone that has had the surgery. Supposedly, my diabetes will most likely need to be controlled by medicine, but will be much better after surgery. No more pain meds for my broken back, but I'm only taking 800 mg ibuprofen (and heck, it doesn't do anything anymore), Tylenol and turmeric. No NSAIDs, those listed before, and probably no more BP meds.

Actually, this can range from the local trails near my house, to the AT, to hoofing it down the road in my neighborhood.
 
I would follow the doctor's guidance in terms of your recovery. Can't imagine tackling the AT after surgery like that.
 
I have no idea on any of it, apart from the generalities, and the little I know about your struggle with this. The fact that you say its not a magic bullet, and you have been willing to put in the hard yards so far shows a lot. We all have different bodies, and you are likely more in tune with yours than most to be honest. follow your recovery plan (my wife knows people who have slipped bands by going too hard when the doc said wait) it will take some adjusting, but I think that having focus, and only one thing to do, (well, two, walk-eat-walk) will be easier than many who have 100 other things to focus on.
 
Hey what's up? Been awhile since we talked. I had the surgery 6 years ago and my wife had hers almost 10 years ado. We both had R&Y (bypass) surgery. I lost over 125 lbs and the Mrs lost about the same. between the 2 of us we've lost another whole person. If you have any questions about what to expect feel free to drop me a line or ask me here I'll tell ya everything I know. Good luck with the up comin' surgery. One main thing you need to discuss with your doctors is how long term meds act, because of the type of surgery you're havin' Absorption of meds is greatly affected. Any time release meds won't have the ability to stay in you long enough to to be effective.

I have all kinds of stories my friend so feel free to ask any questions you have, I'll be completely honest in answering anything you want to know.
 
Ted, I did not know. If you're on Messenger, I'll hit you up there. I am not afraid, I was a little apprehensive, but I am more than ready to get this done. I am tired of being fat most of all, and realize that between food and diabetes meds that keep weight on, it is a losing war. Thank you for your offer of support.

Most people that I've talked with, that gained weight back, thought they could eat like they did before.
 
It's no magic bullet, since the surgery I've regained 25 lbs but still 100 down. My issue is from the shoulder surgery and not bein' as active as I usually am. I'll get back down to my goal weight this spring :) . The hardest thing is once you get past the "Honeymoon" period where you don't have to do anything to lose the weight you'll have to be vigilant because the weight can creep back up on you. Another piece of advice, find a support group to become part of from the local area, preferably with folks who used the same surgeon. It is a tremendous help to have support from folks nearby who went through it, kinda like a support group for AA, sometimes ya just need someone to lean on. Lastly be aware of what causes dumping in you and avoid it like the plague, hell first time you experience it you won't want to feel it again.

BTW, I'm on messenger I'll send you a pm with my phone # too when I come back inside. It's a tough choice to make and a major lifestyle change, don't let anyone tell you you're takin' the easy way out. People like that are ignorant and have no clue what's involved, like I said feel free to pick my brain.
 
T. Erdelyi said:
It's no magic bullet, since the surgery I've regained 25 lbs but still 100 down. My issue is from the shoulder surgery and not bein' as active as I usually am. I'll get back down to my goal weight this spring :) . The hardest thing is once you get past the "Honeymoon" period where you don't have to do anything to lose the weight you'll have to be vigilant because the weight can creep back up on you. Another piece of advice, find a support group to become part of from the local area, preferably with folks who used the same surgeon. It is a tremendous help to have support from folks nearby who went through it, kinda like a support group for AA, sometimes ya just need someone to lean on. Lastly be aware of what causes dumping in you and avoid it like the plague, hell first time you experience it you won't want to feel it again.

BTW, I'm on messenger I'll send you a pm with my phone # too when I come back inside. It's a tough choice to make and a major lifestyle change, don't let anyone tell you you're takin' the easy way out. People like that are ignorant and have no clue what's involved, like I said feel free to pick my brain.
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The plan is to start strength training as soon as I'm medically cleared, and to walk. I still have a soft spot, no pun intended, for sweets, and have heard from the mandatory support group that it varies for most people. Most of the issues people talk about after surgery, I've had before. I am not going to hike the AT on the way home after the surgery, but I want to start walking at home at least several days after.
 
They encourage it, they had me up and walking as soon as the anesthesia cleared my head. I'm sure they told you walking is the best thing for the post surgery pain and cramps too, they're right. You're in the right mindset for the surgery, sounds like you have a good team. Support is the best thing you can have but when you get near your goal weight there'll be a moment where realize how much you've missed as a result of the weight. There's a pic of the Mrs somewhere about a year after her surgery where she was out in the yard with the weed whacker was held above her head in triumph because it had been 15 years before she'd been able to even walk the property let alone help me to take care of it. There's a smile on her face in that pic I hadn't seen in awhile and it was great to see it.

When she sees people who are so bad they can't even move she wants to shake them and scream, "...there is an alternative, you don't have to live like this!" I remember I was terrified when I went for mine but I never regretted it, what I did regret was waiting so long. My weight did more damage to my body that I wouldn't be dealing with today if I hadn't been functionally obese for so long. As the weight comes off build up the muscles as you go, it'll help speed the weight loss but more importantly it'll help to replace the fat that supported your body with muscles. When the weight dropped I found I had more neck and back aches and it took my orthopedic surgeon to explain it. Without the fat the skin around the supporting structures of your body lose some of their support because even fat can stabilize your back and neck.

One other thing they always told us, "it took 30 years to put it all on, it'll take time to get rid of it as well. I told my wife you were goin' for the surgery and she was just as happy as if a dear friend had told her.
 
I physically cannot overeat anymore. Stress eating is a big part of my life, or used to be. I can still graze throughout the day, but overeating at one meal is an impossibility. I don't drink to excess, I don't do drugs. I need a good woods trip. Went for the pulmonary consult, and have to wait a month before the CRNP will make a decision to release her authorization.

I need to do what I was supposed to be doing so that I can get out and do what I was supposed to be doing...
 
Good for you. I had the surgery in October 2014. I've lost 265 lbs. I am a different person. I run three days a week, and lift weights five. Make sure afterwards that you do exactly what the surgeons tell you to do. I've heard horror stories about people that started eating solid food too soon, or ate sugary stuff or real fatty stuff. Do what your told and you should be fine.

Also, once you do begin to eat normal food, when you feel full, stop. throw your left over portion away. This is not a fix all, but it does make things somewhat easier. Change your lifestyle.
 
Buck3117 said:
Good for you. I had the surgery in October 2014. I've lost 265 lbs. I am a different person. I run three days a week, and lift weights five. Make sure afterwards that you do exactly what the surgeons tell you to do. I've heard horror stories about people that started eating solid food too soon, or ate sugary stuff or real fatty stuff. Do what your told and you should be fine.

Also, once you do begin to eat normal food, when you feel full, stop. throw your left over portion away. This is not a fix all, but it does make things somewhat easier. Change your lifestyle.
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265 lbs, that's pretty amazing. How long after your surgery did it take to drop the weight? How did it feel doing it? I generally only put on my plate (at home) what I think I am going to eat regardless of how much is "in the pot or remaining in the pot". I stop when I feel full. I don't really have a weight problem, but I do have an exercise problem. I hate to run. Swimming is too much of a pain in the butt to do on a regular basis. I like hiking but it takes a lot of time and hiking once every two weeks isn't enough exercise.

Planning on doing some trout fishing in the coming weeks. Basically I need to be more active. Maybe more kayaking....

So, silenthunter, I think you do need to do the hiking and woods wandering when your body is ready. It is an easy kind of thing to do as long as you have places to go that you enjoy. Walking around some outdoor track bores the hell out of me. Spring always re-invigorates me.
 
22-rimfire said:
265 lbs, that's pretty amazing. How long after your surgery did it take to drop the weight? How did it feel doing it? I generally only put on my plate (at home) what I think I am going to eat regardless of how much is "in the pot or remaining in the pot". I stop when I feel full. I don't really have a weight problem, but I do have an exercise problem. I hate to run. Swimming is too much of a pain in the butt to do on a regular basis. I like hiking but it takes a lot of time and hiking once every two weeks isn't enough exercise.

Planning on doing some trout fishing in the coming weeks. Basically I need to be more active. Maybe more kayaking....

So, silenthunter, I think you do need to do the hiking and woods wandering when your body is ready. It is an easy kind of thing to do as long as you have places to go that you enjoy. Walking around some outdoor track bores the hell out of me. Spring always re-invigorates me.
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I lost 100 on my own before the surgery, but hit a plateau and couldn't lose any more. I had the surgery in 2014, lost the rest between 2014 and 2016 so 2 years. The total 265 took me 5 years to lose.

I feel much better, but don't feel different. As you lose weight, the body adjusts and you get used to how it feels. It took so long to lose the weight that I never noticed differences.

The human stomach has sensors in it that produce a "I'm Hungry" feeling. Normal people eat, and those sensors stop producing the chemical that makes you hungry. My stomach would ramp up the production of the chemical once I ate, so I never felt full, so I'd continue to eat. Since my surgery, Once I eat, I feel satisfied, and I'm good to go until the next meal.

Based on what I've learned about the body and chemicals in the body, I truly believe obesity is not a symptom of laziness. It's a medical issue that needs medical intervention to cure. Thats just my opinion though.
 
I did upper GI/colorectal nursing for 2 years.
First and foremost and as others have already said listen carefully to what your doctors and dieticians tell you. Think up a list of questions between now and then that are relevant to your plans to hike (the AT). Your doctors are there to advise and aid your recovery and will be your best information resource.
I'm assuming by 'bypass' your talking about a 'Roux-en-Y'? So your main consideration on any hike and especially something like the AT will be nutrition and hydration. The very nature of the operation means a much reduced stomach volume. Not only can you physically not eat (or drink) as much but you achieve 'satiety' with much less food and water So you'd need to be sure your achieving optimal nutrition and hydration. The way to think of it is; a Snickers bar would make you feel quite full, but the nutritional value of a Snickers bar, especially when hiking is actually pretty poor. So what you eat will be of even greater importance otherwise you could, in theory, end up malnourished (and dehydrated).
As for mobility, theres no reason why you couldn't be walking as soon as you feel comfortable. Over here in the UK Roux-en-Y is done with laparoscopic surgery and I'm assuming it's the same over in the US? We mobilise patients same day of surgery and discharge 24-48 hours later after they've tolerated diet and passed stool. You'll feel discomfort around the abdomen as you'll have between 3-5 incision (port) sites in the abdomen but assuming no complications they heal quickly.
Finally regarding diabetes. Diabetes can't be 'cured' but you may find your able to achieve glycaemic control without medications. But that's something your doctor is better qualified to discuss with you.

Good luck with it all!
 
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