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I had my surgery, on 2/22. I've been struggling with drinking fluids. As soon as I drink I feel pain on my shoulder and chest area. I'm wondering if I need to walk more. I figure I should count my steps with my fitbit. Anyone have a suggestion on how many steps I should do a day?

The loss you're seeing now is part of a cycle that started with surgery and your initial weight loss. Those hairs went into shock and stopped growing until a few months later they fall out. But the next stage starts right away, which is those hairs start growing again in your scalp. The sucky part is you will lose new shocked hairs due to the rapid weight loss, so your hair will be going through this cycle until your weight stabilizes. There isn't anything you are doing wrong or missing out on to stop it. Get all your Protein and then wait it out. This too shall pass!

When I first told my very close friend I was thinking about getting the sleeve she called me a "cheater", said I was taking the easy way out.( she herself is struggling with her weight) Because of that statement I was on the fence about surgery for 6 months. When I decided to get the surgery I didn't tell her until 3 days before. ( I was trying to stay in a positive frame of mind.) By NO means did I take the easy way out. This journey has been the toughest yet, with the recovery, chronic constipation, making sure I'm drinking, getting my protein and my vitamins. Now it seems like every time I talk to her she is trying to sabotage my progress. I love her to death, but her negativity is a real downer. Without being rude, how do you deal with negative people? I'd like to addi had no health issues before surgery, I was just tired of being fat and tired.

Hi not sure if you'd get denied, I guess it all depends on your insurance. My insurance just told me I have to gain weight by the 1st of march because my bmi is under 50 and my insurance will deny me. I have been eating high carbs since last week I'm just hoping I've gained, I really can't tell.

First off can you reschedule it secondly drink lots of water and eat a lot of good foods that will not make you gain weight and maybe take a water pill if you have any I hope you get to have your surgery you should tell your doctor to that's why you're up a little maybe he will take your last weigh-in.

I had the same thing happen actually. I thankfully realized I had gained 5 lbs when I went to see a different doctor. I was 285 at initial apt and 290 a couple weeks later. Unfortunately every insurance is different. My surgeons group had a specific person who dealt with my insurance company's rules for the pre-op diet so I called her to verify. When I did see the 290lb I did get sad for a couple days because my insurance won't let me gain any weight. I have to stay the same or lose so I started looking at what I was eating. I have a sweet tooth. I'm working with a therapist now to get mentally prepared for after surgery, no binges or overeating, and cut back on sweets. I was able to get down to 284 in a week that way. I follow high protein, high fiber, low fat, low carb. Sugar doesn't make you fat, fat makes you fat. I'm also vegan. Animal meat is much more fatty than tofu, tempeh, or seitan. Oh, and don't know if you know this, drinking alot of water will help with water retention during your period which will help with weight. I also lift weights or do leg lifts, stability ball etc while I'm watching TV. I can't do much as I have back problems and chronic pain. These are just a few things I do. I hope these help you! Good luck! You can do it! Sent from my SM-N920T using BariatricPal mobile app

The standard for my doctor's office is after your 2-3 week follow up appointment. Although they were willing to write it for 6 weeks. I think I could have gone back after I was off of pain meds (4-5 days) but I would have been exhausted. It also depends on how well you recover. I am only 36, I had zero complications, a starting BMI of 42 and was otherwise very healthy - all of which made my recovery very easy. Now if I was still at my old job, which I hated, I would have taken the full 6 weeks.

I haven't had surgery yet but I have already experienced this type of negativity. One friend keeps comparing it to plastic surgery. Even though I tried to explain that her breast enlargement was not the same as cutting out part of my stomach so that I save my own life. My best friend, who is also obese, said, "But! Then I'll be the fat friend!" Talk about a painful thing to say. Assorted other people simply begin a Litany of all the people they seem to know who have died from bariatric surgery. If you listen to the stories people tell you it would seem that only one in ten people survive surgery. I've been tempted to write a research paper looking at how when you're fat you're criticized for being fat. But then if you take Extreme Measures to fix an extreme problem people criticize that as well. I lost a hundred pounds during college the "natural way." That previous experience has somewhat prepared me for how the world changes it's reaction to me based on my body. But it's still difficult.

Hi LuAnn! I'm in NJ also. I had gastric bypass in 2015, but I can give you a little advice. If you're going to be in the hospital more than one night, bring dry shampoo. I had to stay three nights and couldn't shower, so I wish I had mine! Bring Gas-x strips with you. I never had a problem drinking water before surgery but it was harder after, so I drank vitamin zero. Water just didn't appeal to me. And I haven't tried that brand of vitamins. Over the last year and a half I've tried a variety of multis, all chewable, bariatric geared, in the beginning. Now I'm able to take pills. I prefer the chewy kind. RNY 6/8/15 SW 248 LW 175 CW 197 GW 180 "Eat to be the person you want to be."

Here's another good one: Giving up on a goal because of a setback is like slashing your other 3 tires because you got a flat.