LindaS

LindaS ~ 206 SW . . . . . 200 CW . . . . . 186 GW . . . LBS to GOAL: 14 I am right on track.

Since my surgery, I feel like one of my close friends has been avoiding me. I would have said we were similar in size although she is a couple inches taller. When she found out I was having the surgery, she said she weighed about 40 pounds less than I would have guessed. I didn't question it. She also said she was close to qualifying for surgery. Anyway, since my surgery three months ago, I've only seen her about twice. The first time she was acting very concerned for me and kept saying how hard it had to be emotionally to not be able to eat and drink normally. I told her I was doing great and didn't have problems. She kept saying, "Well, yeah, but...." It was sort of like she was trying to create problems for me. The next time I saw her, she was noticeably smaller. I made sure to comment on it. She looked good. I can't help but think my weight loss made her do something. I suspect she may be taking diet pills, but she hasn't said so. She lost about 20 pounds. Things were still weird between us. She still seems distant and is looking for reasons I should be concerned. I'm not going to worry about it though. I need to do my own thing.

You look fantastic!

You can edit your settings. I make sure my protein is where I want it, and I don't worry about any warnings about low calorie intake. I like that it is a very easy way for me to keep track of my protein.

Hugs! I noticed when I went for my presurgery support group that several people in the group had crutches and casts on their feet. It made me wonder about it. I hope you recover quickly. I know how frustrating it can be when you injure your foot, but I want to tell you to let your foot heal. I broke my ankle in 1997, and I think I tried to do too much too fast. (I was on crutches from December 97 to April 98.) I had three little ones including one who could not yet walk. I learned to push her in a stroller while I walked behind on crutches, etc. I think if I had stayed off my foot longer than tried to find alternatives to make it work, my ankle would have done a better job healing. So rest!

I had a drain for a week. Before leaving the hospital, I did have an xray as well to check for leaks. I wasn't told the drain had anything to do with leaking -- it is used in other types of surgeries as well. I was able to shower. You may get better instructions when you are discharged from the hospital about that. My doctor used some type of tape with a loop for my drain just under my belly button. I would tuck my drain in my underwear to keep it stable and hidden. I did NOT like my drain, but it was a quick week. It was a weird feeling when it was removed. While I had the drain, I changed my bandages daily. I did get a reaction to the bandage, but it cleared up quickly.

I found that I can't take my calcium vitamins if I have an empty stomach. When I've tried to, I start producing a lot of saliva and feel like I could throw up but don't.

I haven't experienced this yet, but I know it is coming. My aunt had RNY about 10 years ago. For years, my MIL would say how bad my aunt looked because she was TOO skinny. My aunt has started to gain weight back, and for a while my MIL was saying she looked good. Now my MIL is saying my aunt is too fat. Yet no one dares tell my MIL that she is too fat. When I first decided to have surgery, she asked me a few questions. I think she was interested but soon declared she was "too old." She's 63 and doesn't work, so she would have plenty of time to recover fully. At least this thread gave me some ideas of how to respond when it is me she is talking about. :smile1:

Great job!

I have a hard time finishing my lunch during my hour-long lunch break. I finally switched to Protein shakes because I just can't eat that fast and still allow time for me to brush my teeth. I was sleeved August 9, and in October, I got braces. I teach, so I am very worried about keeping my teeth clean of food. I gave up on the not drinking within a half hour before and after the meal. It wasn't one of my doctor's instructions, so I haven't followed it. When I'm actually eating, I only take a sip once in a while. For instance, today my chicken was very spicy and a sip was required.

My first couple of nut evaluations weren't really evaluations. They were more like lessons for me. The nutritionist went over the various products to help me get Protein, how to read nutrition labels, and gave me guidelines to look for (like less than 6 grams of sugar per serving). The first eval before my surgery discussed my pre-op diet and what would happen in the hospital. It was a group meeting, so I wasn't the only one there. My second nut eval was in the hospital when I was going home. This was mostly to make sure I was ready to go home and have my protein needs met while on a liquid diet. My third nut eval was again with a group. It was going over the stages and included meal portions, more food label stuff and then was discussing how to meet nutrition needs with real food rather than supplements. I have two more appointments that I can make for one on one evals as I need them.

I had an appointment with my surgeon today. He said he looks for me to lose at least 60 percent of my excess weight in the first year. I need to lose about 110 pounds, so I would lose 66 pounds to be 60 percent of my weight. I've lost 52 pounds in three months. My weight loss has slowed. I lost about 20 pounds the first two months and another 10 pounds the third month. All of this is to say, you aren't a slow loser at all.

It happens to me. I was sleeved in early August. About a month later, I went camping and walked around in a bathing suit feeling so skinny. Pictures later revealed that 20 pounds lost didn't really amount to much. I felt so much skinnier though. I am seeing differences in pics now, but I know what you mean. Even though I can see I'm smaller, I still get surprised by how much more I need to go.

I had my surgery laproscopically (clueless on spelling that). I have six small scars. Five are less than a half inch in length and one of those is right by my belly button, so it is almost hidden. The last one is where they took out my stomach and left the drain for a week. It is about an inch and a half long. My doc used steri strips without stitches or staples. I'm healing well, and I don't think the scars look too bad.

One of mine was to have my teenage daughters borrow my clothes. I have three daughters, and they are all normal weight range. I shouldn't have asked for this one. LOL I am now in large shirts, and my oldest daughter (who has really big breasts) is borrowing my shirts. She fits a medium shirt, but she likes the length large shirts give her. My pants are still too big. :-) Maybe, I should have made this "when I can borrow my teenage daughters' clothes."

I just went to my bariatric surgeon today, and he used a special scale to weigh me. My body fat is 43.4 percent; fat mass is 89 pounds and fat free mass is 115.5 pounds. My water weight is 84.51 pounds. My BMI is 31.6, and my overall weight (with clothes on) is 204.5. I'm 5 feet 7.5 inches tall, and 40 years old. I have a while to get to he desirable fat percentage, which is the 23-34 percent range.

How great for you! You've done amazing.

My doctor didn't want me to do very much besides walking until I was about 8 weeks out. I also had a hernia fixed when I had my surgery. I did do some Wii Fit and Wii Active as well as some of the dance games. It gave me more variety but wasn't too much while my body was still healing.

It took me quite a while before I could get my Fluid levels where they wanted. At two weeks, I was still on liquids, so I couldn't eat eggs. My advice is to go slow but go consistently. If you are trying to get fluids and Protein in, it helps when you make your fluids have protein in them. It also helps to up protein levels. Try doubling up your protein intake by adding a Protein powder to something that has protein in it. I would add vanilla-flavored powder to my yogurt or pudding. You can add yogurt to your Protein shake as well as milk, powdered milk and the protein powder. Tofu can be added to things as well to increase protein intake. I also like to add cheese including cottage cheese.

You should be excited! It is very exciting to see the transformations going on. Way to go!

How great! I love that she came over to check on things after she saw the "stranger." Signs of a great neighbor!

I had just finished shopping at Walmart and was heading out the door. As I approached the older greeter, I noticed he was talking to some guy. I could hear what they were saying. The guy talking to the greeter started staring at me, and as I walked by, his head followed me. He was saying, "I should work here, so I can check out all of the good-looking women." It was very cheesy, and I was not interested in any way shape or form, but I thought it was hilarious, and I loved the attention. I am now turning heads of strangers! It has been a while since that happened.

I love those type of pants for my son, but I had no idea they were available for adults too. They are perfect for my very skinny son who is quite tall. If not for those bands, he would either have pants that fall down or were several inches short.

Andrea P and Cortknee98, I'm from northern Michigan too, but a bit south of both of you. I live near Houghton Lake. I was sleeved in August, and I have BCBS. I didn't need a 6-month waiting period. I know at the support group I went to last night, they were talking about changes. I hope it all goes well for both of you. I am very happy with my sleeve!