Mera

Hi Fam!! Anyone in Dallas? ;o) I have Psoriatic Arthritis and I take an infusion every 6 weeks that runs about $12,000. Was just starting to take Diabetic meds and I had high Cholesteral. My insurance company, Aetna, via my personal nurse who calls monthly to check on me, suggested that I think about having Bariatric Surgery. I have to admit that Aetna and my employer have taken great care of me the last few years through my company benefits. I've had some serious health issues and I have received excellent care no matter what service I've needed. When I started my Bariatric journey I was 5'4" and weighed 260 lbs. The day of surgery, Sept. 7th 2011, I was down to 233. The next day after surgery, I weighed 223, so, the part of the stomach they removed was 10 lbs. I don't hop on and off the scale much but the last time I weighed, about a week ago, I was down to 200 lbs. It's kind of surreal, no one warned me it would be so fast. I am 60 lbs lighter in the space of two months! That's the bonus. I had the surgery hoping to improve my health not to lose weight. I didn't mind being a fat girl that much! ;o) Now, I'm not takiing Diabetes meds, don't know about my Cholesteral yet, my Psorisis & Psoriatic Arthritis have not flared and my joints have been great considering I was off my arthritis meds for so long before & after surgery. I've had an infusion since my surgery and I had lost enough to need one less vial of Remicade, costing me, my employer, & Aetna less money than the previous infusion. That's huge! I know it is... Whenever I mention to a doctor that I think I'm just in starvation mode... well... they don't want to hear that!! I believe that. The truth is that I don't put a cup of food a day into my body. I work off more calories than I take in, easily... every day. I can't eat. I can't stand the whey Protein products and I am NOT a milk girl. I smell the stuff & my gag reflex goes into high gear (only since the surgery it's done this). I'm getting plenty of liquids but not nearly enough protein or anything for that matter. That worries me. I only eat a few bites and the burping and belching starts. Gosh! I hope this gets better because right now, I'm not feeling really good about my decision in spite of the positive changes it's brought. I'm hoping this place will help me figure out how to work through various things that I am learning in this new life of mine. Don't Wanna Be Disappointed in Dallas, Mera

I had my surgery on Sept 6th. At first I wasn't sure I was gonna like this new life but as time passes, I'm liking it more and more! I'm new to this site though and it seems to hide all the buttons I need when I want to post something... grrrr... I have a question? Does anyone have any urinary differences post-op? Before surgery I could just go pee no problem. Now, I need to go and I have to sit there and wait until it decides to flow. Weird...

I had my surgery on Sept. 6th and so far I have lost 65 lbs. Yay!

I have Psoriatic Arthritis and I take an infusion every 6 weeks that runs about $12,000. Was just starting to take Diabetic meds and I had high Cholesteral. My insurance company, Aetna, via my personal nurse who calls monthly to check on me, suggested that I think about having Bariatric Surgery. I have to admit that Aetna and my employer have taken great care of me the last few years through my company benefits. I've had some serious health issues and I have received excellent care no matter what service I've needed. When I started my Bariatric journey I was 5'4" and weighed 260 lbs. The day of surgery, Sept. 7th 2011, I was down to 233. The next day after surgery, I weighed 223, so, the part of the stomach they removed was 10 lbs. I don't hop on and off the scale much but the last time I weighed, about a week ago, I was down to 200 lbs. It's kind of surreal, no one warned me it would be so fast. I am 60 lbs lighter in the space of two months! That's the bonus. I had the surgery hoping to improve my health not to lose weight. I didn't mind being a fat girl that much! ;o) Now, I'm not takiing Diabetes meds, don't know about my Cholesteral yet, my Psorisis & Psoriatic Arthritis have not flared and my joints have been great considering I was off my arthritis meds for so long before & after surgery. I've had an infusion since my surgery and I had lost enough to need one less vial of Remicade, costing me, my employer, & Aetna less money than the previous infusion. That's huge! I know it is... Whenever I mention to a doctor that I think I'm just in starvation mode... well... they don't want to hear that!! I believe that. The truth is that I don't put a cup of food a day into my body. I work off more calories than I take in, easily... every day. I can't eat. I can't stand the whey Protein products and I am NOT a milk girl. I smell the stuff & my gag reflex goes into high gear (only since the surgery it's done this). I'm getting plenty of liquids but not nearly enough protein or anything for that matter. That worries me. I only eat a few bites and the burping and belching starts. Gosh! I hope this gets better because right now, I'm not feeling really good about my decision in spite of the positive changes it's brought. I'm hoping this place will help me figure out how to work through various things that I am learning in this new life of mine. Don't Wanna Be Disappointed in Dallas, Mera

This weekend is gonna be fun! It is our annual big fundraiser for the non-profit org I belong to. I will see people who saw me in Aug & Sep, right before and after my surgery, and also, people I haven't seen in a year. I have to admit, I'm looking good. Better than I have in ages, and ages. I am still waiting for some extra energy to come back but I do feel like doing more these days. It could just be that it is Fall, today is the 1st cool day outside and I do love Fall. I have a kickass new dress made just for me and it fits perfectly my 63 lbs lighter self! I am also wearing a black & blue leather corsette that Jimmie had made for me when we first met and I haven't been able to wear it in years. I have already had to gift my daughter w/ a hot pink & black leather corsette & to a friend who has never had one, I gave my camo corsette to. I have invested alot in clothes & leather over the years. It isn't easy to replace... I really miss my camo corsette! It was HOT! ;o) The lady I bought it from gifted me w/ a beautiful new leopard corsette. She told me it was an XL and that I should put the bag on my dresser and the day I can wear it (still too small...;o( to can send her a $100 (which is like half price...)! I can't wait!! I have a ways to go though... I'll get there! I thought that was just so sweet and such wonderful encouragement. The next time I see her I'm gonna have to buy another camo one, for sure!! OK Everyone... Today is my Friday and I don't have to be back at work until Tuesday soooooooooo... Have a fabulous weekend!!! I know I will!! WooHoooooooo!!!

Thank you Kelly!! What a nice post. I am still early out and I know nothing so, it is great to know that it does get better. Yes, I hate the burping and belching, I do hope that stops sometime soon. I think what I was the most unsure of is if I am getting enough food to live on since I am not using the whey Proteins. I am trying to take in small meals several times a day that all include protein but when it gets down to it, I only have 2 or 3 very small bites, tops. I just wasn't sure that that would be enough. I know it isn't ideal but I just can't get the artificial protein down. I don't hate the weight loss. LOL It's fabulous & I look great. I just don't always feel great and I have questions. This is all so new to me and so totally foreign. I am tickled that I have a place to ask my questions! I have a thing about knowledge... here, I can learn the things I need to know!! Yay! I'm very happy about finding this place! ;o) Thank you EVERYONE!!!

LOL... Yanno, what slays me is that when I said I didn't mind being a fat girl, people jump to the conclusion that I have self esteem issues. Just the opposite actually. I have great self esteem and being overweight didn't make me less than. However, you did give me info that actually is helpful so thanks for that. It's reassuring to know that even after 2 years eating such a small amount is normal and okay. I was worried that I am not getting enough food, nutrients, ect. Since I'm never hungry I can't really gauge yet what is normal and what isn't or what I need in my body to live and what isn't necessary. I don't know those kinds of things yet... since I didn't really get alot of helpful info from my doctor or the dietician, I knew I needed input from others who have probably felt just like I do. It is why I came to this forum. To learn... ;o)

Just because I was overweight doesn't mean I had low self esteem or emotional problems. Yes I was overweight. Technically I still am... I'd like to get to 165-175 but my doctor tells me I'd still be overweight bordering obesity unless I lose down to 145-150. I have absolutely no desire to be that small. I like my curves and I feel just find about myself both now, and before I had surgery. I didn't do this to lose weight. I did it to get my arthritis into remission. I have no self esteem issues at all. My point was that if it doesn't get better on a daily basis, I'm not sure it was worth the change in my quality of living. We spend a lot of time socially at the table. After the sleeve there isn't alot of table sitting being done. I have to find better ways of communing socially is all. Besides, I am convinced that it has to get better and that I'll learn ways to make it so.