lollyfidy1965

My surgeon's direction is to NEVER take NSAIDs again...because of the dramatically increased risk for marginal ulcers in WLS patients. Having said that, like so much of the instructions we get, many people on here have been given different advice from their own surgeons regarding NSAID use. I understand my surgeon is conservative...but, its working for me, and I appreciate the more conservative approach. (Better safe than sorry.)

I wouldn't take anything that's an NSAID without consulting your WLS surgeon first. (I wouldn't take ANYTHING without first consulting with my surgeon, but that's just me.) When I was in the hospital, recovering from my sleeve surgery, I had a roommate who was in the hospital for surgery to repair her THIRD marginal ulcer (bleeding nasty painful thing for her)...all caused by her taking Advil (she swore she'd only taken two...and still ended up with a marginal ulcer). Having watched her experience, I will NEVER (never ever ever never) take an NSAID, or oral steroid...she had NO fun as a result of having taken them!

The thing that helped me most, in coming to terms with the head noise when I started making dramatic changes to my approach to food, was reading "The End of Overeating." I highly recommend it (and have mentioned it in many posts on this site). It clearly describes exactly why we have obsessive thoughts about foods....this truly is an addiction...no need to put it in quotation marks! The reality described in the book made me SO angry...and made it much easier to make, and stick with, the behavior changes I need to make, in order to be successful in my post-surgical weight loss journey! I wish you the best Laura

Would cortisone shots help at all? As far as I know, it's only oral NSAIDs/steroids that should be avoided. If that wouldn't help, you might seek out a pain specialist, and explain your situation. I know there are MANY pain management alternatives out there, and a pain doc would be the best place to get long-term help, I think. I hope you find something that helps!!! Laura

I'm down 132 pounds from my highest weight, and have lost 80 pounds since the week after my surgery (since Jube 26th). "Fast" or "slow", I'm thrilled with my weight loss so far!!

Also per my surgeon....anything "liquid" counts as "fluids"...tea, protein shake, water, flavored water, decaf coffee....anything.

I highly recommend deep water aerobics classes, and "power walking" in the shallow end of a pool. You'll burn lots of calories in the pool, and can dunk yourself when you start to drip sweat!!

Thank you for your kind words, MGT...they are truly appreciated! I always worry that my posts may sound "preachy". I'm glad to know they're not...at least by you! LOL. I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and that the weekend is a good one! Laura

So...I sent an email to "Alex" (the founder of VST), and suggested it would be great if they added a link, in our VST profiles, that enabled us to directly friend people on MFP...since so many of us use both sites. In response, Alex shared that, while there is a possibility of that sort of thing happening in the future, the VST site (and it's sister WLS sites) were going to be redesigned, coming in January, and would be nearly identical to MFP, with the addition of tracking capabilities, but with a focus on WLS patient needs. Because I had made the suggestion, he asked if I would reach out to my WLS friends, to see if they had any suggestions for WLS-related features that would be beneficial, so that thy can make the new site fit our special needs as much as possible. So...here's the question: what features would you like to see added or changed to MFP, in order to make your user experience more positive? Your thoughts and suggestions are greatly appreciated! Laura

And what else??!!

Once fully recovered from the actual surgery, I have been able to be amazingly active! I go to the gym 6 days a week, and work out for at least two hours each time. Even eating just 650 calories a day, I'm bursting with energy. BTW...I started walking the treadmill, at the gym, on day 10 post-op, and was walking an hour, twice a day, at 3mph within two weeks. Did I get tired? Absolutely. Did I let that sop me? Not a chance!

A large part of the pre-op process is about making lasting behavior changes....because our post-op success is dependent upon those new, healthier behaviors bing ingrained by the time we start reintroducing foods to our diet. Wrapping your head, and our heart, around not smoking is the same deal. What you think is helping you to relax is actually undermining our ability to build sustained new, healthy behaviors. If you cave on one thing (smoking), for what seems like a good reason, you will be more likely to find "good reasons" for blowing off other new behaviors...even when doing the bad behavior is potentially very risky, post-op. Focus on the prize, and make good choices....starting now...so that you can be as healthy and successful as possible, after your surgery! All the best, Laura

And from one vet to another....thank you for your service and sacrifice!!

Personally, it's the best thing I've ever done for myself....EVER! I'd do it again in a heartbeat. No doubt.

Thanks much, Chad! Personally, I'd like a section designed for tracking our daily supplements. I have a "food note" that I copy and paste every day, but i still have to remember on my own to take everything. I'd also like to lose the "you're not eating enough calories to sustain life" comments. LOL. Being able to easily set our own intake goals is really important for us....because they are so unique. Also, I've heard from a number of people that there is a lot of confusion related to the "net calories" information. I wonder if it would be less confusing if that was removed from the daily summary page, and just show calories consumed, and calories burned.

If you're getting "hunger" relief by taking a PPI, I'd bet your "hunger" is really acid reflux. I'm taking liquid Zantac (twice daily), and a Prevacid solutab (once daily). Prevacid is a PPI, as is Prilosec, I believe. Both Zantac and Pepcid are H2 blockers...a completely different class of drug, with a different set of possible side effects. Here's a little blurb about Prevacid: Prevacid 30 mg daily dosing can suppress 99% of the gastric acid production. Due to the decreased level of gastric acid while on Prevacid, the absorption of some of the essential nutrients may be interfered. For example, Iron absorption is reduced because its absorption is facilitated by gastric acid. Whether you have iron deficiency or not can be tested easily by measuring of the blood iron and its storage levels Currently there is no evidence for adverse effects with long term use of Prevacid, although atrophic gastritis (thinning of the stomach lining) may occur in some cases Personally, I'm happy to take my "cocktail" for as long as I need it. I was miserable, following my surgery, because of the acid reflux (which I'd never had before). Taking my meds, religiously, keeps me, and my sleeve, a very happy camper!

Just remember...for a lifetime we've been at least partially without control, where food was concerned. Taking, and maintaining, control is a new skill...and something that needs to be practiced, in order for it to become second nature. From my perspective, I'm thrilled to be able to exert control over what I eat, when I eat, and how much I eat (or even if I eat at all)! I plan to continue practicing that control for the rest of my days....because it will keep me on the path to a healthier me!!

I have completely adjusted the daily goals, and use what was given to me by my surgeon/nutritionist. I do enter in all my exercise, but use my daily calorie goal (800 calories) as my food limiter. The exercise is all deficit that way, and goes towards my weight loss. Laura

You're very welcome! I'd love to hear your thoughts on it, after you've read it! Laura

It's available through Amazon or iBooks. It truly changed my perception of food, and has made my post-op reality so much easier!!!

Judy...you are SO right!!! I've been setting little step goals for myself all along, and conquering them IS HUGE!!! Hitting 199 is definitely a biggie!! I think it's been lessened in my mind because of those little step goals, but it'll definitely be a Happy Dance Day for me, when I'm finally able to sing that tune!!!!

I didn't get cold until after I'd lost about 80 pounds. Since then I've been freezing ALL the time. I wear nothing but sweaters, and sleep in polar fleece Jammie's under two fleece blankets. And to think...I'm. considering moving back to Alaska!!! LOL

I highly recommend reading "The End of Overeating.". It will make everything clear to you regarding your obsessive thoughts of food!!

LOL And we're all MENTAL!! ;-P I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!

Its an "adjustment period"!!! (I hate the word "stall"!) Your body is resting, getting ready for another loss phase....so just hang in there!!! Before you know it, you'll be kissing 200 GOODBYE!!!