Izuri

You look amazing =) It's really incredible how quickly these changes happen. Congratulations on onederland! I can't wait to join you there.

A size healthy, that's a great phrase. I'm excited for you, these three weeks will zip by!

I understand that the doctor's office will contact the insurance, but I would definitely get it from them myself. I have heard stories of office's missing a requirement or not communicating it effectively. By calling the insurance directly, you will be able to ask any questions to clarify exactly what they mean. Some insurances are not picky, but boy there are some that you need the letters sent in to be exact wording that they want. This just avoids any possibility of miscommunication. A couple weeks ago I read a thread where the doctor's office hadn't told a patient that she needed 6 months of supervised diet, but she didn't find out and couple have had a month or two already done when she did. I would be super frustrated if that happened to me.

...You take one bite of something you've been craving and then stop instead of inhaling the rest ...You look for ways to put protein into everything you eat (Molten lava cake with chocolate protein powder =p) ...You want to try on all your clothes every week to see if they suddenly fit ...You feel like you've made the ultimate concoction when you mix two protein filled items into something you can actually get down (A smoothie with yogurt AND protein powder?!) ...You almost pass by the posts labelled TMI and realize you should probably look at it because you're most likely having the same issue ...You can't sleep on your side because it feels like your stomach is hanging and anyone you tell that to looks at you like you just spoke nonsense ...Your stomach is more talkative than you are ...You have suddenly decided you need to name your stomach, despite having it for your whole life =)

I was talking about this with my mom yesterday, she said I should name mine "Tiny" or "Slim" which both kinda made me laugh. I have not decided on a name, but I do kinda like Slim =p I'll think on it some more and look through this thread as it grows.

That's really sweet of her to be trying even though she may not really be sure how to help =)

I love underhunder! I sat here this morning looking at this thread like I wish I could come up with anything?? And you guys came up with a great one! Here's to making internet lingo history =p

I'm about 5 and a half weeks out and I eat a wide variety of things. I'm on soft foods now until 3 month appointment. I have had: meatloaf (ground turkey), sloppy joes (ground beef), caprese salad (cutting off skins/seeds of tomato, leaving off basil), baked salmon, tilapia, cottage cheese, canned chicken (cause it's softer) mixed w/ pizza sauce with ff mozzarella on top to soothe my pizza craving - didn't work but still was tasty, string cheese, mushy/very soft veggies, a lot of soups - usually i add Beans and cook until really soft to add some Protein, still on a lot of Protein shakes, I've tried a couple different types of fruit, like bananas - stuff without any kind of skin, cream of wheat, many types of cheese, cooked chicken in crockpot w/salsa until soft then shredded and added a little guacamole/salsa/cheese, stew w/soft beef - took out potatoes, I think in the next week or so I'll make some spicy lentil dahl which I loved pre-op, tuna fish salad - great if you add just a little tomato and avocado, egg salad, scrambled eggs, yogurt.... That's all I can think of off the top of my head. I try and have something different most days because if I eat the same my body likes to get into a routine. Once it's in that routine it likes to stall, and those can be hard to break. Have had that problem other times trying to lose weight. Hope that helps!

If I could go back to my 21 year old self and tell her to get the sleeve, I would. Absolutely, hands down. BUT I would give myself these tips: 1. Call the insurance company directly. As one person said - different policies under the same insurance company can be very different. Some do not even cover WLS even though UHC in general does. Though people on here are super helpful and you may find that the online guideline is correct, they can be very picky about wording. The best option is hearing it straight from an insurance representative's mouth. Record their name and all the information they give you every time you call. Keep it in a file for if you need to call and reference it later. Follow their directions to a T, your approval will hopefully be much less stressful this way. 2. Find a solid support system. Do you live at home/with a roommate you're comfortable with? Do you have someone able to help you? Even at 25, it had rough days where I really appreciated the help. Not to mention you are young and your hormones are probably going crazy anyway - this is going to make that even worse. Having a shoulder to lean on is irreplaceable. 3. Get used to the diet pre-op. I think this would have been a huge struggle for me when I was younger. I had far less self control than I do now, and I think having a period of time pre-surgery where I was going through the diet to understand the phases would be helpful in creating structure. This includes being able to resist alcohol/other peer pressure stuff. You might have a better backbone than me, but it would have been hard for me to not drink for quite a while when my friends went out. I think if you just make sure you are 100% sure what you're getting yourself into - go for it! Enjoy being young while you're young =) I hope everything works out well for you! Let us know how it goes.

I am 5 weeks post op. First day was around a 7 when pain meds started wearing off. Next few days maybe a 5 or so. It tapered slowly - but it's very easy to irritate your left side by stretching the wrong way or moving too fast - at least it was for me, and believe me I would try my best not to hurt it! Nowadays my side around my incision hurts once in a while, but it's more like a 3. Not too bad!

It's hard for me to see any difference too, despite having people say there is one. BUT I can see the difference in your photos =) You really can tell. I used to have a pair of pictures like the jean cargos that you have and omg they were my favorite pants for like 5 years....so if you have any idea where you got them so I take a look into them I would be forever grateful. Keep up the great work!

Anytime my stomach does something weird, that's when I'm full. Things it's varied between: hiccups, feeling of pressure under/on my diaphragm, burp, feeling like something is stuck in my esophagus, feeling like one more bite will just sit there, stomach starting to make weird gurgly noises, being aware of/feeling my sleeve, or when I get through my measured portion =p I wish it was the same every time, but it isn't. I've gotten much better at recognizing it, and I try not to eat until that point.

Splurge!!!! Have fun and you should post some progress pics - almost 100 pounds, that's really incredible =) I hope I can join you in the century club someday!

Ashlee, I'm glad to hear that you're doing better. You are really incredible and you have an amazing attitude. I feel like I'd be a bumbling mess, but you seem to take it in stride with your head up. It's incredible how strong you are. I think you've done your share of being sick for a lifetime, so hopefully you will have stellar health once you finally get through this. I've got you in my thoughts, and I hope you continue to recover (I've got my fingers crossed for no more surprises unless they're good ones!)

I would suggest a restart. Diva has a great sleeve reset program if you look through her posts (I'm not sure exactly what she called it - but it was pretty much back to basics). - Go back to the beginning, progress through liquids - Log EVERYTHING that goes into your mouth - Myfitnesspal is a great resource for this - Make sure you know what your calorie/carb/protein goal is from your NUT - Get back into exercising - this one it sounds like you're doing already - Give yourself motivation - put up some pictures of the changes you've made before and during to motivate you - Figure out your hardest time of day and make small goals to get healthier foods in at those times - Prepare foods ahead of time and maybe plan meals ahead of time - for me things go better if I know what I'm supposed to be doing rather than figuring it out on the fly You can do it! You have already lost 72 pounds, which is great =) Don't give up.

Depends on what medication you are on. Prevacid and omeprazole are both delayed release capsules that you would not want to open unless you are following the medication insert guidelines (I am pretty sure prevacid capsules can be opened and mixed with things, BUT I would never do that without talking to the pharmacist first). There are not a lot of PPIs that come in liquid form. Prevacid does, however, come in a solutab that dissolves in your mouth, which you might consider talking to your doctor about if you are unsure.

Congratulations!!! The century club...that's amazing! Every WL board I've been on it's been twoterville for the 200s. You should hold your head high - look at that beautiful lady - in BOTH pictures. She is confident and happy and can take whatever life is gonna throw at her. And in your current pictures, look how much you are respecting your body. You should not feel guilty about making mistakes, you should be proud that you have had the strength and courage to take on this incredibly difficult journey and be coming out on top. You are awesome, no doubt about it. =) I can't wait to continue to see your progress.

I feel like you're doing yourself and your sleeve a disservice by not measuring a correct portion. I get that you may want to feel restriction to understand that it's there, but I don't understand continuing to eat when you know that it is likely too much. The goal is not to eat until you're full, it's to eat a correct portion. Do you have a food scale? I have a cup that's about 6 oz, and I weigh everything before eating it. Anyway, I'm not trying to chastise you, but I don't want you to keep overeating and accidentally hurt yourself or go a few bites too far and actually get sick. Neither of those situations is any fun. Plus, I think you'll end up feeling more restriction on solid foods. From what I've read, people feel best restriction on dense Protein.

What an inspiration! Only 6 pounds away from 100 - it's coming up soon!! I love your blue shirt - where is it from?

Are you on a PPI for acid? If not, maybe consider talking to your doctor about it. Sometimes I can eat quite a bit, sometimes I get full with a couple bites, just how it goes.

31 pounds - you are doing awesome! Are you noticing differences in your clothes? And you are in onederland! Has it been a while since you've seen those numbers? Man, I can't wait to. I know you're having a really hard time, and it sounds simply like it's awful right now. Have you tried many different types of shakes? Drinking faster/slower? Are you getting in Water? When I start getting low blood sugar I start feeling nauseous about eating. Are you getting enough in? I'm sure it's tough with the nausea. Are you prescribed anything for nausea? Maybe your doctor can send you in a script for something. I agree with others that maybe you should get your blood work checked. Also, are you on a PPI? I'm not sure if acid can cause nausea, but it seems like it's possible. I admit, even 5 weeks out I'm freaking exhausted often. I am getting all my Protein, water, etc, and I feel simply beat at the end of the day. But I try and remind myself that I will have energy once I am further out, eating more, and healthier. There was a time when I was stuck on my 3 week stall that I started to regret it, but now that I'm losing again, it was totally worth it. Most of all, you rock. You are strong for getting this surgery and for going through these hard times and when you come out on the other side you will be so proud saying to yourself "I MADE IT" So keep up the great work, see if you can get something for nausea, and hang in there.

I'm so sorry for what you're going through. I can't imagine how painful some of her words were. I think you've gotten some really great advice in this thread, and that one way or another, you need to move to action to get her some help before she decides to hurt herself or others. I really do believe that if your husband cannot get her to the hospital that she needs some kind of mental health intervention, possibly by the police. Or does she have any extended family member that lives close that she trusts? Maybe they or one of her close friends could help? (((((HUGS))))) I hope that she gets the help she needs and you guys can resume being a happy family.

You aren't alone. I have been having a rocky time too. Lately it's been more good than bad, but I had a couple really depressing weeks there for a bit. I am certain a fair amount of it (if not the majority of it) is hormones. You are probably having the same issue. When I saw my psychiatrist last month she said she had no problem going up on my mood stabilizer for a while until I was ready to come back down. I know if I go through another rocky period like that I'll be taking her up on her offer. If you need someone to chat with or even just to vent to, you are more than welcome to message me. I'm always looking to make new friends. Most of all - don't give up! It will get better. Belinda - sometimes our bodies are just downright mean, aren't they? =p All those IV fluids have got your retaining tons of water it sounds like. I just wanted to second what everyone else said - it will come off. Your body is just being goofy. As hard as it is, it's best to try your best not to compare yourself to others. I know, I'm totally guilty of it too - but it just gets us down and there's nothing we can do about how our body loses aside from following the plan. It sounds like you are doing great, and I can't wait to hear about the pounds starting to fall off soon for you =)

I had this issue for the first week or two post-op. Hang in there, it gets better!!

Make a list of why you're doing this. Put it anywhere you have access to food so that you are forced to see it before you make a bad choice. You can do this! When you get through it you will be looking back and be so proud of yourself.