Valentina

As always, please check with your bariatric team before deviating from your plan. You're sounds doable, but your own team knows your plan and you better than we do on an internet site. Check with them and then please post and let us know what they said. Happy experimenting! Usually whatever works for you to get your daily Protein in is workable, just check with them first.

Stand strong, Girl! Sometimes I think that the ins. companies purposely "test" us to see how devoted we are in getting WLS---hoping maybe that we will give up and drop the whole thing. IF you are determined and have done all of your research and KNOW that WLS is what you want/need then be willing to FIGHT FOR IT---FOR YOU. You're worth fighting for. I know it from your posting. Isn't it time that YOU knew it too?

Thank you.

Patience is a virtue, right? Yeah, right... Wouldn't you like to kick "patience" right in the butt, right? I'm so sorry you've hit this bump in the road when you're so close to starting your journey --post op. All of the old clichés don't help much, I know, so I won't repeat any more of them. Just know that there are folks out here who care about you. And We're listening---any time. Keep posting and letting us know when you've conquered these last bothersome "bumps". Smooth path on the horizon, my friend.

Welcome to the, "Losers' Bench". Rest for a wee bit to take a couple deep breaths. THEN: Get your arse up and get mov'n!!!

That's me!!! Am I entitled to royalties? If you are one of the 17% of sleevers who experience dumping syndrome, eating too much is about the same as hitting a wall--in fact that is the term generally used--hitting the wall. Nausea, sweats, dizziness, cramping, vomiting and diarrhea---all of it or a select few. I asked my surgeon about when will I know when I've eaten to much. He just chuckled and said, "Valentina, you will know. You will just know". He was right.

So sorry you had to endure such "yuckiness". I am glad, though, that you've come out on the other side of things unscathed. Did your doctors think that you probably should have come home with a drain? Just wondering what their thoughts were, since they said for you to let your incision stay open and drain. Thank you for posting your experience. I'm sure it will be beneficial for members who may have a similar situation happen. Good job! I hope you will continue the rest of your WLS journey with few bumps in the road and more clear skies.

Great posting! I, too am heading for plastics --this summer. I have already been approved and have my pre-op app'tment next week to set a surgery date. I've had a knee replaced, which I've heard is the most painful surgery, but I am more anxious about having plastic surgery. Just the thought of all of those drains----yuck. I will be following your thread with great interest. Thank you again for posting it. I wish you well with your plastic surgery and getting "everything" back to "where it (they) belong.

Your allergy meds are probably to blame. They will dry you up like a prune. Try the Biotene products or sugar free lemon drops. Feel better. I hope these suggestions help.

You trusted your surgeon to operate on you. Trust him now if in his opinion therapy will help you become more successful on you WLS journey. If going will help you , why not go? We all have to do things that we aren't crazy about from time to time. It's called being an adult--with adult issues. Talking through some of those issues just MIGHT make your journey just a wee bit smoother. Go. What's the "down" side of going beside you just don't wanna??? Give a valiant effort. Really give it a serious attempt and see what happens. Let us know. Yes we're nosy, but we really care about YOU.

Hello, Friend, How are YOU? Have your circumstances changed any since your last post? I am just reading your post today, but I wanted to share a few thoughts with you: I know your pain. I've been lost in the same fog of confusion as you. I understand how your heart is bleeding while your brain is screaming. I know that some of the posters just don't understand--as well meaning as they are. I feel that you aren't in a place where you want/can hear what some members are saying--right or wrong. I want you to know that "I get it". I need you to know that I am here and I am listening. AND I'm on my knees for YOU. (I know that you will take care of your children and probably your husband). I am sending my prayers for YOU, dear friend. You, for now feel lost, right? Hopefully, HE will guide you and heal your heart and calm your mind. God Bless. Valentina

It will probably come down to your surgeon's wishes. The surgeons that I have worked with---way back in the day---would make you remove them. You'll find out tomorrow. Wishing you the best and most joyful journey. Meet you on the, "Losers' Bench", my friend. You'll like it there..

When you register tomorrow they will run your insurance in order to print out your wrist bands, lab labels, etc.. It's all part of the process. Of course every state is different, so I wish you luck.

I like to take a cedar plank with smoked fish that I caught myself, complimented with hard cheeses and fruit. No matter what else is served, I know that I will eat well. ---and have a great ice breaking story about the fish.

I hear, "After 5yrs and your "stomach" hasn't "stretched"? Impossible. I've heard this and I've heard that from so and so, and I KNOW that your "stomach" has stretched" I have to wonder why did that person ask the question if they already "knew" the answer. But, I always answer with as much patience as I can muster, thinking that if they asked there is an interest , and I'm all for explaining WLS. There aren't too many of us "sleevers" around here who are 5ys post op. Way back when WLS was mostly by-passes and bands. Even with visits with my bariatric team here in the Catskills, I am some what of a novelty. She and I are "mapping as we go", not having anyone's journey before me to resource. My journey has been unique and I own it. I plan to make it a joyful one from here on out. I

Family's comments can cut deep. I'm so sorry you had to endure such from a family member. Why do family members think that it's OK to just say whatever comes into their minds with no filter? Common courtesy should pertain to family, yes? I remember when my mother, sister and I went wedding gown shopping for myself. Way back in the day, plus size wedding gowns had to be ordered, so I really could not try any of the gowns on. So, my sister tried on the gowns. When she came out of the dressing room, my mother cried because MY SISTER looked soooo beautiful. I just sat in a chair and nodded. The saddest part about that story?? That's just the way of things growing up. My sister was always the "pretty daughter" and I was always "the smart daughter". That's the way it was. To tell the truth, it hasn't changed --to this day. I am 5# less than my sister and am still referred to as "Chubs". Sometimes I think we have to walk our journey ALONE--FOR OURSELVES and no one else. We have nothing to prove to anyone other than ourselves. I look forward to watching your successful and joyful journey, Friend.

I told my self, "I am happy". I kept telling myself, "I am happy". I now tell myself, "I'm working on being happy".

Water (any fluid) takes up space that your Protein needs. I don't feel hunger and I'm 5yrs out. What I do if I know I'm going to be out and about is to set the alarm on my cell phone. When it goes off, I eat. It also helps with Head Hunger. If I think I'm hunger, but I notice that it is not time for me to eat, then I know it is only head hunger. I hope this helps a wee bit. Good luck on your journey. Make it joyful.

What? and waste all of that yummy Protein?

After John's suicide the ONLY advice that sunk into my head was: "YOU CAN DO THIS"

What food can you not eat 5 years out? Thank you so much for this post. Really made me feel better about eating like I did. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App What food can you not eat 5 years out? Thank you so much for this post. Really made me feel better about eating like I did. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App The list is too long for my liking, but is probably a blessing in disguise: Pasta rice sticky bread ketsup rich food overly sweet food overly spicy food anything fried chicken Those are the worst. I consider it a good thing now. Not being able to eat those foods, keeps me on track and loyal to my sleeve. Don't you dare feel guilty, Girl! Enjoy the moment. Enjoy the memories for your life time . There will be times during your journey when you will come upon a "bump in the road" or even "hit a wall". Memories of your food funeral will let you smile when smiling may be the last thing you though you could do. Do I regret my WLS? Nope. Do I regret having my food funeral. NEVER! Yep, what she ^^^^ said. Wait! That's ME Well then, ---what I said.

What food can you not eat 5 years out? Thank you so much for this post. Really made me feel better about eating like I did. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App What food can you not eat 5 years out? Thank you so much for this post. Really made me feel better about eating like I did. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App The list is too long for my liking, but is probably a blessing in disguise: Pasta rice sticky bread ketsup rich food overly sweet food overly spicy food anything fried chicken Those are the worst. I consider it a good thing now. Not being able to eat those foods, keeps me on track and loyal to my sleeve. Don't you dare feel guilty, Girl! Enjoy the moment. Enjoy the memories for your life time . There will be times during your journey when you will come upon a "bump in the road" or even "hit a wall". Memories of your food funeral will let you smile when smiling may be the last thing you though you could do. Do I regret my WLS? Nope. Do I regret having my food funeral. NEVER!

Please try not to interpret my verbiage as confusion. I have no confusion about a "vets only" forum. The veterans of tomorrow are the newbies of today. In fact some of the members who you chose to segregate out would not qualify under the proposed guideline of being post op for 12-18months. I think that members with less time post op want and need to know what they are heading for. Why not share those experiences that we "vets" have? I have noticed that some of the newer members have done extensive research and have a wide understanding of the entire journey, while some "Vets" haven't a clue. Being 5yrs + out I certainly have noticed the changes in WLS in the past six years. Vets being able to read and take advantage of new ideas, theories and procedures while newbies are locked out of the vets' forum ---to me is a lose/lose. I know that my own path is probably (hopefully) different than most, but I hope that there are parts of it that can benefit vets as well as newbies. If a "vets only" --restricted --is opened I will participate. Be careful for what one asks for---one might just get it. I wish everyone a joyful journey--Newbie, Vet and everyone in between.

We already have a Vets forum. I don't see the need to segregate the site further. PM if the need be. I think we just need to be more supportive of one another--no matter how long or short our journey has been.

There are foods that I can not eat---now 5yrs out. I doubt if I will ever be able to eat them. To be able to enjoy a favorite meal after completing all of the requirements was not only a personal, but was a strongly encouraged by my bariatric team. Having a food funeral was, in fact on my list of "to do's" given to me by my Bariatric Center of Excellence team. Not once did they say, imply or treat me like I was being "rewarded like a dog". (how insulting to my dog). But each to their own... Make your own personal WLS journey joyful. the choice is yours.