Miss Mac

Uh - oh. If you still have a gallbladder, Google gallstone symptoms. Just sayin'. But to avoid a serious case of Google-itis and needless worry about everything else we could suggest from our vast wealth of personal experience, you should call your doctor.

I don't live in your area, but I have not heard anything good about Lifestyle Lift, either.

My surgery was textbook, too. Having a smaller stomach has caused me to make some adjustments, but I am much healthier for it. During these six months post-op, I have learned to listen to Miss Tummy, because she is smarter than I am. Because I am healthier, I am happier and more able to endure my therapy exercises. I wish you good luck and good health.

I keep coming back for all of the things that we DO have in common. Just because someone disagrees or can't identify with something I said, doesn't make them a hateful green meanie. If I can't handle someone's comment, then I do not respond, because I am averse to conflict. There is much support, knowledge and comfort to be gained here, and I enjoy these conversations with my fellow weight loss surgery companions. Jessiegirl30 (if you are peeking in on our responses), even if you have to close the door for a while, I hope that you will reconsider and rejoin us soon. I wish you good luck and good health.

While you are still pre-op and walking around with your original birth stomach, here are some practical things you can do to give yourself a head start. These actions show up on nearly every bariatric program here: Cut back (as in WAYYYYYYYY back) on sugary and starchy carbs. The limits our nutritionists have given us range from mimimal to maybe 150 grams of carbs per day. My personal experience through my first six months post-op, is that the lower I go with carbs, the better I do with my weight loss. Right now, I have gone commando with it. By limiting myself to -20 carbs, I broke a miserable seven week plateau. That few carbs means I am eating mostly "one ingredient" foods, not made in a factory, i.e. meat, eggs, cheese, nuts, non-starchy veggies, and 1/2 serving of fruit per day, ususally berries. But that's me. Your mileage may vary. By eating more lean Protein, you will fill up faster and stay filled up much longer. Post-op my requirement was 60 grams, which is hard to do right away, and the Protein drinks really help if you can find one you like. At six months, my requirement is 80 grams......do-able, but I sometimes start or end my day with a Protein Drink. Drink Water until your eyeballs float. The most recent adjustment I have made is to wean myself off of artificial sweeteners. They have been my go-to sweetener since I eliminated sugar, honey, and agave. Stevie has too much of a licorice taste for me. I counted a while back and I was consuming around thirty (30) per day. Now I make my morning cup of de-caf tea, take two sips, and dump the rest out. The rest of the day I drink water with a splash of lemon, and lots of it. Most plans will recommend at least 64 ounces. Soda is not your friend, even if it is diet soda. Move your body every day. This could be a walk, resistance training, swimming - really anything thing you are able to do. I have a lot of exercise DVDs, but hate the stupid music that goes with them. So.......I put the TV on a music channel and put the DVD in my laptop, and exercise that way. Sometimes, like today, I crank up the music and dance like nobody's watching, and I have orthopedic issues. On flare-up days, I do my exercise from a chair or on the bed. Anyway, I am sure others have practical suggestions for helping you get a head start. And remember that packaged and processed foods and treats are not made to be healthy; they are made to make rich people richer. I wish you good luck and good health.

If you cannot afford to buy fitness DVDs, you might see what you can find on Youtube. Because of orthopedic issues, I frequently have to get out my videos with Chair Boxing, Chair Salsa, Chair Aerobics, and Chair Tai Chi. There are others, but it's a start.

Hey there, Miss Sexy Thang......who did you go with and how did you get there??????

Good for you. I am so proud of my fellow sleever who could get her sleeve and never look back. Congratulations.

The Fit and Active Vanilla Greek Yogurt that I get from Aldi's has 140 calories per cup.

I agree with Queenie 47. Use some kind of oil. I used sweet almond oil that I use after a shower to help keep my skin soft while it shrinks back into place.

Artificial sweeteners were a stepping stone for me when I did Atkins years ago, but gradually over time became a powerful crutch. I had become used to my food tasting sweet. I was putting that stuff in chili, tuna salad, salad dressings, just anything and everything in massive amounts. When I got my sleeve, I began notching down because here I was eating all natural healthy food, but adding sweetener to it and also drinking all those chemicals. This past week, I decided to dropped them entirely and just drink Water 95% of the time. And guess what? I broke a plateau and lost four pounds in a few days! So, I am thinking the sweeteners were holding me back. Well, whatever the science, I am convinced that sweeteners and sugar are both not for me.

I agree 100% with mi75. Syntrax nectar Grapefruit with Crystal LIght Lemonade. A....Maz...Ing. Actually, I warm up the lemonade a little, mix in the Syntrax, strain out the few bit of lumps, then put it on ice. I bought several flavors and styles of proteinn drinks, and this one is my favorite of them all.

Me too. I was eating steak at one month. Grass fed is the best, so I hear.

My hips and knees are better to the point that I can walk with a cane instead of a walker, and the pain is less. My back not so much, as I have 14 herniated discs with all of that arthritic complication that goes with it. I need a full lumbar fusion, the one with a posterior, anterior, and lateral incisions with rods and hardware and such. However, I am down 55 pounds at almost six months, and have bought some time with my sleeve. The spine surgeon thinks that if I can get another 50 pounds off, my risk for needing the surgery will be considerably less. I am getting by with continueing the lumbar epidurals and wearing a back brace.

Glad to help. I used info such as the fact that my mother died from an abdominal aortic anurysm at the age of 67 (not much older than I am now). She was 5'2" and weighed 320 pounds. My oldest brother died at the age of 47 from a heart attack. He was 6' and weighed 320 pounds. My father had two heart attacks and eventually died of a stroke. I had a stroke myself on 2010, and am so appreciative of the outstanding and rapid care that I got at the hospital. I am sure most of us in the bariatric community can relate to several conditions on that list. I got it from the website for the National Institute of Health. They indicate that most surgeons and insurance companies use this list for consideration.

Here is a list of co-morbidities that insurance companies consider. Even family history of some conditions will count toward your likelihood of getting that condition if you do not have the surgery. I hope this helps. I am a retired federal employee with BCBS Federal. My starting BMI was 40.1 and when my packet was submitted, I was approved for surgery with a five day stay, in just two days. (But I called them. The co-ordinator at the bariatric clinic was on vacation, so I had the info before they did.) Obesity Comorbidities To follow is a list of comorbidities (additional conditions or diseases) related to obesity which may help you in qualifying for weight loss surgery. Family history of heart disease Family history of stroke Family history of diabetes Family history of heart attacks Hyperinsulinemia Diabetes High blood pressure Coronary-artery disease Hypertension Migraines or headaches directly related to obesity or cranial hypertension Congestive heart failure Neoplasia Dyslipidemia Anemia Gallbladder disease Osteoarthritis Degenerative arthritis Degenerative disc Degenerative joint disease Recommended joint replacement from specialist Accelerated degenerative joint disease Asthma Repeated pneumonia Repeated pleurisy Repeated bronchitis Lung restriction Gastroesophageal reflex (GERD) Excess facial & body hair (Hirsutism) Rashes Chronic skin infections Excess sweating Frequent yeast infections Urinary stress incontinence Menstrual irregularity Hormonal abnormalities Polycystic ovaries Infertility Carcinoma (breast, colon, uterine cancer) sleep apnea Pseudotumor cerebri Depression Psychological/sexual dysfunction Social discrimination Premature death in the immediate family

You will get along fine without it, and will feel much better. I had mine out in 1973, back when they cut you half in two, but I never did have any serious digestion problems after the removal. The gall bladder helps you digest fat, so just be careful not to eat anything too greasy, rich, or spicey for a while. I did have "ghost pains" for a few weeks, but that wasn't anything I couldn't handle. You will be surprised at how much better you will feel in a few days.

I agree with all of the others. My new normal is wayyyyy better than my old normal. It's all about who is in control of what goes in my mouth. Before surgery, it was anything and everything, and I never got full. My stomach was never even close to functioning as it was meant to. It was stretched and bloated and talked back to me every day with reflux and nausea. Now, I can choose healthy foods not made in a factory, eat smaller more reasonable amounts, and I feel better when I am done. My body is responding happily to eating more nutritious food. Yeah, my hunger head had a tantrum for a while, but the further out I get, the more control I have. The foods that I avoid are the ones that were not doing me any favors anyway. I sip Water all day long, but 4 ounces in any fifteen minute period is my comfort level. Actually, I drink much more fluids than I did before, just not the same time with food. However.......if I eat something spicy, I will take a sip to rinse around my mouth. No harm has been done. Whatever you decide, I wish you good luck and good health.

My Wellbutrin was doubled after surgery.......no problems from it.

That just goes to show you how individual we all are, and how important it is to stay close with the plan given to us. I get my best results when I sacrifice the carbs down to less than 20g. That's not much, but it is how I just kicked a plateau for 7 weeks, and lost four pounds this past week. I need to change my body from a sugar burner to a fat burner. Just frankly speaking, I get much better results with very low carb. Breakfast this morning was one scrambled egg with 1/2 ounce of shredded cheddar, and one slice of bacon. Pre-op, that would have been two eggs, an ounce of cheese, three pieces of bacon and four pieces of toast with a cup of tes & sugar and a small glass of orange juice...... and I was hungry before lunch. Carbs make you hungry for more carbs, plain and simple. Chocolate, oh man I love chocolate, but I did not give it up. I gave up the sugary sweet milk chocolate candy bars for 85% dark chocolate. Usually I will eat it for a snack with a few nuts to break up the strong flavor. Soda pop was a big contributer to my bloated 53 inch belly. On a 5'4" woman, that means I was almost as big around as I was tall. I have lost over 10" of belly at this point. Pre-op I was really concerned about up giving up so much, but you know what? I am almost six months out, and my body thanks me for putting my brain in its place! Miss Tummy is in charge of this joint now, and I lose every argument. What I miss is the flavor of those foods. The smell of bread makes me ill - it smells like a brewery. I never met a potato I didn't like, but now a potato or noodles or rice have unpleasant consequences like gas and bloating and weight stalls. So, for lunch I will be having a tomato stuffed with tuna salad.....no bread. Dinner will be 1/2 a burger (no bread) with 1/2 slice of cheese and some green beans. If I get hungry before bedtime, I will have some sugar free hot chocolate. So, ketosis looks good on me, but causes a lot of grief for others. I just have to face the fact that I am extremely insulin resistant. Before surgery, I could not even lose weight on a 1,000 calorie of the American Food Pyramid. Low carb is my future....Miss Tummy insists.

I had an IV, a nap, and then they were done.

You did not say that he was force-feeding you or humiliating you or refusing you access to the groceries that you need. So, going on that assumption, I would suggest that you find some creative ways to modify foods that you both can eat. There are many Paleo and Primal websites that offer recipes for that purpose: My favorite is Mark's Daily Apple. If your hubby is an enthusiastic meat eater, he will appreciate this concept as a compromise. Also, instead of drawing a line between two camps, ask him to get involved in the process and help you experiment in the kitchen. My S/O is from Malta and thoroughly enjoys cooking in the Mediterranean style on his days off from work. He is perfectly willing to do the marketing and preparation, but I enjoying working side by side in the kitchen with him....I have learned so much more than my Midwest homestyle fare. Yeah, he has some junk food on hand, but I just consider it all to be poison and stay out of it. But here is how we cope in the kitchen. We both like chicken breast, so he will grill it or bake it. Last week, he stuffed the chicken breast with a mixture of ricotta, frozen chopped spinach, and seasonings. We had fresh home-cooked green Beans with it We part culinary styles when I have a few berries for a delayed dessert, and he has some of his Cookies or crumb cake. Another example is Breakfast. He will make ahead a couple of breakfast frittatas, made in a pie crust and filled with a scrambled eggs, ham, bacon, or chopped sausage, and veggies such as peppers, onions, mushrooms, tomato - even left-over steamed broccoli, and some shredded cheddar or American cheese. The only difference is that he eats the crust and I don't. Same concept for pizza. He eats the crust and breadsticks, and I don't. Tuna salad??? He makes a sandwich, but I eat mine with sliced tomato. We rarely eat dinner out any more. It's just not that special since there is much better food at home that is customized to perfection. Who ever does the cooking, the other does the dishes. So, pick your battles. So long as he understands that you had major surgery and need adequate time to recover well, offer to work out that compromise in the kitchen. My S/O keeps his stash of Pecan Sandies and potato chips under his side of the bed. I know it's there, but I am used to respecting boundaries. And chances are, he is not going to bother your unsalted mixed nuts. I have thrown a couple of stinkers to the curb, myself, but your guy just sounds under-informed to me. If you are not able to openly discuss your healthcare with him, then you have bigger marital problems than just "What's for dinner?" If therapy is out of the question, then I do like the idea of coaxing him to a support session. My guy has been with me to several of my appointments and knows all of my various doctors by name and face. He is very aware of this whole process and what is yet to come. Hang in there and stand your ground. You may bring out the Prince Charming in him by asking for his help rather than his judgement. I wish you good luck and good health.

He sounds like a green meanie to me. Has he never heard of metabolic resistance - which is why many of us are in this mess? Shortley, I will be at six months, and have been bouncing between 178 and 180 for weeks on end. I can gain two pounds overnight, which takes weeks to lose again. I find that when my calories are at around 800, that does not sustain a very vigorous exercise program. I know from my past history, I cannot lose weight even at 1000 calories, and I have significant orthopedic and post stroke issues that prevent me from from doing much. Cutting my calories back to 600 sends me into low blood sugar and dizziness, like last night when it was in the low 60s. It's disheartening, I know. My doc also said that stalls are NORMAL and that I just need to watch my numbers and wait this out, while incorporating exercise when I can. Like you expressed, we did not go through this just to stop and give up. Let's hang in there together. There is no point in your doctor humiliating you. Geeze Louise.

That's a tough one...sorry to hear that. With orthopedic issues, I was told years ago to knock it off with the Tai Bo kick boxing and other impact exercises. You have to get cleaver about burning calories when your movement is restricted. Strength training is helping, but I miss being able to do high intensity stuff. One thing is for sure, though........as the pounds come off, the pain should reduce some, too. I wish you good luck and good health.

Being able to travel, whether it is to the grocery or overseas. Walking without losing breath.