Miss Mac

Even though I mostly shop the perimeter of the market, where the produce, meats and dairy are, they still put the diet disasters in their pretty eye-catching packages on the endcaps. As they call my name with their mythological Sirens' song, I have to turn my back and tell myself "Walk away from the Twinkies. Walk away from the Twinkies. Walk away from the Twinkies........"

Although I am past my first year now, I appreciate honest posts like yours and others who are further out than me. Every day is the same challenge of making good choices while finding that delicate balance that provides me with the best results. Your post encourages me to hang in there and just do the best I can and forget about the rest.

I am 63. I feel like my sleeve has added another 20 years to my life. Maybe I can even stretch this to Celebrate 98 years like my grandma. I am not afraid to die because I know there is nothing we can do to stop the circle of life. But I just don't want to go yet. I want to watch my grandchildren grow up.

Just like pink dahlia, I did not lose myself, I found myself with my weight loss. I found the pre-heavy me who was fun and spontaneous, and I am not a part of the couch anymore. All of my changes have been for the better. I was afraid that my boyfriend (Geeze that sounds so 8th grade - my gentleman companion hubbyman) was a chubby chaser and would reject a newer slimmer me. But he has proven to be the best, supportive companion a girl could have. He loves the essence of the new playful me, regardless of what earthly container I ride around in.

What? Or as my people say, "Whuuuut?"

Sometimes I can throw in a really long response because I have hampsters running around in my head, but this time, I have nothing to say except......Lipstick Lady, I love you like a sister.

Congratulations! Once you get through your first couple of months of recovery, you will get some energy back and feel so much better. Just behave and follow doctor's orders. Hugs from Chicago.

I had to patiently build up to it, but I can drink 100 ounces or more at 15 1/2 months out. I don't chug, but I can sip an ounce every few minutes with no problem.

Hi and welcome back. Since you don't know anyone currently here, I will introduce myself. Maybe others will, too. I am Miss Mac, a 63 year old retired federal employee living in the Chicago suburb of Alsip. I got my sleeve and new birthday on December 23, 2013. I am a slow loser, and for a long time my weight loss has been in micrograms instead of pounds, but I am still hanging in there, working toward the prize. Why did I get bariatric surgery? Unfortunately, I put it off until I had a stroke. Also, my spine was collapsing because it could not carry my weight any more. I have 17 herniated discs that are very happy that most of that weight is gone now.My quality of life has noticably impoved and I have no regrets about the surgery. It saved my life. Thanks for revealing that your journey has had its ups and downs. You sound like a genuinely open person who will tell the truth and make it real. I hope to see your posts often.

What does OCC mean?

Welcome to the forum. You will find support here as well as lively disagreement. Opinions and tact will vary. I am always glad to see a newbie snooping around, so chime in and ask all the questions you want. If you are looking for a particular topic, you can go to the search box, type in your topic in quotes if it is more than one word. Go to the little tiny almost invisible arrow, and click for a drop down menu. Click on FORUMS, and then the search magnifying glass. Since you mentioned that you are working, I will assume that you have insurance. My insurance, BCBS Federal Employee, required a 2 year history of doctor supervised weight management, two sessions with a psychologist (one pre-op and one at two years post-op, and a three month nutritionist supervised diet before approval. I lost 22 pounds on the supervised diet pre-op. For tests, I had blood labs, EKG, EGD, and an ultasound for my liver. Since that revealed fatty liver disease, I had to have a liver shrinking diet ten days pre-op. For some folks it is two weeks. The liver lays over the stomach and the smaller it is, the easier it is for the doctor to see what he is doing and manipulate his laparascopic tools. If you have never had a surgery where you are given anesthetic and knocked out, he is a simplified way to look at it: You have to have an IV put in, then they give you something to help you relax a bit. It's like you see and hear what is going on, but you don't really care. In the OR they give you something in your IV that gives you a nice nap while they are operating on you. After a while, you wake up in recovery and the initiation into to your new life begins. You will be thirsty but not given anything more than chipped ice for a while. Make sure you take Chapstick. It is more important than underwear! You will be sore for a few days and nauseous, but you will be given meds for that. My sleeve was my twelfth surgery (including knee replacements and c-sections) and frankly, it was the easiest recovery of them all. After my bariatric team submitted my packet of treatment and compliance documentation that I had finished the pre-op requirements, I was approved in two days. Different insurance plans have different requirements and response times. For some people it is an aggravating test of character to get their approval. On the day of approval, my date was set. Post-op, my new tummy had to be re-introduced to foods, implemented in stages. My program was clear liquids at the hospital, full liquids at home (I was there two days, which is typical). Then at two weeks out I started pureed foods (runs off a spoon). At three weeks, I started soft foods (holds on a spoon, but has no bits or solid pieces). At the end of one month (4 1/2 weeks) I was allowed to see what regular cooked foods I could tolerate. At three months I tried raw fruit and greens like lettuce and spinach. Recovery is progressive and it's very important to follow the plan that was given to you. If you don't follow your doctor's orders and try to push your new tummy to process foods it's not ready for, then why have surgery at all? The head game is harder than your actual physical recovery. Bariatric surgery is a lifetime committment. As for returning to work, I will let the working folks address that. I am 63 and retired, so all I can tell you is that I spent the first week just sleeping off the anesthetics and pain meds. Then, after that, I was able to putter around the house. It was two months before I had any noticeable energy. I humbly bow to my bariatric brothers and sisters who had to return to work or take care of children too small to help out. You are my heroes. Congratulations on making a decision that will drastically improve your quality of life. The pre-op and post-op regimines are inconvenient and uncomfortable, but once you lose that first thirty pounds, you will begin to notice changes in your body and how that body feels. I wish you good luck and good health.

Same here, Until the anesthetic and heavy pain meds wore off, peeing was definitely different.

Pre-op I was probably using 30 artificial sweetener packets per day. I put that stuff on everything. Sweetener is approved in my plan, but I know that it doesn't me an extreme indulgence like that. I have cut it back to only six a day. I make 1/2 gallon of decaf tea every day and use my sweeteners for that. I don't put it on all my other food anymore .. Boy oh boy what a vice it was. But, I was wondering what others are doing for sweetener: honey, agave, Stevia, nothing? What is your take on sweeteners?

Monkfruit. I totally forgot about monkfruit. I used to get it at Aldi's and they quit carrying it recently. I will see if I can get some online. Thanks for mentioning it. You are my new best friend.

Do you think Stevia tastes like licorice, or is it just me?

Chapstick is essential. Your lips will be soooooo dry.

So happy to hear that you had a good experience. I hope you have an uncomplicated recovery. Your quality of life will greatly improve now.

Welcome to the forum. You have made a decision that geatly improve your quality of life. Sometimes the tough-love comes through, but don't let that scare you. You will find that some topics are polarizing, and that opinions and tact will vary. Come often to see what mischief we've gotten into.

When I had my one year check-up, all of my nutrient values were super-dooper, by my cholesterol was OMG way off range. My doctor put me right back on Lipitor and gave me the same advice you got. In my case it will be Peanut Butter and cheese that goes......so sad. Darn.

What? Catch and release? Girl. make sure your family and friends understand that you need at least a weeks rest before they should expect you to resume any household chores. They need to be your little helpers for a while until you get your mojo back. Congratulations on making such a life-changing decision.

Just an afterthought. "Hey guys - look at me!" would be great last words to engrave on some nim-nods tombstone.

Polarizing posts like this one make me shake my head, too. There is a strong difference between seeking guidance from your bariatric brothers and sisters for some part of his journey has you totally befuddled and that the original poster this time is flaunting a deliberate step off of the beaten path to indulge in a behaviour that is detrimental to healing and successful recovery. It's like when a kid takes his hands off of the handlebars of his bike and hollers, "Hey guys - look at me." He's hoping that he is not go to hit a rock and face-plant in the street. He may return home and Mom will never know about it, or he may return home after an ambulance picks up his a** and his has his nose stiched back on. That is flagrant abuse of the gift (his bicycle - our bariatric surgery) he's been given. It breaks my heart that newer folks coming into our forum environment and get scared away from this bottomless well of wisdom when the tough love of veterans try to steer a stray calf back into the herd. If you newbies can bear with us until you get your first few months in, you will begin to understand where we are coming from. Be patient with the veterans and they will be patient with you. Newbies, please stay with us and you will absorb awesome helpful knowledge by observing the give and take in the posts. I got carried away here, but dag nabbit, the little whippersnappers around here need to come when Grandpa calls.

You made me smile.

I introduced avocodo to Miss Tummy by mashing some with refried Beans and a little sour cream. I waited until I was eating reguar foods to use salsa. There was no problem with that. When I got the go-ahead for regular foods, I stopped at Wendy's on the way home from my appointment (5 weeks) and got a small chili with cheese. It took me four days to eat the whole thing, but after almost 7 weeks (pre and post-op) of liquids and puddings, you would have though I had died and gone to heaven. Oh man, I hope there is Wendy's chili in heaven!

I forgot ot mention.....I am 63 and 15 1/2 months out from my sleeve surgery. I am closing in on my goal and insurance will cover a panniculectomy after my two year anniversary in late December. At this point now, the weight is coming off in micrograms instead of pounds, but I will never again be as big and unhealthy as I was. You hang in there. The pre- and early post op inconvenience, discomfort and aggravation is worth it. It's all good - and quite temporary - a right of passage, so to speak.