Miss Mac

Right time, right place. Love your story. You look Mahhhhhhhvolous!

When I graduated high school, I was 108 pounds and size 8. That's a whopping difference of 62 pounds between me and slb2u2. I was unhealthy the, too - anorexic and anemic. The size 8 is a refllection of being in a strict religious family that frowned on tight (read: anything that fits) clothing. I set my goal weight at 135 because that was my healthiest adult weight.

Me, too I had no problem whatsoever with hair loss. My nails got real brittle for about three months, but they came back nice and strong.

As a matter of fact, when I got a Press - Gainey Survey in the mail, I mentioned her by name.

The technician who did my pre-op EKG told me the same thing (even with my 53" waist). "You don't look like you need surgery. You're not that big." I told her that she had better call my surgeon then, and tell him she disagrees with his diagnosis. That shut her up.

Well, I did have my "What have I done?" moment over it. Everything is fine, now.

Hi.....welcome to the forum. Opinions and tact will vary. i am glad to hear that we have another new bariatric sister on her way to healthy. Congratulations. I had my surgery here in Chicago with Br Bipan Chand. Loyola University stole him away from the Cleveland Clinic, but you and I both have benefited from his expertise He was instrumental in developing the bariatric surgical program there, and then here. So, you should be fine. I wish you good luck and good health. You are in good hands.

I was one of the fortunate few that did not lose hair, but my skin was very dry during that same period ( three-six months out) and my fingernails sooooooo brittle. I was and still am taking 20,000 mg of Biotin every day, but it wasn't until I added Gelatin every day that I saw an inprovement with my nails. Fifteen months out, my hair, skin, and nails are the healthiest they have ever been in my 63 years.

Carbs under 30 - 50 on strength training days. Carlya54, go to the search box and type in CONSTIPATION. Then click on the little itty bitty down arrow which will open up a drop-down menu. Click on FORUMS and then the search magnifying glass. This will bring up other threads on constipation. That first bowel movement after starting soft foods can be like passing a watermelon through a straw. I used Miralax in and on everything, drank Smooth Move Tea at bedtime, and drank prune juice if I feel like I was not getting enough progress. When you are able, eat 1/2 an apple after supper. There are lots of things you can do.

I have had one, but not for my sleeve. Cleanse, whistling sh**s, nap, wake up and go home. For my sleeve I had an ultrasound of my liver, cardiac clearance, EKG, and blood work.

I am so glad to hear that you are recovering much better, now. I gained 12 pounds in the hospital, and by the time I lost it, I hit the third week stall.

That's been the hardest thing for me, too. Growing up poor in a big family meant nothing got tossed in the garbage. Even the watermelon rinds and carrot tops went to the hogs. "Willful waste makes willful want", Grandma said. If you did not clean your plate from dinner, you saw it again for Breakfast. I finally had to come to grips with the fact that if I don't want to throw something out, I can eat the few extra bites to the point of misery and discomfort, or I can tape it directly to my hips. So, I am really precise about how much I put on my plate to start with. At 15 months, I still weigh and measure to what I know my capacity to be. Very seldom do I throw out more than one or two bites now.

Fifteen months post-op, I still get all of that. Most frequently, Miss Tummy communicates through hiccups. That is my warning She is saying, "I double dog dare you to eat that last bite"

Pre-op, I had a 53" sagging belly, sagging boobs, sagging rear, sagging chins, sagging thighs and sagging arms How is that any more attractive than a post-op sagging belly? Tell him he is less attractive when he is an a**. To the original poster DaisyDawn34. If they are not blocking the door, chaining you to the washing machine, or taking the tires off of your car so that you can't leave the house, then I think you should go ahead and do what you feel is healthy and beneficial for you Don't wait until after you had a stroke like I did, or die too young of a heart attack like my brother did (age 47), or die too young of an abdominal aortic aneurysm like my mother did (age 67 - her mother lived to be 98). My sleeve was my twelfth surgery under anesthetic, and I was not concerned at all about dying on the table or of horrendous complications. They gave me a nice nap and I woke up with a new lease on life. Your family is being selfish by trying to prevent you from making your own decisions about your personal healthcare. You do you. I wish you good luck and good health Come back often for encouragement.

Two day. BCBS Federal, Best insurance I ever had...ever. I had several co-morbidities (including a stroke) that helped cinch mine.

There s a similar thread started in 2009, that now has 1,122 responses. It is a very encouraging thread. http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/173306-nsv-shout-outs/page-113?hl=%2Bnsv#entry3818692

Hi, and welcome to the forum. Opinions and tact will vary. You will find that those six months will pass quickly enough and you will lose some weight in the process. Also, you will learn new habits that will retrain your brain and tastebuds as well as your stomach. You will find out that you are stronger than you think you are. As you lose weight, you will gain confidence and become more empowered to speak up for yourself. Bariatric surgery is about so much more than weight loss. It is about having control over the human machine that your essence of being lives in, and having a more fulfilling life in which you are an active participant. Congratulations on taking those first steps.

kat45d29, It is well-known to your bariatric brothers and sisters here on the forum that bariatric surgery brutally exposes the raw dynamics of your relationships. That is not a bad thing. For once in your life, you will learn the cold hard truth about how people you thought you trusted really feel about you. You want the truth, don't you? Hopefully, your friend will rally behind you and be a supportive cheerleader for you. You might be worried for nothing. If she starts throwing wrenches into your progress, then at least you found out the realty that drives that relationship. Departing from a long-term friendship is so difficult. I have not had that issue with my weight loss, but I have thrown two ex-husbands to the curb when good marriages turned toxic. I have learned to distance myself from people (including family) who intrude upon my health, happiness, and peace of mind. I sincerely hope that your frindship rings true. This journey is so much easier when you have the enthusiatic support of friends and family.

I did not have that problem until I had my right knee replaced in 2000. I had the left one replaced in 2011, by a different surgeon in a different, town, state, and hospital with much better results. I had a bad fall in 2009, tearing three of the four tendons in my rotator cuff in my left shouder and had to have surgery. Th eorthopedist I saw for that said I tripped over my right foot because it turns inward when I walk. We tried an open-toed ankle brace, but it was stiff and uncomfortable, plus it threw my gate off, even with a balancer in my other shoe. I wore it twice and ditched it in the closet.

Thank you. I know how hard this is. I found that I have t be paying attention to my health EVERY DAY to get results. There is nothing easy about this. Withthethrill........I wish you good luck and good health.

You are probably going to get two very polar opposite responses, namely 1) Don't beat yourself up and 2) What in the world were you thinking? When I was about to transition from full liquids to soft foods, I ate some potato chips and let them dissolve in my mouth, but Miss Tummy punished me for hours and I learned my lesson.

Oh, after all of that I forgot: Water is as important as air. You body needs to be hydrated, just like a plant needs watered. I was stuck on a plateau for months. When I took my Protein to 80-100 gams and my water up to 100 ounces and doubled my exercise, the scale started moving again.

Okie dokie........Who is in charge here? Your kids? Your mate? Your Taste buds? Or You? Hopefully it's you. I am guessing you already are very aware that even though you are closing in on two years out from surgery, you still need to focus on Protein and control the carbs. So, then, your problem would be a matter of logistics and execution. Let's imagine that you are a project manager for an organization, and you have been tasked with finding and implementing a way to provide a sensible and affordable way for a bariatric post-op patient to obtain a healthy and balanced high protein diet on a budget, in a way that satisfies other members of the family. First you have to determine what you will need to pull this off. So, you brainstorm with your household members about what Proteins you will eat, what proteins they will eat, and what you have never tried but might give it a go - just this once. This can include sub-topics: hamburger for example. Will they eat burgers, meatloaf, meatballs, tacos, sloppy joes, etc. You have to go through this same process with vegetables. What will you eat, what will they eat, what will anyone try? You do not need to mention creative ideas you have for disguising vegetables in foods they will eat. This way, the family can feel like they have some input rather than you just imposing a restricted diet on them. Let them know that there are certain things you should be spare with, that maybe they can help you resist. I am talking about bread and buns, white potatoes, rice, noodles, and pastries. For example you will make pizza for the family, but they should not make fun of you for not eating the crust. When you make spaghetti and meatballs, they can have some spaghetti noodles, but you will be eating green Beans instead. Dessert will be apples, not apple pie. They won't starve. Secondly, you have to determine what the obstacles are, and eliminate them one by one. Tight Budget: Think of all the money you might be spending in drive-throughs and on pre-packaged products. Resolution?: Start cooking from scratch. Stay away from the inside aisles of the store. Except for some spices now and then, nearly everything you need for a healthy and balanced diet is on the perimeter aisles of the store. This one rule will save you money all by itself: do not buy anything made in a factory. Your income can be their money or yours. Which way will it be? Protein is more expensive than junk edibles ( I don't call then foods). Truth be told, dear, your kids and mate do not need that junk any more than you do. You are trying to keep human beings alive, so you need natural foods intended for human consumption. A chicken can be roast chicken for one meal (you aren't still frying, are you?) and then you can take the carcass and bits and make a delicious both broth chicken Soup with carrots, celery, onions, even some beans (all cheap) and have an awesome delicious and nutritious soup. eggs need to be your best friend. There are so many ways you can prepare them. I keep deviled eggs on hand all the time. They are my go-to when I am desperate. Last week, I took a dozen eggs and scrambled them up in a bowl with some ham bits left over from a baked ham, shredded cheese, diced green pepper (red and yellow cost a lot more). If I have an avocado in season, I will dice that up and throw it in, too. I took all of that and put it in a muffin pan, and baked omelet muffins. Then I froze them. One is just the right amount for my Breakfast, with a little salsa. Tuna salad, cheeses, Peanut Butter, salmon patties, turkey (you don't have to wait for Thanksgiving - and you know how leftover turkey seems to multiply in the fridge). You might need to Google clever ways to cook cheaper cuts of meat. It can be done. My mother did it all the time, and grandma did it with twelve kids during the Great Depression. Grow your own food, if you can. If you have room for a garden, plant something. A pack of seeds cost so little, and you get delicious fresh veggies in return for your trouble. Besides, kids need to know where real food comes from. I don't have the time, energy or motivation to exercise: This is a tough one. I don't want to exercise either, but I make myself do it, just like I hope you are making your kids brush their teeth. I discovered that my biggest available and under-used block of time was when I was parked in front of the TV, snacking on crap. When I got my sleeve, I ordered several (oops - 34 over time) exercise DVD's for variety. However, if money is tight, there are jillions (that's a real number here in Chicago) of YouTube options. I was a slave to the TV. I finally had to decide what was more important - living longer for my mate, my kids, and my grandkids, or what was on TV. Can't afford weights? A can of green beans weighs one pound. A gallon of milk weighs eight pounds. Lift a five pound bag of apples over your head a few times or move it from side to side in rotation. Last year I made a fitness trail in my back yard. At every stop I would do a different exercise: push-ups against the oak tree, leg lifts at the picnic table, carry a big rock from the garden to one spot and back, lunges from one stop to the next, using two milk jugs filled with Water to do bicep curls, chest flys, deadlifts - that sort of thing, squats by the gas grill.........see what I mean? I spent NO MONEY on my fitness trail. On alternate days, I put my CD player on the picnic table and just walk laps around the yard for half an hour. Today needs to be your point of no return - no more gain back. Turn this derailed train back on the track and proceed toward your goal. Show your kids that you only fail if you give up. You know that if you did this once, you can do it twice. This time next year, you just might be the healthier, happier you that you were hoping for. P.S. Dance like nobody's watching. Put on some crazy loud music that makes you happy and do your housework to that. It will help. Love and hugs from Chicago. You can DO this!

Stalls are like lovers. You first will probably not be your last.

My actual stomach did not hurt at all. The only pain I had was from my largest incision, and even at that, I only had to use pain relief for two days after I got home. I did not even have the shoulder gas that others have suffered.