woo woo

Trust me when I say that your husband hasn't spent 18 years and his entire teen to adult life with you because he likes the "thickness" of you!! He loves the you that is inside.

I think it's helpful to look at any Doc's advice from the pov of what they are most concerned with: i.e. ob/gyn is thinking of whether it would be ok to have a baby at that point, with the sleeve. Sleeve doc is thinking, what is best for the sleeve and how long should you wait to have baby and still have optimal weight loss benefit from sleeve... etc.... To me I would say follow what your sleeve doc says unless you are already actually pregnant. Just my thoughts Good luck to you

I would just go directly to the bariatric center that you are interested in. They will tell you exactly what to do from there on out. They have a full process and can get you in touch with any and all other physicians/specialists that you need for this. Good luck

This is most definitely a thing and you are right to be aware/concerned about the possibility. Especially if you have had any kind of "issue" or blip specifically in your own past. I also like the idea of avoiding alcohol (etc) altogether after surgery if you have any inkling that it could be a problem for you. Good luck to you!!

I was just kidding with you, meant to be a joke. I'm sorry if it came across as critical. I can tell a difference for sure between the two, too, as others said you look much smaller in the shoulders and waist....

LOL no wonder you can't see the difference, it's like trying to make out the lochness monster in one of those grainy pics. I can hardly see you at all in there! The one of you in the purple dress looks great though!

I might consider getting her a similar necklace to the one she gave you. Otherwise I like the idea of a bracelet, maybe with a charm?

Looking great! Congrats!!

Yes I think that insurances differ on this issue. I was told (by my NUT) to not drop any weight at all during preop diet phase and also not to gain (I am right at 35 with co-morbids). I think the best thing to do would be to call the surgeon's office that you are wanting to use and speak with the insurance coordinator. She will be able to give you the most relevant advice probably. There is also the option of calling your insurance directly but I have heard that sometimes the information can be unreliable from call to call. Good luck to you!

I didn't get the part about good chiropractic care. What am I missing?

What did you take? Some things you can take more if it doesn't work the first time, like Dulcolax or Colace...? Maybe MOM? Make sure you are drinking a lot of fluids for sure...

Re: keeping off your back while sleeping. I have heard that one solution is to sew a small pocket on the back of you pajama top that will hold a tennis ball. The idea being that if you roll onto your back during the night, the ball will be uncomfortable and you will be forced to roll back to the side. I have not tried this but I have seen pajamas in catalogs that are specially made for this with the pocket already there.

Hey Melody, My pressure is 8. My tech did say to me that if it (my pressure) was any higher than that she probably wouldn't recommend nasal pillows to me. That being said it's not all that great anyway. But -- that full face mask they started me with? OMG FORGET IT there is no way. I got a panic attack even thinking about wearing it and never once wore the thing. The entire machine and mask sat in my closet for 10 months until I decided I wanted to have surgery and called for a new mask. If I was you I would maybe try the nasal mask, which fits just over the entire nose but not *in* the nostrils and not over your mouth at all. What I did was call the company and say I needed to find a new mask and I wasn't sure which I wanted. The tech came over to my house with a big bag full of one of every mask that was available that my insurance would pay for. I tried on the nasal mask and it actually felt pretty comfortable but ended up choosing the pillows instead just because it was smaller and lighter. Now I sort of wish I had gone with the other. I'm pretty bummed about the whole deal and haven't worn it at all for 2 weeks. ETA: I think the pressure is just whatever was needed in the sleep study to prop your throat open so that air flows freely. I don't think there is necessarily a correlation between pressure and severity. I could be wrong though!

That's right because you are Too Legit 2 Quit!! Congrats

Sydney Susan, I have switched from the old mask, which was claustrophobic, to nasal pillows so that's not really the issue anymore. Now I think it's that I can't get back to sleep with it after I wake during the night (which I do multiple times). I have to get up at least once or twice to go to the bathroom. So I have to disentangle from the head gear/nasal prongs and then get it all back on and in once I'm back into bed. By then the pressure is at full speed and it's a lot going into my nose. Actually, even when I first go to bed (before the ramp up) I feel so upset, I hate the plastic smell of it and the sound it makes when I exhale and the fact that I am uncomfortable falling asleep on my back. It removes all of the joy I normally feel at bedtime. Ha ha. I do have the ramp up and humidifier features. If you have any suggestions I am very open to any and all of them.

FYI when you self pay for the surgery there is no supervised diet requirement. You just select your date and go from there. Good luck to you!

In my original consult I told the doc that I have a machine but never use it due to the mask being too uncomfortable and claustrophobic and he said that in order for him to do surgery I have to use the CPAP. I'm not really sure if he meant in general or actually in the hospital after the surgery. He suggested that I get a different mask and find a way to use it so I did that. I still can't really sleep with it though but I am trying.

Dumb question maybe, but Is a topper the same thing as a fall?

That is really cute and looks great on you. I actually love wigs and wish they were more accepted as a thing nowadays for everyone.

I'm afraid to ask how you know this, GG....

Agree about Cobra.. or if not I would just bite the bullet and pay full cash price for the meds. Yes I know they are expensive but if you need them it's not really an optional expense... The ADD stuff maybe you can go without, but at least the depression meds.

NO NO in that case forget it.... JUST KIDDING

That's amazing! In only three weeks, all those inches... just wow.

11/23/63 was incredible. I was beside myself. In fact afterward I went and read the book Case Closed by Gerald Posner which is the nonfiction book that King cites as having been his primary source for the historical info regarding Oswald in the months and years leading up to the assassination. Highly recommend both books!

The third picture looks much smaller to me. I see a very noticable improvement from the first picture! Also, I want to tell you as a person that has had liposuction ... it was seriously a very painful experience and recovery was sort of awful and takes a long time. Just wanting to point that out in case it's not something you had really thought about. Keep up the good work and wait on surgery!! :)