terry1118

I like eggs, I love hummus - I've got to give this a try! Thanks! :-)

Thanks to everyone here who encouraged me and answered my many, many questions both before and after surgery. Because of you I knew what to expect and was prepared for things not covered in my workshops and nurse education class (like the 11 pounds gained from IV fluids!). You shared recipes for different stages (like ricotta bake and chili) and made product recommendations (like cherry chocolate Greek yogurt and Protein granola). You shared advice on everything - constipation, foamies, rashes, gas, dry skin, social issues, vomiting, and on and on. You shared funny stories that made me laugh (the thread about gas was one). You offered sympathy and encouragement when I was struggling. You celebrated every NSV with me and cheered me on. We all help each other. That's what makes this group so special! Thank you!!! :-)

I haven't got any pics! I need a new camera...

Definitely too soon! I gained 11 pounds from IV fluids given during my hospital stay. It took a full week just to gat back down the my pre-op weight. The second week was when the weight loss began. Follow your doctor's instructions, walk if you can, and sip, sip, sip! In the early weeks/months dehydration is a common avoidable problem. Be patient - you're on your way! :-)

As others have said, surgery is just one tool that helps us lose. Others are education, good nutritional choices, exercise, support groups, and our weight loss team (surgeon, PA, nurses, nutritionist, psychologist or psychiatrist, and PCP). We have the tools but the real WORK is up to us. You're using a log so you should be able to see where you're going wrong. Just because you CAN eat something it doesn't mean you SHOULD. You need to commit to making better food choices - lean Protein, vegetables, whole grains, low fat and low sugar foods. Fast food, processed foods, fried foods, should be avoided - none of them are good options. Did your doctor give you lists of what to eat and what to avoid? If so, follow it as closely as possible and you WILL lose. It's my understanding that there is a window of opportunity for optimal weight loss before your body adjusts and adapts to the physical changes from surgery. I was told that losing can last for 12-18 months w/the first 6 months being the months w/the fastest loss. For 12-18 months we need to work to get where we want to be and make permanent lifestyle changes in how we eat and in our activity levels. After that time it's these lifestyle changes that will be the deciding factor in our long term success or failure. Start from the beginning, follow your doctor's instructions, and find and attend a support group for help and encouragement. :-)

You look great! You don't even look like the same person! And you look VERY happy! :-)

I think you can have a GB revision. My doc says it's not done too commonly but they can do it if needed. Your case sounds like one where a revision would be needed. Not a 'reversal' - not even sure if that's possible - but a revision to correct a problem. Have you talked to your doctor about what can be done? Or another doctor?

That's the plus side of finally going - I usually am down a pound or two! Lol

I talked to my doc about this today. I've always tended to be constipated so I asked if it was okay to use Miralax indefinately. She told me to take 4 stool softeners every night and use Miralax as needed (get the generic at Walmart - so much cheaper and it's the same thing). Hope this helps you.

The only show I ever saw was Penny. It was disturbing and I won't watch again. It's like watching a train-wreck. My personal experience was so different! Lots of education to help prevent the kind of failure I saw in that show, and evaluations by psychiatrists to identify whether you are a good candidate for success (with treatment of eating disorders pre-op). Maybe they don't show everything but they didn't even HINT at these people receiving help to succeed.

So sorry about your grandpa and your mom. I lost both my sisters - one killed by her ex-boyfriend, the other accidentally in a cliff-diving accident. All I can say is it gets better. You always miss them and the sadness is unbearable at times, but time helps ease the pain. Eventually you can remember the good times without the hurt being too painful. Take care and know they would want only the best for you and would be proud of you. :-)

Everyone's different. I'm 54 but RNY was a breeze for me. Little pain, quick recovery. By comparison my gallbladder removal three months ago was WAY worse, and neither compared to my rotator cuff surgery five years ago - that was the WORST!!! Hope you feel better. :-)

Wendy's chili was my go-to food when I was out too long and wanted a quick, hot meal. Try not to weigh yourselves so often so you don't get discouraged. And don't compare your progress to anyone else's for the same reason. Everyone loses at their own rate and there are many factors that affect how fast or slow you lose. Starting weight (and how much you have to lose), activity levels, age, gender, complications, your general health at time of surgery, constipation, too much sodium, and possibly other things I can't think of right now. It takes 3500 calories to gain one pound - none of us is capable of eating that much, especially in the early days following surgery. The weight will come off if you follow your doctor's instructions as closely as possible. Celebrate your non-scale successes. Things like fitting into a smaller size, being able to do something you couldn't before, not needing that medicine, walking farther than you could, being able to play with your kids, having joint pain ease up, seatbelt fitting better - and so many other things that you will notice. It's not ALL about the scale - it's about LIVING your life, happier and healthier. :-)

I sounds like she didn't fill out paperwork for FMLA. It only protects you if you fill out the paperwork and qualify before you go out on your medical leave. I don't know if you can file the paperwork after the fact. It seems to me, though I don't know the legalities of it, that if your doctor hasn't cleared you to work that they can't make you work. My employer won't allow anyone to return to work without a detailed doctor's note clearly stating his/her okay and physical restrictions, if any. Imagine the liability to the company if you hurt yourself on the job! You can appeal the decision. Did you have letters from your doctor's office?

Mine was $250 deductible. Thank goodness for insurance!!! Then I figured the deductible was already paid so I opted to have my gallbladder out in December. I don't expect to have more than four doctor's appointments total for this year - 2 post-op (9 month and 1 year) and 2 routine (endocrinologist, dermatologist). I was curious about the total cost. I'm also curious about cost to fix my saggy belly. I'm hoping for insurance-pay on that. :-)

Saltines were suggested immediately post op because they are easy to chew completely and you can chew them to a paste-like consistency that is healing-pouch friendly. I only ate them on occasion in the beginning. I ended up throwing out the small box 2/3 full. I don't eat saltines ever anymore because there is little nutritional value as you said. Early on our pouches can't handle whole grain hard crackers - too coarse for a healing pouch.

It's the socializing that's fun. Eating is just an activity you sometimes participate in while enjoying the company of friends and family. Go out, do things, have fun! As for eating in social situations, this is what my Nut said: Become a gourmet. Have you ever seen the portions at gourmet restaurants? They are tiny! But it's good, delicious food! Eat small amounts of good food, eat slowly, and SAVOR the flavors. Enjoy conversation between bites. I've had no problems eating in restaurants or in other situations where food plays a big part. I've ordered appetizers as a meal (shrimp cocktail, pan-seared scallops), I've made a meal out of a cup of chowder or Soup, I've even eaten the toppings off pizza. You can make it work with practice. :-)

No suggestions. I'm not a doc so I don't know how critical it is. I thought it puts you at risk for excessive bleeding but not sure. If that's it I'm not sure how much is bad or how long the effects last, if any. Either they will or they won't. Definitely tell them. If they choose to reschedule it's because there is a real concern and it's for your own good. Best of luck to you!

Looks like fun!!!

It takes time for emotional attachments to go away. At first I had a strong aversion to food smells and foods didn't taste 'right'. That helped a lot. After 4-6weeks things began to taste a little better. Eventually you'll have to replace the satisfied feeling you used to get from food with something else. Find an activity that makes you happy and do it. It should be something you enjoy. This gets easier to do as you lose and begin to the reap the benefits of that loss (feeling better, being able to be more active, fitting into smaller clothes, losing your aches and pains). Those benefits reinforce your resolve to stay on track. I literally had zero interest in food following surgery. And my experiences while learning what I could tolerate and how much I could eat helped seal the deal. Eating too much, food too dry, or eating too fast results in pure misery. You don't want to repeat that experience - it's a kind of aversion therapy. I still don't experience real hunger at 9 months post op - not in the way I used to. Before my stomach would growl and I'd feed it. Now if I go too long without eating (if I forget, or if I get too busy) I'll start feeling light-headed. Then if I can't eat a meal right away I'll grab a quick Protein snack to tide me over. Until you go through it it's very hard to believe you could be disinterested in food. I couldn't believe it myself! But it's true for as lot of people. :-)

My husband and daughter both have depression. Doctors take it very seriously and usually get you in to see them very fast. There are a lot of good effective treatments for it. Call your doctor ASAP.

I bought them at Target today. :-)

It sounds like you're off to a great start. You should see a huge difference by summer! Follow your doctor's instructions the best you can and you'll be successful too. Celebrate your successes, both on the scale and off. You work hard for every one of them! :-)

Try amazon?

I've lost 107lbs and feel awesome! :-)