mrs.katie

That's awesome news!

While I do appreciate the world according to egg face blog, I do take issue with the fact that there are so many packaged foods. Having bariatric surgery means that you are getting a brand-new start. Moving from liquids, to puréed, to semisolid, to solid is a journey that we should enjoy. Eating canned beef hash is not part of my journey, and will not be part of my journey. This is a big opportunity for us to go organic, eat clean, it local. The excuse that everything is too expensive will no longer apply because our portions will be tiny. If there is ever a time in your life where eating organic will be affordable, it is directly after you get gastric bypass surgery.

Today I went to see my surgeon (Dr. Echevarria in Tampa). He said I need to lose 20 more lbs before surgery. I am so frustrated! I had a hysterectomy 2 weeks ago and I have had PCOS for years. Anyone with PCOS knows that losing weight is next to impossible. I haven't been able to exercise for a month because I was in so much pain and I had a prolapse. Now I can't exercise at all and all I can do is calorie-restrict. So I am down to 800 calories a day. He said this and then told me I could schedule for surgery. My date is the 22nd of August (this month!). That gives me 18 days to lose 20 lbs. I am not sure if he was trying to scare me into not bingeing or if he actually will turn me away if I only lose 18. To be honest, I almost cried. What am I supposed to do? If I could lose the weight that fast alone I wouldn't want surgery.

Congrats!

I was approved! The office submitted everything Wednesday and I called Tricare yesterday and they told me it was under review and that I should call back Tuesday (not gonna happen). When I called back today they let me know that everything has been approved! It is on like Donkey Kong! It went so fast! Here's my timeline. June 4: WLS Seminar June 11: Initial consultation with surgeon June 20: EGD Consult July 9: Nutritionist, Dietician, and Psychologist visits (Out of town for a bit) July 18: EGD July 22: Lap Hysto Aug 5: Follow-up with Surgeon Aug 7: Submitted to Tricare Aug 9: Approved! Aug 22: Lap Roux-en-Y! I will note, I told my surgeon from the very beginning that I was in a hurry. My husband is in the Army and we are moving in October. I don't want to get stationed in a country that has inadequate health care and be stuck with subpar service. I don't know where he is going to be stationed, so my surgeon gladly agreed that with my history of weight-loss attempts that have been medically documented and my history of obesity I am a very good candidate to have surgery quickly.

I called Tricare this morning and I was approved!

Prayers heading your way. I pray that you also remember to take it easy, which is especially hard for moms. Sent from my iPhone using RNYTalk

Was your surgery laparoscopic? If so, the left side incision is the one most used by surgeons. My mom works in the OR. That site will be the sorest the longest, but it won't last more than a week or two. It all depends on how much manipulation your surgeon did. Sent from my iPhone using RNYTalk

Loose skin depends on a couple of factors. The main one is skin turgor. You are young, so this shouldn't be an issue. The next one is how much the skin has stretched, how long it has been stretched and have you gone from big to small to big before. Basically, how big are you? How long have you been this big and have you ever lost it all and gained it back. A lot of people with loose skin will say that they were very big and that they had been big a long time. Your stats aren't bad. You should have minimal issues. You are young and you don't weigh that much. Sent from my iPhone using RNYTalk

I also am two weeks out and the liquid thing is hard the first couple of days. I used to be a chef and I learned fast that I have no willpower around sabayon. Sent from my iPhone using RNYTalk

No matter what, appeal! You deserve this just as much as the next person. Sent from my iPhone using RNYTalk

Mine was submitted today. I am sitting on pins and needles! Sent from my iPhone using RNYTalk

Cici, It honestly sounds like he may not be as ready as you are to make the changes that must be made. Don't pressure him, just keep being the change you want to see in him. Lead by example, but don't hold it over his head that you are doing well and he isn't. If he doesn't make the changes before long though, he will need to reevaluate whether or not he seriously wants surgery. Sent from my iPhone using RNYTalk

I didn't see that your hands are tingling. I'm going to be honest and blunt here so pardon me. You need to wake up. You have several major symptoms of dehydration and a fecal impaction. Go to the emergency room and take care of yourself before you get so backed up you have poop coming out of your mouth. Yes, it can happen. It happened to my mom after her bypass. You have enough sense to ask for help, which is better than most people. Take the advice and take care of yourself.

Enemas aren't painful. Odd feeling, but not painful. They come pre-lubricated so its just insert, squeeze until almost empty, and wait 2 minutes before you release. The thing is, you sound like you are impacted. If I were you I would head to the emergency room. Yes, it's drastic, but so are the implications of not getting things moving. If you are impacted and don't get it taken care of someone is literally going to have to shove their finger up your butt and un-impact you. Sent from my iPhone using RNYTalk

After my hysterectomy my doctor recommended an enema. Is that or Miralax an option? Sent from my iPhone using RNYTalk

I take my scale to the doctors. The difference was 6 lbs and I refuse to just take their number as fact. They now use my scale for my weight. I don't even touch theirs. Sent from my iPhone using RNYTalk

Hey y'all! I am putting together a list of apps that can help us all. These are all available on the iPhone, but you can check the android market as well. So far I use My Water to track fluids. You can customize your goal in ounces or cups, you can customize container sizes so it is easy to track Fluid intake throughout the day. Happy scale is a great weight tracking app. I broke down my weight loss into 10 lb. increments so I hit goals faster. This way I feel a sense of accomplishment instead of feeling like I will never hit a goal. With weight loss, every pound is a victory and I feel like a lot of us forget to Celebrate the small victories. MyFitness Pal is good for tracking intake and exercise. You can get a group of friends and become buddies, and we all know how helpful it is to have a friend through this. RNYTalk is of course the app I use most though. What about y'all?

Prayers sent. Sent from my iPhone using RNYTalk

Mine is August 22nd!!!

You are doing great!

There is nothing you can't eat after surgery if you wait long enough. If you aren't strong enough to follow the doctors orders before surgery what makes you think you will follow them after?

I am alone too. My husband is currently away with the Army and we have no children. I know I can do it because I already have. Two weeks ago I had a laparoscopic hysterectomy. I came home and have been alone since. I do have someone who comes once a week and cleans for me and does my laundry since the limitations after a hysterectomy mean I can't do anything for weeks. I can't even sweep until week 3. We are stronger than we know.

I am headed to Walmart tonight to shop for some sugar-free and fat-free broths and jello. I know I will lose the weight but if I show up .5 lbs shy of his goal and he denies me I will take that man out. No joke. I will smack that b$&!% with a bottle.