Babbs

All surgeons and hospitals are different, but I was given my medications whole in the hospital. No problem.

Yup. What they said ^^^^ I am willing to bet your surgeon will think it's still too early. You're not fully healed yet.

Use them as long as you need them. Not a thing wrong with that.

I enjoy "Fat Doctor" much more. It's about people more like us who aren't so super morbidly obese. The doctor on the show is a sweetheart, and I feel much more empathetic than Dr Now. It's a UK show and you can catch episodes on YouTube.

People in AA are the WORST. Talk about evangelical ex alcoholics! That's totally normal what you're feeling, by the way. I did for quite some time. Now I just look at them and empathise. I've also struggled with bringing the subject of WLS up to some friends and family members who I think would benefit from it, but I'm over that now, too. They know they're fat, and they know that WLS is a great option as they have seen me be pretty darn successful with it. I only hope they decide to do something about it before it becomes sadly too late.

@@kaypitre5 I honestly don't mean to sound all gloom and doom, lol. But then again I'm a realist. And the reality is we have to be forever vigilant after WLS or we will gain. The benefits of the surgery wane. We will still always have limited capacity compared to the normal peeps, but hunger and cravings do return and if given into more often than not, it can be devastating. It's very easy to eat 'around' these surgeries. I had a time last spring when I gained almost 6 pounds due to lack of exercise because of work (excuse). I buckled down and it took me 4 (yes, 4!) months to lose. I am the exact same weight (144) I was 1 year ago I am proud to say It takes work to maintain, and it's hard. But for me, being fat was hard. I chose my hard, and that's maintaining my weight

You haven't stretched your sleeve. It's the natural progression of things to be able to eat more the further out you get post surgery. You cannot stretch the sleeve. It's also very normal for weight loss to slow and stall a lot the further out you get from surgery. For me what worked when it happened was to actually increase my calories and Protein along with my activity. That always seemed to jump start things again. I did that until I topped out at 1200 calories until I hit goal and now maintain on 1300. I don't believe in 'pouch resets'. I think the best way to get back on track is just going back to basics like in the beginning--no sugar, white carbs, protein first and lots of Water. If you feel you want to 'tighten up' your restriction a bit, liquids for a couple days should do the trick, temporarily at least. It won't ever be like the beginning. Work with what you've got. Good luck!

43% of people gain some or all of their weight back after WLS. It is ENTIRELY possible to gain all the weight back and then some. I've seen it. Let's not fool ourselves here. People tend to be very short sighted with these surgeries, and think because of the limited appetite and capacity we have in the first year or so, it's hard to imagine being able to eat enough to actually gain large amounts of weight. It's called the honeymoon period for a reason. Studies show it becomes increasingly difficult to maintain your lowest weight post op the further you get from surgery. Why it happens is debateable. The point is you can never let your guard down and get complacent with the diet and exercise and throw caution to the wind. We must always be vigilant. It's kind of a sad fact. But it is what it is.

I love this private message I just got from the OP. Like I really give a crap what anyone thinks of me. All these people who seem to have a problem with me could just block me, but apparently they are too afraid to say anything to me so, they have to PM the OP. And how spiteful is this? Thought you should know that I got 6 private messages about you sounds like you're pretty negative everyone I think it's really important that you understand what these chat rooms and support groups are for not for being an a****** if anyone here needs to grow up with you

I wasn't aware there were threads I could and couldn't post on. Learn to take some constructive criticism and not become so damn defensive, will ya? I wouldn't have been as successful as I am without the veterans on this forum. If you're going to be contestanly defiant you're going to have a long, hard road ahead. Listen. Learn.

@@Heather Leigh Well, you have a mouth. We know that because you've been sucking on Bugles and pretzels with it. Here's a concept: Why not ASK your surgeon what your plan is?

Understood. Thanks. A little positivity goes a long way. Clearly you didn't hit a bump in the road. I was asking for help not ridicule. Sent from my XT1565 using the BariatricPal App You're 3 weeks out. Are you supposed to be having anything crunchy? And you're not having "crunchy" if you're just sucking on them anyway? And where's the Protein? And DON'T tell me I'm not being 'positive'. You just had major bariatric surgery and have a post surgery diet you're supposed to be following. Grow the hell up.

Exercise for me. Two birds, one stone so to speak

That's common. Just stay on that doctors office ass to get all the paperwork and documentation turned in. Once they get everything, Cigna doesn't take long at all to approve.

Honestly, I find eating healthier is much more expensive. I spend more on groceries than before. Don't even get me started on the clothes shopping! No money saved there, that's for sure!

UGH. Go for the light sedation for sure. I dunno if mine was "light", but it did knock me out to where I didn't remember a thing. And I have had light sedation to where I felt awake, but wasn't aware really what was going on. Either way, I hope it's not too bad for you. It shouldn't be painful at all, but I've heard the gagging is horrible if you're awake, even with the spray. I think the light sedation should alleviate that.

It's usually very difficult to get insurance to cover most post weight loss skin surgeries. I've heard of panniculectomy's being covered, usually only after many documentations of infections and rashes, and sometimes brachioplasty's. I've never heard breast surgery being covered. Insurances pretty much suck.

Yup. Had one a couple of months ago for severe GERD. They knock you out. Easy peasy.

I've suffered from depression and have been medicated for it my entire adult life. At my psych eval, he would ask me questions, and this is how I would answer: Psychologist: Do you struggle with depression/anxiety? Me: Not when I'm medicated. Psychologist: Do you have feelings of dread, obsessive thoughts, etc? Me: Not when I'm medicated. I passed with flying colors. PS: It's the darnedest thing, but since I've had surgery over 2 years ago, I have not needed medication for depression. I still struggle with it periodically, but what's different is I can come out of it, where I couldn't before. I don't know if the surgery has changed the chemistry in my brain or what? Weird, hu?

At first, until about a couple months out, you feel like you're either eating or drinking. I felt like that was my full time job. You're going to feel some weird sensation as you heal up. Sometimes it feels like pulling or spasms. Strange, but nothing to worry about.

@@RussT If you Google, there's lots of info about it.

Yikes. That's a long time to be on clear liquids! You also have my sympathy. That being said, full liquids will seem like a walk in the park for you!

Well, and I can revise my statement a bit, too. This past summer, at just shy of 2 years post op, my daughter's in laws were visiting from England. Being the ever so cordial hostess, we were having dinner and some wine out on my back patio and having a gay old time chatting it up getting to know each other. Keep in mind I literally can count on two hands how many times I've drank post op. A couple hours later, I had managed to polish off a whole bottle of red wine by myself and completely blacked out. I would say I that's the definition of a 'bad' thing You know what they say on the internet. "Pics, or it didn't happen!" More like a video recording would be better. I was told I had said to them that I was very fond of their son and saw him as my own son no less than 10 times. I also had listed at least 20 places around the world I would love to visit several times. I'm sure they were riveted. Luckily we could all laugh about it the next day. After I was over being mortified.

Well, and I can revise my statement a bit, too. This past summer, at just shy of 2 years post op, my daughter's in laws were visiting from England. Being the ever so cordial hostess, we were having dinner and some wine out on my back patio and having a gay old time chatting it up getting to know each other. Keep in mind I literally can count on two hands how many times I've drank post op. A couple hours later, I had managed to polish off a whole bottle of red wine by myself and completely blacked out. I would say I that's the definition of a 'bad' thing

I don't see any food as "good" or "bad". It's just food. If you're following your program 90-95% of the time, a little cake at a party won't hurt, unless you let it. I was super compliant during my losing phase, but was known to have a sliver of cake or a drink on a special occasion. And I felt no guilt whatsoever. This is now how I practice maintenance. Super compliant 95% of the time, and when I'm not, no biggie. Then I go back to doing what I need to do, including exercise a bit more to make up for it. This is how thin people we know do it. And it's been working for me. When it doesn't, I'll change my game plan. You've got the right idea