BitterSweet*

Lovely! We do that trick with pudding for old people at the hospital.

That is a lot, but even if it weren't as long as you're following your plan, you'll do fine. Extremely fast weight loss also tends to go hand-in-hand with excessively saggy skin. I think you're doing great!

I second the anti-spasm meds.

I am just speechless. Please keep your head up, many of us are praying for you.

Expect it to happen and if it doesn't, then you're just one of the lucky ones. The cause of the loss actually occurs right after surgery and during those first few weeks where many people struggle with fluid intake and protein; it doesn't begin to fall out until months later because of the hair cycle. So what the above poster told you is accurate. Do your very best from the start with water, protein, and vitamins. Wish for the best and prepare for the worst.

Decrease the sodium intake in your foods and beverages, drink more plain water (without additives like crystal lite); go for a long walk, then take a hot bath with epsom salts (provided you are cleared for baths and not newly post-op). The water weight will dissapear.

You need more caloric intake.

If you force your body to subsist on 500-700 calories per day, it will oblige you. Then, when you try to eat a normal amount of calories, you will end up gaining weight. No one can live in a state of health and equillibrium on such a low calorie count. I am not encouraging any of you to not follow the plan laid out by your bariatric team, but it would be wise to invest your own time and energy to research this matter.

Yum!

I wouldn't worry about it at all. If you have at least 75 lbs to lose, by the time you hit your goal weight the excess skin on your abdomen will be remarkable.......which is a really good thing. In the hands of an excellent plastic surgeon, all of that excess skin and the war wounds mapped out on it will be pulled down and cut off. I had stretch marks that reached 2 inches above my belly button and my plastic surgeon cut all of them off. I could not believe it. As much as we wish to avoid loose skin, the abdominal area is really where you want to have it if you plan on doing plastics at all.

@@tammygRN, how are you doing? How did your conversion surgery go?

Water retention is a necessary evil of the monthly visitor. It is worse if one consumes lots of processed and sodium laden foods and beverages. The retention is needed so that things actually "flow" out of the body, and once that begins to subside, the weight gain will also dissapear.

The solution is simple. Stay off of the scale. Follow the guidelines provided by your bariatric team and you can not fail. Meet your daily protein and water goals, take your vitamins, exercise, and stay off of the scale. It will happen.

@@Kindle, I hope things work out and I love that your bariatric team all the way in MX still has a vested interest in your overall health and participate in your care. Totally cool.

Horrible story. I'm certain they'll be settling out of court on this matter. The aorta is like a freakin hose. How in the world could a skilled surgeon make a mistake like this.....Smh.

@@VSGAnn2014, what's the name of your chewable calcium supplements? I'd like to try those!

I plan on weighing only at my follow-up appointments. I will take my measurements every 3 weeks or so and take photos once per month in the same clothing and in the same spot. The scale is only my friend when it shows weight loss. When it doesn't, it changes my entire mood and I don't like doing that to myself, so no scale at home for me.

What @@finediva said is accurate. Just because you don't wake up with a catheter does not mean you didn't have one during your surgery. To the OP, they have seen it all and they are used to it. Good luck.

Did your BP pills contain a diuretic? If so, that may be the source of the problem. I'm sure you've notified your doctor about this issue, I just wanted to give some feedback. Hope this issue resolves soon.

I'm really happy for you. =) Good luck with everything!

That's exactly right.

The risk is very real but when it decreases depends on so many things (like your medical history, meds, smoking history etc.) You're doing the right thing by moving constantly. Stay hydrated as much as you can so that your blood flow is not sluggish. Unilateral swelling, warmth, and pain in the calf are the typical signs of a DVT that has not moved. Sudden chest pains and shortness of breath are signs that a DVT has moved. If that were to happen (God forbid), call 911. You'll be fine. Your awareness will keep you motivated to keep pushing and get healthy. Good luck!

Hives equals an allergy and that sucks. Itching, nausea, and constipation are common but hives are a definite problem. I hope they can figure out how to treat you and or you have little pain. Good luck! Keep us posted.

If I may ask, what is your "weird" reaction? Many people (not saying that you're one of them!) confuse allergies with side effects. Narcotics are narcotics and they all cause pretty much the same side effects. It is very common for someone to think they have an allergy to something when they truly don't. Btw, Dilaudid is the strongest opiate available that can be given to patients post-operatively. It is eye-opening to hear some people express that they had little to no pain, while others needed the strongest narcotic in existence. This thread is very valuable to inform others that there can be such a broad spectrum to post-op pain. Thanks for creating this thread!

Where there is a will, there is a way. Denial from insurance or not, if this is what you have decided to do there are alternatives; self-pay stateside or MX, financing etc.... Turn your fears into a plan B, whether that is appealing a denial or coming up with an alternative. Hang in there!