BitterSweet*

They ARE beautiful!

Great update. I'm so glad you're doing well. =)

=)

A serum glucose (blood sugar) test is not the same as a serum insulin test. Serum insulin is a better measure to determine if someone is developing full blown diabetes. People can actually have a fairly normal A1C and a very high serum insulin level, in which case oral diabetic meds won't help; those people would need insulin injections to control their glucose levels. Your iron level is on the lower end of normal, but it's still normal. Take your supplememts and if your new sleeve can handle red meats, try to include more in your intake.

Swim laps.

Get them to check your serum insulin level. An A1C doesn't tell everything.

Ok, your explanation makes sense and now I understand your question. Revamping some things with a new haircut (different color, style, add sexy bangs?!), new and different clothing, new shoes, and new sexy underwear! Small changes on the outside can bring about changes on the inside. And how exciting that you have a husband who adores you and has a front row seat to your evolution. It's time to go shopping! Congratulations on your success thus far! =)

What @@joatsaint said. Stay off the scale, meet your daily Water and Protein goals, exercise, and maintain the nutritional plan outlined by your bariatric team. The weight will come off. Oh, and stay off of the scale.

Occasional use of a PPI is for people who have occasional heartburn, not for people who have just had sleeve surgery and or those with known conditions such as GERD. Acid reflux for people like us is not to be managed like when a headache occurs and medication is then taken to treat it. The acid is there period, which is why a daily (sometimes even twice per day) PPI is needed. Please follow up with your surgeon about this before it begins to affect your intake and lead to dehydration or esophageal problems.

It really depends on how big you are if any excuse / explanation you give will work. If you are morbidly obese and take four weeks off of work, you will likely return having dropped a very noticeable amount of weight. Even if people don't catch on immediately, your continued weight loss will garner attention. My best advise (since you have 5 weeks before surgery) is to start eating healthy now. Start bringing Protein shakes and salads to work and eat in front of others. Talk about this "new diet" you're on to anyone who will listen, and unless you have a very strenuous, manual labor type of job, I wouldn't take a month off of work. All that will do is raise more suspicion. If people ask you about taking time off, tell them that you had female / GYN surgery. Most people don't care to talk about female issues. Hernia repair is a good excuse but it is a very common surgery and people do not take 4 weeks off to recover from that kind of procedure. Lots of people are just open and honest about having weight loss surgery, and others are not. It's a personal choice and your right not to share this with others. Good luck to you!

What exactly are you trying to attract?!?! Is this a clothing issue or an internal / emotional issue? It takes some time for your brain to catch up with the image your eyes see in the mirror everyday, and definitely what your heart feels. If it's clothing, my favorite sexy clothing site is PinUp Girl. They have pricey items but it's worth every penny. I get compliments from mem AND women when I wear an outfit from PUG.

@@dreamingvsg, I don't know. They were all still really big women and it could just be that they started out with extreme BMIs. I need to lose 80lbs and they were my size or bigger and none of them looked happy either. I found the meeting very depressing and the majority of the questions the true pre-op people asked were quite amateur-ish. I had found all of those answers to the questions they posed from reading threads on this forum. Also, don't just read the nice stuff. You need to also research and read the threads in the "Gastric Sleeve Complications Support Group" that is on this forum. The majority of people fly through VSG surgery without problems, but complications can and do occur, and some of them are difficult to correct. It's important that you make a very informed decision about this surgery because there is no going back.

Awesome update. Congratulations!

@@dreamingvsg, You'll be fine and I'm not annoyed in the least. Whatever you decide to do, please take some time to do your research. I've been researching VSG for 9 months and I still feel ill prepared because there is so much to learn. Use your eagerness and desperation for answers as a time to learn. The bariatric program here has a support group and I'm sure Madigan does as well. It's something you might enjoy and can get first habd information from those who have done what you are trying to do. You don't need a referral to attend the group. Just call the nutrition clinic on Ft. Lewis and ask when the next meeting is. You may also want to look on fb for an online support group specifically for Madigan. Ft. Stewart has one but I didn't join it. All of the people in the group had weight loss surgery well over a year ago and they still look like they are pre-op. I've learned way more on this site than the group and I dutifully write down the suggestions I find most helpful. Good luck to you.

@@dreamingvsg, Go to search, type in Tricare and under member, type in BitterSweet* ; two threads should pull up where someone else asked your same questions. Hopefully my replies will clear up some of your questions. Take care and good luck.

Prayers to her for success.

Any medical care received on a military base is free, so there's no Tricare insurance issues. Military bases such as Madigan that have bariatric programs are offering the sleeve, and since that facility is on base, there is no cost whatsoever. Any referral to a bariatric program that is OUTSIDE of a military facility involves using Tricare insurance, and they will NOT cover the sleeve, only a gastric bypass. You can call Tricare on your own and or access that information on their website. Doing so should clear up any confusion and mixed replies that you may be reading or getting from others.

Yep. And yes it will slow down eventually. Make sure to get your labs checked. Anemia and vitamin deficiencies can cause hair loss.

I wish you the best of luck. Part of this process involves a lot of research, which takes time. The answers to your questions are here, you just need to invest the time reading through the posts. There's no mixed replies. Tricare does not cover the sleeve. Period. Any referral you get outside of a military facility will be for a gastric bypass.

Great! Congratulations! I hope everything goes smoothly in your recovery.

Whatever muscle mass you lose, you can regain through working out and lifting. You'll do great. Any loss of strength will only be temporary. Good luck to you! @@Cowgirl Jane, nice deltoids!

Thanks for clarifying that. I agree that your back could be strained from the protective maneuvers you're doing with your abdominal region. You can try using a heating pad on your back to see if it helps, and I would call to set up a follow-up appointment to be seen sooner if these symptoms aren't alleviated. If your "uncomfortable" turns into excruciating or unbearable, please know that wouldn't be normal and you should seek medical care if that were to occur.

As an RN, I can tell you the suggestion above won't put the fear of God into the nurses that care for you, it'll cause them to minimize their interactions with you. Also, unless you have the power to change the information that is already on record, your employment and insurance information are printed on a demographic sheet that is located in the back of your chart or is easily viewed on a computer. Hopefully your procedure is being done in a fantastic and reputable hospital that is staffed with professionals. My advice: Be kinder than is necessary to people you encounter; be your own advocate, and when something bothers you, speak up for yourself; be honest about your level of pain so that you can be medicated appropriately; follow your post-op instructions to the letter; make sure you are discharged with appropriate medications for pain, nausea, and a PPI (for acid / reflux). I'm sure you'll do great. Congratulations and good luck on your journey. I hope all goes well for you!

Type in the search bar "Tricare Insurance" and a few threads will come up. I've written a couple of long, detailed responses to your questions on some other posts. Message me if you still have questions and good luck on your weight loss journey!

What do you mean "you feel like" your torso and back are black and blue? ARE they black and blue? There would be NO reason for your back to be black and blue; your belly - maybe. Your back, NO! Black and blue means bruising either from a direct injury or healing hematomas. Please explain your situation further.