SkinnyDown

@@rte837 Thanks

@ I'm going to keep my fingers and toes crossed for you! I wish insurance companies would recognize just how hard it is for people with PCOS. I have it too. Plus, you take metformin. Both strikes against you to lose. What worked best for me was really cutting back the carbs. Even more than the specified diet, because I know when I do, I will lose more weight. I can totally understand your nervousness. If you ever want to chat, friend me Sounds like we have some stuff in common.

@ are you on insulin or any diabetes meds? That can make a difference. It's very hard to lose on insulin especially. I'm sorry to hear about the gain, that's frustrating. Keep trying though. I know I really cut down even more carbs specifically which helped me reach my goal during that 6 month period. Best of luck to you! You can do it!!

Checking in to see how all the members of the 20th Club are doing! We should come up with a name for all of us. lol I hope everyone is healing well and getting their walks and fluids in! Remember, you're recovering, so don't push yourself too hard. I finally get to go home tomorrow! I am so blessed I made it through the surgery, and all the trials and tribulations. Just about everything that could go wrong, did, but I'm feeling lots better now. Check in and say hi! Tell us how you are doing.

@@bangbangbarbie No you aren't sorry, or you wouldn't have said it. Be mindful that you aren't mirroring. Your post brings even less value. The bariatric patients here are required to walk a specified amount 5 times a day. We are expected to rest at night, and even televisions are to be turned off after 11pm. Part of recovering from surgery is actually sleeping. Oh, and the admin that did that, I didn't even have to say a word, she got herself in trouble, word spread quickly.

Some people feel threatened by WLS ...and by that I mean, if you lose weight, you may be in the other person's mind, much more attractive, and they have that much more reason to fear losing you after you lose a lot of weight. I've been through this before with partners, after losing large amounts of weight, and that's an insecurity they have to fix, not you. But I would advise having some serious discussions on the topic, because it's pretty important stuff, and your husband might just need some reassurance, that you aren't going to become a supermodel and leave him. Seriously, that's just how funny some people think. I think it's adorable, personally. Our happiness should never have depended on how fat or skinny we are. If you're looking to outside sources for your happiness, you're looking in the wrong place. That's an inside job. Inside you. If you want happiness it's there, for the taking, inside you, all the time, every day.

No drinking 15 minutes before or 30 minutes after eating is what I was told.

I consulted my sister about this, she's a tattoo artist, and I have a few tattoos. She told me every tattoo is going to be different. Some are going to shrink and look new, like RammerJammer describes. More colorful, filled in. and some are going to sag with your skin depending on where they are at, and become misshapen or stretched out. My sister is already talking about the work she will have to do on me, and is advising me already to get one tattoo removed. We'll reassess once I've lost all the weight I am going to lose. I'm so thankful my sister specializes in coverups, because I am counting on that to help in some instances. I'm not done with the tattoos I want either, so I look forward to more tattoos on different size skin in future!

I was told....and mind you, this is only what I was told.... That I'd be lucky to get in 40 oz. per day the first 2 weeks and 2 shakes a day. (Which would be part of that 40 oz.) At least my NUT was realistic. I'm still in the hospital, and although yes, I have been getting iv fluids, I'm drinking 1 to 1 1/2 shakes per day sipping on Water, eating ice chips continuously,...but it's not adding up to 64 oz. at this point. My NUT said it would take time to work up to those kinds of numbers you may be doing too much....maybe you should consult your NUT again and ask if those numbers were realistic. I'm not sure about all this laxative enema stuff either. They are giving me stool softener in the hospital, yes, but no enemas. Are you lactose intolerant? That may be adding more gas, where it's not needed if you're mixing your shakes with milk. They don't have Lactaid at the hospital, so I know the suffrage. I'm lactose intolerant, and the gas is getting to me, as well. These nectar Fruit Protein powders....are they sugar free, too? I know some people have issues too with sweeteners. I hope you get it worked out. And also don't be SO hard on yourself. I really think they were unrealistic with what they expected from you, just my opinion. The people to talk to are at your Surgeon's office/ your team of bariatric nurses and nutritionists. They should be able to help.

@@Beauty+5 Hi! Thanks for asking about me. I think I'm not typical. Most people go through this stuff and have no issues or very few at all, and go home 2 days later, fine. You'll all probably have to keep in mind just how sick I was to begin with. That helps to keep things in perspective. Tonight another big bummer possible setback .....I was so excited I'd get to go home I wanted a shower tonight so I could just get up and get the hell out of here tomorrow. Well, my nurse was helping me undress, and she was like...uh ohhh Now I know when a nurse says uh ohhh that's not a good sign. She showed me how red, hard and hot my skin is around two of my lapro sites. they are very close together. Then tonight I started running a low grade fever. It was lowered with vicodin w/ tylenol, so now we have this to deal with. That area started hurting bad after they shut off my pain pump. THey switched me from Morphine to Vicodin and that was the culprit I thought, of why I was in so much more pain. Nope. So I will report tomorrow, and see what they have to say. I already had my meltdown, and acceptance if it is something I have to stay longer for, I'm just going to have to stay longer. Maybe it's something I can take care of at home. In 2014 when I had that bowel perf, I had to have wound care for 3 months .....I just had very vivid flashbacks of that and 4.5 feet of guaze strip being shoved into my wounds, twice a day...for months. Well....sorry to gross anyone out, I'm a bit worn out from all of it. I'm a trooper though. I will get my head around this and deal with it. I still have absolutely NO regrets. I couldn't be more happy overall that I had this surgery. Pray for healing for me, please. I pray for all of you, to heal and be healthy and well. Ohhhhhh I bought a very slightly used 'Gold's Gym' treadmill! Someone I knew was selling one. Nearly new, and at a deep deep discount! It has a place to hook your iPod or MP3 Player, a holder for your tablet, and speakers, and it has special shock absorbing features. So it is so much better than concrete for my bad knees! Plus 16 different options for walks, inclines etc. I am SO excited about that! My first purchase towards real health and wellness. I'm a happy girl about this! Thank you, Universe, for providing. Saving so much on food made that possible! Keep well, everyone. I'll keep in touch! Carol

@@Daisee68 Hi, No, I didn't lower my metformin. My Dr. had me stop my Glipizide before I started the liquid diet, and I had low readings, but not too low that I got sick. Two days after surgery I stopped needing my short acting insulin (Humalog), Metformin and Glipizide. The only thing I take now, after surgery, is 50 units of Lantus. I suspect that will go down too, as I'm getting readings in the morning in the high 80's now!!! It's like I don't have diabetes anymore. Trust me, I came from having readings in the 400's and 300's often! I am amazed.

@@Beauty+5 I already had my surgery on May 20th. I'm still in the hospital in fact. Not doing so great, but little improvements daily. Trying hard to get out of here, as soon as possible. Continued chest pains, and nausea, and keeping me here, although they have done some tests and ruled out any heart troubles. Glad of that. Since I do have a not so great heart. I'm trying to be a trooper! I want to go home so much!

Jello. I used to love it except green and orange flavor. Now it tastes like poison to me. It's so gross. I'm having a hard time getting anything down and I can only do extremely cold stuff,,,,no warm, or tepid anything. Am I crazy? Is this normal? Any help or insight would be greatly appreciated, Still in hospital.

Day 5, still won't let me go home. Had a seriously rough night. I still have too many things going on. Terrible chest pains, oxygen low, nausea, feet swelling. Had chest xray and EKG, still don't know results. I do have this positive thing to report. This is day 3 with no need for any short acting insulin or short or long acting diabetes meds. My blood sugar was 87 today when I woke up. I know I am hardly eating anything, but even if I did that pre-surgery, I would still have to take insulin my numbers would stay high enough. I just want to feel better and come home! I miss my bed. and privacy, and being able to sleep as long as I want.

I sure know I am ready to go home!! lol My body is not understanding that so much. I woke up twice last night, severe chest pains and told nurse I felt short of breath, first time she said I was fine. Second time some alarm is going off because my oxygen was so low. She immediately puts oxygen on me and I feel like I can finally breathe. I don't know what this is going to mean for me today....if I get to go home. I am thankful to be able to breathe. I'll keep you updated.

Thanks so much for the insight, @@James Marusek I'll have to take a closer look at your article. I am glad that I still am ok with my carnation instant essentials ...or I'd be in trouble. But Jello, that was a surprise, I'll try it again at home, with jello brand. All I know is everything has to be cold. Very cold

I'm having nausea issues, chest pains, and on my 4th night in the hospital tonight. I hope I get to be home by Monday. I really do, I am soooo ready to be home, but I have to eat(drink) more...and get this pain under control.

Believe me....as I sit in my hospital room this is NOT the easy way out. It's not even close to being easy. I have absolutely no regrets, but this is a whole new world. I still can't get over the fact that I am not hungry...at all. Every day I expect it to hit me. I have to force down 1 Protein drink a day if I even can do that, ice chips are my new best friend.

I only lost 2 lbs on the liquid diet! I can't believe it, but it's true. I know taking 2 oral diabetes meds and 2 different kinds of insulin doesn't help, but I was quite surprised. I stuck to that diet, completely.

Going to attempt to sleep...hard to sleep when you know what's ahead. I have to leave at 10:45 to get to the hospital 2 hours away, for registration. I'm ready to do this. Hoping my surgeon is having a wonderful nights sleep, and has easy surgeries before mine tomorrow. He booked me out for 4 hours in the operating room. I'm not sure if that's a good or bad sign. He knows there are adhesions and scar tissue to deal with. Keeping my fingers crossed that he can do what is best for me. I'll check in as I am able. Take care and keep strong 20th group! <3

I can't say much about the upper half, but the lower half I have some experience with. I have had polyps since I was 16. Multiple removals. My last colonoscopy I had 3 removed. I have diverticula throughout my entire colon. Over a year ago I had a perforated bowel due to a flair up, (diverticulitis). My body then formed an abscess, trying to block off the perforation. It was a huge mess, and took an ovary and fallopian tube with it. I had 1 foot of colon and rectum removed. And I have surgery tomorrow. Now, the only thing I don't know with certainty, is what I am going to have done. Much of this depends on what he finds when he gets inside my belly. If I have minimal adhesions and scar tissue, I will get a low limb RNY If I have too much scar tissue and adhesions to deal with, I will get the Sleeve Gastrectomy I'd rather have RNY, but I'll take anything at this point, to be honest. I had a lot of "suspicious" things with my endoscopy and they took multiple biopsies and they all came back fine. I didn't have an ulcer, but that might be treatable. My surgeon also was looking for a hiatal hernia, I didn't have one, but he said if I did he'd fix that during surgery. The surgeon who is doing my surgery tomorrow also did my endoscopy, so he was able to tell me right after, we were good to go, pending the lab results, but even then, what he was looking for, would not have stopped surgery. I suppose you have to play the waiting game, until your surgeon lets you know. I know that's tough. Hang in there Sometimes things sound a lot worse than they are.