CanyonBaby

@@gowalking You are SOOOOOO awesome, and thanks for the encouraging, INSPIRING words! Just needed that today!!!

And mine still does, too! My nurse told me I may always have this, part of the deal!

I had to do the same, but just in case, ask your pharmacist about other forms of the meds. Like liquids or chewables. You may have to have your doctor call in a new prescription for these, though. What I did for my irbesarten was crush, then put in a spoonful of pudding or cottage cheese (when I was cleared to take cottage cheese), mix it just in the middle of the spoon (so the icky taste is just in the middle), then try and swallow that puppy whole! Occasionally I would get a nasty taste in, but it would work. Then my nurse told me to "chase" it with V8, while rubbing my tongue on the roof of my mouth. That worked, too. I guess the acid in the juice would help get rid of the after taste. Good luck to you!!

Try using a cool compress, lightly applied to the area, to calm the nerves. Unless you have talked with your doctor and they okayed the benedryl, it may harm your tummy. Get cleared first before taking any meds. Good luck to you!

I will tell you of my recent experience with coffee: I normally (before surgery) would have one cup/day, a few times a week, when I would get sleepy. I am allowed NOW one or two cups A WEEK. Well, this past week I tried having it 2 days in a row (one cup, mind you), and BOY OH BOY did it start the HUNGER factor going!!!! All I wanted to do that second day was eat!!!! There was no stopping the craving to eat. I would drink Water and other beverages to try and curb this wild animal, but NOOOOO! I went to bed feeling like I was starving....not good. So today, I am going back to the basics, Protein shakes, and other beverages, to get back on track. No more coffee for me unless it is DIRE! I have learned my lesson!!!

@@Concerned05 STOP????? NOOOOOOO!!! Keep trying to get it all in, you'll get there eventually. Just take small sips, but do it constantly, as it is going in constantly. Have the bottle with you ALL the time. Make it tepid water/beverage if is nauseating, instead of cold. Always start the day with tepid Water, to "prime" the tummy, until you are past this point. You sound like you may have to force yourself to do this, but we all do in the early stages. DON'T give up!!!!!!

Shopping? Tours of museums, historical areas? Lake Tahoe? I don't know the area personally, but I know of touristy-type things (former National Park Interpretive ranger, here!!!)! Maybe google it and see what there, prices, times.... Maybe buy tickets to shows...ahead of time. Have fun and let us know what you did for fun!!!

Ok, first, the sleeve won't change the way you eat, YOU do that. You have to change your habits. period. The sleeve is a tool that can HELP you, IF you follow your post-op plan, forever. Period. If you don't, you more than likely will regain the weight. The sleeve is just a small portion of the original stomach, but if you keep filling it, and filling it with improper foods, you WILL regain. I personally chose the sleeve because it would allow me, per my surgeon, to continue to take N-Saids for my arthritis. It was the deciding factor. I don't like pain, and as we get older, arthritis is part of most of our lives. I want to be able to reduce or eliminate my pain from it. I am happy with my choice. I hope you will be with your choice, as well. Good luck to you!

I know it's supposed to be called calcium (no, not calciYUM), but I call it calciYUK because I hate it. I have to take so much of it everyday, and I'm at my wit's end about it. I put the powdered form of calcium citrate in my protein "cocktail", but when I don't have time for that I have resorted to the bari-melts. Any ideas out there for alternate forms? Any favorite brands? And, how about strengths? I would like to get in as much as possible without taking pounds of the stuff, if you know what I mean......Thanks everyone, in advance!

A couple other things my NUT told me was to not color or perm, as it may make it break off more easily, and try not to use ponytail holders, for the same reason. Just another hurdle to weight loss success!

And try making your own! Use unflavored protein powder in them, if you want!

My surgery was 12/3/14, and I am down about 55lbs. I am of the same shape as you, so my legs look great now, very slender. Not much of a butt anymore, arms still large, but smaller now, waist is smaller, as is my back, breasts a little smaller, face back to "normal"!!! Collar bones are showing (and are awesome!!!), it seems that everything is going down at the same time, not one area more than another. Most important thing is to use a measuring tape, from the start, to show the progress when the scales won't. Good luck to you!

Yup. All of the above! For the nausea try sipping tepid water as opposed to cold. Also, try using water enhancer drops, to help you get more in. If the nausea still is bad, call your doctor for some prescription nausea meds. In the morning, first thing, make sure the water is tepid, to "prime" your tummy. It really helped me, and still does. And I am almost 5 months out. Good luck to you!

Girl, you are talking my language!!! Only my passion (as it has to be this way) is Van's sneakers (I have to wear orthotics that won't fit in heels). I must have 30 pairs! Love that they come in prints, slip-ons, lace-ups, AND you can even customize them!!! With patterns AND colors! Soooooo awesome! Shoes. Bags. What more could a girl want? Oh, yes, WLS!!!!!

Time to get out the measuring tape!!! It will tell you of your success when the scales won't!!! You are just in a stall, where your body is swearing at you and throwing a major tantrum! Don't give in to it, your head runs the show! SO! What to do? Get your mind off it, go treat yourself to some window shopping, plan for what styles you would like to wear, try on some of those things. No one said you have to BUY right now, just start planning! Find out where to buy the things you would like, start forming a budget for it, if necessary, just get out and have fun! Good news that your hubs wants to do this, too, doing it together could be really fun! Having each other right there to support each other would be great. And if he has the surgery, too, then he would feel more secure about you. You would be investing in each other. Good luck to you both!

Since I am almost 5 months out, I am using a mix of dissolvables and capsules of the following: Multi Vit. D3 Vit.E Vit. B12 Iron calcium citrate Biotin Plus Benefiber, daily, for regularity. If you are just out of surgery, you should ask your doctor/dietician what forms of Vitamins you should be taking. There are liquids, dissolvables, chewables, and pills/capsules. You can also get injections of certain types. Good luck to you!

It's time to start enjoying this! Just smile that big pretty, CONFIDENT smile, say "thanks for noticing" and be on your merry way! It doesn't have to go further than that. If they continue to persist, tell them you have to be somewhere, do something..... you just CAN'T be bothered!!!! LOVE IT!

Lots and lots of sugar-free popsicles! The crunch and chew really help. Just keep 'em coming!

When was your surgery? Didn't they tell you this may be one of the after-effects of the surgery? My hair started falling out at about 3 months out. I am now almost 5 months out, and it is finally slowing down. I figure I have lost about 1/3 of my hair, but from all over my head, not clumps. It SEEMS like clumps sometimes by how much I get in a handful, but no, it is from all over. The most noticeable area is at my temples. But it DEFINATELY is slowing down now. Everyone will have a different experience, but I am told it will eventually stop, and grow back(by my nurse and dietician team). I am using Nioxin shampoo (only the shampoo, it seemed the treatments actually made more hair fall out, but I can't prove that). It seems that when I started using it, the hair slowed it's fall-out. But I don't know tat it was the shampoo, just the timing. I see a few new ones coming in, but not a whole lot, yet. I got the Nioxin on Amazon.com, but I understand salons carry it, as well. It cleans out the follicles, but doesn't regrow hair. And Biotin will not regrow hair, either, but will make what you have look great! Just remember, this, too shall pass. You get used to it, and realize it is just hair. What I did to help me feel better about it was to get a new hair-do. I had it blunt cut to just under my chin, and it helped it by making it look fuller. Good luck to you!

I thought the same thing, but thought "what do I have to lose? I have lots of soap!!!" Works every time! Go figure!

You DO have a bruise there, they stretch the area quite a bit plus the muscle wall was cut to remove your stomach! It will hurt for awhile, expect it. Try using a heating pad set on the lowest setting, with a towel between it and your body. Don't leave it on for more than 10 minutes. If this doesn't help, you could try using an ice pack in the same manner. Everyone has their preference, so try each to find the one that is best for you! Avoid bending over for awhile, and don't lift anything heavy until you are cleared by your doctor. Using pillows at night to prop yourself up helps, also. Good luck to you!

Try using tepid water instead of cold. And use the water-enhancer drops, as well. These 2 tricks really did it for me. Good luck!

OK! I have truly found a solution for this that works EVERY time for me! I actually read about this in my local newspaper, and whomever it was that came up with it is spot-on! Take a bar of soap (I use a small, hotel-size bar...any type, and brand), and put it between your fitted sheet and your mattress, where your knees lay. Make sure it is very close to your knees. Leave it there through the night, as you sleep. For me, it works within just a few minutes. THAT'S IT!!! This has worked EVERY single time I've needed it, now I just keep a bar of soap in my nightstand. Give it a try, see what you think! Let me know!

You know, I suffered with the bloody gallstones for over a decade. They don't get better with time! And they don't go away on their own. Why suffer needlessly? Just get it taken out, it is a fairly simple surgery these days, compared to years ago, like Miss Mac said. Once it's out, you don't have to think about it, or suffer anymore. I don't take (and never have) any meds for the fact that it is gone. BTW, they never could figure out my pain (strictly in the mid-back area), an ultra-sound for another issue actually found the stones. The pain comes from the gallbladder trying to pass the stone. That's why it hurts. Good luck to you!

Ditto SueZQ!!!!!!! You can always message me, click on my logo. And take some time and read the hundreds of posts on here, so you are truly prepared for the adventure ahead! Hugs to you.....