CanyonBaby

The written list idea is great. I would ask about potential complications. I had a surprise hiatal hernia that was discovered during surgery. I wasn't expecting that, or the delay in my healing process, as a result. However, it wasn't a big deal, and I am recovering well, but it would've been nice to know about the possibility. Also, ask about future potential problems, such as those that have been listed all over this site. Hair loss, stalls, regurgitation, gas, constipation....look through this site a little, you'll find all kinds of things to ask about. Good luck to you!

How serious are you about this guy? Do you imagine a life with him? If so, it's time. Just be honest, maybe start with your life story. Have him tell you his, then you tell yours. If you can't be honest, that says a lot about how much you trust him. If you can't trust him, why tell him? Every marriage is based on trust. Those that aren't don't last. So you need to be realistic with yourself on how involved you want to get with him. I wish you the best, these things are always difficult, until you get past the trust thing. Good luck!

Ok. I have read so many posts about the stalls we all eventually will have. I get it. BUT... one thing I may have missed is how long does the "typical" stall last? Are we talking weeks, months...? And how many stalls have you personally had on your journey? It is Monday morning, my "weigh" day and I've been doing 5lb weeks, and I am slowing down; perhaps entering a stall of my own. My first. Just want to know what I can look "forward" to....Thanks everyone!

Yeah, sounds good, doesn't it. Then I think about how much I paid ($ and physically) for this surgery, and it puts it in perspective. I have to go ,get what I'm allowed at this pureed stage, eat it, then FORCE my mind onto something else. DO something, Jen, do it NOW. NOW. It does the job. Be strong and carry on...

It's also necessary to have the Vitamin D levels checked for hyperparathyroidism, which I had and have had serious repercussions from. I didn't know I had an issue (symptoms were very painful bones and bad lethargy), until AFTER I had a rib removed (it had broke by my sneezing-yes, sneezing) after a year of it not healing. One week after it's removal I broke another rib (by inhaling on my asthma inhaler-yes, it, too, is true). No one (except me) ever wondered why this was happening, until I went to an specialist after we moved to a different state 2 months later. He immediately guessed the cause (a tumor on one of my parathyroid glands). It was removed, but the damage to my bones remain, and it is now a blood test I have regularly.

Great job! Have fun with all your new "toys" (and don't forget the shoes)!!!

I guess I'd just look them up and down and say "You just can't tell when someone is being sweet or ...mean, can you?" with the sweetest of smiles, and walk away. Maybe, just maybe it will give them something to reflect on.......

Sorry, the computer got away from me! -Lost three old dogs, very best of friends to me -Moved to a new house! -got two new puppies! -Lost a sister -Found a long, lost friend (over 30 year ago)! -Diabetes went out of control -Sleeve surgery! -Lost 30lbs! -Diabetes nowhere to be found!!!!! -Found lots of new friends on this site! I'd say it's been....eventful, wouldn't you?

So much has happened, so very much:\\

For a more natural approach, try baby food prunes. It is smooth, goes down easy, doesn't taste bad, and is effective. I have had great success with this, every time I get "uncomfortable". Good luck!

Maybe try a pillow topper or memory foam topper if it is too uncomfortable. There are many different thicknesses available, and prices as well. Isn't it great to feel our bones?!!!

What is your lifestyle like? Are you sporty, outdoorsy, dressy, casual/chic? Other? What do you like? What worked for you in the past, what didn't? Since I am a shoe hound, I like to look at my shoes for the day and figure out what goes with them. I guess I'd start by searching the internet (especially if you don't have stores nearby) by focusing on the type of style you'd like, such as western wear. I personally like a lot of color, as I live in a rainy, foggy area-anything to perk up the scene-but a lot of people don't like a lot of color. What have you liked in the past, and not? If you add up all of the answers to these questions, I think you'll find a starting point. Most important: keep it fun! This should be a greatly fun endeavor, as you've worked so hard to get here! Enjoy every moment!

Oh, almost forgot! My nurse team suggested "Sit and be Fit" which in our area is on PBS TV, and are exercises you can do in a chair. Chair-walking is one, which is exactly like it sounds; you sit in a chair , one without arms, and with knees bent, march. Just lift your legs up and "walk". Do it for a count of 30, three times a day to start, then work up to 30 minutes a day. There are all kinds of arm exercises, as well, all done in a chair. It really helped my arthritis in my hips/lower back. Good luck, all!

I also have DDD, and was once diagnosed with fibro, but later on, the pain we thought was from fibro actually turned out to be from a severe Vitamin D deficiency that turned out to be hyperparathyroidism. One of my parathyroid glands had a benign tumor on it and it needed to be removed. I had severe bone pain, lethargy, and it turned out I had very brittle bones, so much so I fractured 2 ribs-1 which had to be removed, as after a year it still wouldn't heal. A simple Vitamin D blood test would have told the story, but no one thought of it at the time. It has been a very long process, and very painful, but now with 5000 daily units of vitamin D and lots of Calcium, I am doing better. This happened in 2009. I will never have perfect bones, as I can never recover the all of the calcium that was stolen from my bones, but I am now on top of the situation. As far as the DDD and osteoarthritis, I have noticed a change, for the better, since the surgery. What was really surprising is how good I felt when I went on the preop diet. My arthritic symptoms disappeared-no really! My dietician said it was probably triggered by certain foods that I had been eating, and I should try, once I'm back to eating normal foods, to isolate which ones are triggering me. That won't be until Jan. 27th, but I intend to find out what my triggers are. I hope, sincerely so, that my experiences may help some of you. Then it wouldn't have been in vain.

I am in the pureed stage now, and have been pureeing all types of chunky soups, anything canned that looks tempting, hard-boiled eggs with a wee bit of light mayo (tuna and other meats to make a smooth " salad", and I sometimes use baby food stage 3 if in a hurry. Also, try bananas, canned fruit, and the ever-popular refried beans (with sour cream-light-, and mashed-smooth avocado-yum)-pureed, of course! Good luck!

In the end, we all want to be healthy and happy, don't we? I wish that for all of you..to the New Year and to all of you..God Bless.....

And you can freeze your own homemade broth in ice cube trays, using however many you want at a time. Works for other pureed foods, as well. Good luck with your surgery!

I think another thing people forget about is the fact that comorbidities sneak up on those of us who are overweight. If we continue on with the 50lbs that drag our bones down, we more than likely will end up with them. I personally had 4 comorbidities prior to surgery. I am down to 2. They should leave me as well, soon. We don't know what the future holds, but I know that I, myself, wouldn't want to wait for them to creep up on me. If we can use this tool to help us, why not? We don't know everyone's story, what has worked and what hasn't. But I do think most of the surgeons out there wouldn't do the surgery if they didn't think it would help the person, or if it would harm the person. Each person who is on this and many other sites has had to make this very personal decision. And we all had to follow pre-op plans that told a great story about us. I say we have worked hard to have a wonderful, lighter and lovely life. On to life...

I like to live a "lighter" life, after all, it is what you make of it! This little potato happened to be less than an inch across, just a newbie potato, don't ya know! I hope you have a wonderful New Year!

Not sad to stuff myself, but sad there wasn't room for a tiny potato! Happy not to stuff, but I think the potato might have missed me!

So, seriously, does fat (when it is burned or whatever it does as it leaves us) really release hormones? Can it make us more moody and emotional, as some have suggested? Has anybody heard about this phenomena? Anyone know more about it? Does fat, indeed, store hormones? I'd love to hear more about this....Merry Christmas all!

I don't know about anesthesia, t I have had 21 surgeries and never had an issue with hair loss, just some memory loss. This is such a strange phenomena, I'm surprised they haven't done a study or something on it, especially since there are so many who have experienced it. Hopefully someone will do it soon, and ease everyone's mind (and hair!).

I wonder if you are bloated...I know if I drink a milk or milk-based beverage, I bloat. Feels terrible, so I tend to stay away from it. It does subside, but takes some time. Good luck!

So how are you now? Any ill effects? I'm about 3 weeks out and can only do the pureed stuff still. I am trying hard, especially with all the goodies around this time of year, to get in what I can for Protein...I maybe got in 50g if I'm lucky today. There's still time for another shake, so I'll try that. Water for me, too is an issue, with the hernia repair. Just try to remember what you did all this for, it was for YOU. YOU are important enough to stick with the program. Good luck and Merry Christmas!

I think sometimes people just don't know how to respond to our type of surgery. I mean some might get insulted if they say it's a great thing you're doing, others may get offended if nothing is said, or how about the worst thing by saying why didn't you do it sooner? etcetera... Sometimes you can't win no matter what you say, so some may not say anything at all, but by getting you that blender they are showing you they support you and love you and want to do what they can for you. You are seriously blessed, my dear, I would do anything to have parents like that. Merry Christmas and good luck to you!