Daisee68

And PS - when I finally get this surgery, PLEASE FOR Goodness sake, Do NOT bring me the big tub of removed skin for me to look at while I am holding a vomit bag in my hand! Blech!

Take heart! The first 3 days are the worst! It will get easier after today! You GOT this!

I missed that part. Just turned it on during Skin Tight to learn that both patients did it "the hard way - good old fashioned diet and exercise on their own..." Really? This is a show about WLS?! Ok, I know I said I wasn't going to watch anymore but what can I say - I am a liar.

I don't know if this will encourage you or not, but I had a very similar post at about 3 to 4 weeks post-op. I was pretty sick for several months (turned out due to a stricture) and even after it was fixed, I took nausea med off and on for about 6 months. Now however at 7 1/2 months post-op and 117 pounds down, diabetes in remission, etc., I can say it is the best decision I ever made. The first few months can be frustrating and exhausting but just know there is light at the end of the tunnel. You just have to get through the first part...

I was going to say that you will get a myriad of responses on this. To be honest, I have used one quite often (7 1/2 months post-op). I did ask my NUT this question just yesterday and her response is that straws (as well as carbonation) should be avoided long term as the air it can introduce in to your pouch can eventually stretch the pouch. Now I had bypass not sleeve and the rules are often different. Additionally there are a lot of folks that say the pouch cannot be stretched. So, in summary, there isn't a clear answer. You can always avoid it to err on the safe side but don't panic if you have or need to use one.

You likely cannot take the ER and cannot crush an ER pill. You can switch to the regular the non-timed release and just take it more often during the day. Having said that, it will likely push your blood sugars low so be very careful if you do. I would consult both doctors.

It sounds like a stricture to me. Don't wait too long to call them. If you are vomiting that much (as did I about the same time out due to a stricture), you are not getting appropriate nutrients or getting hydrated which makes the constipation worse. The stricture is an easy fix - balloon dilation via endoscopy. It is important to get this checked.

Well I didn't nap... but I also didn't exercise . Today....

For what it's worth, autoimmune disease is nothing like having a shot immune system. Sorry you are having such trouble @@abenamati!

Wow! You are beautiful - pre and post!

Congrats! What a great feeling! Incredible work!

They hypothyroid always adds to it. If you have other symptoms (fatigue, dry skin, etc.) don't just let the doctors tell you "normal". I have one doctor that considers me "normal" at 4.9 TSH; however, my more in-tune endocrinologist knows that my TSH should be closer to 1-2 (that is for me particularly - not everyone). Biotin helps with hair regrowth I am told though I have not really taken it consistently enough to know. There are supposedly some shampoos that help with regrowth after chemo, so surely those would help (though I haven't researched it much). Believe the 2 I have heard of are Ovation and Nioxin. Might be worth checking in to.

Your BMI will likely qualify you. If you have any other co-morbidities (diabetes, high blood pressure, etc.), you will be surely qualified. Realize that "qualified" based on your doctor's standards does not mean covered by insurance. You story is much like most of us here. I thought about getting the surgery for many years and am so glad I took the leap last year. Keep reading and researching these boards. It really helped me prepare and make an informed decision.

I was approved on May 4, 2015. The requirements attached are dated May 15, 2015 which was after I was approved and I cannot link back to what was required at the time I was approved. Having said that, I don't know how one would consider "monthly documentation" to mean anything less than 25 days or more than 30 or 31 days. My point being, you cannot weigh in within 2 weeks of each weigh in and consider that "monthly".

@@mykdzmom - LOL! So agree with you! That is the best decision I have ever made (next to WLS of course)!

Today I WILL exercise. Oh and I promise not to nap today. (Got laid off almost 3 weeks ago and I have allowed depression / feeling sorry for myself to beat me more than a few of those days.) There... I put it in writing so now I have to do it! Just had a NUT appointment and she said I could move my calories up to closer to 1000. Woohoo! I have been staying closer to 800 to 900. Looking forward to seeing what healthy choices I can work in. And I am headed off to my very first trip to Trader Joe's. Wish me luck!

Agree with others. Take with food. Absorption is better with food anyway (even if just your Protein drink). The hunger feeling could actually be acid reflux.

For what it's worth, the process will likely move a little faster here at the beginning of the year as opposed to the end of the year when everyone is rushing to get surgery done once they have spent their deductible. I had my first consultation on Jan 20 last year and my surgery was on June 4. I actually could have had it a couple of weeks sooner, but couldn't due to some work conflicts. So in total 4 months was really what mine was but they told me to expect 5 months. It really depends on how quickly you can move through some of the pre-surgery requirements and how busy your doctor is.

I would agree that they do different things. The Kettlebells are good for all over strengthening. The dumbbells for more targeted strengthening. You can find "adjustable" ones at some of the sports equipment stores so those would be a good investment so you don't have to invest in and store a lot of a equipment. If you get kettlebells, be sure to get a DVD or watch some good videos so that you know the proper use. There is a lot of "squatting" involved (which is one way you get more all over body exercises) and I was putting a lot of stress on my knees not doing it correctly. Most important is to find something you enjoy! Have fun!

Congrats!! What a GREAT DAY!! Keep track of those NSV's! They are what keeps us all moving forward! (Especially the attention from others. And strangers at that! You go girl! )

I also have a Weight Watchers digital scale. It has 5 buttons to save weight for 5 different people. The cool thing about that for me is that I actually have one set showing my weight from when I first started to consider WLS and one from the morning of surgery. It is pretty cool to go back to those just to see I am not dreaming! I find it to be very accurate even after owning it for over 5 years (don't quite remember how long I have owned it past that).

One of the other signs I get when my thyroid is off (either hypo or hyper) is Restless Leg. My calves start jumping around and creepy crawly. Yick! I hate it. Sometimes even though my labs don't show anything significant, I KNOW from symptoms that I am off. You will learn that eventually and what level you are most comfortable at. My PCP tested me (as part of another panel) and said my thyroid was fine. My TSH was 4.9. That is NOT fine for me. To feel ok I need to be between 1 - 2 TSH. My endocrinologist recognizes that my count should be lower and trusts me and my symptoms to know if I need to adjust. Keep track of some of the other things that seem off - dry skin, hair loss, joint pain, irritability, etc. And if you don't have an endocrinologist or feel like they don't give you the attention you need, find a new one. I went through 3 before I found one that I liked (mine also deals with kidney stones which I have and is somehow related to my thyroid issues and the different way I process calcium as well as my diabetes and now my Vitamin levels/metabolism). It may take a while to find a good endo but keep searching if you need to. Good luck!

I don't have a PCP monitoring me (I had my surgery in Dallas), but my endocrinologist is great and understands tests that need to be run and monitoring same. Dr. Howard Heller. Highly recommend him. You might see if you can visit with him to see if he would monitor you afterwards.

@@cheerios45 - Correct. That was my understanding. They require "monthly" visits so 25 - 30 days apart only to qualify for "monthly".

Second vote for Mirena. (And for what it's worth, I have at least 5 or 6 friends / family that are in complete agreement that Mirena was best thing that ever happened.)'