dhrguru

I too have scalp scarring alopecia... I've lost 70% of my hair. Sometimes the hair loss threads aggravate me so I don't bother to respond. I've embraced my hair loss though, totally comfortable in our out of a wig... I think my hair loss overshadows my weight loss though. You should see the looks I get... Oh and I "LOVE" the unsolicited, have you tried this product advice. Nope... Never would have crossed my mind to try something to avoid this! Quick let me get a pen and write that down!!

My confessions: when my button up shirts for work would no longer button (or on the off chance they did button I'd look like a can of those pillsbury biscuits exploding from the container) i got the bright idea to invest in tank tops and wear the button up shirts open, with the tanks showing. When my suit jackets would no longer button, I convinced myself the jacket was just for style, and didn't need to be buttoned. I also cut the lining out of the pants, cause it was tight and made me sweat excessively. Oh, and I bought bra extenders rather than admit that I needed a bigger based size in my bras (I eventually relented with that though).

I did. For me it was the strips used to close the incisions. Got better once they fell off. One of my incisions did get infected, so be careful with the scratching!

I had that experience if not liking a Protein Powder after surgery that I like before. I couldn't even tolerate the smell of it. I like sugar free Jello during the clear liquid stage. And for Soup, I went to au bon pain and they sold be just broth... Much tastier than canned broth. I stored/froze them in small 4oz container and microwaved one when time to eat. The unflavored protein powder the hospital gave me was my best friend initially, made it easy to add to stuff. Some folks like crystal light, I never cared for it. Drinking slow wasn't an issue for me because I feared throwing up. Using the little medicine cups to drink from also forced you to sip. I never got incredibly dehydratedto need iv Fluid, but my pee did look orange some days. I planned for two weeks off of work, needed 3. The clothes thing was most surprising to me. First, I realized how tight what I was wearing must have been, so they just started fitting better. I had clothes ranging from 26-20, so no *need* to shop yet, except for under garments. But of course I have shopped:-), but not a lot. I buy something, tag it with the date and weight I was when I bought out and try it on again in 3 weeks, if it's lose it goes back. Biggest surprise... How much my mindset changed. Last night I went out with the family. They ordered a large pizza with topping and onion rings. I watched them eat, not the least but phased by the fact that I couldn't have any. No longing for it, just feeding that this is how my life is now. Then I wanted ice cream-- but after reading label in the market for 20 minutes... I decided it wasn't worth it and bought sugar free jello. I would not change anything I did leading up to surgery. Exercise... Pre op it was almost nothing... My goal was to make 6,000 steps a day--with no real plan-- that's it. Post-op I'm not doing anything crazy... Couch to 5k, and twice a week circuit training. My steps still don't always make it to 6k, but I'm happy with what I'm doing right now and it seems livable for me.

My doc asked for the PFT because I'd listed that i got winded easily climbing stairs (who wouldn't at 335#'s!!). So it was precautionary for me-- and ruled out me having asthma. I never had to do an endoscopy.

What helped me with my decision to have the surgery was involving my kids (ages 11 & 12) and making them aware of what would change for me, confirm *nothing* would change for them etc. They are the BEST supporters and made the decision so much easier. (My hubby is great too, but the kids inquire more, just naturally curious.) You'd have to gauge how open you could be with your kids, but it was a great motivator for me. You already know the the end effect of what will happen if you decide not to (or IS happening), you feel badly about yourself, what you eat, how people view you, how YOU view you. So it more of the same. Are you willing to accept that? I too was concerned coming out of surgery 'sicker' than I was going in-- for that I had to trust truths I know about my body... I heal well/fast, manage pain well, I never have complications, and have have a "stomach of steel" that rarely give me troubles. You know you best! Finally-- I vote bypass, but then I'm biased :-)

I tried to like yogurt, I really did. But the only brand/flavor I grew to love (Oikos Greek, apple Pie flavor) had too many grams of sugar in it (17 or so). Gave up on yogurt altogether-- way to many wasted containers in hopes I'd like one.

Great story!! I'll say I would have been leery of opening up after she said the'girls and I were curious'. Guess I'm a prude cause I have no clue what the 'dirty' version of the name means or implies...

Interesting!! My initial weight loss has been like yours...1-3 pounds a week. I'm happy since it's consistent losses, but I'm wondering if it'll jump at some point. Guess time will tell

I've trying to transition to Vitamins that I can swallow. (I'm Almost 3 months post op). It's not going well, even if I cut them in half, the pills are just too thick. Yesterday I choked on a "miniature" Calcium pill then threw it up. (It was embarrassing since I work around medics and EMT's, they wanted to check me out, which I really didn't need.) So back on chewabless I go, unless someone has an idea about how else I could take them. Ugh, I've invested a good amount in pills I can't do anything with now!

I just pulled picked a number I felt comfortable with, 175. Doc and nut agreed it was reasonable and attainable if I stuck with the program.

I'm almost 3 months out. I can eat about 4/4.5 ounces of dense Protein comfortably. I don't weigh my food after cooking, I only go by the packaged weights on products. I've never felt bad after eating anything, or felt like I overate. I can feel restriction better with things like oatmeal. If I make a 1/2 cup serving of oats (yields ~1 cup cooked oatmeal) i can't eat 3/4 of it.

Yup is normal!! It's a major decision! Like you it took me a second go round to finally decide to have surgery, and I waited five years in between!! I hope there comes a point where you've got all the info you need, have met your team and own that I can do this attitude! Until then, we're here for ya 100%!

Losing, nearly 3 months post op Breakfast one egg omelette with peppers, cheese and salami. ~14g Protein Lunch: chicken Caesar wrap, without the wrap, 1/2 Protein Bar ~29g protein Dinner: steak!

How much did you lose to see the shoe size change? I'm in the same boat, wear a 12w.... So many more options exists at Size 11!!

I do let them air dry, but not in the bathroom, they are in my bedroom. They air dry enough to toss them in the laundry basket. If not air drying, what is the other option? I would rather try my luck with new pants before I'd be willing to hand wash or wash one piece at a time.

Breakfast: 1 egg omelette. Filled with orange and green peppers, bacon (2 slices) and shredded cheese. Lunch: chicken breast (the Purdue perfect portion) sliced cucumbers dipped in Catalina dressing. Snack: Peanut Butter on 1 slice whole of whole wheat bread. Dinner: (attempted) 1 chicken drumstick and carrots, but my snack was to close to dinner, so I could finish it. Protein total:73g Carb total: 47g Calories 833

So I was on blood pressure meds for years prior to my bypass on 4/28, even took it day of surgery as per doc's instructions. I don't take it immediately after surgery and my blood pressure was running a little high at my first two post op visits. So I went back on the bp meds and have been on them since. And of course, my pressure is normal with them. I'm down 50#s now; so if you're taking bp meds, how would you ever know if your bp has normalized due to your weight loss?

Thanks, that makes sense. I do have a BP monitor...i guess I'll buy some batteries for it today and start tracking. I have cut my dose though. (The higher dose was prescribed as a mix up initially, so I just went back to the lower dose). I'm sure my bp was elevated at those first post op appointments, my body was probably angry over the surgery etc. Thanks

I'm curious too about sparkling stuff... There are these 0 calorie ICE drinks some people swear by, but I haven't tried it because sparkling seems to close to carbonation.... Almost like a gateway drug. I drink diet snapple occasionally, or mix Apple juice and water.

So yesterday we did a family day at the beach/boardwalk. What I struggled with is not being part off the whole'boardwalk experience', eating ice cream, taffy, pizza, hot dogs etc. Its odd because i hate taffy, and was never a big ice cream fan. But being in that environment I just felt like I couldn't be part of the crowd. I felt like I was a 'burden' to my family because I was the outlier who they needed to make sure the menu offered something for me. It was a lot at play mentally for me. I'm not depressed about it, I only felt that way in that moment. And for how long it lasted, again, for as long as I was on the boardwalk. Once we were gone, it's not an issue. I'll say the other thing that I was keenly aware of was how many obese people I saw. It made me thankful for where I am now and at peace with the work that it's taking.

I was a dreadfully addicted sweet eater. I was the one who would call a pop tart and soda lunch. And I need something sweet to end every meal... Donut in the am, Cookies at lunch and who knows what at night/for snack. I could finish a box of hostess or entanmanns cake within a day. I'm 9 weeks post op and my sweet cravings aren't nearly as bad as they were. (I think pre op diet riding me od carbs helped). Not only do I have the fear of dumping to literally help me keep my hand out the cookie jar, the surgery seems to have changed my desire for sweets. And knowing what I need nutritionally makes me put those foods first, and there's not much room for more. So far I don't dump, but I also havent tested it to the extent of my pre surgery sugar addiction days. (I don't plan to either)

Praying all goes well!

I've been paying close attention for signs of dumping, but haven't gone out of my way to 'test' it either. Closest I've felt was a a slightly increased heart rate and and noisy, stomach (not cramping-- just making noise). I haven't had anything significant really that *I* think would bring on dumping...but maybe its just early. I've heard people say they dump from sugar in ketchup/bbq sauce etc-- but I can consume those with no issue.

Hmmm, our family downfall would be the cultural foods... We are from the West Indies. I swear we know more ways to make use of flour than most.... (Hence my carb addiction). And frying things (even flour!)... Rice was like a vegetable in our family too, everything was served with rice and corn! Honestly I thought corn WAS a vegetable till I got married and my husband asked why I never served veggies. Carrot cake, cheese cake and two infamous bakes in my family.... God knows how much I consumed in my lifetime. Funny, growing up we didn't eat out much, my parents were all about home cooked meals. Who knew so much could go wrong with home cooked meals!!