WLSResources/ClothingExch

Phentermine is an appetite suppressant. I think of "supplements" as those cockamamie, scary, middle-of-the-night TV commercial products of dubious ingredients and no standards for having make it to market. Phentermine is intended to be used only for a few weeks rather than long term. It will interfere with a night's sleep if taken, oh, say after 2 p.m. Most of us have the eating demons visit at night and, by then, the drug's effect may have worn. Why not give it a go under your own steam before getting any prescriptions? Your upcoming surgery may be a surprisingly good motivator for now. This is also a good time to start planning meals and grocery lists so that it's second nature after surgery. Begin using one of the food/nutrition trackers. Plan menus a few days in advance, knowing that you can always amend them if you wish. While you're at it, vow to include in the tracker the "bad" things that may sneak in behind your back (yeah, sure, right) that you are fully familiar with your patterns. It's useful info. Sounds reasonable?

That's funny, you don't look like a good old salad. You're your own motivation. You can do this. You're made of tough stuff.

When you attend an info seminar conducted by a surgery practice, ask for some idea on your chance for approval. I have no knowledge of your insurance plan and, even if someone who does comes along, the info you'll get isn't necessarily iron-clad. Honestly, only your primary will be able to say whether he'll refer you for WLS. Talk with her now that you are considering it. Very often a list of co-morbidities offsets a BMI that's otherways too low to get approved. This may be the case for you, but, again, who knows. The clinic program should qualify, but that's me saying so.

I doubt that there's an answer to the question, only theories. Whatever it may be, the morning tightness is common. I never asked why because I don't care. Nothing's going to change it. I take synthroid in the morning so that it doesn't interfere with eating (requires an empty stomach, so no food for one hour before or two hours after). It also requires "plenty of Water," as the pharmacist labels the vial. I use warm-hot water.

@@reree6898, it's going to be rocky and on and off, as you say, but absolutely you'll make it You've got the stuff. (What was that? Did someone mention Absolut?) Hugs to you.

@@reree6898, that toast I mentioned? I've just poured some maple moonshine (flavored with real maple). In your honor, of course. I bought it last week at the very close by farmers' market to take to my Christmas hosts. Now I'll have to buy another for them tomorrow. Anything for you Fyi http://www.fullmoonshine.com/home/

Bummer.

Told ya so, told ya so -- or I would have had you asked. Did you ask? Did I answer? What did I say? You are sound of mind, such a nice thing.

Reree, tomorrow I'll drink a toast, not to your anniversary, but to you and the fact that, despite the grief, you've had the strength to keep it together. It's unfair that your husband gave you no info beyond the vague "not working any more." That you've been as strong as you have for yourself and the kids says something exceptional about you.

"Full" is not the goal. The goal is to feel satisfied, as though you think "I can eat a couple of bites more...but I don't need them." It is your job to pay attention so that you're aware of that moment.

Support groups usually are conducted by the surgery practice itself. As SPowell suggests, attend. Also call the surgery practices at other nearby hospitals; if they have groups, go to them as well. The widest possible network will help. The time you go to meetngs is also time you can't eat things that are dangerous to you or, later on, just dumb to eat if you want to lose weight. (I've heard of only one idiotic surgery practice in the U.S. that doesn't welcome people from the competition. Call your surgeon's office instead. They may tell you to come in so that they can look you over for signs of trouble. Let them decide if there's a reason to go to the ER when you call. Sorry, my darling, you don't have time for the emotional wailing and self-pity. You have things to take care of....such as making the call to your surgeon's and not eating things you were told not to eat at this stage. By indulging your anxiety and whatever other emotional crap, you'll set yourself back further. Speaking of anxiety and emotional crap, I don't know whether you've been diagnosed with anything. Consider working with a CBT practitioner who can help with food issues and -- don't pout or scream at me -- responsibility issues. You're not a terrible or useless or stupid person. You are human. Think of this time as a time to grow and learn and take proper care of yourself. In short, to be adult.

It's really not a big deal. Choose one of the scales you get on as your measure -- your home scale probably is the one you use most, so that would be it. Think of the others as the scales you use for consistency, that is, to see that the number, regardless of what it is, keeps going down. Even better, ignore those scales. All of us who have surgery get hung up on tenths of pounds; we get nuts over them. We get nuts over one or two pounds. Somewhere along the way I realized that, when I want to lose more than 100, a scale that's a pound or two off means Jack.

The easy part is telling you that the boy's a creep. He's not high enough on the foud chain to qualify as "jerk." He's creepy as in slimy. Darling, you need to toughen up because there's no gentle way to say that the second syllable of "boyfriend" never applied. I'm not clear on whether he actually said, "I'm breaking up with you" or just disappeared into a sewer without a word. Either way, there's something wrong with him. Stuffing your face won't make anything feel better. All you'll accomplish is falling into a stupor. You know it. If you take a moment to recall how you really felt all those times, it was never "better." It was unconsciousness. Now that you've had surgery, you need to be alert because in these first weeks, there are a lot of changes and instructions to follow. Would he gain weight for you? It's easy to tell you not to fall into the lifelong habits and a challenge not to fall back into them. You're the one who has to take care of you. You're the one who knows what is right for you. Your surgery is a gift to yourself. Use it.

Maybe you'll change your name to undertheweather444 or the short term. It sounds as though you have little faith in your doctor. I wish I could help, but I know of no treatment for diarrhea of the chest. Seriously, I hope the malady passes quickly.

You don't have to tell anyone anything. Your body, your right to choose who to tell and who not. Whom. Don't lie, though, or you'll have to remember what you said forever after -- too risky and too much trouble. You can say that it's just a nuisance, little procedure not worth talking about. Alternately, make up something wildly memorable such as sex-change surgery. No one will know what to say and happily move on the the next thing.

You answered your question in the first sentence: When you think, "That is enough." If you change from "That is enough" to "I'm satisfied," the moment may be more easily recognizable. It's a moment, not a line.

@@JuniperBug, I hope you can hate the packaging a little less. She's how the vibrant, engaged person you are gets around during the course of the day. You don't need me to tell you that there are reasons for the packaging. Ready or not, she is part of you and, for that reason, deserving of respect and love. Love her always because she is the one who will give birth to her replacement. (I'll tell you now that, when you lose enough weight so that it really shows and the people you have chosen not to tell about surgery ask, say no more than your decision to eat better and exercise. That's the absolute truth -- so easy because it leaves you having to remember nothing.)

@@laceemouse -- There's humor out there. Why so literal or solemn? Today will be better.

You got it right in your original question, Sugarplum. O-N-E-D-E-R-L-A-N-D. Two E's. Onederland, because the first numeral is "one" as in "one hundred [100]." Irritatingly stupid coinage to be worn proudly.

It bloody well matters very much.

My surgery practice doesn't count coffee as Water. To get in enough water/flavored water, start as soon as you wake up. Go pee, then drink a glass. Drink another about half an hour after if not sooner. That's a good start to the day.

If there are any more surgeons in reasonable distance to your Canadian location, make the calls. The only other thing I can think of is to contact your surgeon and see if he/she can intervene with a Canadian surgeon near you; they may be personally acquainted. For now, take a look at the "surgeons" tab near the top of your screen. Perhaps you can find someone near you whom you haven't already contacted. I wish I could refer you to someone, but I don't know of anyone. It would help others in Bariatric Pal to help you if you post your location -- city and province. Also post in the forum for general weight loss surgery discussion/Canadian support group (I expect there is one). You do need to see someone because of the pain you're having. I'm guessing that your last adjustment took place in the Middle East? When the Fluid added turns out to make it difficult to eat, it's important to go back right away -- within a few days at the most, not six months later. If drinking the Water we're given at the time of an upward adjustment is difficult, it's important to say so on the spot.