Vickie23

I was 4 days late since Monday. Ever since the surgery in November 2015, My app tells me that was my day and it happened. Which being overweight my whole life and being irregular was the norm, this was crazy! Anyways but here I am a regular cycle person now. I immediately got on the pill more because of the PCOS I was told I had, but also to prevent pregnancies. I was taking antibiotics this month and surprise I am pregnant. I was not trying but am supe excited!! I have a son who will be 9 in October. So it is starting all over again and with the gastric bypass I'm nervous about absorption and vitamins. I'm currently taking PatchMD multivitamins, b12, vit D with calcium, and iron. I also take Folate orally and I take vit. D 50,000 IU monthly and I inject B12 into myself monthly. I am worried about being 5 weeks pregnant and not having my baby have all the vitamins it needs for a healthy pregnancy! Ladies could you please help me!! I got a positive test today and went to my OB next door to my job and had an ultrasound but too small to see anything and blood was taken today and they want me to have a blood test on Saturday. Is this normal because I'm not going to lie this has me a bit nervous. I do not want to google because I will go crazy. IF ANYONE HAS ANY INFORMATION, please inform me. Thank you!!!

First off I want to thank all the people on here who have been supportive!! I was going to post when I hit the one year mark, this surgery has been life changing and I couldn't wait!! This process is life changing. My step dad showed me a video of myself in July 2015 when a man placed an anaconda on my neck and wow, my weight. I was a huge woman, and my family of about 30 (very close) never told me anything. That is not typical in my family; but I guess since I was fat all my life they just didn't say anything. My sister who is a year younger has always been thin and in within the last maybe 8 to 10 years had weight issues, nothing major (as in health issues or obese), but my family was always telling her in a nice way, but maybe she wouldn't agree, because I don't think women want to hear about their weight. I know I didn't. I mean I knew I had a problem; but I didn't want to be told. I want to thank my family because I think being told about your weight must be devastating. I know when I went out I was treated a certain way, I never noticed before because I was always a big girl. I think I was around 9 years old when I went into a big size in juniors. Today people open doors, talk to you randomly (sometimes I am still like, wait your taking to me, lol) they are nice, in the store the girls want to assist you. It's just like wow!! Now 10.5 months into this surgery the weight coming off a lot slower, I'm not going to lie ladies I miss the weight just coming off lol. My family says how much more do you want to lose you look great!! I love them!! My doctor wants me to weigh 150 because I'm still technically overweight; but I am no longer obese!!! I just did my A1C this month and mine was 4.6-LOW can you believe that!! I was super excited!! I am anemic, and my Calcium is low. B-12 is within normal limits but on the low side. I got prescribed the injections and Vit D tablets 5,000UI weekly. We will see how it goes. With all the weight loss I was full of energy but I feel recently because of my anemia and Vit.D deficiency have been fatigued. I was approved for an Iron infusion all day from 9-3 because of all the other steps not just the iron. They do steroids, which I found out today, and saline and of course the iron. lol. My appointment was actually today, and I had an allergic reaction!!!! it was super scary. I came home and slept all day until 4pm because of the Benadryl. I have gone ahead and purchased these patch MD Patches of Vitamins and I am going to give them a try. I will update everyone in November at 1 yr anniversary after I see physician and I have labs to support it!! Well I know this has been a long story, but I wanted to ask I eat 3 meals, trying to get Protein in the best way I can. I am pretty good about it. I get hungry tho instead of every 5 hours, I get hungry like every 4, and sometimes I crave sweets!! Me!! I was a soda and chips, and a nice sandwich kind of girl. Well I will eat chips here and there, but soda and bread are in the past. But sweets, I want them! lol. Sometimes I wish people would have told me a couple of things, like I know my MD's told me about the vitamins, Water, and protein. Also I did my surgery in November, umm who does that who gives up eating food around the Holidays! LoL. I had such regrets, it's hard, like really hard to not be able to eat when that was your go to, I dislike when I hear oh when I'm sad I eat. Well, I would eat happy, sad, ecstatic, to Celebrate, depressed, any event really. It comforted me, so to not be able to eat was like WHAT?? what do I do know. I hated myself for awhile and if you read my 6 mo story, I was in hell for the first 3 months!! Today I can eat anything. Which at 6 mo I was a scared lil girl who would not eat what made me sick once. Like eggs, bread, meat. I was like who cares, I am done with it, but at the 6 mo my nutritionist said don't be scared, do it!! I was like honey am I dumb? Why would I feel like that again?! LoL. But I listened!! I took only 2 or 3 bites and waited. I can eat a sandwich today. I will have a sandwich here and there but I don't enjoy as much as I use to before. I remember making my sandwiches and I don't know if people will agree with me; but I use to put love into my sandwich the way I spread the condiments, placed my favorite ham and cheese into it! Knowing I was going to eat both of them. Now I still make it neatly lol, but not with the love. Food is food!! Can u believe I just said that!! ME!! THE BEST THING OF THIS SURGERY IS THAT.. FOOD is FOOD!! It isn't life! I'm actually living my life. Going out (I hated to go out), buying clothes (ex online shopper). I went to New York 2 weeks ago, and I saw a pink dress and jean jacket on a mannequin and I wanted it! SO WHAT? Well that has never happened to me before, not me wanting the clothes lol, but thinking it could fit me. SIZE LARGE ladies!! I bought it!! It was expensive, but I am saving money on food lol, I bought it!! GIRLS, what a beautiful reward! That was me in the fitting room, I sent it to my mom, step dad, cousins, and a couple of friends and said: I saw this on a mannequin and IT FITS!! It's a bit pricey, do I buy it? LoL. They said yes!! I am obedient and did so lol. I wore it out!! and I took another picture and made it my profile picture on this website!! Also ladies that chest is from Victoria Secrets that add 2 cup sized, because my boobs, which use to be a size I approved of WENT AWAY!! LoL. They gone!! They gone!! I wish I would've been told that. My arms under this jacket; my sleeves This dress has sleeves, so I will take my jacket, but my arms the top part I dislike. When I had this surgery and if you go back and compare the big person I was, I just wanted to walk in the zoo with out getting shortness of breath, and look at me now. In a dress with make up, dare I say a selfie taker. lol. Now do I want those arms!! NOOOOOO!! I want the time to come and have the operation. I am not going to lie and say I am not scared. I am scared. I am a very anxious person. I was anxious today when I was going to get iron, because I thought what if I am allergic!! I was!!! My body went cold, then numb, I couldn't even feel my face, then I got swollen, My face is still swollen, and broke out in hives!! I was given Benadryl and I am ok now. What I am saying it is a big step!! I want it tho, YOU KNEW YOUR SKIN WOULD GET LOOSE, I mean with clothes I feel nice. But I want to look at myself naked and feel the same way! It's for me! I am not trying to be a model, I just want to look in the mirror and see and feel comfortable, feel happy. DON'T get me wrong I am happy; just not 100% lol. I saw a youtube video of a woman wearing clothes and feeling beautiful and she took off everything. Not bra and underwear, but I mean she showed all her skin! 200lb I do believe. I myself have lost around 120, and I was like THIS WOMAN IS BRAVE, and she will not be having any operations. I am happy for her. To feel secure, sure of herself. I LOVE THAT. You know what I notice now, big girls are everywhere; when I was a big girl, I always thought I was the biggest girl in the room and didn't look around. I didn't want to catch someone looking at me and judging me. Now tho I know I am not being judged, and I look around and there are big girls, and they dress cute!! I was never comfortable in my body. I didn't know how to shop and I was always uncomfortable. I didn't know how big I was tho. Now when I watched that video today, my step dad told me that this was the best decision I ever made. He almost got teary eyed. My family today always tells me I look good and I am beautiful, they say you've always been beautiful but right now I can not look away! I LOVE THEM!! I am in high speed trying to catch up with being this girl. ( I know I am a woman, I just speak like this, lol) I wonder if anyone will understand what I mean, I might be this girl in the dress, but inside I'm fat Vickie. When men come and talk to me; I panic!! I am not ready. I just want to enjoy myself. I need my self esteem to come and be where I need it to be. It is hard to be big girl all your life, I mean I remember my MD saying you will lose weight and you will be a sexual being, you will be out there partying it up, not my surgeon, my primary physician. Umm, maybe some ladies and to each their own. I actually miss being big in ONE aspect, well that I can think of right now. When I was big and some guy came and talked to me, or I developed a friendship and the something happened between us, IT WAS HONEST!! Now guys come up and it is a look thing, but do you who I am, what I like, that I am comical, lol. NO they just want to talk and then what invite me over to their place? Umm that is not me. That actually scares me. I hope this feeling will pass. I am actually thinking of going to see a therapist, because I have issues that I didn't know where there. This is a lot to put up. But I wonder if one person feels like this and reads it, AND COMMENTS and says so, it would be a familiar and hey it might be a common feeling. Well ladies I think I have made this long enough. I hope all of you are having success and feeling fabulous. It is a very big change and it has so many warm and happy feelings!! For our continued success!! As I say again, I am 10.5 months into it and if anyone has questions, message me. There are a lot of supportive people on this website tho!! I got so many questions answered here!! It's a safe place!!

I was recently admitted to the hospital because I was feeling back pain, that radiated over to my left ovary and down my leg. Once the pain went down my leg, I went to the ER. Once there waited for tests, while I was in the fetal position in a lot of pain. They said it was a torsion cyst (when a cyst is cutting blood supply from ovary) and they wanted to operate and remove cyst and since ovary was enlarged and about same size, they probably would've taken it out too. Good news; no operation and I have my ovaries. It was scary, but thank goodness everything turned out ok. Once there since I had a couple of cysts they diagnosed me with PCOS. When I was a much heavier person, I as diabetic, and well I almost never had my periods; maybe 3 or 5 times a year. I have never broken out, I have a son and he will be 8 in October. I haven't tried again to have another child. I do not have a lot of facial hair. Since I lost the weight; diabetes is resolved. I was told PCOS is my diagnosis but I am hesitant bc all I have are the cysts?! OB said this to me and placed me on birth control for the next 3 months. I am wondering if this OB is correct, or should I see an endocrinologist and if this surgery cure DIABETES, doesn't it mean another diagnosis (especially PCOS would be healable.) This MD as I mentioned placed me on birth control every 3 months. I have 5 days worth of period. they are heavy and i do crap occasionally. Nothing major. I am reading other peoples post and I am wondering if this is correct. I think I will check with A Endocrinologist; I AM JUST ignorant when it comes to this. I feel like my best is an endocrinologist. Please any thoughts or commons; highly appreciated.

I had surgery 6 months ago, and the first 3 months were a little difficult for me. I was nauseous, I couldn't keep food down, it was basically trial and error and to be honest very frustrating. I am still coping from time to time, rarely but it does happen. Sometimes I try new things, I like to play it safe, but little by little I've been trying new things or eating things I was used to. Overall I am very happy. I have lost a significant amount of weight, it's coming a long and I couldn't be happier. I have been a big person my whole life, I never knew what it was to be thin, I know that at 202 lb I am not thin, but do I feel beautiful. This Mother's Day I wore a dress, and I felt like a new person. I have been feeling great. I have energy to clean my home, walk, I rode a bike after about 10 years. I am incredibly happy. I turn 30 in 8 days, and I am just so excited. I feel like a breathe, I can go out and do things, I want to go out and do things. I, Victoria bought myself a black dress to wear for my 30th. I feel like a different person. I am truly happy, when I first had the surgery I was sad because I would always feel sick, I would question why I did this to myself. I also had to deal with the fact that when I was upset I was able to eat my feelings away. Today I deal with my emotions, and eating is one of the last things on my mind. I'm so happy!! We made a huge decision having this surgery, and I hope we all get to where we want to be!!! Before and After Pic

I tried iron tablets. I had anemia problems since I was 15. I have been dealing with this issue for 15 years, but I am up and down. Since going into the hospital, I went down to a 6, I have never been so low. I take iron and I was just starting to think that I don't have well absorption. I hate it with orange juice for the Vit. C factor and I take it away from the Vitamin D/calcium problem. Since my level went so low that is why my MD said to go with Iron infusion. I will not be going back tho. I saw on this website that they have the iron patch MD and I am going to try those out. I have my 1 yr post op in November where my levels will be check, so I will just test my results there. Right now after being in the hospital I had 2 200mL iron IV push and from a 6 I went to an 8.3. The reason i went to such a drastic iron infusion, is because I was so fatigued. I felt like being back in my fat body and I was so tired, that I agreed to this. As I repeat I have been anemic for 15 years and they have wanted me to do it before but my body managed. For the last 2 to 3 months I have been so fatigued that I was just done. I am hoping that these Patches work! Time will tell. Thank you so much for your advice. I am not quite sure why the tablets of iron didn't work so well for me, and the 45mg didn't tickle my anemia; it might be because this has been a chronic problem before the surgery. Thank you again

Congratulations!! That's great!!

Yes, I felt like this!! I felt like that for the first 3 months, in the beginning with the liquids, I was given measurements and I never finished them, because I was scared. I would put an alarm to eat because I would forget, THAT IS A HORRIBLE MISTAKE, because I would feel more pain when I ate after the hour. After 3 weeks of liquids, and the first 3 weeks of certain foods, I stuck to tuna and crackers, some other things but that was the biggest think I stuck too. After the 6 weeks and I could finally eat food!! (BTW I'm 10.5 months post and I think I ate tuna just a week ago lol. I vowed I would never eat TUNA again, I am dramatic like that lol) The biggest issue I had when eating where eggs, bread, and meat. I could be ok with chicken, oh and rice was bad, delicious but I would feel so sick AND I WAS ALLOWED to eat it. This was 6 weeks post, I didn't try those things until 6 mo after, I didn't want to feel that again. Today I eat anything, and sometimes I will still feel nauseous (extremely rare), usually its eggs that do this to me. It caused me to have gas, I believe. I feel pain in my actual stomach and its bad and energy level go way down, I actually go somewhere private and try to burp it out and if that doesn't help I will usually throw up some white mucous thing and feel better instantaneously. I know I posted a little too much, but I hope this helps you!!!

You look amazing!! I bet you feel amazing and full of energy!! Congratulations!!! Keep up the good work!!

I weighed myself today at work, and I got on that scale and it said 199 lb. I got off and went back on because I was in disbelief!! 199 lb. I couldn't believe it. I had my Gastric bypass a little over 6 months ago, & I did a 6 month post explaining everything, but to see 199 pounds on the scale was like WOW!! I mean last year on May 22, 2015 2 days after my 29th birthday, I went to my PCP and was 308 pounds and newly diabetic. and This year in 2 days it will be my birthday and I am 199 pounds, it is just surreal. I have always been a big person, Always!! I am saying bye to my 20s and the the 109 pound person I was carrying around. Very emotional. Very happy. Happy early birthday present to me!! I hope we all have these moments, something that we all know we are going to loose the weight little by little as we listen to the instructions and do what we are told, but to see the scale I just couldn't believe it!! I am on cloud 9, super happy!! To continuing to loose weight safely and happily! I've all ready been super happy because I was a person always wanting to eat and now to live my life around living and being active is awesome!! Last year for my birthday at the office, I was shy to take this picture lol, and my picture now even posing with the cake! I feel great!! I'm so happy

It is annoying. I was a size 10 and I am now a size 9. I mostly wear flat shoes, so I am placing a sole in the shoe so I can continue to wear them for awhile. It has helped.

I'm happy I was able to help!! When I was sad about the surgery I joined here and read other people sometimes going thru the same thing. I am happy I was able to help!! If you ever have any questions, please ask!! Good luck to you!!

Congratulations!! I also at 6 months!!! It's been a great journey!! Loving your pics!!!!

Hello. It's going to be a month since I had the surgery. I'm 29 years old and having this surgery was about the idea of wow, being able to lose weight, not be controlled by appetite. If you follow the 4 rules of my surgeon then I'll get my weight loss down without being hungry!! It seemed like a dream. Well it has been hard. I did practice eating without drinking before surgery and it was difficult at first, I didn't notice how much I would drink to get what I was eating down. Well this past week I started solids. It has not been fun. I notice that even tho I chew my solids, I am still doing something wrong because I throw up after. I have not had dumping. I eat what is on my sheet. I concentrate and eat, but I guess my bites are still bigger than they should be. They told me a chick pea size bite (check), chew it 30 times, (well I honestly can't chew it 30 times) stay the table for 25 min. (I get full before the 25min.) Eat sitting down (this is kinda new to me too) Drink 64oz of Water (this is also hard, because you can't just chug water you have to be consistent and remember to drink) I have also been good at drinking water, and crystal light, and if I feel like I don't have energy because I couldn't keep up with my meal I drink gatorade. Anyways this is where I am, everyone around me says I look great, That I look younger. I went down 2 sizes for my top, being a 3x and now 1x, and 1 size from my jeans and sometimes 2 depending on the brand. I was so happy. This is hard tho. It wasn't as easy as I thought. Sometimes when I have been throwing up this week I asked myself. Was this worth it? I was clearly upset because every meal I was throwing up, trying different foods and having the same outcome. I have narrowed it down and I have to be believe that I am not chewing enough, that has to be it!! I know my surgery was worth it. I can climb the stairs without shortness of breath, I can clean my bathroom without taking breaks, I took my 7 year old son out because I haven't been tired. I got on a Ferris wheel (I could always go on a Ferris wheel, but I was always worried with my weight) and loved it. I speak without hard breathing anymore. For the last 3 weeks I felt great. Even tho I couldn't eat certain things, I wasn't hungry. I'm not going to lie tho, at night I thought about food. It doesn't mean I was hungry because I was not. I would be watching my hour of t.v. after I put my son to sleep and the commercials, and my imagination. It seems funny now, but I realized I have more of a problem than I had realized. I wasn't going to eat because again I wasn't hungry, but being in bed thinking about food, made me realize I have a problem with food. Before surgery I was a person who ate 2 huge meals a day. They were usually store bought too. I also drank a lot of coke. Like a lot maybe 4 coke cans a day. When I went to discuss this surgery with my surgeon he told me, if I gained 1 pound, I would be exempt and wouldn't be able to have this surgery. I cut my coke to 2 a day, but continued to eat the same about but I would kind of say healthier, as in no longer burgers and pizza, but more Proteins to see if I could eat chicken, fish every day. It turned out I could, I also gave up eating potato bread, well all bread but that was my favorite. Anyways of course everyone one here knows that changes have to be made. I made mine. I wish that before I had surgery I would have read someone else's take. I think besides wanting to write it all like a journal right? Anyways it has not been easy and this week with solids, has been hard and draining. I have to continue to move forward and if it means to just eat completely alone with a sign in front of me to chew or else I will throw up, I will have to do just that. I can't wait to see what a couple of months has in store for me. To have more energy, to change my life from sitting to actually getting up and having energy to go out and do something. To be able to go to the zoo with my son without having to take breaks. To be able to go to Lego land next year and be able to get on the rides with my son, and not having him go with another family member. To go bike riding. Damn so many things I will be able to do, just now to clean my bathroom without having to stop to have some rest is awesome. I have read some people say they see someone to talk about their ideas of foods, and I think that is a great idea. I think I will look for someone who helps people after bariatric surgery. I just wish to meet people who have had surgery around the same time I have and I can have a buddy. I think it's easier when you have someone to talk about it with!!

I have been eating solids after a week. Every time I eat solids, I feel nauseous, and I feel a pain like something is stuck in my esophagus going down to my stomach; and I have been throwing up every day. I feel so weak and am nervous when I have to eat. Is this normal for this to be the first week? I am suppose to be able to eat 1/2 cup of solids. I have eaten hard boil or scrambled eggs, I have had macaroni and cheese, baked tilapia. I just am not sure. I am waiting the 15 min after liquids and then eating then nothing to drink for 30 minutes. Im suppose to eat my food in 25min but I never make it to 25 min because I am full. I am also learning when my body is full. I just want the nausea to go away. Any suggestions??!! Please!! I am doing the 4 rules No drinking 15 before and 30 min after I am eating chickpea size, I am chewing my food, although I do not chew it 30 times because I just can't possibly chew that long. Am I suppose to wait in-between bites? And how far apart do people eat at this time I was told every 5 hours. I am messing up but I'm not sure where, and I am tired of feeling like this, please help!

I bought the chewable GasX and it has helped me. I hope you feel better soon!

@quennie's I ate 2oz and didn't throw up once. Thank you so much!! @@catwoman7 Im sorry that happened to you. I have been eating less and feel great!! Thank you. @@Hankster yes that is my regiment. I have been chewing slowly, but I was sitting there with my 4oz, and trying to get it down. Unfortunately I don't know what full is yet. I ate the 2 oz and it went great!! Didn't throw up once!! @@Miracle I was feeling horrible all week, but I swear eating the 2 ounces, helped me so much, plus the doctor prescribed me Pantoprazole sodium 40mg and it has helped me. It was prescribed in the beginning, and I thought I was taking it but it turns out I was taking a Vitamin. Oops, I didn't even look at it I would unscrew and take and this whole week it was a vitamin. I feel so dumb. @@ejones8979 Don't listen. AS long as your happy and of course your health is number 1!! Congrats on the 80 pounds!! Thank you guys for posting.

@@queenie's when did you have your surgery? Thank you. Hopefully it will get better. I am going to measure stuff out to 2oz and see how it goes!! I can't eat chicken yet, I have to wait for 7 weeks post op. To us getting better!!