silverthreads

Sleep is a complicated thing. That machine will help you but it may take some time, especially when you clearly have had a very irregular sleep pattern. I have severe sleep apnea, but also insomnia and difficulty staying asleep (poor sleep hygiene I think my sleep doc called it). I’ve struggled with this for decades, including 15 years on CPAP, which I will never give up. The last month or so I’ve been taking 1 mg melatonin and a cup of chamomile tea when I go to bed—those help me get to sleep. Also 10 mg of doxepin to help me stay asleep. I’ve been sleeping great and feel so much better. Hopefully the trend will continue. Everything I read says you have to get into a good pattern and then stay there. Hang in there and talk to a genuine sleep doc if you continue to have trouble. You’ll get there!

Yes the machine is a big help. Having that comorbidity also helps justify the surgery. But sleep apnea isn’t just a problem for the obese. My sleep doc is skinny as a rail and from China—he tells me that he has sleep apnea too and it’s quite common in his ethnic group “because we have a small pharynx”. That surprised me! Anyway, after surgery I am no longer obese, and had hoped to lose the machine. No such luck—my AHI is 85 (it was about 120 before surgery). So my case is quite severe, but with the machine I feel so much better. It took me a while to adjust but I’m very comfortable with the machine now.

Your son is going to have a lot of questions about what surgery is like, what's anesthesia, etc. If you go forward with your surgery you can set a good example for him and he'll know you've been down a similar road. I think that's a very good thing. Besides--I suspect the ACL surgery will be down the road a bit. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

B Vitamins always make me queasy, especially on an empty stomach. I found that when I used the chewable vitamins right after surgery the same thing happened. I went back to swallowing the regular vitamins and now I'm fine. I was able to tolerate non-chewables about a month after surgery, but everyone's different so you may want to consult your surgeon. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

I know the insurance industry pretty well. One won't have any impact on the other. Insurance pays about $400 for such an MRI--no big deal! Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

I get up and walk around the house like 4 or 5 times a day... i should be increasing this each day right? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App Yes, walking is good but no need to push hard. 4-5 times per day is pretty good. I'll bet you feel like doing more soon. Do what feels right--maybe a little longer walks when you feel like it. For me getting up and down to walk was far harder than the walking itself... You're on track. In a week you'll feel so much better this will just be a distant memory.

I don't remember exactly when I had the energy, but I had the luxury of 6 weeks off work and I remember I thought I could have returned comfortably at 4 weeks--except I still benefited from a nap every afternoon! I was using the gym in my apartment complex by week 4--only a little at first but in a couple of weeks I was up to 30 minutes of cardio (and then I needed a nap!). By 8 weeks I was taking hour long spin classes and no more naps. Just take it at your own pace and the energy will come. It's not like I was in great shape before the surgery BTW. We're all different but if you read this site you will hear that most people do very well. Some have a harder start than others--no way to predict that I expect. Maintaining a positive outlook and recognizing that the first few steps of the journey are the hardest is the best advice I can give. All the best to you for your individual journey!

I felt much the same as you did at 4 weeks out -- and don't forget the oft-mentioned "three week stall" which I got about the 4th week. Sounds like you may be there yourself. Your body is learning to live on many fewer calories so you'll have a lack of energy/stamina for a while. I'm just over 5 months out now and feel great -- I started going to exercise classes at about 6 or 8 weeks and had enough energy to do OK but it has gotten better over time. Worrying makes you feel worse too!

Buck up kiddo, you're past the worst part and it will get better from here. I had a pretty easy experience compared to some but I definitely remember the pain getting in or out of bed, not to mention coughing which was the worst! After a couple of days I noticed I felt better each day. I would walk up and down the hall and noticed that I could go farther every day too. That really helped with the gas, which was the major source of my pain I think. Once that was out of my system after a few days it just felt like I had been punched in the gut but I was on the mend. Feel better. Get those fluids in, walk a little, have faith. You'll do fine. Soon you'll have your little one back with you too!

58. 250. 70. Met my initial goal today -- it hasn't been all that hard and I'm quite happy. My surgeon wants me to lose another 20 which puts me where I was when I was in college. That seems unrealistic/unbelievable to me! So I'm setting my next goal to lose 10 more, then 5 more, and we'll see what my body tells me in the end. I'm not going to stress out over the number. If I can make it all the way to that 90 pound loss then great. If I stop here I'm still happy (but I don't intend to stop!). I feel like a normal person again.

More likely sutures below the surface of the skin and/or swelling as it heals. I've had similar (but less obvious) texture as routine cuts healed. I'm almost 5 months out--pretty much gone now.

We all have that "what the hell am I doing?" moment. Deep breaths... You'll do great and be so happy you did this! Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

I was served decaf coffee in the hospital! Stayed on decaf for a few weeks then went back to my fav: Peets French Roast (black). Haven't had the slightest problem. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

I had that too but it went away in time. Heck, you just had this done and are still healing. By all means talk to your surgeon -- I'm no doctor -- but no need to be scared. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

FWIW my surgeon's protocol is to palpate the gallbladder at the time of WLS and if there are any stones he removes it. He says his patients have only rarely had gallbladder problems when he didn't feel any stones during the surgery. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Sounds like we had surgery within a week of each other--and I'm having the very same stalls and starts! I too have had the 3 pound weeks and 1pound weeks. I weigh every day and have a fancy Withings scale so I can go online and see a graph--it looks remarkably consistent like that. What can I say -- I'm a data nerd! Seriously my appetite is up and I'm trying to go back to basics to see if things pick up a bit. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

Wow. Truly a remarkable view into the surgeon's world! Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

I quietly took time off work for "surgery" and after I returned told the few who asked or noticed I didn't eat much that I had stomach surgery and am on a limited diet while I heal. Nobody has asked any follow up questions... Now that I've lost the first 50 pounds I've had a few "are you really OK?" questions from friends and I tell them I feel better than I have in years. That satisfies them. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

Yes, I'd do it in a heartbeat--with a more experienced surgeon! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Love this thread. My confession: first week back at work I had to go on a business trip. I was booked into a Doubletree and before I realized what was happening they had thrust a warm chocolate chip cookie in my hand. I went straight to my room and ate it slowly and secretly! Worth every bite--but I don't stay at Doubletrees anymore! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I travel a lot and find TSA to be fairly arbitrary--rules vary from airport to airport. TSAPre is definitely a big help but often not open in smaller terminals or off-peak flights. I definitely agree that you might well end up in a "check it or chuck it" situation. Of course people do try things...I actually had a guy in front of me with a pair of brass andirons in his bag. The TSA guy was laughing. "You've got to be kidding me! Haven't you ever watched an old murder mystery? These were a favorite weapon!" Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Definitely talk to both doctors! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hi @@EmilyJune I was sleeved 4/28 and had a very similar experience to yours. Lost quickly for almost a month--then stalled for four weeks. During that second month I too would lose a pound or two and think the stall was broken, only to stop losing for another week. It was definitely frustrating! The stall did break and I've been losing pretty well the last two weeks. All I can say is stick to your program. You're doing great so far and you'll lose plenty more when your body is ready. Besides, you would have been thrilled to lose a pound or two per week before... No need to worry over this. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Have you read The Immortal Life Of Henrietta Lach? @@Inner Surfer Girl Thanks for reminding me about Henrietta Lacks. I had heard of it and meant to read it but it slipped my mind... I just finished it and it was truly a great read. Thanks again! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Actually copays very greatly so while I don't mind telling you I don't know it will help. Better to get your full plan brochure (probably a hundred pages or more) and it will tell you. That said I'm on the federal employees plan and my hospital copay was only $350. Now, I made a huge mistake which cost me a lot so I'll tell you so you can avoid it. When I searched the provider directory there were no bariatric surgeons. My next step should have been to call and ask -- but instead I went to a surgeon someone close to me did--one I knew was well trained, very experienced and also does much more difficult surgeries like liver transplants. I planned to try to get BCBS to cover him and knew I'd have to pay his fees out of pocket if that plan failed. Well--it failed. When my surgery was approved they told me they actually had two local practices under contract--so I could go to those for very little cost but I'd have to get a consult and start the approval process again. I had no desire to start over. I just bit the bullet and paid $6,300 for the surgeon myself. I rationalized it wasn't much more than I would pay in Mexico--my backup plan if I didn't get approval. So make sure your doctor is in network before you get too far down the road...