KateBruin
Gastric Sleeve Patients-
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Everything posted by KateBruin
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Hi Pam! Welcome to the boards. I paid $59.99 on amazon and the app is free. I believe it was the least expensive Bluetooth + automatic app tracking option I could find. It’s great.
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August Sleevers-How are you doing??
KateBruin replied to Ash_Bri85's topic in Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums
Congratulations! We’re on the same countdown lol. Our numbers are similar too. Pre-op 247, sleeved 8/23, I’m currently 201.8 and dying to be under 200 when I see my surgeon on Thursday but since I get weighed with shoes and stuff I doubt it. Keep up the amazing work. You look fantastic!! -
pinched feeling in stomach
KateBruin replied to nh-vsgirl's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
It’s been a while since you first posted. You definitely need to call tomorrow. My symptoms are different than yours but at 3 months (8/23 sleeve) I developed issues swallowing solids then liquids. Just had a barium study and the radiologist confirmed reflux, two spots of narrowing, and delayed emptying. I won’t know if it’s abnormal or severe enough for treatment till my appt Thursday. Anyway, my story was just to say we need to trust our intuition. Sometimes when we feel like something is wrong, something is wrong. With your digestive system, better to be safe than sorry! -
I get cold too! I used to never get cold and was actually always sweaty. Like I could wear flip flops in below freezing and was fine. Now, I had to get a space heater for my bathroom for showers and when I’m in there brushing my teeth or whatever. I also went clothes shopping and didn’t get sweaty trying stuff on. It’s incredibly bizarre! I don’t remember a time when I got cold except in extreme temps.
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I have an incredible tempurpedic with a bajillion pillows. But I also have a joint autoimmune condition so it’s probably a shitty combo of less padding and my ankylosing spondylitis. It sucks but I’ll take it over being fat and sweaty 24/7 lol
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Question for the ladies
KateBruin replied to KDBaker's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I didn’t have mine for probably 8 years because I take my birth control pills with no break. The day before surgery I sort of got it but after surgery, while in the hospital I fully did. Even while still on birth control. I haven’t had it since (knock on wood) so I think it’s the emotional stress, stress on your body and overall trauma. My doctor actually said stop hormones a few weeks before surgery and for like 2-3ish months after. I ignored because I became active immediately. -
I drink maybe 1 Diet Coke a week and the occasional soda water. Carbonation is totally fine with me, it just makes me burp. But I’m also fine with straws. Accidentally started using them within 1 week post op. Carbonation will not stretch your sleeve. In fact, much research says stretching it is a myth, period.
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Scopolamine (sp?) patch behind the ear helps with nausea I wasn’t allowed to be discharged until I could consume x cups of liquid, 1 oz at a time, within a certain amount of time. You bet your ass I made sure I got it all down (may have fudged a tiny bit). I also needed adequate urine output. Wasn’t going to stay another night so I did what I could, lied a little and begged. I also got an Rx for zofran for a week or so to help with nausea + the patch for like 48-36 hours. Forget how long it lasts.
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I’ve had a couple very low carb 5% alcohol grapefruit hard soda water and for thanksgiving I had a cran, soda water and vodka. None of it has made me tipsy or drunk but I have a natural tolerance. If you’re going to drink, make sure you have a DD in case just one or two drinks hit you hard and just incorporate the nutrition info into your daily macros. Vodka and diet mixers are what I would stick to. Flavored vodka with soda is yum but I tolerate carbonation well.
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I’m a stomach sleeper or snuggle a body pillow but at night I like to lay sideways while I watch tv. It makes my hip hurt like no other some days but it’s because my hips are way more bony. Try sleeping with a pillow or special between your knees pillow. When I lay watching tv I stick a pillow between my knees. Snuggling a body pillow with one leg thrown over really helps me but that’s closer to stomach sleeping than side.
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pinched feeling in stomach
KateBruin replied to nh-vsgirl's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
You might be able to break up some of the adhesions with massage but would hurt and I’m not 100% sure. I could just be pulling that out of my ass. I get nerve pain from my incisions at 3 months out. Occasionally when I workout I feel a pulling type sensation. -
Sneezed then pain
KateBruin replied to Patrick powers's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I’m 3 months post op and I actually still get some pain near my incisions but in my case I think it’s nerves regenerating. At 3 weeks you probably didn’t tear snubbing, especially since it was a sneeze, not lifting heavy. But if you’re still in pain, it’s worth contacting your surgeon, his or her NP or PA. -
No problem drinking fluids
KateBruin replied to Hhs1078's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I felt uncomfortable drinking plain water, but I could drink flavored water and protein shakes pretty easily post op and was taking pills less than 24 hours after surgery and moved on to large ones about 36 hours after. I used to take about 30 minutes to consume all my pills (there’s a lot) but now I do it in 5-10 min. I’m 3 months post op and ignoring the new symptoms a possible structure has caused, you’ll really feel the restriction once you move to solids. Liquids pass through the sleeve so quickly. I was worried there was something wrong because I never felt full but it was 100% proven wrong once I got on solids. To maalban12, that could be gas. If you’re only a few days post op, it’s the gas they pumped in and nothing will help but walking. If you’re past that, try some gas x or beano. Also make sure you don’t consume anything close to bedtime. If I eat or even sometimes when I drink and lay down soon after I get the foamies, which is awful and disgusting. -
August Sleevers-How are you doing??
KateBruin replied to Ash_Bri85's topic in Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums
Thank you! I love this chart because I’m about 15 lbs less than what it says I should have lost. Makes me feel better than what my surgeon said at my 2 week post op. -
August Sleevers-How are you doing??
KateBruin replied to Ash_Bri85's topic in Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums
I’m hoping he meant 1 lb a day at first, which is what I lost. It has now slowed to 3-5 lbs a week and occasionally increases as my muscle mass goes up. I’m calling my NUT Monday to make sure I’m still doing things right. I burn between 500-900 calories a day working out so it’s possible I’m not eating enough and my body is holding on to calories and nutrients. Sometimes I do 2 workouts a day. It just feels so bad but so good. Just waiting for my BMI to get below 30 and my weight below 200. I’m at 203-205 and 32 BMI now. They’re my first two goals. -
Did your insurance company say why? You can request your doctor’s office do a peer to peer review.
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Did a quick search and didn’t find good answers. I’m 3 months out on the 23rd and it feels like something significant has changed. I suddenly have moderate food intolerance and mostly subsist on oatmeal, protein shakes, and other light foods. I have issues swallowing food and medication. I take Prilosec 2x a day and it doesn’t feel like GERD, it feels more like a blockage or stricture. I speak to my doctor at 10 am but I was just wondering what people experienced. I don’t have any vomiting but have been on the verge numerous times.
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I got my energy back within a week or two. Within a week and a half I was walking a few miles a day. It gets easier once you switch to more significant liquids or foods like Greek yogurt + protein powder. At 5 weeks I was 80% better and started hard workouts. But, everyone is different. Stay hydrated and eat your protein. Add some healthy fats if you can. 3 months out my snacks are 170 calorie NSA stevia blackberry coconut fat bombs.
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I get pain if I drink plain water and it suddenly tastes like crap post op (3 months out). I only drink water with crystal light or the stevia version of it. I can drink flavored water nearly no problem. I have a 25 oz s’well at home and drink at least 1 before each meal and a 17 oz one I carry with me. I get headaches as soon as I’m even remotely dehydrated. Plus, it controls my hunger better.
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Insurance setback- heartbroken
KateBruin replied to BelleOfBatonRouge's topic in Insurance & Financing
I finished law school a year ago and a doctors note 100% excused me from the max 20% classes you could miss. I got in a car wreck my second year and had to miss more than 20% in a few classes. Just got supporting documents from the doctor. If it’s an ABA school, the rules should be the same... -
Requirements for Blue Shield of California
KateBruin replied to cableworth's topic in Insurance & Financing
I have federal BC/BS but it’s processed under blue shield or sometimes anthem. I had 3 month supervised diet, which didn’t mean crap. All it meant was I had to visit my surgeon or GP once a month. So month one was my consult, month two was GP + pre-op blood, and month three was my final pre-op appt. I also needed a psych consult, to attend a seminar and get a letter from my psychiatrist saying I haven’t used illicit drugs for at least a year and he has been and will continue to treat me. The psychiatrist letter might have been an extension of my psych consult as I’m bipolar. Little stupid since insurance sees that I fill my meds every month and see my psych monthly. Just a stupid hoop. -
It seems like most do unless there’s an explicit policy exclusion you agreed to. Even MediCal covers it (if you can find a doctor).
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August Sleevers-How are you doing??
KateBruin replied to Ash_Bri85's topic in Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums
I have lost this amount of weight multiple times when I’ve gone off various meds. I’m not complaining, rather basically asking a rhetorical question if I’m doing something wrong. Too many calories, not enough...too much protein, not enough fat. There’s so many variables. At my 2 week post op my doc said I should be losing a pound a day. I lose 8-10 a month. That’s about 20 lbs short each month. I don’t really see how that’s complaining. -
You might not be a fan of this financially but Lululemon or Athleta is my workout wardrobe. I also hold my weight in my stomach and my pants stay up through HIIT workouts. Athleta will actually be having 20% off everything starting Black Friday. Lululemon also has regular sales plus there’s resale Facebook groups.
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August Sleevers-How are you doing??
KateBruin replied to Ash_Bri85's topic in Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums
My surgery was 8/23 and I’m down 41 lbs from 246.6 to 205. I also feel like it’s going to slow. I’m going to reach out to my dietician to see if I’m doing anything wrong. I work out hard 5x a week so some of the fat has been replaced by muscle but 41 lbs in 3 months seems so slow.