KatFight

Hi. Congratulations on submitting your last bit of paperwork and getting your surgery date. It's likely with your BMI that you'll be approved. I remember how nervous I was waiting for my approval and my BMI was in the 50s. I'll keep you in prayer.

Absolutely. I had sleeve surgery 12/28/2017 and I'm so glad I did, even with the difficulties and frustration. My only regret - I wish I would have done it sooner. You deserve to be #1 sometimes and this is your time. You've got the right attitude and focus to succeed. Best wishes. (Great pic, by the way.)

lol. Oh yes, the hospital broth!!! Awful. I liked Pacifica (I hope I'm remembering the name correctly) broth. If you're not someone who normally likes broth, you may not like that one either. I stuck to every diet and I'm gradually increasing protein and fluid. I applaud you for sticking to your program. Wishing you much success.

It's understandable that you're frustrated. I felt frustrated with my weight loss post-surgery too. Although our situations differ, there are similarities:. I lost 8 lbs. week following surgery, then 0 pounds, then gained 1 pound. I was urged by a fellow member to write every bite down as if I'm consuming more than I think I am but I know how little I can get in. It was unbelievable how (still is) little I was eating with no results. I wasn't prepared for that...then, the following week I lost 9 lbs. So, it will start to come off. I had headaches every day for 3 weeks. Mine were not horrible but they hurt. It's easy to get discouraged. The weight will come off. Hang in there. I'll bet weight loss is just around the corner.

Goal weight almost feels like personal information. Someone (not medical person) asked me what mine is and I felt like I stammered the number out. Unsure if the person thought my goal weight is realistic, I asked, "Do you think that's realistic for my height?" This person thought so, however, why am I justifying my number by getting confirmation of its appropriateness? Whether we choose one or not is up to us and our number is up to us and we can choose to share it or not. I almost feel like I have to guard my goal weight like a social security number following that awkward experience. lol Best wishes for continued success. Enjoy the adventure.

Yeah, I felt that way too. Wow - your ferritin level is high. I'm worried about losing my hair too. I'm taking Biotin, which is supposed to help hair be healthy (in case you don't know). Your weigh ins sound like they'd be stressful. As long as you check your weight and eat based on needing more or less calories, you'll be where you need to be to qualify. I'm on psychiatric medicine too. I did miss a day or two because the pills are large and I couldn't handle swallowing them with a sip of water. I was able to get on track though. Not being able to drink was not as bad as I expected. I used to gulp drinks and drank a lot so it's definitely a change. Faith Mare, things will come together for you. In the whirlwind before surgery that is hard to see. And, you're welcome (if something I said helped you, I'm very glad).

Yeah, I felt that way too. Wow - your ferritin level is high. I'm worried about losing my hair too. I'm taking Biotin, which is supposed to help hair be healthy (in case you don't know). Your weigh ins sound like they'd be stressful. As long as you check your weight and eat based on needing more or less calories, you'll be where you need to be to qualify. I'm on psychiatric medicine too. I did miss a day or two because the pills are large and I couldn't handle swallowing them with a sip of water. I was able to get on track though. Not being able to drink was not as bad as I expected. I used to gulp drinks and drank a lot so it's definitely a change. Faith Mare, things will come together for you. In the whirlwind before surgery that is hard to see. And, you're welcome (if something I said helped you, I'm very glad).

You didn't deserve to be treated like that even though you've gained weight. Maybe he was irritated by the weight gain - he's a professional and he surely has worked with other patients who found themselves in the same place. You'll pull through and be ready for surgery. Really. You can do this, I promise.

Hi. All surgeons have different expectations with weight gain/loss. Weight gain was a problem for me if I went over my consultation weight by even 1 lb. If that happened, I would not be scheduled for surgery and my process would end. I understand the food funerals. lol I had 4 and my husband was getting a little worried that I had gone off the plan completely. He didn't understand why it was important for me to have my last meals. (That was frustrating.) Good luck. I think you'll be ok as long as you didn't go over consultation weight.

Whatever your decision may be, I wish the best.

Hi. It's common to be scared, anxious, or both. It's a big decision. Cheryl, what are most afraid of? Potential risks, pain, recovery, dietary changes, or all of them? Is your surgeon off-putting? I had sleeve surgery on 12/28/2017. This is not the case for everyone BUT it was easier than I thought it would be. I didn't have nausea or vomiting in the hospital. I walked fairly easily with a folded blanket held against my stomach. I went home 22 hours after being admitted. I had a few fleeting moments of nausea the first 2 weeks and nausea all week on the 3rd week (lost 9 lbs. that week) but no vomiting. My pain at home was controlled with Tylenol and a large ice pack. And, other than getting enough fluids and protein, the food progression has been easy to follow. My surgeon told me that it's 50/50 - patients who have an easier time and patients who have difficulties. We don't know on what side of those odds you'll land. You know yourself and only you can know if you want to move past your fear and take a chance to be healthier with consideration to all that decision entails at this time in your life. I wish I had done it sooner.

Congratulations! That's fantastic news. It's such a relief, isn't it? (I had my husband's work and him being able to take off as a stressor - somewhat similar to yours.) Wishing you all the best on February 15th.

Hi. I had sleeve surgery on 12/28/2017 - just a day after you. Please don't worry. You're not alone. The first week post-op I lost 8 pounds, second week 0, third week +1 pound. I was so frustrated and concerned that I went through all of this and I wouldn't lose weight. I was following the food plan and walking. It didn't seem logical. Then, over the past week I lost 9 pounds. So, in total I've lost 17 pounds post-surgery. It's not too far from your total. I thought that I'd lose more weight too after surgery. My surgeon told me not to expect huge weekly losses, instead, to expect 2 lbs. of weight loss per week. As the weeks and months pass by, our losses will add up. By 12/27/2018, your weight loss total will not be 11 pounds. It will be much more. Feel free to send a message to me if you want to compare notes throughout this year.

Hi. You can also purée meat. Hard boiled egg cut up is allowed on my purée plan as well as canned tuna and canned chicken (no need to purée these). Others include cottage cheese, nonfat Greek yogurt, oatmeal, and puréed black beans. To add flavor, you can add a little nonfat soup and/or a little cheese (my dr suggested). I mixed tuna with a little bit of cream of mushroom soup and little sprinkle of cheese then heated it up in the microwave. It tasted like tuna casserole without the noodles. If you like buffalo chicken, you could add buffalo sauce to some canned chicken (may want to warm before or after) then have a dash of blue cheese or ranch dressing on the side. One day I puréed (with blender) a turkey meatball with some marinara and added garlic salt. It was good. If stomach acid is a problem though, be cautious. I'm still at the purée stage. When I saw my surgeon at 2 weeks post-op, she told me that I can have scrambled egg. This wasn't on the purée food list so I was pleasantly surprised. I hope this helps.

You're stunning before and after. Congratulations on your success - you are fierce in your jeans and goddess glam in your beautiful black dress. Work it!

Don't we just love when we receive unrequested advice or I have a friend who...?!? Oh my. If only she had saved her breath because you know what to do; you're aware of circumstances and behaviors that led you down the rabbit hole; and you have a desire to make another go of it. You have what you need to succeed (as long as you can now get proteins, etc. too). You also have maintained an 82 pound weight loss for nearly a year - that's amazing! Are you proud of yourself for that? This is the continuation of your weight loss story: you'll need to turn the page and start a new chapter.

Just to be safe you may want to request that your stool be tested or call your surgeon back and ask if there were blood how would it look. If he describes what you are seeing in your stool, put some pressure on for that stool test. I have ulcerative colitis and flare ups cause me to have blood in my stool. In my case it's typically obvious when wiping. I'm glad you are feeling great other than that concern. And, it may be nothing to worry about but it's not worth taking a chance. I'm in week 4 post-surgery and my stool is yellow. (Gross, I know, but figured I'd share in case that color appears. lol)

I have a long "weigh" to go too. And that makes it easy to freeze up and let anxiety creep in. I tell myself to just keep moving along this path because it leads to my destination. I weigh myself weekly and put the scale away. I'd be tempted to weigh myself more if it were left out. You have lost a good deal of weight and you will lose more. Checking the scale multiple times a day is throwing off your game, right? You are in it to win it so each pound down is a point toward your victory and you can be the champion. Keep your head in the game and leave unnecessary stressors behind (like multiple daily weigh-ins). You will be victorious.

There should be a handbook at every surgeon's office that answers all of these questions! You are so thorough. My surgeon's office did give a handbook out following the consultation and it had acceptable post-surgery foods listed. About the liver, the pre-surgery diet is in place to shrink your liver. When people don't follow that diet, their livers do not shrink enough. I was worried about my liver being small enough but I asked my surgeon after and she said that mine was "very small." Funny the things that people can get hung up on. lol You've done a fabulous job coming up with important questions. I really can't think of something you should add. Sure hope your visit goes well.

How exciting! It really feels like an accomplishment when you've had you're consultation because it validates your wish to steer your life in a different direction. So, pat yourself on the back for taking this step. You deserve this and you've got this.

Congratulations on pulling through all the tests and evaluations. Everything you do brings you closer and closer to your goal. And you did a lot! Wishing you a smooth journey.

Soak up the joy and happiness you feel because you just accomplished something major - and it feels freakin' awesome! You go girl!

Hoping you come get your approval

Great news. I think your lucky streak will continue and you'll feel healthy as the weeks go by. Does your post-surgery experience make you question why you didn't do this sooner? I've wondered that about about myself.

Hi. I'm a fan of Premier Protein because it's packed with 30g protein in each 11 oz. box but I've only tried chocolate and vanilla. Costco currently is selling them for $5 off each box. There's a strawberries and cream flavor that has good reviews but I'm hesitant. Has anyone here tried it? If you have, what do you think of the flavor?