Born in Missouri

The RN at my Bariatric Center stated that many times people seek revision after the sleeve due to GERD. This isn’t an issue for me. When both options (sleeve and bypass) were presented to me, and I was told that I could develop GERD even without a history of it if I had the sleeve, I was convinced that I wanted nothing to do with the sleeve. Taking vitamins is no hardship, but having to contend with something like GERD was a dealbreaker. And sleeve people have to take vitamins, too, so why not go with he bypass.

@James Marusek Have you conducted any experiments with essential oils that could possibly alter our skin's microbiota/odor signature? Since we have an estimated 1m bacteria per square cm of skin, often comprising hundreds of species, it would seem that there is too much variation from person to person. Still, it's fascinating to think about! I love science!!!

Hm. Maybe our odor signature changes after surgery. Interesting. Since it’s the bouquet of microbiota on our skin that seems to attract an egg-laying female, I wonder what changes about us post-surgery. Next time you’re out and about and in the company of mosquitoes, be sure to let us know if anything changes. You might be at the threshold of discovering something new and exciting about the blood-sucking behavior of mosquitoes… a discovery that could change the world as we know it!! Hey, it could happen. And why not to one of us on this forum?! ! ! A Scientist Explains Why Mosquitoes Bite Some People More Than Others https://www.sciencealert.com/why-mosquitoes-bite-some-people-more-than-others

I found it! This isn't the exact source I remember (I think it was a fashion documentary on Netflix), but this will have to do. Not a bad source either, I suppose. The only downside is that this is a very dated source. For many women, finding the perfect dress or outfit is only half the battle. Then, it must be altered. Women frequently have to pay for such services, though basic alterations have commonly been provided to men at no charge. Stores and tailors say altering women's garments is generally more complicated than it is for men's. But Saks Fifth Avenue has begun providing basic alterations to skirts and dresses at no charge as part of a settlement of a sex-discrimination suit brought by two California women. Saks no longer charges to hem unlined and unpleated skirts, shorten or lengthen sleeves, take in or let out center and side seams in unlined garments and add shoulder pads to dresses. Previously, each of these services cost $12 to $18. https://www.nytimes.com/1989/10/01/style/fashion-in-fitting-room-a-little-more-equality.html

Like J San, I'm willing to give you the benefit of the doubt. Either you're feeling desperately low or your account has been hijacked. What's going on? Do you need to vent? We're here! We're here! Bariatric Evangelists aren't supposed to treat Newbies like this, enjoyinglife. Pick on someone your own size, assuming you are enjoyinglife.

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So, I'm confused, if men are forced to pay more for 2 categories of dress, and only 1 for women, how is this statement from your title accurate? "but almost exclusively on women's clothing, not men's" Plus-sized Men also have the added "benefit" of having to pay extra for suits, that pretty much always have to be tailored to fit, another fun additional cost, just to have something they can wear to work. I'm not sure where I heard it, and I may be mistaken, but I thought men received altering services for free in most places (where they bought their suit), but women were nearly always expected to pay for the same services. Shoes aren't priced according to size, are they? There's a big difference in a woman's 5 and 11, no? A lot more leather, more bling, more everything.

Don't have a driving, fishing or hunting license currently. In many states, fishing and hunting licenses are free for seniors (65+). There are exemptions for certain fish/game, but free is free.

So, I'm confused, if men are forced to pay more for 2 categories of dress, and only 1 for women, how is this statement from your title accurate? My title reflects the news articles I found. I didn't create the news, I just shared it. And when have titles ever represented the content of an article accurately? Titles like this are created to draw readers in. To titillate and confuse, to poke and pester... No reason to blame the messenger. I have no interest in misrepresenting a title to draw readers in here. What's the prize?

Men don't have much variety in terms of clothing anyway: pants/shorts, shirts... what else is there? Women have skirts, dresses, pants, blouses, shirts (in a multitude of styles). I'm not disagreeing that men also pay more... but, in general, they are excepted to pay for TALL and BIG. Tall women aren't penalized, mostly just plus-sized women.

Yes, but this store is by no means the only store. There are plenty of stores in the U.S. that quietly but deliberately fat-tax plus-size women. I linked to this example because it was the most publicized (and one of the more egregious) examples. Also, this forum is a global community (I've seen members from the UK, Australia, Canada and elsewhere), so it shouldn't really matter if it is a UK store; we're all in the same fat-shaming, fat-taxed boat.

The suggestion of self-sabotage doesn't make sense for me when considering one weight-loss surgery over another. Real self-sabotage is doing nothing, taking no steps toward reclaiming one's life via the tools of WLS. I often wonder why some people have opted into a revision (from sleeve to bypass). Did they make a mistake in choosing the sleeve in the first place? I have no regrets in selecting the bypass. None. I think I'd be upset if I'd had ended up with the sleeve, though.

I have Hashimoto's thyroiditis* It's hereditary, going back to my great-great grandmother and many other close female relatives. Yes, biotin will absolutely mess with your doctor's tests. Don't take it! BEWARE OF BIOTIN: biotin can skew test results to be either falsely high or falsely low. https://endocrinenews.endocrine.org/january-2016-thyroid-month-beware-of-biotin/ My body is still compensating (churning out some thyroid hormone), so my endocrinologist doesn't want me to take levothyroxine yet. *Actually, it's not entirely accurate to refer to Hashimoto's as hypothyroidism since in its early stages and sometimes later you can teeter between hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. Of course, since the body is destroying one's thyroid, one will ultimately and exclusively exhibit symptoms of hypothyroidism, but that's down the road for some (including me).

There is probably nothing you need to do, Jingle123423. However, they are less likely to use you now that you are in their "old" range. Who "woulda thunk" that 45 is old? That being said, if you are the only possible match for someone, how could they deny them the prospect of having a matching donor? If you have a number to call or an email for the registry, contact them and ask them a few questions about your donation and if your status has changed. Thank you for signing up. I have a special blood status, which would include my bone marrow, but I'm probably too old for them now. Barely a senior citizen, but no longer in their optimal range.

Most of the bariatric literature on thiamine deficiency surrounds gastric bypass, but it seems sleeve gastrectomy is not immune to this problem despite that, theoretically, sleeve gastrectomy experiences fewer malabsorption issues. https://www.soard.org/article/S1550-7289(18)30222-3/fulltext Nutritional deficiencies are a recognized complication of bariatric surgery. Thiamine deficiency has been reported as a possible consequence of both restrictive and malabsorptive bariatric procedures. Most of the reported cases occurred after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery; fewer were described after biliopancreatic diversion, vertical banded gastroplasty, or duodenal switch. Adults who have a high carbohydrate intake derived mainly from refined sugars and milled rice are at greater risk of developing thiamine deficiency because thiamine is absent from fats, oils, and refined sugars. https://www.soard.org/article/S1550-7289(05)00726-4/fulltext Thiamine was the first vitamin B to be discovered. It is absorbed in the proximal jejunum and is mainly stored in muscle as thiamine pyrophosphate. It has a biological half-life of 9-18 days. Patients who experience persistent vomiting after bariatric surgery are at risk of developing thiamine deficiency. Mild deficiency should be suspected if patients complain of apathy, anorexia, restlessness and generalized weakness. Prolonged deficiency leads to beriberi and/or Wernicke’s encephalopathy. The most common presenting symptom of thiamine deficiency is a pins-and-needles feeling in one’s extremities despite normal vitamin B12 and folate. The average time from surgery to onset of thiamine deficiency symptoms was 9 months. Persistent vomiting, alcoholism, and non-compliance with vitamins are all contributing factors to thiamine-B1 deficiency. Treatment for those suspected of thiamine-B1 deficiency: 50-100mg of thiamine twice daily. https://www.soard.org/article/S1550-7289(11)00050-5/fulltext

Please keep us informed, 2shea . I had never heard of this procedure until today (which is why I posted information about it. Not that my lack of knowledge about something is postworthy in itself. )

As surgical wounds are healing, there are often some distinct changes that occur to the skin both around and near the wound. A few things that one can expect – and things to watch out for: https://advancedtissue.com/2013/12/3-ways-know-difference-healing-infected-surgical-wounds/ A study was conducted that looked at patient incision care and other discharge concerns. The study found that knowledge of incision care and amount of information received about incision care were rated low. The five most frequently mentioned postdischarge concerns included bowel trouble at home, wound pain at home, looking for wound complications, watching for wound infection, and activity limitations. (This study is 12 years old. Hopefully, knowledge of incision and discharge care has improved drastically.) https://www.o-wm.com/content/bariatric-surgery-patient-incision-care-and-discharge-concerns

Why does my wound itch? The skin contains specialized nerve fibers that detect when the dermis is being irritated and send signals to the spinal cord, communicating that there is an itch. This is known as "mechanical stress". Wound healing also elicits mechanical stress that activates itching. As it heals, the cells around the wound proliferate, which means the margins around the wound grow and migrate inwards toward the base. In fact, the cells follow an electrical pathway at a voltage that is different than the margin so they can tell where the base is. The cells then unite at the center, attach together and contract to pull the wound shut. This process creates a mechanical stress that activates the itch nerves and tells the spinal cord to scratch. The dangers of scratching Scratching a wound that is trying to heal can cause damage to the new tissue that has grown to replace and repair the damaged tissue. If this happens, it can slow the healing process, which leaves your body susceptible to wound infection longer and can result in excessive scarring. Additionally, it can cause potentially harmful bacteria on the hands to transfer to the wound, again putting you at a higher risk of developing an infection. To find out more, including tips to reduce itching: https://advancedtissue.com/2014/10/understanding-wound-healing-itching-dilemma/

Yes, I was Elmered. (You know what I mean.)

“How would your life be different if…You stopped making negative judgmental assumptions about people you encounter? Let today be the day…You look for the good in everyone you meet and respect their journey.” ―Steve Maraboli . “If someone isn't what others want them to be, the others become angry. Everyone seems to have a clear idea of how other people should lead their lives, but none about his or her own.” ―Paulo Coelho . “As long as we continue to live as if we are what we do, what we have, and what other people think about us, we will remain filled with judgments, opinions, evaluations, and condemnations. We will remain addicted to putting people and things in their "right" place.” ―Henri J.M. Nouwen

“Stepping onto a brand-new path is difficult, but not more difficult than remaining in a situation, which is not nurturing to the whole woman.” ―Maya Angelou . “It’s only after you’ve stepped outside your comfort zone that you begin to change, grow, and transform.” ―Roy T. Bennett . “We are taught you must blame your father, your sisters, your brothers, the school, the teachers - but never blame yourself. It's never your fault. But it's always your fault, because if you wanted to change you're the one who has got to change.” ―Katharine Hepburn

“They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself.” ―Andy Warhol . “We can't be afraid of change. You may feel very secure in the pond that you are in, but if you never venture out of it, you will never know that there is such a thing as an ocean, a sea. Holding onto something that is good for you now, may be the very reason why you don't have something better.” ―C. Joybell C. . “The present changes the past. Looking back you do not find what you left behind.” ―Kiran Desai

“Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.” ― Rumi “You can't stop the future You can't rewind the past The only way to learn the secret ...is to press play.” ― Jay Asher “Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don't resist them; that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.” ―Lao Tzu . “If people refuse to look at you in a new light and they can only see you for what you were, only see you for the mistakes you've made, if they don't realize that you are not your mistakes, then they have to go.” ―Steve Maraboli

That pre-op diet ruined me from ever wanting to drink broth again. Are you allowed to have beef broth?