Born in Missouri

@likehasjustbegun If you like cauliflower, I think it's more important for you to have it, particularly since you are craving it. Why deprive yourself of something that is healthy? The important thing is that you are eating it according to your stage (pureed). I believe that your dietitian's recommendation is based on the idea that some people have a problem with cruciferous vegetables so they make a blanket recommendation to avoid all vegetables in this family (cabbage, collard greens, kale, Brussels sprouts, kohlrabi, broccoli, and cauliflower). \ I am post-op. I barely get 250 calories a day, very little protein, fluid intake way below optimal. I think it's great that you are doing so well. If after trying cauliflower and only if it is uncomfortable to eat, would I eliminate it from my diet.

No matter what part of the body is undergoing surgery, the process of healing is the same. Surgically “traumatized tissue” (skin, muscle, bones, cartilage, tendons, etc.) does not just magically heal; rather, the body has to rebuild and repair tissue on the cellular level. This involves energy and nutritional building blocks to support the healing process. Healing efforts surround the rebuilding of collagen, the main component in many tissues — such as skin, muscle, blood vessels, and bone. Improperly-formed collagen is associated with healing disturbances. Healing occurs in three overlapping phases. Most of one's healing occurs in the first few weeks. Inflammatory phase (up to 5 days): The body’s first response to injury involves forming a localized blood clot to stop bleeding. Infection-fighting cells (neutrophils) and debris cleaning cells (macrophages) are recruited to the traumatized area. Proliferative phase (2 days - 3 weeks): The body starts building tissue with specialized collagen-forming cells called fibroblasts. This new tissue is called granulation tissue and special growth factors to stimulate skin formation (epithelialization). Remodeling phase (3 weeks - years): The body transforms and replaces the collagen that was placed during the proliferative phase into a stronger collagen to support structure and function over the long term. It is a good idea to be as healthy as possible and nutritionally balanced before surgery to support healing. Certain vitamins and minerals are known to support the normal response to healing, and to support the normal immune system response to infection. Vitamin C: Necessary to build and rebuild collagen throughout the body. Vitamin C is also a powerful antioxidant that supports the immune response. Vitamin A: Supports immune system functioning and aids collagen strength. Also required for bone development. Zinc: An essential trace mineral used in enzymatic reactions involved in tissue and wound healing, regeneration, and repair. Vitamin K: Aids the natural blood clotting response and is important for bone health. B-Vitamins: Cellular metabolism, tissue repair and immune support. Vitamin D and Calcium: Important for bone health. Magnesium: Mineral involved in approximately 300 biochemical reactions. Amino Acids (L-Arginine, L-Glutamine): Two key amino acids for wound repair and immune function. Dietary Supplements to avoid before surgery: Vitamin E and surgery do not mix because Vitamin E is associated with increased bleeding, and this can lead to a collection of blood (called a hematoma) that could result in serious complications. The Vitamin E applied to scars is different from the Vitamin E taken orally. Vitamin E for the skin is okay. Herbal supplements, in general, should be avoided before surgery because they can cause bleeding or other operative complications. Some herbal supplements to avoid: Ginko Biloba, Garlic, Ginseng, Ginger, Dong Quai, Ephedra, Feverfew, St. John’s Wort and/or Omega 3 fatty acids. http://www.surgerysupplements.com/pre-operative-supplements-recommended-supplements-before-surgery/

@gully90 From your photo, it's evident that some of the most beautiful women still come from Texas!

@James Marusek Weather history, pattern mathematics, why cats naturally like to be petted, the log cabin playhouse for your grandkids, how pneumonia was the real killer during the 1918-19 flu pandemic, etc. So much to enjoy on your site. I was able to relate to your battles with your insurance carrier. In all fairness, though, I eventually received help from someone from our university system (of Missouri) who was able to jump over various gatekeepers and talk directly to the higher-ups and resolve everything in a day. Also and, of course, thank you for your service.

I wonder if strength training on my upper body or the lower body while seated is something I can do. I just need to avoid weight-bearing pressure on my right ankle. Did you mention that you have a physical therapy background once?

@Roxine. You didn't scare me... and like you said, it's only temporary. I've been taking collagen peptides (for skin, hair, nail, and joint support) for about a couple of weeks. It might help; it might not. My guess is that I'm a good deal older than you, so I'm used to my body heading South. I looked up Viviscal... I wonder what horsetail extract does? I'll ask my daughter about it; she's a pharmacist. Just curious, but did you grow up sitting on your hair? I did. Super long, super thick and straight. I've worn it shoulder length for several years now. I've never had it any shorter. I'm happy for you regarding all the weight you've lost. Your remaining weight is the about the same as the weight I've lost so far. Since my pregnancies already scared the becheezits outta me when my hair was falling out in handfuls, I'm sort of prepared. I hope it doesn't happen, but I think I'll do okay. Also, and due to my thyroid, I have very little body hair. Never have to shave my legs. No hair! If you decide to get a wig, let me know. If you get one, are you planning to go drastically different or more or less the same as your hair now?

I wasn't specific enough in my previous post. MarinaGirl is correct about taking iron and calcium at separate times. Here's information from one of the handouts from my surgeon's office: Gastric bypass patients need to take more vitamins than lap band patients or vertical sleeve gastrectomy patients because, in addition to only being able to eat a limited amount of food, part of their small intestines have been bypassed. People absorb most vitamins and minerals in our small intestines and with part of them bypassed, they end up absorbing fewer nutrients from the food they eat and the supplements they take. The vitamins you need may vary based on your individual needs and the results of your blood tests, but here's what the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) recommends you should start with: *An adult multivitamin, containing 100% of the recommended daily allowances (RDA) of at least 2/3 of all nutrients, including 18mg iron and minerals like zinc, copper, and selenium, twice daily. *1500mg to 2000mg calcium citrate (not calcium carbonate or tricalcium phosphate) divided into three to four doses of about 500mg each, taken at least two hours apart. RNY patients don't have enough stomach acid to break down calcium carbonate or tricalcium phosphate for absorption. That means supplements like Viactiv, Tums, Caltrate, and Citracal gummies aren't good choices. *An additional 18mg to 27mg iron for menstruating women *350mcg to 500mcg sublingual B12 daily or 1000mcg B12 injections once a month *B-50 complex is optional Note that the ASMBS recommends an adult multivitamin. While some surgeons and dieticians recommend children's chewable vitamins to patients, these are usually missing some key nutrients that gastric bypass patients need. Read the label of any multivitamin you are considering carefully and make sure it has 100% of the RDA of most ingredients and that it has minerals like copper, zinc, and selenium. ---- I take a multivitamin, calcium citrate, magnesium citrate, iron, Vit D-2 (doctor's prescription), and sublingual B12.

One of the concerns with any multivitamin is whether it contains all the vitamins and minerals that a bariatric patient can absorb. If the calcium in the multivitamin is calcium carbonate, it's not bioavailable (easy absorbed) for you because of the changes to your body. You need calcium citrate. The type of iron is also important. Some forms of iron are no longer bioavailable for you. B12 is also a problem. It has to be sublingual (dissolves "under the tongue") or you need to take injections from your doctor. Also, does the multivitamin contain certain micronutrients such as zinc, copper, and selenium? NEVER, ever, ever, ever use a GUMMY vitamin. They are a waste of your money because they are the worst at bioavailability. Write to me privately if you have any more questions.

@AELdoesRNY Good to know. How are you feeling? Pain? Appetite? Welcome to the other side!

@KimTriesRNY. Have you ever gotten lost? I think the topic triggered something in me. I don't usually veer off course like this. I knew kingcake was referring to acute pain, but it was too late. Triggers happen. Sorry if I hijacked your thread, kingcake, with my nonsensical ramblings. I was no help to you at all. I'd delete my post if I could. Perhaps I should take a break from this forum and regroup. I've really been feeling down lately.

Nausea and vomiting are common complaints after RYGB surgery. These signs and symptoms are generally seen because of anastomotic stricture but could also be seen due to gastric bezoars. If not treated, gastric bezoars could worsen and also may lead to life-threatening complications like intestinal perforations. Always contact your bariatric team if you have concerns about anything. You know your body, but let your doctor know if certain symptoms, such as nausea and vomiting, persist. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4855426/ https://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/418490-nausea-and-vomiting-could-be-bezoars/

I'm not sure what happened. I double-posted, tried to change the second post to something else and my real link (below) disappeared. Here's the link that was meant to accompany the message above, Sosewsue61. Sorry for the dead end.

Good to know, Chrisb428.

Fat-shaming and opioid-shaming have a lot in common. With fat shaming, people imply that somehow you're not trying hard enough to lose weight, or that you're "taking the easy way out" by getting weight-loss surgery... Opioid-shaming isn't much different. "I have pain and I don't have to take those drugs." or "Aren't you afraid of becoming addicted to pain-killers?" I've stopped explaining. It's futile. People assume that my pain is their pain. They're convinced that because they have a "high tolerance" for pain, no pain could conceivably be bad enough to touch them. After all, people who take opiates for pain must have no willpower or they're "just taking the easy way out". Chronic pain is not acute pain. Both can be severe, but generally, acute pain has a beginning and an end. Not so with chronic way. It lives with you. It sleeps with you. It gives you the finger all day long. No one on this thread said anything that I would consider offensive. That's not why I'm on this rant. Sometimes you just have to vent. Triggers happen. It doesn't help that I'm also in a semi-fragile state from recently having bypass surgery. I used to feel the same way as most other people seem to feel about opioid pain-killers. Heck, I remember when I refused to take even aspirin. Fortunately, chronic pain wasn't a part of my life for most of my life, including during my four pregnancies or while lactating. I'm thankful for that at least. Yes, I take opiates. And not just any old opiate. I take morphine. About 350mg per day. I also take oxycodone for breakthrough pain. If you don't know what breakthrough pain is, that's the pain that the morphine can't control. Some days, even my breakthrough pain medication doesn't help. And those are my good days. (Sarcasm). This is why I dread places like the ER. I'm a woman. I'm fat, and I take opiates, which translates into: "An attention-seeking, drug-seeking hypochondriac who needs to lose weight." (Some of you may have heard me say this.) My rant isn't actually over, but I am. I haven't slept (once again) and it's almost 4:50 am. Tomorrow I hope to consume more than 250 calories, try to drink at least half of what I need, and get in at least 20-30g of protein!

@jess9395. Haha. I don't remember what happened at the three-week mark. This is week nine for me. I've noticed no change for the last five days, but I hesitate to call even five days a stall. The way I see it, a true stall requires that after a bowel movement, you still weigh the same.

I actually remember losing more hair during my four pregnancies. I have noticed a little hair loss since surgery, but not much. I have good hair. Good genes, I guess. I'm in my 50s and still no gray hair. I've never colored my hair either. I pretty much ignore it. Just cheap shampoo when it needs it. My hair has always been the same dark brown with reddish-gold highlights. My great-grandmother was in her 80s and she had no gray either. My mother has some gray hair. My younger sister and daughter have some gray, too.

My first car was a 1974 Chevrolet Nova. According to Wikipedia that makes it third generation. My Nova was green. Not sure, based on the color guides, whether it was medium green or light green. Anyway, I called it my Green Machine. (I wish I could have claimed that it was metallic mint-green paint like in My Cousin Vinny... but it was just boring green. ) (An urban legend claims that the Chevy Nova sold poorly in Spanish-speaking countries because its name, spaced no va, literally translates to "it doesn't go". This has since been debunked.) I later got rid of my Nova (which I regret because it ran great) and got a ... wait for it ... wait a little longer ... an 80s Escort, which as you so eloquently and accurately referred to it as a POS. It konked out on the side of the interstate once, where I had to abandon it for a while, and when I returned... a semi... I kid you not ... flattened it. Boy, was I upset. I had two baskets of clean laundry in the backseat! That's all for now. I don't know the first thing about fixing cars, so my comment is pretty worthless, I guess. The other cars we've had, car that have taken my oldest two sons through medical school and beyond are Toyota Camrys and Honda Accords. Like Timex watches... they take a licking and keep on ticking. One of the Toyotas has over 300,000 miles on it.

This sounds nice and all, but just wait until you hit your first stall... or you've been doing everything right but you're not losing as quickly as someone else... or everyone else. Example: I had my surgery on June 13, 2018. My buddy @AlteredReality had her surgery on June 24, 2018. So far, and even though I had my surgery several days before AlteredReality did, she's lost 77lbs while I've lost 44lbs. Do I feel like pulling my hair out (I don't need to--- it's already falling out, but I digress...)? Actually, I don't, but it won't help your morale to compare your weight loss with others. There are numerous factors involved in losing weight, even after your surgery. Maybe you're losing faster, and your other FitBit buddies aren't. Or maybe it's the other way around. Maybe you're a competitive person. I don't know. There's a ticker available on this forum that you can use. You can still compare your losses with others, just not directly. True, there won't be all the same bells and whistles but it gets the job done. Losing weight is hard enough as it is, even under the best of circumstances (ie. weight loss surgery), so why turn it into a competition? If you're the only one in the race, you will always be the winner!

@nevertoolate . Head on over to Matt Z's Confessionals. HELL accepts check, cash or debit card. Now you won't feel so bad if you decide to cheat. (By the way, if a little espresso is the worst you can do in terms of cheating, you're in good shape.)

Wow. That's pretty unusual for your incisions to become infected. And two of them?! Good thing you didn't ignore them. What did the doctor say? Or did he just write a prescription and didn't say much?

I know someone who uses Italian in a do-it-yourself packet with rice vinegar. I'm not sure how friendly vinegar of any kind is to a recent post-op. Most of your stats are missing, so I don't know when you had your surgery.

I tend to think the same way. Just make sure any meat is soft to begin with. Boiled or baked. Keep your bites ridiculously small. Then get chewin'. (I'd be hesitant to do the same with beef. Chicken and fish are easier for your pouch to handle.)

Get your knee checked out. Don't think twice. I have a chronic ankle injury that I walked around on for over a year before getting treatment. It's affected my life horribly. For ten plus years. I've lost my mobility. I have to take morphine for the pain. It's not worth risking. If you qualify for WLS it can wait until your knee heals, if your doctor thinks you need to wait for it to heal. Do you think it's a serious injury? You didn't describe your injury except to mention that it was your knee. An insurance company can't "cancel" your WLS for the reason you mentioned. That's a doctor's call. If your bariatric surgeon or your orthopedic surgeon thinks it's okay for you to proceed, then that's enough. What kind of insurance do you have? An H.M.O.? You seem to assign your insurance company a lot more power than they actually have. I've had two full knee replacements pre-surgery. I had my gallbladder removed pre-surgery. My insurance company had no say in whether those conditions precluded me from having my weight-loss surgery. Kindly describe your situation a bit more. (And, yes, I kinda think you're overthinking this. We all overthink things at times. )

Misconception: Most people who have metabolic and bariatric surgery regain their weight. Misconception: The chance of dying from metabolic and bariatric surgery is more than the chance of dying from obesity. Misconception: Surgery is a ‘cop-out’. To lose and maintain weight, individuals affected by severe obesity just need to go on a diet and exercise program. Misconception: Many bariatric patients become alcoholics after their surgery. Misconception: Surgery increases the risk for suicide. Misconception: Bariatric patients have serious health problems caused by vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Misconception: Obesity is only an addiction, similar to alcoholism or drug dependence. Find the TRUTH to these misconceptions here: https://asmbs.org/patients/bariatric-surgery-misconceptions