mamabear_2_2

Hi everyone, I'm 7 months out of RNY (Aug 23, 2021) and my weight loss has been great (down 82lbs). I have been struggling my entire life with anxiety and as I get healthier I have been more motivated to deal with my mental health issues as well. I had a conversation with my primary care dr. this morning and she is prescribing 25mg of Zoloft and talk therapy. My question is - have you been on or started Zoloft after RNY? My main concern is weight gain. I am soooo nervous about taking this medication and losing the results I have worked so hard for the last year. I'm also concerned about it slowing my weight loss. I am 100% going forward with the talk therapy and honestly feel I could use the help of a medication, but am so nervous about trying it and then gaining. Thanks all!

Yes! Same! I gained 10lbs from the gas/fluids, etc. What was nuts is that it literally all came off overnight between days 3 and 4 and now 7 days out I'm down 8lbs from my initial surgery weight. My body feels like some weird science experiment! How was your shift from liquid to puree/soft foods? I was also struck even a few days out that I desperately wanted some of the foods I shouldn't have. Around days 4/5 I was having some serious mental challenges with wanting to eat chips, pizza, cookies, etc. (of course I stuck to my good ole protein shakes!). I thought at least this early I would be somewhat disgusted by food given the state of my insides. Oddly, what has given me some reprieve is planning how amazing of a chef I am going to be once I can cook again by researching healthy recipes and watching videos on healthy cooking techniques, etc. I like feeling prepared for things, so maybe this is helping me mentally combat knowing what I no longer want to put in my body with feeling prepared to create dishes that will enable me to reach my goals. I don't know, but it's keeping me entertained at least! As for your sweet cravings, I've read that a lot of post-WLS folks like Torani or Skinny SF syrups and use them to spice up protein shakes, yogurt, etc. Perhaps if you went on a mission to find 3-5 recipes for the healthiest sweet recipes you can find it may help you face this head-on? Best wishes to you and congrats on your weight loss so far!

How is everyone doing? I am exactly one week post-op today and down 8lbs from surgery. The first few days were extremely rough, but about day 4 things started to improve. I’m still on full liquids and am looking forward to the purée stage. I have a follow-up appt on Wednesday to have my stitches removed. No issues getting fluids or protein in the last few days. I’ve never been much of a cook, but for some reason I’ve become obsessed with watching cooking videos and researching recipes. At a time when I physically cannot eat I’ve decided I want to learn to cook 🤪. Oddly enough, it’s not making me crave food - it’s somehow helping me cope. Anyone else have any odd revelations after their surgery?

I’m now 7 days post RNY and I am right there with you! Not having any issues getting my protein or fluids (thank goodness!), but the exhaustion is real! It catches me off guard - I’ll have been sitting for a while and feel really good to get up and go tidy something up, fold laundry, etc., and then bam! I’m done! I’m kind of a busy body and don’t really care for tv so this is tough. Hope you are feeling a little better today! This time last week I was in the recovery room at the hospital and I can’t believe how much difference a week makes! Best wishes!

Thank you so much! Your words brought me so much comfort! And, you are right - this first week is rough, but definitely seeing the small improvements each day. Best wishes to you! I'm rooting for you, too! I hope your first month is going really well! 🙂

So glad to hear all my August surgery peeps are doing well! I go in tomorrow morning at 5:30AM and am finding myself in my emotions today. Tons of worries and just the emotional toll of knowing I need to go to this extreme to lose weight. I keep telling myself my last 10-15 years have proven I need a tool to help me stay healthy and I know it's the right thing. It's like this unexpected last minute wave of shame and guilt. I hate the thought of putting anyone out and my husband will be bearing the brunt of this with extra childcare, chores, errands, etc. I thought I could get through this without a therapist, but I am seeing now how that will be a helpful resource. I can only imagine the emotions that will come with this lifestyle change and the changes my body will be going through. Trying to breathe, stay focused and look to the future today. Thanks for listening! I am so excited to continue to hear about all of your journeys! Best wishes to you all! ❤️

Congratulations on your 71lb loss! That is amazing!!! I'm with you - I can gain or lose 50lbs and still be in nearly the same size. Granted, 50lbs smaller and the size I am currently in is a bit looser and when I was at the top of that weight range it was a squeeze. But, still! Very frustrating for sure. I think this is where counting those inches like you are doing really pays off. I read a thread on here the other day about this topic and it seemed that once folks get into the lower of their weight range goals 10lbs or so seems to equal a size. My surgery is in five days (fingers crossed!) and I have been thinking a lot about this, too, and how I can keep myself motivated because I know my sizes won't drop quickly in the beginning.

All of this! The part about making dr appts really resonated with me. I’ve caught myself so many times avoiding the dr when I know I should go because of past experiences of not being taken seriously, having everything blamed on my weight, snide comments from drs, etc.

Hooray we’re surgery twins! 😀 when do you start your Pre-op diet?

So many! My surgery is in about two weeks and I feel like I need to make a formal list to help get me through any potential rough spots. Here’s what I got so far: - be able to play tennis with my son - be able to get off the floor without feeling like I’m going throw every bone and muscle in my body into spasms lol - fitting comfortably into an airplane seat and not having the person next to me wince as they see me coming - being able to fit comfortably into amusement park rides - no longer worrying if a chair will support me - more mental bandwidth to think of things other than food and my weight (hopefully!) - shopping in the normal section - feeling more attractive to my husband and enjoying our time together more - being excited for vacations vs slightly dreading them because of how uncomfortable I feel about myself and avoiding photos, etc - feeling confident going anywhere and not constantly worrying about running into someone I haven’t seen in a while

Congratulations on your success and for all of those sweet NSVs! You look amazing - and more importantly - it sounds like you FEEL amazing!

Hello friends! 😀 I will be having surgery (RNY) in about a month and am picking up a few odds and ends beforehand. One thing that came to mind based on some posts I've read is a medical alert bracelet. I travel for work at least once a quarter and will be traveling around 8 weeks post-op. I started to wonder if it maybe I should wear a medical alert bracelet in case some kind of emergency happened and I wasn't with someone who knew about my surgery (only three humans + my medical team know at this point). The downside of course is wearing any kind of medical-related visual as I am a super private person. I did find some very cute and less traditional looking ones on Amazon. So - do you wear a medical alert bracelet or no? Not sure if it's really necessary, but was curious to ask this group your thoughts. The reason I am so curious is I recently read on a post about someone sadly losing a relative when they were intubated (*I think* ) and the EMTs somehow perforated this individuals stomach. 😥 I am not a medical professional and I could have this completely wrong! But, I am one of those people that is overly cautious about most things - so these types of stories always set off my danger alarm. Thanks all! 😀

Thank you for sharing what the docs have told you. So very helpful!

This is such a good point!

That is so frustrating! I hope they get your paperwork fixed soon! I hear you on the coffee, too! I start my pre-op diet on August 9th (trying to clean my diet up before that, too) and I have to eliminate coffee. That is going to be really tough! Does your clinic allow coffee once you are healed?

So excited to be joining you all! My surgery is scheduled for August 23rd. It’s been a long six month wait but now seems like it’ll be here any day!

Just got my date today! August 23rd!! So excited to be joining you all! How is everyone feeling??

I finally got my official approval yesterday! Woohooo! 😁 Now, just waiting on the scheduler to get me on the calendar! She did email me this morning and said she is currently booking into the week of Aug 23rd and she most likely won't call me until the end of the week or early next week. So, I'm going to assume my surgery will fall somewhere in the first two weeks of September. Now, question for all of you - I have a large conference that I may be asked to attend in Vegas Oct. 20-22. I live on the East Coast, so several hours of flying. If I have surgery in early Sept. do you all think I would be good to travel/fly mid-Oct? I'm not so much concerned with the flying part as I am the lifting a heavy suitcase/carrying a decent size bag around and all of the walking that will be a part of the conference (I usually log at least 3 miles a day at large conferences). I just mentioned to my manager yesterday I would be having a procedure most likely in Sept and there's a small chance I wouldn't be able to go. So, I can avoid it, but honestly I would like to go if possible. I have to sign up by next Friday. I haven't told anyone from work as I'm not close to anyone and we're all remote. Actually, only my husband knows and one friend! I'm a very private person. What do you all think? Any advice? I believe I will be on soft foods and possibly regular foods by then according to my surgeon's plan. Thanks!!!

Congrats on your surgery!!! How long did the process take from initial phone call to surgery? I have my last six month weight management program required visit Wednesday for insurance and I am trying to come up with a backup plan if they deny me for some dumb reason! Best wishes in your continued recovery!

Hello friends! I'm feeling a bit devastated this morning. I just went to my fifth of six required appointments for my insurance. I had gained four pounds 😭. I am two days from "that time of the month" and am SUPER bloated. I can go up 7-10lbs this week of the month easily due to bloat. My previous few appts had been phone visits, so this is my first recorded weight in the office since Feb. I asked the doctor if she thinks I will get denied by insurance. She said maybe. She said she does see them take into account the final weigh in and compare it to the first, but they could deny me for this one weigh-in. She did note that my weight on my scale at home was lower than theirs and I was bloated. She said she couldn't make any promises. Don't get me wrong, I do blame myself 100% for this. I am just frustrated because I have been making positive changes. I have been being careful about not overeating and choosing healthier foods, I walk 15-30 mins each day and have been tracking about half the time (I need to work on this). I've been cooking healthier dishes, swapped to a smaller plate and utensils, dropped almost all of the sugar out of my diet, but the scale just doesn't like to move for me unless I go to extreme measures. This has always been the case for me. I have been making food and non-food changes to set myself up for success - ex. - I recently changed jobs to take a less stressful position because I recognized my previous job was allowing no time to think/act on healthier changes (was working 60 r weeks). I am in the second week of this new job. So, I am just feeling incredibly disappointed in myself and really sad that all of this work the last five months may come down to these stupid four pounds. Again, I own it - I'm not blaming anyone but myself. This is just hard. And it SUCKS. So, I've cried my eyeballs out and now am trying to move forward and make this last month really count. I am determined to drop 10-15lbs before my next appt. Has anyone else gone through this? I have Premera BCBS through Amazon. I am in NC. If my end weight is lower than the first do you think I will get denied? Come hell or high water I WILL weigh less next month! Thanks for listening ❤️

Oh no! I’m sorry you’re going through this, too! Did your dr mention anything about the weight affecting your approval? Crossing my fingers and toes for you! Keep us updated!!!

I feel you! Jumping through hoops gets old!! Best of luck to you! June 4 will be here before you know it and then you’ll be off to the races! 😃😃😃

So glad things are going well for you! ❤️Please keep us updated! The details are incredibly helpful for those of us per-surgery! Take care!

I was trained as a bra and mastectomy patient fitter while I was in grad school. Please don't be shy or embarrassed! Fitters truly do see it all! It made my heart so happy each time I was able to help a woman, cancer patient or not, walk away with an undergarment (and/or prosthetic) that not only fit well but helped them feel better, too! Most fitters take a lot of pride in being of service and helping women feel great about themselves and know how important well-fitting undergarments can be! 😊

JaysWife - how did things turn out for you? I hope you were able to get your approval!