ShoppGirl

As mentioned above straining real soup opens up to more flavors. Try getting soup from restaurants and straining them. Just be sure to use a very fine strainer and get all the chunks out. They will have sooooo much more flavor than basic broth. They have panara soups at Walmart by the deli and they have a Walmart brand that isn’t bad as well.

Have you tried the clear protein drinks. I found them to be a little less sweet. They haze them in so many brands. I did the premiere protein ones from Amazon. But since you are pressed for time I would try convenience stores and pick up a few to try.

Every doctor is different and sometimes it varies from patient to patient as well. I would count yourself lucky like others have said. The pre op liquid diet is not fun. If your doctor doesn’t think you need it though you should be fine.

I know exactly how you feel. I had surgery March 9 of 2021 and I am sure I have something going on with my hormones too as I stopped losing and started gaining. I have an appointment with the endocrinologist December 6th and can’t wait to figure out what is going on and hope there is something they can do. I have seen people with PCOS really struggle and it seems so unfair. Try to celebrate what you have lost though and that you have kept it off. Every little bit makes you that much healthier. Keep talking to your doctors. There are medications and stuff you can try that may give you the extra edge you need. I know how discouraging it can be to compare yourself to others who are doing better but try to just look at where you were pre surgery and don’t give up.

Okay so one year I made oatmeal chocolate chip cookies at cookie day and when I suggested making the healthier cookies this year (sugar free choc chip made with almond flour) they reminded me how much everyone liked the others and it was a very hard sell. Apparently I am making those at cookie day. I am just going to bring myself a nice grilled chicken salad for lunch and some healthy sweet snacks for anyone interested (I’m sure just me cause they are all naturally tiny even if they eat terrible so I’m sure I wouldn’t eat fruit over cookies either, lol) and I will take a few cookies home to give or throw away. I even bought a cute little cookie box so the few I take look nice and I don’t have to waste a lot.

Yea I think I may end up doing that. I did it on thanksgiving. I wanted a slice of apple pie but couldn’t find just one slice so I had to buy a whole pie. I ate one slice and tossed the rest. I felt a little bad being wasteful but no one else likes it and I knew if I had it here even until Monday (when my husband could bring it to work) there was a chance I would break down and eat more and I didn’t want to. I don’t like to waste like that and I don’t make a habit of it but sometimes you have to and I try not to feel bad.

So I’ve been having back pain since last week- sciatica I think. I went to urgent care and they gave me injections which did nothing but it’s been a week so it is starting to heal on its own. Yesterday was my annual physical so I figured I would go ahead and ask about it. I asked what I am supposed to do next time this happens in terms of pain management since tylenol doesn’t do anything for me and the first day or two it’s pretty painful. He started acting all weird immediately. Avoiding the Pain medicine part completely. He did an exam, wrote a script for lidocaine patches, a referral for physical therapy and an order for an X-ray. I said nothing gonna show up on an X-ray is it? He said no you probably need an MRI but we have to do this first cause of insurance. But The whole time he just kept saying okay okay okay with one foot already out the door and never would talk about pain rx. I said I understand there are risks of addiction and transfer addiction and all that but there has to be a responsible way to treat my pain, right? I wasn’t looking for anything then, just the reassurance that if I do need it that my doctor will help me. Again, he just avoided the issue entirely. Frustrated, I took my stack of referrals to the front desk and she said he wanted to see me back. I asked if I could see a different doctor next time because I don’t feel like this doctor really listens to me. She said she would have to call me to set that up. When I got to the parking lot I called my surgeons office. I asked the nurse do I need to just see a pain management doctor or something? She said that the pain management doctor would probably ask for an MRI too and it wouldn’t hurt to find out if it’s something chronic since if it is pain medication long term can’t be the answer anyways. That made sense so I went and got the X ray. When I called to ask about my appointment she said that the other doctor refuses to see me. I said I was confused and asked why she wouldn’t answer and gave me the number for the office manager. This morning I finally got through to him and he says he has to call the dr and see what’s going on. in the meantime my X-ray results had come back and the nurse called me. Basically said one thing was from normal aging and another thing was cause my back was in spasm when they took the film. I said maybe cause I was in pain lying on that table she said most likely. Then I said well what is the next step. She was going back and forth with him and he said physical therapy. I said well yesterday you said I needed MRI and maybe surgery or ablation. He says no you don’t need that yet you need to do physical therapy. I said well the radiologist report says they recommend it too. He basically says well I’m the doctor. I just keep thinking that if I have a MRI in another week or two, this episode will be healed and nothing will show and I will just be wasting tons of money. Frustrated again I said okay thanks and got off the phone. I’m guessing he is ticked off cause I want to see a different doctor and I have no clue what he told the other doctor to make them not want to see me but The only thing I can think of is that he got the impression I was just trying to abuse drugs?? Or am I crazy. That’s the only thing that makes sense right? I mean we also talked about my cholesterol and I asked about my hormones so he ordered a lab and referred me to an endocrinologist but that can’t be it. I thought they can check under your social and make sure you’re not doing anything wrong. If they did they would see pain meds one time in like the past five years. Post surgery and I didn’t even need them. I am so confused and frustrated. I feel like now I am stuck in limbo. I tried calling a new dr and they are sending paperwork but can’t see me till December. My back is gonna be fine soon I’m sure. This time. But I need to have a doctor if this happens again or if something else happens. And I sorta want another opinion as to whether I really do need an MRI. I mean of course I don’t want to throw away money if I don’t need it but he said yesterday I needed it and then the radiologist said same thing. I don’t even know what anyone can say about this mess. I just needed to vent I guess. I am mostly just really really afraid that I am going to be in severe pain and end up in the ER cause no one else will help me. That’s gonna get really expensive really quick. Especially if this is a chronic issue. I actually called my old doctor just now and they are gonna get me in Tuesday. Now I am just worried about how to explain why I am switching doctors without them assuming the same thing about me. This is a nightmare.

Has anyone tried these? They look promising calorie wise but I’m curious if they are any good and how long they keep since I have only found them in bulk size near me.

Omg and I think I have it hard just dealing with temptation when I go out with friends and family. I can’t imagine dealing with this in my own house everyday. Do NOT let her win. Every pound you lose In spite or her trying to sabotage you is a little victory over her. And every argument you and your husband do not have is another one. She clearly thrives on causing drama and if you refuse to give it to her she probably still won’t change but it will steel all her thunder at least. I have a family member who is mentally ill and refuses to get help and she likes to create drama too. I had to practically cut her out of my life and keep her at a distance because I struggle with my own mental health issues that I do try to get help with but, if you are strong enough you can have her around and let her THiNK she doesn’t phase you. She surely will get to you at least from time to time but try to hide it if you and your husband do argue agree to do it outside of the house where she can’t see it and she will try even harder for a short while to create issues but ideally it will lose its novelty if she see that you are losing weight as you want to and your husband and you are a united front. No matter what do not let her sabotage this for you. You deserve this.

Okay I have been gaining weight post sleeve so I asked my family dr about my hormones. He ordered some thyroid labs but says he also wants me to come get my blood sugar checked two hours after a big meal. He also said that my psyc meds can cause diabetes and I should be doing this test every 4-6 months as long as I’m on them. i thought he was suggesting this as a possibility for why I’m gaining weight but when I got home and googled it I see that weight loss is actually a symptom so I am confused. I drink about a gallon a day so I guess I may check the excessive thirst box and of course I pee a lot with all that water. Also, did tell him that I always feel hungry but I’m gaining not losing. Am I misunderstanding. I know nothing about diabetes.

You will have a gown on when you fall asleep and when you wake up. Then someone will prepare you for the surgery and as mentioned they cover you except for the area they are going to be operating on. in terms of your period I have heard quite a few women who have it on surgery day. I have heard of sterile panties worn with a pad that they give you.

So glad to hear that things are looking up for you. Hang in there just a little while longer and you will feel like a new person. Keep us posted.

I’m gonna guess It’s probably just your body getting used to the changes but if you actually feel dizzy or woozy I would check In with your team to make sure everything is okay. Low BP seems to be a common thing talked about on here but I would definitely want to be checked out by a doctor to make sure that it’s not too low.

Many people have a hard time with red meat for a while. I agree with the suggestions to try some other forms of meat first and try again in a little while. Some people get lucky with what they can tolorate right away but others tummies are just a bit fussier for whatever reason.

The difference between three and six months may seem like a lot but during that time you will be taking in a lot of information. Honestly in retrospect it wasn’t that long to wait. I know it seems like an eternity when your ready to go but I think you will realize it kinda flies by.

PCOS if I had that that would be picked up during routine Pap smears though, right?

Well I got my thyroid labs back and only one of them was slightly elevated. I think it was the T4 (I was driving and didn’t write it down) but the family dr said since all the other thyroid tests were normal he is inclined to think it’s a fluke and my issues must be with my meds. I asked the nurse if I should keep my appointment with the endocrinologist and she said she would. She said there are more tests that they can run and she was another example of someone who’s labs kept coming back normal for years and finally she has a diagnosis from the endo that explains it (she didn’t say what). My appointment is December 6. Wish me luck.

You may want to be fitted and find at least one to have on hand if your weight has settled cause the price of bras has gone WAY up but if you can get them during a sale it will be far more reasonable. Victoria Secret has their sale twice a year I believe and if you are a larger cup size, lane Bryant has smaller and larger band sizes and they have different sales but every few months they have a good one. If you wait for an event you likely will end up paying twice the price for it. Not sure what your budget is like but it’s just food for thought.

EasyLunchboxes® - Bento Snack Boxes - Reusable 4-Compartment Food Containers for School, Work and Travel, Set of 4, Brights https://a.co/d/ee3KPOJ these are really good for making lunchables.

Glad to hear everything is going well. Fingers crossed that pesky stall breaks really soon for you.

For the road trip maybe consider investing in one of those coolers that plugs into the car or wall. You will have more room because you don’t need ice and you won’t have to deal with it. Just be sure to shut it off overnight because it can drain your car battery (been there). Or better yet you can take it into the room and plug in there. They aren’t super cheap but they are handy to have on hand for future road trips if you do them often. Also consider shipping things like protein shakes and bars ahead to your destinations in places you will not have access to them. You can ship directly to most places from Amazon or Walmart, etc and have them waiting for you when you arrive.

I agree with seeking guidance from your team. They are the only ones who know the whole picture. Best of luck.

I haven’t heard much about the minimizer ring but I really hope this is the answer for you. Keep us posted on your progress.

Thanks!!

Wow. I get lost in all the details of all that. I am thankful that it’s not something I urgently need to totally understand. Thank you for all your responses though. I am at least starting to get it thanks to you.