lizonaplane

Your doctor should be able to prescribe something for the nausea. But often it will make you drowsy to check if it's safe to drive while taking it. So sorry you're dealing with this! My periods used to make me really sick, too! I will have to go off BC to have the surgery and I'm not looking forward to it. I hope you find something that helps!

Just curious, I'm wondering how much weight did you lose before surgery, and over what time period? So far I've lost 36 lbs over a little more than 4 months. Still don't have a surgery date!

This is the one I can't wait for!

I called the surgery center at the beginning of January and met with the surgeon in early February. I finished the four monthly stupid insurance required nutrition classes ("did you know french fries are unhealthy???") a few weeks ago and I still don't have a date for my surgery. All elective surgeries were on hold until April due to COVID so everyone whose surgery was cancelled or delayed has to be scheduled first. I had lost 39 lbs but then I got scared that my BMI would go too low if my surgery was going to be not for a few more months so when I visited my family I threw a few food funerals and gained 3 lbs and now I'm so angry at myself. I'm back on track now, but the weight isn't coming off. The surgery center isn't answering my questions at all at this point and I'm so frustrated. I know they're understaffed, and when the admin has called me back she's been so apologetic and so nice and helpful. I don't want to start over again, and everyone has been so nice and helpful at every interaction, it's just that I feel like I have so many unanswered questions and I want to just do this already!

therapy talking to friends. It sucks tho

It shouldn't be counted as part of your MINIMUM grams of protein because it is missing some amino acids that are essential for your body. That is why vegetarians need to be sure they are getting a variety of foods in combination to ensure their diet does not leave them lacking in essential amino acids. The 60 g that you need as a bare minimum to reduce the amount of muscle mass lost due to the rapid weight lost after surgery should be from complete protein sources. Anything above that, go ahead and use collagen if it floats your boat, but there's no evidence that it will help you. It's a fad. The collagen that you read about in your body can't be absorbed from food because when you ingest it, it's digested and broken down into separate amino acids.

I would talk to your surgery team. They may be able to prescribe something, although often anti-nausea meds make you sleepy so you wouldn't be able to drive. Just check in with them.

I'm sorry you're going through this. I will say, surgeons generally do not have great bedside manner. They have to be great technicians, and most of them don't know how to deal with patients when they are awake! I'm glad you're trying again. Keep at the diet, take some walks if you're able for mental health, talk to a therapist if that works for you, and focus on the goal. Good luck!

Try stretching

Human bodies are mysteries! Maybe the greasy food made you poop which can make you weigh less, or maybe you drank more and released more water, or maybe you were just "due" to lose some weight. I can say that weight loss is never a straight curve; it's a very bumpy staircase with lots of ups and downs - just make sure that the downs are more than the ups, and you can best do that by following your surgeon and dietition's plans most of the time. I have found that sometimes I need to eat a bit differently for a few days if I'm stalling (this is before surgery), either a bit more or a bit less, or do different exercises to get the scale to move if I'm in a stall.

It's awesome to lose more than 20 lbs in just over a month. Were you expecting to lose a pound a day??? That's crazy! You're doing great! Thanks for sharing your story.

That's so frustrating! Insurance in this country is such a nightmare, but I've heard that in other countries, WLS isn't often covered by national insurance at all. I don't have to have EGD, so I don't know if my insurance would cover it. So far, I've just had a lot of $50 copays for all the specialist visits (I have a lower deductible but it will only apply to the surgery itself. My plan is weird for the deductible.). I also have BCBS, but it's a PPO. Good luck with your surgery!

Welcome! Congrats on your weight loss so far. I can't answer if surgery is too painful because I haven't had surgery yet, but I know some people have more pain than other people. I've been preparing for surgery for five months and I'm ready for it to be "over" too! But it's never really over, it's a lifelong journey. I know what you mean; I'm ready for the surgery to be over - I'm so nervous about that part!

I'm sorry you're going through this. Stalls do happen and they can be very frustrating and disheartening. It's possible you're not getting enough liquids or enough protein. But you may be losing inches. Are you taking your measurements? You may be doing everything right and just be in a stall (gaining a pound could just be fluid retention or lack of a BM that day - not a true weight gain). If it keeps up for a while, reach out to your nutritionist and discuss. I would also keep a food log or track your calories and liquids on an app so you can discuss with your nutritionist. Good luck!

There might be a lower cost bariatric clinic near you, you could google it. But maybe someone else here knows and will respond. Also, you could try searching "Oregon" or "Portland" in the forums if you haven't done that yet.

I would ask your doctor for a recommendation. At least, that's what I did. And you may not have insurance to pay for it if your BMI is too low, but most places will let you pay out of pocket as long as your health doesn't make it a safety issue for you to have the surgery. I would try a major academic medical center, or at least find out if where you are going is bariatric center of excellence. Also, many people go to Mexico or Blossom (in Las Vegas) if cost is an issue.

What happens if you move out of the area where your surgery center is? I don't plan to move but if I had to move near to my parents to help take care of them as they age, it would require a flight to get back to my surgery center. Would a different bariatric center be able to provide follow up care?

I just ordered some quest chips. I hope I like them as much as cheetos. I've been eating small bags of cheetos as a cheat-o while preparing for surgery.

You should be able to get ADA accomodations to have food/drinks at your desk (at least drinks) because it's really important that you not get dehydrated and you will not be able to "chug" water/fluids after surgery so you will need to sip all the time.

I like to roast green beans or haricots verts with some olive oil, salt, pepper, and sometimes grated parm in a 425F oven for 10-12 minutes, turning once. I make about 12-16 oz of beans at once and it's like three servings, which reheat well in the microwave (I'm presurgery).

I bought the Banza and I was not a fan. I'm not a huge pasta fan anyway, but I found it totally mushy. Apparently you have to cook it 1/2 the time it says on the box, but I didn't know that. Why don't they just put the right time on the box??? it still has a lot of carbs anyway.

I was told I could have tuna fish with light miracle whip or light mayo, chicken breast with curry/mustard/light mayo or a little bit of sugar free bbq sauce, salad with dressings that were 50 calories or less per serving (I have to keep carbs to 50 grams/day or less). I plan to eat a lot of salads with chopped deli meat or tuna because after surgery it will be a while before I can eat salad again and I love salad. I like the bolthouse yogurt ranch and it's 45 calories for 2 tbsp (30g). It's the the refrigerator case in the produce section usually. I have to have light greek yogurt or a protein shake for breakfast.

Talk to your doctor to see what is safe for you based on any other medications/medical conditions.

I think some people go back to work after one week and are fine. I'm planning to take off two weeks, even though I work from home (I do travel sometimes and I won't be able to travel for a month due to lifting restrictions). I have heard a lot of people say they need naps during the day and some people are in a bit of a fog. I've never had surgery before and don't know how I'll react to the anesthesia. Plus, you will need to take a lot of breaks to drink and for the first two weeks you will probably just be on liquids, so depending on your work environment, that could be hard (nurses often have restrictions about carrying water with them I'm told).

I'm almost positive there is an non-extended release version of Adderall. It would just be Adderall, rather than Adderall XR. It would be the original form that would have to be taken multiple times a day rather than the "new and improved" once a day XR version.