kcuster83

Look up Bariatric surgeons in your area and make some calls. Once you find some who will help you, then you can decide which is the best fit for you. Good luck.

YAY!! You have done so much self care and preparation for this you will NAIL IT! I look forward to seeing your progress! Best of luck, wishing you a fast safe recovery!

As far as the kid, there is such a fine line. You want to teach them how to eat healthy but without giving them a complex or making them feel bad about themselves. Otherwise, you could create an eating disorder on the other side of the spectrum. (Anorexia, etc) My SIL struggles with weight and when her daughter got chubby, made a big deal and was worried about her dealing with what she had dealt with through her life. But IMO opinion did it in a bad way. She's 16 now, healthy and happy but the risk was there. The other part (and forgive me if I sound rude) but not your kid not your problem. Just love your niece for who she is and when she is with you, offer up healthier options and do activities to stray away from boredom eating. If she asks you questions in regard to your weigh loss or whatever you can then just explain how you eat and explain healthier choices. Side note: I never say anything to people but sometimes it makes me sick to see how much people eat. I was one of those people so it even makes me disgusted with myself too. I don't judge (although that sounded horribly judgy) and never comment, some of these people aren't even overweight in the least so eat what you want and live your life. I guess it gives me flash backs or maybe minor PTSD. haha Everyone is allowed to eat what and how they want and they have to deal with the results, regardless of what they are.

At my initial appointment with the surgeon I was 100% sleeve ready. We discussed my health, history, medications and personal goals. During which my severe GERD obviously came up. I was on 2 prescriptions and still always had TUMS on had. It was miserable and NOT controlled by the meds. This was a big concern for him (my surgeon) as sleeve patients already have a higher risk of developing GERD or is worsening. There was NO way I could deal with it getting worse. Honestly, I don't even know how it could. I was up a night vomiting fire, so bad my voice would be hoarse for the next few days. With that and the amount of weight I am aiming to loose he highly recommended bypass. I was scared, (to me) this was much more of a surgery. More risks, the whole vitamin thing.. etc. He said it was totally my choice, he would do either surgery but that was his recommendation. He provided some additional information and told me to think about it and next time we talk I could let him know. I read, and read, and read everything. Weighing the pros and cons. I decided that the GERD part alone was enough to make me move forward with bypass. Right away I stopped 1 of my GERD meds, I had to stay on the other one as directed by the surgeon to help heal and reduce the risk of ulcers. No issues with stopping 1 and didn't need TUMS. One the surgeon allowed me to stop the second medication (2 months post-op) I did. And still ALL GOOD! I am off all medications and have had NO sign of any acid reflux related problems! NO REGRETS! I don't know how to get you into the mindset, do research. Looking forward to the relief of GERD alone would get me there.

Hello, I am 7 months post-op bypass. Really, everyone is different so I can only share my experience. Dumping is common in about 30% of bypass patients. There is risk of becoming lactose intolerant which is the most common intolerance. I tolerate everything, or at least I haven't had anything that I don't tolerate. I had a few hiccups very early out, for example I couldn't eat cold chicken (I think it was too dry) but I do now without issue. Otherwise I haven't ran into anything that I don't tolerate and LUCKILY I am just fine with all kinds of dairy. I was worried about that one because I just love all the dairy products. My team/ Dietician is very "balanced diet" they do not restrict any foods once you get back to your normal diet phase of the process. They stress that the point of the surgery is that you can learn to eat a well balanced diet so you do not "feel like you are on a diet forever". I love this strategy because I am and always have been against all the fad diets. Our bodies really do need everything, just at different levels. (I'm ranting, back to the point) Therefore we are allowed all foods, with the priority of proteins FIRST and then if we have room in out bellies and our plan for the day can go on to others. I eat carbs, fat, sugar..etc. Not in excess and in moderation and after or once I know for sure I will hit my protein goal. Some carbs like breads fill me up super fast so I limit them just because of that. I have had regular pasta, brown and white rice, breads, crackers all of which are fine but I have a little at a time. Again, mainly for filling up reasons. I eat regular sugar sweets without issue. Although, little bits at a time and not often so I may just not have hit my "maxed to the point of dumping yet" or I just may not be a dumper. I really don't know for sure and I don't intend to push myself to the point of trying to dump to find out. haha I do pay attention to the sugars so if I do dump I know at what point pushed me there. So far I have had a max of 15g ADDED sugars at a time. I do not have any issues with dumping from fats either. Or, again maybe just haven't hit the dumping point yet. I have had fried chicken breast once but pulled the skin off. I have had chicken tenders too with the breading. Maybe a few fries (5-6). I usually only eat these things in a pinch, usually out just because they are always so high in calories. I might be a special case, I have has a seamless recovery and transition back to "normal" eating. I am so grateful for that! Eating too much will kick my a*s but I learned from that quick and it only happened 2 times. Gas...yea... it sucks. I definitely have more gas. haha I do notice if I eat those "bad" foods as mentioned above that i have more gas. I hope I answered all your questions and this helped. Good luck on whatever you decide!

Yes, vane or not this is one of my favorite NSV's!

I would reach out to your surgeon, just to be safe. When I was much bigger, my belly button would almost get what seemed like a yeast infection. Not to the point of medical attention or meds. But it would get red an irritated and have like a discharge or something. That is the best I can explain it. I would make sure it was extra dry after showers and lay while basically holding it open and allow it to completely air dry and it would go away in a day or 2.

My fitness pal adjusts automatically but I don't know about fitbit.

I love this so much! Everything about it. Everyone deserves decency regardless of size, shape, age or color of your skin. Society as a whole has turned to a complete **** show and has made people (mostly women) feel as they need to be 5'2" and 100lbs with big boobs to be worth some sort of respect. I totally understand about being tall and broad, as I am 6ft tall and also very broad. It always messed with me regardless of weight. I have the shoulder span of a giant and don't get why. haha It actually came up in conversation the other day that myself, my wife and 2 of our close friends all weigh within 5 lbs of each other and the physical appearance differs as if there was 50 lbs difference. It is crazy. I actually plan to get a picture of all 4 of us together and make a post about it. People look different, regardless of weight. Who are you to judge or even care?!?! If it is not "your type" that is COMPLETELY ok but there is no reason to still not have respect and basic decency!

I just love this, good for you. You should be so proud of yourself for so many reasons. Hell, I don't even know you and I am so proud of you! Not only the change in diet, but most importantly the outlook on YOURSELF. Knowing you are worth everything is a huge accomplishment! Making the changes that you need to, to better yourself mentally AND physically is so hard. We all know that but you managed to do both in a short period of time! I could go on and on but I think you get the point. Again, GOOD FOR YOU AND KEEP UP THE HARD WORK! You are killing it!

I would reach out to your bariatric team, I would think they have someone they refer patients to. Once you have someone, you could do your own research and get a warm and fuzzy about the person before moving forward.

Sounds like a rough road, I hope you are doing well now. I am glad your doctor is helping.

THANKS!

ooo... I might just have to try these. I need to make an account to get the recipe though.

No supplement, pill or cream is going to cure your loose skin. It may help SLIGHTLY but it is inevitable. It solely depends on your body, age, how much weight you lose and how long you were overweight. For some people it is very minimal and others it is unbearable. I never heard anything about brushing the area, so I have no input there.

Same, I don't know anyone with extra (now, you) but I know a lot of people with less than 4. haha

Congratulations to you both!

Ehhh I don't remember mine being so traumatic! Maybe I just blocked it out too. haha

Agreed, that's my theory on all foods. If it is going to end up in the trash anyway then it doesn't hurt to try and freeze it. So I will freeze anything to try out. Sometimes we get some winners. haha

All good points. haha Maybe I could actually prepare the entire pizza with toppings and then cook it as a frozen pizza that you buy from the store.

The only thing I hate is that it only comes in 2 packs. I tend to waste the second crust because it gets moldy before I eat it. I might freeze it next time and test it out.

I think you have the right thing, it says original large but under it smaller says thin crust.

If you are still a patient at your WL clinic they may be able to refer you to someone they are familiar with.

Everyone else I have fed it to liked it. haha But yea, it is a 12in pizza so there will be a lot left unless you share it. haha I usually take it for lunch the next day too.

It is with the pizza sauce, I think in the spaghetti/tomato sauce section