kcuster83

I was given one in the hospital but it was more annoying than helpful so I never used it.

Click on your profile (name) at the top of the page, click "my surgery" in the drop down menu. On the left side of the screen, click "my progress" and update accordingly. Save.

So, I always use "cross body" purses because when I put them on my shoulder they always slide off and it annoys me. If I am only going from the car to the house sometimes I may just hold it or put it on my shoulder, I don't know why? Quicker? haha Anyway, the other day I put my purse on my shoulder and walked to my house and noticed it never slid off. Didn't think anything of it, then did it again yesterday and again, it didn't slide off. WHAT? Did it slide off because I was fat? Is that really a thing? Does it stay now because my shoulders are thinner? Is it coincidence? Is this a NSV? I don't even know, but I will take it and I am adding it to my NSC bank. haha This is not the first thing that changed and I had no idea it was the way it was because of my weight? For example, moving my seat forward. Even being 400+lbs my belly never touched the steering wheel. I am 6ft tall. I assumed my seat was moved back because of my height, but as I lost weight I noticed I needed to move my seat forward. I guess less back/butt fat allows me to sit further back in the seat which makes me further away from the steering wheel. Scooting forward on the couch before getting up, like to the edge and then standing up. I just always did it, never realized it was because I was fat but just thought it was normal. Never paid attention if anyone else got up like that. But, like a week ago I noticed that I just got up. From my normal sitting position, did not scoot to the edge of the couch first. Then, i noticed it and was like UHHH what just happened. It was not intentional it just happened and surprised me. So then i started paying attention if my thinner friends got up the same way and they do. So, another "I didn't know it was because I was fat" NSV! It is so weird how we (or at least myself) has been so big for so long that things we think are completely normal are really just our normal and we didn't even realize it until suddenly they weren't OUR NORMAL! It is kinda cool; actually it is very cool!

Wow, you had a panniculetomy 5 months after surgery? GO YOU! That is a lot of major surgery in a short period of time. How are you feeling/doing? Hope everything went well and continues to go well for you! Congratulations on your success!

5 months post op: No one has really ever say anything about how little I eat. Maybe because I have only really sat down at the table for a "real" meal with people who know I had surgery. As far as cookouts and group settings, etc. You kind of just eat randomly and maybe stand around or sit where ever with your plate so no one is really paying attention. I haven't had any Holidays yet, we have a huge family Christmas eve dinner every year and only 1 person in my family knows I had surgery. So, I do wonder how that will go. My entire family is obese, and everything revolves around food. But, I have lost 100+ lbs multiple times, so I think it will be easy to shrug off as "just be trying to loose weight again". The flip side, I will likely be pretty close to my goal weight by then. (I hope anyway) So at that point, they will probably be more focused on how much weight I have loss and I can easily explain eating less in result of a strict diet for so long. When I went out for surgery, I told work I was having a haital hernia fixed (which was true and mine was very bad). So I was on a strict diet for that with liquids and graduating back thru stages to normal foods. I kinda played it as well since I couldn't eat for a month it kick started my weight loss so I am just sticking with it and following through to keep loosing weight. So, they just think I am on a diet. They also know I have lost 100+ lbs in the past, so just stated trying to do it again and keep it off this time. As far as restaurants, I never had a server as if everything was ok. My wife and I share a meal a lot, so most of it gets eaten anyway. And so many people are obsessed with these "fad" diets, that I don't think most people even blink an eye anymore to strange requests. Like "no bun" or "no sauce" etc. I went to a sub shop because I was dying for my favorite turkey sub. I said "I am sorry to be so weird but can you dig most of the bread out of the roll before making it" She replied, that's not weird at all tons of people ask us to do that. Then I even took the bottom of the roll off and cut the top in half and added the meat and toppings to the half of a hollow roll to fit my needs. PS, still couldn't eat more than a few bites of the bread but it DEFINITELY satisfied my sub craving. I am allowed all foods, while focusing on proteins first. I eat very balanced, so I don't need to make many requests or have much of a different plate than everyone else. I just have smaller portions and/or eat less of the food on my plate and make the healthier of choices in front of me. Sorry for the long winded response!

No body odor that I ever noticed but my breath was gross for a few weeks/month after surgery. Also, I think (still think) my pee smells like protein powder. lol I don't use protein powder but I drink a premade shake every morning and the smell is still the same. Very particular.

Stalls are normal. My teams warned us about them and stressed not to panic. I think everyone has their own preference on who often they weigh themselves. There is no right or wrong answer here, just whatever works for you. I weigh myself every Monday morning, basically in the same clothes. Tshirt, bra, underwear and flip flops. My surgery was on a Monday morning, so that is why I choose that day. I do sometimes weigh myself randomly during the week but only document my Monday morning weight.

Looks like you figured it out. haha

I completely understand this. Sometimes I look in the mirror and still look so fat and other times I am like damn I'm getting small. It is so weird. I still pick up my smaller pants and think how do these fit my big ass. haha When I order a piece of clothing and it comes it. When I open it and hold it up I ALWAYS say to myself, there is no way this is fitting me... it does. 124 LBS and I still struggle to see it on some days!

haha I didn't even try the baby food. My Aunt loved baby food. She didn't have WLS, just liked to eat it. She bought it regularly. I pretty much survived on refried beans, pureed chicken salad and egg salad, taco meat and soups. I also tried to make the ricotta bake but wasn't a big fan, which surprised me because I love lasagna. Some people eat cheese, but per my plan I had to wait to have cheese at the "soft food" stage.

I would assume it is something related to your recent surgery but I am not doctor. Call your doctor/surgeon.

Good luck!

Apparently it is common, I didn't experience it though.

Hello and congratulations on your date! Do lots of reading on these Forums, you will likely get most of your questions answers. Of course, write a list of questions to ask your surgeon the next time you seem him/her. Or, just ask away. I am sure someone can provide the answers.

I drank the Gatorade zero protein drinks after surgery but they tasted so sweet. I drank 1 a day just to hit my goals and haven't had them since I have been able to eat normal. The blue was the least sweet and my favorite. I never even tried any other ones, just the 1 Isopure and the Gatorades.

I tried the red (forget flavor) of the premixed Isopure and it was horrible. Everyone loves them, but I couldn't stand it. They are crazy expensive too. Glad I only bought 1 to try since it went in the trash. I don't need them now, I have no problem hitting my protein goals but in the beginning I was always looking for new drinks and/or ways to hit my protein.

Every little success is still an success, be proud!

I had an array of sizes from years of loss and gains. Ranging from 4x-1x and 28-18. I only bought very few things so far. I bought a few shirts just because they were cute and I could. I also bought 1 nice out fit for when I needed to dress up. (Which is now too big so I need another dressier outfit) I am in my smallest jeans that I have on hand now, and still have shirts that will last through a bit more weight loss. I try to only buy a few things because I know they won't fit very long. The problem I have now is that I am going to Florida in October and ALL of my summer clothes (other than some t shirts) are already on the looser side so I know they will be too big by October. I am kind of stressed out about it because things fit me way different now and I HAVE to try things on, so finding summer clothes in Sept./October is going to be impossible in stores. It is going to be a cycle of Amazon order and return, order and return until I find a few things that fit correctly for vacation. Including a bathing suit as my current one is already too big. When I hit my goal I plan on a mega shopping spree. hehe

Hello, I understand keeping it to yourself. I kept my surgery to myself also. Very few people know. I had to have 2 dietician apts, 1 psych eval, 7 educational classes, barium swallow xray, an upper GI endoscopy, a letter from my PCP explaining why I "needed" surgery and normal preop (basically a physical with bloodwork). Everything took about 6 months from my initial consult apt with the surgeon and my surgery day.

I have seen a few people on here that have had the scans done. I don't really remember who though, you may be able to search it?

Sounds like you need a new PCP. Why can't you change? I have never heard of not being able to switch doctors.

I don't think the requirement of the PCP is unreasonable. However, they should have been up front about the requirements from the beginning. You could already had this taken care of rather then telling you at the last minute. You obviously discussed it with them, as they referred you so I think it was "dickish" to not disclose the requirements upfront as well. Good luck.

Hmm, the decision is solely yours and your wife's. I am also in my 30's with no kids and we are financially very comfortable but I feel like the reason why is because we don't spend 18K when we don't NEED to. Get my point? The point of the insurance requirements are to get you focused, prepared and starting the process of your new life long requirements. If you start to make the changes that will be required after surgery, you will not spiral while you wait. You will however get more prepared and ready for your new life. I had a 6 month process that was "fast tracked" and surgery at 4 months. With that being said, I learned a lot about what to expect. I already knew how to eat healthy and how to read nutrition labels etc. (Which both were part of my classes) But what I found most knowledgeable was what to expect after surgery. I have heard stories from people I know who went through WLS but I found a lot of their information was false or they just didn't understand what they were actually being told. Two other people I know had the exact same surgeon at the same bariatric center and have the same support team through the center. (Including the same Dietician) yet both of them had different understanding of things. The best thing I could have done was take those classes myself and get the answers directly from the providers themselves. It is like in Elementary school when we all sat in a circle and the teacher whispered a statement in the first kids ear and by the time it was whispered 13 times, at the end it was completely different. I also have lost and gained over 100 lbs 4 (i think) times before having surgery. Worked with a trainer, bought exercise equipment...etc. I still lost 40 lbs in the pre-op process just by making VERY TINY changes that they suggested starting with. ok ok, I said a lot and probably boring you now. My opinion from a financial standpoint and from a learning/preparation standpoint would be to go through insurance. But really, you just have to make this decision yourself.

I was given shots in the hospital and then nothing once I was home. Maybe it depends on your risk factors?

Welcome and you have a great attitude! That always helps. Good luck on your journey!