kcuster83

Bitter sweet. I lost my wedding ring. Before surgery I had to take it off because it was so tight. Then about a month after was able to put it back on, a smidge tight but comfortable. Within a few months loose side of comfortable and before I new it too big. I noticed when I dried my hands it would slip off into the towel while drying (etc) Then, all of a sudden it was gone. I dug threw the trash piece by piece and searched the entire house! Next we are taking the bathroom drain apart to see if it fell in. It wasn't expensive, more of just a statement. It sucks and is bothering me!

I love this! Insurance companies will do anything to screw you over and not cover things. Sometimes you have to fight their battle to get what you want. My grandmother got breast cancer for a second time and insurance refused to cover reconstructive surgery because it was "plastics". She already had a single mastectomy and used a breast prosthesis. After her second WIN against breast cancer needed a second mastectomy and insurance would only cover another breast prosthesis!! Now imagine, what holds everything in place? There is LITERALLY NOTHING THERE to hold your "breast" in their natural position. They would just slide and twist all over your chest. She faught for MONTHS to get covered. She ended up winning, but no one should have to fight so hard for something that is necessary! We pay our insurance and they fight us every step of the way!

WOOHOO!

YES! Deli's, coffee shops (etc) put WAY too much cream cheese on bagels! I thought I was the only one that had this problem. haha I literally could make 3 bagels with all the cream cheese they use, I scrape most of it off. Even when I ask for light it is still way too much. I haven't had a bagel since surgery, now I want one. haha

I only worry about it with the multivitamin because I hear it makes a lot of people sick to take them on an empty stomach. (Even people who haven't had WLS) I have never risked it so I don't know if it would make me sick or not. However, I drink a shake every morning for breakfast so I just take them with the shake. Once in a while (usually a weekend) I eat an actual breakfast. So, about 10 min before I am going to eat I take the vitamins with just enough water to swallow them and then eat. This is a small enough time I don't think it would make you sick. But again, I never tried without food so I may just be one of those people that vitamins don't bother.

You're fine.

Don't fret. Everyone is different, you are starting with a lower BMI so naturally you are going to lose weight slower. Your calorie deficit is not as large as someone starting with a higher BMI, but as long as you have a calorie deficit you WILL lose weight. It just may not be at a speed that satisfies you. I also suggest giving the scale and break and taking some measurements and pictures for other comparisons. Do you track your food, log it? Sure you know exactly how many calories you are eating in a day? If not, start. Weight lifting is not the reason though, it is to gain muscle and tone, not to lose weight. Lastly, reach out to your team. Maybe try to get an apt with your Dietician? Go over your eating, calories, exercise, etc. You can do this! Good luck.

Ohhhh ok, well I suppose I learned something today. Thanks!

AH scary, glad you are ok. Since you now have a pre existing heart condition, your surgeon will have you get cardio clearance. I believe as long as your cardiologist clears you, you should be good to go.

Oh man, sorry for all of your hiccups! I am glad they are getting your fixed up and I hope you feel better soon. As far as the diarrhea, I had it bad for a week or so after surgery also. As soon as I drank or "ate" anything but water I would be in the bathroom within minutes. It did pass and now I am more regular than ever. I wish you the best!

Why would you have to go to the bathroom more than normal? Does your pre-op require a lot of water? More than you usually drink? I really can't imagine this being an issue, but I don't know the details of your diet and pre diet life.

Do nothing, it will pass and it will happen again. Just keep following your plan and chugging along and you will get past it.

We were told about 4 oz working up to 1 cup of food at about a year out. We should maintain the 1 cup for life. I am 8 months post op and it really depends what foods I am eating as to how much I can eat. Everything fills me up differently. I can't eat a cup of food yet though, I don't push myself either because I am satisfied.

I LOVE Torrid jeans, I will actually be sad to size out but still looking forward to it. I don't even know where to find good jeans. HAHA! I plan to go shopping with my cousin who has my style and smaller so she can guide me on where to find jeans equivalent to torrid!

That looks delish! Squash and zucchini are one of my favorites!

There is a forum for non scale victories and it is fun!

I built up taking bigger sips as I went to see how I did and what my limit was. For me, it only was uncomfortable for maybe 30 seconds so it wasn't a big deal if I went to far at first. Now, I don't think I have a limit. I can chug about 1/3 or more of a bottle of water at once although I do feel full for a few minutes after. But it passes within a few minutes. I was worried about having to sip my life away so I was super relieved to get back to normal drinking.

During post op, all liquids counted as liquid. So, even my protein shakes were also counted towards my fluids. I made sure everything I drank had protein except plain water. Once I went on to actual foods it got harder but I worked out a plan that worked for me, but it was non stop drinking and eating, at least it felt that way. haha I woke up, drank 8 oz milk (protein and fluids) then a bottle of water, then ate something, then a bottle of water, then ate something, then a protein drink (gatorade zero with protein was my go to) then another water. It is easier now, but at first it was a chore. I am still/always allowed to count my shakes towards my fluids but I don't anymore and still drink at least 80 oz a day and of usually just plain water. I LOVE and have always been a HUGE water drinker so it is easy for me. I can also drink "normal" now. Some people struggle so you just have to find what works for you. You got this!

Every team is different, your team may not have that rule. The big thing is caffeine slows down the healing process. So most teams just require you stay away from it for a little while, during your healing. Other people do have problems with it, so luckily you don't. My team required 30 days before and after surgery to be caffeine free. I was never a coffee drinker so no issue for me. I sometimes make an iced coffee with a protein drink for a change. I also used decaf coffee, so you could always do that too. So you still get your coffee without all the caffeine.

Hello I had the same type of concerns pre-op. I have ALWAYS drank tons while eating meals. Easily 20 oz or more every meal, so I had this same concern. During the pre-op process I decided to start this and see how it went. At first it was hard because naturally I would reach for the drink, even sometimes I felt like I needed the liquid to swallow. (It was weird) With some practice I was drink free at meals before surgery and just had to work on not drinking 30 min before and after the meals. Now 7 months post op, it is a non issue for me. I sometimes drink a little closer to meals than 30 minutes if I am not paying attention but after meals it is always 30 minutes or more. You would be surprised how easy it was to make the transition. Start now and right after surgery you are on all liquids so it makes it easier. The vitamins were never really a concern of mine because I took GERD and high BP meds every day anyway so in my mind I was expecting to get off of those meds after surgery and with weight loss so I was just swapping those for daily vitamins. In my mind nothing changed. I was off ALL meds by 2 months post-op and now just taking vitamins. 1 a day multi vitamin with iron, and 2 calcium a day so its not too bad. Some people take a ton of vitamins though. We were instructed to start with this and it may need to be adjusted depending on blood work results. So far so good for me, I get blood work again next month. Lastly, I put off my surgery for years. Two reasons, 1 was that I have lost over 100 lbs multiple times so I kept telling myself I could do it again. But, I could never keep it off so I decided that the surgery would (hopefully) be the key to keeping it off. 2 was that I was also afraid I would fail and just gain it back again. I still worry about this a little but then I take notice to how much my eating habits have changed (without effort most off the time) and that even on my WORST days I have never consumed more than 1600 calories. My daily calorie goal is to stay at about 1000 right now. Before surgery I could pack in 5000-6000 calories a day if I wanted. Still not saying it is impossible because it does happen but I believe if you make the changes and give them time to become habit you will be ok. I am sticking with this, I am still in the loosing phase so I really don't know what will happen but I have high hopes this time and have been thinking about it regularly. Whereas before surgery I was always just focused on loosing the weight and never thinking about keeping it off. Sorry for my super long post but I hope it helps ease your mind! Best of luck to you!

My wife also gets migraines from artificial sweeteners. It is always aspartame and Sucralose but she doesn't like the taste any of them. I don't prefer them either but they don't effect me physically. Good luck, I wish I had motivation to make my own shakes. haha

I believe they all have some type of artificial sweeteners. You might have to make your own with unflavored protein. Or, if you know exactly which sweetener gives you headaches, you could avoid that particular one. Good luck.

Some foods just don't agree with you at first. Eggs and beef are big ones that a lot of people struggle with. I wouldn't say this is dumping as it is VERY unlikely for sleeve patients anyway. I think your tummy just didn't like the egg. unfortunately it is just trial and error until you figure it out. Try again in a few weeks or month. I hope you feel better soon!

I was allowed as long as it was caffeine, calorie and sugar free. Anything under 5 calories per serving was considered to be "calorie free".

Eh no fun! There is a place by me that has fantastic truffle fries, I haven't had them since surgery but they were quite tasty. They used the truffle quite well.