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Everything posted by New To This23
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Ibuprofen 1 Yr Post Op
New To This23 replied to ShianRaineDrop's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Definitely ask your surgeon. My book from the clinic says I can never have it again. I spoke with my surgeon and I told him I really only take it about 4 times a year and he said it would be fine for me to take it then, he told me if I was taking it every day or a few times a week then it would not be okay. So I think how often a person takes it is a factor. -
Fleur-de-lis/Panniculectomy & Pregnancy
New To This23 replied to Nyx's topic in Gastric Bypass Surgery Forums
I have a friend who got roux-en-y in our mid-20s. She lost a lot of weight, I have known her since childhood and she had always been heavy, gaining rapidly in high school. After high school, she had 1 child. She then married someone, got weight-loss surgery, got breast implants and a panniculectomy then proceeded to have a set of twins and two more kids. She managed to lose all of her pregnancy weight, by not gaining excess weight while pregnant and she did not re-stretch her skin. I think you should go for it. In my opinion, you should live in the present. Life has no guarantees, and you want to be comfortable and happy now. You may or may not have children in the future, but don't let the hope of something, hinder your happiness now. The best way to keep a handle on how much your skin might stretch during pregnancy is to monitor yourself, and not gain more than recommended. A couple of scenarios- 1. You meet someone, are not comfortable in your skin and let it hold you back. 2. You meet someone, have children, and are so busy with family life that getting the skin removal surgery is put off for several more years. 3. You have the surgery, you meet someone, have kids and your stomach does not stretch. 4. You have the surgery, meet someone, have kids, your stomach stretches just a little bit you decide it's no big deal or you just have another surgery. -
protein question after visiting non-bariatric dietician
New To This23 posted a topic in Pre-op Diets and Questions
tl;dr at the bottom I could use some advice. I went to see my dietician today (not a bariatric surgery dietician, I can explain why I am seeing her if you want to know). She knows I am going to have weight loss surgery as long as I hit the goal weight my insurance told me I need to be at. I have to be at the goal weight by June 24, 2023, in order for my insurance to pay for my surgery. I had a weigh in the doctor's office a couple of days ago and weighed 301, my scale at home said 302. However, on the same day, the scale at a friend's house said 313. I knew I had this Dietician appointment two days later and I knew she would weigh me. I continued to weigh myself at home (after getting new batteries) and I was at 302 then 299 and today at home I weighed 303, right before my appointment, when I got to her office I was weighed and it said 313. I am concerned about what to believe since the doctor's office and my scale show similar numbers. I also bought a new scale today and it said 313. The Dietician told me I needed to eat more protein, which honestly I struggle with. she said I needed 150 grams!! I said are you kidding? that seems like a lot. She used my weight to come up with this number. Should I really be trying to eat enough protein for a 300-lb person or should I be eating protein for a goal-weight person (mine is 170)? also, my clothing is loose like I lost the 20 lbs mine and the doctor's scale shows, and not 10 lbs like everyone else's scale shows. Also, I have always naturally been more muscular even when I was 120 lbs and did not eat any protein aside from what is in plants. tl:dr- should I be eating enough protein to support a 300lb person or should I be eating protein for a "normal" sized person? AND should I trust the Doctors scale more so than the Dietician's scale? -
Curious if others experienced sudden rapid weight gain when C-19 hit?
New To This23 replied to Debbie69's topic in Revision Weight Loss Surgery Forums (NEW!)
Did you by chance have a medication change like maybe got Nexplanon? -
Any luck with insurance coverage
New To This23 replied to Ruby22's topic in Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty Forum
From what I remember they cover all obesity-related surgeries, but I do not remember ESG being on the list specifically. I also think that members in Virginia had fewer hoops to jump through than members in DC and Marylin. This is from the CareFirst site. Blue Distinction® Specialty Care The hospital you select can have a direct impact on the care you receive and your procedure results, but finding the right facility can sometimes be a challenge. The Blue Distinction Specialty Care recognition program identifies health care facilities with proven expertise in delivering specialty care. There are two designations: Blue Distinction Centers - Health care facilities recognized for expertise in delivering specialty care. Blue Distinction Centers+ - Health care facilities recognized for expertise and cost efficiency in delivering specialty care. Blue Distinction focuses on high-volume, high-risk and high-cost areas of specialty care, including: Bariatric Surgery centers provide a full range of bariatric surgical care services, including inpatient care, post-operative care, follow-up and patient education. -
Does anyone have any recommendations for someone who really can't stand artificial sweeteners and Stevia?
New To This23 replied to curlygirl74's topic in Protein, Vitamins, and Supplements
I am not very picky, but I have ISOPURE unflavored protein powder. -
Does anyone have any recommendations for someone who really can't stand artificial sweeteners and Stevia?
New To This23 replied to curlygirl74's topic in Protein, Vitamins, and Supplements
Have you considered unflavored protein powder? You can add it to water or even sprinkle it on food or jello. Depending on what your dietician at the clinic where you have surgery says, you likely will be able to have a broth of some sort, since those are more savory that might be perfect for you and you could add unflavored protein powder to that as well just to boost the protein. -
Does anyone have any recommendations for someone who really can't stand artificial sweeteners and Stevia?
New To This23 replied to curlygirl74's topic in Protein, Vitamins, and Supplements
Have you considered unflavored protein powder? You can add it to water or even sprinkle it on food or jello. Depending on what your dietician at the clinic where you have surgery says, you likely will be able to have a broth of some sort, since those are more savory that might be perfect for you and you could add unflavored protein powder to that as well just to boost the protein. -
Sigh.....
New To This23 replied to SleeveToBypass2023's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Lipoma? When I read your story and now that I see the picture I was thinking possibly a lipoma. I remember an episode of Dr. Pimple Popper where a lady had lost a lot of weight, and she had this bump on her back, I think it was her upper back. She had gone to a GP who was no help, eventually, she made her way to the show, and Dr. Lee removed it. Her previous excess weight made the lipoma blend in , but as she lost more and more weight, it just stuck out more. Definitely get it checked out for peace of mind though. -
Hi, what are people doing with these syrups? just putting them in coffee? or are you making other drinks? if so what are some recipes you would be willing to share? TIA
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How did you lose the weight to get the surgery?
New To This23 replied to Theia103121's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Also the food choices I eat are nutrient-dense for example lunch or dinner is two slices of Daves Killer thin slice bread, toasted with hummus, sprouts, avocado, tomato and either 4 slices of turkey bacon or vegan bacon. I might eat rice with shrimp and asparagus, with strawberries. Breakfast is something like one thin slice of Dave's Killer bread, avocado, egg, and everything bagel seasoning. I found that I have a McDonald's egg McMuffin breakfast with coffee and no ham and it does not negatively affect my weight. I also on the advice of my bariatric nurse, who also had the surgery eat one big meal every once in a while, it helps me drop a couple of pounds by the next day. -
How did you lose the weight to get the surgery?
New To This23 replied to Theia103121's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
TL;DR - more cardio, no snacking, eat on schedule 3 times a day. I had to do this, I have not had my surgery, I am just waiting to be scheduled. The surgeon has gone over all my labs and tests and approved me for surgery. I had to lose 5% of my body weight and keep it off while I wait for everything. I struggled like no other to do this, which was wild because in the past, and as recently as the last fall I had dropped at least 30lbs super quick. Basically, I changed my eating, but this time I wanted to learn how to eat food without being on some kind of restriction, like no carbs, or low fat, no sweets ever, cabbage only, two shakes a day, and a sandwich for dinner, type thing. I knew I did not want to live the rest of my life after surgery struggling with continued "diets". I started seeing a nutritionist, who was not much help, but she did get me on scheduled eating, having a meal within one hour of waking and then eating every 4 hours for a total of 3 times a day. I was already drinking 96 oz of water a day, but I bumped it up to 150oz a day. I lost 10lbs in 2 weeks doing that. Then it stopped losing and I still had not met the 5% goal. So I added exercise, I started weightlifting and swimming, 1 hour of weights, 1-hour swim and my weight did not change. However, my clothes started getting loose, but I needed to meet that weight goal. So I stopped swimming and just focused on weights for 45 min and 20 minutes of walking. still my weight stalled, but my clothes got looser. I had a week before my final weigh-in and I stopped exercising, drank less water, took laxatives and water pills, and basically ate air. I made the weight goal. After that I was like okay what is going on? I started back with weights and eating my weight went up 5 lbs. Finally, I learned that I was more than likely gaining muscle ( I was getting stronger) The muscle gain weight-wise was canceling out the fat loss, so my weight remained the same but my clothing was loose. This is great, but not so much when you need to be at a certain number in a certain time frame. I switched things up to 30 minutes of elliptical x mode and 30 minutes of stationary bike, put 30 min. dumbells for arms and my weight started dropping again. I am currently 10lbs below the approval goal I needed to be at and I have kept it off during the 2 months the incompetent office lady lost my paperwork, I would have already had surgery two months ago if it wasn't for her. So I have lost 9% of my starting weight. After surgery, I plan on resuming weightlifting since muscle creates a metabolism change. -
From what I understand the main reason for the pre-op diet (aside from the 24 hours or night before surgery diet) is to shrink your liver, or rather to get rid of the fat around your liver to make it easier to operate. IDK if they showed you a diagram of what's going on inside of your abdomen, but your liver and any fat around it is basically in the way of where the surgeon needs to go. With that being said, based on your profile stats, I do not think sneaking the pickles or a "few" pretzels will make a difference. I think you will still lose enough around your liver with the calorie deficit. However, please be honest and aware with yourself, regarding how much you really are sneaking. Also, do not sneak food during the time right before surgery, your surgery could get canceled over that because you could aspirate on the food during surgery. Maybe see if you can find a more savory-flavored protein shake, I have a coffee-flavored one I enjoy. Also, call your team and get some clarification on the tomato soup and ask them for some suggestions, like can you have sugar-free jello. You may also try some chicken or beef broth, as those are not sweet at all and are relatively inexpensive. You got this, one day at a time.
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Hello! I'm New here!
New To This23 replied to AmberFL's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
If you are getting your surgery within the month I would think you had plenty of recovery time before Disney, otherwise, schedule the surgery after the trip. Generally, it is whatever diet plan you have to do pre-surgery (seems to vary based on BMI and surgeon) could be 3 days to 4 weeks of the pre-surgery diet. Then you have surgery, two weeks later they will do a wound check to see how you are healing. After that, you will have monthly check-ins that can be virtual (at least in my case) for the next six months, then you will have yearly check-ins. You may want to find out what kind of timeline the clinic you are going to has to determine if before or after Disney will work for you. -
Thanks to the LPN at the office, who lost my testing/lab results and took over 6 weeks to let me know, even though I called to verify they got the paperwork, every week for six weeks to no avail. I am finally getting ready to be scheduled for surgery. Annoyingly, I have to get one more weigh-in due to her mistake and I can't get in to get weighed until Monday, plus my period started 10 days early and my weight is up by 2 lbs. I have struggled with weight loss that is why I am here, but never in my life, have I struggled so much to lose 5% of my original weight, until I started the bariatric program. Maybe it's the stress affecting me more than I realize. These 2 period pounds are putting me above the goal weight, even though last week I was 10 lbs below the goal weight. Honestly, I am pissed at this nurse screwing my stuff up and not informing me when I called over and over again. She has single-handedly affected my finances, my school scheduling, and my struggle to stay positive with her incompetence, not to mention she is cutting it really close to my surgery being at a time when it will be a struggle to get to the clinic that is 3 hours away up a mountain (not a hill), and the roads get super icy and snow covered. That is what is on my mind!
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Any luck with insurance coverage
New To This23 replied to Ruby22's topic in Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty Forum
So I do not have that insurance, but what I could find was that they do cover a variety of options here is a link. https://secure.compliance360.com/Common/ViewUploadedFile.aspx?PD=PbRt%2bA78MS7DkR7t3eswzx4PmIfqMh5Gvr16ARj2%2bYR%2fbM3Br19IKOL7BmMQvCh%2bObdTwt55hbmBERTk8pGaqPegW8FFx95O2WGDad%2fP32wtK%2fLy3eAuPemfjKVE4PNzPcJl4Diuz13mj3pVztiXT1jOk1QXXnxshbN53Oyornctpycy8rUdp6PO01yKHuAyjToezDSmtv7QFcCDCBNlPkza0BIOxIDU2F3sAcfC9iWbTygtlPuPosN%2b0KsA3MMUlStY4KrcPnrna%2fEhFWHpkpUaKhgyCBBOFWIbN6dlv9A%3d -
Sent where largest incision is
New To This23 replied to LadyL18's topic in Revision Weight Loss Surgery Forums (NEW!)
If you mean the line where the red arrows I added to your image are pointing, then I think that is just a mark/pressure mark or line from a crease made when you are sitting and you get a belly roll. To me it looks totally fine, infection lines tend to run up going toward the heart. Is the large incision where the green arrows are pointing? If so when I zoomed in it looked healed and not infected, although I could be wrong. It looks like an atrophic scar. If it is healed and dented like that make sure to keep that dent clean and dry so as not to get an infection, however, if you get an infection from dampness, it would likely be a yeast infection and can be cured with some Monistat cream. Of course, if you get an infection please see your Doctor first. I used to work for a pharmacy and often insurance would not cover the Rx yeast infection cream, it was $$$ so we would have people just buy the Monistat with the tube of cream in it instead. Atrophic scars, stay indented, it will very likely be way less noticeable the more weight you lose. I know that sometimes people use filler to plump them up and some people get CO2 laser. Ultimately I think it would be wise to discuss your concerns with your Doctor or Surgeon team just to ease your mind. -
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From the album: LABS
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From the album: LABS
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From the album: LABS
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From the album: LABS
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From the album: LABS
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From the album: LABS
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From the album: LABS