Shanna NYC

Congratulations on your success for starters! I would not say you are weird, the excess skin is a badge of honor and proof of your hard work. That being said I completely 100% understand feeling self conscious of it. I am not a fan of the stomach folds and flappy arms on myself either. However, once you meet the right person, they will look past that to the person that you are. Yes it will take effort and bravery on your part to put yourself out there, but you've been on this journey I'm sure to live your best healthier life to the fullest which includes companionship. Maybe also seek out some therapy or a bariatric support group that can help with your anxiety. You are not alone in your feelings. I know plastic surgery here in the US is quite expensive, but I definitely will be looking into it when i'm closer to goal. If that is something that is attainable for you, may be something you can work towards. But in the meantime try not to hold yourself back from enjoying this new lease on life.

Sometimes you have to ring some bells like HELLO, i need some aftercare and followup. Congrats you finally got your appt. and your A1C going down! I'm not sure about B12. Some labs calculate it differently as the high end of the normal range for mine is 1245. I'm sure if it's an issue it will be or should be addressed by your team. The Vitamin D for sure should be. I know for me it was getting to the higher side of normal and my dietician had me drop down from bariatric vitamin to a regular multi and cut back on my calcium chews which also contain lots of Vitamin D. Woohoo on the weightloss. And the hair loss will eventually slow down. Mine lasted from about month 3-6 at it's worst and has slowed considerably and now I'm only just slightly annoyed at all the short hairs from regrowth.

Honestly they had me taking tablet form Tylenol in the hospital. Just small sips and pace it one at a time. (a little hard in the beginning being a bit dehydrated and those uncoated tylenol don't quite go down the same). I did do the chewable multivitamin which i had to consume in 2 parts because it was large and not very pleasant tasting, but did ok with the omeprazole tabs, stolen softener gelcaps and allergy pill I was still taking. I could not wait for the 30 days to be up to take my multi in capsule form. I could always take slightly larger than tiny sips from the start and can drink almost, not quite, normally now a year + post-op. (large sips but not chug a whole bottle of water or anything). I do still take the calcium chews because the size of calcium pills and how many you'd have to take is just not worth it. Plus the chews taste like starburst so it's a treat a couple times a day.

Ah ok so yeah i see the difference in what you were initially intending to get across and my initial response. It is disappointing when your family is unsupportive and/or uncreative. Do they ever at least ask what you'd like to do? Do you have another support system around? They might just need a nudge. I typically spend my time with my friends over family, though my family is overall supportive, I am beyond the age of birthdays with them. Long before my surgery, my immediate family stopped with the typical cake celebration. Now it's usually a text or phone call and a card with some cash lol. I think in your case you'd have to guide your family to do something different if that's what you'd prefer. It's such an ingrained thing that celebrations equals food for a lot of us and they may need some help breaking that pattern at least every once in a while.

Congrats on your revision. I do agree that most big celebrations are centered around a dinner, drinks and dessert historically. I don't personally have too much issue with still involving food as I either split a meal or just take home leftovers for a meal or two. (my boyfriend is a fan of my small capacity as he just gets to eat more), but I understand separating that out at this time. I would say, depending on where you are/what you are into, there should be events/activities that don't center around food. Pottery or a painting class. An art show. Museums. The zoo or aquarium. A movie (and bring your own snack). Amusement park or local fair. An escape room (those are fun). A walking tour of some kind. I'm in NYC so there are so many varieties of things to do especially now that the weather is getting warmer. I also just like to have friends over and have a game night - board games or Jackbox game on the tv. Food may be optional, just not the focus and if it's at home you can control the healthy options you need to have on hand. What type of activities are you into? Hope this gives some spark of inspiration and happy early birthday.

So it's supposed to be at least 2 hours between iron and calcium and I think the same for calcium and calcium as your body can only absorb about 500 mg at a time. I take my multivitamin in the morning. Not quite first thing, as I take my probiotic/prebiotic first on an empty stomach, then usually have a proffee or reg coffee depending on the day. I am currently on 2 calcium chews a day, so I split that between midday and nighttime. I was first taking a bariatric multivitamin w/iron and 3 calcium chews a day. At my 8th month post-op checkup, my vitamin D levels were on the higher end of normal so my dietician wanted me to cut back. So I had to switch to a regular multivitamin (bariatric has 3000iu of Vit D) and cut back on the calcium chews since they also have about 800 iu each of vitamin d. Even though in my diet I get in quite a bit of calcium rich foods, I was advised to continue with the 2 chews a day as unfortunately a blood test doesn't give a clear picture of what is happening in the body calcium wise. If you are deficient in calcium, your body will pull it from your bones. The blood work will look good as it is getting calcium, but slowly your bones are getting weaker. It's usually not until it's too late that you may be aware with teeth, bone and other body issues.

No actually. I was in Puerto Vallarta and there was never actually any concern with the water at any location. A lot of places do have bottled options, but even a few spots w regular water just served at the table or ice in drinks were just fine. There were 7 of us all together, just myself with surgery, and we were all fine.

Welcome to the group and congrats on the upcoming surgery and all the pre-op success. I have not traveled to Peru, but I did go to Mexico about 9.5 months post op. Honestly it wasn't difficult at all. Typically by 8 weeks you should be healed on the inside and cleared for pretty much all movement. So by 6 months you'd be fine - generally speaking. I would say just packing all your vitamins and supplements is key of course. I also packed snacks mainly for the actual travel part - plane and car rides. I had jerky, cheese crisps, protein bars, portioned nuts and low carb chocolate. I had more than I really needed, but it definitely helped to have options. You could also consider protein powder or shakes in case. Also a reusable water bottle/cup comes in handy to ensure you stay hydrated. I stayed at an all inclusive resort and there were many healthy fresh options for all meals. The buffet breakfast had a ton of fresh fruit and veggies, a bunch of egg options - egg whites, hardboiled eggs, etc. and the meat protein options, yogurt and cheeses. There were various milks both dairy and non dairy options. Dinner menus had accommodations for different dietary needs. Off resort also wasn't difficult to navigate as there is a lot of protein and veg options. I found getting in movement was not difficult either. There was a gym, aerobic classes and water sports. But honestly walking around the resort, the pool, walking on the beach, the walking tours off resort - i never missed an exercise goal. The variables can happen depending on the area you are staying I'm sure, but I have friends who frequently travel to Peru to visit family and frequent many local cafes that have plentiful healthy options - healthier than you find in the states unless you grow it yourself since a majority is local and doesn't have to travel far at all. You will not likely be able to get exact specifics of macros if you like to track your food, but by 6 months you'll have an idea of estimated protein amounts and general portions for most foods you are likely to eat. As long as you stick with protein first, then veg and carbs last you should be good.

A good phlebotomist once said it's not about what you see, but what you feel. I don't have any medical issues that relate to vein issues, but many many times it was a hunt for a vein to have my blood drawn. I've been poked up to 3 times and have had to have blood taken from the top of my hands on several occasions and once from my wrist (do not recommend that one hurt like a /@%$*). On the day of surgery, the anesthesiologist also poked me 3 times before finally placing the IV and that was with the use of a sonogram thingy(?). I won't lie, that hurt like heck - one because i'm already not a fan of needles and two that one is larger than a standard blood draw needle. Thankfully that was honestly the worst part of my entire in hospital experience start to finish. I was also told that drinking plenty of water helps a lot to plump the veins and I have found that has worked. Obviously that won't always be fail proof when you are restricted from both eating and drinking several hours beforehand. Oh and nothing really changed for me from before or after major weight loss as far as visually finding veins. I've just been lucky the last few blood draws to have someone who knows how to feel around for a good one and only poke me one time.

Mine was just last year so I remember and have access to it on MyChart. They did CBC, Comprehensive Metabolic Panel, Vit D, A1C, Thyroid (TSH), Folate, and Ferritin. They pull all of those numbers as they need to be able to have comparative information to monitor after surgery and of course to address any issues prior to surgery. I just had my one year post op labs done this week and happy to know everything is on point.

Oh that is absolutely normal and actually still a great loss streak! The weight loss path is not a straight path down. It will slow and even stall as your body is adjusting. Weight training can add to it, but honestly your body will adjust throughout. And yes the smaller you get, the slower it gets. I lost about 30lbs in the first month and a half (including the pre-op diet) and yet it's taken me nearly 4 months to lose 12lbs. You are still early on since surgery and have done fantastic. We started about the same weight. We are in this for life so keep doing what you're doing and let everything else speak for itself - the way you feel, take pictures and measurements. The scale is just one factor.

I think a lot of us fall into numbers - we are bound to at least at some point. Unfortunately I don't ever think there is a doctor/scientific answer to really calculate it. It's almost the same as why we all have so many different programs - not only our bodies are different, but every doctor has a different take in their "expert opinion". I just had my 1 year post-op visit on Monday, and my surgeon definitely counts my weight loss total from the date I had my consult visit January 2023. I have always kept 2 running totals from before my pre-op diet to the day of surgery weight. Personally I feel like all pounds count and it's an accomplishment to see those numbers go down both before and after the surgery.

I don't have great knees and had to do PT for a very messed up knee. They always had me on the bike for a warmup. I bought one for about $150 that folds so it doesn't take up too much space and you can adjust the tension and go at your own pace. Easy to just set up in front of the TV or throw on some music. YouTube also offers some free chair exercises while you are waiting on the DVD versions. There are tons actually. Chair yoga etc for all activity levels. Also if you can manage, there are low impact walking type workouts that usually don't involve much in the way of bending.

I was released from the hospital on the pureed stage (hurray for no all liquid part). But I for sure wasn't about to have pureed meats - yuck. It was a lot of more shakes, yogurt, cottage cheese, ricotta bake, cheese sticks well chewed, and soups. Mainly I did lentil veggie soup blended and black bean soup blended. Also no sugar added applesauce and no sugar popsicles. (i do not like jello so i skipped that option). My program didn't include tuna, mince meats or eggs at pureed stage as some do. If you do get eggs in your plan and can tolerate them, i would say to add in some cottage cheese to scramble as it makes them much creamier. It's definitely great to plan ahead - homemade soups tend to more flavorful and you can control what's in them (and cook them down enough to not even have to puree)and then freeze them in smaller portions - however try not to over plan as your taste buds can drastically change after surgery. Sometimes it's short term - like mine was for about a month post and went back to things tasting fine - others stay with aversions to taste, texture and/or temp for a much longer time.

I will say every program is different and every body is different. My plan accounts for snacks of some kind, albeit healthy ones - providing usually around 5 "meals" a day. The main goals are protein and water and typically carbs and fats work themselves out. That being said, I would say to meet with a dietician/nutritionist to provide better guidance. Maybe weighing/tracking out the food is best not just the plate itself. (You may very well be doing that, i'm just throwing that in). It could be also not actually eating enough to fuel the body as it was used to another way of eating for that stretch of time you were off program. The amount of sodium in what you're eating can play a role. A variety of things could be at play. I don't see anything wrong with the foods you have shown, however I see there are a lack of greens of some sort. A bit more fiber could help not only keep you full, but also keep you regular. Don't be afraid of carbs, they aren't all bad, fruits and vegetables add a lot of micronutrients. Just as with all things in moderation. You did not mention what you drink throughout the day - which may or may not also add to the non budging scale. Back to basics should help (but gosh not an all liquid diet) - protein and water goals and the order of protein, veg, then carb as plate priority. Best of luck, friend.

Not sure how old you are or how much weight you've lost, Angela. It could be either way some creams or that red light therapy mask thingy could help tighten up the face or as with other parts of the body, the skin stretched out from being overweight and won't simply snap back which may require some cosmetic procedures. I am 42 and have been blessed with some decent genetics - ie not many women in our family have many wrinkles - but good genes cannot outrun the excess skin in my waddly neck area. It's not super awful - but something I can see getting done down the line (after a tummy tuck, boob lift and brachioplasty I all want to have at some point). I find myself doing the slight skin pull below my ears in the mirror and it would make a world of difference

Oh yes. If I’m lucky i can offload some food to others, but I live alone so it’s mostly just me myself and I. I tend to eat the same thing for dinner for almost a week. Even 1lb of ground meat is several meals. I purchased the W&P Cup silicone cubes for freezing (found them cheaper than Souper cubes). They are phenomenal. They have various sizes but I have the 6 cube tray that holds up to 1 cup each cube. I like that they have measurement lines inside so you have different options for smaller portions. I have used them for soups, chilis, stew and even “pasta” (palmini noodles). Once it’s frozen solid, I just pop them out and place them in freezer bags and label. Makes it easy to have measured out meals that can be popped in the microwave. I hate food waste, but it’s impossible to finish things fast enough. Fresh vegetables i have a love hate relationship for that very reason. I have been trying to cut and prep and freeze some things or plan my meals around what i have on hand, but even then it’s so hard. I’m about to purchase a vacuum sealer food saver to better seal freezer portions.

You do have legitimate questions and ones that any doctor or their team should be comfortable answering as they are important to you and your peace of mind in consideration of another procedure. I know via your prior post you said you aren’t on the socials quite as much, but if you listen to podcasts I’d recommend BariNation. There is one of the hosts who had been sleeved and always felt like they could consume more than they should, and did not want a bypass (which he was originally told he would need to be sleeved first, lose enough to be then safe enough to have a bypass). He thought a bypass would be the only option and for whatever reason was not keen on it. He was then introduced to a doctor who said that’s not his only option and told him about the SADI. He eventually got his evaluation and found out that though the sleeve is said to remove 80% of your stomach, his was only 50-60% so he wasn’t wrong that his eating capacity was more than he thought. He recently did his revision surgery and part of it was resleeving on top of the reroute of the intestinal tract. So yes part of the procedure should be to reevaluate your stomach size to determine whether it should be revised.

Congrats on your surgery. I don't have kids so the postpartum part I cannot relate to in that way. But it definitely is a turn upside down. The fatigue and cognition part sounds familiar. Initially it's due to the lack of nutrition since we can only eat/drink so much in the beginning. It slowly starts to get better the more you can get in. That's why the vitamins and protein are important. It does get better.

Check out Fluscheeitaway on IG. She had the SADI 2 years ago and her husband had it as well a few months back. She also recently started a podcast with her bariatric surgeon so that might be a good source of information. It definitely isn't as common as the sleeve and bypass since it's a bit newer and not all insurances cover it, but I have heard it is slightly easier to go from a sleeve to the SADI since they may not have to resleeve you just reroute the rest.