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hello! This is my first week researching gastric bypass/sleeve. Can y’all please tell me everything you wish you knew from the start? I have read a lot but I feel like there is going to be some surprising disadvantages and I would like to know now. I think right now I am more interested in the sleeve. Can you please tell me why you chose which one you did? With either procedure are you ever allowed to eat rice again like even after a year? Can you drink alcohol ever again? Thank you in advance

Did my weekly weigh in this morning and am a little disappointed that the scale has not budged since last week. However, I am focusing on the fact that I'm sticking to my plan and that I can see that I'm losing weight, not only in my face, but in how my clothes fit. Guess I'll be using the quarantine to do a big purge in my closet!

6 Weeks Post Op!

My world is drastically different! I now walk 3 to 4 miles a day and I’m constantly getting up to move my body! .

I close my Apple Watch rings daily and about 4 to 6 days a week I double or triple them!

I have been released to have all foods. When I reintroduce some I need to start at 1 ounce to see how “Tiny Tummy” likes it!

I am not reintroducing sugars, coffee or junk! I did not pay close to $13,000 to fail! .

I went to get follow up bloodwork done this week and my numbers are all in the perfect range! .

This is my new world and I am happy it!

I have a surgery date, I have my next doctor appointment on Wed and then Thursday I start my 2 week liquid pre-op diet. I am very nervous right now. I know it's going to be a tough mind game. 

Mr. at a client site, the Kid at school.  FINALLY!  After 2+ weeks I finally have the house to myself! #yay

A NSV today! I I can wear some 12's but there is one pair of 12's that I have tried on every few weeks for awhile now and they have always been about 2 inches from buttoning Today they buttoned, yay!

I have to say, even more than 2 years out, it is so much easier to be good when your busy and so easy to go wrong when your bored.  Crappy weather and the wife is sick so i feel trapped in this house and i have to really watch myself.  At least the holiday leftovers are gone.

Going to get out this week even if for only a few hours, maybe go see  Ford vs Ferrari that looks real good.

Ok, whining over, I hope everyone is doing well and had a good thanksgiving.

2 Weeks post op and I've had absolutely no pain nor problems!!

My Surgeon asked me a question the other day and i didn't give it a lot of thought at the time.

He asked "do you tell"

we were talking about peoples reaction to seeing me since i lost such a large amount of me.

I answered that i do tell if they ask but that it seems most everyone is afraid to mention it if they haven't seen me in a while or they decided they already know the answer so they don't need the truth from me (we all know those types)

I have had exactly one family friend come right out and ask me how i lost so much weight this year and i told her i had Gastric Sleeve.

I am sure family has passed it around to other family (you have that type family don't you? or is it just me)  

So that left me wondering "do you tell" and i dont mean right at surgery time. more like a year or so down the road do you say how or do you just say cut out the sugar and carbs and WAALAA

Its a real personal choice to open yourself up to that kind of criticism and we know all about how we took the "Easy" way and yada yada yada.

hope everyone is having a great week

This photo is morning of surgery and a photo I took a couple weeks back.

• So... I have a haital hernia and they're suspecting some stomach ulcers (explains the anemia/getting endoscopy soon to confirm)
  • According to my doctor, hernia can re-develop after 2-3 years if it is repaired but nothing is done to my sleeve.
• I have been going to Support Group and the CBT sessions and both have been very helpful.
  • Had the chance to share my story and that has been relieving and empowering...
  • According to the program leader (for more than 20 years), only 5% of WLS patients stay at goal 10 years after surgery.
    • One study showed the most contributing factor is a patient's support network.
    • Met a lady who is 12 years out and 7 lbs. away from her goal — She only missed 4 support group meetings in the 12 years!
• I really want to prove to myself before revision that I can change.
  • The surgery is just the building blocks, I have to do the hard work to build the beautiful house/temple...
    • On prenatal vitamins, protein shakes instead of meals and clean eating
      • No grazing, set meal schedule, no distractions (eating mindfully)
    • Trying to get into the Bio Oil regimen (thank you for the recommendation) so I can stay consistent after revision
• Iron infusions scheduled weekly for 8 weeks (7/11/19 - 8/29/19) so will probably be attending half those sessions after surgery?
  • Depends on where my iron is when I get labs and surgery date that will be set on August 1st

Whew what an up and down 24 hours it's been...

Yesterday I was pretty confident that I was finally through my first stall (after 3 full weeks!) and I was feeling good about getting 5km of walking in using my Nordic walking poles. 

I also have mastered some of my pills... ursodiol and calcium citrate have become my nemesis, because they are both large-ish pills and they get stuck on the way down and trigger vomiting... three times a day each! Turns out I can split my ursodiol in half, and take two smaller pills to get it down, and I can crush my calcium citrate and take it with a bit of apple sauce. Victory!

But then I did something pretty stupid and tried to eat half a smokie at dinner. I thought it would work because I have had kielbasa successfully, and I was using mustard as a bit of meat lube, as Fluffy calls it. Yeah... not smart. I spent more than three hours dealing with slimies, foamies, and general vomiting. Ugh! It was awful. The only highlight of the evening was that my Roughriders won their game. 

This morning, I was up and out for my walk by 6am, got in my 5km (although I'm feeling it a bit... sore legs), and managed my morning Rxs without issue. Even had a great poop! (who knew I could get so excited about that?) and I was down 1.2lb from yesterday! Woohoo! 

My plan for the day is to take it easy food-wise. Had some greek yoghurt with protein powder for breakfast and am planning on some egg salad for lunch. Giving my poor pouch a break from all the heaving yesterday. Here's hoping to have my first vomit free day in over 3 weeks. 

Well, long time no see. 

It's been a rough couple of weeks. I should have been expecting the other shoe to drop after having it so easy for the first three weeks post op. I was getting my water and protein easily, had no pain, nausea, or vomiting.

But as soon as the soft foods really started in earnest I started having problems. Pain, foamies, slimeys, vomiting galore. There doesn't seem to be a rhyme or reason to it. Something that I ate easily yesterday causes pain and vomiting after the first bite today. Sometimes it's my pills, other times they go down easy. I just don't get it. 

I'm trying to stay positive. I know this is a season in my life, and things will eventually even out. I'm just so tired of being afraid to eat, not knowing what kind of response my body will have. I'm mostly hitting my protein target, thanks in large part to protein shakes (which I hate, but look at as medicine). I missed my water targets by a lot over the weekend, due mostly to feeling awful, which I know is a terrible cycle... throw up, don't feel like drinking anything, get dehydrated, get constipated, feel like crap, repeat. 

The three-week stall is also still here. I thought I had busted through it, but I've been bouncing between 216-219 for the last two and a half weeks, which is a contributing factor to my mood and frustration level. And add in wee-lings who are going crazy with end of the school year insanity, friends with busy schedules who I haven't been able to see in weeks, and I'm an unhappy girl. 

Things will turn around. I know they will. Just not feeling it at this moment. 

One week post-revision, down 5 lbs since surgery day.....which puts me back under 300. VICTORY!!! Still a ways to go but I'll take every little win I can get. Feeling great other than minor abdominal discomfort.

Went to my initial consult with the Bariatric surgeon/ program I chose. Came home with a folder full of information & helpful organization of all the testing that needs to be completed while I complete the required nutritional counseling. She also let me know my insurance typically takes 6 weeks to reply with authorization when submitted, so that puts my potential surgery date near the new year if all stays on track  I felt comfortable with her, in our discussions she agrees that I am a good candidate for the Gastric Bypass. I appreciated the 'introduction' class that was given after the consult with the surgeon where I was given this binder of every referral (from her, not my pcp referrals), & contact information for all the testing needed to make my contacts/calls tomorrow morning even easier I start my nutrition classes on June 5th, so that's when the clock will start toward insurance approval & getting the tool to help me reach my goals

POOP

Prior to surgery, I would go to the bathroom within 15 minutes of waking up.  However, since the sleeve my bowel movements has not been regular.  So, I bought some probiotic+prebiotic gummies from Sam's Club.  I take 2 a day and I love it, I up to about 3-5X a week.  So, I read some people maybe having trouble in that area.  Try it.  Members Mark Pre+ Pro biotic Gummies (made from real fruit).

3 Weeks out of Surgery and I have hit a plateau. Feeling Frustrated.

A week and a day since surgery. Last night was the first night I got actually sleep, clocking in 7 hours. Oddly enough it's left me tired all day, but I didn't nap.
2 days ago my gas pains subsided (woohoo!)
I have aches and pains and of course sharp little pains around all the incisions (6 + 1 where the drain was), and I can't take the tylenol with codeine because it makes me feel like I have vertigo.
I have started the countdown mentally to my soft food stage starting on Monday. Looking forward to that, can't wait to see if eggs and cheese will still be my friends.

Good news and Meh news...

Meh: so I think I experienced/am experiencing my first stall-ish since surgery and now I get how frustrating it can be!  So annoying to wake up every morning to watch the scale report a gain or loss of the same 1.5 pounds for over 2 weeks.  *sigh*.  Some say put the scale away, but I log my weight every morning to get a daily moving average of my weight.  So long as this moving average is not heading upwards (which it isn’t and hasn’t since post-op) then I am good with my curent “minimalist” weekly weight loss rate, however small I think it is 🙄.

However.

The Good news:

To allow for some self back patting, and to remind myself of the bigger picture, I set a bunch of interim goals/milestones... a few of which are 10lbs increment weight loss goals:

So this morning, after hovering within 1.5 pounds of an interim goal for over 2 weeks, I weighed in at 164.8, and officially lost 70 lbs!  In 4 months.  That is 30% of my starting body weight.  Or the equivalent of my 10 year old neice. How crazy is that.

Next Goal: weigh in at 162lbs to be merely overweight (and not obese!)

Today I had my first post surgery update. I haven't eaten anything other than the occasional popsicle and my daily protein shakes in 2 weeks. I have lost 30lbs in those 2 weeks. The doctor is happy. I am starting to see changes I have no more swelling in my legs after sitting at my work desk all day. I don't get to eat an egg till next week. I have my total carb and protein counts so when I can start eating I know how much I can have. My surgeon / doctor has been great thru this whole process. He listens and gives good information about what to expect and what I should be doing. He has an amazing team here in Boise. I am glad I went with him to do this life changing process.

Hello again,

I have lost a total of 72 lbs.  Feeling pretty frustrated with myself because I have been at the same weight for about 6 weeks.  BUT considering it has been through the holidays and there has been a lot of celebrating ... I am cutting myself some slack. 😕  At least I have not gained! 😬

I've been stalled pretty much all month and got dumped last night. I'm not giving up, but starting 2019 in tears was not on my to do list.  Urg.

Well, the holidays have been rough!  So many parties, so much good smelling food, and I couldn't eat any of it.  I was bad over the holiday,  at 12 days post op I ate the inside of a deviled egg (not the boiled white part), and on Christmas, I ate the inside of another deviled egg and a tablespoon of mashed unsweetened sweet potatoes which I could not finish.  Even though my diet plan doesn't have me starting pureed foods until Friday. I ate slowly an added saliva when I would put the food in my mouth to thin it out more.  I KNOW IT WAS WRONG BUT IT TASTED SO GOOD!  and I was very satisfied and didn't feel sick or overly full.  I haven't had anything even semi-solid in almost 5 weeks.    

I went to my 4th NUT appointment this week and I was absolutely surprised that I had actually lost 9 pounds from my last appointment.  I can get a bit obsessive when it comes to scale use so I've decided to only do pre-op weigh-ins at my monthly appointments.  It saves me a lot of anxiety, I think. 

I actually was prepared to go to the appointment with excuses on why i gained, so this was a big win.  I didn't actually add much activity to my routine, the only thing I changed was having protein shakes every morning instead of just weekdays.  I really thought my extracuricular snacking activities were going to cause an issue, but I'm not going to let that make feel like it's ok to snack late or keep eating cheese non-stop.   Also probably helps that I had the stomach bug a couple days last week.  I think my organs liquified and came out....yuck...

I went against my weekly weigh in and cheated today the scale says I'm 248 😂How? Maybe it's wrong lol I just purchased the scale and it's my first time using it. I'll weigh my daughter to see if it's accurate. I was 255 this time last week so I guess it's a real possibility. I'll let you know , I have been very picky about sugars and carbs even though I don't have a huge variety of foods to choose from. I'm super excited and hope everyone is doing great! Got to charge my iPad but I just had to share my happiness