CowgirlJane

My social life has blossomed. I host parties, I am invited to parties, , I go dancing, I make trips, I have a very social/outgoing boyfriend and his friends are becoming part of my social circle. I have few close friends but have so much fun with them and the larger social circle. I am a happier fun person now and everything is better. A pal who lives in the city told me yesterday that our uber driver from our December 26th big night out keeps asking about the"funny curly haired brunette" and when i am doing another girls night in he city. I must be a real wallflower that uber Ray finds me THAT memorable - NOT!!

@@LipstickLady Now your other post makes even more sense - about people new to forums. I too missed the drama but did get a chuckle out of the name calling that happened in this thread already. Seriously?

I had so much fun this weekend. I attended 2 parties on Saturday; hosted one Sunday and then went to mariners on Monday. I am enjoying my friends and also socializing with Michael's circle of people. It's not just men, I know two women who are in their 60s, own nearly nothing and plan to rely on social security.

Taking a moment to honor the reason for memorial day - too many people have died defending our countries; we owe our freedom to them. Sent from my KFJWI using the BariatricPal App

First 12.weeks were unpleasant but since I was dying of obesity I took the long view. Now years post sleeve - I am happy! Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using the BariatricPal App

Good post but let's be honest when people are emotion filled they don't always read things objectively. The number of time people claim they are "bullied" here is mind boggling. And the name calling often starts with the "victim". I don't worry about it anymore but it used to really bother me that people got upset as it is never my intention. I especially like the part about listening to the "debate " I tend to learn more from people who have different experiences than mine. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using the BariatricPal App

Michael is a good man, we have lots of fun, I like his friends, he likes mine...no complaints. He hasn't managed his financial life well and I won't be a.partner with someone who isn't on top of that stuff. There are.reasons for his situation but he is 61.and nowhere near ready to retire financially Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using the BariatricPal App

@@UK Cathy Monday is Memorial Day, it's a big holiday weekend here too! I probably don't have a clear answer. So far he is the best boyfriend I have ever had. I have strong feelings for him. When we first met he shared his whole life situation and there is a showstopper issue for me. Showstopper in terms of merging our lives together. I told him that then, we had a short conversation in those early days and haven't discussed it since. @@Oregondaisy hope you enjoy meeting this artist you found! My son went to a new doc recently. They found his resting heart rate was 30! They measured again, still 30 and EKG found some irregularity. Later, his heartrate was normal. He is meeting cardiologist today' guessing he will get a monitor.

Google brought me to this: http://www.bariatric-surgery-source.com/mini-gastric-bypass-surgery.html I found this statement: MGB is an effective, relatively low-risk, and low-failure bariatric procedure. In addition, it can be easily revised, converted, or reversed. My personal opinion is that even reversable procedures have risk...they are never truly reversible. My lapband damaged my stomach. Interesting that the mini bypass can cause reflux, like the sleeve

Back in 2014, I just stopped eating. I had no appetite. I thought there was something wrong with my sleeve, turned out I was just lonely. I am an extrovert with a capital E. I also like solitude but I feel so lonely when I don't verbally and/or physically touch others. My puppies help but I gravitate to other people and make an effort to get daily fixes of energizing people contact. My sons live with me but I am preparing for their eventual moving out to make sure I have a plan. I live in the country and work from home... It can get lonely out here.

@@coops hope things get better soon. Always willing to listen if you want to vent. I got a bunch of weird news yesterday, put me in a slight funk. Went to Michaels for dinner, one of his friends was there. They argue about politics and everything for sport which I am usually up for. M was in a bad mood and it wasn't a nice debate, it was not fun. after about 2 hours of the negativity I decided to just go home. I wasn't mad, just not in the mood for it. I felt so bad because his friend left and M was so concerned that I was leaving angry. I wasn't angry, just worried about the bad news I'd gotten earlier combined with the aggressive discussions' just wasn't up for it. I don't want to mess up a good thing over one bad day, So I took a deep breath and we sat down together and talked. He is a pretty strong personality kind of guy, but the expression when he thought I was offended... Makes me think he is falling in love with me and I don't know what I think about that. I feel unsettled. My bad news is a company re-org that will likely affect my job AND finding out by accident that my 27 year old needs a heart monitor only he hasn't told me why. I am trying to not worry.

The scale is a harsh mistress and she LIES! Weirdo fluctuations happen....

@@JosieK I know this was ages ago, but great post, thank you! @@mirandagirl hi - welcome to bariatric pal!

A tip....eat dense protein FIRST. I am nearly 5 years post op and fell into a habit of having salads with protein in them. A smart nutritionist reminded me that the dense protein needs to press against the bottom of stomach to keep satiated longer.

It is my personal experience that post massive weight loss, I thought I was not attractive enough to find a man who interests me. The last 3 plus years I learned that is not true. I am no beauty queen but being fit, clean, nice hair and skin, relatively youthful looking (all this for my age of course) puts me ahead of much of the "competition". I think the reason I struggled with finding a great relationship was due to many things already mentioned but also because I wasn't clear in my own mind about some things and sent very mixed signals. I also went through times when I thought I was being too picky about looks (or whatever) but I just didn't feel the attraction when I tried to date someone who didn't appeal to me. I really prioritized what I want in a relationship and decided I'd rather be single then not get those things; that was important step forward. I didn't realize it at the time, but I have had some emotional growth and view things differently. The day I admitted to myself that I want a boyfriend but the idea of marrying again gives me the heebie jeebbies was when things improved -I was just clearer in my own mind. I spent several months not dating and actually getting"ok" with the idea of being solo. I even made a list of new hobbies and interests to explore; but then I met my boyfriend and all THAT went out the window..LOL. I gladly give him a great deal of my time and focus these days. I don't expect we will be life partners but what a great time we are having!!!

People repeat advice given them, but for people with LOTS of excess skin they often do it in phases even before they get to goal. My stock advice js to get several consultations and listen to the recommendation and why. In my case, I did my first consult within a month of hitting goal and no surgeon ever advised I wait. After losing 150 (more like 180 or more from lifetime hugh) that skin wasn't going to recover enough on its own to make waiting a year advisable. I had plastics 8 months after hitting goal and it's been great!

Oh, I probably was at 100 g of Protein. ..how do you manage 180? Is that what is recommended? I had a lower body lift arm lift and breasts all at once... I wasn't wearing jeans or doing much of anything at 3 weeks... the big unknown is how much you may swell. You may want something with some stretch. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using the BariatricPal App

I donated everything. Goodwill and nice things to "dress for success " Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using the BariatricPal App

I have an expensive nice pair of tall heel dress boots I want to sell...obviously a fall and winter item, when would you list it? Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using the BariatricPal App

I believe research is wise but stats don't matter when something happens to YOU. So i have a sleeve, I lost a crud load of weight and am keeping it off. I guess it doesn't matter how I compare to stats because I can't change my surgery choice anyway! Btw, I was a failed bandsters so I guess I had alot of strikes against me in terms of chances of success, but I wanted this like the oxygen I breathe. ... Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using the BariatricPal App

I was massively hungry...the key was to up the Protein drinks but not get into snacking Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using the BariatricPal App

I was sleeved Dec 2011; hit goal after losing approx 150# in Feb 2013 and have been maintaining ever since. I turn 52 in a few weeks - I was post menopausal when I was sleeved so all the strikes against me after a lifetime of obesity... Having said that, I think the rny is a great procedure and should be seriously considered. Thank you for your response CowgirlJane! I have read conflicting studies about nsaids and the sleeve. Some say no never, some say rarely, some say rarely but with ppi and some say it is perfectly safe with the sleeve. Very frustrating. So you have maintained your weight for five years now with a sleeve? Can I ask how old you are? I was sleeved Dec 2011; hit goal after losing approx 150# in Feb 2013 and have been maintaining ever since. I turn 52 in a few weeks - I was post menopausal when I was sleeved so all the strikes against me after a lifetime of obesity... Having said that, I think the rny is a great procedure and should be seriously considered. Thank you for your response CowgirlJane! I have read conflicting studies about nsaids and the sleeve. Some say no never, some say rarely, some say rarely but with ppi and some say it is perfectly safe with the sleeve. Very frustrating. So you have maintained your weight for five years now with a sleeve? Can I ask how old you are?

I wasn't in much pain, but I had a lower body lift and it kicked my ass in terms of energy, walking hunched over etc. Also, I was instructed to not lift my arms up for the first 2 weeks (can't remember if it was due to the arm lift or breast lift) so you might put clean glasses/dishes down on the counter etc. My appetite went way up. The recovery sometimes triggers extra "burn" - some people lose weight whereas I had to work to maintain weight since I wanted to consume more. Extra Protein helps with healing so my premier Proteins consumption went up. The compression garments are a lifesaver, but can give you reflux so consider timing your eating so you don't lay back down right after ... just in case. It was a big deal, but my plastics were in Oct 2013 and my results are amazing and I am so glad I did it! Good luck to you.

This is a topic of much "debate" or differences between surgeons. I had a BMI of 52, was sleeved nearly 5 years ago and maintaining at a normal size/weight - essentially half my former size. I had a horrible time with a kidney stone and had to take IB for about 3 weeks. My surgeon's office was freaked out, insisted I take a PPI, take it with food etc - everything to protect the stomach. I believe the issue is that IB (NSAID) can increase your risk of an ulcer and post bariatric surgery, well, ulcers are bad. I have no idea what the facts are, what the research says because I know there are long term sleevers who take NSAIDs.

That is rude.... but a friend of mine joked "if your pants fall off, I am laughing at you!" It was a compliment. So in the meantime, consider a belt, switching to skirts (much more forgiving!) or shopping at a thrift or consignment store. When you get a little smaller, stores like Ross Dress for Less can be a good resource. I have never paid more than about 8-10 bucks for pants at Ross. I am at goal, but I have these long denim shorts that shimmy right off me - need that belt!