makemyownluck

My only other surgery was gall bladder removal and it was pretty comparable. Pretty uncomfortable for the first couple of days, but that's when you use your drugs for relief. Then each day it gets easier as you move around and heal.

This is a decision your doc should make. Considering you are having surgery so soon, I think it would be okay not to start on medication... but even if your doctor is of the opinion that you should be on meds, you'll likely resolve the issue fairly soon post-op, so would it be so bad if you DID start taking something now? Even a few weeks of being unhealthy is not good - and if your blood sugar is way off when you go for surgery, your surgery could get cancelled or something...

You have to eat 3500 calories over you metabolic needs to gain a pound. Conversely, you have eat 3500 calories less than your metabolic needs to lose a pound. In the first two weeks, everything you are losing is not fat weight. You are losing a lot of Fluid. Some of it is the fluid they pumped into you at the hospital. I lost 18 pounds the first two weeks. Don't expect that to continue. Don't be disappointed or think that something must be wrong with you. You just cannot sustain that kind of loss. Nor would you want to. It would kill you. I fear for you if you think a pound a day is slow weight loss. Please visit with your surgeon and have him or her explain what your expectations should be going forward. And be careful what you eat. Your tummy is a raw wound right now. Treat it tenderly.

a pound a day isn't slow!

a pound a day isn't slow!

11 days post op
breakfast: 1 scrambled egg with 1/2 slice american cheese
sipped a chocolate Protein shake through the morning
lunch: 1/3 cup pureed veggie Soup, 4 oz cottage cheese
dinner: baked ricotta with Tomato basil sauce and parmesan
and another Protein Shake.
about 800 cals, 90g Protein.< /p>

I started with walking. At first, 5 minutes on a treadmill seemed like too much. Now I do about a mile a day, sometimes more. I'm currently 385, started at 459. The key is to do more than you did the day before - more time, more distance, more speed - whatever you can manage that particular day.
I also do strength training with free weights. helps get your blood pumping and increase muscle mass, which in turn boosts your metabolism.
Good luck!

Wow, I had no reaction like that. Colace was a lifesaver for me til about 4 wks post op - took it every other day to make sure things kept moving. I still have some on hand "just in case" but I haven't needed it (I'm about 8 1/2 wks post op now).
If you're having Constipation (or haven't gone in a couple days) then you should try Milk of Magnesia. It does kinda make you go, though, so make sure you'll be home for a few hours to give it time to kick in...

I told my mom about my 50lb milestone yesterday and she said, "See, you don't even need surgery. You can do it on your own."
I told her, "Having surgery is still doing it on my own." And then all day I'm questioning myself if I really believe that.
Part of the reason that I don't want people to know I'm having surgery is because I don't want people thinking I didn't work for it. I know, I know, I shouldn't be bothered by what other people think... easier said than done.

I'm only 8 wks post op, but I know i'm gonna have to deal with this, so I've done my research! I've also worked in insurance for 10+ years doing the reviews for these exact surgeries, so here's what i can share:
panniculectomy is different from a Tummy Tuck because they don't tighten your abdominal muscles. They simply cut away the flap of skin and sew you back up. Now, it's a big incision, obviously, and it's uncomfortable to heal from. You might have difficulty standing straight up and cleaning yourself in the bathroom for a week or more. (longer if you actually get a tummy tuck because of how tight your abs are!)
Insurance varies, so check with your carrier - not all insurances require that you've had skin rashes to get this covered. Your surgeon could take pictures and measure how long the flap hangs. If the skin hangs lower than your pubic bone, you can probably get it covered. Also, some carriers will pay for it if they approved your weight loss surgery because this could be considered a residual of the WLS.
Long story short, it doesn't sound like a very pleasant experience, but it's something I plan on having to do eventually as well. I'm still focusing on getting anywhere close to goal, so it's a long way off for me. Hopefully, I can afford to pay for the tummy tuck portion myself so I can get the very best result!
Good luck to you!

yes! any time you get that, try to get to your MD so they can document it! Even if you just call your doc and ask for rx cream (assuming he's seen you for it before), that call will be documented in your chart also - all of which is just what an insurance company wants to see before approving the surgery!

I'm only 8 wks post op, but I know i'm gonna have to deal with this, so I've done my research! I've also worked in insurance for 10+ years doing the reviews for these exact surgeries, so here's what i can share:
panniculectomy is different from a Tummy Tuck because they don't tighten your abdominal muscles. They simply cut away the flap of skin and sew you back up. Now, it's a big incision, obviously, and it's uncomfortable to heal from. You might have difficulty standing straight up and cleaning yourself in the bathroom for a week or more. (longer if you actually get a tummy tuck because of how tight your abs are!)
Insurance varies, so check with your carrier - not all insurances require that you've had skin rashes to get this covered. Your surgeon could take pictures and measure how long the flap hangs. If the skin hangs lower than your pubic bone, you can probably get it covered. Also, some carriers will pay for it if they approved your weight loss surgery because this could be considered a residual of the WLS.
Long story short, it doesn't sound like a very pleasant experience, but it's something I plan on having to do eventually as well. I'm still focusing on getting anywhere close to goal, so it's a long way off for me. Hopefully, I can afford to pay for the tummy tuck portion myself so I can get the very best result!
Good luck to you!

There are changes to be made, especially for the first 6-12 months post op, but I will go out on a limb and say "never say never" when it comes to the post-op rules.
i'm 8 weeks out. I eat anything I want. Granted, I made a lot of changes to my diet pre-op and "what I want" isn't the same as it was a year ago... I've made my share of sacrifices, but I never was a beer drinker and stopped drinking sodas about 10 years ago, so it was never a big deal to me that I couldn't drink carbonated drinks.
I think it's important to know why something is on the "DO NOT DO THIS AFTER SURGERY" list before deciding whether or not the rule applies to you. I'm not advocating going against drs orders, I'm simply saying that we're human and we have to make choices for ourselves, also.
Beer/alcohol is full of calories, as I'm sure you know. Also, when you have a reduced stomach, you absorb the alcohol faster and can affect you much differently than it did pre-op. Also, as you lose weight, it takes less to get you intoxicated. Many people struggle with cross-addictions - meaning they no longer have food as a comfort, so they indulge in booze or drugs instead. For these reasons, and I'm sure others, it is not recommended that you have alcohol for 6-12 months post-op.
Beer/carbonated drinks, besides being full of calories/carbs, are also more likely to give you painful gas. Again, with the reduced capacity of your stomach, filling it with tiny air bubbles can cause gas, pain, bloating, cramping - all unpleasant side effects that are easily avoided by not drinking these things. However, some people never have these problems. You'll only know if you can tolerate it if you try it. But because of the other reasons listed, again, you should avoid these things 6-12 months post-op.
That's not to say you can never have these things again! You'll have to try them out when you're ready. And you may find you don't have a taste for it anymore by that point - or that you need much, much less of it to be satisfied. You will be healthier and happier and will find new, wonderful, fun hobbies to share with your wife!
Why does it feel like a weak way out? Surgery is not fun or easy.

There are changes to be made, especially for the first 6-12 months post op, but I will go out on a limb and say "never say never" when it comes to the post-op rules.
i'm 8 weeks out. I eat anything I want. Granted, I made a lot of changes to my diet pre-op and "what I want" isn't the same as it was a year ago... I've made my share of sacrifices, but I never was a beer drinker and stopped drinking sodas about 10 years ago, so it was never a big deal to me that I couldn't drink carbonated drinks.
I think it's important to know why something is on the "DO NOT DO THIS AFTER SURGERY" list before deciding whether or not the rule applies to you. I'm not advocating going against drs orders, I'm simply saying that we're human and we have to make choices for ourselves, also.
Beer/alcohol is full of calories, as I'm sure you know. Also, when you have a reduced stomach, you absorb the alcohol faster and can affect you much differently than it did pre-op. Also, as you lose weight, it takes less to get you intoxicated. Many people struggle with cross-addictions - meaning they no longer have food as a comfort, so they indulge in booze or drugs instead. For these reasons, and I'm sure others, it is not recommended that you have alcohol for 6-12 months post-op.
Beer/carbonated drinks, besides being full of calories/carbs, are also more likely to give you painful gas. Again, with the reduced capacity of your stomach, filling it with tiny air bubbles can cause gas, pain, bloating, cramping - all unpleasant side effects that are easily avoided by not drinking these things. However, some people never have these problems. You'll only know if you can tolerate it if you try it. But because of the other reasons listed, again, you should avoid these things 6-12 months post-op.
That's not to say you can never have these things again! You'll have to try them out when you're ready. And you may find you don't have a taste for it anymore by that point - or that you need much, much less of it to be satisfied. You will be healthier and happier and will find new, wonderful, fun hobbies to share with your wife!
Why does it feel like a weak way out? Surgery is not fun or easy.

Holy Cow, looks so yummy! My hubby & I were just talking about making some....Thanks for letting me know JM & thanks for the recipe, Makemyownluck!

Made this a few days ago - RIDICULOUSLY delicious!

Made this today, thought I would share! You can add in other goodies as your diet allows - I would like to try it with different veggie/cheese combinations!



Mini crustless quiche
makes: 4 servings

ingredients:
4 slices of prosciutto, very thinly sliced!
4 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup low-fat ricotta cheese
1 slice american cheese (2% or skim milk cheese would be best)
1 tbsp shredded parmesan cheese
salt and pepper to taste (I also put in a bit of garlic powder - optional)
*note: prosciutto is very salty on its own and you do not need much added salt in this recipe. In fact, you might want to skip salt altogether and just salt the finished product if it's needed

instructions:
spray 4 ramekins with cooking spray
in the bottom of each ramekin, loosely pile one slice of prosciutto in each ramekin
in a medium bowl, beat the 4 eggs and ricotta cheese together, season with salt and pepper to taste.
pour mixture evenly over the prosciutto in the ramekins.
tear apart and distribute bits of the american cheese among all 4 ramekins and top with parmesan cheese and one last bit of fresh cracked black pepper.

Bake in a pre-heated 350 degree oven for about 13-15m or until toothpick comes out clear. Allow to rest for a couple of minutes. They should pop right out of the ramekin since you sprayed them first!

per My Fitness Pal:
per 1 serving:
148 calories
8.4g fat (you could cut this down if you use egg whites)
1.4g carbs
13.2 g Protein

Made this today, thought I would share! You can add in other goodies as your diet allows - I would like to try it with different veggie/cheese combinations!



Mini crustless quiche
makes: 4 servings

ingredients:
4 slices of prosciutto, very thinly sliced!
4 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup low-fat ricotta cheese
1 slice american cheese (2% or skim milk cheese would be best)
1 tbsp shredded parmesan cheese
salt and pepper to taste (I also put in a bit of garlic powder - optional)
*note: prosciutto is very salty on its own and you do not need much added salt in this recipe. In fact, you might want to skip salt altogether and just salt the finished product if it's needed

instructions:
spray 4 ramekins with cooking spray
in the bottom of each ramekin, loosely pile one slice of prosciutto in each ramekin
in a medium bowl, beat the 4 eggs and ricotta cheese together, season with salt and pepper to taste.
pour mixture evenly over the prosciutto in the ramekins.
tear apart and distribute bits of the american cheese among all 4 ramekins and top with parmesan cheese and one last bit of fresh cracked black pepper.

Bake in a pre-heated 350 degree oven for about 13-15m or until toothpick comes out clear. Allow to rest for a couple of minutes. They should pop right out of the ramekin since you sprayed them first!

per My Fitness Pal:
per 1 serving:
148 calories
8.4g fat (you could cut this down if you use egg whites)
1.4g carbs
13.2 g Protein

Made this today, thought I would share! You can add in other goodies as your diet allows - I would like to try it with different veggie/cheese combinations!



Mini crustless quiche
makes: 4 servings

ingredients:
4 slices of prosciutto, very thinly sliced!
4 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup low-fat ricotta cheese
1 slice american cheese (2% or skim milk cheese would be best)
1 tbsp shredded parmesan cheese
salt and pepper to taste (I also put in a bit of garlic powder - optional)
*note: prosciutto is very salty on its own and you do not need much added salt in this recipe. In fact, you might want to skip salt altogether and just salt the finished product if it's needed

instructions:
spray 4 ramekins with cooking spray
in the bottom of each ramekin, loosely pile one slice of prosciutto in each ramekin
in a medium bowl, beat the 4 eggs and ricotta cheese together, season with salt and pepper to taste.
pour mixture evenly over the prosciutto in the ramekins.
tear apart and distribute bits of the american cheese among all 4 ramekins and top with parmesan cheese and one last bit of fresh cracked black pepper.

Bake in a pre-heated 350 degree oven for about 13-15m or until toothpick comes out clear. Allow to rest for a couple of minutes. They should pop right out of the ramekin since you sprayed them first!

per My Fitness Pal:
per 1 serving:
148 calories
8.4g fat (you could cut this down if you use egg whites)
1.4g carbs
13.2 g Protein

I'm guilty of saying the exact same thing when my mom told me a family friend had gastric bypass. It was totally unfair of me - 1) it's her business, and obviously she was "big enough" and 2) I haven't seen her in years to know how heavy she got or to see her now that she's had the RNY AND her Tummy Tuck. My mom says she looks great, but was also surprised because she didn't seem "big enough" to her, either.
Even still, I'd never SAY that to someone. My opinion on her being big or small ultimately only has to do with ME and how I feel about MYSELF in comparison. It was actually a wake up call for me to see that I'm quite a lot heavier than she was and was questioning if this was something I had to do.
As someone who's only told a few people about my upcoming surgery, I'm surprised by how much it upsets me that people who I've told are SO EXCITED for me to have this. I read between the lines and interpret that as them saying, "It's about time you did SOMETHING!" even if that's not what's said. For me, I have to learn to stop being so sensitive about my weight issues. It's not like it's something I can hide - I can't hide my size now, and people WILL notice when I start losing in big numbers... I have to learn to deal with the reactions!

I'm in Aurora too! Had my sleeve May 2nd @ Rush University in Chicago.

I can relate to part of this. I'm just a week post-op, so I'm not in 'head-turning' territory (yet), but I remember my youth when piggish men would try to holler at me while I was innocently pumping gas, or when I'd be at the grocery store. I must have that "wholesome" vibe because I always got the most attention doing everyday things, when I wasn't all dressed up or wearing a ton of makeup. But I've been in the 'invisible' category for many, many, many years. I have had very few relationships because of my weight and my low self-esteem preventing me from dating, so I don't really know how to navigate an adult relationship.
I wonder how I'll deal with male attention. A friend of mine said to me, "You're gonna turn into a *****!" and it was meant as a joke (I think), but I wonder if it's not a little true, that I'll go on a bender of men just because I CAN.
I also think to myself that I'm currently perceived as a tough girl. Yes, I can defend myself now, but that's because I have quite a bit of weight to throw around and because I'm large and tall for a woman, I don't look like anyone you'd want to mess with. But when I slim down, will I still have that presence? Probably not - and I'll have to work to build up my muscles because throwing blows won't have the same force behind it when I lose the weight.
I'm honestly afraid of becoming more of a target for violence. I live in a semi-urban area, not the safest place in the world, and I live alone. I feel like becoming more attractive may open me up to the possibility of being attacked, mugged, robbed, raped, car jacked... I really think about these things. I wonder if I'm just being paranoid or if these are legitimate concerns. If I walked down my street right now, the worst I'd have to face is someone laughing at me or calling me fat (yes, it's happened). But I have a one particular friend who's skinny and attractive and any time she's at my house and we're in my front yard, piggish men are whistling at her, coming over to talk to her, honking their horn as they drive by and I really don't know how she takes it! Then again, she's always been that attractive, so it's normal for her.
I really don't want that kind of attention! I don't want to be seen as a sex object - until I find a man I want to date...
Maybe this isn't exactly the point you're trying to make, but I do have some worry regarding how I'll be treated in the world. Part of me worries that it will all go to my head (and I'll become a *****; or at least an attention *****) and part of me worries that I'll be very defensive and react negatively to it.
Guess I won't know til I get there... and I have a ways to go, I think!

Props on being able to leggo that eggo, girl! Funny how even when you were doing that, you still measured everything out like a good sleeved girl.

I'm pre-op, started near where you are (my high is 459) and I've already lost over 50lbs. I'm having surgery May 2nd, so I'm excited to see how much I lose total. As "high BMI'ers" we tend to lose more quickly, but we'll hit stalls just like everyone else does.
My surgeon says his results with sleeve vs. bypass are similar. Bypass patients maybe lose 5-10lbs more than the sleeve patients do, and I can live with that if it means fewer complications long term. Bypass patients can regain weight just like we can, but we don't have as high of a risk of long term anemia or Vitamin deficiencies like they do because of their intestines being altered.
Everyone has to make their own choice on what they want to live with - either surgery is going to require work on your part! Good luck!

I make wraps for lunch all the time... I think you could do better making it yourself! Here's my go-to wrap:
Kretschmar low sodum turkey - 2oz = 60 cal, 13g Protein
Sabra Tuscan Herb hummus - 1/2 tbsp = 35 cal, 1g Protein (2.5 carbs)
Flatout Flat bread Light - Italian Seasoned - 1/2 slice = 45 cal, 4.5g protein (8 carbs)
and then I pile on spinach, which adds maybe 2 calories.
Total: 142 calories, 18.5g protein, 10.5 carbs. And the spinach takes a while for me to digest, so it keeps me full for a long while!
I'm all for convenience, so this isn't a bad choice, but I definitely prefer to make things myself to save on sodium.