mwrarr

Thanks it went...ok. The rn took 3 bp's & they all were 130/80 (pretty much my normal--I'm usually 130 or 125/80) & did an EKG, which she said was "wonderful". Then a lot of questions about history & family. The dr came in after & did another history, & rechecked my bp--149/90...! So, now I have to do an ECG tomorrow & a stress ECG on 11/6!! There goes my 11/1 submit to the ins co. Dang!! Will these referral appts never end?! 347*294/285/135 (*347HW/294SSW) | @Mwrarr | mwrarr.wordpress.com

My fear (once I finally get through the pre-op hoops...IF?!?) is that... 1) I won't wake up 2) I will be a miserable wench during recovery 3) it won't work 4) the sisters will be tube socks filled w/rocks & they won't be able to lift them--instead of just shrinking to nothing (my sister is dealing w/this now--said they'd have to remove her nipples bc there is no volume to work with anymore... & a lift would kill the tissue. WHAT?!?! I have never heard/read/thought abt that being a possibility) 347*294/285/135 (*347HW/294SSW) | @Mwrarr | mwrarr.wordpress.com

8:40 am, I'll be at my FINAL referral appointment! I'm nervous, & have NO CLEAN IDEAR what to expect, but I think it will be ok. Hopefully... 347*294/285/135 (*347HW/294SSW) | @Mwrarr | mwrarr.wordpress.com

My surgeon/NUT has said to me, re: vitamins/pills... Only ones that are chewable &/or fully dissolvable in a glass of Water within 1/2 hr. Also, that gummies are not as complete as say a Centrum complete chewable (which I'd have to take 2 instead of 1), & that they do not fully dissolve in the sleeve/pouch (& most ppl actually do not fully chew them before accidentally swallowing them) so the nutrients are not released. Also, there is a potential blockage risk, similar to swallowing chewing gum. There is also the thought that they are mostly sugar, & could potentially become a candy substitute for someone who is not coping well...&/or trigger food for someone with sugar sensitivity/"addiction". (I say "addiction" in quotes bc it's not generally medically accepted but those of us who battle it, know it's power) 347*294/285/135 (*347HW/294SSW) | @Mwrarr | mwrarr.wordpress.com

WOOT WOOT!!! Now THAT'S what a gal like me, with a...erm...husky...sex life, needed to read today! Hahaha My BF has decided that he's going to start working on the 50# he needs to lose, now that I've been prepping for surgery bc he is afraid he won't be able to keep up after! Yehaw! 347*294/285/135 (*347HW/294SSW) | @Mwrarr | mwrarr.wordpress.com

I didn't have the sleep study. I was initially supposed to have one bc i was waking up dizzy or w/headaches, but then they realized it was bc I had a pulled muscle in the base of my skull. Congrats!! You look fabulous!! And congrats on your nuptials! :} 347*294/285/135 (*347HW/294SSW) | @Mwrarr | mwrarr.wordpress.com

(::raises hand: "Hi, I'm Mwrarr...& I'm a terrific closet eater..." Do you journal? For me, seeing the list of trash I had ingested was generally enough of a wake up call. You'll be ok. Awareness is the 1st step. 347*294/285/135 (*347HW/294SSW) | @Mwrarr | mwrarr.wordpress.com

My surgeon & NUT told me no gummies, for various reasons but the main one being that they are inferior. They recommended anything chewable/dissolvable, including flintstones chewables (just have to double the dose). I know I've seen the gummy Vitamins at walmart/target, our drug store, GNC & just about anywhere else that has vitamins. Thanks for the tip on the bariatric advantage! Guess I won't waste my money on those. 347*294/285/135 (*347HW/294SSW) | @Mwrarr | mwrarr.wordpress.com

Congrats!! :} 347*294/285/135 (*347HW/294SSW) | @Mwrarr | mwrarr.wordpress.com

I've always considered myself to be big boned, but recently I've discovered that I'm "medium" at te most. Funny what certain perceptions we carry... 347*294/285/135 (*347HW/294SSW) <> Tweet @Mwrarr <> mwrarr.wordpress.com

I've given up the straw at work! Huge NSV for me as I work in a steammmmmy kitchen & we always have drinks nearby. I switched to a coffee lid instead of lid/straw. At home it's not an issue, but restaurants....well, I guess I won't be eating out much post-op anyway. 347*294/285/135 (*347HW/294SSW)

I hope to someday stroll around in VS undies 347*294/285/135 (*347HW/294SSW)

Thanks for the input! I think I also just really really reeeeeely want to be in the "normal" range for once in my life. I've always had an "overweight" tag attached to me, it seems... My surgeon asked me what I was aiming for when I met with him last time. I believe I told him 147 & he said it was a fair goal, but that we'd discuss an "official" goal once it got closer to surgery. Honestly, I'm afraid I'll get under 170 & be too content just to hang out there. 347*294/285/135 (*347HW/294SSW)

I'm just curious how you all chose your goal weights. I'm doing a little bit of bouncing on this one, as I've never been below 182#, in my post-puberty body. The charts & formulas all put me around 135-147#, with a minimum low of 121#. Lately, though, I've found some "success stories" both WLS & non-WLS, who were about the same height & start weight as me... One is now 125# & frankly, looks skeletal to me. Another is 175 & still going but looks really good. And there's another that's abt 155 & looks good but has lumps of skin. I guess maybe I won't know until I get there...? 347*294/285/135 (*347HW/294SSW)

If it's a taste issue, I'd suggest changing brands. I have used Protein powder as a supplement for 5 years & I get bored with the taste. Some flavors are just gross anyway. I have a small container of soy powder, and it does blend smoother but it leaves a wicked aftertaste. I like pure Protein Powder (I think I got it at WALMART or target), but not the Cookies & cream flavor (blechhhk!) I haven't tried the egg powder, but I saw on another site a bunch of recipes for protein sources. One was "double milk" which is basically a glass of milk + 1/3c powdered milk blended in. I think it was the OH site... 347*294/285/135 (*347HW/294SSW)

My surgeon has warned me as well that most of his sleeve patients have some sort of acid issue, of varying degrees. He said that if I can live with the risk & possibly be on meds for quite a while, then sleeve was a good option for me. And that if I couldn't bear the thought, RNY eliminates reflux almost always. I'd still rather take a pill daily than have my intestines moved around... 347*294/285/135 (*347HW/294SSW)

I'm Mwrarr.wordpress.com !! I'll look you up! :} 347*294/285/135 (*347HW/294SSW)

I'm in! :} Challenge stats: Start: 287.6 Goal: 275 (pre-op goal) Non-scale goals: 6 svgs F/V daily 30 min exercise daily 347*294/285/135 (*347HW/294SSW)

Amazing!! Congrats! 347*294/285/135 (*347HW/294SSW)

My sister lost Patches of hair post-WLS, but, now abt 3 years post-op, it's come back & fuller. She used Biotin (10k mcg/day), Fish oil supplements (double doses), her multi (double doses) & a minimum 60g Protein, along with minimum 72oz water/day. My hair is waist-length & thick, but I will follow her "recipe" for sure. I already take 6k mcg biotin daily. I'm not an overly vain person, but I feel like being the fat girl my whole life, my hair is the only selling point I've got! 347*294/285/135 (*347HW/294SSW)

I LOVED this idea so much that I made it my signature! :} 347*294/285/135 (*347HW/294SSW)

You're probably better off with Upstate anyway. I guess the Packer (Sayre) recently started doing bariatric surgeries again, & my sister's close friend had RNY there & they totally screwed her. They made her eat a meal before she could be discharged...solids. And now her surgery is basically a waste bc she can eat like a linebacker & has only lost 35# since Spring. Upstate gets really great reviews. If Cayuga wasn't doing surgeries, I would've driven up there. 347*294/285/135 (*347HW/294SSW)

Funny you say that! :} I actually was hoping to become a trauma/er nurse when I was in nsg school' date=' but that's on hiatus now. Glad to hear things are going well! :} seems like I see more horror stories than smooth sailing... My surgeon does EGD on everyone bc they're checking for H.Pylori bacteria, as well as to check anatomy. In my case, it was also to see what the damage was (if any) from my history of GERD & reflux. He was concerned that doing the sleeve (vs RNY) would just exacerbate any heartburn & make the rest of my life miserable if there was a lot of evidence to prove it, but the EGD dr said other than a mild patch of gastritis, it looked really clear & he saw no evidence of current GERD or reflux. I meet with my surgeon on Nov 1st to review all the referral appts' findings, so hopefully he's more willing to do VSG now...! :} 347*294/285/135 (*347HW/294SSW)

Ok...here's mine. I have a total of 212# to lose, already lost 53 & starting the surgery process with 159# to lose to goal. My goals are actual weights, not number of lbs lost... 275#: get a pedicure 259#: find a new chiropractor 244#: get a massage 236#: take the NIA training--FINALLY! 211#: sign up for belly dance classes 199#: trip to Montreal w/my sweety 182#: buy/design a new piece of jewelry .....*this is where it gets tough, bc I haven't been below 182# since 8th grade...... 175#: ? 160#: ? 145#: ? 135#: ? 347*294/285/135 (*347HW/294SSW)