CrazyCatLady

Many of your issues mirror my own.
1) I miss Pasta terribly....I have dreams about it. Truely. And bread. Neither of which I have any tolerance for.
2) My breasts look TERRIBLE. I'm back to turning off the lights for "adult time" because I'm so embarrassed!
3) My hair continues to fall out in huge, noticible clumps. Patients at work comment that I must be "shedding", because no matter how dilligent I am, I always have stray hairs all over my scrubs, my back, etc.
4) I REALLY despise when people ask how many lbs I have lost....if I tell them an actual number, I can see the mental calculations taking place. I've had a coworker comment that I was lying about the amount. If I tell people "some amount", they keep pressing. I admit, I've become a bit bitter and have inelegantly snapped back, "You never told me - are you a nazi or a communist these days? Because that's about how offensive your question was to me".
5)It has reduced my already miniscule social life - I never get invited out now, because "we know you can't drink, and it wouldn't be fun for you"....BS.
6) I sag everywhere....like a candle left out in the summer sun. I knew that there would be some loose skin, but I wasn't prepared for this.
And last...
7)I hate the running commentary from those who know about my surgery, and feel the need to contribute their opinion as to the morality of an operation that has already taken place. "It goes against God's design!".....well, guess what, buster! Surgery already happened. So unless you have a time machine, feel free to put a sock in it. Or two.
/endrant
That being said, I would never have reached this weight alone. And for that, I am greatful.

Many of your issues mirror my own.
1) I miss Pasta terribly....I have dreams about it. Truely. And bread. Neither of which I have any tolerance for.
2) My breasts look TERRIBLE. I'm back to turning off the lights for "adult time" because I'm so embarrassed!
3) My hair continues to fall out in huge, noticible clumps. Patients at work comment that I must be "shedding", because no matter how dilligent I am, I always have stray hairs all over my scrubs, my back, etc.
4) I REALLY despise when people ask how many lbs I have lost....if I tell them an actual number, I can see the mental calculations taking place. I've had a coworker comment that I was lying about the amount. If I tell people "some amount", they keep pressing. I admit, I've become a bit bitter and have inelegantly snapped back, "You never told me - are you a nazi or a communist these days? Because that's about how offensive your question was to me".
5)It has reduced my already miniscule social life - I never get invited out now, because "we know you can't drink, and it wouldn't be fun for you"....BS.
6) I sag everywhere....like a candle left out in the summer sun. I knew that there would be some loose skin, but I wasn't prepared for this.
And last...
7)I hate the running commentary from those who know about my surgery, and feel the need to contribute their opinion as to the morality of an operation that has already taken place. "It goes against God's design!".....well, guess what, buster! Surgery already happened. So unless you have a time machine, feel free to put a sock in it. Or two.
/endrant
That being said, I would never have reached this weight alone. And for that, I am greatful.

OHMYGOSH, that's where I want to go on vacation when I meet my goal weight!! I've been ranting for years about how I've always wanted to go to the Carribean, see blue Water and white sand, but I was always "too fat".
How we limit ourselves!
Thank you from sharing your insight from "paradise"

Many of your issues mirror my own.
1) I miss Pasta terribly....I have dreams about it. Truely. And bread. Neither of which I have any tolerance for.
2) My breasts look TERRIBLE. I'm back to turning off the lights for "adult time" because I'm so embarrassed!
3) My hair continues to fall out in huge, noticible clumps. Patients at work comment that I must be "shedding", because no matter how dilligent I am, I always have stray hairs all over my scrubs, my back, etc.
4) I REALLY despise when people ask how many lbs I have lost....if I tell them an actual number, I can see the mental calculations taking place. I've had a coworker comment that I was lying about the amount. If I tell people "some amount", they keep pressing. I admit, I've become a bit bitter and have inelegantly snapped back, "You never told me - are you a nazi or a communist these days? Because that's about how offensive your question was to me".
5)It has reduced my already miniscule social life - I never get invited out now, because "we know you can't drink, and it wouldn't be fun for you"....BS.
6) I sag everywhere....like a candle left out in the summer sun. I knew that there would be some loose skin, but I wasn't prepared for this.
And last...
7)I hate the running commentary from those who know about my surgery, and feel the need to contribute their opinion as to the morality of an operation that has already taken place. "It goes against God's design!".....well, guess what, buster! Surgery already happened. So unless you have a time machine, feel free to put a sock in it. Or two.
/endrant
That being said, I would never have reached this weight alone. And for that, I am greatful.

Many of your issues mirror my own.
1) I miss Pasta terribly....I have dreams about it. Truely. And bread. Neither of which I have any tolerance for.
2) My breasts look TERRIBLE. I'm back to turning off the lights for "adult time" because I'm so embarrassed!
3) My hair continues to fall out in huge, noticible clumps. Patients at work comment that I must be "shedding", because no matter how dilligent I am, I always have stray hairs all over my scrubs, my back, etc.
4) I REALLY despise when people ask how many lbs I have lost....if I tell them an actual number, I can see the mental calculations taking place. I've had a coworker comment that I was lying about the amount. If I tell people "some amount", they keep pressing. I admit, I've become a bit bitter and have inelegantly snapped back, "You never told me - are you a nazi or a communist these days? Because that's about how offensive your question was to me".
5)It has reduced my already miniscule social life - I never get invited out now, because "we know you can't drink, and it wouldn't be fun for you"....BS.
6) I sag everywhere....like a candle left out in the summer sun. I knew that there would be some loose skin, but I wasn't prepared for this.
And last...
7)I hate the running commentary from those who know about my surgery, and feel the need to contribute their opinion as to the morality of an operation that has already taken place. "It goes against God's design!".....well, guess what, buster! Surgery already happened. So unless you have a time machine, feel free to put a sock in it. Or two.
/endrant
That being said, I would never have reached this weight alone. And for that, I am greatful.

Many of your issues mirror my own.
1) I miss Pasta terribly....I have dreams about it. Truely. And bread. Neither of which I have any tolerance for.
2) My breasts look TERRIBLE. I'm back to turning off the lights for "adult time" because I'm so embarrassed!
3) My hair continues to fall out in huge, noticible clumps. Patients at work comment that I must be "shedding", because no matter how dilligent I am, I always have stray hairs all over my scrubs, my back, etc.
4) I REALLY despise when people ask how many lbs I have lost....if I tell them an actual number, I can see the mental calculations taking place. I've had a coworker comment that I was lying about the amount. If I tell people "some amount", they keep pressing. I admit, I've become a bit bitter and have inelegantly snapped back, "You never told me - are you a nazi or a communist these days? Because that's about how offensive your question was to me".
5)It has reduced my already miniscule social life - I never get invited out now, because "we know you can't drink, and it wouldn't be fun for you"....BS.
6) I sag everywhere....like a candle left out in the summer sun. I knew that there would be some loose skin, but I wasn't prepared for this.
And last...
7)I hate the running commentary from those who know about my surgery, and feel the need to contribute their opinion as to the morality of an operation that has already taken place. "It goes against God's design!".....well, guess what, buster! Surgery already happened. So unless you have a time machine, feel free to put a sock in it. Or two.
/endrant
That being said, I would never have reached this weight alone. And for that, I am greatful.

Yes, it's true....we nurses get excited about some VERY strange things. I will admit to clapping for a patient when he FINALLY passed gas after waiting in recovery almost 4 hours after his colonoscopy - I'm sure he thought I was a freak

Yes, it's true....we nurses get excited about some VERY strange things. I will admit to clapping for a patient when he FINALLY passed gas after waiting in recovery almost 4 hours after his colonoscopy - I'm sure he thought I was a freak

Yes, it's true....we nurses get excited about some VERY strange things. I will admit to clapping for a patient when he FINALLY passed gas after waiting in recovery almost 4 hours after his colonoscopy - I'm sure he thought I was a freak

This is PRECISELY my go-to meal when I'm stuck out in town at work, etc.
Kid's meal with grilled chicken bites, fresh fruit for the side, small sugar-free lemonade. Huzzah!

I've yet to have a buffet-style restaurant honor my card yet, though I've presented it often enough. I usually get the "Sorry, ma'am - we can't accept this", so I suck it up and pay full price anyways. Somehow, it seems like cosmic justice: for years, I paid for myself but ate enough for 3 people....now, I pay for myself and eat less than a quarter of what 'normal folks' do. It works.

I have had this issue ever since surgery...and I don't even consume Protein shakes of any kind due to my new-since-surgery lactose intolerance. Farts can NEVER be trusted.
I've talked to a couple docs, and they keep assuring me that this will go away in time (one of them said, "Once you hit solids, diarrhea and "productive flatulence" will be a thing of the past"...but I've been on solids for almost 3 weeks and still have several liquid stools daily).
I finally gave up sleeping with the nice sheets or wearing good clothes. I've had to learn to carry a whole change of clothes (from the waist down) with me any time I leave the house.
Wish I had suggestions how to stop it, but no luck so far.

I'm 3 months out, and I have a littany of things I can't eat...which has made life...interesting.
No bread, tortillas, breading (like on chicken or chilie rellenos). Can only have cheese in small amounts. NO chicken - doesn't matter how it's prepared, it sticks and causes such pain, feels like an elephant on my chest. No rice. No green leafy veggies of any type. No eggs - except in small amounts as part of quiche, etc. No cruiceferous veggies, even if steamed to mush. Some types of fish. No yogurt. No soy, any type. No Protein shakes (none that I've found yet....the uncontrollable diarrhea within 15 minutes of consumption is always amusing while at work or on an hour-long car trip). No ice cream, no popcicles - even sugar free.
Things I was told I wouldn't be able to eat anymore...but can! Beef, all types: ground, steak, etc. Beans.
Your mileage will vary. There's no way to predict.

Mina, I agree with the others that your post is inspiring and educational. I do want to mention, however, that I went to Mexico to have my surgery. I understand why you mentioned Mexico patients(we do not get the six month diet, etc) but not every patient is ill-prepared. My weight loss has been a little slower lately, but I'm okay with that because I learn more this way. I exercise at least 5 times/week, drink almost nothing but water and choose healthier eating options. I actually think Mexico patients do well because we are self-pay and so we don't want this to be a waste of money due to our own failure. I am far from perfect, but because of the support system I have and my own determination, I will NOT fail

I went to Mexico for my sleeve for a multitude of reasons.
My insurance has complete and total exclusion on bariatrics of any type. I knew I would have to be self pay. When I started researching options, the only surgeons that were in my reach financially within the US were either very inexperienced or had shady reputations...and their prices did not include meds, or a variety of other fees.
Additionally, I wanted my surgeon to have had many years of experience specifically with the sleeve. I found through my research that I was able to find a varied selection of Mexican surgeons that had this experience, as other countries (on aggregate) have been doing stand-alone sleeves longer than US surgeons. That is not to say that this is true for ALL US surgeons (don't flame me!), but it is distressing to see the number of US surgeons who have done a dozen or less sleeves being touted as "experienced".
For me, it came down to being realistic about availability of funds combined with the surgical experience I was looking for. I had my sleeve surgery in a hospital staffed exclusively with BSN prepared RNs, with a nurse to patient ratio of 3:1. That is nearly unheard of in the US. My surgeon and his team visited me personally several times a day, both before and after my surgery. This is also virtually unheard of in the US. As a wound care nurse, I get to deal with a lot of post-op wrecks as far as bad surgical techniques, poor closures, etc. The fact that my doc did not 1, but 3 leak tests (one in the OR, a methylblue first day post op and fluorscopy 2nd day post op), and that I could only find a couple US surgeons that did the same (and they were both WAY out of my price/distance range) made a big difference to me. Being a Registered Nurse makes me a bit more than simply an "educated consumer" - I am intimately acquainted with the other side of the nurse's station, and how the politics in US hospitals and nursing can be a detriment to the patient.
I know that going to Mexico may seem a little crazy. But it comes down to comfort and research. I had very strict standards that I wanted in both my surgeon and hospital facility - I was unable to find these standards in the US, so I looked elsewhere. Medical Tourism is a growing industry - can I tell you that I felt more pampered as a surgical patient abroad than I ever have when going to the local spa, a place that is supposed to be designed for pampering?? lol
There are many, many stories on this board of why people have made the decision to leave country for surgery - whether to go to Mexico, India, or beyond. If you have further questions, feel free to PM me
~Asche, The Crazy Cat Lady

For those of you who can't / won't / don't eat eggs, or just want something different....
1 block firm tofu, drained and crumbled
1 bunch green onions, sliced
2 Tbsp soy sauce - Tamari is best for this
1/4 tsp turmeric
1/2 tsp chicken bullion powder (optional)
Combine all and saute in lightly oiled skillet over med-high heat until liquid evaporates off. Delicious hot, reheated, etc....

Yes, it's true....we nurses get excited about some VERY strange things. I will admit to clapping for a patient when he FINALLY passed gas after waiting in recovery almost 4 hours after his colonoscopy - I'm sure he thought I was a freak

Wow, I'm 6 weeks out and still haven't been able to tolerate ANY fruits or veggies. At all. I get a tiny bite and then the stomach starts roiling....followed by a run to the bathroom within the next 30 minutes. I'm still stuck with soft proteins and it sucks >.< It's nice to know that eventually, some day....my anatomy may be less volatile.

I admit, I've been using sports bras...because at the end of a 12 hour shift of lifting people, I couldn't deal with underwires anymore. And much like others, I'm having the "dissapearing band" problem.
I'll look into the Genie bra, though...thanks!

You may have lost your period....cause apparently, I found it!
I started my period 3 days after surgery, and it went for almost 2 weeks. So I figured this month, I'd get a break....wrong! Another 13 day period. Sigh.
Ain't it grand to be a woman? lol

I'm always so glad to see people that are several months, years, etc, out from surgery come back and talk to the rest of us...helps us get a realistic picture of what to expect. Thank you!
Best of luck as you recover from surgery and move forward with your life

I had surgery over a month ago....we were at Costco today, and I purchased a slice of pizza for my daughter from their little food-court thing (we rarely have junk at home, and she's had a real yen for pizza the last several weeks)...and this skinny broad in line behind me starts making these very obviously loud comments to the woman next to her about how terrible it is that PEOPLE can't rein themselves in and how last she knew, Costco sells SALADS, etc. People are cruel no matter what. Surgery changes nothing. They have no idea that I've lost almost 50lbs, or that I can barely get down 400 calories on a good day - all they know is that I am FAT, and therefore an out-of-control JABBA THE HUT clone who deserves to be publicly humiliated.
My daughter came home one day and said she was invited over to a friend's house, but was warned that they won't have junk food at home, like we OBVIOUSLY have at our home. Which made me laugh...prior to surgery, I was hypertensive type 2 diabetic, I had to monitor my diet very closely. We had a bag of chips that sat on top of the fridge until they turned stale.
I should mention that even when you do get surgery and you do start losing weight, there's the inevitable comments about how you took the "easy way out", to further invalidate your efforts at health.
Bottom line: haters gonna hate, whether they be kids or adults. If you knew how little people thought of you, you'd think little of them too.
We here are very proud of you for soldiering on and doing what you need to do to take care of yourself. Don't let ignorant comments lodge in your brain

I had surgery over a month ago....we were at Costco today, and I purchased a slice of pizza for my daughter from their little food-court thing (we rarely have junk at home, and she's had a real yen for pizza the last several weeks)...and this skinny broad in line behind me starts making these very obviously loud comments to the woman next to her about how terrible it is that PEOPLE can't rein themselves in and how last she knew, Costco sells SALADS, etc. People are cruel no matter what. Surgery changes nothing. They have no idea that I've lost almost 50lbs, or that I can barely get down 400 calories on a good day - all they know is that I am FAT, and therefore an out-of-control JABBA THE HUT clone who deserves to be publicly humiliated.
My daughter came home one day and said she was invited over to a friend's house, but was warned that they won't have junk food at home, like we OBVIOUSLY have at our home. Which made me laugh...prior to surgery, I was hypertensive type 2 diabetic, I had to monitor my diet very closely. We had a bag of chips that sat on top of the fridge until they turned stale.
I should mention that even when you do get surgery and you do start losing weight, there's the inevitable comments about how you took the "easy way out", to further invalidate your efforts at health.
Bottom line: haters gonna hate, whether they be kids or adults. If you knew how little people thought of you, you'd think little of them too.
We here are very proud of you for soldiering on and doing what you need to do to take care of yourself. Don't let ignorant comments lodge in your brain

Understand...no one but fat people or previously fat people (me) know what it is to hold onto this weight. We know it is not a choice to be fat. Most all of us have tried every on line diet, fad and support group without long term results.
Be encouraged that you will be the one who can be a cheerleader to someone else in the future who needs to lose weight. Forgive those who you can never educate on the battles we face.
I love my sleeve and have no regrets.

I had surgery over a month ago....we were at Costco today, and I purchased a slice of pizza for my daughter from their little food-court thing (we rarely have junk at home, and she's had a real yen for pizza the last several weeks)...and this skinny broad in line behind me starts making these very obviously loud comments to the woman next to her about how terrible it is that PEOPLE can't rein themselves in and how last she knew, Costco sells SALADS, etc. People are cruel no matter what. Surgery changes nothing. They have no idea that I've lost almost 50lbs, or that I can barely get down 400 calories on a good day - all they know is that I am FAT, and therefore an out-of-control JABBA THE HUT clone who deserves to be publicly humiliated.
My daughter came home one day and said she was invited over to a friend's house, but was warned that they won't have junk food at home, like we OBVIOUSLY have at our home. Which made me laugh...prior to surgery, I was hypertensive type 2 diabetic, I had to monitor my diet very closely. We had a bag of chips that sat on top of the fridge until they turned stale.
I should mention that even when you do get surgery and you do start losing weight, there's the inevitable comments about how you took the "easy way out", to further invalidate your efforts at health.
Bottom line: haters gonna hate, whether they be kids or adults. If you knew how little people thought of you, you'd think little of them too.
We here are very proud of you for soldiering on and doing what you need to do to take care of yourself. Don't let ignorant comments lodge in your brain