cindymg

http://www.nbcnews.com/health/many-health-woes-teens-seeking-obesity-surgery-study-8C11518991

I don't know if I can blame other people's reaction to my fat for my problems in life. I was different, always angry, always tired, always depressed. I didn't want to be around me either. Now people comment on how they see me more often, how different I am. And I know they don't just mean physically, they mean my personality. What they probably don't realize is that I am doing some pretty intense exercise and not eating many calories. I am frankly too mentally and physically exhausted to be angry, or depressed. Most of the time I am just content.

Go to your personal physician and have them test all of your vitamin levels, especially the B vitamins, Vit D3, iron, sodium, potassium and thyroid. At one month post op I was just starting to get my energy back. Sounds like you are low in something.

I've bought 3 sizes of jeans on my way down. The size 16s I wore once; the 14s, a few times; now the 12s are baggy and I am on my way to 10s. I never thought I would ever be smaller than a 14! For me it was a way to see my success and made me very happy. Worth every cent! The now-too-large jeans are going on eBay.

I calculated one day that I lost and regained more than 2,000 pounds over 40 years of dieting, "doing it on my own." Then, one day after my surgery, I realized I was freed from ever having to do that again. What a great feeling that was! I'm 30 years older than you. If I could have had sleeve surgery at 29, how different my life might have been. Don't let anyone talk you into wasting the next 30 years fighting the same battle over and over. Take a car service or taxi to/from the hospital if you have to. You won't regret it. Good luck on your journey. It's going to be amazing!

I didn't have any real pain after surgery. For about 24 hours it hurt to cough or laugh, but I learned to hold onto my tummy so it didn't hurt so much. And by "hurt" I mean it felt like I had done about 500 sit-ups, not agonizing pain. Get some GasX strips for the gas. They worked for me.

Gastroenterologist told me the same thing once. Sometimes if I eat late then go to bed, I sound hoarse the next day. Had my sleeve surgery 5.5 months ago. No GERD, no complications, no nausea/vomiting. Down 56 lbs. Best decision I ever made. If one surgeon has a problem doing sleeve surgery, find another.

Liquid Tylenol is also available as "Tylenol Cold." It's only liquid Tylenol with mint flavoring. No antihistamines, decongestants. Avail at Walgreens.

Walgreen's has a pill crusher for maybe $6. Put pills in, screw in crusher and voila! I put my in sugar-free Jello that was made with unjury Protein powder. Once I went to soft foods, I abandoned the crushing and started taking small pills or caplets without crushing. 5 months out I still can't take the really large horse pills and I miss my Alive Vitamins. I found a small capsule for a multi Vitamin. Right now I am taking Bariatric Advantage capsules -- 6 a day. But I see Whole Foods carries a Multi in Mini-tabs. 3 a day.

I think it just eats at the stomach lining, and it mimics hunger.

Is it just me, or is anyone else thinking, "what kind of people care if someone is or is not eating?" Unless it is the host/hostess who slaved over a hot stove all day making special dishes and wants to know what you think of them, what business is it of anyone else's if you eat or don't eat? I go to a cookie party every year before Christmas. Sometimes I even bake and enter the cookie contest. And I don't eat sugar! So I usually just walk around with a wine glass (sometimes just filled with water). If someone asks if I tried a particular cookie, I tell them I don't eat sugar and that usually stops that conversation. I always have a great time at the party talking with friends, meeting new people and seeing what everyone has made.

I started using straws at about a month post-op. No problems.

I got tired of crushing my pills after a couple of weeks and started taking Tylenol caplets (they slide easier) with LOTS of water. Got permission to take ibuprofen for a shoulder problem at about 6 weeks. It made me hungry for days! So not worth it. Walgreens has an arthritis-strength Tylenol. Works somewhat better than regular Tylenol.

Try finishing your meal with something moist, like fruit or applesauce. Or get some sugar-free life savers and pop one in your mouth after you eat. It takes the edge off the thirst. You will get used to not drinking during meals, or 30 min afterwards. I set the timer on my phone and find that the thirst passes. Sometimes I even forget to get something to drink even after the timer goes off.

Thank you. You are sweet.

My last A1C was 6.2. No more diabetes meds for me! In fact, yesterday I waited too long to eat and had a LOW blood sugar problem. Whoopie! Do you know how long it's been since I had low blood sugar? I always carry a protein bar in my purse so I was okay, but just so unusual for me.

My hair was thinning several years ago and I discovered taking Fish Oil 2x a day stopped the thinning. Now I take Coromega, a gel Fish Oil pack. Easier to take than those big capsules. My hair started thinning again at 4 months post op. We're talking like 10 strands a day. I use Revita shampoo to help prevent shedding, and Revita conditioner to help it regrow. My hairdresser tells me my head is full of little regrowing hairs! I also take tons of Vitamins, including a multi, B12, Vit D and E, 5,000 mcg of Biotin. Recently I found out I was Zinc deficient which can also cause hair loss, so I have added zinc tablets. We'll see if that helps.

I thought I looked older for a couple of months after surgery, but my friends have convinced me that I look so much younger. What do you think? Before surgery 5 months post op, 56 lbs down

You are going to be on Protein shakes for awhile after surgery, so you should find one you like. I used Bariatric Advantage Choc and vanilla. The vanilla you can flavor with things like piña colada or other fruits. Also

Sleeve was the only surgery I ever considered. Best decision I ever made.

Yes, I gave out candy tonight. And, yes I felt guilty about it. This is a debate I have with myself every year, but I figure why ruin the kids night (yeah, yeah, ruining their teeth, I know). Can you tell I am conflicted? Next year I think I'll try the goodie bags with pencils, stickers and maybe one mini candy bar. Halloween used to be a big binge day for me. I had to declare my house a caramel-free zone as they never made it to the kids' bags -- rather they made it only to my mouth. But 12 years ago I gave up sugar so that I could get off insulin. And, I've never looked back. Now I've lost my taste for sweets. But using the theory of aversion therapy, every time I think about trying something sweet, I just remember how awful it was to be on insulin, and the desire passes. So how does someone who doesn't eat sweets end up needing WLS? By substituting other carbs for sugar, that's how. Carbs still call to me, but my sleeve saves me time after time. Trick or treaters have stopped knocking on the door now. Survived another Halloween!

Eat near the microwave? Seriously, though. It does get better. You'll be able to get through the entire amount while it is still hot soon.

I had bags under my eyes for the first few months. They seem to be gone now.

Try the 4% milk fat large curd cottage cheese. I agree the 1-2% is nasty. I have tried all brands and like Dean's large curd cottage cheese the best. It is more like real cheese. Before my surgery I only at Cottage cheese with pineapple. But now I like it just plain. I actually measure out my 1/2 cup portion, then eat it right from the measuring cup (why dirty a bowl)?