AshleyMidwife

I'm having a food funeral this weekend...exciting! Going into town for a night out and a fancy hotel. Gonna find the best pizza place in Seattle and enjoy because it'll be a very long time before that'll happen again. I gotta do something to shake my anxiety about the surgery. I tell my patients all the time that planning a fun event can help to take their focus away from a scary procedure. Then liquids start Monday! Even though I've been watching a lot of videos and reading forum about complications, oddly I feel a little more settled about it all. At some point I have to get to acceptance stage....almost there! Happy thanksgiving all!

It's in the support groups thread. Thanks for the good thoughts!

Felicia, thanks for your honesty. For me, I am also worried I will regret it. My mom just says, "Ashley, you don't have to do this." And even though this is elective, yes, I feel like if I don't do this I will never be successful in weight loss. I do have a supportive boyfriend who is up for helping me out after. Was there anything special you brought to the hospital or anything you wish you would've brought? I spent 100 bucks at Walmart today on stuff for hospital and postop.

Dec 9th sleever here! Getting excited and nervous...... I did my preop nutrition class this last week and I have to say that I was even more anxious about the diet after the class...it's becoming very real. It's not this theoretical thing anymore. We learned about preop diet, postop stages 1, 2, and 3 (liquid, purée, and soft) diet and supplementation. I'm so nervous about the diet....not that I won't be able to do it, but that I'll be hungry and lethargic. I know it's truly a form of starvation but our bodies can survive and will be in a much better place over time. I bought my supplements and found that my usual supplement online vendor has bariatric options and are way more affordable that most. It's Swanson Supplements. Check em out. I also tried a Isopure premixed ready to drink, it was melon/ apple.....tasted like candy! Yum! I'll try a few more before I buy a stock of some. I also bought some flavorless soy protein, and already have other protein shake mix. So I'm getting prepared, but feeling very very nervous as the big day gets closer. Thank god my family and boyfriend are supportive. How is everyone else preparing? Feeling nervous? Excited? Mourning?

Protein protein protein!!! And water too. Fatigue is likely attributed to lacking of these two things. Keep working on your vitamins and check in with your surgeon.

Got all my paperwork submitted to insurance today! Now just waiting for the final approval for dec 9th. I. Can't. Wait. Hurry hurry December get here!

I'm scheduled for dec 9th! Excited to be a part of December group!

Hello. My name is Ashley and I am a coffee-aholic. I gotta say, I love my coffee...I'm from the home of Starbucks after all! I am so nervous to detox from my self admitted addiction. I've also read that you can't have any coffee post op....EVER. Help me! I'm planning my surgery for December but just might lose my mind without that perfectly brewed cup of joe! While I understand no coffee during healing, is there any time when I'll be able to enjoy a hot cup of coffee again? (Don't even talk to me about decaf) And furthermore, what about wine! One of my favorite activities is wine tasting! (Washington state has award winning wineries:) Vets.....what's the scoop?

That Is a normal BP. We all should shoot for that number!

If you don't mind sharing, I know many of us would like to hear your story. What's happened this year?

Are you getting enough protein? And push those fluids girl!

I don't recommend depo. You can do pretty much any other method, however the IUD (paraguard or mirena) is a very effective method. The mirena secretes a small amount of progesterone to your uterus to make your periods very light and infrequent. Many have no periods while on this method! It's good for five years and is nearly 100%effective. I have this method....best thing ever! I haven't had a period in over a year. The paraguard has no hormones, so you'll have your normal periods and it's good for ten years. If you tend to have heavy periods, the paraguard tends to make bad periods worse...FYI. Good luck!

How old are you? You may not want to wait. After 32, if you've had difficulty in the past, I always recommend seeing a specialist. When you're ready, come off BC and give it a try! Track your periods and have lots of sex about 2 weeks prior to your cycle. And make an appt for a fertility specialist too. It's worth it! Good luck! Also, PCOS is often a product of being overweight. You might have an easier time now that the weight is off. FYI!

There really isn't a minimum weight gain for pregnancy these days. As long as you're taking in calories daily and your baby is growing appropriately (your provider should do more growth scans than a normal pregnancy) then you're good to go. There are people who don't gain any weight and have healthy babies. So keep on with 64+oz of water daily, and lots of protein. A little exercise is good also. No worries! Enjoy this exciting time!

Depo provera does cause an Increase in appetite, so that's why many gain weight. It is progesterone only and does cause calcium depletion from bones. I don't prescribe it to my patients over 30 for that reason. If you're on it be sure you're taking calcium supplements!

My man and I are madly in love and he loves my body, no matter what, but feeling him grab my fat rolls is humiliating. I can't wait to have skinny sex! All you success stories out there....how's the skinny sex?

I will not miss having fat sex. My man and I are madly in love and he loves my body, no matter what, but feeling him grab my fat rolls is humiliating. I can't wait to have skinny sex! All you success stories out there....how's the skinny sex?

Hey ya'll! I'm two months away from my surgery date! I've been jumping through the insurance hoops for 4 months and now I'm two months away! I just have my preop nutrition classes to complete and I'm all ready! Sleeve Date is tentatively dec 9th. This will be the best gift I have ever given myself. I've really enjoyed reading all of your journeys...the good, bad and ugly. I am excited to start my own and to use this amazing tool to its full potential! Thanks for the inspiration all of you

Remember also that there is fat stored around your organs and that fat is going away as well. You won't see any drastic change is waist size if you're losing from around your organs, but believe me, your body is thanking you. Keep up the good work!

Actually PCOS is a symptom of having too much weight on board. Fat (adipose) causes increased levels of androgens (male sex hormone) to be circulating on our systems. That's what makes it difficult to get pregnant. Women with PCOS don't ovulate as regularly, so it's hard to time sex with ovulation because it happens so infrequently. When we lose weight, often our periods become regular again and ovulation more regular, making it easier to get pregnant! There is also a component of insulin resistance with PCOS that can inhibit ovulation. That's why trying a medication like Metformin can be helpful. All in all, weight loss is good and can cure PCOS! Hope this helps! (Don't forget there are exceptions to every rule. I know some who aren't overweight that have PCOS. It more common as stated above however)

TRUE! Anyone with bariatric surgery should have serial growth scans to be sure their baby is growing well, and beyond that just eat healthy. As long as your baby is growing well, no worries! No weight gain needed! Bariatric surgery patients also should have the Vitamin levels checked due to problems with absorption. Even with lap band and sleeve procedures. Hope this helps!