Getting-used-to-new-me

Thanks hockeygirl! Mine gets sore too. Sometimes I'm afraid it might break since it sticks out so much. It seems to go flatter when I tighten up my weak abs. And if I bend forward, sometimes it feels like it "clicks". Does that happen to you?

Hi there! I'm a 57 y/o mom of 6, grandmom of 6 (soon to be 8), and a medical transcriptionist trainer. I've been married for 35+ years and my hubs had roux en y in Dec 2013 (down 85 pounds so far). I first decided I wanted WLS about 3 years ago, but my family and even my husband were against it. They had watched me for years and knew I loved the hard work of DIY home improvements, and they had also seen me lose weight several times - they felt I could do it again. But a few things combined to make hard work very difficult - hitting 50+, working at an extremely sedentary job, and continuing to gain about 3-5 pounds a year. Eventually the hard work I loved became very painful, especially for my back. Last summer my husband and I decided we both wanted WLS and applied for insurance to cover it. He got approved, but I was denied, twice. As 2014 rolled around, a change in insurance coverage meant I was able to qualify (after 6 months medically supervised weight loss). My first appointment with the surgeon is Aug 13, and I'm both excited and wary/not looking forward to the liquid diet. I'm an emotional eater, I eat to feel better. I'm not sure how I'll deal with it when eating isn't an alternative. I'm reading cognitive behavior books that are helpful with changing my thoughts, trying to prepare as best I can.

I wasn't fat my whole life, but felt like I was anyway because I always had a tummy. Skinny kid with a tummy. I gained weight a few pounds a year over several years, intermittently losing between 10 and 30 pounds, then gradually gaining it back. My only weight related health problems are sleep apnea and fatty liver disease. I don't know how I can weigh this much and still have low blood pressure and normal blood sugar, especially with my sweet tooth and love of bread. But I know I can't count on my relatively good health to continue indefinitely without losing the excess weight. I'm looking forward to sleeve surgery and will make the most of it as a tool to get healthier. I'm going to need all the help I can get and am so grateful for the people on Bariatric Pal and all of the great encouragement and information. Thank you in advance for sharing what you know.

Welcome Lorammy! You may want to check out all the "pre-surgery" and post surgery" gastric sleeve posts for insights on what you'll be going through. I also began as a sleeve patient. But my insurance at the time only supported gastric bypass or lap band surgeries. I had a gastric bypass in December 2013. After a harrowing first few months following surgery, I'm appreciating what I had done to me now. I look forward to YOUR many posts!

Thanks kltklass! I emailed my NUT yesterday, the only one of my surgeon's group that I had an email address for. She said she didn't have an official medical answer, but would pass it on to the NP's that work there. No response from them yet. I suppose I'll have to look it up online. Please let me know if you find out anymore.

Thanks winning_by_losing!

I emailed my NUT and she said she'd pass my question on to their NP's for an official medical response. But nothing else yet.

I'm also posting this on the veteran's forum to see if others have had similar issues.

My main concern is that my xiphoid process almost sticks straight out. It never did that when I was thin. I can actualy remember that far back!

I was lucky(?) I got three weeks off. My co-workers got two weeks off. I think it depends on what our surgeon's group said regarding our unique health statuses, in total.

If I could have, I would have had four weeks off. I can't recommend anyone getting this surgery to begin with, let alone getting back to work within a week. That's superhuman! It's definitely not what I could have done.

It takes our bodies one to two YEARS to accommodate all the changes. So the longer the better.

I haven't seen a forum topic dealing with these changes specifically. So I thought I'd start one.

Has anyone noticed their xiphoid process, ribs, collar bones, and/or hip bones sticking out like never before, since losing all the weight?

This next is more for the veterans and medical staff out there: And I realize collar bones and hip bones can't really move. But do our xiphoid processes and ribs go back to a flattened, smooth, new normal? Or do we have to put up with them sticking out from now on?

I had that too. But it lasted a month until one morning I couldn't stay out of bed. My wife called 911 saying I was cadaver yellow. An ambulance ride to the ER later and they did an emergency upper GI to seal off the bleeders left by the RNY. I recommend you talk to your doc until they listen and check you out.

I just realized I am finally a normal bmi! This is such a huge milestone for me. I can't remember the last time I was a normal bmi let alone just overweight instead of obese.

Congratulations! That "normal" BMI is what I strive for too!

I ended up bringing a Protein Shake and some plain hummus. Not the greatest movie experience without the popcorn. But once I got into the movie I forgot about the Snacks. I was actually considering buying popcorn chewing and spitting- then I realized how ridiculous I was behaving. I'm only 5 days post op so prob not the greatest idea for me to eat popcorn even if it's only a few pieces. Worried about a bowel obstruction or overindulging and stretching my stomach.

Yes, you're right to NOT have popcorn this early in your recovery. When you're cleared for regular foods you can try a few pieces of popcorn, if you promise to chew them up real good!

The Taylor brand, clear glass model is the best and most accurate. But we're on our second one.

Pre-surgery I broke our first one. I was too heavy for it. I had to read it after I stepped off it. I tried reading it while standing on it, pre surgery, and my toes caught it and flipped it in the air, like a tiddly-wink and it crashed into our shower-base and the glass broke. I can laugh at it now, but it wasn't funny at the time.

Anyway, I believe how I look to myself and how I feel about my success is more important than how much I weigh.

1/2 cup of velvety black bean Soup. Going to the movies tonight and wishing I could have popcorn...movie theatre popcorn is the best :-( I know it will likely be at least a year before that is even possible.

You should try a few pieces of popcorn, just chew them up real well.

Glad to help!

Please also stay in touch with your bariatric doc, ARNP, nutritionist, etc.

And I have to eat s l o w l y or I get severe pouch pain.

My NUT says to eat a half cup at a time, without drinking liquids, and up to two cups a sitting. I'm supposed to do this on a 2-3-2 schedule, which means six meals a day, the first within two hours of waking, then every three hours, with the last no less than two hours before bedtime. I'm supposed to drink Water throughout the day, no less than two liters per day. I'm finding that I have to drink most of my Protein because I can't tolerate much meat.< /p>

I hope this helps.

Also I had my surgery 12/10/13. And I've lost 75 pounds so far. My NUT and doc and ARNP all tell me I could quit losing now. But I'm going to follow the program and see if I can get to a normal weight instead of the overweight range I'm currently in.

I can't "feel" my pouch I don't guess but I hurt or tighten in my chest when I am full.. Does that count as feeling your pouch?

I'm with you Greenize. I feel the pouch pain when I eat more than a half cup or a half cup too quickly.

For what it's worth, you may want to call the surgeons group, and drink your Protein today.

I hear you u no it.

I too am not regular with my post RNY eating. But I'm getting better at knowing what I can tolerate most of the time. I've been adding steadily to those foods I can tolerate, and even like. It's mostly vegetarian foods. I'm still having to supplement my Protein intake with whey shakes and Protein Bars. I don't know if I'll ever get to where I need by eating regular foods.

My wife doesn't like some food textures too. But every once in a while she try a sip of the strawberry smoothie I make.

It's all a big experiment--eating after RNY.

I think they all do. The worst for me was the GNC brands. You may get better results by adding the whey Protein to a fruit smoothie. Just don't add sugar. If you're like me, the sugar will make you nauseous.

I get nausea from eating sweets AND fatty foods. That's good, because it points me to what I should be eating. It also keeps me from eating what I used to.

The Body Fortress brand, at Wal-Mart and Bi-Mart is the cheapest. And it has a good Protein to carb ratio.

I agree with you all.

Yesterday I was in the dentists chair trying to answer with all that stuff and their hands in my mouth. You know what I mean? They asked how I felt being 70 pounds lighter. I struggled to answer. All I could think to say is, "I'm still trying to get used to it."