Djmohr
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Posts posted by Djmohr
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Glad to hear you are home and doing ok. Hopefully the blood pressure thing will get better for you.
Before surgery I had high BP and took medication every day for it. Now I have the opposite...I have low BP and very low heart rate.
They figured out they needed to get me off the BP meds when I went in for spine surgery 9 months after my bypass. My heart rate and BP was running so low it was freaking them out. They ran multiple EKGs before I went to the operating room. So we discontinued BP meds.
Then 2 weeks after my 3 level cervical fusion, I went to get up out of a chair and woke up on the floor. Thats when we discovered that I really do have low heart rate and bp. I still get black outs so I simply wiggle my feet for a few minutes before standing up and that regulates it.
I know it is low because my watch tracks my heart rate and I am regularly in the 30s and 40s while sitting. It is crazy how your body changes once the weight comes off.
Best of luck on your recovery and I am so glad that you are happy you did it. For me it was the best thing I ever did for myself.
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Every once in a while I eat oatmeal. It has lots of fiber and is good for you.
I never eat grits......although shrimp and grits sounds fantastic.
I suspect it would feel heavy in my tummy even now two years later.
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Well, I can tell you that ever since I had my RNY and started losing weight, my hands and feet are always freezing.
For me, it has nothing to do with Iron. there are many threads on this site about this topic.
Also....soon your butt will hurt too. LOL! When you lose the weight, it is insultation from the cold and the chairs you sit in......It is just the way it is.
All summer hubby keeps it 68 in the house and I am wrapped in sweaters and blankets. I am used to it now......
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27lbs is fantastic!
When is the last time you lost that much weight in that short of a time? You have to remember that you did not gain all that weight in 8 weeks you certainly wont take it off that fast either.
Be patient.....Slow and steady wins the race.....
Best of luck to you!
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This is where the heavy lifting comes in (pardon the pun). Most people lose on average 70% of their excess weight during the honeymoon period.
My surgeon made it very clear that if I intended to lose it all (and I did) that I would have to work very hard after things slowed down or stopped.
I lost 100lbs in the first 9 months, stalled for over a month and then things slowed to a crawl. It took alot of hard work and 9 more months to lose my last 52lbs and honestly the last 20 were pure torture.....or so I thought.
Getting to maintenance and staying there has been challenging for me. I gain and lose 5 to 7 pounds constantly. I totally understand it is up to me and have to bust my butt to stay below my goal. I am fighting that 10 to 15% regain with everything I have.
It can be done, you just have to stick to the plan and work through it one day at a time. Many are just happy with where they end up. For me, I want to stay where I am....at or slightly below my goal.
Then again, my biggest fear is regain. It has happened to me so many times in my life.
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There is alot of benefit to the wait time that insurance companies and doctors require here in the U.S.
I know in the beginning I was frustrated with it as well. My 6 month supervised diet took 9 months before I made it into the operating room.
That being said, that time allowed me to make changes one or two at a time that has carried me for the last two years and I hope will carry me in to the future. It isn't about losing weight at all, in fact there was no expectation on me to lose anything. It is all about building good habits and ensure you are ready to take such a drastic step.
Alot of people don't understand that until you are several months post op and you realize how hard it is to change and get the best out of your honeymoon period.
I hope this helps explain that at least a little. I am very very thankful for that time that I had to get my head straight. Having WLS is 90% head game and 10% surgery.
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You need to get your teeth taken care of before for sure. Once you have been on antibiotics for a period of time, the infection should be under control so if you get going on it, you will meet your timeline.
if you cannot get it done soon, I personally would push out my surgery. it is dangerous to go into a surgery with an infection of any kind.
Not sure how Mexico works but i know here in the states, they run a test in pre op holding area just to make sure that your body has no infection. At least they did with me.
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<p>I am working with a well-respected researcher and the National Science Foundation (NSF) to help them better understand patient perspectives on Obesity. I have four simple questions for you and would greatly appreciate your responses! We do not need member names and all information will be kept confidential.
- What are/were your biggest challenges during the weight loss process? (insurance, medication, surgery, maintenance etc)
- What would you like to have different to solve the problems that you need to face? And why? (new weight loss medication, new surgery approaches, more support groups, new insurance plan etc.)
- How much money do you spend for weight loss every year? (food, exercise, support groups, medications etc)
- How did you learn about the surgery/medications that you had/used/are using?
The biggest challenge for me came at 9 months post op. I had to have spinal surgery and that meant no more exercise other than walking. So, I had to lose the last 52lbs with nothing but diet which meant my calories needed to stay below 900. Now of course that is impacting the maintenance phase for me.
Honestly I feel strongly that losing weight post op is 100% up to me and my ability to change behaviors. So, if anything perhaps the ability to speak with a therapist that specializes in obesity and the disorders that come with it covered of course by insurance. Also, I feel strongly that obesity is a disease and once you lose the weight you are left with skin issues that impact you both physically and mentally and for that reason reconstruction should be covered by insurance.
I have spent many thousands of dollars for the last 2 years on both my diet, exercise and plastics. It is a very expensive disease. Next year, I am investing nearly 18k for my Tummy Tuck and breast lift. The weight of this drooping skin is pulling on my body making my back issues worse. Also, it is way more expensive to eat healthy than it is to eat crap. In this country, this should change. It is almost ridiculous.
I learned about the surgery options from my nephrologist, and leveraged my bariatric team for my Vitamins. I am no longer on other medications for obesity.
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If you stick to the plan you will lose more weight. My longest stall was 28 days and it was pure torture. the best thing to do is stay off the scale and follow your plan and it will work itself out.
I promise......
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I am 53 years old. I have severe osteo arthritis of the spine as well as psoriatic arthritis. I worked until I practically could not walk anymore and ended up getting laid off in April of 2014.
In June of 2015 I had my 6th spinal surgery having 3 levels of my cervical spine fused. In November of 2015 another back surgery to remove a non working neurostimulator that they thought was causing mid back and rib pain. (was not the cause and am still in therapy trying to figure out a solution).
I had my shoulder rebuilt in Feb of 2016. And am now dealing with the other shoulder and neck pain that still has not resolved.
I started the process of disability in April of 2015 and was denied about 8 months later. Then filed an appeal and received word this June that I was denied yet again. I filed another appeal and now have to go in front of a judge which wont get scheduled for a minimum of 18 to 24 months.
The reality is, I would be living out of a box if i waited that long. Incidentally I hired a lawyer right from the start so they know what they are doing.
I literally went through my entire 401K during this time.
So luckily I decided to do some consulting that would allow me to work from home. I started my own LLC and was hired by a previous co worker for this one project that ends at the end of November. The bad news is.....you are not allowed to work while filing for disability unless you make less than 1000.00 per month gross. So, my lawyer told me we are keeping the time in front of the court and trying to go back for the two years I was not doing anything.
It is unlikely that I will find another client that will allow me to work from my recliner with heating pads or ice packs taking breaks whenever I want or choosing my own hours so I guess I will have to refile all over again if they cannot get me moving again.
Filing for disability these days is not easy. I worked my whole life since I was 14 years old. There has never been a time that I did not work and make great money. I paid my dues and now here I sit without any help.
The whole process is an absolute joke. My lawyer told me people are dying waiting for disability to help them and he also told me that nearly every case has to go in front of a judge. It's ridiculous.
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Go back to the basics as if you had surgery yesterday. Are you following a high Protein, lower carb diet? Drinking a minimum of 48 to 64 oz of Water per day? Getting at least 1 gram of Protein for every inch you are tall?
Not drinking your calories or drinking with meals? Eating 3 small meals per day? No grazing......
Walking as much as you can.
What habits have you allowed back in?
I am only two years out and continue to struggle with maintenance. I gain a couple of pounds back and then lose it again over and over but for the most part I follow the rules and that is what helps me get control.
I would simply reset myself and see if that gets things moving again.
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3 days with no loss is not a stall. You cannot expect to lose weight every single day it just does not work like that.
A stall is several weeks with no loss......Your body fluctuates daily so if you get to the point where the up and down drives you crazy then it is best to stay off the scale. Weight once a week or once every two weeks.
I was a daily weigher but had to train myself not to get upset when i saw the scale not moving or worse yet going in the wrong direction.
Be patient. Your weight did not come on in a couple of weeks or months and it wont come off that way either.
I lose 100lbs in the first 9 months and then it took 9 more months to lose my last 52. Those months were excruciating but nothing like maintenance. It takes constant focus.
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Very interesting article, thank you for sharing.
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I am so glad you reached out. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
I definately know how stressful that can be having been at my Mother's side for several years before she finally passed at 67 years old.
Unfortunately I was at my heaviest so i am glad you are near or at your goal and still maintains through all of this. Taking care of your parents seems so much harder than taking care of your children.
Please take some time for yourself and go to your meetings if they help you. We are always here as well.
Take care and keep us posted.
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I wish!
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It will take some time for you body and mind to heal with any WLS procedure you have. 90% of this is head and if you can get that straight once the physical recovery happens you will be well on your way to a whole new life.
Just remember.....this is the short term recovery that has you down. You learn to deal with the other stuff and everyday it will get a little better.
It really will and then your buyers remorse will be gone.
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I had severe gerd prior to surgery. I saw the surgeon with the idea that I would have the sleeve. After seeing him and then getting a second opinion from my gastroenterologist, we decided the RNY bypass would be the better option for me.
Since having my bypass 2 years ago, I have never even had so much as a slight heartburn. Bypass cured my gerd and i take no medication for it whatsoever.
I could have had the sleeve, they would have done it but I was told i might be looking at a revision to RNY down the road and I wanted to have one surgery and be done. So here I am two years later at goal with all my comorbitities in remission or cured.
Best of luck to you!
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The job question @@LipstickLady poses is a good one.
I swear my previous job did not help me to maintain a healthy weight. When i started there i was overweight but not obese. 25 years of crazy hours, travel and the most massive stress I have ever experienced but I kept telling myself that it was worth it because the pay was incredible and I like the work itself when it wasn't a bunch of political BS.
Well, just a few months before my surgery I got laid off after all of those years. You would think that would have made the stress worse? NO....it was like a great weight was lifted off my shoulders. I will never put myself in the place of dealing with that much stress ever again. I feel like I missed my children growing up because I was always traveling and out of the state and sometimes the country.
Now they are both grown and have children of their own. I missed out......
What is worse I believe that job actually made me physically sick and broke my body, mind and even spirit.
As much as I miss that level of income I am thrilled that I got the hell out of there and can manage my stress 1000 times better.
For me, those crazy hours and political BS just was not worth it. If I had to do it over again, I likely would have quit when things got crazy. The company didnt appreciate it anyway, they looked at those of us who stayed and said, geez....we pay you too much money so you are now laid off.
Glad they did though because I could not see it while I was living in it....now I know.
Best of luck to you!
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There were two things that helped me deal with the gas pains and they were both suggestions by the nurses staff in the bariatric section of the hospital.
While sitting or laying a heating pad helps lot
Gas X chewables or strips.
They both helped deal with the gas pains. Also lots and lots of fluids will help push all those toxins out of your body and will also help with consitpation. I would keep pushing on your surgical team on the stool softener thing especially if you are taking pain medications.
Best of luck and hope you feel better soon!
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Nicely done! I wish I had been there with you. My Halloween was ok....but no parties this year.
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My surgeon its an automatic. If you have a gallbladder they will remove it.
Unfortunately I lost mine 10 years before in an open gallbladder removal. Left me a nice 5 inch scar right across my belly and 4 days in the hospital.
Now having an abdominalplasty and that lovely scar puts me at further risk for healing. Still having the abdominalplasty........cannot live with this huge apron of skin and residual fat.
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Congratulations!!!!
Orange juice
in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
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Well firstly fruit juices of any kind have alot of sugar and calories so they are usually off the table.
You do not want to waste calories with drinks as they dont fill you up with the exception of milk. Milk turns to a solid in your stomach fills you up and is a good source of Protein. Milk does have carbs though but they are good carbs and should be tracked.