mae7365

I'm three months on Thursday and I am thrilled. I think my husband is having an "affair" with the new me. I am so excited to shop, try on old clothes and have them be too big or have the smaller sizes fit. 43 lbs gone, down 4 dress sizes and 3 Jean sizes. No more medication for HBP or cholesterol. No more BiPap. Life is good!!!!!!!!

I pulled out my sewing machine.......haven't used it since I made Halloween costumes for my kids in the 90's. But I've figured out how to remove seams (seam removers are nifty devises) and I have taken in 2 - 3 inches from my slacks and shorts. It may not be a perfect tailors job, but it works for the majority of clothes. I refuse to buy new clothes or spend a zillion dollars on tailoring when I've changed sizes 4 times in 3 months.
But, I'm retired and this is a great project to keep me occupied. It would be a struggle if I was stills working or had small children around the house.

I pulled out my sewing machine.......haven't used it since I made Halloween costumes for my kids in the 90's. But I've figured out how to remove seams (seam removers are nifty devises) and I have taken in 2 - 3 inches from my slacks and shorts. It may not be a perfect tailors job, but it works for the majority of clothes. I refuse to buy new clothes or spend a zillion dollars on tailoring when I've changed sizes 4 times in 3 months.
But, I'm retired and this is a great project to keep me occupied. It would be a struggle if I was stills working or had small children around the house.

I just had my sleeve surgery last week with a BMI of 36.1. My insurance approved the surgery due to my sleep apnea. Ever doctor I needed to see (Family Practice, Pulmonology, Sleep Medicine) jokingly told me I was the skinniest patient having this surgery. I'm 57 and choose to be proactive before I ended up like my mother who has COPD, is an insulin dependent diabetic, has heart disease and morbid obesity. I've chosen to only tell a very few people outside my immediate family. I didn't want to have to explain my choice to people who think I'm "skinny". Just keep focused on your journey and ignore the people who don't truly appreciate the health issues associated with even mild morbid obesity.

I'm three months on Thursday and I am thrilled. I think my husband is having an "affair" with the new me. I am so excited to shop, try on old clothes and have them be too big or have the smaller sizes fit. 43 lbs gone, down 4 dress sizes and 3 Jean sizes. No more medication for HBP or cholesterol. No more BiPap. Life is good!!!!!!!!

I had the exact same issue - told the surgeon I was sure I was going to die since it felt like crushing chest pain - doctor told me it was esophageal spasms and they would stop about 3-4 days post op. AND THEY DID. Ask your doctor if that could be what is happening to you.
Hang in there.....it gets better each day.

http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/213908-acronyms-lets-make-a-list/
Here's a forum dedicated to collecting them.

I went shopping for new tops yesterday and kept defaulting to the larger sizes. Ended up in LARGE but kept walking back to the Women's sizes. I've gone from Size 2X to Large in 11 weeks. My daughter tells me I look "skinny" and I actually have a waist! I keep my sewing machine in the kitchen so I can take in the seams of my slacks before I leave the house.
I'm trying to create new habits - park as far out in the parking lot as possible so I need to walk further, I make a conscience effort to speak to people I know since people don't seem to recognize the thinner me........I'm proud of the decision I made and the changes I've made that have got me to this thinner me!

I've been at goal weight for years, I am 11 years post-WLS and food is often still a struggle. Although my weight doesn't fluctuate more than 5 or so pounds from goal weight, which I maintain, it is always a struggle.
I was on a cruise last week and the buffet was like a mermaid singing her siren's song enticing me to shipwreck myself on her fattening rocks. So tempting. And for the entire week she never shut-up!

What I'm beginning to accept is that I will ALWAYS be a food addict and need to remain vigilant at all times. I won't be permanently free of this addiction and there will always be struggle involved.
It seems my only choice is whether I struggle at a healthy weight able to participate in active sporting and life endeavors or whether I will struggle while I return to morbid obesity at 333 pounds and live out my days sitting in a chair in front of the tv gorging myself.

I choose to struggle while healthy and active. I have tools and support for continuing to choose the healthy, active path.
Maybe that's as good as it gets...and that's enough!

I'm sleeved and I'm required to take any OTC daily Multivitamin. I use Women's One-A-Day gummies.

This is my favorite thread in a long time. Thanks for starting it.
Yeah, the handicapped bathroom choice. Not sure I'll ever stop yearning for extra real estate there. But you're right--it's no longer a requirement.
And an old habit I really need to break is looking for parking spaces close to the store, so my feet and legs won't hurt while walking to the door. My feet and legs don't hurt anymore, so I've gotta change that one. Thanks.
I recently noticed, while standing in line at the post office, that I didn't really need to lean against the wall and slouch there to relieve my legs and feet from the weight of my body. That was a real eye-opener. Now, I can just stand erect, in line, with no issues. Kaboom!
My posture needs some work. I have slouched so long from the extra weight that I have considered buying one of those back braces that make you stick your tits out all the time. Anybody tried that? Got any other ideas about improving your posture after losing a lot of weight?
I'm practicing walking up stairs now without hauling myself up the banisters with my hands and arms. Likewise, I am practicing going down stairs without holding on for dear life to the stair railings. Truth is, because I'm no longer at the same risk of falling that I once was I don't want to continue to move my body like a semi-invalid.
That's all for now. But this is a great thread. Hope others post here, too.

I went shopping for new tops yesterday and kept defaulting to the larger sizes. Ended up in LARGE but kept walking back to the Women's sizes. I've gone from Size 2X to Large in 11 weeks. My daughter tells me I look "skinny" and I actually have a waist! I keep my sewing machine in the kitchen so I can take in the seams of my slacks before I leave the house.
I'm trying to create new habits - park as far out in the parking lot as possible so I need to walk further, I make a conscience effort to speak to people I know since people don't seem to recognize the thinner me........I'm proud of the decision I made and the changes I've made that have got me to this thinner me!

Your story is exactly why I had surgery last year. I have to be thankful for the co-morbidities (HBP, High cholesterol, sleep apnea, high glucose) since that was what got my insurance company to approve the surgery.......but every condition is GONE at 12 weeks post op. Blood pressure is perfect, cholesterol and glucose are normal and the biPap machine has been returned. I was a low BMI patient (36.1) on day of surgery, but I knew my quality of life and my health were going down the tubes quickly if I didn't have surgery.
@@wildGoose
Have your other health problems improved since surgery?

I started to explore the idea of weight loss surgery in 2007. At that point I weighed 320 pounds and had several co-morbidities, but they were manageable. For some reason, I could not get past the idea of having my intestines rearranged. I went to fat farms, weight loss centers, etc. I got my weight down only to have it go back up.
In 2013 I saw a cardiologist who insisted I have surgery. I finally knew that if I wanted to live, I had to lose weight, and that the surgery would be my only way. My diabetes was in bad shape, and I was living in compression socks and taking more and more medication. What I did not notice was that I was losing the vision in my left eye.
In October of 2014, I finally had the surgery. Things started improving immediately. Before the surgery, I had an eye exam that revealed my failing vision. I was referred to an ophthalmologist who prescribed surgery. Eye surgery is not pleasant as you have to be awake for the procedure so they only use a local. The eye problem was a result of high blood pressure and diabetes. There is no doubt about it. The vision in my eye is improving, but I still do not know if my vision will improve, or be correctable with glasses.
If you think you need the surgery, please do not delay. If you have good health but need to lose weight, please remember that the health issues are waiting for you down the road. I didn't have problems until I was past 50. Weight loss for vanity's sake is a good reason for surgery. But at the same time you are pretty much assuring that you will avoid some major health problems.
Good luck as you explore your possibilities.
Best wishes.

Sorry to the guys, but my biggest NSV's are girl things.
1. Buying pretty, lacey underwear size 7 vs. presurgery size 10
2. Yesterday I bought 5 new bras in Victoria's Secret and I haven't been able to shop there since 2005.
Then there are all the other greats like no more medications for high blood pressure & high cholesterol. Having a BMI that is Overweight vs. Morbid Obese. Having my daughter tell her friends that her Mom is now "skinny".
Thanks for posting this topic. I love reading everyone's posts.

I have a sleeve and my doctor repaired a hiatal hernia as well. For the first 8-10 weeks, I had the "stuck" feeling. In fact, for the first 10 weeks, I usually vomited when I got the stuck feeling. At my one month visit, my doctor told me not to worry about it.......my insides were still swollen, some people suffered from nausea/vomiting for up to 2 months post op and he promised me that he never had a sleeve patient die of starvation. The biggest issue is getting fluids in. I was never able to get the 64 ounces they recommended after surgery, but I'd get at least 48 ounce.
I've been GREAT for the last two weeks (12 weeks post op today), so I'm going to assume I've finally healed inside and the swelling if finally gone.

Call your doctor's office if you are sure you're getting enough fluids. I waited too long with dizziness, weakness and ended up back in the hospital with severe dehydration. Don't take chances.

I love to shop the clearance racks at Macy's, Dillards etc. They have designer clothes on those racks at crazy prices. Plus, they always have further discounts on weekends. Ross is always fun and reasonable. Designer names at discount prices. I'm currently into yoga pants (they make me look skinny) and I love getting them at Ross for 50% of what they cost at Dicks or Sports Authority!

@jayhawkgirl
Do not beat yourself up over 14 pounds. You can and WILL get back on track. Although you have so much sorrow in your life, you also have so many blessings (your improved health, your husbands improved health etc.). This is a great forum to vent (vs. eat), Celebrate weight loss AND non-scale victories like smaller clothes size etc. Welcome to the biggest support group you will find!!!!!

Wow, I'm not sure if I'm glad I'm following this or not. Lots and lots of very GOOD AND CONTROVERSIAL posts. I'll just be the Pollyanna and remind everyone that we are all in this together. We Celebrate each others victories and support each other when we relapse. And believe me, this Pollyanna is far from perfect. I have carb cravings that I've given into a few times over the past 12 weeks. But like many posts have said, I wake up the next morning, brush myself off and get back on the "high Protein, lots of fluid" train.

Wow, I'm not sure if I'm glad I'm following this or not. Lots and lots of very GOOD AND CONTROVERSIAL posts. I'll just be the Pollyanna and remind everyone that we are all in this together. We Celebrate each others victories and support each other when we relapse. And believe me, this Pollyanna is far from perfect. I have carb cravings that I've given into a few times over the past 12 weeks. But like many posts have said, I wake up the next morning, brush myself off and get back on the "high Protein, lots of fluid" train.

Special K Protein meal bars (strawberry, chocolate-peanut butter, cranberry walnut are my favorites). 180 calories with 10 grams of protein - not high protein by bariatric definition, but so much healthier than candy for my sweet tooth. They taste really good.

I still use gas-x on occasion. But they were essential those first few weeks. I also never had diarrhea, I had Constipation issues. If you are concerned, you should call your doctor's office.

My point is that NONE of us are going to be 100% perfect in our eating all the time. For goodness sake, we have to LIVE. So you go on vacation and overdo it a little? Get back on track the next day. Just because you break one plate unloading the dishwasher, doesn't mean you have to break the rest along with it.....
I know I'm a noob and in the "honeymoon" period of my surgery. But I'm also looking at this long term. If, ONCE IN A WHILE, I let my hair down a little and have a good time, I'm going to try to make sure I'm getting right back on track as soon as possible.I KNOW it gets harder as time goes on. But if I'm making good choices 95% of the time, I know I have a chance of keeping the weight off. I don't know. Maybe some of you can bookmark this thread and throw it in my face in a year or two when I'm struggling with maintenance, lol. I only know what I know NOW.
UGH. Sometimes the holier than thou attitudes on here are too much.

In April 2012, I was driving to work one sunny morning when my life changed. A 19 year old drunk driver drove into my lane and hit me head-on. I know just how lucky I am not only to be alive, but not to have been injured any worse than I was. I had 3 broken bones and spent 4 weeks in a wheelchair, 2 with a walker and cane, and weeks in physical therapy, but I'm still here! The problem was even after physical therapy, my joints hurt. I thought I just needed to work-out and lose weight. Uh, yeah, I was about 316 pounds, so that should have been enough of a clue! However, working out wasn't as easy as I thought it would be, because I was in pain during and after. I realized that I needed to take off the weight in order to make the exercise work for me. I had considered weight loss surgery before and had even gone to an informational meeting, but didn't follow through. It seemed too extreme! What I needed at this time was the extreme.
I had surgery Dec. 19,2012 by Dr. Teresa LaMasters. It was easily the BEST decision I've made to improve my health! I didn't have any problems. My insurance approved the procedure literally in less than 24 hours! I was fortunate that because of the car accident, my deductible was met and I didn't have to pay very much out of pocket for the procedure either. Nothing made me sick after surgery. My tastes changed some in that Protein drinks that I liked before surgery tasted like drinking Syrup after and I found that the only one I really like is chocolate powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury. I also discovered Quest Protein Bars and love them! For about the first year, everything was easy. I got down to 209 pounds and stalled some. Some of the stall was due to the fact that I discovered I could eat anything and maintain for the most part as long as I worked out and didn't over do. So I'd gain and lose the same 5 pounds! (This is the point I should have been smacking myself in the head! lol) Things were going so smoothly for me, that my husband decided to have the surgery as well. He's 6'4 and was over 400 pounds. His surgery was June 2014. He's down 125 pounds so far.
Now we're to the part of my story that got me here. In October, my sister started to not feel good and went to the hospital. She came home and they thought she had a virus. Two weeks later, she was worse and they admitted her. Three days later, no one had answers and she was transferred to a bigger hospital. In the meantime, I'm working on an important report for the federal government that will help me gain "points" towards re-funding the grant for my program. I was also informed at this time that my employer didn't want to spend the money on a grant writer and that it was now "my job" to write the grant that funds my job and 3 others over the next 5 years. Oh, and did I mention I was supposed to do this in my spare time for no money? We're approaching Thanksgiving and my sister is still in the hospital without a diagnosis, but with dozens of tests run. The week of Thanksgiving, we hear she's going to get to come home! Yea! The next day, they decided they needed to put a stent in and that she can't leave yet. Two days later, they decided she had polycythemia vera. She never got to come home. She passed away on December 1. 12 days before her son's 22 birthday...22 days before her 25th wedding anniversary...during her daughter's first semester of college. It's just so surreal to have my best friend and sister be gone. Our family is fractured. Two days before the funeral, my husband had surgery on an elbow he'd injured. The thought of him with anesthesia terrified me. Then two weeks later, I had surgery. We made it through Christmas and needless to say, food was a comfort through all of this. On Dec. 26, I went for my yearly mammogram and got a call two days later that it was abnormal and I had to have another. From there, I went to a breast cancer specialst and was informed that I had to have a biopsy. (I'm thinking to myself, are you FREAKING kidding me!! Yes, I was feeling pretty sorry for myself!) Good news, NO CANCER! Whew! In the middle of all of this, I finished that stupid grant that turned into a nightmare and things were starting to look up! Then, honest to God, I should be in a country song...I came home last week to find one of our furry, four-legged children dead. ARGH!!!!
I've decided that if I've survived all of this, then I can DO ANYTHING!! Yes, I've gained 14 pounds since my lowest weight. However, I'm determined that this will not beat me!! I am so encouraged my the stories I've read here and am anxious to try some of the suggestions people have made. Thanks for giving me some inspiration!