Croaker

Sounds like referred pain.
The nerves of your diaphragm enter the spinal cord at the same level as those of your shoulder. The signals get crossed and you get shoulder pain.
I had this following my surgery for awhile due to the hiatal hernia fix I had at the same time. As stuff passed through the diaphragm I would have shoulder pain.

People can have profound sleep apnea without snoring!
You need to be properly evaluated. The big deal is that people with OSA (obstructive sleep apnea) halt their breathing, which leads to a drop in the oxygen content in your body. This has been proven, time and again, to be severely detrimental to health and healing. Mix that with a surgically assaulted abdominal wall and narcotics, and it can lead to issues post-operatively - both in the hospital, and at home.
This isn't just some box to be checked. It's important.

Just to note, the study published regarding the Reshape demonstrated increased weight loss over those who didn't have it, yet we aren't talking about huge amounts. Despite the above quoted weight loss average from the company, the study showed those who received the balloon lost on average 14 pounds over six months, compared to 7 pounds for those who underwent the procedure but didn't have the balloon placed (the placebo group).
So, does it help with weight loss? Yes. But 7 pounds more over the placebo group over a six month period isn't exactly going to get anyone from morbid obesity to a healthy weight.

Just to note, the study published regarding the Reshape demonstrated increased weight loss over those who didn't have it, yet we aren't talking about huge amounts. Despite the above quoted weight loss average from the company, the study showed those who received the balloon lost on average 14 pounds over six months, compared to 7 pounds for those who underwent the procedure but didn't have the balloon placed (the placebo group).
So, does it help with weight loss? Yes. But 7 pounds more over the placebo group over a six month period isn't exactly going to get anyone from morbid obesity to a healthy weight.

Plan, plan, plan.
Planning and packing food to take to work will be your greatest assets in keeping on track.

The important thing is to do the right things. That's what I'm focusing on.
I'm 5 months out in a few days, and my surgeon has a goal for me of 60% excess body weight lost by 6 months.
Right now I'm at 42%, so I'll likely wind up short of the goal.
However, I'm still holding to the principles of sustained weight loss, so I'm not particularly worried. I can't make my body lose weight faster (I tried shouting at my gut for awhile and it ignored me), so I pay attention to the things I can control.
Great post!

The important thing is to do the right things. That's what I'm focusing on.
I'm 5 months out in a few days, and my surgeon has a goal for me of 60% excess body weight lost by 6 months.
Right now I'm at 42%, so I'll likely wind up short of the goal.
However, I'm still holding to the principles of sustained weight loss, so I'm not particularly worried. I can't make my body lose weight faster (I tried shouting at my gut for awhile and it ignored me), so I pay attention to the things I can control.
Great post!

The human body is an incredible thing, capable of adapting to whatever conditions thrown at it while still driving the important things to it - providing enough fuel to survive on and storing what isn't used into fat. We are hard coded in our DNA to gain weight easily, to survive what used to be lean times between meals, and be reluctant to give up those fat stores unless absolutely needed.
We walk a fine line in trying to lose the weight, by proving to our body that through exercise that we need our muscle mass, while taking in few enough calories to force it to burn fat.
Once you realize that this process goes against our biology, it's easy to see that this is going to be a challenge.

The human body is an incredible thing, capable of adapting to whatever conditions thrown at it while still driving the important things to it - providing enough fuel to survive on and storing what isn't used into fat. We are hard coded in our DNA to gain weight easily, to survive what used to be lean times between meals, and be reluctant to give up those fat stores unless absolutely needed.
We walk a fine line in trying to lose the weight, by proving to our body that through exercise that we need our muscle mass, while taking in few enough calories to force it to burn fat.
Once you realize that this process goes against our biology, it's easy to see that this is going to be a challenge.

The human body is an incredible thing, capable of adapting to whatever conditions thrown at it while still driving the important things to it - providing enough fuel to survive on and storing what isn't used into fat. We are hard coded in our DNA to gain weight easily, to survive what used to be lean times between meals, and be reluctant to give up those fat stores unless absolutely needed.
We walk a fine line in trying to lose the weight, by proving to our body that through exercise that we need our muscle mass, while taking in few enough calories to force it to burn fat.
Once you realize that this process goes against our biology, it's easy to see that this is going to be a challenge.

The human body is an incredible thing, capable of adapting to whatever conditions thrown at it while still driving the important things to it - providing enough fuel to survive on and storing what isn't used into fat. We are hard coded in our DNA to gain weight easily, to survive what used to be lean times between meals, and be reluctant to give up those fat stores unless absolutely needed.
We walk a fine line in trying to lose the weight, by proving to our body that through exercise that we need our muscle mass, while taking in few enough calories to force it to burn fat.
Once you realize that this process goes against our biology, it's easy to see that this is going to be a challenge.

I weight myself daily.
However, I also don't obsess over the numbers. I recognize that my weight is going to fluctuate on a daily basis, up and down. The tracking software on my phone that I enter that weight into shows me the overall trend downward. I look at weighing myself that often as just putting in data points to watch the long term graph.

I'm not yet two months out, flew last week for work.
Yeah, I had to tighten down the belt several inches - hadn't done that in years. And the tray table went in front of me without touching my stomach.
Finding appropriate food can be a challenge in the airports, but I'd frozen rolls of turkey and cheese, shoved them into my backpack. By the time I got through security and hit lunchtime, they were thawed.

I weight myself daily.
However, I also don't obsess over the numbers. I recognize that my weight is going to fluctuate on a daily basis, up and down. The tracking software on my phone that I enter that weight into shows me the overall trend downward. I look at weighing myself that often as just putting in data points to watch the long term graph.

I'm not yet two months out, flew last week for work.
Yeah, I had to tighten down the belt several inches - hadn't done that in years. And the tray table went in front of me without touching my stomach.
Finding appropriate food can be a challenge in the airports, but I'd frozen rolls of turkey and cheese, shoved them into my backpack. By the time I got through security and hit lunchtime, they were thawed.

1 week.
I do two eggs over easy with a 1/4 cup of reduced fat shredded cheese. Works out to 18 grams of Protein and it sits well with me.

It would be easier to see it happening with the Roux N Y than the sleeve, since the sleeve relies only on restriction, while the RNY involves both restriction and reduced absorptive ability. And while being unable to maintain a healthy weight is possible, it's definitely a tiny percentage that are underweight.

I'd be cautious with any exercise requiring lots of twisting and reaching high for a few weeks after surgery. Torquing on your abdominal stitches could lead to a couple popping and an incisional hernia.
I was sleeved 2/23. I'm up to 30 min on the treadmill at 3mph and 3% incline, then the ellipictal. Right now only managing about 10 minutes on that, with the goal of increasing the time spent. At four week post op I'll add weight lifting.

My boys are 6 and 8.
I told them I was going to have an operation to make my life better, that it would limit how much I could eat so I wouldn't be as big any more. That would mean I would be healthier and around for a lot longer. We also discussed my stay in the hospital and that my stomach would be sore for awhile after coming home, so to be careful.
They've been great.

I'm preop, sleeving on the 23rd.
I'm looking forward to the flight thing, buying suits off the rack at a normal store, and being able to do the yoga position where you sit cross legged and bend forward. Right now I can't bend due to my gut.
Feeling agile again, able to run with the kids with ease, learning to scuba dive. Fitting into tight places at work. Not worrying if the attic stairs are going to collapse under me.

For the sleep study, it's needed before surgery because when your oxygen level drops due to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), it can significantly impair wound healing. Therefore, if you have apnea, you have to get on CPAP therapy and be compliant before you'll be cleared for surgery.
No, using CPAP therapy does not make you dependent on it. But it can take a long time to lose enough weight to no longer have apnea. Plus, not all apnea is weight related. Some people have OSA and are below goal weight.

I understand. I'm getting sleeved on the 23rd, and my BMI is 53 (though it's also dropping like a stone - I started losing during the preop evaluation process and now am on the preop diet).
Yes, I'll admit to having moments when I step on the scale, see how much I've lost, and think that perhaps I don't need the surgery. Then I remember all the times I've said it before. And while I could let doubt and worry creep in, I keep pushing it back with thoughts of my children crying over my casket. I'm doing this for them, and that keeps me focused.
So my advice to you is to let go of the thoughts of the post op recovery, and find something to fixate your mind upon beyond simply losing weight. Think of the people who want to keep you around.
Good luck.

I understand. I'm getting sleeved on the 23rd, and my BMI is 53 (though it's also dropping like a stone - I started losing during the preop evaluation process and now am on the preop diet).
Yes, I'll admit to having moments when I step on the scale, see how much I've lost, and think that perhaps I don't need the surgery. Then I remember all the times I've said it before. And while I could let doubt and worry creep in, I keep pushing it back with thoughts of my children crying over my casket. I'm doing this for them, and that keeps me focused.
So my advice to you is to let go of the thoughts of the post op recovery, and find something to fixate your mind upon beyond simply losing weight. Think of the people who want to keep you around.
Good luck.

It will likely take several lawsuits in order to get insurance policies changed regarding WLS.
There's new ammunition, however, with an article published just last week in JAMA (the Journal of the American Medical Association - one of the most prestigious and reputable medical journals in the country, if not the world).
It involved a study of patients at the VA Hospitals who averaged a BMI of 47. One group underwent WLS, and were matched with controls who didn't. They then followed them for a decade and the results were stunning. The surgical group had an approximate 60% reduction in mortality at 10 years. It's a stunningly convincing finding, one that basically says that WLS is not a lifestyle surgery, but a life saving surgery. It will be nearly impossible to refute in a court of law and will be a big wallop of ammunition in disputes against insurance company denials.
Good luck.

It will likely take several lawsuits in order to get insurance policies changed regarding WLS.
There's new ammunition, however, with an article published just last week in JAMA (the Journal of the American Medical Association - one of the most prestigious and reputable medical journals in the country, if not the world).
It involved a study of patients at the VA Hospitals who averaged a BMI of 47. One group underwent WLS, and were matched with controls who didn't. They then followed them for a decade and the results were stunning. The surgical group had an approximate 60% reduction in mortality at 10 years. It's a stunningly convincing finding, one that basically says that WLS is not a lifestyle surgery, but a life saving surgery. It will be nearly impossible to refute in a court of law and will be a big wallop of ammunition in disputes against insurance company denials.
Good luck.