Daisee68

It sounds like a stricture to me. Don't wait too long to call them. If you are vomiting that much (as did I about the same time out due to a stricture), you are not getting appropriate nutrients or getting hydrated which makes the constipation worse. The stricture is an easy fix - balloon dilation via endoscopy. It is important to get this checked.

Well I didn't nap... but I also didn't exercise . Today....

For what it's worth, autoimmune disease is nothing like having a shot immune system. Sorry you are having such trouble @@abenamati!

Wow! You are beautiful - pre and post!

Congrats! What a great feeling! Incredible work!

They hypothyroid always adds to it. If you have other symptoms (fatigue, dry skin, etc.) don't just let the doctors tell you "normal". I have one doctor that considers me "normal" at 4.9 TSH; however, my more in-tune endocrinologist knows that my TSH should be closer to 1-2 (that is for me particularly - not everyone). Biotin helps with hair regrowth I am told though I have not really taken it consistently enough to know. There are supposedly some shampoos that help with regrowth after chemo, so surely those would help (though I haven't researched it much). Believe the 2 I have heard of are Ovation and Nioxin. Might be worth checking in to.

Your BMI will likely qualify you. If you have any other co-morbidities (diabetes, high blood pressure, etc.), you will be surely qualified. Realize that "qualified" based on your doctor's standards does not mean covered by insurance. You story is much like most of us here. I thought about getting the surgery for many years and am so glad I took the leap last year. Keep reading and researching these boards. It really helped me prepare and make an informed decision.

I was approved on May 4, 2015. The requirements attached are dated May 15, 2015 which was after I was approved and I cannot link back to what was required at the time I was approved. Having said that, I don't know how one would consider "monthly documentation" to mean anything less than 25 days or more than 30 or 31 days. My point being, you cannot weigh in within 2 weeks of each weigh in and consider that "monthly".

@@mykdzmom - LOL! So agree with you! That is the best decision I have ever made (next to WLS of course)!

Today I WILL exercise. Oh and I promise not to nap today. (Got laid off almost 3 weeks ago and I have allowed depression / feeling sorry for myself to beat me more than a few of those days.) There... I put it in writing so now I have to do it! Just had a NUT appointment and she said I could move my calories up to closer to 1000. Woohoo! I have been staying closer to 800 to 900. Looking forward to seeing what healthy choices I can work in. And I am headed off to my very first trip to Trader Joe's. Wish me luck!

Agree with others. Take with food. Absorption is better with food anyway (even if just your Protein drink). The hunger feeling could actually be acid reflux.

For what it's worth, the process will likely move a little faster here at the beginning of the year as opposed to the end of the year when everyone is rushing to get surgery done once they have spent their deductible. I had my first consultation on Jan 20 last year and my surgery was on June 4. I actually could have had it a couple of weeks sooner, but couldn't due to some work conflicts. So in total 4 months was really what mine was but they told me to expect 5 months. It really depends on how quickly you can move through some of the pre-surgery requirements and how busy your doctor is.

I would agree that they do different things. The Kettlebells are good for all over strengthening. The dumbbells for more targeted strengthening. You can find "adjustable" ones at some of the sports equipment stores so those would be a good investment so you don't have to invest in and store a lot of a equipment. If you get kettlebells, be sure to get a DVD or watch some good videos so that you know the proper use. There is a lot of "squatting" involved (which is one way you get more all over body exercises) and I was putting a lot of stress on my knees not doing it correctly. Most important is to find something you enjoy! Have fun!

Congrats!! What a GREAT DAY!! Keep track of those NSV's! They are what keeps us all moving forward! (Especially the attention from others. And strangers at that! You go girl! )

I also have a Weight Watchers digital scale. It has 5 buttons to save weight for 5 different people. The cool thing about that for me is that I actually have one set showing my weight from when I first started to consider WLS and one from the morning of surgery. It is pretty cool to go back to those just to see I am not dreaming! I find it to be very accurate even after owning it for over 5 years (don't quite remember how long I have owned it past that).

One of the other signs I get when my thyroid is off (either hypo or hyper) is Restless Leg. My calves start jumping around and creepy crawly. Yick! I hate it. Sometimes even though my labs don't show anything significant, I KNOW from symptoms that I am off. You will learn that eventually and what level you are most comfortable at. My PCP tested me (as part of another panel) and said my thyroid was fine. My TSH was 4.9. That is NOT fine for me. To feel ok I need to be between 1 - 2 TSH. My endocrinologist recognizes that my count should be lower and trusts me and my symptoms to know if I need to adjust. Keep track of some of the other things that seem off - dry skin, hair loss, joint pain, irritability, etc. And if you don't have an endocrinologist or feel like they don't give you the attention you need, find a new one. I went through 3 before I found one that I liked (mine also deals with kidney stones which I have and is somehow related to my thyroid issues and the different way I process calcium as well as my diabetes and now my Vitamin levels/metabolism). It may take a while to find a good endo but keep searching if you need to. Good luck!

I don't have a PCP monitoring me (I had my surgery in Dallas), but my endocrinologist is great and understands tests that need to be run and monitoring same. Dr. Howard Heller. Highly recommend him. You might see if you can visit with him to see if he would monitor you afterwards.

@@cheerios45 - Correct. That was my understanding. They require "monthly" visits so 25 - 30 days apart only to qualify for "monthly".

Second vote for Mirena. (And for what it's worth, I have at least 5 or 6 friends / family that are in complete agreement that Mirena was best thing that ever happened.)'

You are right @Babbs. She does look great! That gives me hope! Can't wait until dr gives ok to start researching it! I am obsessed with getting my arms done this year if nothing else!

You know, I hadn't realized the part about skinny people being more supportive than not, but that explains why I have received so much support - everyone around me (even at work) is pretty thin / healthy. I have been so blessed to have incredible support from my friends and coworkers. (There is one friend that isn't but I knew she wouldn't be. She's just like that about everything medical.) Interesting observation... I tell EVERYONE (and I mean everyone - perfect strangers - about my surgery). I guess I figure if I don't act embarrassed of it and get it out there before someone says something, then I have the upper hand? I don't know. Like you, I don't quite grasp that I have lost over 100 pounds; however, mine is because I never really understood how heavy I was. (Crazy, I know.) So just probably the last 10 pounds or so have I realized that not only do I look different but I am actually starting to look - gasp - THIN! Concentrate on those NSV's. That is why we all did this - off the meds, better dr visits, fit in the plane seat, smaller clothes, etc. Those are the things that will help you realize the weight that is gone (said I after going to a movie today and realizing how nice it was to fit in that seat!) I too do not like the excess skin but constantly find myself staring in the mirror trying to decide just how bad it is. Most of it is covered up - except for the turkey neck and that BOTHERS me to no end. I will have my arms done if nothing else because I have always wanted to wear sleeveless (without the requisite cami over it). I can completely understand being anxious about your wedding dress, but girl, you are getting married and from the sounds of it to a wonderful person, so I agree with @@Valentina, spread your wings and fly! Congrats or your progress!

I had RNY so I know it is not the same, but I have Graves Disease so I had my thyroid ablated with radiation iodine in 2011 so I have no natural thyroid function and take Synthroid replacement every day. My med did not absorb properly post WLS (and my endocrinologist told me to expect it), so I was hypothyroid for a while and had to up my med. Synthroid can be particular so it would seem reasonable that the balloon could mess with absorption but it would seem odd that you would be enough hypo-thyroid in just 10 days. It could have occurred prior to your surgery and just now revealing itself? Also remember that you have to be consistent with taking your med and eating - i.e. at least an hour after the med, no Calcium within 4 hours of med (or if you do, just do It consistently), etc. Not sure if that helps, but I thought I would throw you what I knew...

I have also done a Mexican 7 layer dip with fat free refried Beans, greek yogurt mixed with lime and chili powder (instead of sour cream), avocado, onions and tomatos (or pico de gallo), black olives, jalapenos and low fat shredded cheese. Huge hit and no one knew it was low fat. You can serve with chips, but I ate mine just on a plate or in a tortilla or lettuce cup. I have also made Buffalo chicken Dip - lite cream cheese, Frank's red hot, shredded roasted chicken, greek yogurt, lite blue cheese and lite mozzarella cheese. I took chips and crackers but used cucumbers and bell pepper strips to dip.

With mine, they counted my first visit as 1st visit. And then I had to take at least 89 days to get in 3 more appts which were 25 to 30 days apart. My first visit was Jan 31. My last visit was April 30. There were 2 appts in between at the end of Feb and the end of March. My surgery was approved in less than 24 hours.

I watched and found the results depressing or I need to lower my expectations of what plastic surgery can do.