Daisee68

I was also going to recommend the Leslie Sansone videos - Any of the walking ones. Trust me you get a good workout in some of the faster paced "miles" but start slow. Oh and PS - WEAR GOOD SHOES. I know this seems like an obvious to most but I thought, meh it's just walking. Ended up with a stress fracture in my heel. Had to wear a boot for 9 weeks (including while I was in the hospital for my RNY).

I had Cigna and they covered my surgery. They told me when I initially called that some of their plans do and some of their plans don't, so you will have to check YOUR specific plan. IF your plan does cover WLS, they can provide you with their requirements in writing, but here is the one I referred to - https://cignaforhcp.cigna.com/public/content/pdf/coveragePolicies/medical/mm_0051_coveragepositioncriteria_bariatric_surgery.pdf

Love jicama. I have had it in Mexico on vacation many times. One salad was tossed with mango and line. So good! Re green tea, check out all the flavors of green tea on RepublicOfTea.com. they even have decaf versions.

I take Gas-X and/or Zantac and drink some water. Sometimes it helps. Depends on the reason.

Agreed. Employer cannot overrule even if self-insured. Get a copy of what drs office received.

Thank you for clarifying

Now I want cake....

I have not found it yet myself, but I have seen a lot of people post about it. I seem to recall it is a little high in carbs so be careful (if that is accurate). I also hate Isopure. I have found other ways to get my Protein.

I was taking very small pills (eraser sized) right after surgery (seriously 2 days). For bigger pills, even now (7 1/2 months out), I break the size pills you show in half just for safety sake.

I'm sorry to tell you this, but it takes time. At 6 weeks, I could certainly tell a difference, but for me it was 3 months before I really started feeling more normal and then by 6 months I could tell a real difference. Hang in there. Just keep working. You will look back in 6 months and wonder where the time went!

Thanks @@JamieLogical! You look great! That makes me feel so much better! Did you have the same kind of depression those folks did or do you suppose the show just exaggerated it for dramatic affect?

I went through exact same thing - wanted sleeve, had bad reflux so surgeon said bypass was better, worried about the malabsorption, etc. I am only 7 months out so maybe it is too soon for me to really speak, but I can tell you that once I got past the first few months, I have really felt pretty good. I have had several Vitamin level tests and have always turned out fine. Before my surgery, I have had chronic kidney stone issues (related to a thyroid disorder / Calcium disorder) so I was seeing an endocrinologist. Even with these concerns, he was all for the bypass. He said as long as we monitor the levels and I take the supplements (which way easier and cheaper than all the prescriptions), I will be fine. And correct me if I am wrong @@James Marusek, but have you said recently that the malabsorption does eventually taper off? My diabetes is clinically cured, I am down 115 pounds and I feel great. I have not had any symptoms of dumping (though I do follow my diet pretty strictly for the most part.)

I have way hex both episodes now and I know it is edited together what they want but I found both episodes depressing. None of them really looked that good after Maybe my expectations are unrealistic but I would be sorely disappointed if I still had that. Much stomach showing in this clothes after surgery. Maybe they just had bad clothes on? With my loose skin I don't look like have that much of a pooch... And they just seemed so sad. I don't think I will watch it again

There are A LOT of autoimmune disorders other than RA, and working with a good rheumatologist who will run a lot of tests will help you get to the bottom of it. I do not believe anything actually causes auto-immune disorders. The stress from the surgeries and pregnancy may have caused it to finally reveal itself but not cause it. I was diagnosed with Graves Disease (an autoimmune disorder affecting thyroid) at age 43. It runs in my family. My first cousin was diagnosed with it at age 23. Mine just didn't raise it's head until after some other physical stressors I went through. I know it is scary, but do your best to try not to focus on it. You cannot change anything and a good rheumo will help you treat it. Best of luck to you! Keep us posted. And meanwhile do your best to stick to the program.

This is probably unlikely but the thing that came to my mind is rhabdomyolysis.

Very common to stall early on. Just stick with the program - fluids, Protein, Vitamins. It will come off. You just have to trust the process. During the stall, your body is catching up. As @@Inner Surfer Girl says "Embrace the Stall". - http://BariatricPal....brace-the-Stall Hang in there!

When is the last time you had your Vitamin levels checked? That is probably where I would start. And any chance you aren't getting enough Fluid? Yes, meantime, avoid elliptical or anything that would overstress your major muscle groups.

How exciting! You are going to have a blast! And look what you have done so far - 190 pounds?! That is amazing! Don't be paralyzed by the food and let it derail your fun. We all have to still live life. (Don't use vacation as an excuse either but you have to enjoy it!) Stick to the basics - Protein first, drink lots of Water and listen to your pouch. You will get so much exercise in from all the walking. (Take a pedometer or other fitness tracker. It will be fun to see how many steps you get in.) And promise yourself now, that if on the very off chance you gain a couple of pounds while gone, you will NOT beat yourself up. It WILL come off again! PS - Just think of how much more comfortable you are going to be on the plane and how you can walk for days without it hurting! Have a fabulous trip and be sure to post pics!

I was in the same boat as you. At my consultation, I was having very bad acid reflux and the dr suggested that bypass would be much better because many with sleeve (not all) have increased acid reflux after surgery. I was dead-set against bypass and left there upset but did finally come around to it (a lot thanks to this site). I would say this though - not every with bypass gets dumping syndrome (likely the drs reason for saying it would be best for you because of the foods you eat). I do not have dumping (or at least haven't thus far at 7 months post-op but I am very careful about what I eat - so far). In the end, I am quite glad I did the bypass.

They are completely forgotten about I am pretty sure...

I hate this show! How can you be disappointed when someone ONLY lost 6 pounds in 1 week. Seriously messed up. Just needed to say that! I don't know why I am watching it!

It really depends on your specific health plan. I have Cigna and my surgery was covered. Have you called Cigna to see if your plan covers bariatric surgery?

I would also suggest seeking out a therapist that specializes in bariatrics. If you saw someone for approval before surgery, call them. They can help you get back on track.

@@toddindy1 - Call your Dr. I had a structure about 3 months post-op. I could eat but it felt like it was building up in my esophagus and I would have to vomit. Once I did vomit, I would feel so much better so I would try again to drink and eventually felt sick again. The dilation was very easy. They did mine twice because I was so tight (not much more room than a pinhole). I was asleep maybe 10 minutes and they used a balloon that stretches the space. I felt better immediately. Then I went back the following week a d they stretched it more. I have been great since. Hope that helps!

I have done underarms and lower legs. It hurts where there is less fat/skin - i.e around my ankles. I am told that the forehead is the most painful spot, but I am not testing that theory! (I don't know who or why people are lasering their forehead...) I had a neck treatment (skin tightening - no idea if it will work but was willing to try to get rid of the turkey neck) this week though and man that HURT! it was like burning me with a match over and over. I did use prescription strength lidocaine but I only put it on about 30 minutes before like they told me, but about an hour after the treatment, my neck was suddenly numb and stayed that way for hours. Next time I will use the lidocaine much sooner than the 30-40 minutes they suggest! The results on my underarms and lower legs is totally worth it! The place I go has 2 different lasers. The one used for hair removal must not be as strong as the one for skin tightening.