Daisee68

@@RedE2Go - One other thought. I am having plastics soon out of town and I won't be able to have someone with me the entire 2 1/2 weeks I will be there. I will be staying in a hotel and I will have people there some, BUT even with that, my dr recommended a home health care company that specializes in surgery rehab that I can hire to come by to check on me and take care of some tasks - drains, wound care, etc - even driving to dr appts and errands. I haven't checked in to the cost yet, but I wonder if you might be able to find a local company that could do similar for you? I don't know if that is something covered by insurance or not, but if you are under medicare and alone, it would be worth asking. Just a thought...

Thanks for all the kind words and encouragement!! @@AvaFern - Thanks for the tips on NY&Co. I did try their pants a few months back (Easter actually) and even the signature fit horribly. They came WAY down on my backside (like thank goodness I still wear granny panties! ) I am having my first plastics in October which is LBL including outer thigh lift and butt lift, so I know that some of my pant "problems" should improve afterwards. Meanwhile, I have a ton of cute fit-and-flare dresses which accentuate my waist and hide my droopy thighs and butt, so they will likely be my go to. And luckily I am in TX where it will be hot enough to wear dresses and sandals for quite some time. Best of luck with law school!! What an exciting adventure! @@gowalking - You are right that somedays it all looks good and somedays not so much!! @@marlynn8502 - Girl you will get there! Just wait and see. It is an EXCITING ride! @@desdeemona52 - You know I have never considered thrift really because they have never had anything that fit. Might be worth a shot now. @@KristenLe - Thanks. I have a TON of cute tops from TJMaxx. LOVE that I can shop there now. Tall pants to go with the tops - not so much. I love The Limited but I cannot quite figure out the cuts of pants. I know I just have to be less intimidated and go in there and ask for help. Maybe today.... PS - To you all - I am so grateful for this site! Seriously who else would understand this being an emotional issue for me except you guys!! Much LOVE!

Oh man! I have been working from home for 7 months (since 7 months post-op) and starting back in an office next week. I hadn't even considered the random food lying around challenge! Give me strength!!

I am posting this in the Emotional section because well, this "learning how to dress" thing is very emotional and anxiety causing for me! I got laid off 7 months post-op and though I had a new job, it was work from home. Now I am starting a new job next week, and not only do I need an entirely new wardrobe (because let's face it - the yoga pants and pjs I have been wearing the last 7 months aren't work appropriate ). Obviously, my work clothes from 7 months ago do not fit. And I have been good about buying new clothes all along (well good or bad - depending on how you look at it - my point being I refused to go around in clothes hanging off of me). And to add to my anxiety, I am returning to a job where I worked for 14 years (before my last job which was 7 1/2 years). Have lots of friends which is good, but I left there for a reason, so it feels a bit like moving back in with my parents. But I digress... Anyway - clothes shopping. Yesterday I went in to stores that I have always wanted to shop in - LOFT and White House Black Market. Mostly I just felt out of place. Like someone is surely going to tell me that they don't have anything there to fit me. And though I can suddenly fit in size 10's (much smaller than I thought I would be), the sizes in the store all seemed to be 2's and 4's and 0's. Talk about stress inducing! Dresses and skirts are working fine and will be mostly what I live in, but I need some tall pants (I'm 5'10"). I know that LOFT and Limited (and a few other places) carry these online but they all have all these different cuts with no descriptions - Julie, Marisa, Curvy, Ellie, Modern, etc. AHHHHH!!! I have to figure out which cut fits me first and then order the tall ones online. Seriously should not be this hard. AND it should be fun! I went in to J Crew yesterday and 1 lap around the store and walked out. Then I saw a Lucky Brand Jeans but made it to the door and then just turned around. So basically, in addition to finding clothes that fit, I am trying to figure out which store has the "style" that I like and/or want to portray. I have shopped from Lane Bryant and Avenue for so long that I knew what sizes fit and what styles I liked. This is a WHOLE new adventure. I don't mean to be complaining. Trust me. It is exciting to pull out a size you never thought would fit and then even better have to go back and get a smaller size, but I never in my wildest dreams thought it would cause me such anxiety! (PS - yes I am seeing a therapist. THANK GOODNESS!! Had a long talk about the new job yesterday. Very glad I have her to walk through this with me.) Not really looking for response or advice. Just needed to get that out there to others who might understand....

Beans do have Fiber and Protein (and carbs but a good source of carbs). But as @@eclecticwingtips, if it has been a while, you are likely going to need a med to get things moving. Outside of that, I have tried dried apricots and prunes. (They are very high sugar so be careful and don't eat too much.) I find that apples (with the skin) really help too. I am almost 14 months post-op and still have this issue. As you said, it is the high protein diet.

As @VSGAnn14 said, most insurance will not pay for it now (mine very specifically excluded it unless there were issues prior) so drs do not remove them at the same time as WLS as they used to. I have been having some pain off and on in the gallbladder area since about 3 months post-op but they have done several tests and say it is fine. My Dr said it is probably a "sphincter of oddi" issue and have given me Bentyl to take as needed. It is a "smooth muscle" relaxer which is also prescribed for IBS and it does the trick. I would prefer not to be on a med like this but Dr (both bariatric surgeon and a GI specialist I saw) assure me it is a very safe med. So until the pain (really not pain but more of a small ache) disrupts my life, I will let it be I suppose. Sent from my HTC One M9 using the BariatricPal App

You definitely shouldn't drive 3 hours home on your own (and as others said it is unlikely they will let you leave the hospital without someone driving). Having said that, I was in the hospital 1 night and then my mom stayed with me 1 night at home and then I was fine on my own. I did have people close by if I needed them and had to promise not to drive anywhere for a week but I drove myself to my post-op appt 10 days post op with no issues. Hopefully one of your children could come for just a couple of days. Sent from my HTC One M9 using the BariatricPal App

You will get there. That is actually pretty good for so soon out. It should get a lot easier in the next few days when the swelling has gone down. I remember day 8 suddenly being able to drink more water!

@@taracutch - Glad you are feeling better. Sometimes something will work one day but not the next (and vice versa). So if it doesn't work now (even thinned down), just put it away for now and try again in a few weeks.

Yes you likely ate too much. Or maybe it was a bit too dense. If you eat it again, try to thin it a little more and eat slower. In the beginning I Had to set a timer for 2 minutes and only take a bite when the timer went off. Also helps to use a small soon. In the meantime, I don't have a great answer for you. Sometimes walking helps and it will eventually go down. Sent from my HTC One M9 using the BariatricPal App

FYI, not that I am condoning this but hand weights in your various pockets strategically placed for a weigh-in can help make sure you are at a weight above 35 BMI. I don't have to do that as my BMI was 46 but I read that someone here as. Just sayin'. And you are right, this is a CRAZY system! Sent from my HTC One M9 using the BariatricPal App

Most awkward for me is the folks who honest to goodness do not recognize. Like really takes them a while or I have to speak before they figure it out. And then they go on and on about how they don't recognize me. Sometimes it is funny but mostly it is uncomfortable.

That doesn't sound normal. Are you lactose intolerant? Maybe try a lactaid pill (or whatever they are called) before you drink it? If not, it could be something in them so you might try a different brand. Premier Protein ready to drink is very good and I use Precision Engineered whey Protein Isolate powder which I love. Good luck! There are a ton out there so no need to suffer!

Sorry. Just realized this is an old post. Sent from my HTC One M9 using the BariatricPal App

@Annie_Smith - I did have those issues and it turned out to be a stricture (narrowing of stomach exit due to scar tissue overgrowth). It is easily diagnosed and corrected with an EGD and balloon dilation. If you continue to vomit, you should press your surgeon into doing an EGD. If he won't, you should be able to find a GI Dr who will. Sent from my HTC One M9 using the BariatricPal App

@@Jesm1029 - Supposedly rule of thumb is waiting to you are at goal and stable for 6 no the to a year before having surgery. My NUT is insistent that I wait at least 18 months to 24 months post-op to have surgery. Having said that, I reached goal at 1 year and had my PS consultation right at 1 year and have scheduled my first surgery for October which will be 16 months post-op. My plastics surgeon just asks that you are at goal and stable for 3 months (which I will be). My bariatric surgeon and counselor (and various other drs) are fine with me preceding now. There are a few folks on here who had surgery less than a year out but I think when you get to or close to goal is really a better determination. Sent from my HTC One M9 using the BariatricPal App

It is even a fairly small percent with bypass. I had bypass and do not dump. Sent from my HTC One M9 using the BariatricPal App

My understanding is that Biotin does not stop hair loss, it just helps it regrow faster. Make sure you are taking your Vitamins and all your Protein, but still fast weight loss can lead to some hair loss. If you have thyroid issues already, hair loss may be exacerbated so be sure to keep an eye out for other hypothyroid symptoms and get it checked and meds adjusted. Otherwise, just hang in there and know that it won't be forever. On the loose skin, I don't think there is really much to prevent it. As james said, it depends on how much you have to lose, how fast you lose, genetics, age, etc. I am 48 and lost an average of 10 pounds per month for 12 months. My loose skin didn't really show up too bad until the last 30 pounds and now it is bad. I will have to have plastics to correct. I will say though, I was afraid of both of these things too for YEARS which kept me from preventing doing it. I wish I hadn't been scared and did it sooner and younger.

Are you taking thyroid med and if so, when did you last have it checked and possibly adjusted? Hypothyroid can make you very tired and prohibit weight loss. Be sure that is treated appropriately. I would go back to logging. You say you are very aware of what you eat but without logging, do you know how many grams of Protein / carbs / fat and calories you are getting? food logs are very helpful to identify areas you might be able to improve. Sent from my HTC One M9 using the BariatricPal App

I think @JaimeLogical had TT before WLS. You might message her if she doesn't see this tag (not sure if I spelled it exactly right). Sent from my HTC One M9 using the BariatricPal App

Yep - what @@Cervidae - sounds like reflux. Even pre-op, I would go through these strange periods of STARVING feeling and it would take me a week to realize each time it was reflux. Once I would take a round of meds for a few weeks, it would go away for a few months and then come back.

I'm sorry you haven't received a response. I am afraid I don't have same insurance but I just wanted to respond and say don't give up!!

Wow! You look beautiful! Great job! Congrats!

@@leebick - Definitely wasn't directed at you. And wow, I am so sorry for your predicament about your mom's surgery and your surgery. I do think it is interesting that so many drs have different protocols. You are right that so many fly home from Mexico fairly shortly afterwards. I had a dr tell me once that their decisions on protocols had a lot to do with the doctors they were trained by and how those doctors were trained and so on and so on.... I think sometimes drs don't keep updated like they should either OR perhaps your dr had a tragedy with one of their patients flying. Either way, I know it must be disappointing and frustrating to go through this major decision and possible postponement. I wish you all the best (truly) and hope you both have amazingly successful outcomes!! HUGS!!!!!

OK I may catch hell for this but honestly "do what you feel" is the worst advice you can receive. Lots of drs have different plans but you chose your Dr for a reason and they may have a specific reason for the type of pre-op diet they want. PLEASE follow their plan. Do not ignore their instructions. You screwed up and you cannot undo it. Beating yourself up won't do any good but just make sure you stick to the prescribed diet going forward. The liquid diet is HARD and it can be even harder after surgery. You have made a life altering decision to have this surgery. Commit now to do everything you are supposed to do. Will you have a few slips here and there? Yep! But the key is learning to recognize those, stop the behavior when you see it, and then make sure your very next snack or meal is a good choice. Don't wait until tomorrow or next Monday. Get right back on track. Now having said that, I made some poor choices last night out of stress. (I am 13 months post-op and at goal.) Not only was I psychically miserable, I was emotionally miserable for turning to my old habits. Today is a new day. I'm going to force myself to get up and go for a walk. Hopefully it will help the stress and get me started on the right path for the day. I hope you return to these boards often for advice on what has worked for people who have gone before you but just know you are not going to hear "do what you think is best" from a real vet unless it is said in a sarcastic manner. Perhaps I read too much in to that response but right now that answer really ticks me off Sent from my HTC One M9 using the BariatricPal App