WLSResources/ClothingExch

Now that you've found the cause, you'll be good again.

@@mgiii, call your surgeon's office when it opens in the morning. Speak with the dietitian to get exact instruction on what to eat and drink until your surgery date. Tell the dietitian what you have been eating and drinking (including the kinds of juice you are drinking). Be sure to tell the dietitian about your health concerns, meaning about not being able to eat Jello or popsicles. Also be sure to tell the dietitian about your trachea or tracheotomy (I am not sure exactly what you meant). Before the conversation ends, please be sure that you understand everything. Ask questions about any of the instructions that are not clear to you.

Are crackers or similar crunchy little things triggers or gateways for you? Would these be considered slider foods?...This seems ridiculous to be overthinking this so much

Early in my lapband career I was able to buy a full-sized bag or tortilla chips or similar and weight out either one of one-half ounce and be happy. Then came the day when the amounts which fit nicely into my day's intake didn't work for me. I began to hit the bag again. And again. I tried buying multi-packs of one-ounce bags. I'd eat one packet and, lo!, go back for another and another. It took a while, but I finally arrived at a workable solution: I stopped buying tortilla chips and similar.

You're not overthinking. You're going in circles. Stop buying the crackers. Try again in the future, if you wish, but stop for now.

I've been thinking what if the doctor says he did a SADI-S but really did a VSG. Is this an irrational worry? Has anybody else worried about this? I'm not sure why all of a sudden I'm thinking this.

(Please tell me I'm not alone and not completely out of my mind lol)

You're asking for a pack of lies, but I can't do it. You are the only one and I'll reserve comment on whether you are completely or only partially out of your mind. Sorry.

The truth is that you are far from the only one. I didn't have pre-surgery jitters because I played tricks on myself right up until I walked into the operating room. It was after surgery that I had a week or three with the gnawing feeling that the surface had been cut, but nothing inside done. I believed I'd been taken for what used to be called a "ride." It turned out that any number of people I met later in support groups had feared the same. I can't guess why these irrational fears occur. Maybe we truly are somewhere on the bonkers-berserk spectrum.

@@Sai, if you do get the fat free evap, expect that it may taste a little different the first few times you use it. I remember that. Then again, cream tastes funny to me. My usual before surgery was 2% milk or higher.

@@Sai - If you mean that you were drinking black coffee because of the "don't drink your calories' admonition, you were going overboard. A splash of lowfat or fatfree milk or whatever a few times a day is fine in my book. My own choice is canned, fatfree, evaporated milk, but I don't recall what made me go in that direction after surgery. I've whittled it to two tablespoons per cup from three because I do drink coffee through the day. (Two tbs of fat free evap is 25 cals.)

@@vegbeth - You're sure to get an okay to add a splash of real, no-sugar-added juices, but the amount may too minimal do give the flavor you want.

Mrs. Nilla, your tragedy is my deliriously, joyful entertainment. You should have your own television or radio program or write a column for a newspaper or magazine. If you do decamp for Australia at@@OzRoo's invitation and do take along a grand supply of cheese-bread, I'll pack my toothbrush forthwith and, for good measure, posthaste.

@@theantichick, hey, that's in the general realm of how Sara Blakely, the Spanx woman, got started. Some "LOL," huh?

Thanks I did forget to post weight before surgery:323 date of surgery:313 my two week check up:300... Yes it's the fact I look and the mirror and dont see a change.

Thanks you so didn't know you would get emorional

Nikki, do you know that your responses to @@Babbs and me sound calmer and even more upbeat than your opening post? It makes a tremendous difference to look at what you have achieved and not what you don't see yet. Your 23- pound loss is excellent. Let that be your motivation to keep going. Everything will fall into place.

Babbs, I love the "Patience, grasshopper."

@@pvechiola, if words could be retracted, I would. It was not my intention to insult you. Your previous notes gave me the impression of an endless barrage of insults and ridicule from your family perhaps to the point of it being almost a career for them. Their being scared for you didn't come through. I do not doubt my people skills.

There are few times when "immature and vain" are appropriate or reasonable and this is one of them. As someone who squirms from heavy detail, I usual skip posts this lengthy (and for its length, I've read none of the replies) and I'm glad I stopped in. Little Shelby is quite the bittch. It is my imperious declaration that, while it is horrid to judge people for their weight, she must be so judged for the weight she's gained. Kick her in the kishkas! She really is loathsome. It's one thing for her to resent you, apparently poorly founded as it is, but to interfere in your relationship with your husband's kids is unforgivable. For her to have made the ugly remark to her brother after you and she met is the same. (I have an argument with your husband as well.)

Alas, you can't reduce the muffin top, but you can improve its appearance by tightening the muscles -- crunches and plenty of other exercises are to be found.

Let's hear it for the victor!

I'm not sure what's making you feel unhappy, but I think it's that you have lost weight, but don't see it when you look in the mirror? It's very common for people who lose weight not to see the difference. Extremely common, actually. You didn't say how much you have lost, but I know that one of these days it will bowl you over. When all of your clothes are falling off or you realize that you can move your body in ways that you couldn't before and a million other ways. They're all called Non-scale Victories (NSV's) -- the wonderful changes that are separate from the scale.< /p>

What I am sure of is that you used to go out with your boyfriend before surgery. Go today. Of course you want to see the difference from losing weight, but life is NOW, not 10 or 50 pounds from now.

Check comment gave me a good lol.

Good. I just hate when my wit and smarts go unnoticed.

I'm glad I could help and wish you great success..

I held onto the fact that what I put in my mouth was one of the few things I could control at that point.

I've definitely come to realize as time goes on, everything has become less and less about surgery and weightloss and more and more about life.

You're amazing. You came through the lows to find level ground. I hope you take pride in your strength and what you've learned and taught yourself.

I'm in tears about your friend and couldn't bear to quote that part. The part about eating being one of the few things within one's control hit me some time ago and what an surprising discovery it is, yes? Having become obese because of caving in to food was something that I could take charge of. It's true while sounding contrary to reality.

YOu know that earlier I wrote a similar statement to a BP'er -- about surgery taking a back seat in time. I'm not there yet because I'm still a distance from goal, but I know I'll enjoy feeling more freed from surgery.

It really is good to have you here whether for a morning or longer, should you choose.

@@Kindle, it's kismet. It's so good to see you. We just crossed paths in another topic and it was fun to read about your new beau. I shall no dig into your third anniversary topic.

If going to join one of the online dating sites -do you write about your surgery in your profile? Do you wait to tell them on or after a first date -after they get to know you?....... I just am nervous about getting out in dating world again & I want to find a guy this time that believes in honesty & trust too. I want to be honest from beginning because me being a post-op sleeve patients is a part of who I am just like brown hair

It seems to me that honesty is one thing and handing your soul over to a stranger whom you have no way of knowing that you'd want to know, is another. Your surgery is part of who you are, agreed, but it has no bearing on someone who isn't close. Also consider that you may hope that your constant awareness of having had surgery eventually recedes (not evaporates) when you've maintained for a good spell. It will have become something you did, notthat what you are.

No way am I saying never to tell, only that it's something I think is more appropriately shared when it's clear that you and the man become increasingly interested in getting to know more about each other. Let it out when the conversation offers a natural opening. Even in relationships (of any sort) of years' duration, people learn new things about each other. Again, I'm not suggesting waiting years.

Tell a date when there's a reason. As to having a man scream in horror and run from the restaurant, it's a definite possibility. While it's no an ego-boost, consider that he's not the one you're looking for. Just be sure he takes care of the check before he flees.

Because the question of when to discuss surgery with a new person comes up often enough, I wonder how many people feel that they're making a confession instead of simply tossing surgery into the mix of life's ordinary goings-on. It sounds as though this doesn't apply to you. I hope so, because it's sad that some people think of revealing surgery as on a par with confessing their histories as axe murderers.

Nervous is cool. Once older, never try to escape feeling 14 again. It's the ultimate in feeling free, excited and thoroughly blissful.

------------------------------------

@@Kindle!

Angelica,

I am not sleeved, but I can tell you that in the first few days after you leave the hospital, you will want to stay close to home. You will see that you can go out for a little walk, but do go back in when you start to feel tired or uncomfortable. The good news is that, because you will be in your country for five weeks, you will have good time to enjoy being with your family and friends. You won't want to run and jump and climb mountains, but you will be able to get around. You shouldl not be a "sick" person in bed. It is important to remember that each person heals and regains strength at her own pace, so be patient with your own recovery. I hope it is fast so that you can have the most pleasure in seeing the people you love.

I can even whip up a little arm sleeve thing similar to some belly dance costume pieces I used to make, with spandex lace if the batwings get too flappy.

I've seen TV ads for a long-sleeved, shrug-type top, probably midriff-baring, made from sheer or lacy stretch fabric, designed to hold in flapping arms. They're shown worn under sleeveless dresses for evening or day. IMNHO, they looked pretty cheesy as clothing, but might work for whoring around. I don't recall the product or company name, but I think it's the one that had advertised a bra that looks somewhat like a sports bra, is a pullover and appears to have no support but the claim was that it gave great support. Maybe someone else will know the name.

Something has occurred to me several times when people post to lament or brag about their dumb moves. In my experience, such things have come up only in BP. Never at the many support group meetings I've attended in over seven years or in the now-defunct band groups within sparkpeople.com did anyone ever speak of such poor thinking or apparently total ignorance or stupidity. There were plenty of people who were confused or misunderstood something, but none ever took polls or collected opinions as a way to give them permission to be idiotic.

This is a response to a thread started about someone's first real meal 23 days after surgery containing fried shrimp, shrimp scampi, creamy shrimp Pasta, rice and an alcoholic beverage.

I missed it, but they're all the same, whether shrimp, cake, the most fibrous fruits or a side of beef. I take it that Mr. Shrimp was whining about pain rather than bragging about her glutton or "foodie" creds? As an aside, no wonder why shrimp are now on the vulnerable species list.

To answer your question, I don't recall.

There's no reason not to go out if you want, but take it easy. You didn't say how long you were out, how much walking you did and how fast or how heavy your packages were. Slow down and, when you start to feel uncomfortable or tired, head home or sit down to regroup and then go home. Pay attention to how you feel. Also limit the weight you lift or carry. The usual doctor's advice is five lbs (or is it 10?)

Yes you're right, I can't leave my family my dad has alhzeimers and dementia and can't stay home alone.

He isn't alone unless your mother and brother are incompetent or incapable. Another option is a home aide to care for him.

You know that the general rule is not to drink calories. I've pretty much adhered to it, but occasionally -- rarely, to be accurate -- revel in a glass or two of orange or pineapple juice. I'll buy only a one-pint container of OJ and stretch it over two days. The couple of times a year that I buy a large can of the other, I drink a glass or two and freeze the rest in portions to be used in marinades. If having a little of something wonderful makes it easier to stay the course, I say Yes.

What applies to me and my band may not apply to you and bypass. I can't guess because you've revealed nothing about your surgery history/timeline. Make the correct decision. If you opt for juice, account for it in your food-tracking.

All the best to you. Good night.

Make it a priority goal to move out to a more civilized, kinder environment. Look for an apartment on your own or for a roommate situation. Your parents and brother aren't the nicest people. You don't have to ditch them completely, but if you're not with them so much of the time, the time that you do spend together may be improved.