CHM

My surgeon office says I don't need to bother if I'm consuming other liquids, such as protein shakes, broth, or milk. I only need to separate my drinks if consuming solids. However, as always, you'll want to check with your own surgeon to be sure of their policy on it.

And don't forget the cramping. I can assure you from experience that when your body begins to eat its own muscle, you can feel it. You will get 'charlie horse' sensations in muscles you didn't know you had.

You're doing just fine. I know a lot of patients have issues, but everyone handles things differently. I distinctly remember my surprise at how it felt to drink once I was cleared for liquids - unexpectedly unchanged. 2 months today, and I have yet to feel any distinct feelings of fullness. Granted I do stick to my portions and try not to push it. I still say that if I hadn't seen my modified digestive system with my own eyes during the X-ray the morning after surgery, I'd swear they forgot to do it!

This could be possible. MFP is working just fine on my iphone, but I have yet to download the latest software update.

Of course! Pre-op loss was 86 lbs on the morning of surgery - the rest is post-op.

Yeah that's just odd. I have an iphone and have never seen that error. Lol

I have quite the method for managing my bras during weight loss - I've got them stretched to last for 3 sizes a piece! Lol. When its time for new ones I go down 2 band sizes and up one cup size (because the band size is going down) from what I actually need. Then I use an extender on the band and deal with the cups being a touch small for the first size, enjoy a nice fit in both areas on the longest hook for the second size, then use cup inserts and the shortest hook for the 3rd size. I've only gone through 2 bra sizes throughout a 120 lb loss this way. Can't wait until my weight stabilizes and I can invest in all of the hawt VS stuff!

I can post fine. I'm on the BP app about half of the time (like now) and have never needed a tag to post anything. I wonder why yours is requiring it...

I don't remember getting to the OR at all, or even being wheeled out of the pre-op room. Last thing I remember is a nurse on the phone getting pissy with the lab because my pregnancy test results weren't uploaded yet and everyone was waiting on me. The first thing I remember afterwards is being wheeled into my private room, then the nurse checking my incisions and gushing how great they looked, as I wondered why I couldn't speak or even open my eyes.

I very VERY VERY strongly recommend practicing this habit pre-op. The separation of water and food has by far been my biggest struggle, leading me to not eat as much food as I should be because I really don't want to give up drinking each time for as long as we need to. Nearly my entire soft food stage was spent consuming little more than Fairlife milk so I could get calories and protein without having to give up drinking. It's compromising my weight loss! Lol. Seriously though, I foolishly disregarded incorporating this habit pre-op because I believed it would be a snap after surgery, since my stomach should be too small to be able to hold both anyway. It was NOT a snap. Start getting used to this as early as possible.

I love that topic title. It totally lured me in! Congratulations on doing so well already. I'm glad you're feeling better so soon. If you're like I was, the head hunger will stick around until you start getting 'real' flavors on the puréed diet. Its funny, before surgery I was actually asking my surgeon if the puréed stage was even necessary, or if I could just do full liquids an extra week then go right to soft. The idea of mushy, liquified meats and veggies was just so unappealing. That attitude changed almost immediately after surgery, and 2 weeks later, I had never been so grateful for cat food-looking mush in my life!

I actually had this for lunch today, on skewers with grilled shrimp and a splash of balsamic vinegar.

Give me pecorino romano, or give me death!

I was raised by chronically dieting parents at a time when aesthetics were very important to the whole family. My father, grandmother, and aunts always had a snarky comment for what I was eating or drinking, frequently shaking their heads and reminding me I had "such a pretty face". I don't remember ever being unaware that I was larger than my cousins and entirely unacceptable. My mother dragged me to regular sessions with a dietician when I was 7 or 8, where I was given a meal plan that outlined more food than I could even eat. The family soon got its way - I was bulimic by 10 and anorexic by 15. My thinking at the time was very all or nothing, and the only way I could overcome the anorexia was to switch from 'nothing' to 'all' and not think about it. Obviously, obesity soon followed. The sad part is, I came across an old photo album just the other day while unpacking a box, and upon looking at childhood photos of myself, I'm not even sure I WAS overweight. Maybe by BMI terms I was, but I wasn't really fat. No, I wasn't a dainty thing like my cousins and most classmates - I was muscular and solid. I still am. Just a different body type is all.

I just want to thank all of you ladies for your feedback. I really do appreciate you all sharing your experiences. Some people may get freaked out when they hear less than ideal stories, but the more information I have the calmer I feel, so you have all helped greatly. April 1st is my day, and I am not rescheduling again. Time to get this done!

I do weigh daily, and have since I was 10. I used to completely obsess over the number on the scale, but my mentality changed as I was preparing for surgery and I became much more detached from the results, which has been nice. There is a lot to adjust to post-surgery, and I like being able to identify patterns in how eating behaviors affect weight. Like many others, I only record the weight on Mondays - the rest is just to keep an eye on things. I've proven that I can handle the fluctuations and the stalls without losing my mind, so I see no harm in continuing.

What a wonderful day. You're doing great!

My surgeon's office considers my starting weight to be what it was the day of my first appointment. I consider it to be what it was the day I decided to pursue surgery and scheduled an appointment (which also happened to be my highest weight).

They're both just adorable. That little Bella has the sweetest face. Its funny that you call her a wookie - hubby and I refer to our yorkie/shih tzu as "Baby Chewy" when his fur grows out and he's overdue for a grooming.

It's not really anxiety. It's more pain management.

So I did reschedule for 2 weeks from tomorrow. I also asked about a prescription sedative to relax me, but the Dr called me back and wanted me to just take something OTC, so I wasn't happy about that. [emoji35]

I could never control when my cycle started with the NuvaRing. I tried a couple times, but I would just get breakthrough bleeding after a few days that would last until I took the ring out. Not fun. And remind me to book a follow up ultrasound to check that it's placed right. I am entirely uninterested in a membership to the 'pregnant on IUD' club. Lol

I do not track my cycles - given that my Drs are not certain if I've ever actually ovulated in my life, there didn't seem to be much point. I've run the gynecological gambit: paps, HSGs, polyp removals, D&Cs, a cervical biopsy, an endometrial biopsy, countless transvaginal ultrasounds...and what I've learned is that my pain tolerance ends where my cervix begins. Im certainly not expecting the IUD insertion to be a walk in the park, but I know it will be worth the trouble once everything settles down.

Well if anyone is going to the bigger feet, let it be the man. I think I would cry... Lol

I think what I need to do is put a container of assorted vitamins everywhere I might possibly be: bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, livingroom, car, purse, in-law's, etc. That way wherever I am when I think of it they'll be right there. Having to go to another room to get them increases the chance that I'll get distracted given that I have the attention span of a squirrel. Lol I've read up on both of them and the deciding factor for me was the effect on the menstrual cycle. Paragard tends to make periods heavier and more frequent, while Mirena tends to make them lighter and less frequent. I'm accustomed to maybe one period a year, and I'd like to return to that. The monthly periods while on the NuvaRing were just annoying, though I've read that the periods may be stronger with either IUD in the first couple months while the body is adjusting to it. As long as it levels out, I'll be happy. Well there's a wild experience. Lol. You are now the second person I've heard of who has fallen pregnant while using an IUD. I hope everything turned out safely for you. Here's hoping I stay in the 99.8% and don't join you though!