CHM

First off, @@LipstickLady , I like you. That is all. Second, @@KindaFamiliar , I like you too. But you knew that. Finally, I am another with a surgeon who "doesn't count" by failing to forbid diet sodas. Frankly I wasn't much of a soda person pre-op, but I did have quite the Pellegrino habit, prompting me to bring up carbonated beverages at my very first appointment. I am a big researcher, and my WLS was no exception, so I had certainly come across the carbonation condemnation (bear with me - I'll get to the actual 'diet soda' part in a bit...). I'd mentioned my plan to 'wean off' of my beloved Pellegrino forever as I approached surgery. I was told that while carbonated beverages should not be consumed while healing from surgery, eliminating them permanently was likely not necessary. They said it was just another of those things - like lactose and red meat - that will vary by person depending on tolerance. "Just give it a few months then try it if you'd like. If it makes you feel sick or uncomfortable then avoid it. If it doesn't, then there's no need to worry about it - you're not going to hurt anything." Then they specifically mentioned diet sodas, stating that as long as they're both sugar and caffeine-free, and you can tolerate the carbonation, then its no different than the crystal light or other sugar-free beverages that their plan recommends for hydration. Thaaaat's right. The only thing they warned to watch for is the sweetness triggering cravings, but that applies to all sweetened beverages and again will vary from person to person. Oh, and they also approve the use of straws - another silly ban "unfounded in science" they say. They pointed out that you take in gulps of air every time you swallow anything at all. Food. Drink. Saliva. A straw is not going to make any significant difference. I use them literally all the time. Even in my protein shakes. I just find it much easier to control the amount of fluid going into my mouth with a straw, which makes it more comfortable to swallow. Plus I don't end up spilling all down my shirt...not that I do...

@@mmy I wasn't fond of the Opurity chewables from Unjury's website either. They were taken for a couple of weeks post-op, then I switched to their capsule multivitamin. That one is also 4 per day (either all in the morning, or 2 morning/2 night), but since you're already used to that it shouldn't be a problem. The capsule has more Iron, D, and B12 than the chewable. This should eliminate the need for additional supplementation of those ones, unless you still prove to have a deficiency of course. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

@@Monie717 Ooh, Nova Scotia. Gotta love the coast! Halifax was recently added to my list of places to visit. I'll be in the Niagara Falls area.

Yep, good ol' Canuckistan! Land of free health care, Robin Sparkles, and other nifties... Where Canadian bacon is called back bacon... You SHOULD visit. Southern Ontario is positively lovely... When I get back, settled, and aquire a sofa, you'll find a home there anytime you're so inclined.

@@Pillar2butterfly I'm with you on the heels! I slipped on a pair of 4" stilettos the other day and was able to walk around comfortably. Haven't been able to do that in nearly a decade. Oh how I've missed pretty shoes...

@@KindaFamiliar What the absolute f*ck are you talking about? I'm always pleasant! It's my thing! I'm Canadian, dammit! @@Monie717 Again, you cannot access the chat room from the actual BP app. You need to open the mobile version of the website in your phone's browser (Chrome, Safari, whatever), and then you want to click the menu button (4 white squares) in the upper right hand corner. Chat will be the last option.

@@IrishGermanRN Yeeeeah, for once this guy doesn't know what he's talking about. I've never been able to find chat room access on the app, and believe me I've looked. To access it from your phone you need to open the site in an actual browser.

@ Thanks for the tip! I'll give the Intuition a try after I run out of my Venus blades. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I second the leg shaving! I haven't had so many razor cuts since my early teens. All of those new bones cause highs and lows that make you really have to pay attention. I'm also finding longer car rides more difficult with the weight loss as well. Any long periods of sitting really. I used to have a lot more padding and it was never an issue. Now when I sit how I always have I can really feel the pressure points. I'm learning that it's more comfortable to lean forward more to distribute the weight across the back of my thighs. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Oh. Okay good. Maybe there is hope for us yet... Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

LMAO! Not gonna lie...I look every time. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

@@KindaFamiliar I'm with @@LipstickLady ...this is going to be a serious strain on our friendship. I don't think we can get past this. Life without guacamole - like life without cheese - is hardly worth living. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Umm...of course it is... You don't know...

Well would you look at that...indeed it has!

Are we still talking about the list?

@@WhitneyMc Do not cancel your appointment. Depression is a very common issue - even more so among the obese. Whoever is doing your eval will have seen it before, time and time again. I had to reveal far worse at my own, and I still passed easily. While the requirements and acceptable courses of action are likely to vary from professional to professional, I can share my experience to hopefully put your mind at ease. I was extremely honest. I was of the mindset that if a mental health professional felt that anything in my history would preclude the likelihood of my success with WLS then that was something I wanted to know about as well. Recent battles with depression and anxiety were revealed, along with histories of anorexia, bulimia, self-harm, and suicide attempts. I told them that I see a psychologist bi-weekly when I'm doing well, and weekly when I'm not. I also have a psychiatrist on my team for those times when medication is needed (which is a last resort, but hey, sometimes it IS necessary). As for the depression and anxiety, all that they seemed concerned about was that I was aware of my issues and taking steps to remedy them by attending regular counceling sessions. The other nasties were far enough in the past (I believe 5 years was the marker that was mentioned, if I recall) to not be considered a hindrance, although it did result in a "watch for eating disorder relapse" flag in my surgical file. Overall they seemed quite pleased with my honesty, awareness, and accountability, and were more than happy to pass me. Again, while the details are going to vary depending on who you see, I doubt that you need to worry so much. Perhaps make an appointment to speak with someone about your current issues before going to your eval so you can demonstrate that you have taken steps to address them. That will likely be adequate. If its not, then they'll tell you what is. It will all work out.

As it should be...

My surgery was covered under an insurance plan purchased through Healthcare.gov. Unfortunately, like plans acquired from any other source, they vary greatly. No one will be able to answer your other questions unless they have purchased the exact same plan in the exact same state. While it likely won't mean much for you, my plan requirements are a BMI of 40 (or 35+ with accompanying comorbid conditions), a psychological evaluation, blood work, and 3 months on a medically supervised weight loss plan. You will have to refer to your own plan's details or speak with a rep from your insurance company to learn the specifics of yours.

Aww, I'm sorry your family fell through on this one. Certainly they didn't mean to hurt you. They were likely just unsure of how to handle it while still being supportive of your efforts and limitations. Perhaps next year you could help them out with a few suggestions to select from? For my own birthday I plan to carve a watermelon into a cake round and decorate it with whipped cream and other fruits. Happy belated birthday though! Here's is a special petit four just for you...

Mine did the same. When asked if I had a goal weight in mind I'd said 150's (higher end of a normal BMI for my height), but she said she'd rather see me in the 170's on account of my naturally muscular build. I don't care - I'm not commited to any particular number. Once I get below 200 I'll assess how I feel every 10-15 lbs or so to decide when I want to switch to maintenance. @@Sharon1964 I agree that your new goal is more practical for this stage of your life. Plus in my opinion, its always better to aim a little higher and possibly beat it than it is to aim lower and be disappointed if you don't reach it.

Currently in North Dakota, soon to be Southern Ontario. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

My favorite is still the bones. Every time I see or feel a new one I just bubble up with pure elation! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

@@jccanada Perhaps it's time to suggest to your husband that he ease up on the inquiries. You can assure him that you appreciate his efforts to support you while letting him know that it's not the healthiest of ideas to keep you so focused on the number on the scale. I know I've had a few people in my life that had to be updated on my loss every time they saw me, and it was making me feel bad about myself when there was none to report. Hence I simply stopped reporting, explaining to those who asked that I need to be more focused on HOW I'm losing than on how MUCH I'm losing. @@YumiMumi @@yami17leth My weight fluctuates within a few pounds when I'm stalled as well. I'm pretty sure that's normal.

@@KindaFamiliar Ooh, we finally get some real pics I see! Good job on the follow-through. And I have to agree with @@jane13 - stop apologizing. There is nothing wrong with you. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

*Gasp!* Did you just suggest that I'm cute? Why Mr. Familiar...are you crushing on me?