Diana_in_Philly

Let's remember you are less than 1 month from surgery and for the first 6 weeks your body is healing from surgery. So there is a tremendous amount of energy that is being devoted to your body healing itself. Getting your protein and water in is key. Dehydration is serious business and can make you feel weak and nauseous. While you are at your appointment, talk to your team about it.

Like @trekker954 said - was worst for me between about 4-7 months. I'm 8 months out now and still lose a little when I shower, but not the handfuls like before. I added biotin to my vitamins and that may have helped (or it may have just been the placebo effect). It gets better.

Fila workout capris are great and you can usually get them on sale at Kohl's. Started in a 2x like you and now wearing Mediums.

It happens. Have you measured yourself recently? Sometimes it comes off in inches and not pounds. Work the plan and the plan will work for you. You have this!

Is it a nutritionist or a registered dietician -- there is a big difference. Does the NUT only see bariatric patients in conjunction with the doc? With my team, the RDs are part of the team along with my surgeon and nurse practitioner. At about 8 weeks out, my team recommended to me that I be at 1,000 calories. I'm almost 9 months out and I still use protein shakes for breakfast most mornings because its portable and works with my schedule. I can drink them in the car on the way to work. But it is important to get yourself on mostly "normal" foods. Consider adding in an Oikos Triple Zero yogurt (15 grams protein 120 cal.) as either a morning or afternoon snack. Or some almonds or a cheese stick or two. That might help.

I've been using the BBQ sauces we have always used at home. Generally, on my chicken or pork there is less than a tablespoon of BBQ sauce, so it's not a major calorie hog.

Try setting a timer on your phone. Also, try changing temperatures. Some days I found room temp water was better than cold, other days it was the other way around. The lightheadedness could be from dehydration. please be careful.

Try varying the temperature of what you are drinking. Sometimes, I needed room temperature. Sometimes ice cold. Often within hours of each other. You've got this.

Do you have access to a pool? The water will keep the pressure off your body, but allow you to get some exercise. Consider doing some swimming.

Try to get as much protein as possible. If you are unsure, put in a call to your team's office.

It will be up to the states under the new bill as I understand it. And then, if you have employer based coverage, you employer can choose to choose to meet the requirements of any state in the US regardless of whether they have employees there or do business there. So if State X decides that policies only need to have catastrophic coverage and no preventative coverage and that all people with a pre-existing condition go into high risk pools, you would be forced into a high risk pool that would likely not cover surgery. As to whether MO is a pre-existing condition - if it is mentioned anywhere in any medical record you have ever had, you have a pre-existing condition.

I'm 8 months out. My days vary, depending on where I am, but I either have a protein shake (if I'm in the car driving in the morning) or an Oikos yogurt for breakfast. (15-20g protein). Lunch is usually some protein - about 3 ounces and if I still feel the need to eat something, maybe some raw veggies - celery, carrots, sweet peppers. Morning snack is cheese. Afternoon snack is nuts. Dinner is whatever I make for my family - protein, veg, and a carb. Sometimes I have a bite of rice or potato, sometimes I don't. Like Outside said, you need to get your head in the right place.

I love the Oikos Triple Zero - 15 grams of protein and 120 calories.

Call the county bar association in the county where you had the surgery and ask them for a medical malpractice attorney. The County Bar will have a referral group that will provide you with 3 names which will do consultations. Interview them and then research them before signing a fee agreement. On another note, I am so sorry that this has happened to you. I just don't have words. You also may want to contact the state medical licensing authorities - sounds like this doc needs to lose his license.

Your calories may be too low. Talk to your team. At about 6 months I upped my calories to 1,000 from 800 and started losing again. But, you may also be building muscle with whatever exercise you are doing. Muscle weighs more than fat. We've all been frustrated. Just stay the course. You're doing great.

I walk. I run (very rarely). I fence for 2 hours twice a week (as in en garde). I work with my trainer every other week. I try to get to the gym 1 or 2 times a week because I'm at the saggy skin stage - I'm trying to get the muscle to redefine what I look like. Chocolate and vanilla -- and the genetics you were born with.

I work from home 3 days a week and in the office 2. I had my surgery on a Tuesday. I was home Wednesday and worked from home 1/2 day Friday. On Monday, I was in the office like usual. Did the next week with only small problems (more voice mail than usual due to running to the bathroom to pee.)

I keep a few Quest bars in my desk at work for the days when I can't get out to grab lunch or forget to pack. I really like the variety of flavors they offer and use them probably once or twice a week - either as breakfast or lunch depending on my schedule. Buy a few in various flavors and try them If you don't like them, try something else, but I've been using them since before surgery. Personally, I like the coconut cashew and keep those in my car because they don't melt when its hot. (Whereas anything with chocolate bits will get messy if left in a hot car.)

The surgery works if you get your head in the right place. I'm hoping that you are working with a counselor/therapist for your issues. If you don't get your head in the right place, the surgery won't help in the long term. We all have those moments before surgery where we are scared, angry, and then going through the whole range of motions. Best of luck. But use your anger to fuel your success. You can do this.

Had VSG 8/23/16. Was switched to Meloxicam for severe arthritis in my knees prior to surgery and continued to take it after surgery with the blessing of my orthopedic and my bariatric surgeon. Had no trouble taking Singulair, Protonix daily or Ambien as needed after surgery, but often had to space taking my pills right after surgery. Take 1 small pill -- sip sip sip. Wait 10 minutes. Take another pill, sip sip sip, etc. Now, I swallow the whole handful at once like before. I've even had to be on prednisone for my asthma with no ill effects.

I had VSG on 8/23/16. I am looking at replacing both knees within the next 5-7 years. I have almost no cartilage in both knees and pre-surgery was using opiods to manage pain -- taking Vicodin usually once per day. I'm down 86 pounds and while my knees aren't like new, they are tremendously better. I can count on one hand how many times I've had to use the Vicodin since my surgery. My pain is mostly controlled with meloxicam (a COX-2 inhibitor that is easier on the stomach than NSAIDs - my ortho and my bariatric surgeon discussed what would be best.) I am able to be so much more active -- I foil fence four hours a week and work out at the gym another 2 hours a week with nothing more than sore muscles from working out. I can't speak for your back issues (I've never had back problems) but as to your knees, every pound you lose will translate to 5-7 pounds less stress on your knees. Best of luck.

I use this lunch bag from PackIt. Put it in the freezer at night, cooling gel built in. Keeps stuff cold all day - even if I don't eat it, yogurt is still cold when I get home. I use this when I go to the office twice a week. (Other days I work from home.) https://www.packit.com/lunch-bags/freezable-uptown-lunch-bag-new.html

Abdominal Surgery. That's it. No more. That's what I told my office. I told my husband, my two teenage daughters and two friends. Didn't tell my sister or my mother. As far as the office was concerned, I had surgery on Tuesday and was back at my desk on Monday. If anyone asked for specifics, I thanked them for their concern but said I did not want to discuss it. As for the weight loss or the change in diet, I was actually honest. I am following a diet prescribed by my doctor after my surgery. If more was asked, thank you for asking, but that is private. Never raised the issue with my mother or my sister -- my mother died six weeks after my surgery never knowing it happened. My sister, with whom I cam close, still does not know. It is no one's business. Particularly at work. If they get really nosy, when they ask about the surgery, ask when they last had sex. When they get offended, explain to them that you view your medical issues the same way they view their sex lives. Worked for me. Your mileage may vary.

My orthopedic surgeon says every extra pound on your body is 5 pounds to your knees. I have severe osteoarthritis in both knees. Eventually I will need replacements, but I'm going to be able to put it off for a few years. I'm down 86 pounds. My knees don't get nearly as stiff. I work out 3-5 times a week, including fencing for 2 hours 2 times a week. If arthritis is your problem, as you lose weight, the pain will subside. My knees will need to be replaced because I am bone on bone (no cartilage) in areas on my knees and no matter how much weight I lose that's not going to change. (I was an athlete before I got fat.) This was the best decision I has ever made.

It really depends on whether you think the people will be supportive. I told my husband, my two teen daughters and two very close friends. I didn't tell my mother. I didn't tell my sister. I told work I was having a surgical procedure and would be out for about a week. I knew that my mother would be outright hostile. I was worried my sister would be a nervous nelly about the surgery. My mom died 6 weeks after surgery and never knew. Still haven't told my sister. Didn't tell work because its none of their business. That's why I have sick time. Besides, I'm a desk jockey and went back to work six days after my surgery. My hospital offered three differently timed support groups. I'm part of a Facebook private group for people who had surgery in the same month and participate here. Obviously, I've told all my doctors, but that doesn't count. Only you can decide if people are going to be supportive. I have struggled with my weight for many years and did not feel the need to share this journey with anyone other than my immediate family and two very close friends.