gina171

Love that funky haircut!

LOVE the font/handwriting and the curves of the lines of text...very artistic choice.

allyrenee....take a deep breath. You might not like all of what I am saying, but I hope you will let yourself hear it, even a little bit. There's probably some truth in what shaydi.lane said ... AND some truth in what you replied. Neither one of you are completely wrong, and that probably stings. You're a little younger than my son, so I am going to say to you what I tell him: no matter what you have to do to get it, you need a cushion of what I call "God-Forbid-Money" .... an amount of money that YOU DO NOT TOUCH unless the situation warrants you gasping and muttering "God forbid..." (life and death, fire, safety, illness...). Money for a plane or train or bus ticket in case someone you love 1000 miles away dies (or is suddenly dying and you want to say goodbye before they pass), money in case the person who pays the rent suddenly can't bc of illness, money to cover the co-pay if you suddenly needed to pay for a medicine your life depended upon, money to pay for that same medicine for an infirm loved one, money to fix the furnace if it dies in the middle of a snowstorm, money if you break down driving in the middle of the night driving through a different state and you need a tow and a repair and a motel. Money for the things you don't plan on....like the situation you find yourself in, where someone on whom you were counting can't come through for you. You have to be able to come through for yourself. If you can't, you live in chains. When you need to build up the funds for that "God-Forbid-Money", NO WORK IS BENEATH YOU IN THE SHORT TERM (babysit, cut lawns, go on care.com and sign up to run errands for people, drive for uber, clean houses, get a PT job anywhere, take care of kids after school for people who work, make telemarketing calls at night, clean office buildings at night, sign up at a temp agency...). Do anything short of selling your body or your integrity. Because the peace of mind that comes from having God-Forbid-Money is huge. If you have it, no one holds you (or your health) hostage. For you, it might be $1000 in the bank or tucked under your mattress. Whatever you think your number is, increase it by another 50%. Because emergencies are always more expensive than you expect. This is a big moment for you. You get to decide who you want to be, and how you want to be. You probably have more power to chart your own course than you realize. Dig deep. Show the world who you are. Plus....you might want to start a little separate fund for supplements, Vitamins, and -- hooray -- the new clothes you will legitimately need on your way down the scale. Even if you shop at Goodwill, you're looking at $50 a month I bet, bc you will also need new underwear, bras, etc. You're a young adult, too young to already feel burdened by bad credit and relying on other people this much. You deserve something different, and only you can make it happen. Get out of this mess, honorably. Straighten things out, fix the credit, save more money, get your surgery when you can on your own terms without relying on just an extra $1000 from your parents, channel your determination and anger positively. Let your real self out. Not a sassy, defensive version of yourself....let your REAL SELF out. It takes a lot of work. It is scary to realize that once you are 22 years old, it really is all in your hands, it's all your responsibility now. But the beauty is, once you do this you will not only be charting your own course, you will have the ability to help those who truly have no options through no fault of their own. And help those who helped you on your way up. You are too valuable to let $1000 hold your life in the balance. You are bigger than that. So, LIVE bigger than that. And get yourself some God-Forbid-Money over the next few months.

Yes! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Saggy skin won't give you diabetes, a stroke, heart attack, hypertension, GERD, gall stones, achy joints..... You're doing great! Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

I'm in NC. My husband works for a pharma company, so they usually offer us pretty nice health care options....for a cost of course!! Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

Sweet tea.... I know you are in the sleeve forums, but just wanted to check....you had a sleeve, not RNY? What was your starting weight or BMI, if you don't mind my asking? Just wondering bc I am losing sleep trying to decide between the sleeve and RNY.... Thanks! Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

Super foamy saliva. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

BetterMe....wondering which "flavor" of United Healthcare you have? I have Choice Plus, and the nurse on the phone said no waiting period? Maybe since my BMI is so high (52) that's why they told me that... Or maybe I am going to get a really crummy surprise when my surgeon's office starts communicating with United Healthcare. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

Hi Pup, curious as to why you chose RNY over sleeve? Feel free to message me if you prefer? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I never spanked my children, but I would love to give that adult a good slap across his ignorant mouth. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

FWIW...the woman in the picture looks like a perfectly lovely human being...good for you for taking care of her health. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Thx! Cancelling the phone appt!!! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Tony, you look great....and your smile in the after pic is so big and genuine! Love it! Be proud! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

You'll fly through this no problem Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Sorry to get so morbid here and mention chemo. I DO NOT have cancer, but it does run in my family like wildfire, and I expect that one day I might get the dreaded diagnosis. I am 48 now, hopefully this won't be for at least 2 decades, fingers crossed. So my malabsorption/malnutrition questions have to do with how does the body of an RNY patient get enough nutrients if -- heaven forbid -- they one day face chemo? I have seem family members really ravaged by chemo (granted, not all of them were compliant with doctors orders and suggestions), and many of these folks were overweight to start, and none of them ever had RNY or any weight loss surgery. So any nutrients they were able to get into their body had a chance to stay there and get absorbed. If RNY is malabsorptive and creates a Vitamin deficiency in most patients who are tested for these deficiencies, then how is any real nutrition getting to the body of a sick person undergoing chemo and eating very little? Maybe there's a set protocol between oncologists and bariatric doctors already? Do you all have any thoughts/experience with this? Are you living with a nutritional deficit in everyday life with your RNY? Thanks, I know this topic is a bit of a downer. :-(

Brilliant explanation, thank you! Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

Ok....I admit it......I have no idea what a bougie is, how it is used, and what the size actually represents. Can someone please enlighten me? Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

Brenda, I have my fingers and toes crossed for your appeal! Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

I think I might take all my big clothes that I have worn and liked over the years, and have them made into a quilt. Maybe even include some of the "new" clothes I am able to fit into as I move through the first year post-op....it would be nice to have a tangible reminder of all the places I have been on my first year of this journey. :-) Now if the darn surgeon's office will just respond to my application and get me that first appointment, I am ready to go!!! Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

Has anyone asked their surgeons about this pre-op? If not, I will and I will report back. :-) Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

You are very lovely...I think you look classy and European....you're elegant. Please consider seeing a counselor who can help you see yourself more clearly....don't dim your inner light now worrying about imagined flaws. You have fought the good fight with your weight and have WON ... Don't slow yourself down now. I promise a counselor can help. You deserve it! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I had this procedure for my uterine fibroids and 7 years out and all is good. I tried this to avoid a hysterectomy, and was pleased that it worked. However, when something like a uterine fibroid that relies on your blood to survive suddenly has that blood supply cut off....you know it. It wasn't a happy week of recovery but the Percoset helped and there was no major incision to worry about. So don't get freaked out by the idea of a plastic pellet...its just another medical tool when used correctly. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

So I get heartburn, probably 5-7 times a week. Esp if I lie down shortly after eating something, even a snack. Not terrible heartburn that last for hours, but I certainly feel it a bit and sometimes I grab some Tums. Is THAT GERD? Or is GERD another type of severe experience? Trying to decide between RNY and sleeve, and this GERD question might make it a lot easier. Bc I do know that I DON"T want to feel more frequent heartburn after my surgery. I just don't know if what I am feeling is normal, what most people have. Or if it's another one of those things I never consciously tied to my weight issue? Thanks!

VSGAnn....thank you for this! I have read lots of your posts as I try to decide between RNY and sleeve.....I worry that there's not enough data on sleeve and that there is the opportunity to cheat the sleeve AND THEN I read your posts and I realize that if someone is committed and responsible like you, it could be the perfect tool. Your success and very committed attitude gives me hope. My BMI is 49 and I am 48 years old, so some doctors are suggesting RNY bc of those factors but again....I think of how well you did and I wonder if the sleeve might be enough of a tool for me, without the fear of nutritional deficiencies and rerouting my insides... Thank you for all your insight on these forums. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App