clc9

Elevated liver enzymes (ALT and AST) from a blood test is a clue, which often leads to an ultrasound to confirm the diagnosis. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

Agreed with @@theantichick and @@OutsideMatchInside . What he meant was someone who regains after surgery very well may increase their set point and will struggle to maintain a lower weight just like an overweight person who never had weight loss surgery. So sure, they can lose the regain, but they'll fight to keep it off as their body struggles to get back to the higher weight just like before surgery. He went on to say this is why it is so important to stop any regain immediately rather than letting it get to double digits before doing something about it. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

So helpful, thank you!!! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Stop weighing yourself! If you're doing everything your team is telling you to do to the letter, that is all that is within your control. Water retention/swelling, shock to your system, the scale - none of that is in your control. But you can't not lose weight following their instructions. It may just take a while to kick in. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

I don't know anything about bands. What do they tell you the lifespan of the device is when you get one? Strikes me as a class action lawsuit waiting to happen. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

Brown sugar is just regular white sugar with molasses mixed in. Does your doctor allow sugar? Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

Fabulous! Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

I would laugh except that I live in fear of running into my ex jerkface who I last saw 115 pounds (less) ago! Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

The surgeon told me this surgery gives you a "do over" to reset your body's weight set point so you aren't in a fight with your body to get back to your high weight, but it's only that - a one time chance to start over. You can mess up that chance by not changing the way you eat for good. Your new set point still has every opportunity to rise if you aren't careful. And set points can only go up. Surgery is the only thing available today that can lower it. So do what you can now to prepare yourself mentally to protect your new set point and keep it low. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

@@L.T. How is your daughter doing?

My deceased mother was still receiving medical bills 2 years after her passing. Insurance and medical billing moves at a glacial pace sometimes. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

I can hardly feel mine luckily. I really have to push on my neck. If they are too big that they look bad or interfere with swallowing or if they can't control it with medication, they sometimes remove it and then give you replacement hormones.

Several things can cause an enlarged thyroid. Mine is enlarged because I have a "toxic nodule" and am hyperthyroid, which should have left me skinny as a whippet. But I am one of those rare snowflakes who could outeat the increase in metabolism. When I met my bariatric surgeon and told him I had medically controlled hyperthyroidism, he looked at me and said "really?" Grrr. Not a lot of fat hyperthyroid patients. Hashimoto's disease is another cause. A rare one is thyroid cancer (VERY treatable). Bottom line, thyroid problems are treatable. It can take some trial and error to get it right, but they can treat them! Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

They'll be eating out nearly every meal in all likelihood. Going out for a single birthday dinner with friends where you couldn't eat what the restaurant offers is one thing, but sitting with a group of people watching them eating vacation food at every meal for several days could get downright depressing. Then again, missing out on good times with friends is depressing too! I guess I'd think through all the various scenarios where you'll have to do something different than everyone else and decide whether all those compromises are acceptable and whether you'll feel it would be worth it to go. It very well may be. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

25 pound bags of dog food are good perspective too... Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

My surgeon uses those actuarial tables and said for my height (6'), my ideal weight was 153. I would look emaciated at 153. 170 looks great on my frame. He then used the 153 number to give me an idea of where he would expect my weight to settle after surgery based on what his patients are generally able to keep off and that is around 180. I would be fine with that. 183 is the high end of the normal BMI for me. I'll take normal! Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

Woohoo! Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

My surgeon mentioned this happening to some people as a caution. Many of us have addictive personalities to start with or we wouldn't have abused food to the point of being so overweight. You take away one addictive coping pathway and sometimes another one takes its place. He said the only patient he's had who regretted surgery was one who became a drug and alcohol addict who's wife then left him. I wish you all the best. You beat one problem, you can beat another! I'm just sorry you have to in the first place. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

If you can be on a pre-op diet through the holidays, you can do anything! Superheroes, all of you! Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

Still getting it. Irvine, CA

Looking terrific! Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

Amazing! Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

What a letdown! Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

Wow, you've lost at least 15 years too! Well done! Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

I remember being a kid, Christmas was so magical. Now I'd be totally okay if it came every other year. I didn't even decorate this year. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App