Finding_Stacy

20 hours ago, over_and_over_again said:

I am going to have to really think about how much (little!) I am eating when I am in the grocery store and adjust the volume of food that I buy. Last week I bought eggs, a few pounds of chicken, a couple of sweet potatoes, and maybe three zucchini. I was worried that it wouldn't be enough for the week. Now I am whipping up Soup and purees to freeze because there is no way I can get through it when a bite or three of something fills me up. And my fridge is full of bowls that have a half portion of something in them .... a quarter cup of Greek yogurt or an ounce of chicken that I couldn't finish. I am going to have to change my stockpiling mentality! This is a bizarre experience.

That was my favorite part of this experience...extreme restriction. My 'prescription' literally ran out in my 4 1/2 month. It was like I had extreme restriction still for Breakfast, then for lunch, I ate my regular half chicken breast but it no longer filled me like before.

Sigh, I miss being able to go to Culver's for Soup, or Wendy's for chili, and have these cartons scattering about my fridge, that my husband would finish. I'm 8 months out and can eat a small chili from Wendy's, which is still good, don't get me wrong. But still .

Just enjoy it while it lasts.

On 12/6/2017 at 9:39 AM, bcl1628 said:

Sleeved on June 23, 2017. 71 lbs and 4 pant sizes down. Male, 5’10. I can do things I haven’t been able to do in years- RUNNING being my favorite [re-]discovered hobby. Enjoying the process (and trying to be patient with the stalls). Let’s do this!

Oh my gosh! That is so great, congratulations! I can't wait to hit it. Hopefully by March I will. I thought I'd never see it, so it's amazing that it's finally within reach.

10 hours ago, mpolyard said:

What medicine were you put on if you were diagnosed with depression??

This definitely has been a struggle with me, and my doctor (regular, not surgeon), won't put me on anything. She's worried it would stall my weight loss and feels it's a short-term effect. I will say, seven months out it's not as bad as it was a few months ago. I think the hormones are leveling out. But I have a lot of situational things happening, like my mom is dying and other things, that she feels a pill won't necessarily help. She recommended therapy.

But I say, if you feel like you need something, take it. Lexapro is a good one. I took that many years ago and remember liking it.

On 11/11/2017 at 1:38 PM, JerseyJules said:

Before 298lbs after 225lbs Im 5-11.5 tall.

Wow, look at you! I've watched many of your videos but haven't seen them in awhile. You're doing such a great job!

I was shedding for a few months. Luckily, it's slowing down but it started around the second month and went till I was 4 1/2 months out. My theory is this: you're not getting enough nutrition when your calories are extremely restricted, like they are those first few months. Your body uses the calories you're giving it for important areas, such as your heart, brain, etc, and not much nutrition is left over for unimportant areas, like your hair and nails.

Before long, you'll be able to eat more and the shedding will diminish over time. In the mean time, eat the most nutritious foods you can. Make every bite count and make sure it packs a nutritious punch.

On 11/17/2017 at 6:31 PM, 102316 said:

Is there any way I drink something with high Protein without that terrible taste, I wanna get more Protein in but the taste is unbearable sometimes

They all have different levels of tasting crappy but you can doctor them up. Currently, I'm drinking a Premier Protein (vanilla) shake with 2 teaspoons of sugar free white chocolate pudding mix in it. It makes it taste like cake batter and worth the 1 extra carb. Sometimes I'll add blueberries to it, but today I just added chia seeds and benefiber. Also, the sugar free lemon pudding mix is pretty awesome to add in as well. Play around with the flavors, you might surprise yourself in what you end up liking.

On 11/17/2017 at 10:17 AM, zoxie said:

I have my surgery on Nov 13, haven't done number 2 since Sunday. I feel the need to go but when i go,i push a lot nothing but it's there n i feel it. I took miralax so far nothing. Can i take balerina tea or even an enema? Anyone tried those?

Sent from my SM-N910T using BariatricPal mobile app

This has been an ongoing problem for me since surgery. My surgeon had me drink milk of magnesia before I even left the hospital and it worked great. Since then, I've eaten a ton of Fiber, but it just doesn't really work that well. Drinking enough Water every day seems to help some days/weeks, but really, milk of magnesia twice a week has been my staple and the only thing that has consistently worked.

My advice is to drink the max dose before you go to bed. Make sure you've been drinking enough water beforehand, and get as much water in after you take it. You'll have the best results in the morning, opposed to taking MOM during the day, and running to the bathroom every half hour with no results.

Wow, your post could've been mine. I literally eat the same thing I've been eating for months, but this past month I feel like I've hit my first big stall--or my sleeve stopped working--or I'm screwing everything up with my piece of whole wheat toast every mornings sans crust. It's a mind game, this surgery, and we knew that going in.

And we still second guess ourselves every second of every day, right?

I'm six months out, and at about five months along, I noticed a big difference in restriction. It's alarming when you're used to eating four ounces that will keep you full for hours, then literally one day, you eat six ounces and not feel the usual signs of fullness. I don't know, it made me a little sad. My favorite thing was this extreme restriction.

But I will say to you, what I know for myself. Why am I not losing? It's most likely not your cream of wheat. You may be slacking in the Protein and Water department and don't even realize it. Even though I know this, I still am guilty. When you hit a stall, up your exercise even just slightly. Drink 90 oz of water per day and eat 70 + grams of protein. This will probably do it. I know it works for me so I'm making myself take my own advice as we speak.

But chin up, you're doing an amazing job!

On 11/15/2017 at 9:47 AM, krandall said:

Anyone else sleeved 8/24 and whats your pounds lost?

Good job! I was sleeved 4/24 and down 113 since then. I only lost three pounds this month, so I believe I'm in another stall :-/. I do a lot of circuit training, walking, and squats so it's unbelievably frustrating.

On 9/5/2017 at 6:36 PM, Dabearo said:

Without getting into a conversation about if I should or should not have it. Have any of you eaten popcorn post op? Is it a slider? Does it swell up? Does it get stuck? Have you had flavored popcorns, not caramel popcorn?

I have popcorn 1-2 days a week and it hasn't halted my weight loss...and I'm on my doctor's weight loss high end by taking off 105 pounds in five months. Now, I will say, I keep all other carbs very low.

It's a slider food in the sense that you can eat more of it, than let's say, chicken or beef, but you shouldn't be able to eat an entire bag of microwave popcorn in one sitting either.

I've had the worst Constipation since surgery, a few times, even four days ago, I contemplated going to the ER.

In my experience, milk of magnesia works the best. If you don't have a bowel movement in two days, drink .60 ml of that stuff, it works like a charm. But don't go for a week or more or you are going to get compacted, therefore, desperate to do anything to get out of that situation, including, selling your soul to the devil to make it go away.

Aim for +80 ounces of Water a day, add benefiber into your Protein Drinks, drinks, or food, or eat an apple a day with skin on it.

I feel for you....good luck!

I am post op day 9 can you have iced Decaf coffee? Seems like u may be able to but I wasnt sure. Perhaps with some 1% milk and splenda or even black with splenda. Probably just have to drink a little more Water. Anyone?

I'm around 17 weeks out and eat anywhere from 650-850 calories a day, 20-40 net carbs a day, and can eat 5.5 ounces of something like yogurt, but maybe only 4 ounces of meat.< br>

4 minutes ago, heycrystal2052 said:

To be honest, at one point I thought I was losing too quickly. Between each appointment, I was losing about 25 pounds per three month, sometimes more. At this point, I have slowed a little, but the inches are still coming off. You do a lot more than I in the gym, I just focus on toning and walking. The arms, girl...they need help. Most insurance companies consider it to be more cosmetic, so I'll pay out of pocket for that if I'm ever desperate enough to get rid of it. What I wanted most, the insurance covered. These breasts need help, thankfully, BCBS agrees. LOL! The rate of loss now, is about 10 pounds a month. Almost two years out and I'm still so very focused, I've gone through too much to give up now. Ya know?!

I definitely know and applaud you. You've done an amazing job!

I have BCBS of IL. I've heard of them paying for a lower body lift, breasts, and arms, but I'm sure it really comes down to what you can prove you need to have done.

I didn't really lose much, maybe 6 pounds, before surgery and my first month after surgery I lost 34 pounds. Second month 30 again, and now almost 20. I know it sounds crazy, but every day it still feels like my weight loss is dragging. It's not until I look at my fitbit app and see the downward trend for me to say, 'wow'. I know I'm too hard on myself but I think I want this so bad, I can't focus on anything else but that next ten pounds. Like, I better be in my 280's next week or that scale is going to have it.

10 minutes ago, heycrystal2052 said:

I thought the same as you, I thought hey would tell me to lose a bit more weight before submitting to the insurance. Since I'm close to my goal, I'm sure that was factored in. Such adventures! lol

10 minutes ago, heycrystal2052 said:

I thought the same as you, I thought hey would tell me to lose a bit more weight before submitting to the insurance. Since I'm close to my goal, I'm sure that was factored in. Such adventures! lol

Wow, I just noticed your starting weight and realize we were very close. Some days I feel like it was just yesterday that I was 378, and other days I feel like I've been stuck at 296

for months, even though it's only been less than a week. This whole thing is a mind game, no joke.

But I can't wait to hear how it'll go. I'm counting on a lower body 360, breast lift/implants, and most likely I'll need my arms done. I guess it's hard to tell what else I'll need until I get there. I do a 100 squats a day, circuit train at a gym 3-5 days a week, and 15-25 flights of stairs a day. So, girl, I'm trying--that's for sure.

I'm 2 months out - down 30lbs since surgery - fantastic [emoji106]-- it's not overly hard, no pain, but it's just no fun - I hate cooking, I certainly know how to cook, I just don't find any enjoyment and avoid at all cost -- so having to be constantly trying to learn new recipes, then to find out, ptewwwy taste buds have changed and another gross meal --/ what a weird journey, but definitely no regrets - I'm so looking forward to seeing me thinner -- just not having much fun right now [emoji850]

Depending on your policy, it could differ. W/ the lift, I didn't have any issues w/ the chafing, rashes, etc. Some policies will require those things to be a must. I'm a 40DDD, so they're very heavy and hurt my back, thankfully that was enough to get my approval. If you're having any issues due to the weight lost (only focus on that), make sure they're well documented and share that w/ your plastic surgeon. Now, I did have some discoloration under the breasts, I was later told, that was a sign of continuous skin irritation (so, maybe I did have those issues).
The Panni, we knew they were would deny, but we tried any way. In my case, the denial did not warrant a P2P. Not to be too graphic, you must hang lower than your lady part and I just don't have enough loose skin to justify the surgery. They need to see you've had NUMEROUS amounts of skin irritations for them to even blink an eye w/ thought of the reviewing. If that is a problem, make sure you get prescribed (must fill through the pharmacy, we need to see you had claims for it and for how long) creams or whatever else you use to treat it. If you buy something OTC, again, make sure it is documented w/ your surgeon so it is recorded in your medical chart. Make sure you're within or at goal and have been there for several months. Now, depending on your policy, this could differ a bit, but this is the gist of it.

I'm 5 weeks post op today and I'm looking for ideas to eat. I'm a really good cook but for some reason, chicken just does not appeal to me anymore. I was a huge egg eater before surgery. I can barely take the taste now.
Any ideas would be helpful.

How long post op did it take you to have a bowel movement?

2 hours ago, Strivingforbetter said:

I know which woman you're talking about and her videos freaked me out too. I still had my DS, but honestly that woman does not look healthy. Short, brown thinning hair. I too went in thinking I was going to have the sleeve and changed to the DS because I wanted to keep the weight off long term. I had the entire DS done in a single procedure, which took two hours. My doctor only prescribed me a Multivitamin with Vitamins ADEK, a chewable Calcium, and a B12 supplement. Those are the only pills I take twice a day. He 's done over 200 DS procedures and trains other doctors around the country to do them. He does the double anastomosis, but he gave me a longer common channel because I began with a lower BMI than most patients. I failed to lose weight on the Lap-Band.

Yes! That's her. I felt so bad for her, but so terrified for me--I'm not even kidding. In the end I went with the sleeve. I thought, I could always change my mind and get the DS down the road, but let's first take this sleeve out for a test drive and see how well I do with it alone. All I know, I'm almost three months out and not regretting having bariatric surgery. Best. Thing. Ever.

How are you feeling?

That is so good to know, thank you so much!

On 3/24/2017 at 6:49 PM, imadethelist said:

VSG - Dr Prachad, University of Chicago, insurance paid

LBL - Dr Zachary, University of Chicago, insurance paid

I wanted to ask you, since my insurance said they pay for skin removal too if the extra skin becomes a problem. Did your insurance pay for your entire lbl, or just the 'skin removal' part?

I read some insurances who pay for skin removal won't pay for anything they deem cosmetic, like a belly button etc. I've also read some people even got insurance to pay for their breast surgeries as well. I hope I'm in that boat.

And are you happy with your results? Would you go to Dr. Zachary again?

18 hours ago, sprysmeow said:

I just really want to get my surgery. It was scheduled for July 17th and I was in the middle of my liquid pre-op diet when they informed me that I could not have surgery until my thyroid is normal. The bariatrician was fine with it, but my primary care Dr. halted the procedure. I am praying that my levels get back to normal, so that I can do this before school starts.

They delayed my surgery until my thyroid was normal (ish). My test was showing a 10.5 and he wanted me in the 4 range. They increased my synthroid from 135 to 175, which is where I'm at currently. I'm hoping I'll start needing a decrease here soon, since I lost nearly 80 pounds since the middle of April, which is the last time they tested me.

I'm not a vet, but I haven't tried any breads or sugars, outside Dunkin Donuts slipping me a sugar filled iced coffee here and there on accident. Nothing like a sip full of sugar when you least expect it.

But nothing intentional. That is one slippery slope I don't want to fall down.

12 hours ago, blizair09 said:

bread is a never for me. Too many carbs.

Wow, Bliz. You're so close to goal. You've done phenomenal! Great job!!

Was that whole loss within a year?