Mattymatt

On 4/27/2018 at 7:29 PM, WildcatGirl71 said:

For the win!

facial hair growth is almost directly correlated to your testosterone levels.
and it's normal for testosterone to dip during a rapid weight loss phase.
my guess is after your weight stabilizes, so will your testosterone, and so will your facial hair.

I am looking for a way to grow my goatee again. I shaved it off because it's now all white. I am allergic to the Just For Men beard/mustache gel so that isn't an option. I miss my goatee and if y'all have any ideas, I am all eyes.

20 minutes ago, It's about Me said:

So I have been on my journey since December, and my surgery is right around the corner. I work with 8 men, I am the only female. I have lost 25 pounds since December and no one has mentioned anything, maybe they are afraid of something LOL. Anyway one of my coworkers that I commute with occasionally and I were taking on our way in to work and he said he noticed I had lost weight (only after I mentioned it), and we were talking about going to the gym and such. I haven't told anyone about my surgery except my husband, I just told my boss I was having a procedure and would be out for two weeks, he didn't ask what kind, just is it serious? and I said no that's why I can give you a months notice. Anyway my jackass coworker starts telling me that some people decide to have surgery and that its a easy way out and why would someone want to cut up their body when they can diet and exercise. At this moment I wanted to smack him in the head and push him out the truck door! What they say about some people and their opinions is true apparently, how stupid of a remark, I just stopped the conversation at that point. By the way he is a 290 pound FAT guy and I know that's mean but so was what he said. Sorry it just pissed me off!! This in no way has been an easy journey for me, its very hard work.

Here's the answer to the easy way out comment that stops them cold in their tracks:

1) I've had to go on a restrictive, liquids-only pre-op diet for 2 weeks.

2) I've had to re-lean how to eat again beginning with Clear Liquids, moving on to pureed, then soft foods, and finally regular food.

3) I can no longer use food to drown out anxiety, emotional pain, etc. I have to deal with it face to face so I have good days and bad days.

4) My stomach has good days and bad days and I don't always no which one it will be. Then I have to carefully eat so as not to overeat and become sick. Food must be carefully and mindfully chewed.

5) I have to work out 3-4x per week

6) I need regular Vitamins for the rest of my life.

* So tell me again, honey, how I took the easy way out.

59 minutes ago, jesse3110 said:

Hey all. I've been overweight/obese since my Dad passed away when I was 18. Finally this past year I decided enough was enough, I could hardly walk, I would lie awake at night fearing a sudden death, and on and on. On February 1st I weighed in @ 537lbs. My surgeon wanted me to lose 40-50lbs before he would approve surgery. That day changed my life, I committed to eating healthy and exercising. By March 2nd I had lost 40lbs and was approved for surgery....but first a 4!! week 600-800 calorie pre op. It was a struggle but I stuck too it and on my surgery date April 2nd I weighed in at 471lbs.

The day of surgery my hemoglobin reading was 11.8, my surgeon said it was fine, I had enough to compensate for any loss. The surgery itself was a success. Here's where it got scary. Immediately after surgery, still had the anesthesia and fentanyl in my system. I was on IV dilaudid and ativan. Anyways, once I got to the bariatric floor I was in misery...I was thrashing from the pain, so I asked a nurse if I could get something for my nerves (remember what I'm already on) and sure enough in she came with iv filled with valium. I remember her injecting it, and then BOOM....lights out, I woke up to a team of people over me, a tube in my throat and general confusion. Apparently the combo of meds sent me down....scary!

During my thrashing one of my incisions opened and started bleeding, because i was covered with a blanket it took a nurse 8 hours to see it, she put a band on it. The next morning my surgeon came in and was AGHAST at how much blood I'd lost, he was visibly angry. My lab work came back and confirmed his suspicions...my hemoglobin was 6.4!!!! For the next day plus I was on the verge of a transfusion, my pulse was out of control and more. It slowly got better.

Ok, fast forward to today as I'm probably boring ya'll. I am...drumroll...416 POUNDS!!! I've lost 55 pounds since surgery!! and 121 total!! My bloodwork came back today and my hemoglobin is back to 10! I feel AMAZING!!!!!!!! Even though the first few days were scary as hell, I wouldn't trade it.

I've gone from a 60 pant size to 54

7xl shirt to 4/5x.

I'll post pics later!

Sent from my SM-G965U using BariatricPal mobile app

So glad to hear that you're doing better and that the surgery was ultimately a success. Keep on coming back and posting.

Fluffy, I was only passing the information as information only, that particular brand of Protein Shake is the only one that uses that ingredient. For example, the continued debate that Marijuana can be used for medical purposes today, how can you pass something off (a drug for medical purposes) and you smoke it? How is this healthy, when you are destroying your lungs?

LOL! I wish I had a job to go back to. I am beating the bushes looking for work opportunity.

Speaking for myself, I know that I get bouts of nausea if I am dehydrated. Interestingly enough, this didn't happen pre-surgery. Are you making certain to get your 64oz of liquid in a day?

Sorry my family did not come from the apes. Sorry that’s yours did. Oh and FYI
There are carnivorous species of apes that eat their own

Wahoo!!!!

I wouldn't run the risk of taking NSAIDs. It's just not worth irritating your stomach.

I thought dumping was only a thing for RNY folks .... interesting.

1 minute ago, FluffyChix said:

Get ready for beating hearts and falling sparkle Matty!

Payce!

HAHA! Haven't become a heart throb just yet. Maybe when I get a little closer to two fitty.

Now this is happening to me all of the time. Oh well, maybe it will encourage us to comment instead of hitting the <3 button.

sorry, there was a problem reacting to this content

i asked this question once to someone on the board - answer "it is being worked on"
situation happened a lot before - now it pops up frequently
tia
kathy

On 4/26/2018 at 10:47 PM, LovableLisha said:

Those who were diagnose with sleep apnea, did you have to take your cpap machine with you when you went to the hospital for your surgery?

I had to bring mine with me.

2 hours ago, Frustr8 said:

Never strive to be average, it's just as close to the bottom as it is to the top.
Just a wise thought for your todays.🌈😜

I am fine with being average. I've spent my whole life living with a Type A personality driving me hard and very unhealthy. For the first time in my life, I am just comfortable in the middle of the road.

Good to know! I called my doctor after the second reading of Do you mind if I ask if you also lost weight on the Optifast as well as shrinking your liver?


HW: 311
CW: 262
SW: We’ll see on May 10!

I don't like to get political but Donald Trump actually inspires me to do just the opposite of what he does. Every time I hear him smear someone's name, I am even more motivated to do something kind for someone else. I understand the world can be a big, bad place but it doesn't mean that we need to become desensitized to it. I really object to the snowflake meme and telling people they should suck it up. No, maybe we could do a better job being good, decent, charitable human beings instead of stepping on each other to get ahead. Again, I take a heaping teaspoon of my own medicine.

1 minute ago, Ivy Joel said:

I dont think i laughed? I pressed like

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The emoticon came up as a laugh. Oh well, no worries. I was simply wondering if I had said something stupid.

Why is what I said above funny? I am very serious. There is enough meanness out in the world.

6 minutes ago, Ivy Joel said:

Just seems so counter productive to even be in a head space to be a bully in this supportive environment

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Sometimes when one is not feeling so good about themselves, they pick on the weakness of someone else out of personal frustration. This is the way it has been throughout time. I know when I am feeling down and despondent I have to actually work to prevent the mean, angry, and sarcastic Matty from coming out. It's not a side of me that I like but sometimes I am human and it comes out but I will always apologize for this because, again, I don't want to be known as an a*****e.

Chloraseptic might be okay to use if it is not in the NSAID class of drugs. But better to be safe and check with your doctor.

I had to do my two week pre-op diet with Optifast. It is unpleasant at best but a rite of passage. About the only flavor I could stand was chocolate. vanilla and strawberry you could practically taste the fakeness. My endocrinologist pulled me off of insulin when I first started out. About a week into the diet, I was also pulled off of Victoza as I continued to run low.