Mattymatt

Try drinking something. It helps me.

As others have said, it's time to fire your PCP and find one that isn't closed-minded about health.

Kitties aren't meant to be constipated damnit! ROFL

3 hours ago, escott70 said:

Hello. I just had surgery last week. Spent one night in hospital and returned to home. Physically it seems to be getter better. However, emotionally I’m a mess! Ever since I get very upset almost explosive at times and then cry. And once that starts it won’t stop. I have a dr appt in a couple days and I will talk to them about it but curious if this is just me or has it happened to others. The more upset I get the more mad I get, etc. I would swear I had surgery that affected my hormones! Thanks!

I am really glad you have the courage to post this. I can tell you that you're not alone! I was the same way for almost 6 weeks post-op. Golly, I can practically identify with the anger and saddness. I even had some suicidal ideation because I could not see a path forward to a better life. A song from Paula Abdul, Forever Your Girl came on the radio and I just broke down sobbing in my car. This was the song that my ex-girlfriend (and the woman I thought I would marry) sang to me on karaoke night on a cruise. She was drunk, in love, and she looked directly at me as she sang the song. I remember tearing up at the love I felt. Well, it turned out she's not forever my girl.

In some ways I was/am mourning the old me and I don't have food to make me feel better. Is it possible that you are mourning the person that you were pre-surgery? The difficulty of the mental game cannot be underestimated. If you need a shoulder to cry on, I am here; having walked in your shoes.

On 4/16/2018 at 4:31 PM, AshAsh1 said:

Prior to surgery I was on a statin and my PCP removed me from the medication before my surgery after monitoring my levels for over a year. They thought that they were high due to a episode of Diabetic Ketoacidosis. It made sense at the time because the first time I had high results was during my DKA attack. I just had my Vitamin levels checked and everything came back good except for my lipid panel. I haven't been on a statin since surgery and now my Triglycerides are 343. NO BUENO!

I'm very disappointed to have to go back on daily medication. I've been off everything since surgery. Has anyone had experience with their cholesterol, NOT improving after surgery? Or perhaps, taking longer to improve? Any advice is wanted!

I'm pretty concerned because I'm looking to start a family in the next year, and you can't take statins while pregnant . Also, I'm at an increased risk of using fertility medication, which increases your cholesterol and pregnancy does as well. The pregnancy issue is still away off, but I'm nervous for obvious reasons.

Hey Ash Ash! It's important to remember that gaining health is sometimes one step forward, two steps back. It's been tough post-op for me too. My sleep has gotten so bad now that I am back on Seroquel, nominally used for sleep. I didn't count on that being added back into the regimen and it saddened me quite a bit but sleep is so important. Perhaps, this is only temporary and your body is still reacting and adjusting to the new you. Try not to take it so hard. Remember, things could be so much worse.

2 hours ago, star2017 said:

So i was cleared to start eating puree foods. I started off with blended canned low sodium chicken that was on my list of foods. So far so good with it. I didn't dare eat too much i started with a table spoon and ate it with a baby spoon over 30 min period. I'm trying to listen to my stomach i don't want to over eat. I didn't think eating for the first time would make me nervous but it did lol. Was anyone nervous the first time they ate? How much did you start off eating? I know everyone is different but just a general idea. I'm just thrilled to finally have food!! It tasted like heaven haha

Nice! Just remember to take'er easy, chew, eat slow. :-D

5 minutes ago, Thucydides said:

I started pretty close (518 lbs) to where you are and had nearly identical fears. Same 3-month diet, sleep study, etc. I remember worrying about whether I would survive the surgery but, in the end, I knew that I had a surgeon that was excellent and resolved to follow the pre-op program to better my odds. Everything turned out fine. Actually, much better than I ever expected.

The best advice that I can give is really simple: follow the plan recommended by your doctor and focus on things day by day. Losing 300 lbs seemed impossible to me, but following my nutrition and exercise plan each day was much more manageable. As I did that, the weight came off. The hardest thing for me to wrap my head around was that I would feel so much better and so much more energetic even after I lost 30 lbs. I felt even better after losing 50 lbs, 100 lbs, etc. In short, focusing on the end goal sometimes obscures the fact that you will notice positive changes all along the way that will make it worthwhile and easier to stick with. I cannot begin to describe to you how different my life is at 210 lbs versus 518 lbs. Still blows my mind!

There is nothing special about me. If I can lose and keep off 300+ lbs, you can absolutely do it. Good luck!

Bullshit, man! Keeping off 300+ pounds is an achievement. You are my hero!

And followed up by two more this afternoon. I guess the Miralax and Colace did their thing. Aaaaahhhhh! Relief

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2 hours ago, Creekimp13 said:

The turd I delivered last night should have had a birth certificate and been issued a social security number. I'm going to name it and claim it on my income tax.

I like new experiences....but that was ridiculous. It was the Godzilla of all poos. I was tempted to take a pic....but that is beyond gross and i'm already being insanely gross making a post about it. (but I fear there are others who can relate...lol)

On the plus side....I lost a pound and a half.

Giving the scale a few days before I record the loss...but it looks hopeful. LOL:)

I had one of those this morning! It backed the toilet up. I needed to fetch the plunger.

On 4/18/2018 at 9:41 PM, star2017 said:

To much info...maybe but hey with this type of surgery might as well put it all out there, I'm sure it won't be the last poop post! So I'm 9 days out. Haven't had BM since the day of surgery, called doc today he suggested doing a suppository....well that didn't take long to get things sliding! It wasn't pleasant...at all. I was afraid to push because i was afraid of straining too much. It was like having pregnancy contractions your body just pushes on its own. Seriously. I start freaking out thinking I'm going to create a leak trying to poop...i just wanted to **** and get off the pot! Ugh i think that endeavor was more stressful then surgery!

Yes, it is! I only go once every two days and it feels like I am going into labor. LOL!

2 hours ago, Apple203 said:

Yup, good plan! It will end, and it is frustrating. I hope I can handle the next one in a more calm manner.

Apple, you didn't handle the stall badly at all.

The first stall has arrived. For the past week I've been fluctuating between the same 2 pounds. It makes me really appreciate others that are in a stall because it certainly isn't easy so I am going to swallow my own medicine and just persevere through it.

No, I have not. I am just taking Colace and Miralax.

2 hours ago, magpie26 said:

I had my sleeve done on the 17th, I had fair amount of nausea in the hospital, but I got to go home the next day. I feel like every time i sip, there is a gurgle, and has but I took Gas-X and the pressure went away and I walk and sip as much as I can. BUT my concern is, I'm hungry! Why am I hungry? Everyone said with the sleeve you don't feel hunger, but I am feeling hunger pains, my stomach rumbles all the time. I'm thinking about food a lot, purely because I feel so hungry. I can start full liquids tomorrow. I still get nauseous mostly from smells, I haven't vomited since my night home from the hospital, and I am still in a good deal of pain. Anyone else deal with this?

hw: 302

Sw: 283

Homecoming weight: 293

Surgery date: 4/17/18

CW: 280

GW: 170

Each person is going to react differently and have slightly different outcomes. I am sorry that you are getting hunger pangs. One thing that can reduce them is making certain that you're properly hydrated. I had gastric bypass and I still get hunger pangs every once in a long while.

3 hours ago, OUBrett said:

So my surgery date is set for May 2 here in Oklahoma City. I have lost 22 pounds in my pre-op diet and looking forward to a successful bypass. I was talking with a friend today who got me a little nervous. She said she has heard of many people having complications or not keeping weight off long-term. Could use some positive thoughts or advice here. I was pretty confident I was doing the right thing until I heard these horror stories.

Thanks,

.

There are all kinds of stories out there. The bottom line is that you cannot use those stories to predict what your individual outcome will be. From a physical standpoint, I had absolutely no complications and everything went as smooth as could be expected. The mental side made the last 6 weeks a nightmare that I don't want to relive. I believe that as long as you follow your program's guidelines, that the chances that you will have a smooth recovery are very, very high.

1 hour ago, Deevanh11 said:

Anyone able to eat it? When? How?

Also - acid reflux post sleeve - anyone ?

HW 325

SW 305

CW ? Less 60

Lbs I think

Went from size 24 to 18 !! But still losing

GW 165

The only problem with popcorn is that there is hardly any nutrition in popcorn. It's just a starch. If I want something that would be more on the side of a special treat, I'll at least eat something that is fairly Protein dense. Today, I wanted a treat so I ate 1 chicken tender for dinner. I had a little of Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ Sauce which is a favorite of mine.

3 hours ago, jacky0218 said:

I know you all will say see your doctor but has anyone else have this issue? eggs, fish, noodles.....I do chew a lot. So much its tasteless before I swallow. I’m eating very small portions. Thoughts?

Please see your doctor. I am also 6 weeks out and the only way I will bring anything up is if I didn't chew my food enough or eat too fast.

51 minutes ago, Mrambition30 said:

Scheduled for surgery May 17 and i haven’t told a lot of people. Number 1 I’m nervous I’ve never had any type of surgery. Also on top of that the very few people who know all aren’t supportive but there’s a good amount who are but many seem to think I dnt need it by which one is my mom. I’m 31 years old 282 lbs and i really have struggled over the years with my weight and have been boarderline diabetic and hypertension. Has anyone else dealt with similar backlash? Btw my wife and I doing it together

Second thoughts are very normal. I had a few myself but I am ultimately very glad that I did this because some new options are opening up to me that would have been closed had I remained where I was. I faced some backlash from my father but I don't really have a relationship with my father anyways so his opinion was/is irrelevant. I am happy you are doing something about your situation now. I am 10 years older than you and I had full blown diabetes and hypertension. Now that I am post-op, my diabetes is gone but I still have sleep apnea. It's good that you and your wife are going through this together. You'll support each other.

15 minutes ago, JMOORE1981 said:

I just started my weight loss journey at 595 lbs. I just had my 1st appointments and was told I have a 3 month supervised diet requirement as well as cardiac, sleep study, and other testing before surgery. What advice do you all have for someone as large as me. What experiences has anyone had that started out at my size on their journey. I am scared to death and honest stressing out about the surgery and recovery. I made the mistake of watching 600lb life and it seemed to make my anxiety worse.

First off, welcome and congratulations on the start of your journey. Take it one day at a time, one step at a time, and ask questions. The better informed you are going into this procedure, the better you will fair post-op. If you are not already doing so, I would also advise beginning mental health treatment as well. Even though I was seeing a therapist prior to surgery, I never foresaw having my world completely upended. I am finding myself fighting clinical depression now that I am post-op but it's a fight that I am slowly and gradually winning. The hardest part of this whole process is the mental game. If you follow your bariatric program, it is almost a foregone conclusion that you will lose weight.

Also, for your own sake, please don't watch My 600lb Life. I hate that show because it does not contribute anything positive. Instead, it makes overweight people look like carnival sideshow acts; to be reviled, feared, or awed as a spectacle. The show makes me so angry at the world that if I watched that show I would be horribly depressed and pissed off simultaneously.

If 60 is the new 40, then 41 must be the new 21? LOL! In my case, genetics plays a huge role and I am not of particularly good genetic stock. No one in our family ever really lived much past 82 and my brother and I both decided not to have children of our own.

6 minutes ago, Orchids&Dragons said:

I know exactly what you mean. Between the loss of taste, the nusiance of measuring, and the fact that you get full so quickly (often with a lump in the back of your throat), it hardly seems worth the effort!

I was so sick of the usual fare I decided on having a treat. I bought 4 chicken tenders, ate 1, and put the rest in the fridge.

Now that I am down 51 pounds from my heaviest, I have some new found courage to explore going back to school to learn a trade. I am 41 years old and spent most of my adult life working in Information Technology. I've fallen a little behind the times since going on disability. Now that I am feeling well enough to return to the work force, I am finding it increasingly difficult to get hired. Information Technology is a young man's game. Well, now that I've lost some weight it dawned on me that I could go to a trade school to learn a trade and hopefully get re-employed in an entirely new career field. I am thinking about going into the Automotive/Diesel Technician field or maybe becoming an electrician. Previously, I think I would have written this off due to weight and movement issues. I found three nearby trade schools and went to an open house yesterday. I was pleased to find other people my age looking to train for a new career. I just have to see what makes the most sense. I am equally interested in both fields.

On 4/13/2018 at 10:11 AM, 4devras said:

I heard if you meet all the requirements, Medicare auto approves you?

What was your Medicare experience?

Medicare auto approves you if you meet all of the requirements. The requirements can be found in document NCD 100.1 which is a National Coverage Determination. You can find it at the following link: https://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/details/ncd-details.aspx?NCDid=57&KeyWord=bariatric+surgery&KeyWordLookUp=Title&KeyWordSearchType=And& CMS NCD on bariatric surgery

Not being hungry all of the time is pleasant. However, eating has become an unpleasant chore. This is causing me to feel despondent. I hope a year out that at least eating will become a neutral task. I don't want it to become truly enjoyable again because then I fear weight regain. All I ask for is just the unpleasantness to go away.

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My PE teachers in high school were sadistic. I recently learned that the one who gave me grief died of a heart attack. I wish I could say I felt anything other than satisfaction.

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