Creekimp13

You know, it's funny....I am down 60 pounds and up until this week, I really couldn't see it. Other people could, and have been commenting like crazy. But other than some of my clothes getting really loose, I haven't really noticed a change in my looks. Have definitely noticed changes in my energy and how well I feel....but my looks, not so much. Yesterday I went shopping with my bestie and got into smaller pants than i've worn in over a decade. Put together a really cute outfit with them when I got home....and noticed. Finally. Yep, the changes really are happening:) Even if you're not noticing yet? Everyone else does. Keep up the good work!

Rather than focusing on "what could go wrong" in relation to your surgery.... Instead, focus on the many obesity related health concerns your surgery will help to correct:) It's easy to second guess yourself when you're in a stressful spot. Trust your saner self...the person who researched and worked hard to get here. You're going to do great. Wishing you the best.

I think sleeves are a little more forgiving with B12 deficiency. Both put you at risk for anemia and iron deficiency.

It's different for every medical group, so the best thing to do is give them a call or an email and see what they say:)

Best wishes for a safe, effective procedure:) And a speedy recovery! Remember to walk as soon as you can, and sip, sip, sip:)

Doesnt' matter. Most hair loss starts 2-3 months after surgery. (I'm told...mine hasn't been bad yet)

Fluffy is gonna get her surgery. Why? Cause she works hard and deserves it. Might take a while...but it's gonna happen for her. And when it does, she's gonna rock it.

I eat 5-6 little 200 calorie meals like that and have slow steady weight loss. Looks good to me.

At a week out, we were allowed to eat cream of wheat, oatmeal, yogurt and strained cream soup. I have a feeling when you get to the next stage, you'll feel better. Hang in there! PS...if you cheat again...and you shouldn't! But if you do? Don't eat something bizarre like cheetos....eat something you're allowed to eat on the next phase of your diet.

Someone mentioned in our support group last night that the new Slimfast 20g of protein shakes were gathered together in flimsy cardboard packages that break easily. I can attest to this being true, because I actually saw a lady break one in the store recently. But because of this flaw....she says that hundreds of these shakes with good dating....are turning up at salvage food stores. She was able to buy a four pack of the 20g shakes for $2 because they were loose. (the shakes themselves are still perfectly sealed) She was passing this along in group to help anyone who needed them on the cheap...since she said the store was full of them. Maybe check grocery salvage stores in your area?

Eat more and exercise more. And best wishes:)

If you're worried about it, maybe just use it like I do. Turn it on to warm up the bed before you get in. Then turn it off for the night:) It's still super nice to get into a nice warm bed:) Kinda like clothes out of the dryer. LOL

Are you keeping a food journal and recording your calories? If not, that's a good place to start. It's a pain in the arse...but it's eyeopening. Two choices to promote weight loss: Fewer calories in (and be careful with this one...cause if you dip under starvation levels weight loss will cease) More calories out (more exercise is a good thing. I walk 7-8 miles a day)

Given that it's not hooked to your upper GI anymore...how in the hell can she "burp" it? I once knew a person who was utterly convinced that her cats were mating with rabbits and that she was raising hybrid cat/rabbits in her barn. The world is an interesting place full of very interesting people.

Because of my water bottle and heating pad habit, my hubby got me an electric blanket.....which I objected to using through the night...cause it's too hot and then we both sweat and are miserable. And we have pets and I don't want anyone chewing through a wire and setting the house on fire. BUT! I have found that keeping it between the many layers of bedding on our bed....and turning it on for about fifteen minutes before we go to bed...makes sliding into the sheets absolutely wonderful:)

The only reference to staple line issues i've ever seen....are tiny hard seeds like strawberry seeds very early on in healing. We don't eat strawberrries before six weeks for this reason in my group. (A lot of people are tempted to put them in a smoothy in the pureed stage...and people react poorly to this because the seed grit is irritating...nausea,vomiting, etc) Nuts don't work for some people, but work well for others. My group advises to wait until six weeks to try reintroducing them...and to do so carefully. Chew them well, and try a small amount at first to see if you get any unpleasant symptoms. I have no problem with nuts:) Really glad about this, cause I eat a lot of them:)

Lookin good, Beautiful:) Well done!

Went shopping with my bestie today. This is the girl I met the first day of first grade. 40 freaking years we've been friends:) Anyway...so we ended up at TJ Max (some of you might think of it as Marshall's)...cool stuff, but with a smaller price tag. A little more upscale bargain hunter store. (as opposed to Goodwill, where we also went...lol) So we found these jeans. They're stretchy skinny jeans. I tried on a 16....which I was thrilled to get into. (Hell, who am I kidding, i'm happy with an 18!) So my bestie looks at my butt and says...You need the next size down. I'm all like...Nah, they'll shrink, they're as small as I should go.... But she went out and brought back 14s in the same pants and made me try them. And shock of all shockers....they really did fit better. So much, in fact, that I bought the 14s. I think sizes must be getting bigger. 14 used to be really small. I barely got into 14s when I weighed 170 back in the 90's. Since when is my 209 pound butt a 14? To be fair...the sizes on these particular pants seemed to run big. Maybe that's why they ended up at the discount store? I think in more typical pants sizes they'd be 16/18. Anyone else suffer size disorientation because it's been so long since you've worn anything besides shapeless plus sizes in the 20s?

Eat a more balanced diet and avoid extremes? Have extreme diets ever worked in the past? Just sayin... Congrats on your surgery, by the way:) Wishing you the best.

If it were me, I'd err on the side of caution and have the doc or nurse take a look sooner. If nothing else, will put your mind at ease. You could also email that photo to their office and ask if you need to be seen....that might be a good compromise.

Are you going in for a one week checkup? Have the doc take a look.

We're put on it routinely for three months to help healing. After that, any continued antacid meds are individual or nonexistent.

I'd have lost my mind on liquids that long. I ate yogurt, cream of wheat, oatmeal and soup...on day 7. Day 14 ushered in an era of mashed potatoes, cottage cheese and other delights. I am so grateful my group follows the new protocol. I could not have survived the old one.

Are you drinking protein shakes?

I had an incredibly positive post op experience:) Super easy. I felt terrific then, and still do today. Very happy with my sleeve:) Yes, people with reflux can experience worse symptoms after sleeve....but it's not a sure thing. Remember that reflux is worsened by carrying extra weight. As you lose, it might actually improve. Also...get this.... I had some reflux before surgery. During surgery, my doctor fixed a hiatal hernia that I didn't know I had...part of my stomach had been protruding into my chest! After he fixed it, my reflux improved remarkably and is almost non-existent now. When worrying about all the things that can go wrong with surgery....challenge yourself to think, instead, about all the health dangers associated with obesity...and how you will overcome and prevent them:)