Roxine

Me at my heaviest - size 20 and me today - size 10. Enjoying the journey. 77 pounds lost, 44 to go to reach goal!

I understand your fears - I had similar ones. But today, now 5 months post-op, I can say without any reservation that this was the best decision I've ever made in my life. Here's me at my highest - and today. From a size 20 to a size 10. I still have work to do, but all of my labs are normal, I'm out of the obese category, I can walk, bike, run, swim (even look good in a bathing suit!), Just know the first few weeks are going to be tough. I've had both laproscopic gall bladder removal and a C-section. My recovery from GB was somewhere in the middle. Not as tough as C-section, but a bit harder than gall bladder removal. I went back to work after a week (telework in my pjs) - and back to my full days by week 2. I walked every day and followed my surgeon's/nutritionists directions exactly as written. No variation. To date I've lost 77 pounds (44 to go!)

Just for clarification - I believe you said the September meeting would be September 4th - the Day after Labor Day? i put that on my calendar as I'm not sure I can make next Thursday's meeting either.

I'm right there with you - had surgery March 5th - started noticing hair thinning in July. I had a thick head of hair so no one but me really notices. But i'm so ready for it to begin regrowing! A friend recommended Viviscal vitamins for hair - so I'm going to pick some up today and try that. Apparently it takes about a month to start working - but I really want my hair to get thicker soon

PPS - I'm going to try and make the September meeting! And maybe the Hospital one next Thursday...

PS - I turned 50 March 10th. Spent my 50th birthday recovering Will celebrate the milestone birthday next March on a beach - in a bikini - with my husband once I reach goal!

I had surgery March 5th and do not experience any nausea on a daily basis. In fact, I have been remarkably healthy since the surgery. I've only had 2 episodes of dumping syndrome - where I've immediately regurgitated the food I tried to eat - both times it was because they were too spicy and eating too fast. Just a mistake on my part. Lesson learned! Meet with the dietician, begin the process - I lost weight even before the surgery so even starting with his office reaps rewards! And you have time to make the decision. I would also follow-up with your General practitioner - get some blood work - you may find that sleep apnea is only one issue you are facing. For me it was pre-diabetes, pre-hypertensive - I was beginning to have mobility issues as I got older - arthritis pain in knees and hips. Post surgery all of my labs are back to normal and I have no pains in any joints. I can bike, walk, run, ski, dance and have tons of energy. I understand you're scared, but this truly is an amazing tool - a gift to myself.

I would say if you're working out then you may need to INCREASE your calories. Talk to your nutritionist - but if you're intake is only 500 calories and you work out - you are starving your body which means it will hold onto every single pound. Another thing you didn't address is are you drinking enough water? Water is what helps flush away the fat cells - my nutritionist insists on at least 64 ounces of water per day. I exceed that every day. Stalls will happen. The body has undergone a traumatic event and it needs time to readjust, heal, and begin again. I know if i follow my program, the weight will come off. Not all at once, not fast - this is a lifetime change. I don't expect to hit my goal weight until 12-18 months post surgery. Just keep doing the right thing every day. But do look into how many calories you should be consuming for the amount of work out you're doing. I think that may be a factor in the protracted stall.

Stopped by a store last night - just to check - and yep! I can now wear a size 10 dress comfortably! Loving my new body, new energy, new menu, new me! I need to work out more though. That's my next step. Increased cardio! Will let you know how it goes!

Congratulations! How are you feeling?

Which FB group?

Congratulations! Oddly I wasn't nervous the day of surgery. I was so prepared and ready to take back control of my life that I was eager. I had mine at Reston as well and was very pleased with the level of care I received. Just remember when you wake from surgery to walk, walk, walk, and sip, sip, sip. The more you walk, the quicker you will relieve the gas pressure in your belly, and the sooner you can get down enough fluids, the sooner you get to go home Look forward to watching your journey over the next several months!

Hi - welcome! I had my surgery with Dr. Fitzer March 5th and am doing well. I hope your 6 months passes quickly! Please ask any questions you have. Perhaps I'll see you at a meeting? I've not attended one yet, but plan to in the near future. Roxine

Thanks. I’m a rule follower - just wasn’t sure if crab would be interchangeable with tuna/salmon. Luckily I love tuna and salmon

Hi guys - just a quick question...for week it says I can have tuna and salmon (canned or pre-packaged I believe - not looking at my list right now) Do you think crab would be allowed? Thanks for any input.

I haven’t been to one yet. Will probably attend next month

They don’t want you driving for 1 week - I drove today which is day 9 for me. I am returning physically to work on Monday, but was lucky enough to be able to telework this week. So I “returned” to work a week after surgery, but it’s with a laptop in my big recliner, PJs, and blankets - so I’m not sure that qualifies.

WOW! Great job! How do you feel? What’s it like 3 months out? At 9 days Post-Op, that just seems so far away... but there’s no turning back now Do you attend the staple club meetings or any support groups in the Reston area?

How are you doing - are you now 3 months Post-Op! Share stats

Thanks! Quick question - how do you use the message feature on here? I’ve sent 2 messages - one to you BTW - but I’m not sure I did it correctly. My message to you basically said that your posts were the first ones I found that brought me to this site and I just wanted to thank you for always being honest.

Thanks! Immediately after surgery my pain was the worst - but it was 80% gas pain - AND you get pain meds which really help. That’s why it’s so important to walk, walk, walk as soon as you can. It expedites the gas releases. I stopped taking the pain meds late Tuesday - once I started passing gas I immediately felt much better. Plus I don’t like taking addictive medication. I was released Wednesday morning. The incision pain is more related to guarding - wanting to protect the incision sites - so I felt it more in my back and shoulders from tension. I wasn’t able to sleep on my back for the first 5 days but can now sleep on my side relatively pain free.

Hi all - I just had my Gastric Bypass surgery last Monday - March 5, 2018 Dr Fitzer is the best. He doesn’t pull any punches. He tells you exactly what he expects from you and what the consequences of not following the program he laid out for you are. And believe me, you will have a scared straight moment with him in the hospital room Post-Op. And it works! I will NOT pop my pouch! The entire staff at Dr. Fitzer’s office are wonderful. Suzanne called today just to check in and see if I had any questions. I highly recommend Dr. Fitzer. And I’m happy to meet all of you and look forward to sharing this journey with you. If you’re having surgery in March, I stared a March Gastric Bypass group - come join us! Roxine

Good Morning! Thanks to everyone who has posted in this thread - your willingness to be vulnerable serves as both inspiration and motivation to me. Now to my stats... Surgery date: March 5, 2018. Starting weight: 261 Day of surgery: 250 Week 1 (Today): 241 Brief Bio: Conquering my weight is the last step in a very long journey. I have always been a curvy girl; size 10 - 12 in my 20s, 14-16 through my 30s, 16-18 in my 40s, topping out at a size 20 at my highest weight this last year. Other than carrying the extra weight, I have been fortunate to be pretty healthy. However this past year I began experiencing pain in my knees and hips that started restricting my mobility. I have lost 50 pounds each decade through starvation (20s), exercise (30s), and diet (40s), only to regain 50+ each time. I know why I carry the weight. It’s a shield that protects me from unwanted attention. It allows me to control who I allow in. Each time the weight would start coming off and people (men) would start to comment, i felt that loss of control. And I would revert back to my comfort zone. But no more... I turned 50 this past Saturday and as a birthday present to myself made the decision to have gastric bypass. I am prepared to face my fears and conquer them one by one. There’s no turning back now! I am all-in! As I am only a week in, I am still at home recovering and am therefore posting from my cell phone. Once I return to work, I will post before and after pictures as my journey unfolds. For now, I leave you with an intro photo (from my Facebook page). Thanks Roxine