Born in Missouri

More... Follow these dietary recommendations to reduce stone risk: reduction in oxalate-rich and fatty foods to minimize enteric absorption, increased hydration to increase total urine volume and decrease urine supersaturation, calcium supplementation using calcium citrate instead of calcium carbonate, and citric salts (potassium citrate) to correct metabolic acidosis and hypocitrituria. Probiotics may also be beneficial, although existing data is limited. Oxalate-controlled diet: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/11066-kidney-stones-oxalate-controlled-diet

I think Ash is on to something. Changes in urinary chemistry after RYGB are real. You may indeed be one of those post-op stone-formers. Here's a study I found. Despite all the medical terminology, there's still plenty to soak up in plain English: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4249680/

Our fluid requirements are such a struggle. I know I'm not even coming close to my 64oz. That being said, getting stressed about it makes me tense up even more. I've decided to give myself and my body a break. I'll do the best I can and my body will just have to live with that. Besides, it's not a forever thing.

@MN_Meg770 I sent you a private message.

Yes, I was asked to bring my C-pap to the hospital. Oddly enough, they never had me use it. It won't hurt to bring it, though. Do you have a full-face mask or a nose-only one? If you're feeling claustrophobic, your respiratory therapist needs to re-evaluate your setup. Be honest about your phobia (I have the same phobia). You deserve to be listened to and to be given what makes you feel comfortable using.

I will try my best to find out for you. Two of my three sons are medical doctors, and they can vouch for the fact that they learn embarrassingly little about most meds in medical school. Scary but true.

Good timing. I wish I had joined this forum weeks or months before my surgery instead of only a few days before. This is a warm and welcoming place full of nice and knowledgeable people. I know I've learned a lot. A welcome from me! By the way, there is a SURGERY COUNTDOWN ticker, if you're interested. See the word CREATE next to the shopping cart at the top of the page? Click the pull-down ARROW to the right of the word and select TICKER. Pick SURGERY COUNTDOWN and go from there!

Unfortunately, little is known about the malabsorption of many medications. Pharmacists (my daughter is a PharmD) are far more knowledgeable regarding meds than doctors. What's the name of your MS medication? Is it immediate release or extended release? I can try to find out for you. Sometimes it's not the medication per se, but how it's dosed, ie. immediate release vs extended release. The location of the receptors in the body for a particular medication also makes a difference. The malabsorption of vitamins and meds is an area that I find interesting. I'm always trying to make sure that my info is up-to-date.

A bezoar \ˈbē-ˌzō(ə)r \ is a hard solid mass of indigestible material that can build up over time and possibly cause an obstruction. Bezoars can be classified into four types depending on the type of material swallowed. Trichobezoars \ˌtrik-ō-ˈbē-ˌzō(ə)rz \ are composed of hair and are most commonly associated with patients who have a psychiatric disorder. Pharmacobezoars \ˌfärmə kō- bē-ˌzō(ə)rz\ are composed of undigested medication. Lactobezoars \ˌlaktō- bē-ˌzō(ə)rz \ are more commonly seen in neonates and are comprised of milk curd. The bezoar associated with gastric bypass is a post-operative complication called a phytobezoar \ˌfīt-ō-ˈbē-ˌzō(ə)r \. Phytobezoars \ˌfīt-ō-ˈbē-ˌzō(ə)rz \ are composed of undigested fiber from certain vegetables and fruits such as corn and grape skins. A gastric bypass patient’s stomach pouch is approximately the size of a golf ball. The outlet (or stoma) created in the stomach pouch is about the size of an M&M. The food a person eats must be able to pass through this narrow opening, which is why food must be chewed over and over. Patients heal at different rates and scar differently. For some patients, scarring at the pouch’s outlet can make this M&M-size passageway even narrower. This is a complication that a person cannot control. In the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, a special type of cutting stapler is used when the stomach is divided to create the stomach pouch. This stapler is also used to divide the small intestine. As healing progresses over the first three to four weeks after surgery, scar tissue grows over the staples. If forbidden foods such as raisins are eaten before this stapled area is healed, it may lead to an obstruction. In the short-term, avoid foods like dried fruits, seeds, and nuts until one's staples are covered with scar tissue. Long-term, be mindful of foods such as corn or grapes which could create a phytobezoar \ˌfīt-ō-ˈbē-ˌzō(ə)r \. I had fun researching bezoars. I hope this helps even one person to make wiser -- and safer -- food choices.

@allwet I've always thought of scars from any injuries or surgeries as survival badges. And my stretch marks from childbirth as medals of honor. I wonder why my brain didn't classify loose skin with the same sense of pride. Yes! Loose skin will say something about where my body has been, what it's been through, and where it will not be returning!! Thank you for your wise words. They helped to put my thoughts back on a positive track.

At what point did your skin begin to look loose and jiggly? Where did it show up most noticeably? Under the arms? Belly? Thighs? For those who have had children, was your baby pouch even more pronounced? How do you feel about your loose skin? Is it discouraging to see?

That stigma! We're weak when we're fat, and we take the easy way out when we make the courageous decision to do something positive for ourselves. I'm so sick of this toxic social mentality. Everyone here will agree that YOU DID NOT TAKE THE EASY WAY OUT. Committing to a lifestyle change is hardly the easy way out! (I'm not talking to you, btw. I'm directly these words toward all those thoughtless fools who have no control when it comes to opening their mouths about something that most know nothing about.)

Wow. I can relate... to locking myself in the house and not mingling with others.

I know what you're going through because I'm going through it, too. I think you're on the right track. Lentils are a common cooking ingredient in my household. Try adding some dried or fresh mint, dillweed, or basil to your soup next time. Herbs enhance flavor without the need for salt or fat. A splash of lemon juice is nice, too, if you can tolerate it. Instead of buying ready-made soup, get some bone broth or low-sodium broth and make your own soup using cooked and pureed yellow-split peas or carrots or a combination of veggies or legumes... use your imagination! And don't forget to experiment with some herbs.

Post-surgery, artificial sweeteners can make foods that were okay or semi-okay now taste all funky. Have you tried plain yogurt and then tried added your own pureed fruit? I make my own yogurt which is much better than anything from a store. At least you tried brands of a higher quality. Gelatin-based yogurts can barely be referred to as yogurt. What about sugar-free yogurt pops? Are you wanting to include yogurt in your diet for variety ... or for the benefits of the microflora?

What do you plan to say if your girlfriends notice that you've lost close to 50lbs? Are you going to make up something or tell them the truth? Are you afraid of what others will say and you really don't welcome their opinions? Some people can say the most thoughtless of things.

Scroll down and read about the role of two fluctuating hormones (leptin and ghrelin) in the gut and their effects on the central nervous system. This might help to explain why you've now lost interest in coffee.

If you're this happy now, I can't wait to read your post once you reach your goal weight. It's always inspiring to hear about how someone's life has changed for the good... or in your case ... the GREAT! I do wonder about the statement, "I suddenly have friends coming out of the woodwork..." Are these new friends or friends you already had but who didn't really begin to notice you until you lost 60lbs? (If it's the latter, I'm inclined to question the meaning of the word "friends".)

I like to read. I was surprised to find out how little some bariatric patients concerned themselves with nutrition until their medical (and dental) health went south. https://www.bariatriceating.com/2015/03/top-10-bariatric-post-op-mistakes/ https://www.ucsfhealth.org/education/dietary_guidelines_after_gastric_bypass/ https://asmbs.org/patients/life-after-bariatric-surgery

Actually, I am losing weight... about one-half to a pound per day. I'm just not weighing myself anymore because I want my focus to be on healing... taking in enough protein and fluid. Losing weight is not my concern now.

Your insurance company should be able to explain your benefits. Ask for your benefits in print, too. Your insurance company is the one running the show. It's their process. Some doctors' offices have their own requirements on top of what your insurance may require, but it's your insurance company that you need to deal with first. A phone call should do it. What insurance do you have?

@kdjWItoSC We share the same surgery date: 6/13/2018. I stopped weighing myself after I noticed that I was getting different readings throughout the day. I am having trouble getting enough protein and fluids. My problem isn't keeping them down; I just can't motivate myself to eat or drink anything. Nothing smells or tastes good. My body isn't telling me to drink. I don't even notice any abdominal discomfort. Sometimes I have to remind myself that I had surgery. Nothing is tender. No pain whatsoever. My increased need for sleep is what I notice the most. I sleep late and I take multiple naps.

@toodlerue I have to remind myself “Nothing tastes as good as being skinny feels!”. It’s my new mantra. Love it, toodlerue!

• When flying, I will be able to fit and sit comfortably in my seat. I won't need to ask for a seat-belt extender, either. • I will be able to ride a bicycle again. We have a cherry-red, three-wheel adult tricycle that I want to use, but the weight limit is for someone below 200lbs. • I will be able to fit and sit comfortably in a restaurant booth. • I will no longer be the one others look at when I board an elevator with a posted weight limit. • I will be able to fit and sit comfortably in amusement park rides.