sleevin7

1 hour ago, ms.sss said:

Congrats on being sooooo close to leaving being “overweight “ behind!! Sounds like your symptoms will definitely get you an approval! Am excited for you...getting a problematic pannus removed will sooo better your quality of life AND with the added bonus of getting you looking even more super hot 😉

You are so awesome! Thank you!

WTG...I had my 1st year check up and doctor said I am 1lb overweight! I'm still in shock, however, it does feel good.

OK, but here is the kicker, the skin overlapping (belly) area. I started getting boils and I mean super huge boils and they hurt and when they burst, so disgusting and smelly! 😮It's like one big super huge pimple AND they drain for days! Often referred to as Panniculus . I consider myself (almost) a clean freak but err uhm, those things freaked me out. So yea, as embarrassed😕 as I am to say, I went to the emergency room. They told what a boil was and why I'm probably getting them. Fast forward a little>>> so I did some research on Panniculus and a panniculectomy (also) abdominoplasty {also} known as a tummy tuck! Right, this is considered plastic surgery! I dug deeper and found if you are having issues, such in my case, and can be proven, my insurance may cover an abdominplasty surgery. Well, I took pictures of these things, notes, and went to my PCP on each occasion. Then went to see the abdominoplasty surgeon and they are submitting the paper work to the insurance company. They may or may not approve me but I gave it a shot. In the meantime, I have antibiotics, I wash the area with antibiotic soap, and I floss down there with a towel like there is no tomorrow.😏 I have pics of them, would love to post but I do not want to freak anyone out.

I will update if I get approve or not but I was told my insurance company is pretty good with things like that so fingers crossed🤞. I will post an update on my progress.

Love the maintenance board.❤️

Count me in. Great threads! It feels great to lose weight but people react so different, especially if they haven't seen you in awhile.

First they think you are sick and are scared to say anything.🤐

Then I got accused of having a sister. Some people don't think it's me.😜

Then some people (especially) friends and family go bat, ape poop, on how impressed they are, which is good but they tend to embarass me a little. 🤫

Now I have graduated to maintenance.... uh boy, but again, I'll take it.

However, when do you stop losing weight? I've lost 150lbs... very satisfied! The hanging skin, well that's another story! I'm getting a little worried. Was 300, lost half of my weight. I eat but when I get full I stop. I eat small portion, lots healthy but some I do indulge...It will be a year, the end of this month the 26th. I don't want to go under 150. My legs are so little my son calls me stick legs, I'll take it though. I'm much healthier, I move around a lot easier, exercise, ride my bike and tons of other stuff I wasn't able to do before. I slowed down with the exercising because I don't want to go below 150. Any suggestions?

Also, my hair...OMG! it started falling out. I'm not that big on Protein and very sensitive to Vitamins. However, started back to protein and drink and eating things high in vitamins, any suggestions on this would be helpful too!

I see everyone got jokes this AM... LMBO! Yall funny!

22 minutes ago, Missouri-Lee's Summit said:

So, when are you going panty-shopping? I'm looking forward to the day when I don't feel as though my only option is big-ass granny panties.

I went the same day and it gets even funnier! I purchased the size Im used to buying, I forgot to get a size or two smaller!!! duhhh, so I remembered how to sew and stitched the sides to try and make them smaller. They are a little crooked, but they'll do. I'm weird, I love my grammy panties....

1 minute ago, Missouri-Lee's Summit said:

There's always commando.

YEAH! But it was cold! that would have been some kinda' breeze...LMBO

I literally had to go in the bathroom at work and tie a knot in my draws! If I hadn't I would have lost them and I had on a skirt.

Its nice to lose weight but geez! It never occured to me to buy some new panties

1 hour ago, Screwballski said:

Sometimes you have to switch things up.
If creamy whey shakes are no longer palatable, move to plant based. I went to Raw pea Protein and mix it with berry flavored or coffee flavored pea Protein. They are great in a blender because the good ones don’t froth or get whipped with air!
Everything is too sweet for me now so I Water everything down.
I don’t play the menstrual game. Threw that uterus away after my only child at 35! What a blessing!

Thanks so much, your input is much appreciate!

I literally don't want to eat sometimes because I get nauseous. I feel like I'm pregnant with no baby. Sometimes it's the smell, or I take two bites and I cannot eat anymore. I feel sick. I have been drinking Gatorade zero for the last 8 weeks, it makes me sick to think about it. The Protein Shakes same thing. THe Vitamins make me want to gag. Although, I can eat some things, based on my recommended diet but uhhhh, it's rough. I don't overfill myself, small bites (sometimes) I do forget, takes practice. Here and there, I will eat faster by mistake....after eating one way for 40+ years, it takes a minute to get used too...ya know, I think I answered my own questions on this one.

2nd thing, my period...wth! I have been doing fine for the last year, light, no cramping, couple days tops! Then WHAM! Serious cramps, so bad I was getting nauseous, didn't want to eat or drink. Going on 7 Days - is slowing down now. Heavy (really) heavy....

As far as everything else, it's ok, losing the weight, working out a little, getting used to moving and feeling better.

Any info would be much appreciated.

Does anyone have any MAJOR tips and or tricks that they used...

Besides the obvious:

What tips and or tricks that could help take a load off minds, pre op and post op?

What was your biggest mistake, regrets, something you did but fixed it and made out ok.

I love reading these post, very informative!

Thanks

3 hours ago, Orchids&Dragons said:

Who cancelled the ready-to-drink? What do you mean "didn't cover enough carbs"? I don't think I've seen anyone on the board who couldn't drink the ready-to-drink if they wanted to.

When I went in for my last visit before surgery, they told me. It's only pre op. They said I could drink post op. The person that schedule my surgery told me. We had been going over the process, procedure, and so on. I told her I purchased two cases of the RTD and she said, oh, they just took that off the list but I could drink the Premier powder.

Listen, I don't know my head from a whole in the ground when it comes to this stuff...that why I am here. Im learning as I go and just reading this wonderful information you guys plug is a blessing. I can try to get more details for you but that is just what they told me

53 minutes ago, Frustr8 said:

Geesh what brand of Protein? I hope it isn't the one I've stocked up on and sitting on my "you are going to need THIS later" shelf, the one where the chips, pretzels, Crackers and Boxed Cookies used to live. Spill the Beans please?😩

Its Premier, however, it won't be a problem for you....just pre op only.

17 hours ago, Orchids&Dragons said:

I drink a Protein Water on the way to work. To me, they're less cloying than shakes, although still quite sweet.

Call me crazy but I love the Protein shakes! They have Choc, banana, and vanilla, however, they just cancelled the ready to drink because it didn't cover enough carbs... so drats, I"m stuck with powder choc.

16 hours ago, Frustr8 said:

Hey above poster RN, didn't they call eating crushed ice PICA, just like eating paste or clay or such? FYI I am a former paste eater, not out of compulsion as much as trying to quiet the Ghrelin Monster in my afternoon classes until I could ride the bus home to food. Wonder if I could name Elmer and Lapage paste as corespondents in my oversized bodyhood? I also used to eat chewing gum for the same reason?
Since its now True Confession time. for Breakfast I eat a healthy bowl of oatmeal with 1% milk, in the evening I eat a dinner of Protein, usually fish,chicken or lean beef, the pack,of cards size, vegetable usually Brussels sprouts, broccoli cauliflower or peas, tossed salad with dressing on the side, Water or flavored ones like Propel or Nestle Splash. I do drink a Protein Shake at lunchtime if I remember, Snacks a banana, one square of Graham cracker with small amount of Peanut Butter or just a glass of milk. I really cannot afford to cook a big lunch meal and a good dinner both. So although I haven t.gone out of my way to be sinful before the 2 week presurgery austerity program. I do occasionally drink a shake. Oh and sometimes I snack on 1% cottage cheese, the approved 1/2 cup amount. Am I hungry? Yes often, but I feel guilty being so flat out fat. Am I losing weight? The last time I was weighed I did weigh less but they shortened my height so I would go from BMI of 47 to nearly 50, do I think they may be fighting against me? Maybe, I sure LOOK taller than all of my friends. Am I tired of The whole proceedings -Yes- But if I stop I die, PCP and other doctors told me som So I keep on straddling the buzz saw hoping my lady parts don't get cut off in this process, but I am tired, hungry and. wearied by it all. I guess I'll succeed if it doesn't manage to kill me first. Structureluzed starvation isn't always fun, I am having a raging Poor little Me Day and my upper abdomen hurts without even any surgery!😟💦😟

Are there people that just enjoy eating ice? Like I love, Rita's frozen ice and our local shaved ice cones store is fabulous, but I can't have that. I enjoy Water and ice. First the water, then the ice. It fills me up a little too. I never thought of it as a "thing." Most have said its a healthy way of drinking water, so idk. I like my drinks super cold, which I may not be able to do anymore... stomach may not be able to handle that, we will have to see. I've also got my Iron up to about a 9 or 10 and still liked ice. I think the normal range for iron is 12...Not sure.

15 hours ago, sideeye said:

The staples aren't what hurt when you cough or laugh, it's the abdominal incisions. For some people hugging a pillow helps, for some people (me) it didn't. It's about 20 seconds of sharp, shocking pain each time but then it's done. Sucks, but is over after the first week.

Regarding food intake, my doctor didn't make us go on a liquid diet until 24 hours before surgery and just based on tracking against others who got surgery at the same time, I think it helped me in the post-op month because I didn't start off hungry and undernourished. Now: that doesn't mean I'm saying you should ignore your doctor's orders. But what I am saying is, maybe don't do it early. We all get enthused about getting the process started, but if you don't have to go on liquids until the 11th, and you're feeling hungry right now on cottage cheese, then just eat like a normal person for the next two days. Don't go overboard, but don't start starving yourself ahead of your doctor's schedule - it's like going for a one-mile sprint before you start a marathon.

And I agree with everyone else about the shakes. Drink a couple to figure out what brands you like and why, then don't touch them until the doc starts you on them. You will get tired of them, and post-op your preferences might change anyhow, so pace yourself.

Ditto, I agree. I appreciate your input. I also just wanted to see if I could handle it, and to a degree, I can. Thanks!

14 hours ago, S@ssen@ch said:

Compulsive eating of non-nutritive items is indeed PICA. Eating ice has it's own "brand name" of pica called: pagophagia. I have seen it in individuals who are chronically anemic.

However, as a nurse I am not qualified to diagnose and I do try to stay away from offering medical advice on these support boards. I ALWAYS defer to the poster's doctor. That is why I didn't address it in my original post. I would hope that since sleevin7 is already scheduled for surgery that the doctor and psychologist are aware of the "old habit".

Thanks, I appreciate your input. Yes, I'm a anemic and have been one for as long as I can remember. Although, I have heard of that but I love to drink Water and chomp on ice. I can surpass the required amount easily. This is a habit that I don't want to break because it helps me get that 8 cups a day. I don't drink tea or coffee, carbonated beverages, except, Coke and I can't have that, no big deal. I call it a blessing and a curse, a blessing because I can get 8 cups in per day. A curse because, I have to go to the ladies room

Let me say hello!

My surgery is scheduled for the 26th of this month.

After six months of doing the nutritional visits, doctor visits, etc. I am not excited nor do I feel down about getting the surgery... to be honest, I just want to get it over with. I think I may have seen doctors 20 or more times. lungs, Cardiovascular, 2 or more trips back to both doctors, xrays , testing, nutritionist and so on. Everything turned out ok . Lost about 10lbs, started my diet early.

Now I have these weird questions...

If your stomach is stapled, if you laugh or cough too hard will that cause issues with the staples?

What about scar tissue, I am a poster child for internal scar tissue. I wonder if that could cause a problem, later on down the line?

OK, so Im starting the sipping thing too, it takes me like 15/20 min to finish an 8oz Protein Shake , is that right?

I'm not supposed to start the liquid diet until the 11th I currently take 2 Protein Shakes, bfast & lunch, banana and low fat milk, snack, or Greek yogurt and or cottage cheese w/fruit then, regular dinner (but) can sometimes be too much, it seems I'm extra hungry, plus I've been walking for exercise, the more I walk the hungerer I am... I also eat 1 or 2 cups of crushed ice, that's an old habit that I have been doing forever...

I am looking forward to your comments and input.