Plucky

I have Rheumatoid Arthritis so my workout may not be for everyone. I began with walking, elliptical, and VERY light kettlebells. I was working up to 2-30 minute sessions a day, but injured myself after about two weeks. So I've joined a gym and have been doing an hour of Water jogging a day. My fitness tracker tells me it is vigorous, and it seems I have been going further each day. When I get to the shallow end I do swim, but go back to jogging with my fists closed in the deeper sections.

I'm going to meet with a trainer in about a week, but not sure if I am going to change much up just yet.

As of this morning I'm literally 50% of my starting weight. From 470 in November 2016 to 235 lbs this morning and I'm still losing!
Woooo hooooo!!!

I’m 54, and aside from getting sick from the anesthesia it was an easy recovery. I worked from home the day after I left the hospital, 3 days post op. The following day I started light housework.

Weight loss wise I’m down about 38 Lbs and it’s been about 3 weeks. I am walking and swimming as much as I can to help along.

Good luck!

Today I'm allowed my first soft foods; eggs, cottage cheese, greek yogurt, cooked veggies, and fruit. I'm a bit nervous! Wish me luck with the next steps. Sadly I don't love eggs and hate cottage cheese but will make this work!

We all are all different. I went back rather quickly (3 days), but my job isn't teaching :).

It's been a month and I am down three pant sizes so I had to break down and buy a couple of pairs. I have some older (smaller) pants that I am reusing as well, but my jeans are really super loose. Initially, you will be a little swollen from the gas and healing but within 2 weeks I started having issues keeping them up.

Good Luck with the surgery!

Search up "3 week stall." This stall varies in length but will break. Continue on track and before you know it, the scale will start to drop. Mine lasted about 10 days. There will be more stalls throughout your journey.

I’m 54, and aside from getting sick from the anesthesia it was an easy recovery. I worked from home the day after I left the hospital, 3 days post op. The following day I started light housework.

Weight loss wise I’m down about 38 Lbs and it’s been about 3 weeks. I am walking and swimming as much as I can to help along.

Good luck!

Thanks for your kind words. Letter was written yesterday morning and sent to the surgeon and the practice manager. It was a much shorter and direct version of what I posted here. I also amended my positive Yelp review--kept that general but was very specific about the PA who made body shaming comments. Again, thank you for your support. The responses I got helped me write that letter yesterday morning.

Hi, folks. I have not been on this board for a long time. Today, I had a visit to my bariatric surgeon's physician assistant (PA). I am 16 months out from roux en y surgery and have lost a total of 101 pounds. I went there today because I have been experiencing severe abdominal pain, bloating and flatulence at night, every night x 2-3 weeks. I should add that I am an RN and am one semester away from completing my Family Nurse Practitioner Master's degree. The PA gave me some advice, ordered some meds and labs and I checked out--it was about 4:10pm.
She had told me to do the labs today, due to the severity of the symptoms I was having. Their office was closing. I went to my PCP's office--which has a lab tech--and they were closing and the lab tech had left. I went downstairs to the outpatient lab and it was closed. The only lab open was the STAT lab on the 2nd floor. Since I was still in the building, I thought I'd just double check that the PA did not want these labs to be drawn STAT. I went back to the office.
It was locked. I knocked on the door. I had already heard the cackling and loud voices from 10 ft away. As I got closer, I heard the PA saying "I know, and every time she moved her arms! I couldn't believe it! And she had her teenage son with her!" Needless to say both me and my teenaged son (almost 17) heard this. He drove me today because I wasn't feeling well and he also needs to rack up his driving hours to complete his driver's permit and get his regular license. Just then, the PA, the receptionist and someone from the billing dept emerged from the door. They turned white as ghosts. Their jaws almost hit the floor. Being the classy person that I am, I didn't reference that I overheard them talking about something on my body just then. Their reaction confirmed what I thought I overheard. I asked the PA if she wanted the labs STAT, she said no, and my son and I walked to the elevator. The women huddled back by the door, somehow frozen. The only way to either the stairs or the elevator was toward the direction my son and I walked. Clearly, the women felt ashamed (?)/shook by being overheard body-shaming a patient, violating HIPAA, and being overall terrible people.
As we drove home, I was pretty hurt. Most patients at a bariatric surgeon's office are going to have body image issues. Whether they are pre-op or post-op, they have likely experienced some type of negativity about their bodies (either from within or without, or both.) Also, I should add, I am a breast cancer survivor. December 2018 is my five-year anniversary of having stage 2 invasive breast cancer and having a b/l radical mastectomy and subsequent reconstruction, followed by a hysterectomy. One year after my b/l mastectomy, the reality hit me that my GG breasts were now AAs, mutilated and scarred. I felt unattractive, repulsive and beyond depressed. I was thrilled to be alive and that it was caught in time to prevent spreading to my lymph nodes and that by doing a b/l mastectomy, I didn't have to do chemo or radiation. I failed to be able to tolerate Tamoxifen, and had to be put on a cocktail of other meds that resulted in me gaining about 50 pounds to my already Rubenesque 225 lb body. It was a low time.
Then, I got my reconstruction. My breast did not, do not, and will not look like "porn star" boobs, or "stripper boobs," although many people have suggested that was the "up side" of breast cancer. See, when you get a radical mastectomy, they hollow you out like a cantaloupe. Then, either at the same time, or at a later surgery, they insert implants (or, in some cases, spacers). Because I was 220 pounds when I got my reconstruction, they put the biggest implants the FDA allows--800 cc. The reconstruction surgeon repaired a lot of the scarring caused by a severe post-op infection from the initial surgery, during which both of my breast turned black and I had to debride the dead tissue myself at home. I was and am thrilled that I had a good reconstruction surgeon and, after recovering, felt a little bit more whole.
While I had no breast tissue before, but now, any extra cushion vanished as I lost over 100 pounds. My breasts are skin and implant. It's definitely not a "hot" look. Well, all this cancer talk comes into play because what the women were talking about was my breasts. You see, when you get a breast reconstruction, your breasts don't look like regular breasts. Again, they are hard, stiff, and look like "robot boobs," as I call them. Today, at the office, I was wearing a bamboo material sundress, that was mostly dark teal, but also had other colors tie-dyed into the design. In the front is a "peekaboo" hole. The rest of the dress is just an A-line dress with a full skirt. It is not particularly "sexy." (Including my flabby/flappy wing-like arms!) But because my breasts don't move, there is a tiny bit of "side boob" seen protruding into my armpits. Not regular side boob--because remember, nothing is "soft" anymore. No, it's part of the round, button shape (just imagine an implant covered with skin, literally.)
As I reconstructed what the women were saying, I recalled more and more of the beginning. I guess in the moment, in shock, my brain kind of protected me and I somewhat blanked out. Look, we are all human, I get it. We all make mistakes. But for God's sakes, you would think that the staff--including a provider--would be a little more sensitive about yucking it up about patient's bodies while anywhere near the doors/exit.
I am posting here in general for support because it just feels yucky. I know I've never done anything like that as an RN, but one never knows how one's words may affect another person. Also, the HIPAA violation bothers me. I work very hard to whisper, even when I am behind closed office doors, because I know how much sound carries in offices. I often tell my patients "I'm sorry I'm kind of talking softly, but these room walls are paper-thin and I want to protect your privacy." I know I won't have the b*lls to tell the office. I feel like somehow they would turn it around on me, even though 3 of them were there and me *AND* my son heard that. And as a mother of a 16 year old son, a 19 year old son, and a 21 year old daughter--it's creepy.
The implication that my son--who has seen me go through hell and high Water with cancer and this gastric bypass--would even think about looking at my breasts is disgusting. This can only come from a woman with no children. The PA is probably like 35 (I am 44), no wedding ring. Normally, I wouldn't even mention any of that because I fully believe in living my own life and others live theirs but for f*cks sake, please don't foist your sick thoughts on me.
I would like some thoughts on how I might handle this. I feel like I won't have the courage to say anything, for fear of being "gaslighted." But, I also feel like there is a lesson for their staff to learn. It occurred to me to write an anonymous letter to the surgeon/head of practice and give a little vague summary of what happened and advise that his staff might want to not be so catty, mean, and to stop violating HIPAA. I don't know. I just know it hurt. I'm hurt. Thanks in advance for any words of wisdom.

Excellent suggestion, do just that. A very classy way to handle a game that never should have been played. Everyone in this world has a superior, let us pray it will not be necessary to go further. But you would be justified, in my opinion.

I am so sorry that you went through this. When you go back for your blood work, bring 3 copies of your post with you. Stop in and tell the PA that you need a moment of her time and that her "friends" need to join you. Give them each a copy of your post and add a p.s. at the bottom to them know if you ever hear the slightest hint that this behavior has been repeated, you will report them to the surgeon, the office manager and maybe even post it on YELP. Remind them that patients DO talk. You don't have to say a word, then walk out with your head high. If the PA won't meet with you, go straight to the surgeon and office manager.
You've dealt with enough sh!t in your life. You don't need to deal with theirs, too.

Thanks for all the support! I made it to week 2 of real food - seafood. I was in Rhode Island, so perfect timing. I've been conservative and had no issues. I can't really tell when I am full right away, so just stepping away before it is completely finished.

Today I'm allowed my first soft foods; eggs, cottage cheese, greek yogurt, cooked veggies, and fruit. I'm a bit nervous! Wish me luck with the next steps. Sadly I don't love eggs and hate cottage cheese but will make this work!

Today I'm allowed my first soft foods; eggs, cottage cheese, greek yogurt, cooked veggies, and fruit. I'm a bit nervous! Wish me luck with the next steps. Sadly I don't love eggs and hate cottage cheese but will make this work!

Good luck! and take it slow!

Just take your time, take super small bits and chew the crap out of them!

I don't like eggs or cottage cheese either, never eat them, not even post op.

I survived breakfast! 1oz of Greek yogurt with a tiny dab of peach/blueberry compote I made. It's staying down I think

Start with things that are quite smooth, Greek yogurt, unsweetened applesauce, peaches canned in their own juice, etc. Gradually build up on the texture scale. You'll do great!

At about 10 days out, it sounds way too early for ceviche ....
But when you're cleared for all foods, I've had no problem with any food, including ceviche, and lots of different seafoods, raw and cooked.

The simplest answer is to ask the professionals who created your new digestive system and eating plan.

I was sleeved on July 3rd, incisions look really good and surgeon says they are healing very well. No stitches outside all Dermabond. My question is- How long should it take for the glue to come off? A couple of the incisions are starting to peel on the edges and are super itchy! Especially if it rubs on my clothes. I just want to know how much longer I might have to deal with it

I was 332 when I started the preop diet. I’m 4 mons post op, and I’ve lost over 90lbs. The challenges are that it takes awhile for you to really see a difference. I was nearly 80lbs before I started getting compliments. My stomach is holding on for dear life. My legs, arms, and chest went right away.

@sideeye CUTE! (Unfortunately I still fear the long bob )

So ... good news, and hopefully encouraging news for everyone...
My Hair loss has slowed, dramatically!
I started to notice it was lessening three weeks ago, but didn't want to jinx it. But now I am sure of it. I'm still losing hair, just much much less than I was a month ago.
I'm so glad there seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel. My hair loss is only noticeable at my temples and hair line. So as long as I don't pull my hair back, no one should really notice.

I've been taking a medicine for the last 2 years that does the same (can't wait until I get a few months out with this), and this is what I have learned. I take prescription folic acid, and biotin; and improvement is minimal. You can use Rogaine but it will just fall out when you stop using it. I have the same pattern you describe and work with my hairdresser to minimize the appearance:
I highlight my hair with foils- gives more volume, and lighter hair makes the thining less obvious
like you I baby my hair when I can
I do keep it short, I find towards time for my cut it's more obvious

Good Luck!