AZhiker

Well, my poor Tessie is 20 years old now and developing arthritis. She has battled partially torn ligaments for a few years and is doing well now as long as she only carries the grand kids or my 135 pound daughter. I am not allowed to ride, as I am simply too heavy for her. This has broken my heart, as riding has been my passion all my life. So...…. one of my really big goals is to get below 150 pounds so I can mount up again. I can hardly wait. It has been way too long!

At my pre-op psych visit, the doc told me that often people who give up one addiction (food) will take on another addiction. It can be alcohol, drugs, smoking, gambling, shopping, exercise, or any manner of things that can be either positive or negative. Has anyone discovered a new passion, OCD behavior, or outright addiction that you have exchanged for food? Personally, I think I am becoming OCD about my exercise goals. I increase them each week, and am happy with the results, but I find myself thinking about it a lot. I think it is OK as long as it doesn't become an obsession. Anyone else?

The reason for not shaving is infection control. Shaving causes micro-abrasions in the skin. The skin is loaded with bacteria and even with the disinfectant soaps, there is the possibility of starting an infection that could spread to the surgical site. Even if the bacterial growth is NOT in the exact area of the surgery, people tend to touch their surgical sites after touching other areas. Believe me, nurses don't care what your legs look like and as an RN who worked in pre-op for 3 years, we were very happy to see women who followed the no-shaving instruction. Very hairy surgical sites don't even get shaved in the hospital - clippers are used instead.

I like the battle ribbons! You bet - we've earned them!

I had the run around from insurance, also. (BCBS). I had to have 6 months of documented PCP visits with attempted weight loss, Then once everything was submitted I was denied because my surgeon's office failed to submit the psych eval. Eventually, it all came together and I got surgery 8 months after the beginning of the process. I am very thankful, however, for this time. It helped me get my head around all the changes, really solidify the decision, and gave me a bit head start in getting rid of sugar, carbs, caffeine, soda, snacks, BEFORE surgery so I didn't have to deal with those addictions during recovery. I also had a sleep study done during this time which gave me the diagnosis of extreme sleep apnea. This helped push the insurance company, I think, because I didn't have other co-morbidities. I think you will get approved, The companies just have their process and they have to dot all the i's and cross all the t's. From what I understand, the need for revision from failed surgery is a big push for them to approve.

It seems like the fat melts from the top down. My poor old 63 year old face looks about 80 to me - so many wrinkles and a turkey skin neck. I have always had genetically heavy upper eye lids, but now they are falling into my eyes. (If I have plastics, the upper eyelids will be the first thing to get done.) Going south with anatomy, the boobs are half their size and twice as long. Arms are getting pretty baggy. Belly and inner thighs pretty wobbly. BUT...….. the ribs look great! I've gone from a 24 pants to a 16. 2X top to a med-lg. Bra from 42DD to 38C. Underwear from 13 to 8. Most of my weight is still in the lower half. So funny how it is so different for everyone, but my aging skin is not so funny. No more collagen, I guess, and the elasticity is just not there anymore. But all these wrinkles are just my badges from the best decision I have every made for myself. It's just a matter of perspective. I'd rather look older and wrinkly and have my life back, than be obese with smooth skin and hardly able to move.

Fluids are the highest priority. Then protein. Then the vitamins. Hang in there. Tiny sips every few minutes will do it. Did you get a prescription for anti nausea medicine like Zofran?

Yup, that first week can be uncomfortable, for sure. I slept in a semi reclining position with a little pillow under my belly to give support.

I discovered my ribs this week! If I lift up my saggy boobs there really is a visible rib cage under there! Woo Hoo!

You might try a couple of things to trigger the fat burning mode to amp up. Increase your exercise a lot this week - especially cardio. Try intermittent fasting for one week.

WOW! Congratulations. You look fantastic and I bet you feel really great, too.

So glad you are having a good recovery! Like you, I have had some painful experiences (fractured pelvis/ribs, thoracic surgery, and a total knee replacement). Bypass surgery was a breeze. Like you, I was up walking right away, and walked at home a lot. BUT... I still got a blood clot in one leg! Anyway, I hope you continue to recover well. Keep using that little incentivespirometor - pneumonia is not something you want to deal with. Congratulations!

does it happen 100% of the time?

I met 2 people this week who were long term gastric bypass patients (15-20 years out). Both had erosion/bleeding from one of the anastomosis sites and ended up in the hospital. Is this something that is very common? I sure hope not. Anyone have any data or sources for this type of complication? I would have thought once the sites were healed they would be good for life. But apparently for some folks that is not the case. Just wondering if there was a difference in how older surgeries were done compared to techniques today.

Good luck and kudos to you for such an awesome challenge! Keep us posted!

You are building muscle and also probably having fluid fluctuations. Hang in there! Exercise will be your life saver.

I started getting 10,000 steps a day (with my little step tracker buddy on my wrist) by week 2. I don't really count miles, because our terrain is so hilly, so steps work better for me. My doctor said to get 10,000 a day, so I made that a goal that I have kept with the help of little buddy. It does get easier as the weight comes off and you get in shape. Hydration is so important, however, especially as we approach the warmer months.

I wear mine 24/7. I only take it off to shower and charge. It is my best little buddy. I find it very motivating to park in the farthest parking spot at work or the store. It helps me be "happy" about forgetting the milk in WalMart and having to walk clear across the store to get it. I have met my goal of 10,000 steps every day since week 2 post op, and all the credit goes to this little device that keeps me honest about my actual activity for the day. I never knew how much of a difference it could make until I got one.

I am trying to do a good hike (3-5 hours) every week. So beautiful and so great to get out. And so great to be able to walk up hills without panting my lungs out, My balance is better and my endurance is definitely much better. I did have a slip and fall last week (loose gravel) and went down on one hip. I am on blood thinners still (thanks to a post op DVT) and so the bruise on my hip is the size of a saucer!

I'm so glad this topic came up. I am 3 months out and it seems like whenever I eat solids - like meat or even a quiche, I get nauseous and start having pain. Smoothies and protein drinks are fine, but it seems like I've gone backwards. I was eating pretty well a month ago, and now everything just hurts or makes me feel miserable enough to just go back on liquids. I try to eat slowly and really chew everything to mush, but maybe it is still just too much food. It's very frustrating, because I can eat 3 bits just fine. I feel great and then I eat the next 3 bites and it's disaster. So I guess I just need to stick with 3 bites and keep the protein supplements going. It makes me want to avoid solids altogether. At this rate, it doesn't seem like I will ever be able to get enough protein from food sources alone. Cottage cheese and yoghurt are my life savers right now. Does this get better?

I am also at the 3 month mark. No hair loss yet, but the texture seems courser and definitely dryer. My nails are really strong and hard, however - the first time I've ever really been able to grow nails. I started taking 10,000 mcg of Biotin at the two week post op mark when I started the other vitamins. I keep watching for wads of hair in the shower drain, but none so far. Fingers crossed!

Thanks for all the encouraging replies. Although my co-workers have noticed, they seem to be over it now. I am changing departments next week, so it will be a whole new group of folks who just see me now, and not 62 pounds ago, so it will be a fresh start now.

I had bypass, and my doc keeps all his patients on an acid reducer for 6 months. I don't tolerate them well, however, and the only one I can really take is ranitidine. He said that was OK (like better than nothing) so I take 150 mg twice a day. I had bad GERD and actually had a Barrett's polyp (pre cancerous, due to acid damage) removed before surgery. I have not had GERD since the surgery, but staying on the acid reducer religiously. Don't want to take any chances.

Idawn, I started walking a few days after surgery. My surgeon said to do 10,000 steps a day - he didn't give a time frame, so I just started working toward that goal. My little step tracker is my new best friend. I didn't realize what a motivational impact it would have! As I started getting 10,000 steps a day pretty consistently, I also added 10 flights of stairs a day and 100 wall pushups a day (4 sets of 25). Then I added an upper body weight routine every other day. Each week I increase the number of sets by 1/2 set. I also started using the Elliptical machine 30 min a day, alternating with the days I do the weights. I have never been a great exercise buff - hiking yes, but just pain exercising, not so much. BUT..... I can feel my arms getting stronger and seeing some actual muscles! (little ones.) My stamina and endurance and increased a lot, and I can knock off those stairs like nothing now. I don't get out of breath when I walk up hills, and I am starting to walk faster. I had to go out of town this past week for a funeral and I was really worried about eating wrong and not getting the exercise in. I did my best to eat well, although it was hard because we went out a lot, but I DID get my 10,000 steps a day, 10 flights of stairs, 100 wall pushups and weights in - every single day! Amazingly, I actually lost some weight on the trip, and I really do attribute it to the exercise. I have not had any real stalls yet. The weight loss has been pretty consistent, and again, I attribute this to the exercise, I know that exercise is going to be one of the big keys to keeping the weight off and not regaining, once I hit my goal, so I am trying really hard to incorporate it into a routine that I will continue for life. I don't think it matters what you do, as long as you get some cardio and some strength training in. The more muscle you build, the better your metabolism will be, I think you have to set some small, realistic goals and then increase them a little each week. For example, once I can do 5 sets of my upper body routine with my 3 pound weights, I will increase to 5 pound weights and start over with just a few sets, gradually building those up. The best buddy is that step tracker. Whenever we stopped for gas or potty on our trip, I was walking, Whenever I have a lull at work, I walk for 5-10 minutes. I park in the farthest spot when shopping or at work to get a few more steps. It is very empowering, makes me feel more positive about myself, and I think it is also toning me up a bit, because my saggy skin doesn't seem so loose. Anyway, find a way to do it in small bites and I think you will be very happy with how you feel.

Yesterday my husband and I went for a hike in the local mountains to see the wild flowers which are absolutely spectacular this year, due to lots of winter rains. The weather was perfect, the birds were singing, the flowers were stunning (including some I had never seen before) and I just couldn't stop. We kept on going and ended up hiking 10 miles. This is the farthest I have been able to go in years, due to weight and joint pain. It was amazing. NO JOINT PAIN! (I have already had a total knee replacement, arthroscopic surgery on the other one, and multiple steroid injections in my hips - all for arthritis brought on by 5 decades of being overweight.) This is so wonderful. I feel like I am actually getting my life back - the life I used to love and then lost. Having 50 pounds off made such a difference. I cannot even imaging how great it will be with another 50 off. I am going to need a rope to hold me down! I took a friend out to see the flowers this morning - only hiked 4 miles, but still felt so good to be able to get up and go with no pain. This surgery has opened a whole new chapter for me, and I hope for the same for each of you.