FluffySaysForkIt!

You should press your Doctor again for some answers on this. Don't let them get away with not answering or explaining what they think is happening until you are satisfied. I am sorry you have to go through all that!

Congratulations on reaching that milestone!!!

Hi, and welcome! Glad you are here! I think your "cold feet" are super, super normal. Who wouln't be somewhat scared of changing up their insides? This isn't an easy thing to wrap ones head around, no matter how long you have worked toward it, and the reality of getting that approval is both exciting and downright scarey. Having some nerves or doubts at points along the way isn't in itself an indicator of not being "fit" or ready for surgery. (I think you would find it really difficult to find many here that didn't have these same questions/ fears at some points both before and after surgery.) As far as going through with it, only you can really know if you should or not. Here are some things to consider in deciding: 1. You mentioned that you are afraid of the lifelong changes you will have to make because "if you could do them you would have done them already". Every single person who has ever had weightloss surgery for obesity has had the surgery for this VERY reason. They chose surgery, as a last resort, because they COULD NOT make those (lasting/enough) changes on their own without the tools the surgery brings. You are in good company on that one for sure. This does not mean you would be a "failure" in changing after surgery. 2. If you choose not to have the surgery, ask yourself the following. What will change? What will stay the same? What will improve? What may get worse? Are you Ok with those outcomes? 3. Your story is your own. You are not your Mother, your Husband or anyone else. (Including me!) What happens to one person may never be a part of your own journey. (Though I totally get wanting to hear experiences.) Stories about other people's experiences are useful in lots of ways, but at the end of the day, they are still just other people's stories and I think a decision this big should be made independent of them. Make your decision based on what you know best as it applies to you. Lay out the facts you know about your situation and make your best choice. Whatever your decision, I hope you find peace in it, and I hope you find faith in yourself there too. Trust yourself. 💙 (((Hugs)))

Congratulations!!!🎆🎈✨

Glad you are on the mend now! Wishing you only smooth sailing in the journey from here... 💙

Congratulations!!!! That is awesome! You should now to go to the ModCloth site and buy any cool thing you want- you will rock it!!! Then post it on OOTD to celebrate! Signed, A Bad Spending Influence An avid OOTD fan with needs 😁

Congratulations!!! I love the tiara- you look so cute in it!

I am so sorry to hear about your pups. Hang in there, and try to remember all the joy they brought to you. That doesn't go away. 💙

Well. I personally would worry about someone who didn't have some fear, at least a little, sometime in this long process. You are totally normal! I have had a lot of surgeries myself-one just yesterday even (gallbladder out) and I can honestly say the bypass was the most anxiety provoking one by far. It is a BIG choice to make, after all, and it is wrapped up in lots of old emotions around weight and failure that we all deal with. So, know you ARE OK, but try to use that fear by turning that energy into something positive now instead. Ideas: Write down all the things you want to do after you lose some of the weight. Collect bariatric friendly recipes. Check out some of the great posts here of before and after pictures for inspiration etc. Stick to your plan, use that (totally normal!) fear to get better prepared and give yourself grace when you need to. It really IS going to be ok. You can do this!!!💙

You look so great! 🎆 Congratulations!!! 🎊

Congratulations on making it to the bench today. Sending all good wishes for a quick and easy recovery now!

Hi @PEGGO I also have the same mask already shown here. It really helped me get used to CPAP and I can second the experience mentioned of FINALLY sleeping so soundly I didn't move at all at night for several months. Here are a few things to try if you are struggling with getting used to cpap: 1. Put it on while you are watching TV and not trying to sleep. Just let yourself get used to the feel of it on your face and breathing through it while hooked up to the machine. Without the pressure of feeling like you have to get to sleep you can relax a bit and ease into the feel of it. 2. I second trying many masks until you find one that works for you. Don't be afraid to speak up to your provider. There are many styles and one will work for you. 3. It sounds counterintuitive, but DON'T OVERTIGHTEN your mask. It is very uncomfortable, and actually can cause MORE air leaks. It should be just tight enough to feel snug and not floppy, but still very comfortable on your face. If it hurts, it is too tight or the wrong mask for you. I was required to bring my CPAP to the hospital with me. My Doctor required a 30 day download to prove that I was wearing my CPAP at least 4 hours a night before he would even do surgery at all. (He would have cancelled my surgery totally without that compliance because the risk of complications in surgery goes up with untreated sleep apnea.) Good luck!

As a teacher, I am pretty sure what they meant is educators are putting off having their own surgery right away, after also doing everything everyone else also does requirement wise. They can then schedule during the summer to keep from interfering with their teaching jobs. This makes the summer surgery schedules tighter, and booked up earlier, by people already approved before you were is all. If there was any form of "streamlined" WLS approval line for obese teachers anywhere on this planet, I promise you I would have found that sucker... 😁 I do understand your frustration in waiting, though. It is really hard. (((Hugs))) I hope you get your surgery scheduled soon. Hang in there!

I would check with your Doctor, just to be safe. I hope you feel better!!!

You look wonderful! Congratulations!!! 🎆🎈🎇

Hi- I use the Argon oil now because my hair tends to get pretty dry anyway. You just rub a little bit into your hair, concentrating especially the dryer ends. I do think it helps it look less brittle and a bit more shiney. I am just starting to lose some hair, so I am hoping it will help keep the 3 strands I may be left with soon looking healthy... 😆

This ⬇️ from the Cleveland Clinic gives a pretty good overview of tests it might affect: BIOTIN and TEST RESULTS

I also first went to my surgeon to get a game plan. Then I let my PCP know the what/when/how things were going to go after that was settled. Hope things go well for you!

That is so great!!! As others have said, very inspiring too. Looking forward to hearing more about all of your hard earned victories still to come!!! 🎆🎈✨

I think the above says it all. This is YOUR body and you get to make the choice. Don't be afraid to speak up, ask the questions and, if needed, move on to a surgeon willing to do what you feel you need. I would not try too hard to convince a doctor, honestly. I would present it as "this is what I am interested in doing" and he/she is either on board, or not. Ask how many bypass surgeries he/she has performed- it is a good clue into his/her skill set. I had GERD before surgery. So far, 8 weeks out of bypass surgery, I have not. It was a major factor in choosing bypass for myself. Good luck to you!

For myself, that pre-op liquid diet was really the worst part of my whole journey so far. It sucks, but it does pass. Stick with it and hang in there! You got this.