momof3_angels

Nice! I am going to be doing some of the AZ trail for my training as well! Mostly south of Tucson.

Yes, Rim to Rim is one of my goals! I am going to Spain at the end of May, so I will be 8 1/2 months post op.

Just curious, have any of you done a thru-hike or pilgrimage after bariatric surgery? In particular, has anyone done the Camino de Santiago after bariatric surgery? How was it? How did you handle eating? Did you gain/lose/maintain weight? Insights you can share? I had surgery Sept 4th. I am losing weight at a nice pace. I have just reached a BMI under 30. I am walking 6 miles a day now (still easy walking, but at a brisk pace). I am just beginning to do Yoga/Pilates again (when I can get my daughter to dance in time for me to get to class). And I have just booked a flight to Paris/back from Barcelona... but in between I am planning on doing the Camino de Santiago (French Way) from St Jean Pied de Port! I am super excited. I am planning to up my fitness routine steadily until I leave. I am already buying any gear I don't have and trying to figure out how to keep weight down in my backpack. Buying smaller clothes will sure help that! Hopefully I am a Medium by then if not smaller. Anyhow, any tips on what you did to get you through a thru-hike? This is my first thru-hike. I have always wanted to do one, but I am using this as more motivation to keep going on my weight loss and getting fit. I selected this one because I don't have to carry my tent and all my food for many days at a time, and I SHOULD have an actual bed to sleep in every night. Anyhow, excitied, nervous, and really not sure how I will be handling food by then. I am doing better with hydrating now. I am eating small meals without problems. I have never gotten sick from anything I ate or overeating.

I didn't even know clothing rental places exist for non-special occasions. I will have to look into that.

I bit late on the reply, but for physically fit people, heart rates in the mid 40's are fairly common occurrence. Always have it checked by your doctor to be sure that is all it is, but once you know it is "normal" for you, I wouldn't worry too much about it. My son just lost some weight and became much more physically active and has noticed the same thing. And he was only a bit overweight... not a bariatric patient.

That is just it... I don't even think it has anything to do with the hospital, they have been paid! I just don't want to get hit with some crazy bill. I am leaning towards leaving it alone though for a bit... I wish I knew where this claim is coming from though so I can guestimate how bad it will be if I have to pay it or fight for them to pay it.

I am SOOOO excited today... I am officially exactly 50 pounds down from my highest weight! I thought it would take a couple more days to get here! 50 down, 41.8 to go! Also very noteworthy... my doctor has my height listed at 5'4". For my ticker I go with that because I want my recordings to match what the Dr's office is recording. Based om that, I am almost at my "OVERWEIGHT" BMI... but my actual height is 5'4.75" if if you calculate BMI based on my true height, I am already OVERWEIGHT! I AM NOT OBESE! Feeling accomplished today! Also, last night I did Yoga for the first time since surgery. I didn't do everything, but I did most of it! So... I walked my 2 miles in the early AM, then in the evening I did an hour of Yoga and followed up with 2 more miles of waking before going home! I am HOPING to do Yoga 3 days a week now that I am able to do most of it without worrying about my belly. That is... until I feel ready to go back to Pilates. I really don't like Yoga but I LOVE Pilates. I am until I feel more ready for hard core "CORE" work.

So, I still have just 2 pairs of long pants (black/grey) and 2 pairs or capri (navy blue/tan)... again, stretchy but slightly tight for now. I don't think I will buy more work pants until I have to. I just decided to order a bunch (well, not a lot but enough) of Tunic style tops that will hopefully be long enough to cover most of my hips/bottom. I figured they will fit perfectly now, but wearable as they get loose for a while, and cover up my hips/bottom enough that it won't matter if I wear pants that are tighter or looser lol. I am also thinking I can wear some of my workout legging under them to help fill in my work clothes wardrobe. Hope it works! I work in a professional building when I am in my office, but I roam around when dealing with the staff/patients under my care. Can't look too frumpy! I am down to a size large for shirts now, and really will probably only go down to either a large/small or small/medium at most. Hopefully I will get there fast, but not too fast as in wasting money on clothes. I have quite a few pant sizes to go though, but that is why I am buying tighter stretchy pants so I they can shrink with me. I wish I could get away with just wearing everything baggy... but that would definitely be frowned on by my bosses and co-workers! That, and I want to show off my weigh loss! I can't decide if I am going to break down and buy jeans... they are less forgiving when I lose weight. I want some, but don't want to go through multiple pairs that I only wear for a short while.

I didn't drive more than an hour at first (didn't need to)... but at 3 weeks post op I drove 6+ hours without a problem. Five weeks post op I drove 8+ hours. Both with minimal stops.

So, my surgery was pre-approved. I had surgery on the day I was pre-approved for by the doc and at the hospital that was submitted for pre-approval. Hospital was paid. Doc was paid. A third doc was paid... it appears to be lab related, but I have no clue who it is. I can see all of this on the BCBS website. Today I get a letter stating that they (BCBS) have requested medical records from the doc listed below (but no doc is listed below). They state that it is to do a medical review of a service provided the same day as my surgery. They want all H&P documenting prior treatment and results and co-morbid conditions, current lab reports, height weight & BMI, copy of psychotherapy eval and documentation of participation in a weight loss program. To me that sounds like they are reviewing medical necessity of my surgery to pay either the surgeon or the hospital. But it was pre-approved and both were paid! (scratching head here) Besides the lab, the only other physician that may need to be paid is anesthesia, but it is weird that they would do a medical review of that claim. Then I go online to search for the Claim # to get more information... and nothing shows up! So stupid and frustrating. And this makes no sense. I guess I have 2 choices... wait and see how this plays out or call them. And I really don't want to call them lol. Anyone else have this sort of weirdness? I mean seriously, the hospital and surgeon have been paid according to their own claims records... what the heck?

I think I started driving shortly after I was off the narcotic pain medicine, so definitely within a week or so.

If you have a desk job, sure. But I must say I was NOT ready to go back for several weeks. You are usually exhausted and adjusting to new routines.

My energy increased at 6 weeks, so you are almost there! Don't get me wrong... I still get wiped out if I overdo it, but I have more energy than I have had for years.

OMG... this is something my husband would totally do! Totally laughing here!

Scrubs are optional for me... but I donated my "big" scrubs, and really don't want to buy more until I am a size smaller. Although I might go to a uniform shop and find some drawstring scrubs that fit OK but will allow me to shrink in them.

Hang in there! I am 7 weeks out and my stomach still feels like it is asking to eat, but I have learned to ignore it because I know it is constantly active/churning still. I eat when I think I should eat and ignore it the rest of the time! It isn't to bad, just a constant something going on down there lol

Only 7 weeks out... but so far: Bought sneakers a half size smaller because my feet are thinner again Down from size 16 to size 12 (snug, but not a 14) More energy during the day, staying awake much later Sleeping better at night, no longer taking medication to help me sleep. Also had to tighten my CPAP headgear straps Comfortably taking 2 mile walks again... DAILY in the AM! And starting to add a 2nd walk in the evening

Just curious what is your favorite type of clothing to wear after surgery during rapid weight loss. For me it is workout clothing! Not because I LOVE to workout (I don't)... but it is just so comfy! That... and when I bought some to start walking again I grabbed a size smaller on the "chance" it will fit soon... I got home and put it on it was perfect because it stretches. I have lost enough weight that I feel like I look pretty good in them (could be better... but gotta lose more weight lol). And I love that they are snug but stretch and comfy. Going back to work soon and I would give anything to be able to wear them to work! I basically no longer fit pretty much everything that was in my closet, so I donated a bunch of clothing already and took another huge stack of clothes out of my closet to sort through a second time before donating. Essentially, my closet would be practically empty except I have purchased even more workout clothes. I did keep a couple dresses that were in there from when I was a little bit smaller, a few sun protection shirts that I can wear over tanks even as I shrink a little bit more, and a few sweatshirts that were either slightly small on me or I will still want them when they are big on me. I did have to buy a couple work outfits, but I picked pants that are slightly tight but stretchy so they will fit a little better as I lose more weight. Shopping at an Outlet store so I am getting "new" clothes at cheaper prices. Can't wait until I go down another size!

My doc and nutritionist say absolutely no carbonation. And seeing as how my biggest vice was Cola (the only carbonation I really drank)... it is a slippery slope for me anyway.

It took me at least a month from the referral from my PCP to see the surgeon (probably more like 6 weeks). Saw the surgeon for the 1st time on May 20, had surgery Sept 4. My co-morbidities and insurance allowed me to get into surgery faster than most insurances at their office. They (BCBS Federal) require 4 monthly nutrition appointments instead of 7. And I had enough supporting documentation from my other docs.

This is what I am doing... making green smoothies using Kale, Spinach, and mixed berries. Sometimes I use other mixed fruits. I add my protein shake to it if I want my protein... or water when I don't. We need protein first, then nutrients. I am doing a 2 in one most mornings. But I will not order them anywhere, they are always higher calories because they add more juices and or sugary fruits than I ever would at home. I am 7 weeks out and have been enjoying my smoothies for the past several days.

Thanks. Yes, I have looked at what they have to offer. An MVI bag (banana bag) is nice, but really all I want is a liter of normal saline! It IS expensive, but cheaper (in some cases) than a co-pay to an ER/Urgent care... and without wasting resources needed for SICK patients. Still... don't know if I am ready to go there!

They are called IV Bars (the old name for them anyway) because they were originally opened to use IV fluids to treat hangovers. I do not think they are well regulated, but some have good oversight (have to do your research). They have expanded their businesses to hydrate for a multitude of reasons and many are overseen by actual medical professionals now. In general, they are a trendy waste of money because most people can hydrate on their own... and if they can't, they usually need medical attention. But... seeing as how bariatric patients can't always take in enough fluids, it kind of seems like a waste of medical resources to go to an urgent care/ER when you can just go to these places. Personally, I have the medical knowledge to know what to look for while there and proper procedures. Just don't know if I am ready to trust them lol

It might just be your stomach still making noises just because. That is what mine seem to be. But when I think they might be "hunger" related, I drink something. Thirst is often confused with hunger... even for non bariatric people. We just were never taught to try to drink first to see if it is really thirst or hunger, so we usually go for food.

I am doing the sugar free jello, yogurt, and protein bars as a "sweet treat" for now. Eventually I will have a little treat, but it is far too soon for me right now.