ronjsteele1

These are all really common symptoms of gallbladder issues. I would recommend an abdominal ultrasound.

I think it is really important to address the idea that you are "giving up on doing this on your own" because truthfully there are a lot of unkind people who may say this to you. Truthfully it does sound like you cannot do this on your own, according to what you're telling us about your past, and you know what? That is really and truly okay and there's nothing wrong with you. The vast majority of overweight/obese people can't lose and maintain a lot of weight long-term either. There's nothing wrong with having completely normal limitations in one area and you aren't obligated to suffer through a much harder and more difficult path to treat your medical condition just because society idolizes that path. A key factor in my decision to get gastric sleeve was realizing that people were always going to judge me- whether I stayed fat, lost weight through surgery, or even if I lost weight the traditional way, because some people will judge me from being fat in the first place. Ultimately I think its much better to be judged for something that makes you happier. For me, for a long time, what made me happiest was being fat and loving myself, now it is choosing gastric sleeve and loving myself, and I'm happy with both choices because they were what I chose. I hope whatever path you choose brings you joy ❤️
I totally get where you're coming from though. Obesity is weird because its one of the only medical conditions where people think less of you for using medical interventions to cure it. It is really easy to internalize those types of thought processes.

Was not Insurmountable at all - This is a Journey not a race so let K.I.S.S it - keep it simple style!
You loose 2,5 pounds a week
Which is 10 Pounds a month
Which is 120 Pounds a year
So around 15-20 Months your insurmountable Task is completed! Nope its all in the Math
Trust me the time will fly by and the Journey down will be filled with Great Feelings of getting happy - As for cash me and you will get our money back in 20 months in reduced food costs, Not eating out and Drinking. Good investment. I looked at it this way, My 13k cash payment would not have fit in the URN with me if i kept going the way i was going
Aj

You might consider going cash pay to blossom bariatric in Las Vegas. I also had a high deductible plan. My out of pocket was 9999 and they billed my insurance for out of network coverage and my insurance still paid $5k out of pocket. That 10k covered literally everything including 5 nights of hotel and daily transportation. Blossom is amazing! And so worth it to stay in the US. They do require you have someone stay with you but you can actually pay $350 and they’ll have someone stay the week with you.
The surgery is worth it. Do it! I’ve not read of one person regretting it. The only regret I’ve heard people have is that they didn’t do it ten years earlier. I feel the same way.

I find I have to switch things up drastically. I’ll do a super low carb low calorie day (like 700-800 cals), then a higher carb, higher calorie day (like 1200 cals), then back to 900 cals. Doing that almost always keeps me from stalling. I just never let my body get use to the same thing. It’s also what was recommended by my surgeons office/dietician if stalls happen.

I had reflux pre-surgery due to an undiagnosed hiatal hernia. They found that during my EGD and repaired it during surgery. I’ve had zero issues with reflux post surgery. I think it might depend on why a person has GERD to begin with. If it’s hernia caused, it will likely not return due to the hernia being fixed. If you don’t have a hernia and have GERD I suspect it would be an issue post sleeve. The first is a mechanical issue (hernia) the second is something else (usually not enough enzymes, eating too much, etc).

I find I have to switch things up drastically. I’ll do a super low carb low calorie day (like 700-800 cals), then a higher carb, higher calorie day (like 1200 cals), then back to 900 cals. Doing that almost always keeps me from stalling. I just never let my body get use to the same thing. It’s also what was recommended by my surgeons office/dietician if stalls happen.

I find I have to switch things up drastically. I’ll do a super low carb low calorie day (like 700-800 cals), then a higher carb, higher calorie day (like 1200 cals), then back to 900 cals. Doing that almost always keeps me from stalling. I just never let my body get use to the same thing. It’s also what was recommended by my surgeons office/dietician if stalls happen.

Brent, no need to feel bad about not exercising. I got to goal weight without any real exercise except regular walking and have maintained it for about nine months.
However, I was--and continue to be--very disciplined when it comes to food. I still don't eat sugar or drink alcohol at all, and I keep carbs and fats to a minimum. I'm just not a gym person. We all have to find what works for us and our individual lifestyles. There is no one-size-fits-all long-term solution.

This week marks 1 year post op and I am down 112lbs and holding pretty steady. I lost 100lbs the first 6 months and it was too easy. I knew it would not go on forever like that and to enjoy it while it lasted. The past 6 months things have been much more of a grind. Im still not at goal weight but I am happier with myself. To be completely honest I did this without any regular exercise, im not proud of this but I think its important. I know I would be at the goal weight if I were exercising. I removed all obstacles that I thought were in the way but Im still not doing it. Weight loss chart below to give everyone an idea what the rate of loss looks like. I think my results are fairly typical.

Blossom actually does take insurance. In order to by pass the insurance requirements I did out of pocket with blossom. I was 6 weeks start to finish but that had to do with when I could get scheduled. Afterwards, they billed my insurance for out of network benefits and my insurance paid out. I actually paid less then if I’d tried to do it locally with insurance. And I didn’t have the 6-9 month wait.

I had surgery at Blossom on March 12. I am currently 24lbs lost at 38 days post op. All I can say is, that place is amazing! My sister is a healthcare worker and went with me. She was so impressed with every single thing they did. After surgery there is a fb group that you can join that is just for blossom patients for support and access to blossom employee help. Worth every penny and flying for. From the hotel, to the drivers, surgery staff, etc. 100% perfect with zero complaints. I haven’t met anyone yet that was unhappy with them.

Blossom can be as fast as two weeks or longer if you can’t schedule right away. It seems like their average is 4-6 weeks though from first contact to surgery.

I had surgery at Blossom on March 12. I am currently 24lbs lost at 38 days post op. All I can say is, that place is amazing! My sister is a healthcare worker and went with me. She was so impressed with every single thing they did. After surgery there is a fb group that you can join that is just for blossom patients for support and access to blossom employee help. Worth every penny and flying for. From the hotel, to the drivers, surgery staff, etc. 100% perfect with zero complaints. I haven’t met anyone yet that was unhappy with them.

Just showing off my ticker because as far as I am concerned, I just reached my GOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!! I mean, what is 1 1/10th of a pound anyway???
This just totally made my day after a REALLY crappy week! I work for a school, my school is closed, But this week because we just gave notice we are NOT REOPENING this school year, I have been rushing around like crazy to get a certain task done. From home of course. Plus running around to get staff what they need. And my staff has been extremely difficult during this. Anyhow... last week I almost put up a post stating that I was SO CLOSE to my goal, but I didn't think I would reach it. The scale was NOT moving anymore. And I was at a healthy weight so I was coming to terms with the fact that my body might be done. Afterall, my healthy weight used to be in the 135-145 RANGE before, and while I hoped to get to 135, I was fine anywhere in that range. But this week? OMG, the stress this week was AWFUL. My ability to stop and get myself to EAT was awful. But what I DID eat was extra healthy because since I am working from home, I have been cooking throughout the week more. I mean... not just cooking a little something for me which I always do. But cooking for the family, and meals that I can partake in. Anyhow, the last 3 days I did NOT have time to cook. But I had those healthy meals to eat as leftovers when I did eat. So... after many weeks of the scale BARELY moving (up OR down), I dropped nearly 4 pounds to hit 135.1, and my goal is 135 so I am sure after I have a BM... I am already there! LMAO
How is my body doing? Overall it looks great. Still have a little jiggliness at the back of my arms and thighs. Not too bad, but need to tone. My calves are still too big for my liking. Hoping they go away, but the rest of my legs look pretty good. My face has a LITTLE loose skin/wrinkles, but not too bad. And last but not least... my c-section belly is well hidden by clothes, but that NEEDS to go away! I know I can lose a little more bellyfat above my 3 c-section scar... I did it after my 3rd baby. It will never be flat again, but I know it can be better. So... once I am in a better work from home routine, I need to try to resume my workouts. Oh... I had been doing great with workouts until early March.... but this transition to work from home has NOT left me the time I need to do them, and by the time I DO have time to workout... I need to go to bed. So, maybe after next week I can focus on that belly. But I REACHED MY GOAL WEIGHT!

I had the sleeve. I just had steri strips over my incisions. My doctor took the strips off yesterday as my incisions are healed over.

I ate a scrambled egg with 1 tbls of real bacon bits mixed in. Didn’t feel any different. I actually wasn’t full afterwards which was disappointing. However, others have said when you start to eat the full feeling kicks in and they were right. This morning I made an egg and one chicken sausage. I could only finish 2/3 of each.

I have struggled with my weight since I was five years old. Late in 2016- at 28 years old at my heaviest weight- I had my first appointment with a bariatric surgeon in Akron, Ohio where I live and began the steps towards gastric bypass. I was so scared. But I knew that I would rather risk my life than live like this forever. I feared that my parents would bury me in 20 years and that my sister would become an only child. I knew I had to do something. I had tried everything. Between the ages of 8-28 I had tried everything under the sun. I could not lose/maintain the weight loss.

On June 26, 2017- I had gastric bypass surgery. I have lost/maintained 180 pound weight loss. I have a whole new life. It is quite beautiful. I look forward to living everyday. I share my journey on Instagram - (my name on there is Maddie5088) and I also have a public Facebook Page called Mornings with Maddie. I created a blog almost a year ago that focuses on sharing my journey, creating/sharing healthy recipes. You can find it here - foodfitnessandbeauty.com

I share body positivity, kindness, self love, inclusivity, healthy recipes, grocery hauls, I do monthly giveaways, how to meal prep, affordable/easy meals for bariatric patients and I do Q and As for Bariatric patients.

I have felt very called to share my journey with the bariatric community! I hope you come follow along my story! It’s been a heck of a ride!

Xoxo

Maddie

I have to be at the surgery center at 8 tomorrow for my sleeve. I’m nervous, scared, happy and elated all at the same time. Asking for prayers that it all works out good. Thanks

that was one sentence .... and that's what you got out of that..... AND it's how i feel about all of this... I am NOT WORRIED AT ALL ABOUT CORONA VIRUS..... Even though most gyms are closing.... it's free to walk outside....

My Health and support were completely valid.... I simply said to stock up on better choices and to keep moving.....

Mine as well!! It was scheduled for tomorrow but it was cancelled

Yes mine was suppose to be tomorrow, and they called today and canceled. 😭😭😭

My instructions from my doctor were 2 oz of Protein Drink on the hour every hour and 2 oz of an approved liquid every 15 minutes after the top of the hour. That way you can get it all in.

What is driving fear is ignorance and people reacting on emotion rather than facts.

It originated in Wuhan China. Historically flu strains are named after their place of origin. Hence Wuhan virus. More accurately it is Wuhan coronavirus. The disease it causes is named COVID 19. The official name of the virus is SARS-CoV-2. A coronavirus encompasses a wide variety of viruses, not just the Wuhan coronavirus. It is now being report that the death rate for those under 50 is 0.1%. Yes it is serious due to the transmission rate being higher than that of influenza, but the irrational fear being pumped out daily does nothing to help the situation.

I had surgery yesterday, the 12th. Yeah, that gas is pretty miserable. I could kiss my tube of homeopathic carbo veg! I started taking that immediately and every time I walked I had my sister pound my back. Between those two things we got rid of the gas pretty quickly (relatively speaking). The doctor said 24hrs and I think we had it gone in about 14hrs. So I can’t complain. Drinking plenty of Water but very small amounts at a time. I’m actually hungry. 😩 Beyond that, I get on a plane tomorrow so hoping to rest up today and be able to walk through the airport.