ShoppGirl

Good luck today.

Do you know what all an endocrinologist tests for? It’s not just hypo and hyperthyroidism, right?? I am in maintenance and struggling big time. I feel like the only way to maintain my weight is to be on a diet (and hungry) for the rest of my life cause I add in a few calories and I gain. I feel like there is something going on with my hormones that my primary doc is missing. I see him today and plan to ask a lot of questions. Just wondering what conditions cause weight gain that I should be questioning him about.

This is defiantly something to consider. Do you have a link to the recipe for the measurements? I am not really sure if I like dates is the only thing. I guess I won’t know till I try them.

Do NOT compare yourself to others. Everything will be different from your recovery to fluids to weight loss and stalls. Just trust the process and you will lose weight.

Around 13- 1500 but I am pretty sedentary. My only exercise is walking. I have actually been gaining back a bit which I am gonna ask my dr about tomorrow.

Everyone is different In terms of what amount of calories they need to eat to continue losing. It depends on metabolism, activity level, age, etc. You may find that you do not lose at 1500 and need to add more exercise or cut calories but you also may lose just fine at that amount. You may find that you aren’t able to maintain the level of calories required to keep losing the closer you get to a “normal” bmi. I got to six pounds away and I just couldn’t do it. I was hungry and just had to accept that since I didn’t want to add more exercise and couldn’t eat less that I am just not going to reach that goal. I am 5’8” female and I got to 169 and stayed there for months before I decided to go to maintenance which basically meant to keep doing what I was doing. I am not by any means saying give up cause you may still have some to lose but not all WLS patients get to a “normal” BMI.

Congratulations on your surgery date.

Hello and welcome.

OMG. You just reminded me I so need to find a good recipe for cookies. I think I am going to post a thread about it right now. Hopefully there will be some you can eat.

I was just thinking maybe this was an option. I wonder if you should check with a pharmacist first. I know it’s just vitamins but if they absorb differently that way an overdose of some vitamins can cause issues?? Better safe than sorry I guess. Ask your team first though because I was swallowing my pills in the hospital. Not huge ones, but not tiny either. I was able to do the chewable vitamins and did those for a few months but I THINK I could’ve swallowed the vitamin if I had needed to.

I would’ve been fine by then but everyone is different. Is it possible to play it by ear?? I would assume you would have a pretty good idea a while in advance. Are they flying or driving?? Will you be working too or is entertaining all you will have to do each day?? I say play it by ear because some of us have very little to no pain and are back to relatively normal within a week. Others it takes a while longer. If I had to guess I would say it’s most likely you will be fighting a little fatigue still at three weeks if anything. Can you just drive separately so if you absolutely need a nap you could go home and then meet back up with them?

I thought the shakes tasted to sweet as well. Try the clear protein waters. These should count as fluid and protein and while they are sweet they didn’t taste overly sweet like the shakes did. I didn’t realize now many options of clear protein there are. You could start with what they sell at your convenience store so you can try a single. I splurged and for a case of premiere protein clear and luckily I liked it. Once you get to purées you can add unflavored protein to things if necessary or purchase some of the protein soups. I didn’t do either of these, just kept doing shakes as well but I’m sure others will have suggestions on specific products.

Hello and congratulations on your surgery date.

My team didn’t really limit carbs either but I try to steer clear of them because for me if I eat them I crave them and my cravings for carbs are stronger than any other cravings. I find the worst are for me are pasta and bread so I try to use lower carb alternatives in moderation.

I am a year and a half out and have been around these boards for the same amount of time. This has popped up quite a few times for many women having unusual or missed cycles, spotting, heavier, lighter, cramping etc. it seems to stabalize as the weight loss slows down. I am on birth control and I had breakthrough bleeding and longer periods for about three months as best as I can recall.

I totally get it, I like to prepare well in advance for things. Since homemade food doesn’t have preservatives, though you could actually end up wasting it if you make it too soon. Perhaps just make your lists of what you want to make for each day and what ingredients you need to buy. That way you are a couple steps closer without actually making it.

I didn’t find it necessary but It could help if you struggle taking small bites. Im Pretty sure they have them at dollar tree.

Those leftover two ounce disposable cups are good later on to measure hummus and sauces/ dressings and stuff. One tablespoon is 0.5 fl oz. Most sauces use two tbsp as a serving so half that cup is one serving. I carry a cooler with me when I am out and about and I always have my salad dressing so if I stop for lunch I have my own which is the yogurt dressing so it’s quite a few less calories. Now I actually carry it in a different container and I eyeball it but that is after measuring it in those containers many times first.

I don’t think it’s weird whether someone chooses to share or not share. There is a lot of stigma associated with it and some people are not prepared to deal with that stigma and lack of understanding if they are presented with it. Others are. I think it’s amazing that you are proud of yourself and so willing to share with others. Just Keep doing you!!

Hello and welcome. The length of the process varies a great deal from clinic to clinic but more so from one insurance to the other. Self pay usually have the fastest process. Your team should be able to give you some idea how long it will be though.

As long as you are not creating a financial hardship or hurting yourself or others in some other way this is actually a very healthy way of coping with anxiety. Sounds like you are a little nervous and taking control of whatever you can actually control in the process. So maybe you end up with a little extra food when you’re done recovering. I say Just donate it to someone or a food pantry if you can’t use it. I actually had a nurse that told me to do this when I had a melanoma. She suggested getting a binder and keeping copies of all my records and pet scans and stuff and taking it to each appointment with me. I never put so much effort into anything as I did in that binder. It helps to know that you are doing everything you possibly can (controlling what you can control at a time you feel slightly out of control). Ooh and you are definitely not alone in doing all the research or stocking up for this surgery either and I actually wish I had prepared more by cleaning cause it’s really hard to sit and stare at the mess post op and not get up and clean things. So I say keep doing what your doing. Just maybe pace yourself cause you still have three weeks.

Hello and welcome. Best of luck on your surgery Wednesday.

Well unfortunately the sciatica issue returned and my surgeon said the injections were okay so I got them this time. They didn’t do anything for the pain, really though so I won’t be using them again anyways I don’t think. Unless they decrease the time it takes to recover or something which so far doesn’t seem to be the case. I’m only on day three though, and last time it took almost three weeks to go away entirely. I have an appointment with my family dr on Wednesday though and Intend to ask about pain management. I will ask about these alternative NSAIDS.

I am a year and a half out from sleeve and still taking a bariatric multi and calcium citrate. I have wondered about stopping them though. I think I am going to ask at my next appointment about this.

Sometimes doctors are so used to hearing the same old stories day in and day out that they just assume that they have heard them all and quit actually listening. The ONLY remotely logical reason I can think of them wanting you to have surgery while you are actively losing on your own would be if they expect you to lose some and then stop losing. If you lose and get below the BMI threshold you would no longer qualify unless you gained again. My question would be how close to a normal BMI you can get on your own. If it were me I would wait and see how much you can lose on your own. Only you know how you are really eating and if it’s all related to this illness that is now being treated it should reverse itself. You can always have the surgery down the road if you don’t lose like you think you will. Sounds like your gut is already telling you to wait. I say trust it.