ShoppGirl

I am SO incredibly sorry to hear this news. I can not even fathom how difficult it would be to remain on track while going through something like this. I am glad you reached out and posted here. You know a weight loss surgery journey definitely does not happen in a bubble and it’s important to have support through the real life stuff that could so easily make us feel like we failed. I say you do what you gotta do to get through a time like this. Even if you stay on plan a percentage of the time you will get back on track with food when you are feeling more like yourself. I would focus more on keeping up your activity when you can muster that. Mentally exercise creates endorphins, socially it gets you out of the house while still giving you the headspace to think and breath and in terms of habits that’s the more difficult of the two to get back on track for many of us. Another thing a doctor recently told me for my journey was to set a date that I plan to be completely back on track. Just an arbitrary date I make up, but sort of like our surgery date it gives our minds something to prepare for. Not that you need to worry about setting any date now, but when you are ready. This was for me because my medical situation is getting better and I feel like maybe I’m giving myself a little too much latitude at this point. My obese brain seems to be rationalizing my having that brownie so to speak. I think the idea is that a date gives my brain a chance to prepare and also keeps other distractions or excuses from allowing it to go on forever which was my concern I asked for help with For now, I hope you are surrounding yourself by loved ones and friends that can offer lots of support. Journaling and crafting may help also. Not that it’s at all comparable but My crochet was a tremendous help throughout my recent journey. And it doesn’t have to be remotely good to be a really great outlet. I remeber making mandalas in a college class using construction paper and glue being surprised after an hour at how relaxed I felt just gluing paper together. They also have coloring books at the oncology center as part of the integrated medicine program. Seems silly but It really can help us process emotions. That and journaling are both helpful for me. Remeber, your bariatric journey is your own and every path has unexpected turns. Trust that taking care of yourself is part of honoring your loss, not moving away from it ❤️

Wow, that does not sound like fun!! I guess they have to rule out the basics before they can get insurance to pay for the more extensive and usually also very expensive tests. It sucks because it drags things out while we are suffering but it sounds like you are a champ for hanging in there and you have a solid plan. I hope you get an answer soon.

What if you do some exercise post dinner to see if you can “walk off” the gas so to speak with a walk around the block or a stationary bike or the like. It may not get rid of it all but I bet it would help some.

I do not have an answer or know of any forum that would be more specialized, but maybe you could reach out to a larger clinic and try to do a virtual appointment. I have recently been doing that for my cancer treatment and it has worked pretty well. Moffitt has done a “second opinion” a couple of times and basically whatever they’ve suggested the local doctors have carried out for me in terms of treatment. I did have to go the first time in person, but I think that’s usually only required if you need to be physically examined. If it’s not something they need to literally touch you for they should be able to just gather your records, but I believe it has to be in your same state or your physician has to be licensed in your current state where you will be during the appointment. I actually have developed iron deficiency anemia, and I don’t know if it’s because of the bariatric surgery or my chemo treatment because I was diagnosed only three months post surgery. I have also had problems with potassium during my treatment, but I think that’s due to a kidney issue I seem to have developed most likely because of immunotherapy. It’s not fun getting infusions or needing them. Another thing that might help a tiny bit would be to get a port installed to make the infusions a little less inconvenient if they use a power port, they can infuse it quite a bit faster although I’m not sure if Insurance will cover it for your condition, but it’s worth asking. I hope you find an answer here. If not, I’d keep posting the different forms because it’s just a matter of the right person seeing this I’m sure. Best of luck to you.

Well my win lately is keeping up with my nutrition as best as possible with an insane schedule. Lots of medical apps and meds that make me crave bad stuff are real obstacles right now and I slip….a lot, but I don’t beat myself up. I get right back on that horse so to speak and control what I can which is from that moment forward instead of just thinking I ruined it all and going back to the old ways of just thinking I can’t do it and giving up. A slip is just that…a slip and it doesn’t mean we can’t get back on track. So weird that this is so difficult for some of us to believe.

Well I’m glad you have had a couple of better weeks and that you are doing the workbook a journaling. I recently learned that writing with pen and paper 15 minutes a day actually helps in terms of cognition also so that’s an added bonus. Typing only uses half of our brain but handwriting uses it all. Keep working at it. You have already accomplished so much. BE PROUD!!

Of course you have self-control. I don’t know why we are convinced that obesity is a self-control issue probably because of the skinny people that have to lose 5 pounds and they do so by just laying off desert for a few days. Aren’t there other things in your life that you’d rather not due, but yet you do them. You go to do your exercise all the time, right, that’s self control. Obesity is an illness! It will probably be a lifelong struggle for all of us but it’s not something we need to bear ourselves up about. The guilt and shame may be stemming from something else entirely. The cravings too. If you say you are not hungry then it sounds like head hunger. If so, are you board, tired, lonely, sad, angry? Figuring out what you feel when the cravings happen may help you come up with a way to mitigate them. Did you see if you can find one of them workbooks for disordered thinking? People in here have talked about them. Maybe just search eating disorder or disordered eating. But most of all don’t give up. Even if you stumble, don’t do what I did with my sleeve which was to give up and throw it all away. Because once I gained it all back I realized that I was already happy with half of the loss but I was so hung up on a magic goal weight that I felt like a failure instead of celebrating my tremendous loss and my even more amazing gains (things I was able to do that I couldn’t before). Now, I’m at the same weight I was when I gave up before and sure, I would be happy to lose more but guess what? I’m still thrilled to be where I am and I am not beating myself up because I haven’t lost more. I will be thrilled to stay at this level of fitness. Maybe get that workbook, search online for a few more healthy recipes and even seek out a different fitness class just to change it up and see if you can get back into your groove. Is there anyone at your gym that can be an accountability buddy. That may help too. But I really think the shame and guilt stems from inside. Something mental that you just need to take the time to get to the bottom of. Maybe journaling when you start having these cravings.

I love it. And it must feel so good to know that you had that moment where you ALMOST slipped but you didn’t!! You were in control. Now maybe you should reward yourself with a small non food reward for your healthy choice!!

I don’t have any to recommend but I’ve seen people on here that have mentioned them. Maybe do a post asking for suggestions. I’m sure someone will have one.

Well there are always them workbooks on Amazon. They are probably like 20-30 dollars US. Maybe your team has one they would recommend. I mean we all know we need to eat better quality food less often and exercise more but with an eating disorder there is usually some mental work that needs to be done too. A therapist would be the easier way to get to the root of it but I bet a workbook written by a therapist could work too if you’re honest with yourself and really do the hard work.

Well we did informally commit to check in at least every August. I figured with email notifications some may see our activity and pop in to say hi. I just learned the hard way the first time that being on here was helpful to my being accountable and not being on here was bad for my progress. Little slips become bigger when left unchecked.

Have you talked to a therapist about she eating disorder? A lot of people on here swear by their experience with one and how it helped reframe their thinking about food. I honestly think that many of us that end up here have some degree of disordered eating if not a diagnosable version of it. There are also self help books but personally I think I would do better with the in person support. Perhaps with he work books in between.

I drink it without issues post sleeve and post revision but it’s not just about the caffeine it’s something in the coffee is acidic that can cause issues. I gave it up for well over a year with the sleeve and a good 8 months with the SADI. My surgeon didn't say I couldn’t have it post surgery just to cut it to one a day, but I am a Coke zero addict and I was afraid if I’m back on caffeine I would find myself in a predicament where that’s the only option and I will be right back to drinking a 12 pack of Coke Zero a day which isn’t good for anyone. I would talk to your surgeon about why he/she has that rule post op and ask if it’s okay to try it and at what point it would be safe to do so. You could always do decaf. It’s not bad once you have kicked the habit. I have iced decaf occasionally now because I bought a bunch of the cold brew packets in decaf by mistake (darn Walmart online in the phone pics are so tiny). I have it with a caramel protein shake and it’s quite delicious actually.

Not sure why this popped up when it’s 19 years old but it’s still hilarious and still and issue. Omg!! They are so tasty. On a serious note when you get to maintenance you can freeze them so you don’t have them just sitting there staring at you and you have to think in advance about defrosting them for a little while at least. I do that with the peppermint bark that I love and buy after Christmas. I buy the individually wrapped ones so it’s way easier to freeze and pull out one portion.

Oddly enough I looked and can’t find a Dec group. They changed the platform though and I will admit I still haven’t been able to figure my way around and find everything. There should be one. In the the pre op area. If you can’t fine it it’s fine to post anywhere but I just figured you could find others who had their surgery this month so they will really be going through the stages with you.

New Year’s resolutions..If you do them, what are they?? I haven’t decided what I want to resolve to do this year. For a lot of years mine was to “quit trying to quit everything.” 😂 but this year I think I can be a little more serious. After all. I haven’t gained too loads to be thankful for and feel as if I need to get my backside in gear and strive to do even better in terms of self care and my health. My body has survived a year of hell after many years of neglect and it’s time I take better care of it!! maybe that’s what my resolution will be. I will do my best to take care of my body and mind and work towards nourishing myself the way I deserve. Without obsessing about a scale or perfection. Just working towards even better self care and keeping my physical and mental health as a priority.

Checking in to say hi and see how everyone is doing after the holiday. One more to go and it’s back to “normal” I hope. I haven’t gained too too bad considering the steroids. I am in PT now for my knee but it seems to be helping so hopefully another few weeks and I will be able to get back to some level of activity that will help. I miss yoga 🧘‍♀️ I seriously never thought I would hear myself say something like that. 😂 hope everyone had a wonderful holiday if you celebrate or if you don’t I hope You had a nice little vacation from the daily grind.

Aha. I never even thought about that. I guess it’s most likely a case by case on that since all of our surgeries are just a tad different even if they only have a few names for them. Like I was a SADI revision but they didn’t touch my stomach this time since my sleeve was still in pretty good shape. I assume I absorb things differently than a revision that has a tiny tummy again. I think I’m going to ask my bariatric doc about this. I want to at least list the 15-20 I gained back during this past year with my treatment but I still had a bit more I would like to lose if I can. I just don’t want to be on any pills my whole life so if that’s the only way to sustain it I will just have to love the skin I’m in. I am still much happier than I was so it won’t be the end of the world.

Note that you will pass through the larger sizes quite quickly so I bought two pair of yoga pants and two pair of bike shorts that fit and the same for shirts. I took advice from someone on here to save my cash for later when the clothes become so much further to buy. Plus as you get closer to your goal the loss slows quite a bit and you will be wearing a size or two above goal for much longer. The first few pass by sort of like kids growing. Hence the thrift stores. Which I actually learned to love thrifting. It’s the thrill of the hunt for me. My husband laughs all the time because he says I’m the only person willing to buy a designer purse at the mall in the morning and then complain about a pair of pants being 8 bucks at a thrift the same day. It really is fun to find the diamond in the ruff if you have the time. If you’re in a rush, you most likely won’t like it. And if your on a specific mission you may have no luck but if your just openly browsing and you have a few things you would like to find but no rush, thrifting is a game you just may enjoy. I had the sleeve in 2021 and converted to the SADI on 2024 so I can answer many of your questions about my experience if you have specific ones. I have some other medical stuff going on now but I’m getting out of the weeds so I hope to be on here more often. Jsut post your questions, though. If I’m not available, someone always is. This community is a life saver. Filled with so many well meaning people who have been through it all or they are at least a step ahead of you and can help with that part. Once your in your groove it’s good to keep checking in for accountability and to help others behind you. I have found nothing but compassion and support here. Have you found the chat specific to your surgery month yet?

What’s y’all’s take on the Wegovy pills? I know they assume they the same risks of thyroid cancer and such but I have to admit I have a Wegovy sample in my fridge I have been scared to do because of it being the shot more-so than the other things. Has anyone heard from someone who has taken them?

Must haves….I would say a variety or protein shakes, broths and water are the must have to buy (but so long as you have someone who can go to the store or you can do a Walmart order ke equivalent don’t stock up too much because your tastes may change a bit, especially for sweet stuff). This may be a good time to do the free trial period of a delivery service if you don’t have one. Just put a reminder on your calendar to cancel before you get charged if you aren’t impressed. Second most important in my opinion is YOU, in the frame of mind to put yourself and your health front and center for a while. It’s not selfish to put the energy into this that’s required to be successful and hopefully that’s where the third best thing comes in which is a really good source of support. If you realize post op that this is not your friend of family as you expected, be certain to tell your team and perhaps you can follow up with them more often and take advantage of any support groups they offer regardless and keep posting here. If they don’t have any, perhaps ask your team to pass along your number with another patient who is in the same boat looking for an accountability buddy. Also, it doesn’t have to be the support group from your surgeons practice. My support group is at a hospital where my surgeon heads it but patients who had surgery there with another doctor or even at nearly places that don’t have support groups join us. We really are all in this together and we all need support. Beyond that it just depends on how much of a gadget person you are. I would say once you get back to normal foods I would want a good cooler to keep water, protein shakes and snacks with you all the time. Anytime I leave the house I bring twice what I expect to need and when I get home the leftovers go back in the fridge. This gives me options and I’m prepared for unexpected delays and don’t end up in a fast food line. When it comes to food you will be wise to forever be a boy/Girl Scout in terms of preparedness. People laugh all the time when they see me coming with my snack bag. I have a big ziplock type bag of non perishable snacks like protein bars and chips and turkey jerkey, etc. I said I should change it from the clear bag but if I’m being honest I kind of enjoy laughing about snacks when the others are laughing WITH me instead of AT me. I invested a good YETI cooler which the zipper is really hard to open but even in a hot climate it keeps things cold all day I also found some good continues on Amazon that are generic bento type boxes that have four and six compartments that are 1/2 Cup each these are great to bring your meals in the beginning and great for a snack assortment a little later out I look at the protein lunch/snack packs at the grocery and duplicates them. Turkey Jerkey, boiled eggs, cheese, nuts, fruit, veggies, lean deli meat (chunks are easier to eat I think) but I always always have water and protein shakes with me so I can do an extra meal if I’m out longer than expected. Same goes for my vitamins I have them and my rx meds in daily pill reminders and I bring the day no matter what and if I’m more than an hour away from home I bring an extra day with me just in case. Basically you just figure out whatever your challenges are with your schedule and work out ways to make it more convenient and manageable. You will find your groove and it will be second nature. If you’re itching to shop you may want to look for some descent athletic type clothes in your size and the next size or two down and a good pair of sneakers. I have found really good deals at TJ Maxx and those type of stores and real good deals for practically brand new stuff at thrift stores. My guess is with the new year coming they will be flooded with clothing in general come Feb or March from some who resolve to lose weight and others who just resolve to get organized. If you are new to thrift stores they are not all created equal. Try out a few and compare prices and how they are organized and what they tend to have available. I find that people who frequently donate tend to have a preferred place to donate so some stores end up with more athletics, better brands, or more crafts, etc based on who it is that donates. And pricing seems to be more fair at smaller church type thrifts compared to larger ones that set one price for “pants” that may be brand new better brand with the tags on or they could be washed out Walmart brand with threads hanging and they are both $4. At the smaller place the better brand may be 10 bucks but it will be more likely to be hanging there since the people who scour thrifts to resell stuff don’t want to pay &10 when they may not sell it Ooh and You may want to put a pillow in the car you are coming home from surgery in to put over your incision. I bought the abdominal seatbelt pillow on Amazon that velcros to the belt and that was convenient, but you don’t need it long so a regular pillow will do if your budget is tight. I mean you probably won’t be in the car again until your first post op outside of some emergency and your pillow will do. Maybe a good cookbook for bariatric but you can also find loads of that stuff online. There are quite a few sites. I tried at least one new recipe a week that I thought I would like and one with an ingredient I had never tried. I still continue to try new veggies and fruits made different ways. Finding things that are nutritious and you also enjoy will be key to long term success. You’ve got this 😊

I seriously commend your commitment to getting your surgery. I thought 6 months was a long time. I think that all of this will have to help your success in the long run. The mental prep is just as big as the surgery itself.

It’s amazing how much our weight affects how we feel in our own skin. I know part of it is being healthy and being more active creates endorphins but also just the way we look in photos finally matches the person we feel we are on the inside. I am thrilled you enjoyed your Christmas and you look fabulous in all of your photos but extra happy on the later ones.

I agree. Carbonation can certainly cause gas and gas can be pretty painful but trust your gut and push for a better work up if it doesn’t feel like that answer fits. I had horrible “gas” post SADI and had to stay in the hospital for five days because we thought it was something else. Of course I think that may be a bit more painful because of where it can get trapped while they are literally in there but not sure. I was on morphine and it wasn’t helping which makes sense because that doesn’t help with gas. It was five days before I started passing gas because of the surgery itself. Once I did though, I knew it was gas all along. From the first time and with each little toot I felt a tiny bit more relief. After about five normal ones I was fine. Walking did not seem to make me pass it any faster but they said it should and who knows it could have taken 6 days if I had not walked so maybe try that. But, from my experience I would say if you have passed gas already and it didn’t help, not even a tiny bit, then it’s quite possible it’s something else and I would call sooner than later because it may be a while before they get back to you. And if you don’t get the answer you need and/or still feel something is worse or not right then go to the ER and let them do a work up. They have the ability to do imaging and make sure things look okay and labs to rule out infection at least. I always say it’s better safe than sorry. Maybe the walking and poking they will do to examine you will make you toot if nothing else and you will feel a bit better. 😂. In all seriousness, it is very possible it’s “just gas” although I can attest it doesn’t feel like anything simple, but you know your body. Just don’t let that one phone call be it if you continue to feel bad or definitely not if it gets worse. I have heard of people on here who leave fizzy drinks out for a while to reduce the fizz a bit who are a little further out. Perhaps that’s something to try with caution when you are further out if you like them but just time your trial so your just home and have time to recover. That’s what I did with everything new. Feel Better Soon ❤️‍🩹

I wonder if the people that decide to only sell whole sizes and shoes are the same ones that make those cushions and shoe fillers And that’s how they make their profit.