Edge13

Just an update to close this out... It was/still is costochondritis, with a case of bronchitis that never really went away confusing the issue. Bronchitis is hopefully gone. 🤞🏾 Chest is still in pain, but on the mend. To be clear, this was an inflammation of the cartilage between my ribs, and it felt like acid, lung pain, and heart attack all in one. I'd never heard of costochondritis before this. Thanks guys!

Thank you both. It feels like we may be on the right path with an endoscopy.

I, 49 M, am over 2 years post RNY, and it has been a success story for the most part. Everything was going along fine, until just over a month ago, when all of a sudden I had severe reflux (first time since procedure), and it hasn't gone away. There's like a burning pain in my chest at times, feels like gas, right in the center at the point where the breastbone comes together. Had heart and lungs checked, and nothing abnormal was detected.

It's not by any means crippling, but it is concerning. Has anyone else experienced anything like this? Thank you.

My ideal BMI is 190 lbs. I'm at 240 lbs now. We have to realize regular exercise is part of our life now. I've actually gained about 5 lbs from my minimum, and still lost waist sizes in that time. No medical issues at all; dropped diabetes, apnea, etc. Waist under 40, stronger, more flexible, no more back pain, healed my neck pain, doctor is happy.

I guess 190 is always the goal, but if I can stay healthy with no health issues, I'm good.

Imagine you're in an airplane, and it's heading straight towards a mountain. The mountain has many names; Mt. Diabetes, Mt. Depression, Mt. sleep Apnea, Mt. Early Death, everything you mentioned. Time is running out, and it's getting bigger, and bigger in your windscreen...

In a few weeks, it'll be two years post for me, and hindsight is so enlightening. I tried so many things, over so much time, and for so many reasons that mountain still kept getting closer. When it became unavoidable, I took evasive action, and had the procedure. It was like Top Gun man... the nose rotated up, fired the afterburners, and next thing I know, the mountain is below me, and I'm in clear skies, all those conditions gone, or handled. No one knows how it ends, but it feels damn good to be flying, instead of crashing.

Bringing it back, right now that mountain might be all you see. It's scary, and it's intimidating, but you can absolutely overcome it. Congrats on starting the process again. Wishing you nothing but the best!

For some reason, and I don't know why, my parents kept my clothes from the early 90s. It's been fun wearing them again.

Walking was my main thing until they cleared me for normal routine. Then stretching. Then rowing. Then stability. Then core and back... LOTS of core and back! Then weights.

Set goals, stay hydrated, wear earbuds, have fun.

When you're able to, I can't stress the importance of stretching, and getting our core and back in order, enough. It makes every single thing so much easier.

My only advice with phentermine is to check your pulse throughout the day. Mine ran 115bpm when they had me on that. Saxenda, Ozempic, Victoria, all did nothing for me. Like, absolutely nothing. Luckily the bypass worked wonders, along with the mental part the psychiatrist worked with me about, and the yearly followups with their dietician. I hope you find resolution. 🤞🏾

I tell everyone. It is literally my metric now on who to cut out of my life. The folks who are supportive, I appreciate. The folks who are genuinely concerned, I reassure. The folks with nothing good to say, I cut out of my life. WLS wasn't just a procedure for me. It was healing, physically and mentally. The same way I wouldn't hop in a vat of acid, I won't deal with acidic people anymore. It's not good for me.

The other reason I talk about it, is because if I can help someone who was in my situation, I should. You see the hesitancy in them just asking about it; that kills me. I try to be as open, and reassuring as possible, because I was there before, and lucky enough to have a friend share his WLS journey.

Insurance never really played into it for me. They covered any medically necessary procedure, and it was necessary. The only instruction I had from the surgeon was not to gain weight.

A colleague with the same insurance, same procedure, and same doctor, had to go on a 6 month weight loss program prior, that was pretty strict. The reasoning behind that was based on health going into surgery, as well as psych evals. Again, I don't think insurance required anything there either; it was the surgeon and shrink.

When I went into my surgery 17 months ago, I had an A1C almost at 8, and that was with control. The day after my surgery they took me off all diabetes meds. Just had a very comprehensive set of tests done, and it was 5.4; not even pre-diabetic anymore.

I'm just over 16 months out from bypass, and I still can't eat white meat chicken, or any dryer meats like pork chops, or steak, without hurling. The great thing is I still don't miss them. I can eat bacon though, but it can't be crisp.

People have been mostly supportive, but they definitely do treat me differently since the surgery. A lot of stuff gets said behind your back that doesn't match up to the smiles to your face. It is what it is🤷🏾‍♂️. I did this for my health, not other people's approval. I'm happy. The weight loss shrink they make you see was pretty spot on about this.

Just as an aside, I think it's totally different for guys vs. girls. If I fire back at shade thrown my way, it's seen a lot differently than if a woman fired back. Stupid societal norms. The way I see it, it's not normal to let some guy a few years out from losing at beer pong in his fraternity, cut me open and redo my stomach. So, if I can break THAT norm, to heck with the rest of them. I'll just enjoy the new lease on life.

Congrats bro! I still couldn't get into running. For my cardio, I fell in love with the rowing machine. It's my moment of Zen (almost) every day.

Diabetes. Saw how that story ended a few times. Didn't want to live it. Day after surgery they told me to stop all diabetes medication. Been good since. No heartburn, and no CPAP, are great bonuses.

I'm 13 months out, and still can't do white meat chicken, or pork too good. Processed meat is just fine.

eggs were tricky. Early on after liquid diet, they made me sick, unless I scrambled them a certain way. Now they're staple, and in one day I may have them scrambled, omelette, and boiled, at different times.

I'm a guy, 13 months post bypass, and honestly I only count calories, and Protein. I try to keep it under 1500 cals, and always try to hit the 90g of protein the dietician wants me at. Carbs work themselves out, because I may want that muffin, but if it's 300 calories of pure carbs, that's a fifth of my daily count, and it does nothing for actually feeling full, so I may eat half, or less, and add a protein.🤷🏾‍♂️

Almost a year out, and I still can't eat white meat chicken. At all. Or turkey. It will not go down. eggs were weird... initially they were ok, then they weren't, and now they're good again. Hopefully they stay good, because it's an easy, versatile Protein. Rice... two spoons, ok. Two spoons and one grain, 🤢.

🤷🏾‍♂️

I deleted all of those apps from my phone after surgery. Every single one. Now, almost a year out, I've got one of them back, because it's for coffee. Good observation. I tell people about this all the time.

8 hours ago, Gucci73 said:

I feel like my whole body is a such mess ( between knee and related issues) and my recovery will be harder and longer. Any reality to that thinking?

Absolutely. It's still worth it, imo. I've seen seen 3 unique cases all go through this process, from unbelievably healthy aside from weight, to scooter bound. By the time the one year check in came around, all were living a better life.

Write your concerns down. Ask your doctor. I asked sooo many questions. Ask to sit in on a post op recheck for another group, if they'll allow it. I suggest the 6 month one. Listen to their experience. It's the most honest info you'll get. Good luck.

4 hours ago, Queen ApisM said:

I also managed to fit back into some concert shirts from the early 90s - looking at you Pink Floyd, REM and U2! They are not quite able to be worn out of the house, but they are now getting much closer and I think they will fit by the end of the summer. So freaking happy about this!

Yes! Faith No More shirt with Jim still in the picture lol. All the weird one offs, like Ugly Kid Joe and Faster Pussycat. Plus clothes just looked different back then. I have a denim hoodie from the 90's, and the younger crowd I work with are always asking where to get Bugle Boy 😂

Honestly, new clothes hasn't been too exciting. Seeing all the old stuff that I barely used is where the fun is. Glad I tossed them in the attic... OH! NSV! I can use the pull down stairs for the attic again!

6 hours ago, FutureSylph said:

Sure. Click on your user name at the top of the page, then click "My Surgery" and fill it out.

Thank you, that was aces👍🏾

On 6/3/2022 at 2:05 AM, loli_lotus said:

This is a very long post to ask; I’m doing the right thing, right? Am I being rational and making sense? I know I can lose the weight, but keeping it off is constantly clawing and if I slip now just a little, the lose/gain cycle could catch up, and I'm so tired of it.

If your last paragraph there was reworded as follows, does it ring true to you?

"This is a very long post to ask myself; I’m doing the right thing, right? I am being rational and making sense. I know I can lose the weight, but keeping it off is constantly clawing and if I slip now just a little, the lose/gain cycle could catch up, and I'm so tired of it."

If it does ring true, you pretty much answered yourself. If there's any doubt, you absolutely need to deal with that.

It's the Snacks that will get ya. Calorie wise, the other stuff doesn't seem bad at all.

I took my glasses, my phone, my Kindle to read (I read all night lol), a charger for both, my CPAP machine, deodorant, toothpaste/brush, and bluetooth earbuds.

I wore slip on shoes, light sweatpants, and a button up shirt, because I knew they'd have me walking the halls that night.

The hospital did end up providing toiletries, so I took those for nothing.