shexmoves

Thank you, at least you've had success. I will use them and check my blood work in a couple months. Thanks!

I'm 6 months post op this week. Surgery day, I weighed 310 and this week I was 245 - so minus 65lbs in 6th months and it feels surreal! I'm also down 87lbs from my heighest weight last May (trying to push for an even 90 by the time my "Get serious about weight loss" anniversary rolls around). What an accomplishment in and of itself!
But as many of y'all know, a lot of this goes beyond the scale, so I'm about to talk about labwork and measurements!
Labwork/Blood Health
I ran comprehensive pre-op, simple 3 month, and comprehensive 6 month labs. Here are those results!
Pre-Op Vitamin D was a dismal 15. I've taken a daily 5,000 supplement since starting vitamins and I'm now close to 70. Normal Range.
A1C went from 6.1% pre-op to 5.4% six months out. Normal Range. Pre-diabetes off the table.
Fasting Glucose went from 121 pre-op to 103 at 3 months to 80. Normal Range
Cholesterol (total) went from 265 to 226 to 221. From high to borderline, but vastly improved.
LDL from 195 to 166 to 153. From high to borderline high.
All other labs were normal range prior to and post op.
Added blood health bonus: Taken off my Blood Pressure Medication completely.
Measurements (in inches)
Waist from 50 to 39.5
Right Thigh from 36.25 to 28.75
Left Thigh from 36.5 to 26.75
Hips from 69 to 52.5
Right Bicep from 18.5 to 14.5
Left Bicep from 18.25 to 14.25
Chest from 49.5 to 40
Neck from 15.25 to 13.5

Roughly a size 3x/4x, 22-26W to a about a 1x/2x, 14-16W
Moving Forward
I'm looking forward to what the future holds. I'm so happy with my progress so far! We often get hung up on the scale, but there is SO much more at play here. Be sure to track all your progress!

I've heard mixed reviews about vitamin patches - they seem to work for some people, but not for others. I never tried them because I figured I'd be one of the latter. I HAVE thought about getting some to take on trips, though, since they'd be a lot more convenient - and if they ended up not working for me, a few days without vitamins wouldn't be the end of the world.

My team is against them. I don't have personal experience as they tell us not to use them.
They say that they only have about a 20% success rate for proper absorption and people end up deficient.
I would talk to your team and follow their guidance. Maybe they will allow you to try them but check your vitamin levels sooner or more regularly than their normal spacing.

my doctor and Nutritionist said not to use them. I also hate the chewables, so I use the ProCare Health 1 a day pill with Iron

What about multi vitamin gummies? Could those work?

My team said to stay away from the gummies and patches. The patches were discouraged due to malabsorption and the gummies too, and they had extra sugar. I suggest you check with your team. My dietitian suggested Centrum with iron or prenatal vitamins. The nurse pointed out that Flintstones with iron have the same vitamins at less cost. I put the Flintstones under my tongue and don’t even taste them. Same thing for the B vitamins

Jan 10th here. It just got very real. My doctor is allowing a high protein diet 2 weeks before surgery and the liquid diet only 2 days before. Is this normal? I know everyone is a little different.

Yay! Congrats

Yay! Congrats

Yay! Congrats

Here is the image for the QR code to join the WhatsApp Community. I'm not sure what the easiest way to join is but you can go to your WhatsApp camera and scan this to join.
Join link

I was January 20th but was just moved up to January 6th. Eeekkk!

Sent from my SM-G991U using BariatricPal mobile app

I would check with your doc about the period but your body also goes thru changes prior to surgery. You may find you start early or late simply due to stress of surgery and the dramatic change during pre-op diet. I started mine the day after surgery and was not due. I freaked a bit but then read that is also common. You likely have a pre-op appointment a few days prior to surgery. By that time, you will likely know how the pre-op diet is affecting you and if you started as anticipated. That is a great time to ask about it.
As far as feeling exposed, I completely understand this fear. However, as another response noted, these people see this stuff all the time and they literally do not even notice. Actually, my husband was shocked to see on the day of surgery I did not have smooth legs. I told him I do not want to be itchy after surgery and that medical professionals do not care about that stuff. After surgery two nurses were helping me with my compression stockings and I made a comment about my "hairy" legs. Both nurses chuckled and one even pulled up her scrub pants and said, "they aren't as hairy as mine!"
These worries are absolutely common and normal. I promise, this worry will be worth it. I have not even lost that much weight yet, but I am still so proud of myself for following the strict diet and accomplishing this goal I have had for years! Hang in there!

I had my call with the hospital nurse yesterday and I asked about this since I'm spotting after not having a period for 6 months. She said not to worry about it, to use a pad and not a tampon, and if I was going to shave to do it a couple of days ahead since they wipe down your entire body and some people complain of itchiness after surgery since the skin is exposed.

Hello and congratulations to all of my January surgery buddies! My surgery has been scheduled for January 5th. So excited, feeling a bit surreal.

Thank you for the reply. I have never had any surgeries so I feel very uncomfortable with the idea of having surgery but sounds like I will be out of it so I won't have to worry about it. Thank you.

Just to add a touch of humor to ease any stress you may feel about this, here's something from when I had a breast duct excision a few months prior to my RNY.
I was completely stripped down, in my gown and of course the ugly hospital socks. I was knocked out pretty quickly and the first thing I remember when Ii came to in the recovery room was the nurse telling me that when it's time to get dressed, I don't need to put on my bra because they put one on me (it was a compression type thing and pink). Sure enough there it was and the first words out of my mouth were "that's a nice trick wrestling me into a bra".

Thank you for the info! I now feel much less anxious about the whole situation.

when i got the hospital i go to the surgery prep room where you will be in your own little area with curtains blocking the view (or maybe a private room idk how your hospital does it) and there i had to take off all my clothing including underwear. I then had to use some special wipes to wipe down my whole body, Then I was told to put on a hospital gown which ties off in the back. with that you will wear all the way thru surgery. They will take it off you in the OR when you are put to sleep and redress you. Just remember. You probably will never see most of the hospital staff ever again except for your surgeon and maybe his assistant. and these hospital people see naked people all day long so its nothing to worry about. as for the other issue i wont comment on that since i am a dude lol Good luck with your surgery. It will be over before you know it.

You will have a gown on when you fall asleep and when you wake up. Then someone will prepare you for the surgery and as mentioned they cover you except for the area they are going to be operating on.

in terms of your period I have heard quite a few women who have it on surgery day. I have heard of sterile panties worn with a pad that they give you.

With all sugeries the only part that will be exposed is the area they are actually doing the incision on. Everything else is covered in sterile drapes. I would ask your surgical team about your period. You cant be the only woman who has had your period when you have surgery. I'm sure it will be no big deal. Good Luck with your surgery. I cant wait until I have mine scheduled.