CarmenG

My initial consultation was in March (don't remember the day), I got the revision surgery June 19th. BCBS will only pay for "one weight loss surgery per lifetime." I was told by some doctor's offices that since it was a revision, my insurance wouldn't cover. I called my insurance and spoke to a fantastic lady who really helped me out. I made the point that in 2009, when I got sleeved, BCBS for my school district wasn't covering WLS yet. It was private pay for me, and I had it done in Mexico (no hoops to jump through). So, technically, BCBS had never covered a WLS surgery me. She agreed. It was approved. Edit: I did have to follow a diet plan to lose weight before the surgery, I had to have an endoscopy, a barium swallow (to check for acid reflux), blood work, see a cardiologist, have a psyche eval (on the phone), and talk to a nut (on the phone). It was a little easier than virgin surgeries because it wasn't my first rodeo.

From what I'm reading about the Ozempic and Mounjaro injections, once you stop taking them, their appetite suppressant effects wear off and the weight comes back. I have a friend who takes one, but she takes it because she's diabetic. She has lost weight, but she'll most likely need it the rest of her life due to the diabetes anyway. She's told me that at times, she won't inject herself if she goes on a trip (for example) so that she can indulge in alcohol and decadent food without feeling nauseated/vomiting/cramps/diarrhea. But again, she doesn't take it for weight loss. If they're being used solely for weight loss, they will help, but I guess it all depends on how long you're willing to take them. It's possible you can use the injections until you reach your goal. After that, however, it would be up to your self-discipline to continue to foster the modifications that the injections provided. I imagine you'd also have to consider insurance coverage, personal expense, and what short-term and long-term side effects they'll have on you, and whether those effects are cohesive with your lifestyle.

It's difficult when people who've never been overweight or obese want to give "advice" to those of us who have been/are. They will NEVER understand how we feel emotionally or physically. They will never have to worry about things that we worry about daily. They just never will. The difficulties we experience don't even cross their minds. For this reason, I don't put any stock in what those particular people think or feel about my decisions. I don't care who knows what I've done. If they ask, I'll tell them the truth. If someone else tells them, I still don't care. It could be my age, it could be my IDGAF personality or a combination of the two! Lol! I DO think, however, that not caring about the opinions of people who are ignorant to our plight gets easier and easier with each passing year. Wishing you peace of mind, success in your journey, and joy in your life!

@Arabesque So glad you mentioned the iron/caffeine discrepancy. This morning, I went back to work and had a protein shake with caffeine, but I also take my Iron in the morning after breakfast. Now I know to switch my Calcium to the morning, and my Iron to the evening. Thank you!

I love salmon, and I'm ok with sardines and nuts. Avocado, not so much.

I'm a teacher so my eating schedule is pretty set. My breakfast is a protein shake with caffeine. My lunch time is usually between 12:30 and 1:15. When I get home I'll either have dinner right away and a healthy snack at around 8 PM, or I'll have a healthy snack and then dinner at about 7 PM. Sometimes, If I have a calorie/protein deficit at the end of the day, I'll add another healthy snack. As for water, I'm drinking that all day, also ensuring I get a min. of 64 oz.

I stick with Benadryl. I've had allergies most of my adult life. They're perennial. I tried Zyrtec and Claritin, but they don't work as fast. Also, because I'm chronically dehydrated due to my sleeve 14 years ago, I try to deal with my allergies until I just can't handle it anymore. Too much allergy medication exacerbates my dehydration. Hope you feel better!

Believe it or not, sometimes too much water will wash out all of your electrolytes that you're not able to replace with food (because it's limited). A couple of weeks ago I was doing 80-96 oz of water a day, and I started cramping in my feet and legs at night. I switched one of my water bottles out for a zero-sugar Propel water bottle, and the cramps stopped that same night. I chose Propel over Gatorade or Powerade because it has less sodium, and I have to watch my BP.

Congratulations on feeling great and exercising! I'm hoping to do more than the treadmill when I can get back some energy. The nausea could be caused by dehydration or electrolyte loss that isn't being replaced.

Great job! Congratulations!

Wow. I've had both a sleeve (2009) and a bypass (47 days ago). I didn't have any kind of bleeding at all for either surgery. That's a bit scary. Hope you feel better soon!

The very first visit I had with my bariatric doctor, they clocked me at 182. It was so scary because I didn't even realize how bad it was. It certainly explained my headaches and dizziness at the time.

Today, I had a follow up on blood work. According to my PA, everything is ON POINT! He was impressed by my numbers. He said my sugar, liver enzymes, kidneys, and cholesterol were all great. Even my Vitamin D was "perfect," and he says usually people's Vitamin D isn't. My B12 was high, but I was taking an extra B12 besides my regular multivitamin, so he said just to stop that extra dose. He said my HDL was a little low, so he wants me to add healthy fats (avocado, olive oil). He also said I could stop taking chewables which was important to me because chewable vitamins add a significant amount of calories and carbs to my daily caloric intake at the moment. My BP was 118/72! I was excited! Anyone know which other healthy fats I can add to my diet? I appreciate your ideas and suggestions.

That's awesome! Glad you went for that second opinion.

Thank you so much!

This has recently started happening to me as well. Some days I can't consume more than 500 cal. Some days, by the time I know it, I'm up to 750+ cals by the end of the day. It's really weird.

I'm a revision sleeve to bypass. When I had my sleeve 14 years ago, the only thing I COULD NOT eat was eggs. IDK why. I could eat chicken and steak, but for some reason, eggs was a no go for me. I think eggs swell up in our tummies after we consume them.

Just a lil rave... As of this morning, I am officially down my first 50 lbs! I had a 3-week stall 2 weeks after my surgery. I had issues with my skin, with constipation, and this horrible stall. Because it's a revision, my weight loss is incredibly s-l-o-w (compared to virgin surgeries). I was so disappointed, having buyer's remorse, and all that. I've only lost 20 lbs in 45 days, but altogether (including my pre-op dieting) it's 50 whole pounds since May 11th!

If it looks/feels infected, you need to get medical attention for it. Did they send you off with antibiotics? Does the incision feel warm to the touch, or look very red? Even your reg fam doctor can take a look at it to see if it shows signs of infection. They can also do a finger prick to check your WBC count.

Have you tried sugar-free popsicles? Just a thought. They're a little "chewier."

Yeah, my incisions were covered in that clear glue-like stuff. They told me not to remove it myself or scrub over it in the shower, just to let it fall off naturally, Took about 3.5 weeks for my incisions to heal on the outside.

Unfortunately, it's actually pretty typical. They brought me mouth sponges to wipe down the inside of my mouth. I wasn't catheterized, though. So, I was able to get up to use the bathroom. As soon as they check for leaks, they should start bringing you water, because they also have to check to see if you can consume and hold down fluids without getting nauseated or vomiting.

I would ask if they have any set nutrition goals for which they want you to aim (calories, protein, carbs, fiber). I would also ask if you're taking your vitamins correctly, or if they would have you make any changes. Make sure to let them know how much water you're drinking, they'll tell if you if it's enough or not. Take any vitamins and medications you're using with you, so they can know exactly what you're taking.