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It does feel like it will never get here doesnt it? I remember that so vividly. Congratulations on losing the 20 pounds, you already have your body in losing mode and I think it helps mentally to go in feeling like you are already a winner! You are going to have great results. Try to stay positive and take a lot of deep breaths. I hope you have a smooth and peaceful recovery. Keep things posted. xoxo

HOLY MOLLY! You look amazing that is a total transformation.

Wow you look wonderful and curvy. YOUR BOOBS are rocking. I am so jealous. Congrats and keep up whatever it is that works for you and your hubby.

Wow Southern I just looked at your ticker. You are on a roll! So awesome, you are gonna pass me up real soon! YAYAYAY.

I needed some additional motivation. THank you and congrats. You have been working it out!

beans with a little cheese for protein were my saving grace post op. Ahhhh still gives me a warm fuzzy feeling

I am just about a year out (on the 12th of August I think). I had posted on a couple of threads that lately I had gained 5 pounds and that I felt like I was able to eat WAYYY too much. I was planning a trip down to TJ to visit my doctor and get a contrast xray of my sleeve in a week or two. About 3 months ago I started experiencing some really bad nerve pains in my left arm, one day I woke up with my arm spasming from shoulder to wrist and it turns out I had a herniated disc in my c-spine. The doctor prescribed vicodin for the pain and ibuprofen for the inflamation. It took about 2 months for the arm to feel well enough that tylenol and the ibuprofen alone handled the pain. So I stopped taking the vicodin and HOLY HELL if my body didn't flip out on me. I realized that while I didn't abuse the vicodin and I didn't get a high from the vicodin that my body was in fact experiencing withdraws from not having it. It was the middle of the night and I was having a horrible panic attack and I woke up with my arms flailing and my mind racing and sweating like a pig. I realized immediately that I was having DT's. I had an appt the next day so I popped a half a vicodin and went to sleep about a half hour later and felt fine. I decided because it was going to be physically difficult and emotionally draining to come off them that I was going to wait until after a couple of family trips we had planned. So I continued to use them (not in excess) for the following 3 weeks. Last week I had a huge panic attack, so bad that I called my mother-in-law who lives next door (we live on a farm) to come over because my hubby was not home. I was freaked out because I thought I was having a reaction to the vicodin. Anyways long story made a bit shorter, I stopped taking them that night. I took some anti anxiety drugs to counteract the anxiety I was having and the withdraws at night and the first 5 nights were HELL. I really have a newfound respect for anyone who has kicked an addiction habit. My mother, mother-in-law and hubby were rocks and kept me feeling safe, secure and loved. It has been 11 days and I don't feel the withdraws anymore. My head is clearer then it has been in 3 months. I have a little bit of depression going on which I read is normal after coming off opiates but I am getting out and staying busy and getting plenty of sunshine. Here is the kicker after the 2nd day I realized my hunger had gone back to sleeve norm and I lost 6 pounds over the course of the first 7 days. After reading up more on side effects of Vicodin weight gain is one of the most prevalant. I guess it sort of dulls your sense you dont recognize you are full and it causes you to crave a lot of foods and retain a lot of Water. All-in-all it just is hell for losing weight. So I don't know if anyone suffers from some sort of chronic pain that they have to take a painkiller like vicodin but keep in mind if you are having a stall or changes in weight if you start taking the meds that it could be because of them that things are not moving along. Thanks for letting me ramble

Even elective cosmetic procedures are eligible to receive state disability payments, at least in california therefore I believe it would fall under FMLA itself. Your insurance would not be covering this procedure unless it was MEDICALLY NECESSARY. They are treading on thin water by even questioning what type of surgery you are requesting time off for. HIPAA!!!!

Well it sounds pretty normal to me. I felt every little thing that went down into that area for at least 2 months. It felt so good when I got to start eating warm creamed Soups. Of course just mention to your doctor as a precaution but it doesnt sound odd to me at all.

I was thinking same think about the $. I really want to push myself to get rid of another 15 pounds. I know it is not like a huge amount but especially for me since I starte off as a "light weight" I find myself calculating the dollar per pound ive lost equation and it is a lot of money it was well spent but I want to do more dangit!

Im with Estella on this.

Thin you are making my day! 2 years out and a 7 month stall and 20 pounds in a couple of weeks. YOU FREAKING MACHINE! I likey.

How amazing! I love it. 21 years later you can fit into it again. THAT ROCKS! I gotta ask are your walls pink? I LOVE IT.

You brought tears to my eyes too! How amazing you should feel and you have done wonderful. I am glad that others can feel your success. Congrats.

Thinoneday thank you thank you so much for posting this. You have done so well but it is nice to know that even after two years with a bit of an effort we can still lose if we have hit a stall. I am just about a year out and though I can't eat a ton I have been eating some junk and gained a couple pounds. I was so scared that if I went on a bit of a diet and lets face it we all know how to diet here, that I would not be able to continue to lose because I was a year out. I don't think it will be hard to cut out the junk and my hunger is such that I wont feel hunger deprived. I just need to get back to the basics and lose the last 15 or so that I want to lose. Thank you again for posting this. I was feeling alone and like maybe I was a defective sleever for having to consider doing a "diet".

Welcome to the forums. There are a lot of great people who had to do the insurance dance and jump the hurdles etc around here that will be able to help ya with any of that. Congrats that your insurance covers the procedure I just had a friend with great insurance that is BC/BS and they thought for sure their insurance would cover procedure we even went to a seminar that had me jealous I didnt get to use that facility in California only to find out their employer had chosen a BC/BS plan with a bariatric exclusion. I felt the frustration and the total deflation of their excitement. They are now looking into self pay. You will find lots of help and info here. WELCOME TO THE FORUMS

TY very much I will start with Dr. Rod.

Don't apologize for expressing your feelings. EVERYTHING you wrote has been felt by the majority of us at one time or another. I remember having the same feelings the first couple of months out and I thought OMG am I ever going to be able to eat a normal meal again. I felt like I lost one of lifes joys (eating great food). Then as I healed and was able to add things back in my diet and it normalized and soon I was able to enjoy my food again and I was able to get down a bit more food instead of just getting 3 bites and feeling done. Now at 11 months out I am freaking out again because I feel like I am eating too much but when I write it down I realize that my quantity isn't what is making me feel guilty it is the quality of the food I have been eating. I have gained 4 pounds the last two months all because of the grazing and eating pastries, plus my kids are out of school so though we have been busy I havent gotten my running and exercise in. So I guess what I am saying is that while you have the restriction embrace it, try to commit yourself to the new eating and lifestyle and when you start to be able to get a bit more down dont forget the rules. You will feel more like yourself again soon dont be afraid of starving or harming yourself in the long run. You have made a great choice for your health .

I posted this in pre-op section yesterday and no hits yet but I did want to put it in correct topic instead of bumping it like I was wanting to do. Any help on doctors that offer in house financing in Mexico would be a helpful start. I am trying to help a friend out in their journey. Thanks in advance

You join where u feel most comfortable. I am sure either group would be glad and lucky to have you! Don't discount the 20 year olds I am sure you aren't the only one in that category with children.

Thank you. We should all think that way not just about peoples weight but about a good many things we judge people on. It was a tough lesson to learn for that girl but I think she will be better for it.

I can see that!

I know I already expressed how great you look but I was rereading your post and how you fear going back to that place and are working your tool. I too am so scared about that I am glad to know that I am not the only one who has had this done that still doubts the tool. I have been able lately to eat more then initially and it freaks me out. I have to remind myself that I do eat a ton less then before and I need to still work my tool correctly. Protein first and stop eating when I am full. I have gained 4 pounds the last 2 months. I am frightened...i will admit it.

WOW that is such an amazing feeling and I know exactly what you are feeling. You are doing great and congrats to you!

I was in no way being derogatory and I hope nobody took it that way. I just wanted to illustrate also that just because the care here in the US is more expensive it didnt mean you would be getting better care then going to Mexico and paying less or vice versa! So you did get a better price and a better doctor! It can be accomplished! YAY! edited because I need to use spell check once in a while