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- GLP-1 medication Zepbound, Wegovy, access, side effects, progress, and support.
- Before surgery Compare procedures, plan ahead, and get honest pre-op answers.
- Post-op Recovery, food stages, symptoms, and support.
- Long-term Regain, labs, habits, and life after the honeymoon.
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Everything posted by HeatherinCA
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pain in shoulder blades
Does Gas X help? At the hospital I was under the impression from the nurse that it wouldn't. I had the worst gas in my chest ! Walking and burbing helped a lot! My shoulder is killing my right now but the heating pad feels good.
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December Bandsters (Early Xmas present)
Southern, I got it done at UC Irvine
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December Bandsters (Early Xmas present)
Done with my surgery! It went well, Took them a while to decide if I was well enough to have it. But I was. I got out at 130. Then recovery. They were really slow doing everything so it took a while to get out. The pain isn't too bad. Not good, but not unbarable. The WORST is the gas pain!! Definitley walk if you can that helps. Its funny it actually feels like a rubber band is around me stomach haha.
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Anyone having trouble "seeing" themselves thin?
I don't recall a time not shopping at Lane Bryant!
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The BIG secret!!
yep, i'm getting banded at UC Irvine. My doctor is in LA though, my insurance just demanded a "Center of excellence" so he travels there too
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No longer a Dec bander :(
I have a cold now, and have since thursday. I'm supposed to get mine tomorrow. My doctor didn't seem to care.. Idk! The anesthesiologist seemed a little worried though. I'm worried can you go under with a cold?
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Afraid insurance will deny my claim
I have a different insurance, but I don't have any weight related medical problems either, but my BMI is over 40. I got approval really quickly, within a week? But I have an expensive PPO I was even a new client, I got the insurance specifically so they would pay for the surgery. I think overall, they don't want like, moderately overweight people doing it. They aren't gonna spend $10,000 for someone to lose 40 pounds
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The BIG secret!!
Well, I've failed on a number of diets in the past. I don't think anyone would judge me haha. But also, if it's out there, and they read my blog, then maybe they can all help me along.
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December Bandsters (Early Xmas present)
Mine is tomorrow too, i'm not really nervous. I had a pretty serious surgery a couple years ago and they had to completely cut open my stomach, and even that, the recovery wasn't so bad. I had a bit of panic yesterday over, can I really do this? Do I wanna eat like that forever.. Stuff like that. But I think it's worth a shot. Yea, same as Dave, I've been reading a lot of threads here, seeing what people eat, and how they feel. Overall so many people have done so well, I think i can do this. I guess the only thing that is making me nervous is this icky cold I have, frankly I'm more concerned if i'm gonna actually get to have it tomorrow or not! some people involved are concerned about it, others are not, honestly don't care either way, but I did this whole week of liquid, and all those stupid tests, It'd be kind of a bummer to have to wait and do it all over again. What on earth is shoulder gas? Anything i should get to prepare for after surgery? They did give me 2 perscriptions one for pain, one for nausea.
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The BIG secret!!
My parents knew, and I told some close friends, and random online friends haha cause they don't care, but I only told most of my family and broadcast it a little more widely about a 2-3 weeks ago ago. I think they should know, I'd think they'd wonder why I'm not eating, and disappear for a few weeks. I want them to know so they can help me make good decisions, maybe we won't go out for dinner anymore, maybe just a movie or something else. They should know what I'm going through with food so they can be supportive. I was a little worried that I'd find more people that had it and failed. But actually just the opposite, I found some more people that have done well. Everyones generally supportive. I've kinda been on a if they don't ask, then i won't tell with my life lately haha, I lost my job 2 moths ago, and I'm fat, and having surgery, I don't particularly want to broadcast that. I kinda wanted to keep up my good life facade. It's embarrassing! My mom sure likes to tell everyone oy vey.
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What was your very first DR appointment like?
I went to one doctor first, and I didn't like the vibe, he was really slow and like read me a text book for 20 minutes explaining things, and I had to fill out a stupid 500 question questionnaire about whether I wanna kill myself and stuff like that, haha it was so weird! . It's hard for me to get around the fact that this like "elective" surgery, it just all feels cheesy, had the same vibe as getting plastic surgery, it doesn't have the same vibe as going to a regular doctor, and that really bothered me! But then I checked out another doctor on a referral from a friend. The vibe was better, he answered my questions, they weren't really pushy. Remember they shouldn't be "selling" you on the surgery.
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Any other liquid proteins?
The isopure isn't that bad, try putting sugar free Kool-Aid or Crystal Lite in it, that makes it taste much better. Also, I like the Myoplex Lite ones. Vanilla and Chocolate are both good, and easy to get down. I find pre-made shakes are much easier to drink. The texture is better. I've also done the GNC Amplified Wheybolic Extreme 60 in cookies and cream, I only do 2 scoops, making it about 40g. Mix it up with my stick blender. Not my favorite, but it's doable.
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Tomorrow is my big day!!
Me too!! If all goes well, all depends if they will let me with this cold I have. But everything is all planned so hopefully.
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1st day of a 10 day pre-op
I think i like being on liquid. I think i'd feel deprived on "less food" like you have to do, but just having the protein shakes I've kinda got food completely out of my mind. I'm on Day 6 and I'm totally fine, first few were tough, but then I didn't care anymore
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Anyone live in LA, Long Beach,Orange County
Haven't been banded yet (monday) but I'm in Hollywood i'd love to meet some people sometime!
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December Bandsters (Early Xmas present)
I think it's like "chicken broth" the problem is you can't heat the unjury past like luke warm or it curdles
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No 2-week liquid pre-op diet required!
Mine you have to do it if your BMI is over 40. Overall I'm kinda glad I had to do it, it's getting my mindset in the right place
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Something doesn't jive right with me about specific Pre-Op diet
I'm on day 5 of my liquids, and I don't even care anymore. It's still gross, but I'm not hungry at all, and I'm not really thinking too much about it. The first 2 days were tough, but now I'm fine. It's teaching me to pay attention to "am I really hungry, or do I just want food?" 99% of the time the answer is I just want food. I know it's to shrink your liver, but I also think it's good for my mental state. The hardest part for me is not going out to eat with my family and friends, i've kinda been holed up at home this whole week.
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No longer a Dec bander :(
Aww sucks!! I'm sorry. Mine got pushed off twice already, and now I have a COLD hoping it goes well and I don't have to push off again
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December Bandsters (Early Xmas present)
Monday for me too, 11:15! Ugh I still have a cold, which is gross. Haha but keeping my mind off the shakes a bit. Everyone seems to think I'll be ok on Monday, OMG I'd be so mad if I get there Monday and they can't do it because of that. This has been the longest week of my life with these nasty shakes lol, don't really want to start over. Alyss - they tried to talk me into it too. But, I'm only 25, I'm not ready for something that serious. This seems least scary to me. Regardless you gotta do the same work with the bypass as you do with the lapband. Amy - Aww, that's weird 99% of my family and friends are excited, a few are like are you sure? gonna be hard not to eat? or do it yourself!? But at this weight, I can't do it myself anymore. I know it's gonna be hard, and I'm scared, but at this point, i've exhausted all other options.
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December Bandsters (Early Xmas present)
Yea I worry about that too. I can't distract my mind forever!! I can for this week. In guessing we gotta find different ways to satisfy our cravings. But I guess just take it one day at w time, gotta keep our mind off OMG what if I want pizza in a few months!! Ughh in full on sick with a cold now :-/ my doctor said it's ok. But that's the last thing I want right now!
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December Bandsters (Early Xmas present)
How much protein is it? Talk to your doctor if you don't feel good. This stage is inconvenient but you shouldn't be starving and weak.
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December Bandsters (Early Xmas present)
Eeek I woke up today and I feel a little sick, praying I don't get a cold! Don't wanna push this off again agh. I like the Myoplex lite ones, they taste good. But I'm with you on I'm just tired of the milky flavor. I need to get more Isopure. I was not hungry at all after finishing the 40g isopure. Yea, def try putting kool aid in it. or I'm sure crystal lite would do the same.
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So Hungry
I would say that would be the best idea. I'm on 3-4 Protein shakes, no food. and I'm not hungry. Or call your doctor and see what they would recommend. I'm guessing adding more food is probably not a good option, don't want to start over eating again.
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A little TOO easy?
It scared me too! I saw one surgeon and I just wasn't comfortable with it. So I went to another on a recommendation and I felt much better about it. Overall it's just not that complicated of a process. I had major surgery for some other issue a few years ago and it's pretty instant they get these things together. I think it just scares us to have it happen so fast. My nutrition was pretty quick too. I feel like I'm learning as I go along. There is SO much information, I just consult the guide book when I have a question, and I can call them if I have a problem. It seems to me the first few weeks are hard, but after that when you are on real food, its pretty much normal. You are just eating less obviously, and staying away from junk food.