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Your story rang true with me. I don't regret my band bc it got me healthy.... but sooo glad to be sleeved now

Hey I had surgery 8/19 and I have noticed along with hubby that I have bad breath!!! I have started taking a toothbrush to work so I can brush my teeth at all time during the day!! I called the dr and he said bc I am losing weight that it is ketosis of the breath. . It is like my breath smells like iron or like medicine!! Please someone tell me how to get rid of this bc I work in the public and I talk all day to everyone from patients to dr's to hospitial board members. Currently I have bags of soft peppermints that I suck on but sometimes I run out and I will have to rush to my office to get more bc I don't want to have bad breath!!!! Please someone help me. I go back to the dr on 9/3 for follow up.

I have been obese most of my adult life (since about 24 years old; I'm 49 now). About two years ago I decided to look into WLS, but after seeing the surgeon, who emphatically said I should have gastric bypass, I was freaked out and decided to try it on my own again. Fast forward two years, and I am 35 lbs. heavier. I am unable to go on amusement park rides with my 9-year-old daughter, or go hiking, biking, horseback riding, you name it. I even have difficulty bowling. I can't fly on an airplane without asking for a seatbelt extender, and I cannot fit any seat other than an aisle seat. I have high blood pressure, fatty liver disease, high cholesterol, severe sleep apnea, and metabolic syndrome. I am on 15 different medications to treat all of my conditions. So, in February I finally got fed up. Obviously I can't do this on my own. I decided I wanted to get the surgery so I could get my life back, get off most of my medications, and so I could do fun things with my daughter, live long enough to see her graduate, get married, and have kids of her own. I decided for myself to go with gastric bypass, and started a six-month medically supervised weight loss program (required by insurance for WLS). I finished it in August, got my insurance approval, and my surgery is scheduled for Sept. 11. I can hardly wait.

Wow 5g seems so low to me. Each office is different. I was told nothing higher than 15g per serving... Most times its less than that. But there have been a few occasions it's reached 15g and I've been fine. No dumping. I have yet to try anything gummy bc of that concern and I'm four months out. I guess I'll continue with my meats, shakes and bars. Seems to help a lot anyhow.

I have 2 questions that I'm looking for some information on. I was told that after the gastric sleeve you can't take an NSAIDs anymore? But when I do research some say u can just not every day, others say not at all, and some even say they were never told anything about it. I ask bc I'm having major back issues. I'm really inflamed all throughout my spine and they suggested taking an anti inflammatory but I didn't think I could so I looked into natural supplements and they say turmeric is really beneficial for inflammation so I was thinking of trying that but I'd really like input on taking, ibuprofen or aleve etc... My other question is about weight loss. I had the surgery out 29th of last year so I'm almost a year out and I've only lost 50lbs and I still Need to lose 40 more. I started noticing at about 6 months out I was able to eat more and more I wasn't getting the full feeling like I was the first couple of months like if I took one more bite I'd throw up but now it's not like that. I'm still controlling what I eat but the feeling I get when I knew I couldn't eat anymore really helped. And I'm not staying full for very long anymore. Any input on this would help. I need some insight on what else I can do to lose the 40lbs. I keep hitting plateaus and I'll go down 2-3lbs then up 2-3lbs does anyone else deal with this? And I'm still losing a lot of hair but that I knew could happen. Thank God I started with thick hair! Any opinions or thoughts would help! Thanks so much, Bridget

My insurance does not cover WLS. Only thing it paid for was one blood work. It sucks bc 30k out of pocket is a lot of money but it is what it is.

I also get horrible pain between my shoulder blades. It's beginning to really interfere with day to day life. I've been researching it and it has been linked to gallbladder issues and gallstones. I read about this prior to getting the band. Many people that have had WLS have to go back into surgery for removal of the gallbladder. My brother recently had his taken out Bc of severe pain but he hasn't had WLS and isn't in need of it. Sometimes the pain is so bad I feel it by my heart; which really scares me. I am calling my doctor in the morning for an appointment. If I find anything out I will let you know! Massages do help, but the relief is only for a short amount of time.

I have my last nutritionist appt sept 8 and I am DYING to get this done! I don't have any anxiety and I have been trying to follow along here to see what others were experiencing. . but for me, I guess I'm eager and not anxious BC I know (1) there is risk in all surgeries and i need to trust the professionals, (2) nothing I so now will get my results. This is it. I'm embracing it!

Good for you taking care of your nutritional needs, Joe, and to have that data to compare and make adjustments, etc. I am going to seek out some Bs in tiny tab form to help with stress and anxiety. And Just Watch Me, happy for you! I agree that checking in with feelings is really helpful; whatever the feelings are, they are not so consuming when I view them objectively. It's very beautiful here in NH just now. Only problem is every one knows this and we are overcome with visitors, events, etc. It's nice to see cousins, etc., and lots of picnics and fun but, yikes, need some serious downtime to recover from so many people. We have a small orchard and today we are setting up the cider press --- it was a good year for the fruit trees. Only thing better than August is September. Did any one see the Super Moon last night? Wow! Star-gazing helps me keep things in perspective.

I hope this is not too gross, but I have been throwing up a lot in recent days. I am seven weeks out, and am eating all regular food, having recently given up Protein shakes bc I hate them and think I am doing ok getting my protein in. I do add Protein powder to a few foods. Generally I do pretty well, but perhaps once a day I throw up after eating. This happens most when I go to restaurants--even though I am not eating all that much. The problem I am having is that I regularly throw up from (I guess) eating too much. This happened this morning when I had sliced turkey and cheese for Breakfast. I weighed my food (2 oz. turkey, 1 oz cheese) but could not finish it and ended up throwing up a ot of it, after I was so pleased with myself for getting 19 grams of protein for breakfast. I think I ate too fast. So, my question is (gross as it is) how do I log this? Do I pretend I never ate it? I am sure I absorbed some calories from the food, but certainly not all. I don't want to pretend that I actually got 19 grams of protein when much of it did not stay down. I probably need to eat a lot, lot slower. But when this happens, any advice about how to log this--eaten or not eaten, half credit? Something else?

I think it depends on the person and the opinion of your medical team. I've heard, been told and read repeatedly, no straws. I will be 6 weeks post-op on Tuesday. I started using straws at week 3 bc I was having trouble sipping slowly. So, I grabbed a straw, first sipping slowly to test the waters. Success. I have not had any problems with a straw--no gas, it doesn't make me drink too fast, or any of the other problems stated, etc. I'm sure everyone has had a different experience, especially since the NUT and surgeon's opinions vary from person to person. Good luck on the journey!

My insurance didn't pay any of mine though we tried to submit. My insurance will pay for plastics for panniculectomy and brachioplasty but has VERY specific requirements including specific measurements like how far the Pannis hangs and it has to be past the pubic bone. With their requirements I could have documented millions of rashes and functional issues and still not been approved bc the measurements just weren't there

I guess I'm just having a fed up moment! Soooo many times I've liked something and wouldn't dare buy it because "society" says I won't look right in it, I'm too big for that, Some flesh may protruded a little more than it "should". I say the hell with it!! If I like it and I'm not breaking any "actual" laws I'm wearing it!

I was very low calorie at first bc of restriction--didn't top 400-600 calories till maybe six months out. Methodically worked up to 900-1000 by then and up to 1200 by nine months. Started maintenance at just almost exactly 12 months out.

A lot of people say 4oz is how much you should eat in one sitting but I feel like it's so much! I'm really scared to eat that much in one sitting bc I don't even know when I get full tbh....

Often time medications do hinder sex drive....from anti-depressants to even some bc pills. Everyone's body reacts differently. Talk to your GNY or to your primary and see. I have a HIGH sex drive, but I do remeber when in the past I was on something that it was decreased greatly. Maybe try something more intimate (like massages, quiet nights alone talking, moonligh walking,etc ) and maybe that will help trigger the mood...sometimes it's the 'before' that can really set the mood. We are all very stressed, busy, etc and forget to slow down and 'feel' for ourselves.

I decided to go with RNY over sleeve bc of my acid reflux and diabetes. I'm sooo excited bc my surgery is scheduled for 9/17 ????

I have seen nurse practitioners in the past, I especially like them in ob/gyn environments. I have never seen a nurse practitioner or physician assistant and still had to pay the same co-pay. I asked some questions about the billing for this visit and previous visits and I didn't like the answer I received. Without going into detail, they are cheating me out of money and when I asked to speak to billing I was sent to a voice system, that keeps going in the same loop. It is more than just this one thing, but this is the final straw. I can just find a Doctor in BJC healthcare and not have to deal with this BS.

I'm starting to freak out. My surgeons having me eat pureed foods 2 days after surgery. They brought me tuna the day after my surgery? I had 1 scrambled egg for breakfast and I'm having cottage cheese for lunch. I'm just so scared bc I'm reading about everyone doing only liquids and I don't want my surgeon to be wrong? Will this stretch my stomach out? Anyone else eat soft foods this early?

Hi there. I'm a newbie to this site/forum. Used ObesityHealth for all my pre/post op journey. I hadn't heard of this site though so giving it a go. You can never have to much support! My story, very briefly is that come Nov 2nd I'll be 4years post op from having a VSG. I just turned 31 on the 22nd of August, was 27 when I had the surgery though wanted it forever. I was always the fat kid even in high school when I suffered thru Ana/Mia/EDNOS. Had crazy co morbitities before surgery. High BP (took meds), type 2 diabetes (took needs and SS insulin), high cholesterol and my triglycerides were SO high my Dr couldn't get a read on the blood work-we tried numerous times. Needless to say everything became normal and after 6months post op I was able to drop all meds and insulin. I don't even test my blood sugar anymore. I was 6'4" and at my highest weight 435 lbs. I was 410 by surgery. My goal for myself was between 200&180lbs though I went and still go more by inches and measurements and how I feel more so than the scale. I quickly dropped to my lowest post-surgery weight of 220lbs within about 14months. However, I cross addicted and returned to old patterns of EXCESSIVE excersise to fill the other voids in my life I didn't want to face. It was to the point where if I had to work at 9am I'd be getting up at 2:30/3am to workout before work. And I always worked out at home. I'd start with a 15min Oxycise session (an aerobic breathing program that focuses on isometric/isotonic and stretch positions) then I'd move to weightlifting for an hour then a 30-40min session of Hip Hop Abs followed by 2hrs of Tae Bo and I'd finish it all off with an hour of Power Vinyasa Yoga. I did this daily for months on end and often without rest days. Eventually life happened and I started to realize how crazy I was being and tried to adjust. At this point I was happy with my body-in retrospect I was happy with myself but at the time I still saw the fat guy in the mirror who's Dr wanted me down to 170, I would have made peace with 200 at that point bc I was almost art my personal goal. Still, as fit as I was by scientific standards I was still obese, had a Dr pushing more loss and friends/daily worried I was "too skinny" and through all this I never took a breath to actually ask myself what I thought, where I wanted to be and where I'd be comfortable. Yeah, stupid. Then, started going out with friends, experiencing restaurant foods and things I'd never touched since surgery...including alcohol. Started dating and now living with my partner but in my comfort, indulgences and dealing with a back injury that limits my workouts now-prob for the best-I managed to gain back about 90lbs over the next 2 years or so which brings us to present day. I'm back looking for support from others who may have regained and are in the same boat and hopefully finding a friend(s) to lose the regain with. Also hoping to continue to help other post op newbies from making the same mistakes I made. Its quite easy if you're not careful. Anywho, that's my Story and why I'm here. Hope to chat with some of you and see you around the boards. Anyone else in this room in the regain boat?

Hi there. I'm a newbie to this site/forum. Used ObesityHealth for all my pre/post op journey. I hadn't heard of this site though so giving it a go. You can never have to much support! My story, very briefly is that come Nov 2nd I'll be 4years post op from having a VSG. I just turned 31 on the 22nd of August, was 27 when I had the surgery though wanted it forever. I was always the fat kid even in high school when I suffered thru Ana/Mia/EDNOS. Had crazy co morbitities before surgery. High BP (took meds), type 2 diabetes (took needs and SS insulin), high cholesterol and my triglycerides were SO high my Dr couldn't get a read on the blood work-we tried numerous times. I was 6'4" and at my highest weight 435 lbs. I was 410 by surgery. My goal for myself was between 200&180lbs though I went and still go more by inches and measurements and how I feel more so than the scale. I quickly dropped to my lowest post-surgery weight of 220lbs within about 14months. However, I cross addicted and returned to old patterns of EXCESSIVE excersise to fill the other voids in my life I didn't want to face. It was to the point where if I had to work at 9am I'd be getting up at 2:30/3am to workout before work. And I always worked out at home. I'd start with a 15min Oxycise session (an aerobic breathing program that focuses on isometric/isotonic and stretch positions) then I'd move to weightlifting for an hour then a 30-40min session of Hip Hop Abs followed by 2hrs of Tae Bo and I'd finish it all off with an hour of Power Vinyasa Yoga. I did this daily for months on end and often without rest days. Eventually life happened and I started to realize how crazy I was being and tried to adjust. At this point I was happy with my body-in retrospect I was happy with myself but at the time I still saw the fat guy in the mirror who's Dr wanted me down to 170, I would have made peace with 200 at that point bc I was almost art my personal goal. Still, as fit as I was by scientific standards I was still obese, had a Dr pushing more loss and friends/daily worried I was "too skinny" and through all this I never took a breath to actually ask myself what I thought, where I wanted to be and where I'd be comfortable. Yeah, stupid. Then, started going out with friends, experiencing restaurant foods and things I'd never touched since surgery...including alcohol. Started dating and now living with my partner but in my comfort, indulgences and dealing with a back injury that limits my workouts now-prob for the best-I managed to gain back about 90lbs over the next 2 years or so which brings us to present day. I'm back looking for support from others who may have regained and are in the same boat and hopefully finding a friend(s) to lose the regain with. Also hoping to continue to help other post op newbies from making the same mistakes I made. Its quite easy if you're not careful. Anywho, that's my Story and why I'm here. Hope to chat with some of you and see you around the boards. Anyone else in this room in the regain boat?

i see that the longer term eating plan calls for high Protein (around 70g per day) and low carb and low fat. I really get the low carb part. However, for the past few years I have done a lot of reading about the importance of high quality fats in the diet and while not following Atkins, have generally felt better on a diet of grass fed beef and higher fat meats, coconut oil and milk, avocado etc. I worry that the very low fat diet will cause me to have problems with my memory (which has improved with higher quality fats), and with absorption of nutrients, Vitamins, minerals etc. So, is it possible to be successful while still having moderate amounts of high quality fats? Also, I currently have LOTS of veggies every day. If we are limited with volume of food, I assume blending veggies and drinking them would be OK as long as no sugary fruit added? Otherwise, how do you get the 5-7 servings of fruit and veggies needed each day for optimal health? Thanks for any input and opinions

@iclemur...thats bc there haa been a drought since the 80s... lol

I had my first of 6 months of Dietician appts today and she said with a BMI of 38.8 and one CMF of high cholesterol I likely wouldn't be approved. I have BS of CA and Cigna. She then in a way told me that I would need to drop out completely, gain 8 lbs and start over. Up to this point the office staff had me Thinking I would be approved. So now I'm not sure what to do.

I have BC/BS of AL... hopefully I can get this fixed and get approved.