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Can you switch from Effexor to a different anti-depressant? I was on Effexor for awhile and hated it! I gained weight and suffered from such serious constipation that I usually felt like I was giving birth whenever I was finally able to deliver. And oh, the pain! Now, I am one of those people who never, ever gets constipated, not even when I am on major pain meds. And my normally good blood pressure shot up. I had to take meds for that. I suffer from major depression. I am now on a cocktail of meds and am doing well without the horrid side effects of Effexor. These are as follows: Wellbutrin, Selexa, Topomax. My blood pressure is now fine again, I am no longer taking meds for this, and I can poop regularly and without pain. And even though my band has been defilled since last August I am still wearing size 10 jeans. Sorry about all the poop info but it came to be a real obsession of mine while I was on Effexor.

May 23rd surgery date. I have been on my liquid diet for 5 days now and have lost almost 10 pounds. Feel like dog poo poo. Not much longer though!!!

I'm with Donali! I think this is going to take some quiet time on your part. The first thing that came to me when I read your post was that you've lost quite a bit of weight in a short amount of time. *holy rice cakes, Batman!* about 10 pounds a month! You've managed to lose more in your 3 months that I've lost in 11, well done! Sorry, back on track here. (it's the pain meds...) You've lost like what, 10 pounds a month?! I suspect that there is some subconcious panic on your part. Are people starting to treat you differently? Men paying more attention to you? Less overt hostility? I don't know, but with that dramatic of loss, poeple are sure to notice, even if you are Super MO. It could be that you are eating more Cookies than you want because some part of you has noticed the extra attention and is starting to panic.

Mr. Yo, I give you a lot of credit for sharing your thoughts and uncertainties here. It's nice to get male perspectives and I value "other points of views." My best male friend is in a marriage that sounds similar to yours. He makes a ton of money, has never had an affair, puts his wife and kids before himself, and finds himself stuck in the role of giver. This man has had heart-to-heart talks with his wife and really isn't asking for much... just some alone time with his wife every now and then as well as some recognition that he's more than the financial support of the family. Things MIGHT improve for a few days but then it's back to businesss as normal. The kids are now college age, the wife has never worked but has tons of friends and social outings, they live an upper class life-style yet his wife just never seems to put him first... or second.... Because he loves his wife and kids, he stays in the marriage. Like you, he has never had an affair. Although he has no weight issues, he is now at the point where he is looking to his life 5-10 years down the road and is not liking what he sees. He hasn't made any decisions yet but it would seem to me that if things don't improve in the husband/wife department, he'll explore alternatives. It's admirable to express your feelings and bend over backwards to try and save something you thought would last forever but, when it's only one person giving, it's understandable why relationships fail. Thanks for sharing the male point of view and good luck with your surgery.

Me too, TrueBlue. Had my first sliming episode today, was stuck and PB'd, but instead of coughing "it" out, it went back down. Thank goodness it only lasted for about 10 minutes, but it hurt! I have restriction with my first fill which was on Monday. I will never make that mistake again, eating too fast, too big bites and not chewing enough. OUCH!

Hi Devana where in Ireland is your friend? She could try the Beacon Clinic in Dublin phone (01) 213 5600 not sure of anywhere else in Dublin doing fills. I know there are others around the country but I'm not sure what they're called. Hopefully someone else will see your post Hope this helps

At 10 days out, you are probably stil pretty swollen from surgery. As the swelling goes down, the amount you eat will increase somewhat. I know that my doctor pushes for about 1/2 cup of food with decent restriction so you won't be eating that much more. Remember, part of this surgery is to help make food no longer the focal point in your life. I know it won't seem like it is worth eating, but that is the point (in my own opinion). This way you can spend more time talking with your family or friends instead of eating into oblivion. Good luck to you.

I started this journal today as I read others on this site. I'm amazed at how different the surgery is performed and how informed the people are about it. So many people have discussed differences in diets, differences in bands and fills. It makes me wonder if I did enough before hand to really understand what was going to happen to me. Well, that doesn't matter now, I'm in for the win! I was banded on 11/28/07. I'd love to say that's my new birthday but I can't. I will say that it is a new beginning. Were does it start? 3rd grade, 5th grade, 28 years ago.....is the first time I remember being fat. It's time for this to end. This is it! Why I had the band..... 1. I want energy....Tired of being tired..... 2. I want to play with my kids, on the floor and outside 3. I want to play with my husband and not fear him squeezing a fat roll 4. I want to buy clothes and like the way I look in them 5. I want to be a good example for my children and family 6. I want to put on pantyhose and not be disguisted 7. I want to not have to look at a chair and wonder if it will hold me 8. I want to not wonder if I'm the biggest person in the room 9. I want to slide into a car and not plop down 10. I want to jog 11. I want to buy sexy underwear 12. I want to go down to my basement without thinking about the exertion it takes to come back up. 13. I want to know that I'm fat and not lazy.......for sure. 14. I want someone to look twice as they pass me or even get hit on! even though I would never accept........just the thrill. 15. I want to go to any store and shop. 16. I want to BE HEALTHY....no prescriptions. 17. I want to DANCE like no one is watching. I'm 1 week post-op and have definitely felt better. In one week, I had surgery, a yeast infection (from antibiotics), a urinary tract infection and am having trouble expending all my lung capacity (not serious). But I feel better than I did a week ago. I'm ALERT for one. I have some energy. WOW! I never new how much time and energy I let food steal from me. Speaking of food---this is horrible. I still have a 75% desire for something to chew. This liquid diet is killing me. I'm stronger than I thought but each day its a fight to not break down. I had a bowel movement on Monday but not Tuesday. I'm praying for one today. That's a sure sign that things are getting better in my mind. I protective of my stomack so I'm walking slumped over a little. My children notice and I think are somewhat worried but I think I'm putting up a pretty good front. I look forward to exercising. I think Saturday is the first day I'll try (10 days post op) Oh, how could I forget my home scale says 288.5. If that's true, it means I've lost about 14 pounds in two weeks. I LOVE IT.

Okay, this is the "FOREVER" part coming to bite you. Bear in mind, this is advice from an unbanded person who has gained 30 pounds since October - WAAAHHH!!! My advice to us both... lol 1. This is NOT a diet - this really really really really is FOREVER. Our eating habits will have to change forever. 2. In the end, our lifestyle changes canNOT be about losing weight - because once we have lost the weight, there will be no motivation to continue with our healthy habits. At some point, we will no longer have the scale moving downward to motivate us. And we certainly don't want to wait for the scale to move UPWARD(:eek!) to regain motivation! (Trust me on THIS one!!! lol) So... this journey HAS to be about HEALTH. Seriously. Losing weight is secondary to this journey. 3. Take 15 minutes to really think about all you have accomplished, seperate from the scale. Review all of those NSVs. Feel the regained health of your body. Realize that you NEVER, EVER want to give that up. NEVER. Admit to yourself that you are WORTH being healthy. 4. Recommit to your health in baby steps. Set one goal for each day. Make it a small, easily attainable goal so that you can experience the success. Add slowly to that goal until you are at the max for that particular health-breeding habit. For example, if your main goal is to drink a gallon of Water each day, and you haven't been drinking any, start with a mini-goal of a quart. Slowly add to that each day until you get to your gallon. Once that habit is reset, start working towards your next goal. Suppose it's walking. Maybe you want to walk a minimum of 30 minutes each day. So day 1 your goal is to walk 10 minutes. Do that successfully for a couple of days, and then add another 5 minutes. 5. Remember that you do NOT have to fix everything in one day!! This is for the rest of your life! Be gentle with yourself, start your positive habits small, and build on them. 6. Focus on what you WANT to do, not what you DON'T want to do. Don't focus on NOT eating something less nutritious - focus on eating MORE nutritious foods. Don't deny yourself anything - just make your more healthy food choices FIRST - always promise yourself (and keep the promise!!) that you can have whatever you want (IF you still want it) after you've had your health building food(s). 7. Continue seeking and offering support! Good luck, and I know you can do this. Sometimes we all need a little rest - there is nothing wrong with that. But you don't want to neglect your health for too long (like I have!) xxoo

Nancy, Donali is right. It is a lifestyle change. I have been struggling as of late to get the last 10-15 pounds off my body. I have been trying so hard and finallly realized this is a forever thing, so I have taken the time pressure monkey off my back by not giving myself a time line. (although I am still ahead of my original target) Admittedly, I stopped doing the things that made me successful in the beginning and started getting complacent as of late. And 20+ months of trying to get to goal is a long time.!!!! Its much harder now than it was for me at 6 months out to lose the weight. My body is used to eating 1100-1200 calories a day and it doesnt want to lose more at this stage. So it does just get harder and harder, so you need to stay focused and take baby steps to a permanent lifestyle change. The great part having a band is that you can always take a break and start all over again! It is an ongoing cycle of self improvement. If you know this and set up small achievable goals like Michelle suggested, then you will eventually get where you want to go. You can do it!!! Babs in TX 334/180 -154 New goal; 170 or less....

I lost 11 on my 10 day pre op diet, but the other 20 are since the 21st.

@@ThinnerRivers congrats on loosing 43 lbs!!! this is an old thread started back in July 2014 why don't you start a new thread entitled teens?? just a thought jsaying "Lookiing for Buddies/Support doesn't tell people you are looking for other teens go to the below links http://www.bariatricpal.com/forum/412-teens/ http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/305431-19-and-getting-the-gastric-sleeve-in-just-2-weeks/ good look kahty

I was banded on 11/15/10 and have lost 45 lbs with 35 left to go. We will be taking a 7 day cruise May 7 and I admit I am alittle nervous about the food. I have a signifigant about of restriction which always keeps me alert yet as my Dad used to say sometimes " my eyes are bigger than my stomach." I am hoping to replace that with the joy of being on a nice trip with my 92 year old Dad and my sister. We just lost Mother 2 months ago and decided we needed some good times together. The Lap Band was the one good thing I had going for me when Mother was dying. It made me feel I atleast had control over some aspect of my life and the weight loss rather than weight gain kept me positive in a very trying time.

Had surgery 8/10,only list 35lbs. Went for an adjusting Tuesday,had not been since 3/11,very discouraged. Tryin to start with a new slate. My downfall is I hate all protein shakes,that either make me gag or throw up. Major frustratated. I'm now current first day of mushy food,for bfst I had a hard boiled egg ,*shrugs*,so far that's all until lunch and I have tuna fish

AWESOME job!!! Yeah my first question was where did all your friends go..then I read the threads!! What a shame!! I have about 50-60 pictures up in my cube...wherever there is metal and a magnet can stick..there is a picture...my management thought it was great..especially whey I said that I am hear 10-12 hours a day so I needed to bring my family with me. Of course all of these pictures are not family style portraits..I have a 2 yr old...anyway. What an awesome job on your weight loss and even if you can't tell..we all can!! You are also a huge motivator with your entries and blogs!

I got these bars called Pure Protein High Protein bars. Each one has 19-20 grams of protein in them. Each have on average of 190- 280 calories in them. They come in Chocolate peanut butter, Chocolate Deluxe, Strawberry Shortcake, Chewy Chocolate chip, Smores, & Blueberry crumb cake. You can find food labels for each flavor on Amazon.com if you want to check them out. They are sold as some grocery stores, the vitamin shoppe & GNC just to name a few places.

I'm going to meet with a doctor regarding the LAP-BAND® on 10/4 and they wanted two weights from 2008 and 2009. The highest weight I was in 2008 & 2009 made me a 34.2 BMI and my highest weights in 2010 put me at around 36.8. The ONLY reason I had gone down in weight is because of a very stressful situation where I just couldn't eat. I have diabetes (2 metformins per day) and hypothyroidism and my triglicerides are thru the roof....do I have a chance of being approved?? I'm also turning 41 on 10/3 and definitely spiraling into menopause after a partial hysterectomy in 2006. I'm not losing no matter what I do - i'm only maintaining and gaining. I'm scared to take such drastic measures but i'm running out of options.... I'd appreciate any encouragement, words of advice, support...... What do you think my chances are of getting approved (i have aetna)

My doc let me do 2 protein shakes and one small low carb meal a day. I lost 19 lbs in 2 weeks pre op. It want as hard as I thought it would be.

Hey chin up!! I've been banded since April 23rd. I've lost nearly 50 pounds, but the doctor says the more you have to lose the faster it come off in the beginning, But I will say, I did go 1 week only losing 1 pounds and I too was very bummed. Have you tried using a journal for what you eat. You may find you're eating a lot of calories, or fats or carbs and not realizing it. everything I eat gets noted in Fitness Pal primarily so I can keep track of my Protein. But you may be surprised. Supposedly the average weight loss is 1 - 2 pounds per week. So 12 pounds in 10 days is SUPER!!! I didn't really feel much restriction until my 3rd fill (last week) now I can hardly eat 1/2c of anything. So be patient, restriction is coming like no tomorrow lol

@@pr_pitbullgrl Yes, but not at much as I should. I walk a lot (about 45 minutes to an hour daily), but I need to incorporate more resistance training. I haven't done it in about 2 months... (I had to have surgery to remove kidney stones last month and have been on restriction. I got cleared for regular activity 2 weeks ago but I still had pain.) I'm gonna give it a go tonight, though. Congrats on your loss as well!! 10 pounds to goal is awesome!

I no when I was banded "10/31/06" I felt the tightness of the band from the swelling. Next day had to do a swollow test to check for leaks. That was pretty hard going down, and some anxiety I think is normal. But today,,, I would do it all over again! I feel great!! So give it some time. "Gee,I feel like a veteran here!!!" Any way you go bandster... Shirley...

It's been an interesting 10 months. I've had some ups and downs along the way. But im happy to say that things are finally coming together. Im getting healthier and Im definitely happier. Im currently down 90 pounds. Trying to it my 100 pound mark by my 1 year surgiversary (April 1St). I am extremely happy I had this surgery. I needed it. My knees and my feet couldn't take my weight anymore. I was having constant pain in my back, I had trouble sleeping. Dieting just hadn't worked for me in the past and my exercising was limited. I was in fear of getting diabetes and most of all dying young. I was tired of being depressed and unhappy. I had my surgery April 1St, 2014. I am now down 90 pounds from where I was (280). And I have 60 pounds left to get to my goal (130). This surgery has been one of the decisions I have ever made. But I am in no way shape or form saying it is easy. Because it sure isn't. The main thing to remember about this surgery and the other surgerys is to reach optimal results YOU MUST DO YOUR PART. Yes you will lose weight but if you don't do your part it will return. I've seen it. My mom and my sister have both had the surgery as well different times. My sister had it a year before me and my mom had hers over 10 years ago. They both struggle with their weight now. My mom was down to 180 at her lowest she lost 150pounds and struggles now a days and fluctuates between 215 and 240. My sister had lost 100 pounds and was down to 240. She's now at 260. The reason why they are struggling is because they didn't adapt and make a lifestyle change. You must eat better you must exercise. Im not saying go run a marathon (unless you want too). But just add a little 30min exercise to your day. It might not seem like a lot but it's an extra 30 minutes of exercises that you weren't going to do. You don't need a gym membership. Squats, lunges, push ups, sit ups, crunches, torso twists, kicks, walking, etc etc etc is all FREE! AND BE REALISTIC! This is the problem my sister and my mom have and it's normal. My mom noticed more that I was exercising more and she got inspired and motivated and that's awesome. So what did she do? She started on day 1: 90 sit ups!!! Really? I don't even do 90 sit ups yet. I mean I probably could but im not trying to hurt myself the point is to progress. Anyway...what happens with the 90 push ups. The next day she's in so much pain she can barely bend down to tie her shoes and what happens next? No more sit ups. The point im trying to make is be realistic. You don't have to kill yourself right off at the start. It's a gradual process. Start small and work toward a greater goal. If she would have done what I suggested start of 25 sit ups and then gradually increase by 5 she would ultimately get to 90 because she wouldn't be in so much pain and she wouldn't give up because your changing it up and your progressing. BE REALISTIC...RESULTS WILL COME. I do zumba at home, I work out at home. Im starting to go to the gym now though. Eating better is important!!! Diet is key. I'm not saying starve yourself. You will get no where with that. Plan your means ahead of time. I started doing this and it's helped me so much I don't have to think about it. I don't get tempted as much. It's great. The main thing is GET YOUR Protein IN FIRST...then your veggies then your carbs. Stay way from sugary things. Fruits will satisfy that sugary craving usually. And there is nothing wrong with giving into your temptation. This surgery is not only physical it is a mental one and it takes your mind longer to catch up to speed. It's going to keep thinking you can eat the things you were and the quantity. Example: my husband had texted me he was going to order pizza for dinner one day. I told him to order a medium pizza. He asked if i was sure amd i said yes. Normally we would have gotten 2 large pizza's.(there is a purpose to this) The whole time I was at work I was literally thinking about all the pizza I was going to eat. How many slices! Yum! I couldn't wait. I decided before I got home I was going to have 2 slices maybe 3! I got home he was eating his pizza. I went to the box. At first I thought im gonna put the 2 slices on my plate. Then I was like no. I'll put only half of one on my plate when I finish I'll get up and get another. I ate the half of a slice of pizza and I was full and content. If I would have put the whole slice of pizza on the plate I probably would have make myself eat it even if I was full. And the point in buying a smaller pizza is...if I would have bought 2 large pies...he would be the one eating it all by himself. Which isn't good or healthy. Medium size pizza smaller slices...he had only ate 4 slices which u can equate to 2 maybe 3 large pizza slices and he was content. food is all mental. Im not in no way shape or form saying pizza is healthy. Im just saying you can treat yourself...because not treating yourself can actually make you sabotage yourself, by binging or over eating. Complications I had along the way: 1. The day after I got sent home I found out I was allergic to the Tylenol and Codeine I was prescribed. My lip had swell like a balloon. Wasn't anything super major but I did go a whole day with out pain medication which was really ok. I did have pain but I still did move around. 2. About 3 weeks after my surgery, I went to the ER. I had a lot of abdominal pain. It felt like a pulling filling right at the incision above my belly button. Turns out it's the stitch that was there on the inside. It tends to kink at times and it was normal by readjusting myself and my position it but have kinked. 3. In September, I had a scare. I was working pretty much everyday 16 hour shift. It was the norm for me. I had 2 jobs. Well one day after I got out of work, I was driving and all of a sudden I began to shake. My body was shaking not like a seizure but like if I was cold. It was weird because I wasn't a cold night. I rolled up the window and proceeded. I was still shaking...teeth shattering cold...and it was painful. I was only 10mins from where I needed to be. I turned on the heat on high but the seat warmer on. I was still cold and my body was in excruciating pain. I was trying not to panic and I was afraid to stop. No one knew where I was and my phone was dead. My vision got blurred by the time I got to the house and my husband opened the door. I told him I wasn't feeling good and I was worried. He helped me up the stairs and I got so cold. I couldn't even hold a cup of Water my hands were shivering so much. He was going to take me to the hospital but I couldn't move I felt so faint when I stood up so he called 911. I went to the hospital. They did some tests. I had some kind of virus like a small 24 hr flu. My Iron, Vitamin D, and B12 levels were so low that I was pretty much running on Empty and my body was trying to reboot. It had no energy to fight off the virus so my immune system was compromised. Afterwards I was so weak and my body hurt. I had to take off from work until my levels were a little better. I was off for 2 months. Vitamin D deficiency sucks really bad. So be sure to be taking your Vitamins. I am now prescribed prescription strength vitamin D and have to get blood work every couple months. My levels still aren't where they need to be but they are a lot better than what they were and im able to function. This surgery is a journey lots of ups and downs along the way. But I believe it's well worth it and I would do it again. My journey isn't over yet....if you have any questions definitely message me!

I think my biggest concern is I never know when I am eating too much OR too little because I'm usually preoccupied with counting grams of Protein and carbs. I'm one month post-op and have lost 19 lbs post-op (27 total) but have had 2 stalls already (one due to monthly cycle). I really don't want to be one of those people who go thru all this and don't lose anything which I have to admit is one of my greatest fears.

It's been an interesting 10 months. I've had some ups and downs along the way. But im happy to say that things are finally coming together. Im getting healthier and Im definitely happier. Im currently down 90 pounds. Trying to it my 100 pound mark by my 1 year surgiversary (April 1St). I am extremely happy I had this surgery. I needed it. My knees and my feet couldn't take my weight anymore. I was having constant pain in my back, I had trouble sleeping. Dieting just hadn't worked for me in the past and my exercising was limited. I was in fear of getting diabetes and most of all dying young. I was tired of being depressed and unhappy. I had my surgery April 1St, 2014. I am now down 90 pounds from where I was (280). And I have 60 pounds left to get to my goal (130). This surgery has been one of the decisions I have ever made. But I am in no way shape or form saying it is easy. Because it sure isn't. The main thing to remember about this surgery and the other surgerys is to reach optimal results YOU MUST DO YOUR PART. Yes you will lose weight but if you don't do your part it will return. I've seen it. My mom and my sister have both had the surgery as well different times. My sister had it a year before me and my mom had hers over 10 years ago. They both struggle with their weight now. My mom was down to 180 at her lowest she lost 150pounds and struggles now a days and fluctuates between 215 and 240. My sister had lost 100 pounds and was down to 240. She's now at 260. The reason why they are struggling is because they didn't adapt and make a lifestyle change. You must eat better you must exercise. Im not saying go run a marathon (unless you want too). But just add a little 30min exercise to your day. It might not seem like a lot but it's an extra 30 minutes of exercises that you weren't going to do. You don't need a gym membership. Squats, lunges, push ups, sit ups, crunches, torso twists, kicks, walking, etc etc etc is all FREE! AND BE REALISTIC! This is the problem my sister and my mom have and it's normal. My mom noticed more that I was exercising more and she got inspired and motivated and that's awesome. So what did she do? She started on day 1: 90 sit ups!!! Really? I don't even do 90 sit ups yet. I mean I probably could but im not trying to hurt myself the point is to progress. Anyway...what happens with the 90 push ups. The next day she's in so much pain she can barely bend down to tie her shoes and what happens next? No more sit ups. The point im trying to make is be realistic. You don't have to kill yourself right off at the start. It's a gradual process. Start small and work toward a greater goal. If she would have done what I suggested start of 25 sit ups and then gradually increase by 5 she would ultimately get to 90 because she wouldn't be in so much pain and she wouldn't give up because your changing it up and your progressing. BE REALISTIC...RESULTS WILL COME. I do zumba at home, I work out at home. Im starting to go to the gym now though. Eating better is important!!! Diet is key. I'm not saying starve yourself. You will get no where with that. Plan your means ahead of time. I started doing this and it's helped me so much I don't have to think about it. I don't get tempted as much. It's great. The main thing is GET YOUR Protein IN FIRST...then your veggies then your carbs. Stay way from sugary things. Fruits will satisfy that sugary craving usually. And there is nothing wrong with giving into your temptation. This surgery is not only physical it is a mental one and it takes your mind longer to catch up to speed. It's going to keep thinking you can eat the things you were and the quantity. Example: my husband had texted me he was going to order pizza for dinner one day. I told him to order a medium pizza. He asked if i was sure amd i said yes. Normally we would have gotten 2 large pizza's.(there is a purpose to this) The whole time I was at work I was literally thinking about all the pizza I was going to eat. How many slices! Yum! I couldn't wait. I decided before I got home I was going to have 2 slices maybe 3! I got home he was eating his pizza. I went to the box. At first I thought im gonna put the 2 slices on my plate. Then I was like no. I'll put only half of one on my plate when I finish I'll get up and get another. I ate the half of a slice of pizza and I was full and content. If I would have put the whole slice of pizza on the plate I probably would have make myself eat it even if I was full. And the point in buying a smaller pizza is...if I would have bought 2 large pies...he would be the one eating it all by himself. Which isn't good or healthy. Medium size pizza smaller slices...he had only ate 4 slices which u can equate to 2 maybe 3 large pizza slices and he was content. food is all mental. Im not in no way shape or form saying pizza is healthy. Im just saying you can treat yourself...because not treating yourself can actually make you sabotage yourself, by binging or over eating. Complications I had along the way: 1. The day after I got sent home I found out I was allergic to the Tylenol and Codeine I was prescribed. My lip had swell like a balloon. Wasn't anything super major but I did go a whole day with out pain medication which was really ok. I did have pain but I still did move around. 2. About 3 weeks after my surgery, I went to the ER. I had a lot of abdominal pain. It felt like a pulling filling right at the incision above my belly button. Turns out it's the stitch that was there on the inside. It tends to kink at times and it was normal by readjusting myself and my position it but have kinked. 3. In September, I had a scare. I was working pretty much everyday 16 hour shift. It was the norm for me. I had 2 jobs. Well one day after I got out of work, I was driving and all of a sudden I began to shake. My body was shaking not like a seizure but like if I was cold. It was weird because I wasn't a cold night. I rolled up the window and proceeded. I was still shaking...teeth shattering cold...and it was painful. I was only 10mins from where I needed to be. I turned on the heat on high but the seat warmer on. I was still cold and my body was in excruciating pain. I was trying not to panic and I was afraid to stop. No one knew where I was and my phone was dead. My vision got blurred by the time I got to the house and my husband opened the door. I told him I wasn't feeling good and I was worried. He helped me up the stairs and I got so cold. I couldn't even hold a cup of Water my hands were shivering so much. He was going to take me to the hospital but I couldn't move I felt so faint when I stood up so he called 911. I went to the hospital. They did some tests. I had some kind of virus like a small 24 hr flu. My Iron, Vitamin D, and B12 levels were so low that I was pretty much running on Empty and my body was trying to reboot. It had no energy to fight off the virus so my immune system was compromised. Afterwards I was so weak and my body hurt. I had to take off from work until my levels were a little better. I was off for 2 months. Vitamin D deficiency sucks really bad. So be sure to be taking your Vitamins. I am now prescribed prescription strength vitamin D and have to get blood work every couple months. My levels still aren't where they need to be but they are a lot better than what they were and im able to function. This surgery is a journey lots of ups and downs along the way. But I believe it's well worth it and I would do it again. My journey isn't over yet....if you have any questions definitely message me!

I had surgery on Friday September 2nd went back to work the following Thursday 6 days later. I used up all my PTO on summer vacations so I had no choice:( I work from home and have a desk job so I figured I'd be good. I was ok just had a little discomfort sitting all day. I feel so much better today tomorrow will be 10 days. So I would recommend if you can at least 2 weeks., but it depends on your body some were good 1 week later. This is for comfort reasons, as far as diet reasons that again depends on you. Some people have a hard time adjusting to the new lifestyle. Turtle5559