Hi everyone who is having surgery in October 2014. We can start a new topic for those of us who have had surgery already.

This is the spot were we will all end up, were we'll share our stories and recovery. It will be a new dawn for so many of us. Let's stay close as united we will conquer anything that comes our way!

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@Beni--That's exactly how I was feeling about a month ago. I increased my Protein and I've had a significant improvement! How much protein do you get? I still haven't been able to get in as much as the Dr. wants me to (60-80g) but I'm getting in the high 50's at least, which has REALLY helped my energy level. And when I increase my protein, it boosts the losing too.

My pattern for losing seems to be, I stay the same for about 2 weeks, then I'll drop 2-3 pounds. So I'm slowing down on the losing, but I try to stay positive knowing every couple weeks, I'll drop a little.

Now if I could just get my tailbone/ hip crap under control. I'm on week 6 of physical therapy. I have some improvement, but still a lot of pain. My PT was going to contact my family Dr. this week and see about getting some more imaging done. So odd that I lose 74 pounds and now my back/ hip hurts?!

@Bronxmerci--You look great girl!! Wish I could wear a hot outfit like that!!

Beni - you HAVE to get your Protein in. Force yourself, girl! Your body is fighting starvation. We need you here in this group! Please take care of you, for the rest of us!

Finally, after a 3.5 week stall, the scale moved significantly.... 5 pounds. I am now officially 80 pounds lighter than I was last July! Since surgery, 53 pounds.

@@layknee its great to hear from you! slow and steady is great you are a success! @@amylynns you definitely can wear anything you want girl! flaunt it. @@Beni i hope you feel better! everyone else you guys are doing great! congrats we are all winners!! i just figured out that guys are attracted to me, i might start dating soon!!

Thanks, everyone. I am going to try more protein. I am not getting enough. I eat protein at every meal but I added the average day and it's not enough. I think I am going to supplement in the short term and will have to eat even more meats. I am going to try that for a week and see if I notice any improvement. Yuck! I had a soccer game to take a child to, stopped at two places on the way home and I have to go take a nap and it's only 11:30 AM.

Thanks, everyone. I am going to try more protein. I am not getting enough. I eat protein at every meal but I added the average day and it's not enough. I think I am going to supplement in the short term and will have to eat even more meats. I am going to try that for a week and see if I notice any improvement. Yuck! I had a soccer game to take a child to, stopped at two places on the way home and I have to go take a nap and it's only 11:30 AM.

I think you'll really notice an improvement Beni. I'm enjoying beef jerkey and greek yogurts to help increase mine. I just can't get enough in at my 3 meals.

@@Beni I am so sorry you are not feeling great. One of my mentors who is 6 years out warned that a lot of folks get some sort of depression around the 6 month mark, so be sure to be kind to yourself. I hope the doctor can figure out what's depleting your energy level so you can get back to your usual happy self. Cyberhugs. <3

My labs from the GP came back fantastic. My HDLs are over 40 for the first time in my life. Everything else looks great. I'm so happy with the results. I see the surgeon on Tuesday for my 6-month check up (a little early), and I hope I've lost enough for him to schedule the repair of "Oscar, Ernie and Bert" - three huge surgical hernias that have restricted my exercise plan considerably ("nothing that pushes, pulls, or in any way puts pressure on your abdomen"... really?! What exactly does that leave?) I'm tired of Oscar the Grouch calling the shots. Originally, we thought it was just one hernia that I'd nicknamed "Oscar the Grouch" because it would sit up like "ALIEN" on my stomach when it got irritated. I was hoping the surgeon could repair it when he did the WLS, but when I woke up, he said, "Oscar had his friends Bert, Ernie and Elmo with him. I took care of Elmo (a hiatal hernia), but Oscar, Ernie and Bert will have to wait until you've healed and lost some weight to avoid recurrence." [Attaching photo he took during the surgery for the non-squeamish. To the squeamish, LOOK AWAY!]

I'm not really looking forward to another major surgery. That will be 5 in the past 3 years. But I am ready to get rid of "the triplets."

Glyndalin - great to hear your vitals are great. And, I think your sesame street friends need to take a hike!

Layknee - we missed you.

@Luna222--I wish I was near you! I use Young Living Essential oils and I know of a few of them that would really help you with pain relief and numbing the area.

I've had jaw pain for 3 days now because of some minor dental work (I have TMJ, so anytime I even get my teeth cleaned, I know I'm gonna be in a pain for a few days) and I've been applying my oils and using ice packs.

I'm sure mine is NOTHING compared to what you're feeling. You poor thing!

That really sucks they can't get you in earlier than the 29th!!! WOW!

Thank you! I did some research, and unfortunately I didn't have any clove oil or a few of the others recommended, but I did try some of the Doterra On Guard oil that I have. It gave a little bit of relief....but honestly, and I KNOW this is so bad lol....but jelly beans is what really helped me thru lol. I had some spiced ones, and they have the clove flavored ones in there, so between the pressure from chewing that texture, and the clove oils in the jelly bean, it would help for a little bit. Luckily I can handle sugar for that reason alone! I was desperate! Lol. Thank goodness it's over tho, cuz I didn't want to eat another jelly bean!

Next month's order is definitely going to include some clove oil tho!!!

Hey everyone! It's been a rough week, but I'm back, five less teeth later lol. I called and they fit me in for Wednesday...it was terrible, I couldn't eat or drink anything that morning, or take anything for the pain. I got there and I was in tears. But the bad teeth are gone, no more infection. I feel soooo much better. Still very sore, but nothing compared to last week! I'm on a soft food diet right now, liquids also...so I think it's kind of helping me get back on track with my pouch too which is good. I ended up gaining 4 lbs last week, probably because the only thing helping the pain was clove jelly beans lol. But I am back down, 198 now...and no more jelly beans!!!

@@Beni I hope you are feeling better girl! I absolutely feel what you are going thru though, I'm sort of there myself. It's up and down. I just laid on the couch tonight and cried. I'm so emotional lately. We'll get thru it! Chin up, positive thoughts :-)

I found some pictures of me on my parents computer today, back from 2010. I was so much bigger then than I was last yr before surgery. I think in this one, I was about 295. It's funny because I happen to still have the outfit I was wearing, which was clearly very tight on me. So I put it on and did a side by side. I showed my bf, and he was like, that was you???

The scale moved, hurray. But I had to eat one of those Protein bars yesterday (not a fav) and I was a very good girl with all sorts of protein. Beef Jerky also helped. I am going to look into how to make it because I sure need an ample supply and the natural brands (without all the strange ingredients) have just a few flavors and I am getting tired of "Oberto" Teryiaki flavor already.

Thank you for the kind words everyone. I need to pull through and being sad is going to get me in that depressive hole, I never want to go to. Today will be a better day. I am up early, I am dressed and I have a plan for my day that includes me time.

Update on the hair loss thing: Looks like it has arrived, I am losing hair at an alarming rate and I have thin Patches at the temples showing. I am also developing dandruff, which I have not suffered from in so many years I had forgotten it even existed. I am thinking time for a pixie haircut. I do take Biotin and zinc (since month 2) but nope, it's not helping. I think this is supposed to be temporary but right now it's a little worrisome.

How is everyone's hair doing?