Recent Posts
So here's the first one- I was very ( pleasantly) surprised to learn that strong Retin A gel and cream ( strongest is .10 for the cream .05 for the gel ) are now covered by health insurance plans !
Apparently someone ( smartly) decided that since they also help erase underlying sun damage and sun spots as well as wrinkles that Retin A is helpful in preventing melanoma or skin cancer. Very much an issue for the generations that grew up before sunscreen ( like my Parents).
Retin A also reduces scars so can be substituted for scar gel which is also quite expensive. A tube of Retin-A though used to cost $125.00 out of pocket.
Hi ! 
I?m sixteen years post RNY and finally starting to care about my appearance.
In truth I pretty much always see only the flaws so it?s easier just to be a schlub- but I?m tired of living my life in drrty sweatpants so to speak ( and literally though I get FILTHY gardening like a kindergartner I?d like to magically look more put together and even professional when it?s appropriate.
Thinning hair is a big issue for me. Pre op and for a few years after I had a great head of hair - now it?s thinner. It grows slowly especially in the back . I?ve been trying to scalp stimulate regularly but would very much appreciate advice on supplements that work - like Nutrifol or collagen/ biotin. Thanks ! 
Experimenting with makeup too 
- weirdly putting a ? face? on makes me think I?m not enough naturally ( of course that?s true if I don?t want to put in the effort to look my best ) Feels so strange though !
I tried " duck lips? lipgloss and it works by literally irritating your lips on a low level . Talk about bee- stung lips lol! 
I think a lot of us find accountability and virtually ? hanging around? with like minded post bariatric surgery patients really helps.
There?s a popular daily food- n-exercise thread on the RNY board you can join or join me on the DS board ( I don?t get on so well with a few of the RNYers) or you can start your own thread !
For me OH chat and posting was a HUGE resource information wise and emotional support wise both before and after my RNY. ( sixteen years ago ) .
Though I?ve had some ups and downs during the years ( most recently a low iron crisis) I?ve luckily managed to keep most of my excess weight off and stay fairly healthy if incorrigibly stubborn . 
Ava, 5'9" 144 lbs
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How is the reset working for you? ( some call it the Pouch Test )
I found that eating a lot of semi liquids like vegetable soup also makes my pouch contract.
About a year ago doc took a look down my throat and said I had a very tiny pouch after years of enjoying soup every day often twice a day .
It's interesting because I actually asked my RNY surgeon to make a larger pouch since pre surgery I ate a lot of bulky salads and veggies.
The only drawback to having a tiny pouch is basically tasting food not so much eating a real portion.
But I often eat again a few hours later - sometimes the same meal sometimes something else .
It works for me - other than some loose skin and empty fat cells I'm quite a normal healthy weight and have maintained the same size since about two years after surgery ( when I gained some expected bounce back).
I pretty much eat what I crave ( that's NOT fast food lol ) and I'm finding as I get further out ( and older ) that I can eat a bit less restrictively- before I ate a very low fat high fiber low sugar diet now I occasionally indulge in a bit of avocado or a small serving of cheese or even half a cookie lol.
It's a real relief not to have to constantly weigh or beat myself up for not having a perfect body. I'm Thank God ) very healthy thanks to good food, taking my supplements and regular blood draws and checkups.
Are you talking about the 5 day pouch test? Please let me know how you make out with it. I thought about doing it myself.
SW 327
GW 150
CW 126
Speaking of which, a recent article (written by a WLS surgeon 
- Dr. Jawad) about how to avoid cross/transfer addictions following WLS:
Frank talk about the DS / "All I ever wanted to be was thin, like that Rolling Stones dude ... "
HW/461 LW/251 GW/189 CW/274 (yep, a DS semi-failure - it happens :-( )
This is just sad, to lose all that weight and not be able to tow the line under the law afterwards. 
But then, we WLSers are all too familiar with the "Transfer Addiction" syndrome that sometime****s post-ops as a result of their weight loss. That may have had a hand in her behavior. 
:
https://www.aol.com/lifestyle/police-allegedly-discovered-mushrooms-marijuana-181307375.html
Frank talk about the DS / "All I ever wanted to be was thin, like that Rolling Stones dude ... "
HW/461 LW/251 GW/189 CW/274 (yep, a DS semi-failure - it happens :-( )
Hi Everyone,
It has been 15 years now since I first had bariatric surgery. I first had a lap band that after a few years had slipped and had to have it removed. I had to wait 6 months and then had a Roux-N-Y done. I lost over 160lbs and was very happy with the results, but lately I have gain some weight back. Actually 50lbs and need to get it off before it gets worse. I heard of the bariatric reset diet, where you start off with the post op diet and follow it like you just had surgery again. I plan on starting this this week and hopefully it will be successful. I contribute it to getting back into eating carbs and having sugar. So those are going to be almost non-existent from now on. I will let you all know how it goes. This is especially for those who have already had the surgery now for a few years and have gain some weight back. It will be good to know they can resolve the issue by themselves. Take care everyone!
Steve B.
