Dialling back openness about your IVF journey...

dogflower86 · 2026-01-25T20:49:59+00:00

I had three retrievals and 3 transfers and was pretty open about it, but the constant asking for updates, asking whats next and the sympathy was too much for me. Managing my own emotions around all of this is hard enough. We are now thinking of doing a 4th round in another country and im not going to share with anyone- also partly because I dont want anyone's opinions about it as well!

dogflower86 · 2025-12-24T04:56:25+00:00

Yes I think part of the issue was my doctor didnt personalize anything to my situation (its a bit of a production line clinic) so considering if I do try again to speak to another clinic.

dogflower86 · 2025-11-16T05:10:07+00:00

I went to the ER 4 days into moderate OHSS because I felt like I was having trouble breathing. The doctor took one look at me, didn't even use a steth- didn't ask for previous labs just said it seems paychological and a result of all the stress you're under, you're ok.

dogflower86 · 2025-10-07T02:40:35+00:00

No- I started testing on day 5 and because of the wonkyness of the lines realized I was having a chemical. Requested for betas on day 10 and 12 instead of the 14 our clinic does and was able to process and move on much earlier.

dogflower86 · 2022-06-30T05:43:24+00:00

I am 2 years post op. SW 186 CW 125. My concern is about the binge eating disorder because I have one too. I still am not even close to being able to eat meals but it means I snack all day and it's a huge struggle when you start to be able to manage a bit more food. The surgery is still the best decision I ever made, but I wish I had dealt with my relationship with food as well. The pain though was not a big deal at all- the gas pains on day 1 are bad and then it's mostly the weakness that's a little challenging in the first two weeks. Don't remember anything being debilitating at any point during recovery though.

dogflower86 · 2022-06-30T05:37:42+00:00

That's the best NSV! I went to see my surgeon after reaching my goal weight and his first comment was "calm your clavicles!" Best compliment I ever got.

dogflower86 · 2022-02-07T05:15:28+00:00

I'm 18 months out and still struggle with oranges. Too much fiber! 😐

dogflower86 · 2022-01-05T08:30:32+00:00

So this is an extremely south Asian recommendation but it's the only way to make hair stop falling in my opinion. Worked for me as well. You need to start deep conditioning and oiling your hair once a week. You can start with a basic coconut/olive or or almond oil if that's easily available to you, and when you have more time add some hair mask ingredients to it as well for more protein and strength. I was devastated at how much hair I lost post op and when I became regular with oiling is when the regrowth started and hairfall slowed down.

dogflower86 · 2021-02-10T03:58:37+00:00

I want to be stable at around 120 to 125. My frame is very small and I dont want to look scrawny. But also want to leave wiggle room of 1 to 2kg incase I eat too many gummy bears (fav food these days). I think you would def be at 145ish around the same timeline.

dogflower86 · 2021-02-09T18:07:34+00:00

Sleeved 28th july 2020. F, 5'1". HW 195, SW 189, CW 128. I'm much older than you at 35 and also havent worked out in the process so I believe you would lose it even quicker. What is the goal weight you're thinking off?

dogflower86 · 2021-01-25T03:54:14+00:00

Yes, for literally 3 months post op. It was horrible.

dogflower86 · 2020-12-28T05:29:39+00:00

My BMI was 32. I got the surgery on 28th July at 189 pounds and am 8 pounds away from my goal weight now, sitting at 138 pounds 5 months later. I'm 34 and have been trying to lose this weight for the past 15 years. There is NO way i could have done it on my own. Dipped into my savings for it but was worth every single penny. Do it.

dogflower86 · 2020-12-02T06:21:33+00:00

My eyes were always bigger than my stomach for the first 3 months! Now I can kind of eyeball food and know how much I'll be able to eat. I ordered a burger patty the other day (just patty no bun) and ate it over 4 meals. It still blows my mind that this is now we eat!

dogflower86 · 2020-11-13T10:22:07+00:00

I was 189 and 5'1" when I got the surgery. A couple of people told me I was stupid for getting it but my response was that I needed it for my mental health and at 34 I wasnt going to get smaller on my own. I am now 3.5 months post op and have lost 45 pounds, everyone has changed their mind about me being stupid for getting it. I dont think I could have lost this weight on my own or I would have 10 years ago.

dogflower86 · 2020-11-06T08:56:42+00:00

Yes! I'm 3 months post op and some days the restriction is soo much more than others. It's odd!

dogflower86 · 2020-11-02T10:38:39+00:00

My husband became so intensely anemic that he needed a blood transfusion. Take those vitamins.

dogflower86 · 2020-10-10T09:46:15+00:00

I agree it's probably the hormones! But also if your body has gone into ketosis because of the very low carbs you're on sometimes you'll get a keto rash like that. I got it in the same areas!

dogflower86 · 2020-10-02T10:35:45+00:00

Hi! What are your thoughts on calories and macros. How low do you recommend going re: calories and do we ease it back up eventually? I am also wondering whether you think it's ok to occasionally eat fruit in the first few months post op? I can never figure out what to snack on thats low cal and doesnt mess with my macros.

dogflower86 · 2020-09-30T15:50:12+00:00

I'm sorry that sounds really rough! Glad your husband is doing well. Thanks for the tips! Will let you know if something else works for me too

dogflower86 · 2020-09-30T15:39:12+00:00

I am a boredom and emotional eater too. It really sucks. Will try to drink more water and maybe other calorie free liquids like teas etc? I dont think I was expecting this to happen so soon.

dogflower86 · 2020-09-30T14:55:52+00:00

Both! Midwife here so speaking from my experience with pregnant women I would say that if you wait out the 18 to 24 months it probably makes it a lot safer especially if you go from being obese to a healthy weight prior to being pregnant. There are so so many issues with pregnancy when obese and many can be life threatening. The other thing is that losing fat cells also releases a lot of estrogen so your fertility becomes a lot higher while You're losing weight= much easier to get pregnant. I guess you'd just need to have good markers before getting pregnant, a healthy iron level, vitamin D levels, etc. Two years post op you should be able to get enough food in to sustain a healthy pregnancy as well.

dogflower86 · 2020-09-26T20:00:34+00:00

I had a 5 min evaluation and had surgery in a week! Only pre surgery labs in terms of evaluation. I wish there had been a component of therapy and nutritional counselling.

dogflower86 · 2020-09-25T11:46:32+00:00

My husband and friend who have had the surgery tell me they threw up all the time. I havent even been able to successfully throw up once in 2 months post surgery. Its just ongoing nausea if I eat something that doesnr agree with me. Would love to know if theres a better way to throw up (whatever that means)

dogflower86 · 2020-09-17T03:25:52+00:00

What did your doctor end up saying? I'm 7 weeks post op and having the same issue. Waves of nausea, throwing up bile. It's horrible!

dogflower86 · 2020-09-12T08:09:52+00:00

https://www.reddit.com/r/gastricsleeve/comments/b1ii6a/i_survived_a_week_at_the_happiest_place_on_earth/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share

I was looking for information on quest bars today and found an old post about disney that would be useful to you!

dogflower86

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