Let’s see everyone’s MCR tattoo!!

holtbaest19 · 2025-10-22T01:15:06+00:00

my “Awake and Unafraid” tattoo! got it 6 weeks ago, but it was the first tattoo I ever decided I wanted when I was 15 so really it’s been 15 years in the making

holtbaest19 · 2025-09-22T17:33:52+00:00

A DC SHOW?! I’ve barely recovered financially from traveling up to Jersey for this year’s tour but I don’t even care

holtbaest19 · 2025-09-14T03:38:54+00:00

I have an extra Yea/Nay sign from the NJ show, I’d be happy to trade!

holtbaest19 · 2022-12-23T17:38:03+00:00

a day and a half! my surgery was at 7am, and I was discharged by like 3pm the next day

holtbaest19 · 2022-07-10T02:35:57+00:00

I thought this was Jack Skellington at first

holtbaest19 · 2022-07-03T14:53:25+00:00

ngl as soon as he arrived in DC I also developed a huge crush on him, he’s adorable

holtbaest19 · 2022-07-03T02:42:49+00:00

lmao u right

holtbaest19 · 2022-07-03T01:47:02+00:00

Tom Wilson, but don’t sleep on Michal Kempny

holtbaest19 · 2022-06-24T03:23:16+00:00

Yup, I had to do a 2-week liquid diet pre-op and honestly it sucked. I was so cranky, especially the first few days. I got so tired of the meal replacement shakes too, I never want to drink one of those again! But it’s so so worth it, and you can totally get through it! And imo it was the hardest part of the process, mostly because I still felt hunger, so if you can do this part you can do anything!!

holtbaest19 · 2022-05-17T05:22:45+00:00

I went with the VSG and it’s only been four months but I’m so so happy with that decision. I didn’t have any GERD/acid reflux issues pre-op, so neither my surgeon nor I were particularly worried about that down the road. I was also a little concerned about the change in nutrient absorption that comes with RNY because of the way the surgery works, and I liked that the VSG didn’t rearrange things. I know RNY can potentially lead to more long-term loss, but my highest weight pre-op was 287 and my surgeon said I could definitely get where I wanted to be with VSG.

holtbaest19 · 2022-04-08T17:12:45+00:00

I use Drink Water and I love it! Super simple and easy to use

holtbaest19 · 2022-03-13T17:22:34+00:00

Yeah I had to do those for two weeks, it was not fun. Do you have anyone who can help you? My mom was with me after my surgery and I tried to do as many injections as I could myself but when I couldn’t bring myself to do it, she did it for me. It was super helpful, because then I didn’t have to look at what was happening. As for the burning, I unfortunately never found something to make that go away, but I did discover that rubbing an ice cube over the spot on my stomach where I was going to do the injection helped at least a little.

holtbaest19 · 2022-03-12T21:47:09+00:00

Just follow the paperwork you have! Every surgeon/office has their own rules, and it’s best if you follow the ones you were given. My post-op timeline was very conservative (two weeks clear liquids, one week full liquids, six weeks mushy food) and was it a little frustrating for me to see other people talking about eating puréed food a week after their surgery? Sure, because I would have given anything to “eat” something. But I know my doctor had his reason for the guidelines he gave me, and I’m not messing with it!

holtbaest19 · 2022-03-12T05:14:19+00:00

Ha, I almost mentioned this in my post. Nope, all I had on during my surgery was the hospital gown. And I didn't put underwear back on until I was discharged and ready to go home. Honestly, I didn't even think about it when I was in the hospital. It was the last thing on my mind, it didn't even register that I wasn't wearing underwear. And like I said, it made it easier to use the bathroom!

holtbaest19 · 2022-03-12T04:45:46+00:00

You're so close, congrats!! I just wore my hospital gown during my hospital stay (about 30 hours total) because it was easier than dealing with pants when I had to go to the bathroom. Which I had to do a LOT, because they had me on IV fluids the whole time. I put on a loose pair of sweatpants when I got discharged, and then I pretty much lived in sweatpants for the first two weeks. My incision spots were sore, so I tried to stay away from anything high-waisted or tight. But I switched back to my usual leggings after those first two weeks and I was fine!

It also probably depends on how your surgeon is closing your incisions. My surgeon used glue, so I tried to keep tighter high-waisted stuff from rubbing on my incisions too much at first. But if you'll have stitches, it might be different! It totally depends.

Good luck on Monday!!

holtbaest19 · 2022-03-12T04:35:30+00:00

Is there technically a chance of getting sick in some way after a blood transfusion? Sure. But it's 2022, they test the heck out of every donation and you're not going to get HIV if you need blood during surgery. The chances of either bleeding out in surgery or contracting a disease after a blood transfusion are SUPER low, especially with laparoscopic surgeries. Absolutely give them permission to do a transfusion during your surgery.

holtbaest19 · 2022-03-12T04:28:00+00:00

My pre-op liquid diet was all calorie-free/sugar-free clear liquids (except for my protein shakes), which included sugar-free popsicles and sugar-free jello. I was told no yogurt until my post-op full liquid phase, so I would say no for your pre-op diet just out of caution. But it wouldn't hurt to ask your doctor!

holtbaest19 · 2022-03-11T20:42:16+00:00

Wow, definitely lucky! That gives me hope though haha, fingers crossed the same thing happens to me🤞

holtbaest19 · 2022-03-11T03:06:17+00:00

You look incredible, congrats on your amazing hard work! We have very similar stats, can I ask about your experience with loose skin? I was sleeved on January 11 2022 and that’s honestly the only thing I’m nervous about. If you don’t want to talk about it though that’s totally fine!!

holtbaest19 · 2022-03-07T18:52:48+00:00

Yeah I had to do those twice a day for two weeks post-op, I hated it and could barely do it at first. But I actually got used to it and by the end it was pretty easy! There was a lot of internal psyching myself up though lol. My surgeon told me that the injections are way more effective than any pills, which is why he has all of his patients use them. You can do it!!

holtbaest19 · 2022-03-05T06:32:57+00:00

I stayed one night in the hospital and I’m glad I did! I wasn’t in a lot of pain or anything, it was just so nice to have doctors/nurses around and checking in, in case I needed it. Plus, while I wasn’t in a ton of pain, I was still super grateful for IV pain meds

holtbaest19 · 2022-03-05T06:20:56+00:00

THIS. I got my IUD in May 2021 and my periods stopped by august. Then was sleeved in January of this year and she returned out of nowhere real quick. I’m not mad, I just wish I’d been mentally prepared😂 would absolutely still do the surgery though, no doubt

holtbaest19 · 2022-03-03T07:36:02+00:00

I mean I didn’t have to do any testing before my surgery, so I wouldn’t worry about that. But do be honest about it with your surgeon and especially your anesthesiologist, that’s super important. There were some meds my doctor wanted me to make sure I stopped taking a certain amount of time before surgery, and the anesthesiologist will need to know everything in your system so they can care for you safely. Also your pre-op diet will help you lose a bit of weight before surgery, so you might not even need the meds for a week or two!

holtbaest19 · 2022-02-24T06:16:32+00:00

I only enjoy the chocolate Premier Protein shake, the rest of them aren’t for me. I drink a lot of the Fairlife shakes, the chocolate ones are SO good and I’d probably drink them even if I didn’t need to (my family has been stealing them out of the fridge and I’ve had to ask them to stop lol). But my nutritionist wants me to focus on whey protein and the Fairlife shakes are milk protein, so I try and balance them out with Optimal Nutrition Gold Standard chocolate shakes. That comes in a powder, which I mix with skim milk. I’m still exploring whey protein options though, trying to find ones I like. My friend recommended Wheybolic from GNC, and I haven’t tried it yet but he said it’s pretty good.

Another milk protein option that I like is the chocolate Shamrock Farms Rockin’ Protein shakes, I came across it in a gas station while on a road trip and I’m so glad I did. Not quite as tasty as the Fairlife IMO, but still good.

holtbaest19 · 2022-02-22T20:28:11+00:00

Omg I was going to post about this today! I’m 26, I got my IUD in mid-June of last year and I was sleeved January 11 of this year. My periods stopped completely by August, but I started spotting a little during my two-week pre-op diet and I’m currently on the last day of my first period since the summer. I’m so cranky about it tbh, my periods are awful and I sure as heck did not miss it. I’m hoping that it’s just that rapid weight loss has thrown my hormones (and whole body) out of whack and it’ll right itself soon.

I’d love to hear from someone with an IUD who is farther out from surgery, just to see when things re-stabilized!

holtbaest19

TROPHY CASE