u/paddlepedalhike

I used to have a nice dark brown pleather jacket. I loved it. It no longer fits so it’s time for a new one. I’m thinking of investing in leather. For long term use and style, should I go w black or brown? I’d like something like a fitted motorcycle jacket but a bit longer. I wear it for a little warmth, mostly for style.

My ophthalmologist has suggested that I get an Apthera lens in my left eye (near vision) and an LAL in my right eye (distance vision).

The goal is to continue the monovision I’ve successfully used w contacts.

My hope is to be able to continue to drive at night.

I had RK with 16 cuts in each eye. I have astigmatism in both eyes but it’s worse in the left.

I’m interested in knowing if anyone else had had this combination of lenses and how it’s going for them.

Also, if you have Apthera, how’s that going for you? What’s going well? What’s not great? Warnings or cautions?

So, I’m normally the very up-beat, cheery person. I love life. Today, not so much. I’m 18 months post op. Before surgery, my health was perfect. 60 lbs overweight but otherwise, everything was perfectly normal. I just wanted to lose weight so I could be much more active. It worked. I cycle, run, hike, ruck, workout w a trainer. I love it all.

Sadly, my blood sugar levels are a disaster since surgery and they seem to be getting worse.

I’m also battling hypotension - very low blood pressure upon standing. 6 months of treatment and it hasn’t improved. The treatment is contraindicated for glaucoma patients. Three ophthalmologists can’t agree if I have glaucoma or not.

So, now, my PCP, bariatric surgeon, RD, ophthalmologist and psychiatrist are all working together to get me healthy again.

This isn’t what I signed up for.

I’m incredibly sad. Though, I don’t yet regret the surgery.

I’m 18 months post-op. I’m F60, 165 lbs. Was ~220 lbs at time of surgery. No comorbidities, none, zero, zilch. Perfectly healthy except for the extra 60 lbs.

PBH - post bariatric hypoglycemia. It’s real. It’s scary. It’s dangerous. No one told me about it before or after surgery, until I wound up in the ER. This is a big drop in blood glucose 1-3 hours after a meal. It can result in shaking, dizziness, sweating, passing out, coma and worse. It can happen due to too many simple carbs or carbs paired with not enough protein. In my case, high protein granola on 1 cup Greek yogurt. Yes, I need to watch my diet more carefully. However, it’s happened when I wasn’t too far off. And, it seems to be happening more frequently.

Be careful. Ask your doctor about it BEFORE surgery. (Also ask about orthostatic hypotension. I passed out from that and broke my shoulder in 3 places.)

Read up on it so you’ll know the symptoms so you can counteract them before you wind up in an ambulance.

A tip - use your air fryer to roast, char and blister peppers. It works like a dream. While the charred peppers steamed in a ziplock bag, I baked chicken breasts in the air fryer. Dinner was the best chicken poblano ever.

I’m just getting it all down in one place. Lots more to do.

My PCP sent me to an ophthalmologist because I’d been having problems w dizziness. The ophthalmologist could find no cause. She did, however, say my cataracts are ready to come out. I had RK in the 80s and my corneas are very unstable - 16 cuts in each eye. She referred me to a local “expert”. I have an appt w him next week.

Last week I saw a different doctor, Dr. D, my first choice for the procedure. He was excellent. The exam and explanation of results were thorough. He said I’m a candidate for LAL only due to my eye instability. He rated my cataracts at a 2+ so insurance will cover a small portion of the surgery. He also believes I have glaucoma but can’t be certain due to the effects of the RK. To be safe, he wants me to start treating it. Also, he says I have very dry eyes and prescribed drops. The problem is that he’s 7 hrs away so it wouldn’t be practical to drive/fly back and forth 5+ times for each eye. We could get a short term hotel or rental but it’s still a lot of back and forth. Dr. D recommended Dr. L in my area.

I have my initial eval w Dr. L yesterday. I do not like Dr. L. It was all sales. Very little technical talk. Just get me in and out. LAL only. He rates my cataracts at a 1 so insurance will cover nothing. Then a sales video. Then the business guy comes in and admits he’s there to kill time until the optometrist comes in. WTF - you’re wasting my time. No mention of glaucoma - they’d have to send me to a specialist. No mention of dry eyes. They did say there’s a thin spot in my retina so I need to see a specialist before they’ll do surgery. I don’t like this practice. It’s a big no for me.

Up next - opinion 3 at the local university medical school eye institute. Then opinion 4 at the guy the very first doctor recommended.

It’s all a lot. It’s all scary. The RK complicates things. The mixed opinions are concerning.

I’ll update after the next opinions come in, if only to give myself a complete record in one place.

I’m scared.

I had RK in the 1980s. I have 16 cuts on each eye. Today I learned that I “potentially” “do” have glaucoma. I also learned that an LAL lens is the best, really only, solution for my vision. I’m processing this over a cortado. I’ll get second opinion next week. Then I’ll go from there. Not panicking.

Do you answer the door when you’re not expecting a visitor? I do not. Never have. It’s a safety thing and I don’t want to be bothered.

My best friend is 53 yo. She never learned to drive. She’s scared of her strong reactions in tense situations. She says she’s made bad decisions in her life and doesn’t want to make a bad decision while in charge of a 2000 lb vehicle. She also doesn’t want to be in class w 15 yos, she’s embarrassed. (I’ve told her there are private lessons.) She looking at getting divorced so learning to drive is a big need - there is terrible public transportation where she lives. How do I encourage her? How can we build her trust in herself to be able to handle this? She’s smart, capable, holds a professional level job, has raised children. Any words of encouragement for her will be appreciated.

I know ophthalmologists often do lid lifts and remove under bags. Has anyone had this done at the same time as cataract surgery? I have my consult in 3 weeks. I thought I’d ask the surgeon about it.

F60 I’ve recently been wearing thongs because I don’t like VPL at the gym. In fact, I’m starting to prefer them over regular high cut briefs. I’ve been wearing Grankee from Amazon and like them. (They were suggested here, I believe.) However, I have a wee bit of hanging tummy so I’d like something w a bit more coverage in the front. What are you wearing that you like?

ETA: I’ve recently lost 50 lbs thanks to bariatric surgery and lots of activity. I’m enjoying my body. For decades I was a Fruit of the Loom high rise brief gal. But, now that I’ve tried thongs, I really like them. I forget I’m wearing them. And my husband is appreciating them, too. Thankfully, there’s something out there for each of us.

After over 10 years I’m changing salons and stylists today. I’m excited. What should I wear? I’m F60, white hair, very active, anti-MAGA and all the related crap. I’m fun, a newlywed and eager to make a big change to my hair. How do I signal to the stylist that I don’t want a stereotypical grandma cut? How do I let her know I can do edgy but not to the point of looking silly or unable to enjoy aging? I’m not doing any fillers, Botox, etc. I’m aging and I’m good w that. Suggestions?

I ride a Specialized gravel bike, frame size 52. I’m 5’5” tall. I’m trying to figure out the best place to put a pack of some sort on my bike. I want to carry clothes - jeans, shirt, sneakers - as well as a battery pack w cable, flat repair stuff, multi tool, a towel, maybe lunch. The basics. A handlebar bag seems too small. There’s no room for a frame bag when I have water bottles. I can’t have anything blocking my radar and tail light. Am I looking at panniers? Would a large handlebar bag work? Would it block a headlight? Do I need to learn to ride w a backpack? Most of the time I’m traveling 5 miles each way to the gym but I’d like space to do more. On weekends I do much longer rides outside the city and may not even use the storage. Thoughts?

Does anyone, particularly those who had RK in the 80s, have experience w Dr. Steven Dell in Austin? I got a strong recommendation for him in the late 90s so I’m looking for newer information.

What area/district/region should we stay in to get the most Seattle experiences? We’ll be coming off a 5 day hiking/camping trip so mostly want an easy, interesting, relaxing, not a full-blown rush-to-see-it-all experience. Early August. We have a full day in Seattle w 1/2 day before and after. We’d prefer to stay on foot or take public transport.

So, Tuesday I was at the gym doing my weekly arm day w my trainer. I was in front of the mirror. I looked and could only see that I was fat, with some old and weak thrown in. Since then, I’ve been battling an image of me being fat.

I’m one year post op. 5’5”. F50. 165 lbs. I’m not fat. For the last 9 months I’ve enjoyed being almost thin, at a healthy, comfortable weight.

When I was heavier, up to 246 at one point, I didn’t just see fat in the mirror. I had a healthy self-image.

Is this body dysmorphia kicking in? Out of the blue? What’s been your experience?

I’ve never been to the Caribbean but it looks like there are places there that tick all the boxes. Please help me narrow it down to an island and a resort or hotel.

- luxury (up to ~$700/night) service and room
- late October
- 3 nights
- room w useable balcony
- pool(s)
- ocean
- not wanting to rent a car
- not drinking so alcohol isn’t a selling point
- all inclusive not necessary, luxury is
- direct flight from HOU or DFW
- not a big party/rowdy scene
- prefer few/no kids
- onsite activities a bonus
- concierge to arrange outings appreciated

I’m not asking for too much, am I?

Thanks!

I am a bariatric patient. I’m one year post op, VSG. I have a question that might sound snarky, and I’m sorry about that. My interest is real.

Why do posters here use the word FAIL and its derivatives so often? I’ve failed. I’m failing. I’m a failure. I don’t understand the mindset. Is it specific to the bariatric population? What would be the reason for that?

Lesson learned - the fastest way to look 10 lbs lighter is to wear a good, supportive bra. Get the girls up and your narrowing waist will be more exposed. Ta-da, leaner look.