meggiep

Is your super special machine sleek and metal? I have that one. SInce we all support one another I feel like I should tell you that If you do have severe apnea ( I was diagnosed with mild end of moderate apnea) it is actually possible to die in your sleep. In addition it can contribute to many health issues (diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol), as well as slow your metabolism. The woman who fitted me said that 50% of the people dxed with severe apnea who do not comply with CPAP use die of an apnea related incident, from falling asleep behind the wheel to an apnea caused health condition to sleep asphyxia. Please be careful! For one thing- suppose it speeds you metabolism- you will lose more weight after the sleeve ;-P Not wanting to nag, just wanting you to know. Also, if your doctor does require use of your machine, the fancy ones have a CF card the tells your use and all the phases of sleep you enter, etc. So just saying you did it wont work!

I totally sympathize about the pre-op nightmare- it seemed that every test found something that had to be investigated further and deayed me more. I had to really fight for some things- for example my colonoscopy doctor decided that because I use a fentany patch for pain I would not be susceptible to fentanyl twilight sleep and therefore I needed to have a general anesthetic , and that was going to delay my March 24th appointment to June, and therefore would delay my surgery. I knew he was wrong as I use the smallest dose possible, and when I was upped to the next highest dose it knocked me out so I cut back again. I had to make a appointment and plead my case- and he agreed and I had the procedure this past week. This i one example of the roadblocks that have come up and that I have had to push against to get to my goal. I do want to talk to you about the CPAP machine though . I too had a sleep evaluation same kind you had with the machine in the middle of the night. I would have SWORN I did not have apnea. WRONG! I do- mild to moderate. My doctor requires that you use the machine for at least two weeks before surgery, with at least 4 hours a night. Please make sure whether your doctor has requirements once you are dxed as I would hate to see you be delayed again. The thing is, sure as I was it was not a factor in my life- I actually have noticed a total difference now that I am using the machine! I usually am so tired when I wake up that it takes me a long time to wake up- and I find I am much more alert in the morning now. I also feel more energy! SO don't be sure it will not help you. My husband watched me sleeping and was also sure I did not have it. Apnea can affect many health conditions as well as metabolism! Also- call every day to remind them you are on the waiting list. Sometimes the squeaky wheel gets the appointment. I got my psych eval moved up by calling all the time. Good luck!

What is his pre-op and post-op diet? BTW, My surgeon has done thousands as well and his one fatality was an RNY patient who went home from the hospital and ate pizza. The pouch ruptured and eventually gangrene killed the patient. Considering the thorough preparation and education my doctor provides I simply cannot imagine a patient doing that.

My doctor's is 2-3 days clear liquids, full liquids to day 14, and pureed/soft foods until 5-6 weeks. Then full diet.

They will just be jealous watching you bloom!

As I mentioned in my post over in pre-surgery- it is two of my siblings and a couple of nieces- they have called to do interventions, ad one nice actually sent me a powerpoint of her research of all the things she figured I did not know about the VSG. She figured wrong, I knew it all and a lot more. They are treating me as if I am just in la la land thinking this will solve all my problems and then will find out it was a mistake. They are violently anti medical model and they also have not lived near me for many years so really do not know me, my life, and the prison my body has become for me. I had to tell them that I do not need info from them- I have plenty of that- I need love and support and if they can;t do that I wont be telling them any more about the process. This weekend I was so happy as I finished every single pre requirement this Friday and it was so hard not to call them when I usually would share happy things with them. They wont think of it that way. Luckily I - and you- have place like this for support. My husband and son are also totally on team Meggie! I feel for you.

p.s. If it helps, I saw a Dr. Oz this week that discussed this and he said he only worries if you have fewer than three bowel movements a week. I appreciate hearing what people do for this as I would love to avoid it! I have managed to avoid this even though I have been on opioid therapy longterm for pain and I hate to think I would have that problem for the first time if there is a way to avoid it!

One thing that occurred to me is that it seems (from what I have read) that many sleeved folks have a barium swallow leak test post surgery. Is that true? If so that sets you up for constipation right out of the gate. I know this because I just did my upper GI and I went from a day of completely purging my whole colon for a colonoscopy to the opposite problem immediately. Barium is bad that way. It's too bad you would have that when you already face getting your new stomach to behave and be regular!

Another thing I just thought of- it is not as if we get to STOP trying! This is just a tool- a great tool, probably the best we have ever had. If we are on a losing roll going into it- all the better!

I think you can just answer, as most everyone is asking the same thing about the details of your diet, exercise, etc.You don't need to thank everyone. I know if you reply to someone's post directly their post is quoted and then you type your reply below it, a I have. You seem to be quoting in one post and then answering in another. I also think there is a way to quote several people. I haven't learned it though! In any case, I think you have explained a lot when you said too many carbs- I think everything I have researched has made it clear that you need to restrict carbs a lot to really lose. My doctor, in fact, says he has never seen anyone lose all their goal weight without doing so. He explains that you think of it as having two gas tanks- one with carbs and sugar, the other your excess fat. When the carb tank is empty you wont switch to the fat tank unless youput very little into the carb tank. If you put carbs all the time your body will shut down to use what carbs you give it and wont reach over to the fat tank. The main issue is that most of us are addicted to carbs- that is why we are at this point- needing an extreme tool to help us deal with it. That craving is still going to crop up and we still need our resolve and will to get it behind us and keep it from undermining our progress. The tiny tummy just helps us by making us full a lot faster. It is a tool- we are still having to do the work. The main things I have seen in common among the people who seem to do really well are 1. drink your water- 64 ounces plus 2. Eat your protein- 60-80 grams a day, before anything else 3. restrict your carbs- 40 or under (maybe more taking in to account Fiber content of some bettter carbs like fruit and vegetables) 4. exercise. In addition, almost everyone stalls during the first month as far as I can tell! Furthermore, sometimes a problem develops where you are actually eating too little and if you increase your Protein , make sure of your Water, and eat a bit more, it can get you losing again. You can fall into a trap thinking you are eating so very little, - why aren't you losing? and your body is just shutting down into starvation mode. You need to show your body you are in this for the long haul- nourishing your body with protein, and healthy carbs with fiber and nutrients, keeping hydrated, and making your bod work it work it work it. Then I think you will see that loss you so want. It might be a good idea to train yourself to a new addiction like exercise! Hope this helps. Good luck to you!

I've been waiting for you to weigh in (pun intended ;-P) as I knew it would be an entertaining read- and I read it out loud to my husband, as I have all your posts lately. Thanks for brightening a down day! I look forward to following your journey. I bet you could do a great You Tube series!

I feel so lucky to have met the soul mate love of my life while larger (though not nearly as large as I am right now)- he loved me as I was, loves me as I am, and supports me in the surgery because I am unhappy in my body, not because he wants me to lose weight. One thing I wanted to say is that when I got to the point when I looked around my life and thought- "I will be fine if I don't find someone" because I was happy inside, happy being me- BAM that is when I met him. Work towards being the goddess you are for YOU and I think the love will follow. Bless all of you who want to find love- I really want you all to find it. My list Weigh less than my husband! He is 205 right now, I am 270 so that first goal will take 65 pounds. (Of course knowing him he will lose too...) Be able to take my beautiful engagement ring off so that I can have it properly cleaned for the first time in years Relieve the back and knee pain that has me housebound Walk my dog And most importantly I want to be able to buy clothes that truly express who I am. Although I can find nice plus size clothes, and I make do, I haven't been able to buy the looks I really want for me for a long time. I don't get why they can't just make the same clothes in bigger sizes. Do I automatically have to wear matronly because I am big? Lane Bryant tries- but I want the same clothes I see in the smaller sizes.

Why did you want the surgery? If you are like most of us you have gained all the weight back that you have ever managed to lose PLUS. Really think about this- will this time be different? If your issue is never being able to lose and now suddenly you can, then perhaps you do need to give this a try again. After all removing 85% of your stomach is not to be taken lightly! Ask yourself the questions- only you know the core truth about this. I too , in losing weight as I prepare, started thinking wow, I lost 15 pounds, maybe I can lose this without the surgery. Self sabotage. Then I hurt my back again and gained five pounds of the 15 I lost. Reality check! I need this surgery.

I am not bi-polar but I do suffer from depression and several family members are bi-polar. I want to recommend crazymeds.us as a wonderful resource which approaches the meds and the conditions with refreshing honesty and humor. There is lots of current info. Good luck to you and hugs from me.

The flip side of my strength in telling my family off...is that today, when I finished every single pre test hoop and everything is ready to send to insurance- my first thought was to tell my family how happy I am - and they would not be able to feel that for me. It is a sad thing for me. Luckily my husband and son are celebrating and they are my TRUE family. Not to mention my Sleeve Talk family- y'all know how big that is.

BTW I have the full mask too, and I sleep on my side. The only problem I have is it seems fitted perfectly when I go to sleep but sometimes slips to allow air to come up the side. I just have to tweak it a bit I think. My insurance paid 50% and the $350 was OUCH- but I got a fancy sleek metal machine with all kinds of bells and whistles. My supplies are covered.

I was totally shocked when my sleep study ended with a dx of apnea. I got my machine last Friday and to my shock I actually found there was a difference almost immediately in the quality of rest I got. Often it takes me a while to wake up in the morning and after using the machine I was much more alert in the morning. My brother (tall and skinny dang him!) has apnea and told me the machine will change my life and health so I will definitely use it regularly. In fact if dxed with apnea one requirement for the sleeve is using it for at least two weeks before the surgery, and also having it with you for surgery.

As I posted a couple of days ago- I regret telling my siblings. Two of them, as well as two of my nieces, are trying to stop me from doing it. They are totally anti medical model and completely unable to truly see my life, as an almost totally disabled person imprisoned in her body. It has really hurt and if I was to go back I would not tell them.

I do know it comes from love but in my family love and judgement are so intertwined as to be one... When I answered my niece's powerpoint email (which among other things, explained that when it said 75% sleeve patients do blah blah blah it means 25% do not- as if I do not know 75 plus 25 equals 100) I told her that although I knew she cared about me and would not be doing this otherwise, her email did not mention love or caring at all, and the way she signed off was "I wish you luck with your decision" . Oh makes you all warm and fuzzy, doesn't it? I am giddy right now- I had my upper GI and chest xray today so I have jumped through every single hoop now! I velieve it will all be submitted to insurance Monday.

There is a great tutorial for the tickers: http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/13516-ticker-tutorial-for-vst-lbt-with-pictures/page__p__115605__hl__%2Bticker+%2Btutorial__fromsearch__1#entry115605

I think you could get some really great help here if you would talk about what you have been eating, whether you have been getting your Protein, whether you are drinking your Water, etc. Are you working out? YOU may just be at the normal stall I read about here, but you also may be able to jump start your losing if you fix some small thing. The only reason I even know thi is because of all the reading I do here and all the You Tubes I watch. I know so much that will help me in my journey! And if I encounter a problem this is the place I will come. But you will find that you need to open up a bit more about yourself and they will be better able to help you.

On Wednesday I had my secon nutritionist appointment, at which I asked if the third could be waived so that I can have my surgery at the right time for our business. I had my five months of food logging, my proteing drink samples, and the Vitamins I have started taking with me. We talked for a while and she agreed I am ready and prepared mentally for this- so she signed off on me! With todays colonoscopy behind me (pun intended?) and my upper GI tomorrow that is IT- all re requirements met. My stuff should be submitted to insurance next week! Hooray! Meanwhile, my family is totally working to stop me. Not my darling husband and my son- they are totally supportive. My oldest sister and my brother, as well as two of my nieces have started a campaign. The neice who is the web mistress for NASA sent me a multi page power point production . I am so insulted- they act like I am not using my brain and am in la la land about this. For one thing, as I told my niece, I knew everything she sent to me and more she didn't. Do they really think I would do something like have 85% of my stomach removed without thorough research? What must they think of me? How I wish I had not told them. They are a bunch of Debbie Downers! I finally wrote to them all and said I do not need information from them, I have plenty of resources for that. What I need from them is love and support. Period. If they don't feel they can give it to me I will leave them out of the loop and wont be discussing the surgery any more. One thing I keep in mind is that family members and friends sometimes feel threatened with the idea of you leaving your position as the heavy one. Maybe so. All I know is it is a real bummer to have them reacting this way.

Wonderful news for you and great answers! You could also add, for the one about taking supplements for the rest of your life, that you would likely end up having to take meds for blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol instead. Which is better?

I just got my CPAP and thought I would mention that they recommend never putting it in your luggage, only putting it in carry on. I believe you can have an extra carry on if it is medical. Anyway, the machines are not able to withstand the abuse that checked luggage gets. The woman who fitted me happened to have worked loading luggage into planes and she said they luggage is treated roughly- for example when there is a lot they will kick suitcases to fit more in. Yipes

I have started yours from the first- I'm like that- I like to follow from the beginning. I love that we can use our iPhones- I was in the prep room waiting to be taken for my colonoscopy this morning and my husband got th idea I should do my second vlog- out the phone came and I sad a few words and voila- Video #2. I need some guidance about how to insert photos or captions- is there a tutorial somewhere?