cynthiap05

Thank y'all! For the kinds words It's was just time for a change. Hit my low (high weight) and I'm never looking back.
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Hi all,
I've been lurking for some months, and want to share how I came to my decision to have VSG surgery. My life the last few months has been pretty awful, but it did make my decision to get VSG a no brainer.
April 26th of this year, three days after my 35th birth day, I was the sickest I have ever been. It had been going on for about a week and I just thought I had food poisoning. I was nauseous, vomiting, and had really bad headaches. I was so sick that I decided to skip crossfit that week. I had recently started again, and I LOVE it. I decided to tough it out, and went into work. Later on in the day, I was just finishing up with a meeting in my manager's office when I noticed a REALLY strong ammonia smell. It was like someone had opened a bottle right in front of me.
I leave the meeting in my manager's office, take a deep breath, and lo and behold I'm the source of ammonia. I'm a scientist, so I immediately knew it was my kidneys. I rushed home to let my dogs out, and drove myself to the hospital. I didn't really know what to think about how long I'd be there, but I told my mom who flew in the next morning to make sure I was ok.
I'll save a lot of the drama (there was a lot). Funny story, they admitted me into the ICU and assured me I WAS NOT dying. I was. My BP at one point was 227/160, so I'm very lucky I didn't have a stroke. I still can't believe they tried to assure me I wasn't dying. I guess they were being nice. After days of trying to figure out why I went from perfectly healthy (other than being a professional fat girl) to nearly in the ground, they diagnosed me with an ultrarare autoimmune disorder called atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome. I had never heard of this. My mom had never heard of this, and I had to be moved to a different hospital for them to treat me accordingly. Atypical HUS is a disorder that can attack any major organ system, but its favorite target are the kidneys. Before 2011, the treatment was very unsafe plasma exchanges. Now there's a new drug that shows a lot of promise.
So I lost my kidneys this summer. I have been on dialysis since May. I won't go into all the psychological stuff that accompanies being on dialysis or having kidney failure, but I no longer have to go in center. That is a blessing. I am able to do it at home.
So I was 35. Always fat. Still healthy and active, and then this happens. Now I'm faced with the possibility that one day I'll need a kidney. Well, my BMI disqualifies me from being listed for a transplant. I had a friend come to visit me earlier this summer and she was having the sleeve, and trying to convince me to do it. I'm stubborn. I've always wanted to do everything on my own and have done everything on my own, so I resisted when she said I should get it. My plan was to start crossfit again and just do that. Well even doing crossfit 3x a week, I don't lose a ton of weight, I easily put on muscle though and saw my body contours change. I'm already one of the stronger females in my gym. But once this happened, and I wanted to get my life back, I decided that the best insurance would be for me to get the sleeve. My nephrologists are all supportive and very behind me.
So I just wanted to share what happened. I have stories about being in the hospital for nearly a month. Once nurse was convinced I was there with malignant hypertension (she didn't read my chart and I have never had high BP before this) and therefore a diabetic, and tried to give me insulin. This was my first night out of the ICU and I was on a lot of pain killers, and I still managed to set her straight. So don't let people tell you fat shaming in health care doesn't exist. She was the exception, and my doctors never brought up my weight except in the context of a transplant which I thought was fair game. They've all been really really great.
I might be off dialysis soon, things are looking up and my kidneys seem to be recovering in their own time. I have a lot of emotions about what's left to come this year, but I'm excited. I may never need a new kidney, but I think I made the right choice in deciding to have the surgery. I'll post more as December approaches. This is a great forum with great people, and I'm glad I'm apart of this community now.
-Broove

Hey all! Just wanted to give an update. Called my surgeon, went to see him..he did say I was very swollen, more so than usual. Wasn't exactly sure why. Said my surgery was as simple as any other. No major movements that was needed, no excess tugging, etc. so he did some scans, checked once more for a leak (just as a precautionary) more blood work, listened and looked and everything seemed fine. Told me to rest easy for a couple days, ice my tummy and gave me a binder. Things have only went up from there. I'm doing much better, and am up walking around a lot easier now! I actually was able to pick my daughter up from Kindergarten today and that made my day! She immediately said "Mommy! Are you all better!?" So thankfully I'm getting there! My husband is very supportive, very helpful, does everything he can to help and even tries not to eat around me as he feels guilty for eating! Poor guy. He goes back to work in the morning but I still have my awesome mamma to help me around the house with my 5 y.o. And 3 y.o. (Praise Jesus!) haha. So thanks again for every ones suggestions. I'm glad I went before something major happened! Oh, and when I went to the doctor, I weighed in at 320! 35 lbs down from my HW and 20 lbs down from surgery date! Woo!
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Also some people wear an abdominal binder. Maybe a binder to hold your tummy firm would feel better?? I am sorry you are having a bad time!
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Hello all. Thought I'd introduce myself. I'm Mary, I live in Wisconsin, run a dairy farm with my hubby and we have two grown children and two grandbabies. I had been a large gal my whole life, no doubt in part due to the fact that beer, brats and cheese are staples in any good Wisconsinite's diet . After climbing to a BMI of 50 and feeling quite useless due to my physical limitations, I finally decided to have WLS in 2010. I ended up going to Mexico since my insurance company would only pay for bypass or Lapband because they considered VSG experimental. Fortunately, my daughter is a gastroenterologist and she used her connections to hand pick me a surgeon who was renown in the international bariatric community.
My recovery and overall weight-loss journey was fairly easy and uneventful. Even though I had surgery in Mexico, I still attended local WLS support groups throughout the entire process. It was nice just to be around people going through the same thing. Over the years I saw dozens (probably hundreds) of patients come and go. Very few veterans stuck around. But for some reason I felt a certain level of responsibility to help those coming behind me. In addition to the group meetings, I saw a therapist on a regular basis for the first couple years. That, by far, has been the secret to my success.
About 6 months ago I quit attending the support group meetings. A new coordinator came on board and we didn't exactly see eye to eye on a number of things. Basically she felt threatened by my vast knowledge and experience and I thought she was a stupid twit (at least that's my take on it ). So I decided to leave "real" people behind and enter the world of cyber support. I've been lurking for quite awhile and finally decided to join up.
From what I've observed so far, the problems and issues I read about online are not dissimilar to what I heard in the support group. The biggest difference is there are a LOT more whiners and non-compliant patients online. Maybe being anonymous just makes folks more comfortable with complaining. Maybe the online patients left their support groups to seek justification for their bad behaviors from strangers (cause we never coddled them in our group sessions!) Or maybe they are trying their best but their programs did not properly prepare them or they don't have local support groups. Unfortunately the naivety of some of the people giving advice on here is a little scary to say the least. And then there are the delusional individuals like that organic milk chic. No one like that would ever pass the psych evaluation in a real bariatric program so I've missed out on that type of sparkling personality in group session. Of course I may have been a little biased by her username.....my husband always jokes, "we prefer our milk with a healthy dose of antibiotics".
Anyways, just tonight I realized my 6 year surgiversary was 2 days ago and I missed it. Oops. I guess that's a good thing, though.....means my new skinny life is so normal I forgot about my surgery! Either that or I'm just old and senile. In either case it's been fun and I hope I can continue to encourage people to take full advantage of their new lease on life after WLS.

Hey all. I'm one week Post op. Where do I start. Well the day of surgery I was pretty out of it and really tired from the anesthesia and pain meds. My doctors and nurses kept me really comfortable with my pain. I had to have an upper GI study before I was able to drink anything. Unfortunately my system was moving really slowly, so I had to have the upper GI done three times until things finally started to move along. My second time doing the GI, I fainted, but thankfully the doctor caught me lol. After things were good, I was finally able to do ice chips and I couldn't of been happier. After the ice chips, I started to do Water. The next day after surgery I was able to do sugarfree Popsicles, and broth. I really didn't care to much for eating or drinking because I was to tired, but they wouldn't discharge me until I was able to drink 4oz of water in a hour. My pain was bad, but thankfully they were keeping it controlled. The gas pain was horrible. The worst part for me was getting in and out of bed, that is when it hurt the most. When getting home I felt a level of regret, but just kept reminding myself why I'm doing this. I was doing Protein Shakes, sugarfree Jello, sugar free Popsicles, and broth. I was doing good for the first three days, but after that I started to feel nauseous more which made me sad lol. I've been taking my water in perfectly even though I feel like I'm starting to hate the taste now lol. I have now been able to add sugar free pudding, low fat yogurt, egg beaters, cottage cheese, and refried Beans to my diet. Well I'm not a bean and cottage cheese kind of person, but I was so excited after doing liquids for so long. I tried beans with ms.dash seasoning and it was a fail! They were so nasty. I then tried the egg beaters with the ms dash seasoning and again I threw it in the trash. It sucks! I don't know what to do because the stuff they tell me to eat does not appeal to me and I get nauseous thinking about them. It's definitely been more of a struggle for me then I thought it would be. I had a minnie break down today and just cried. I have been so tempted to eat solid food, but I know the dangers, so I just sat in the shower and cried. It's definitely hard when the rest of your family can enjoy what they like and your just there by yourself not able to. As for pain now it's pretty much controlled by my pain meds except for the gas pain. The gas pain definitely sucks still, but I just been using the heating pad for it. My incisions are healing fine, it's just really the mental/emotional thing I'm struggling with. I also notice I have to brush my teeth constantly because I have a nasty taste in my mouth. Besides this long post I can say I'm taking it one day at a time trying to make it to the end lol.
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TODAY IS MY SURGIVERSARY!!! 97lbs lost!well wow what can I say? It's been quite a journey! The one thing I think i was unprepared for was the emotional/mental piece. It's not natural to see yourself in a state (at a weight/size) you've never been and then know how to deal with people's new reaction to you. I've been smaller before but never this small and it's a whole new world! Sleevers... What was it like? Well from surgery to liquid diets to pretty much seven months of working out five days a week. Low carb low sugar high fat high Protein diet to now. It wasn't easy. You can't just have surgery and sit around expecting to lose weight. You gotta work!! I reached "goal" bout seven months out. But you'll find your goal quickly changes as you realize you can do more. So work your ass off and don't give up! What's next? Toning this old body lol. Still work to be done.
Starting weight 232
Goal 180, 160, 145
Current weight 135
Sizes 20 to 5
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I'm gonna put this disclaimer up first: I'm almost 5 weeks out from surgery and am NOT thinking about drinking now or anytime in the near future.
That being said...
My NUT told me that after getting the sleeve, one's alcohol tolerance is really low. I don't drink very much...a drink at Christmas, a drink out at dinner with friends, etc. So, not drinking right now is no biggie at all. However, I'm curious, if and when I have a drink at some point down the road, how much of a lightweight will I be? Are we talking one sip of a Fuzzy Naval and I'm stripping my clothes off and licking the bar top? How bad is it?
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I can't imagine any ethical surgeon doing that to you, even self pay because if you have complications they would be responsible. Have you tried counseling?
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I'm scheduled for October 3rd. I'm in Cincinnati, Ohio. Start pre-op diet tomorrow. Mine is not strictly fluids until after the ninth day. Then it's a shake they gave me and Clear Liquids only.

Eek it's right around the corner to October! I love knowing there are other people going though the same progress as me!
I'm having doubts, I told my husband that on Monday I'm canceling again (we went through this last weekend) but now it's Monday I've decided to not cancel. When I choose to have the surgery I know no matter what I needed to stand by that choice come he'll or high Water. So even though I want to cancel because of my fears I won't.
I fear that I won't lose any weight at all, which is almost impossible but I feel like I'll be that 0.1% who doesn't lol
Good luck everyone. Hope your all going well xx
I used Circle Of Care in 2007 for my Lap Band and last year when I had the emergency surgery to have it removed because it slipped. I decided to go a different route this time. A whole new team.
He is one of the most experienced Doctors in this field so you'll be in good hands! Have you started your pre-op diet yet?

Oct 3rd here!
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Follow your surgeons pre-op and post-op instructions! Congrats!

Surgery scheduled for 10/3.
One week left of my pre-op diet. The first 7 days have been fairly easy for me. Of course I'm fortunate in that I can have non-starchy veggies.
15 lbs. gone so far. I've stuck with the plan 100%.

My date is Oct 3rd!
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I'm having a conversion from lapband to gastric sleeve on 10/17. Have had no restriction with my band since all Fluid was removed in January due to reflux at night and aspirating.
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I have surgery October 13th , just started my pre op diet yesterday, I hope the 13th gets here soon.
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Oct 4th. It's happening. Eeek.
I had a dream last night that I had my surgery then the next day started eating huge bowls of granola and Cereal
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Oct. 3

Oct. 3

I did but I've never used it. Kids' menus are nasty. chicken nuggets, pasta' with butter, pizza, fries... Not much protein' heavy and healthy. What a shame...

I could not WAIT until I had a teaspoon of refried Beans with a dash of salsa or taco sauce! I am a Mexican food junkie! Three years later, maybe four chips and Queso and Salsa, I stop'. I think I could go on for weeks!!!!! But my health is more important, and I refuse to go there.

I eat spicy foods (really really spicy hehe). I like sour and spicy stuff, and don't care for anything sweet. I have no issue with it at all. My surgeon said that's fine as long as I can tolerate it too, so whew. I do take famotidine 20mg twice a day as per my surgeon.

I agree with the not lying part, but I disagree with the likelihood of people figuring it out. I am 3+ years out, 112lbs down and no one that I did not choose to tell knows more than the fact that I eat a diet much like Atkins and I move my a$$ a lot.
Only one person asked me out right if I had WLS and my response was simply, "What a personal question! You probably did not intend to be nearly as rude as you came across." My tone clearly invited no further discussion and no further discussion occurred.
If I were to tell people I was having a procedure and they asked what kind, I would simply tell them it was very personal. Nothing else needs to be said. But I never told people that part, either.

We never even tod anyone we were having a procedure. Just moved on with life as we dieted. Life is so simple for us as a result.