PdxMan

I did not have this issue, but getting IV fluids is very common for those who cannot, for one reason or another, get their fluids in. If you had some complications with infections which is delaying the healing process, you definitely do not want to compound the issue by being dehydrated. You are doing the right thing by staying on top of this. Just do what they suggest and know this is just a minor blip on your road to recovery.

4 days post op here. My surgeon told me as long as I felt comfortable it was fine. Just no acrobatics. 4 days ... scissors. Yup. All good.

*hugs NurseGrace hugs*

Oye ... yes. you should fix that. Otherwise, people are going to see that gets through the filter and then we're going to see it everywhere. That is totally f****d up.

Ha! That is what I tell my wife when she says how weird I am. "Hey, you must be really weird, then, because you picked me!"

Uhh ... I play for the other team.

It's her idea! Woot! Woot!

Being less Celibate

chicken wings ... I used to be able to throw down 12-18 of the big ones. Not the ones you get at restaurants. I'm talking the big ones. I make them for the Super Bowl every year. This year, it took me all game to get in 6. And that was all I ate. Before, it would be the wings, 7 layer dip, hot dogs, nachos ... Yeah, no chicken wing eating contest for me.

Sorry, I just find this post so funny. From this, I take it you have a background in the mental wellness arena. Assuming this is true, throughout this entire thread you have been pressing the point that not telling the ENTIRE story of a personal, medical decision, you are committing a lie of ommission. First off, you of all people should know that we all have our own moral compass. You do not live by my morals and I do not live by yours. I'm sure there are many aspects of my life you would find objectionable and I'm sure I would find many aspects of your life just as objectionable. Don't impress your morals on me and I won't impress mine on you. Deal? Just to let you know, when discussing the number of kids I have with people, I do NOT let them know I had a vasectomy. I have been asked if my sunglasses were prescription which I replied, "No, they're just regular polarized lenses." I did NOT say I had lasik eye surgery. While playing tennis and I nail my seventh serving ace, I do NOT tell my opponents I had shoulder surgery 5 years ago. By your morals I am a big lier. Sorry, the entity I have to answer to is OK with that. I'm just amazed someone in the mental health field would feel so obligated to try to shame people. Not only on one post, but continually throughout the thread. Just respect that you have an opinion on something and they have theirs. Perhaps you should examine your own shortfall that you must press this point ad nauseum?

You have to request the test. The AndroGel is the more expensive option and you have to be sure to thoroughly wash your hands after. Touching people after, especially pregnant women, is a bad thing. I get a shot in the hiney each week. So cheap my insurance covers it 100% (they didn't cover $1 of my WLS). It's not a big deal. Takes less than a minute. Your doctor may even let you do the injections yourself. My Dr office is 2 blocks from my work, so it's no biggie for me.

Blood test. And the testosterone supplements do not work. If he has an inkling his testosterone levels are low, then they most likely are. Sex drive is not the only indicator. Inability to focus, depression and just drive in general are affected.

It may not be the cause, but if his levels are low, it could help. BTW, if I hadn't gotten any in 2 years, I'd be a little off kilter as well. Just sayin'

Why not start counseling right now? How well do you communicate? Are you rigorously honest in every aspect of your life? Sometimes it takes courage to make the first move and do the behaviors you desire from your spouse. If you want them to communicate more about their feelings, then you need to start with doing it yourself. If there is unconditional love there, you will be fine. It's like this. If you want backrubs, start giving backrubs. *** EDIT *** Has he had a physical lately? Had his testosterone levels checked?

Yeah, I was the same way. I could always gain faster than I lost. I weighed myself once a month, so I never knew if I was a slow loser. I didn't want to beat myself up for not losing day to day or week to week, so weighing once a month, I always saw a loss until I hit goal. It kept me motivated.

I am actually sitting next to about 3 cases of Girl Scout Cookies my co-workers bought from my daughter.

I started probably at about 4 months with iceberg lettuce. When I was totally OK with that, I started adding in romain dropping iceberg alltogether. Then, started adding spinach in the same way. At about 6 months, I was adding kale. Just take it slowly and listen to your body.

is a great video to illustrate this which has been posted on here many times, but is worth reviewing. This is related to bypass, but it is true for any WLS or non-WLS person.

This is not just for WLS folks, but has been recommended for as long as I can remember to lose weight. The stomach is the mechanical part of digestion. Stomach acids and stomach churning makes the food a liquidy paste. When it gets to this state, the pyloric valve opens up allowing this paste to pass into the intestines where absorption takes place. If you add liquid by drinking with your meal, that food will get to the paste state quicker and pass into the intestines sooner allowing yourself to consume even more food. Here is my real-life experience with this. When I was running somewhat competetively, I could only run a maximum of 4 miles before I would run out of energy or "bonk" as it's referred to. Consuming 1,000 calories a day was just not enough to support the level of activity I was demanding from my body. So, I started drinking with my meals so I could get more in. Let me tell you, it worked. I was able to get 1,800 calories in, no problem. My wife would laugh at me as I would do this. She would say, "Open little pyloric valve, OPEN!" ... and it would. I would be full, have something to drink, and 5 minutes later could eat pretty much the same quantity I had just taken in. It worked. I was able to run up to 17 miles before I started having back issues (not related to running, but rather being morbidly obese for so long). I just had my second back surgery a month ago and am in PT hoping to get back to running. During this time of lower activity, I do not drink with meals, so I do feel the restriction sooner and have that "full" feeling longer. Water is not going to cause your stomach to expand. First off, the stretchy tissue has been removed. And if you are eating the right foods, lean Proteins and veggies, those foods don't expand with water. Rice, Pasta and breads, yes, but you shouldn't be eating those anyway, right? You'll get used to it, don't worry.

I have 8oz of vegetable bean Soup and two Girl Scout Cookies (tag-a-longs). Hey, I'm at goal so I can have these.

The hair dye thing is because of the damage to your hair. Hair loss is a know side effect which occurs in almost all WLS patients, so you shouldn't compound the affect by damaging your hair further. Go ahead, get your teeth cleaned. You're going to be smiling more.

Actually, you can. There is a provision for medical necessity and this definately falls into this category. Trust me, your God does not want you to sacrifice at the cost of your health. What is usually recommended is to find another act of penance or charity. Check out #3 below

They are giving you this option? Where are you having this done? I would ask the Dr how often they have had to do transfusions ... that would be the real barometer. I have never heard of doing a transfusion, but if there are complications ... have you had issues with previous surgeries?

A 12 step program has taught me how to live life on life's terms. How to confront my issues instead of drowning them with alcohol. A lot of people think this program is about alcohol, but nothing could be further from the truth. People use substances of all sorts to keep from having to live life head on. Alcohol, drugs, gambling, food ... fill in the blank. I didn't want to feel what I was feeling, so I drank. Food comforted me, too. Some people shop. When you become powerless and there are real life consequences to your actions is when you drop to your knees and say, "Dear god, (fill in deity) I can't do this anymore." Only then was I willing to confront my demons and become teachable. You don't have to believe in this or any program, but just be willing to believe there is a solution. Whatever you use to cope, there is another way.