ProudGrammy

12/15/11 come out, come out, wherever you are? kathy

:welcome: Tai29 Hi, i think every one of your feelings i can say we've all been there done that, even the ranting. Its exciting after all the waiting for your WLS - and you get an official date - you start to get very nervous. You are probably very excited on the inside, nervous on the outside. This is totally common. I think we all go through this. But as time goes on, you'll get that extremely happy nervous feeling too. You only have a week or so before the surgery, so you don't have that much time to be nervous. You will make it through surgery, and be around to talk about it. After all you have to be around so we can read your posts about the surgery. :smile1: Many of us have absolutely no problems with the surgery, back to work quickly. Many others have minor things like gas and other stuff, being very tired for a while. Some sort of pain usually is involved, i'm afraid i can't say other problems off hand cuz i was lucky not to have any problems. As far as what you should bring to the hospital, i wore the gown they supplied, Your gown might get messy, why mess up one of your pretty gowns. Some people bring slippers, deodorant personal stuff like that. The truth is i used what they supplied. Most important though - bring Chapstick. your lips will be very dry - since you won't be allowed to have Water for a while. Many dr.'s give drains, but not all dr.s. i didn't have a drain. i've heard many people have some prob with drain, while many don't.. You can't worry about everything. But I know i did worry too. Its only normal. Get any information though, that will help and maybe put you more at ease. Just be prepared, try and ask your dr. or the nurse to help you with any of your questions your asking here. Don't be afraid to ask any and all questions - no question is silly. You have a right to know, and they have an obligation to tell you. Do you have a nutritionalist? (msp) She can answer all your questions about food issues, like Protein shakes, getting in your protein, drinking 64 oz daily. All that good stuff. Whatever you don't get an answer too, just ask here, or ask someone else. Don't worry TOO much - things will take care of themselves - really good luck and happiness towards your new journey :grouphug: best wishes kathy

I also wish Dr. Simon made you lose 5% of your weight pre-op, and gave you a liquid diet pre-op. Since he didn't i kind of went a little bursirk (msp) and ate a bunch of terrific foods, that i knew i should not have. I figured i would eat like there was no tomorrow. So i punished myself - but i learned the hard way. So i guess i went on one of those food funerals. But my funeral lasted a couple of weeks. So i did gain weight. But that weight now is gone --but i have regrets that i goofed up, but its behind me and i am only going to look forward. Good luck on your self imposed pre-op diet. I'm sure you'll do great. Then enjoy your long journey with the sleeve, it will be a wonderful experience for. Good Luck kathy

hi leslie, i think your explanation is right on target. "This is an extreme last resort of finally getting the weight off". How true. When I was in the hospital, my roommate asked me what i was in for, I told her i just had WLS. She looked at me and said, "you must feel very desperate." First i was kind of taken a back with what she said, but then i thought to myself,"yes i am very desperate". Like everyone said basically is that most of us have tried it all, we need this surgery to work - and we know how this surgery should work, what we need to do. When things don't go as planned though, we might vent about a stall. It doesn't do any harm, and it might make us feel better talking about it. kathy

:teeth_smile: oh jasleeve - from above - hmmmmm, this is kathy coming to you live from syracuse, ny Kathy

:seeya: hi jasleeve, you actually brought a tear to my eye. I'm so happy that you are feeling a little better, that things are starting to turn around, but don't overdue now :hand4: You've been going through so much, i know your mom is there, but i'm sure you wish you had some more support from your "friends" well, guess what lady, you have all the support in the world from all of us on the board. We hear all your trials and tribulations - and worry about you. Continue to care of yourself, but now don't all of a sudden overdue. best wishes your sleeve family :grouphug:

:welcome: hi Smile0 Since the date in June is so far away, there shouldn't be any problem getting that as your day of surgery. As you said most people want to get an earlier date. In this case where you want your family around, at the beginning of June, there shouldn't be any problem having surgery the exact day that is most convenient for you. keep reading our great board - and write too, and ask any and all questions - take care as you get more and more excited on your long journey ahead best wishes kathy :regular_smile:

:welcome: HI CAM I don't think ANY dr. can tell you what surgery you should have or should not have. Patients have rights - and no one can go against your will. I wouldn't even listen to anything the dr. told you - I would say "GOOD BYE". If you don't want the lapband, fine, the dr. can give his opinion, but once you've made it clear what you want, or don't want - that should be it. Fine he explained his reasoning, but that should be the end of it. I feel he's being quite argumentative and you should find a dr. you do not feel pressured by and that you relate with. Now thats MY opinion :regular_smile: kathy

hi julie a couple of years ago i had my gallbladder out. i stayed out of work over a long weekend. I have a sit down job with a computer. it was a very easy procedure for me. I really didn't have much pain that i can remember. It was a piece of cake :tongue2: take care - don't worry about it - can't even compare to VSG , gall bladder very easy. kathy

BTW i just read that you have to drive kids around now? You drive! If thats true - please stop - you're dizzy and you could have a problem with the car for you, and very importantly those kids you're in charge of. please don't drive Kathy

hi jasleeve, what a mess haven't to deal with this. I'm so sorry. Due to the fact that you haven't been able to drink your Protein shakes, gatoraid, anything. As everyone says, you must be dehydrated. If you continue like this, you will continue to be weak, dizzy and weak and dizzy some more. You can't do this to yourself. I'm not even talking about the sleeve, when someone has your symptoms of course they are going to feel like. crap .. As they say, you must be an advocate for yourself. Is your mom still staying with you. Is she strong enough to be there for you? I remember your friends haven't been supportive before, but when push comes to shove, maybe they will help now. It doesn't matter that it involves the sleeve, just tell them something like we've been friends and i could really use your help now. Hopefully someone will get involved. Of course we're not dr.'s and we can't give medical advice - but our opinion, from many, is that you need to talk to your doc and if he doesn't mention it yet, say "do you think i should go to hospital for an IV. I need help cuz this isn't working." Or obviously whatever he says follow his instructions. Just to mention quickly, In my opinion, you are sick because you can't get your fluids, running on empty, all that good stuff - results from a surgery, any surgery. It just happened to be the sleeve. At a later point, soon hopefully - you'll be feeling better and then you can start dealing with the sleeve For now, just take care of you - completely you - do what the dr. tells you - and i just know you'll get better. I know it. We'll all thinking of you Big huggs from your sleeve community and me too kathy

Hi Rootman i remember before you mentioning your problems with kidney stones et al. That involves the gall bladder right? I had to have my gall bladder remover 2-3 years ago. It was no problem, and i didn't have any more problems, and the surgery wasn't bad. How in the world do you get all your Water in during the day? 1 to 1 1/2 gallons a day oh my goodness. I stop eating 30 minutes before i eat, i eat without drinking, then i don't drink for another 45-60 minutes. Thats alot of time i have to waste not being able to drink. I think i remember you saying something like, you do drink around meals cuz you have to do do your problems? i'm i right? Or was i dreaming at the time Sometimes i don't even get my 64 oz. in. I do count my shakes w/milk as a liquid, but i try to still get in a lot of H20, cuz i know thats important. So, how do you do? get in all that water i mean. Whats the secret? come on, come on - tell us the secret oh well, take care fellow sleever kathy

me again - end of 1rst paragraph- i meant to say "why I couldn't DRINK" 45-60 minutes before i ate. (not eat) ooops kathy

Big Daddy I never drink while i'm eating (i miss that) I totally understand if i ate at the same time i would "flush" my food down...right? What I didn't get was why i couldn't eat 45-60 minutes before i ate. I think i get it now, thanx kgb I don't understand what you mean when you say "Protein drink never "stick" for obvious reasons" After my Protein shake i am so very full - what do you mean? bigdaddy - congratulations on your weight loss - how proud you must be as your journey continue good luck to all working on their possible grazing problem. kathy

hi Larry My DOS was 12/15/11 - so we were pretty close in dates. My surgery was local in Syracuse, NY. - did well, spent 2 nights. No bad pain, PO at home went pretty well, so all in all, happily uneventful. I'm glad you also had an uneventful success story in Mexico. I've heard many good successful stories about surgery in Mexico. My question : you've been at home these past 4 weeks - if you had any questions or serious problems, who would you call? What if you really needed to see a dr. like many have. What do you do? I've always wondered this. thanx kathy

soon, veges - umm umm - haven't talked to NUT yet for info how do veges work - how many or how much do you get? ex. in soups, is it the 4 oz per meal only? in a stew? or anything? thanx kathy

HI i think some husbands or men in general think they can get away with verbally abusing their wives because they figure the wife doesn't want to be alone, so they can use them as a 'beating" board" or whatever. of course this hopefully for many isn't true but....... my DH wouldn't ever say anything mean like that, of course in our case, he's overweight too, is that good or bad? kathy kathy

andersonljYou are correct when you say that is more acceptable for men to be overweight than women. That's quite a double standard isn't it? It's not that its good for a man to be overweight, but as far as appearance goes, more people are overly conscious of a womens weight than a mans weight. A women, well every one might "stare" more at her due to the supposedly good appearance that a women is supposed to have. But even though a man might be overweight, it is more accepted like you said. I don't think i said it any different than you, i guess i just agree with what you said. Good or bad. Your DOS was about one week after mine. Good luck to both of us on our journey kathy

hi all my dr. also spared me the mushie stage. I don't have a problem getting my Protein in cuz i'm still doing my 64 oz. Protein shakes. I am one of the few that actually likes the shake. My question is what is the difference between getting my protein in via the shake, or meats? I just think it would be hard getting the 64 oz. in food. Maybe if i at least drank one shake a day with my skim milk, would that be allowed. I am 16 days post op. I do see my NUT in a couple of weeks, but i'm sure you could help me. I have only eaten one soft food so far - a scrambled egg. It was so delicious. i'm afraid to test myself seeing if i am genuinely full with just the egg. This is all i would eat, and i do feel full, is this my sleeve "working" telling me i'm full. There is no way i would push it trying to eat more. Maybe cuz i haven't eaten more foods that i can't tell the difference between feeling full on liquids, or feeling full on food? did i say that right? also a big question, my NUT said broth is just like H20, i can have as much as i want. i love broth, and i've had a whole lot at a sitting. BUT its a prepared box with a lot of sodium. my NUT said at this point not to worry about the sodium intake, but doesn't that make you retain Water, and wouldn't that possibly not lose as much. thanx for your words of wisdom kathy

hi, i was never a big exercise person. i am just 5 days post-op , but i just am lazy. i am walking around the house to get myself moving though quite a few times a day. By the way, laziness has nothing to do with my recent WLS. Just being honest I will push myself to do some walking and i maybe Leslie Sandson (msp) tapes that i have. (don't know how successful i'll be with the tapes) Bottom line, i will follow my plan to a tee eating, listening to my sleeve etc. I have always been overweight, and i must lose these 95 lbs. Thats not a question - but not doing that must exercise, how much will it hurt me not to exercise with my weight loss. i see all these people doing unbelievable daily work outs. thanx kathy DOS 12/15/11

hey bedhead - i live in baldwinsville - wow - kathy

when i had my baby i always wondered too how the gender was to be decided. i always knew that the man was the "guiding source" I don't know if much WLS was around, nor the sleeve. of course when i had my baby, that was 35 years ago kathy

hi as a normal fact, i did periodically have problems with milk. When I started my journey i decided. to go with the lactose. don't know if thats your problem - just a comment kathy

hi candyman its so exciting you got a surgery date. It feels so great to know when your journey is going to start. I didn't really have anyone special to tell about the WLS. I eventually told my mom and 4 siblings. My mom has always "reminded" me that i was overweight etc.ince i was an adult she would always give me a WW cupcake w/a candle for my b'day. How horrible was that! Anyways, when i told mom about the surgery, she was so excited. She basically said, how wonderful, you will finally be thin!!! I'm visiting her in a week or so, and she told me she was so excited to see me thin. i told her it doesn't happen overnight! (i'll be 5 wks. post-op.) My siblings were happy for me, but not enough to call me post surgery, but they were happy that "I was happy" I don't have any friends to talk w/about this, so i'm kindof just standing in the middle of the room turning around in a circle. now, now, don't feel sorry for me - I still have my DH and he's a good egg and supportive. i'm making a short story oh so long. I agree with FlawedMan that you should show some success stories to your family, Hopefully they will come around. Remember, the whole board is totally behind you. Before you know it April 10th will be here and your journey will begin. Take care my friend kathy

isn't is "funny" that all through our weight loss history we've always been told how good veges are for us. Some are free etc. , now it turns out they don't have any Protein, and we have to count them within the weight of food, like 1 oz etc of green Beans. did i say that correctly? kathy