BenisaMartim4

I had mine out in '98 and on a scale of 1-10 the pain is a 20. When I had The Attack, I absolutely though I would die. By the time my husband got me to the hospital, not only did they think I was having a heart attack, they were afraid that I would have a stroke too because my BP was so high (from the pain). They pumped me full of narcotics to no avail. I finally ended up on a morphine drip. You scream, writhe, puke, sweat and anything else a person might do that though they were having their heart dug out with a red hot spoon. Mine could have very easily killed me (and I was only 20). The stones move around and block the duct. This causes pressure to build up and can lead to a rupture. My doc told me that pain meds should never be give when gallbladder problems are suspected. He said masking the pain could lead to your death. If you were having an attack and covered it up, it could rupture and you would not have time to make it to the hospital. You could even die in your sleep. So if you are having problems get them seen about ASAP and don't try to buy time with narcotics. Sent from my iPad using VST

I'm joining in. I lost 21# in the Memorial Day Challenge; but my loss is really slowing down, so I am going to set this goal at 12#. That is about 2# a week, so I think that is reasonable. SW 257 CW 257 GW 245

I didn't know if I was going to see any change this week or not. As of yesterday, it had been the same all week. But in what is not uncommon for me, it budged this morning and moved well. A 2# loss for me this week. HW 335 SW 278 GW 263 CW 257 Lost 2# this week Total loss of 21# Yay!! Goal surpassed. I'm ready for the next challenge. I'm reaching for that 100# mark. Century Club, here I come!

It eases up over time. I am 3 months out and can take 3 large draws on a straw in a row..gulp, gulp, gulp. Then I wait a few seconds and do it again. It is funny. The liquids go in just fine, but I can still only eat around 1 ounce of solid food. So, it must clear pretty quickly.

I drank them before surgery, but after I can't handle them either. Your sense of smell and taste are jacked up after surgery. I gag VERY quick now. I have no suggestions, I can't lie. I just don't do them. It is rare that I can get past one drink.

My doc said no NSAIDS too. So, I don't know. Just read the bottle is all I can say.

No suggestions on the shakes, I hate them all. But best wishes on your surgery and recovery. Congrats

As little as we eat after the sleeve, I really can't see how anyone could not lose weight. You may be slower than many, but you are going to lose weight.

Oh, I think my sleeve is bi-polar. Nay-Nay, as I call her, mood swings fast enough to give you whip lash. Not only does she change her mind from meal to meal, but sometimes right in the middle of a bite. I will have to spit it out or throw up.

I do it. I always have a vision of the food going in and having to wait just a second to displace the air so it can go on down. Thus that little "uurrpp" sound.

LOL..I haven't had a crazy dream.

I know it is a very big deal to us, but hey, they are used to seeing fat, naked guys and gals all the time. They probably don't even notice any more. I know I worked in the nursing homes for a long time and naked booties/boobies didn't look any different than noses to me. I saw them every day. You will be in la-la-land and never know it. You'll go to sleep dressed and wake up dressed. And don't worry about Aunt Flo. If she is here, they will give you a big pad and a pair of mesh hospital panties. Clean, dry and disposable. No worries chickie

Step away from the pot!! That is not the answer. It's just a step to lead you into even more dangerous and addictive patterns. I had a nervous break down two years ago, so I am going to give you some advice from experience. Much of what is going on with you is just a battle in the mind. We all talk to ourselves, not out loud, but in our minds. I bet I can repeat the daily conversation you have with yourself. "He is driving me crazy..I'm going to snap..I don't know how much more of this I can take..I hate *blank*..I NEED a hit." Should I go on? You are feeding your discouraged mind a constant IV of poison. The Bible (yes I am a Christian) says, "as a man (or woman) thinks in his heart, so is he." So, step number two after getting away from the pot, is POSITIVE THINKING. I know this may sound like some candy and rainbows load of bull, but it is not. Let me give you a little picture illustration here: If someone comes along and squirts lemon in your ice Water, It doesn't take much to make it bitter. Same with your mind, that bitterness (negative thoughts) swirls around in there and before long has ruined you whole attitude. But now is where you can take action. What if you start adding sugar to that bitter water and stirring it around. Soon you will have a nice refreshing glass of lemonade. Will the lemon be gone? No, but with the added sweetness, the whole perspective of the product has changed. This is where we go with the mind. The next time your husband gives you a squirt of lemon, don't add your own bitterness to it. Start with the sugar. Feed your mind sweetness. Repeat to yourself, I LOVE my husband. I have to have him. He is a great *blank*. Say it to your self all day long if you have to. Don't allow your mind the negative buffet. Do the same with every situation. I love my kids, I am thankful that I have a job, I am glad that I have a roof over my head, I am losing weight and getting healthier, at least it was one cookie and not the whole bag. You understand. We play a huge role in our emotional well being and it is our responsibility to take the reigns of our mind and guide it in the direction we want to go. The next thing you need to do is pray. You tell God, I NEED SOME HELP!! He never made the human being to carry all of life's burdens on their own shoulders. We are just not strong enough. He said, "come unto me all that are burdened and heavy ladened and I will give you rest." If you are sincere and ask with a heart open to his will, you will find help. Continue the anti-depressants if need be, but be aware that some may exasperate your condition. Monitor your status and if it seems to be deteriorating, consider asking for a different RX. I found Cymbalta very helpful during my trial. The Zoloft made me a zombie and killed my sex drive 100%. That does not help a marriage at all. It also does not help with your feelings of isolation. A woman needs touching. This stimulates the production of oxytocin, a calming hormone. So please, if you have lost your intimate relationship, work to start building it back. If it is the meds, ask for a change. Open the blinds and let the light in. Go out for walks if possible. The sun also regulates moods in the human being. Being enclosed in a dark house all the time can really put a damper on your happiness factor. Crank up the music! Listening to good, up beat music will help to lift the spirits. Avoid the sad, mad, depressed drinking, he's leaving or cheating kind of stuff at all costs. And try to avoid negative people. Some folks don't really care about your situation, they just feed off of your problems. So...let them starve. I know I don't know your situation, but trust me. These things are good for EVERYONE. There is nothing to lose, but some sleepless nights and stress headaches. Take it from someone who has been there. I let my negative thoughts talk me right over the ledge and straight into the gulf of a nervous break-down. You can't afford to go there. You have too much to accomplish in your life. Keep your chin up, bask in the sun , think happy thoughts and trust God. Best wishes on your progress You can PM me any time if you need to.

I don't have any weight loss advice, as I am only 3 months out. Just wanted to say, sorry for the tragic loss of your sister and best wishes for your future.

I don't know (because I don't have that insurance), but I would thinks so. It shows a decline in your health condition due to the weight.

I eat about the same way you do. I worry that I am not getting enough too; but just as Lissa said, if you throw up if you eat more, then you are eating enough. We physically can't eat any more, so what are we supposed to do? I just try to eat as often as I can right now. On most days I average between 400-600 calories. I have really, really pushed it if I get any higher than that.

Congrats! It will be exciting going on this journey together. Best wishes to the both of you

Tibbie, this is such a good one. I love to fish! Now that I know that you can buy PINK waders, I guess I'll be getting some (when I get to goal). And my hubby has wanted to take me to Colorado ever since we have been married. I just might agree to go when I don't think I will smother to death trying to climb up the side of a mountain.

Oh MamaT, we want to go on a cruise for our 15th anni in August of 2013. I am really looking forward to the evening gown too...and heels!