BenisaMartim4

OMGoodnessthis is just too awesome. So, so, very happy for you

HowdyWow, 100# already. That is totally awesome Will be looking forward to your future posts. Keep up the great work. You'll be  ready before you know it 

I can't remember my first coloring book, but I do remember getting an extremely large chalk board for my 4th or 5th birthday and no chalk. THEY FORGOT THE CHALK!! So when my parents went to take an afternoon nap, I got my crayons and colored all over it. I had fun, but they were not too happy at all. Question- how has life turned out compared to how you expected when you were young? Better or worse? What is the disappointment or surprise betterment?

Yaycongrats I'm right behind you 2/14, so scoot over and make some room

It is very common for blackheads to form in a scar. I can't tell you for sure what yours is without looking at it, but I would be willing to wager that that's what it is. Why don't you take a needle and excise it. If it is just a tough lingering scab it also needs to be exfoliated. Either way, your not going to hurt it. If you're worried about it, after you remove it rub a little antibiotic cream on.

I always gain between 5-10 pounds (I started 2 days ago and it was 5 this time) but I lose it by the time it is over. I just hated it this time because I am on my pre-op diet and trying to lose. It has me messed up

I didn't have one of those, but I know they are like when you are pregnant. No big deal. I had a CAT scan of my abdomen. When it can back irregular, I also had a colonoscopy. I had colitis and had a pre-cancerous polyp removed.

The diet my doc does is like this. It starts on day 3. They do a stage progression each week from there until a month out. Then you stay there for a month. After that you start the maintenance diet.

You'll be groggy and maybe even a bit on the 'high' side. It will depend on exactly what kinds of drugs they use on you. Of course you will have an IV, but other than that I had absolutely no discomfort what so ever.

I take a wonderful cherry flavored, sub-lingual B-12. Then I take two chewable multi-vitamins and 4 chewable Citrate+D a day. They all taste really good and I don't burp them up. My doc says this covers everything you need. 

A good firm girdle will help. I lost 70 pounds with my last pregnancy. My lower stomach deflated enough that it hang down, but with the girdle it was fine. You just have to arrange everything straight in there to make it look the best. You'll figure it out. It's not all going to fall off overnight, so you'll have some time to experiment with what you like. Wal-Mart has plenty of variety for a beginner. They sell up to a size 3x. That should be about the time you will start wanting to wear on. Happy shopping

You will not be able to take your son to the endoscopy. They put you to sleep and require that you have another adult with you. They will not allow you to drive after the procedure. The procedure itself only takes about 30 min, but with the pre-op and recovery room time I would plan to be there between 2-3 hours. The ultra sound is very simple. He could probable go for that. It only takes about 10 min. It's just like when you are pregnant, but on your neck. He could sit on the end of the bed while you have it done. The longest part about this will be waiting your turn to go back. Best of luck

I absolutely will be giving this a trymy husband even said, 'ooo, that sounds good'

Yes, that is right ladies and gentlemen. After submitting my paper work to the insurance and waiting 15 weeks, my approval letter finally came in the mail today. It has been a constant battle with them and now it is finally over. I can now breath a big sigh of relief. I had my pre-op education class and dr.s visit on Wed. It was 6 hours long and just almost too much to absorb at once {especially because I had a migraine}. We were weighed, measured and had our before pictures taken from 3 different angles. We had the main class with the nurse practitioner; then met with another nurse, the nutritionist, the exercise instructor from the wellness center { we actually had to walk for her for 6 minutes so she could check heart rates} and then the doc and the surgical nurse practitioner. They had so loaded us with information {they gave us a large 3-ring binder full of everything we would need to know and contact numbers for EVERYONE} that by the time the doc came in and asked if I had any questions, I was blank. The only thing I managed to ask was how he wanted me to wear my hair. After the surprised look on his face, I explained to him that it came right to my knees and I wanted to make sure it was done properly not to be in the way. He told me I looked good to him right now...lol, but the surgical nurse jumped in and said no metal pins or clips. We finally decided on a braid and elastic bands. He did laugh and tell me that I might get to sport a new dye job to go with that braid though. He said even though they try hard not to, many times the blue leak test dye runs into peoples hair and gives them a blue streak. I just laughed and said, " I'll just have to tell everyone 'no, I have not been cussing'" After I paid my $360 for my class { non-refundable, non-insurable}, they gave me my Rxs and let me go. I was ordered to buy chewable Multivitamin, chewable Caltrate-D, sublingual b-12, Hebicleanse, bowel prep, two different antibiotics and Emend (surgical anti-emetic). I also bought the rest of the stuff I needed for my pre-op diet. We will do 7 days of Atkins, then 4 days of liquids. I was relieve to hear that it wasn't liquid the whole time. My pre-op testing is scheduled for Feb. 8, then my surgery for Valentine's day. I am starting to get a bit on the nervous side because this is such a big important event. When you hear the words "permanent" or "irreversible" and it involves the functions of your body, it is not something to enter into lightly. My doctor wanted me to have a hysterectomy 6 years ago but I refused because it was something I couldn't go back and change later. I have had another child since then. I glad in that case I didn't do it. But this is a different story. I feel like this is my Carpe Diem moment. I have missed out on so much because of my health and my weight. I'm ready to be able to participate in life and not just be a by-stander any more. So everyone wish me luck, send up prayers or whatever you do. I'm excited and nervous at the same time and will need lots so of support. I have T-12 day til VSG BTW...I expect this "big" mama to have a name change pretty soon. I'm thinking "hot" mama has a nice ring to it. What about y'all 

Aww sweetie, I'm sorry you are sick again  We'll send a request up for you

Hey everyone! I know the main problem with most early post-op folks is staying hydrated. So, I though I would share a little something my husband and I discovered by accident. During the 100 degree+ summertime days {here in Mississippi}, when my Hubbs works outside he likes to drink cold Gatorade. On this particular day, he was going to mow, but I didn't have him one cold. So to try to chill it faster, I put it in the freezer (32oz.)...then forgot about it When I went to take it out hours later, I was expecting to find a quart brick of ice. I was surprising mistaken. It does not freeze into ice {I guess because of the salt content}, but turns into this wonderful soft slushy like a pina coloda or daiquiri We now do this with one every time so he can have it when he comes in. It easily pours out of the bottle and into a glass so that you can get however much you want and put the rest back. This might be a good alternative to Popsicles. It's not going to melt on the way home, freeze what you need and it has electrolytes. I have not tried the reduced sugar or sugar free versions because he doesn't like them. We will just have to see if they work as well. If not, I'm personally thinking, if I'm dying of dehydration the last thing I'm gonna be worrying about is a few grams of sugar in a flippin' Gatorade. Hope this helps someone. I've heard many say they couldn't handle the protein and Popsicles were so comforting to them. Best wishes

My husband used to drive a big truck and Xenophile is right; Love's, Pilot, and Flying J are great! They are huge national chains that cater to truckers and have stuff for them to be able to live on the road. You can get their food, food from a national fast food chain that they have in their facility or you can buy canned food from their grocery selection. The are open 24/7 most of the time and usually very clean and maintained. If nothing else, if you can find one of these places you should be ok. The really big nice ones are on interstates. 

You and me both. It is so embarrassing and just ruins my lady-like image..hehe