PEvette

People have no idea until they go through it.

My DH actually told me that if I'd just eat less I wouldn't need this expensive surgery. So, I got him a quote from a funeral home for a full funeral. My medical expenses last year, just in co-pays and out of pocket for docs, were as much as the surgery. Now that I'm down 81 pounds, he's my biggest cheerleader. He's still a jerk and I'm still not living with him, but he's bragging about my weight loss to anyone that will listen, and some that won't, I'm sure! LOL

I'm so sorry for your loss...I too loss my mom, it happened a year before my lapband surgery...I will not say it will be ok, but I will say pray pray pray, stay focused, your mom would not want you to be in pain or hurt yourself because of grief....
I will keep you in pray....

8.5 months post op ~ Oh yeah got my ass into some size 8 jeans wow from a 20 to a 8 single digit are you serious, I cant even remember the last time I wore that size

I am now super stoked...the office had told me last week that I was approved but yesterday in the mail I got my approval letter from the insurance company and the big info packet from the surgeon's office. I can finally relax and know that I am set to go and Feb 13 is going to really happen! I can't thank you guys on here for all the support and advice, it's been amazing and am so glad I found this place.

Lesson #2 of the story - when your body is telling you something, LISTEN! And don't take a passive doctor's crap for an answer! (No pun intended!)
Glad you're ok!

I posted a few weeks ago that I was having some stomach issues. I had posted that I can't poop, and that I was having a pulling pain in my stomach. Well, this week, I have been to 5 different doctors, including my surgeon, primary care doctor, emergency room twice, and the gastro doctor. I finally got some answers and feel much better, but here's what they think went wrong...
Okay, here's the whole story. In December I went on a cruise to the Bahamas. I'm one of those sleevers that have a very temperamental stomach. I can't digest a lot of foods, so I have to be pretty picky when it comes to what I eat. On the cruise, I ate Protein bars, cheese, baked chicken (when they had it available), and salad - for 7 days. Unfortunately when I did try to eat other things, I spent a lot of time throwing up. FYI Curried chicken does NOT love my sleeve. Anyway, I got really constipated while on vacation, for about a week. When we got home I took a laxative and was able to go the bathroom. A few days later, I was constipated again, so I took another laxative. A week after that, I was constipated again, so I took another one. I thought it was just because it was the holidays and I was eating differently.
Two weeks ago, I was really constipated - 6 days with no output, so I took another laxative. It didn't work, so I took another one. Basically I only passed Water. The bloating and inability to go to the bathroom continued. Since then my stomach had become really distended, and I went from being 149 pounds to 156. I could no longer wear pants because I couldn't button them. I had stopped eating food, and went on all liquids because eating was so uncomfortable. Then the vomiting started. As of last night it had been 18 days since I went to the bathroom.
I went to my PCP, and surgeon and they ordered a CT scan. There was no obstruction noted so they told me to take Miralax. I started taking the Miralax and it got worse. So much gas, and bloating. I couldn't even drink anything without throwing up. I went to the ER on Tuesday and they made it sound like Constipation was normal and that I would go eventually. Wednesday I was in so much pain - I noticed that I wasn't passing urine either. Yesterday, I went to work and honestly had people at work ask if I was pregnant. I looked like I was 5 months. My stomach was huge. Last night I went back to the ER, I couldn't keep anything in, I had a fever, and I thought I was going to die. My blood pressure was 90/70 and my pulse rate had gone down. I only passed urine 1 time all day, even though I had a cup of coffee, 32 oz of Water, and tea.
They did an x-ray and saw how constipated I was. Then came the examine that revealed I had an impacted colon. They had to manually remove the impaction before giving me an enima. It was so painful, but I felt 100 x better immediately! The doctor told me that I was slowly being poisoned by the toxins that were building up in my body. My blood pressure and pulse being low and not being able to pass urine, was being caused because my systems were shutting down due to the toxins. As soon as I went to the bathroom, my blood pressure went back up to normal, and I felt so much better. I still don't feel 100% but it's damn close. My weight went from 156 yesterday to 147 today.
I don't have an appetite and I have to force myself to drink but at least the worse part is over. They found a lot of pus and blood in my stole, so my intestines are infected. I'm waiting on a date for a colonoscopy to find out if it was caused by the impaction or if there's another reason.
My doctors believe that the impaction came from my sudden change in diet, and vomiting. Then from my frequent use of laxatives. I was just trying to go to bathroom and give myself some relief.
The moral to this story is, when you go on vacation, make sure you have plenty of foods that you can eat with you, if you have a sensative stomach. Make sure you're eating like you're supposed to, and get plenty of exercise. Vomiting and constipation are NOT normal. See your doctor and don't give up if you know there is something wrong. I'm lucky that they were able to figure out what was going on before it was too late. It could have been a lot worse.

congratulations!!! I can't wait for mine!

I know im a day late, but thats ok. Yesterday was my 1 month surgiversary.. needless to say its been one hell of a rollercoaster ride.
Thankfully i hadnt had any huge stalls and or complications other than my one trip to the E.R where they couldnt find anything wrong.. lol. Other than that I have to admit its been pretty smooth sailing.
So here are my stats!
5'8"
HW:265/270
GW:250
DoS:238.1
CW:214
FOR A TOTAL LOSS OF 24 LBS.... HECK TO THE YEA!!!!
i think i owe a lot of that to hitting the gym 5 days a week.
I WORK OUT.. WIGGLE WIGGLE WIGGLE WIGGLE WIGGLE ... YEAH!!!!!!!! :purplebananna:

I've had oatmeal and grits but I haven't had cold cereal yet. I'm looking forward to having me a bowl of Rice Crispy's. I believe in anything in moderation. A bowl every now and then shouldn't hurt. We just have to remember to remain in control. Blessings2u--BJ

My NUT told me last week that I could be eating the steel-cut oatmeal that I used to eat before surgery. (This was right after laying into me about how I shouldn't have advanced my diet so fast... hello, don't these professionals talk to each other???)
I actually really like my oatmeal but I don't like the idea of so many carbs. She told me to eat more white potatoes too. I just looked at her and said, "oh really?" And she went on about how much Fiber and potassium there is in potatoes.
"Yeah, in the peel, which according to you I can't eat right now anyway..." That shut her up, and she got that look like she just sucked on a lemon.
I got out of there as fast as I could. She was about 80 years old, and probably still had the original USDA food pyramid (the one based on carbs) stuck on her wall.
Sorry, the only time in my life that I felt like I was eating right for my body was when I was doing Atkins. High carbs gives me GI trouble and makes me want to sleep. I'll pass, thanks.

I can't wait to get there!

I should have taken the day off! So..its my birthday today and co-workers, who know I'm pre-op and living on nothing but Protein shakes and lawn clippings, BROUGHT ME CAKE!
To make it worse, my cubicle mate is eating fricken fried chicken! Do you know how good this smells??? AGGHHH...
So I am breathing...drinking some Water...about to mix my lunch shake...and then I plan on walking up to my co-worker and punching her directly in the face. Who fricken microwaves fried chicken and then eats it right in front of a person on a diet? Who also brings that person cake??? She's about the nicest lady you have ever met- it's not sabotage or anything as exciting as that....she's just not thinking....God Bless Her!
I have resisted temptation...but just barely. I keep thinking- small liver...I have to learn to say no...and It's frowned upon to punch people at work. Heading out for a lunch time walk now!

im just glad we are back up and running!! :Banane57:

Read that twice and all I got was...wa wa wa wa site didnt work right...wa wa wa wa ...I'll help:)
You are sweet to offer help and I think it is great to have Smarty Pants around when things like this happen!

I choose the sleeve (still pre op) because I didn't want my organs rearranged with the bypass and didn't want dumping syndrome. I originally went with lapband but that was before I knew about the sleeve. So many surgeons tried to shove gastric bypass down my throat, I actually walked out of an appointment and never went back because the PA put gastric instead of lapband because it'd be better for me. Ugh!
The new surgeon I'm with didnt shove anything down my throat, he educated me on my options. Told me most people go with lapband because they don't want the gastric but don't know about the sleeve which is in between the two.So... Made my decision, sleeve it is!
People used to tell me gastric because I'm over 300lbs but now that I'm doing sleeve and not lapband anymore people have been much more supportive and don't mention gastric anyone.

I really would like to be able to give you a nice, peaceful resolution, but I'm just not that person. I probably would have slapped the absolute mess outta him and then I would have given him the worst cussing of his life. But what will probably be the sweetest revenge is when you get slim, and have other men salivating over you.

Onederland is when you hit under 200 and hit 199, the 100's

I don't know what's going on, but maybe you should talk to your doctor and mention the depression. But if you want to talk, we're all here for you. I'm a single woman and doing this on my own so I know it's not easy.

About a week for me too. I was up 13 lbs. when I came home the day after surgery. Sheesh! But now, 7 months out, I have lost about 80 lbs!
Lynda

One big difference Kacee109 is trying to point out is that she has NO recourse in Mexico. Had she had this surgery done in the US there are groups, organizations, lawyers etc she can go to and get help. She is out of luck and being ignored BECAUSE she went to Mexico. I am not saying, don't go overseas, I am saying this is an important point that should be part of the equation when making a decision.
Is this doctors name Dr. Rod or Dr. Rodriguez? What city?

Totally disagree. US has standards and as one other person said you get what you pay for. Your health is worth more than a knock off surgery. Want to be sleevers, put your health in better hands and best odds are US.

Reality check, most likely the Mexico surgeons are worse which is why they are in Mexico and Not in the US where there are higher standards. I wonder every time I see so many Dr. (fill in the blank) in Mexico and wonder who is really posting them.
Get Real - don't be cheap on your health and get it done right. I have heard many horror stories form Mexico
Hear it Newbies save the extra couple of bucks to do the surgery right.

The only resolution I have for 2012 is that I will be sleeved in the summer....I am still nervous, but I know I need this Lapband out of me, 7 years with it and no results....