Pookeyism

If I could do something different - this is something born only of hindsight, but I would have read more books (although I read alot) and would have tried to work it out in my head if anything happened while I was recovering, such as bad news or emergencies - but I guess you cannot anticipate some of what can come your way (as some of you know, my Mother passed away on my 1 week post-op date. She was 58 and it was totally unexpected). Some things I did do but did not need, BUT would do again (before you read it, let me explain I have always been what I call a pesimistic optimist - I plan and implement, then if nothing happens so be it): -My medical records stored on an online email account, and a memory stick, as well as my life insurance policy, health insurance info, etc. A list of meds, too. -a bug-out bag that I added some specifics to. I had baby wipes, hibiclens, and small "kits" of sterile gauze and tape,but added packets of protien powder and a small shake bottle (I always keep a bug-out bag, emergencies will not wait until you recover). I also added an old-lady( lol sorry) push cart that you can fold and unfold to my useless gadgets in the trunk in case I had a bit more than I could carry somewhere for awhile. -make sure you have the correct phone numbers for emergency services in your area on you phone and listed somewhere - 911 may not be able to find you if you use a cell phone. -towing/roadside assistance - even if you do not normally use it, make sure your service includes full tow, full tire change and if possible the "ride home" feature. I usually change my tire but even two weeks out I would not want to risk it. Probably not for awhile. - If I had not had a hubby that could stay with me while I was (am) healing, I would have probably signed up for the life alert home system for at least the first couple of months. If it sounds over the top, everything I listed took me less than two hours to shop for, arrange, confirm, etc...

I am sorry for the pain ans nausea - were you given meds to go home on? Hydrocodone in liquid (sipped) took the edge off for me, and where we have to sip it so slowly I was able to gauge exactly how much I needed - never used a full dose. I had the generic but liquid fenergan will help the nausea and help you sleep. I hope all went well - I was so disoriented, and they started out by giving me a pain med that would put me to sleep, but as soon as I needed to walk or the nurses needed something from me I would be awake and the pain would start, UGH! A nurse actually suggested to the doctor that I be switched to hydrocodone. I cannot stress how important it is to stay hydrated right now, even if you have to use a dropper and an egg timer! Get in as much protien as you can. Some is better than none, but do what you can. Good luck!

I cannot say I have, but I think I can see how it could be a posibility. I would suggest to keep yourself at least somewhat supported at all times. Why do you have to wait until April to ask your doctor? I would consider checking with your Gyno too. It could be something that needs attention.

It sounds good to me! Let's compare : before WLS, it took me almost 16 months to lose 30-some pounds, and you dod the same in two months, lol. I was sleeved on the 4th, and my last weigh in (only one, actually) post-op I was 10 lbs down, and that was about 4 days ago.

Hey there! Did Danielle's post help? Don't hesitate to post questions, and I encourage you to let me know if I can be of any assistance to you. Good luck!

Thank you. Yes, I am doing my best to hang in. My Hubby has, again, been a Lighthouse in a storm. He is with me nearly every second, and my friends have been so supportive - I am including you guys here! I cannot say that it has totally sunk in that my Mom has passed away. I am glad now that I had not told her about my WLS - I would always wonder if she had been worrying about me when she passed. I have noticed a trend mentally to focus on my foods and Water a bit more, so I think the initial shock is wearing off, and my mind is getting back into the here and now. Enough to take care of my healing. God Bless!

Not alot of pain, I am 2 weeks post op and I am definately not vomiting and I don't think I am runnung a fever. I just seem to have a new pain - the best way I can think of how to describe it - and I think I have had it a few days now. My Mom passed away on my 1 week post-op date, and I don't think I noticed until today that it was more than a twinge or two, it seems to be a full-out pain, persistent but not accute. I am 1100 miles away from home, and my doctor. I would definately take the sysmptoms you describe to the local ER, ASAP. I just wondered if there are warning signs I could be experiencing. Thank you for your responses!

That sums it up...

I feel like perhaps my instructions for food may be ahead of what I can eat. I was sleeved 2 weeks ago Wed. evening. Individual opinions greatly appreciated - what should I be eating? What shoulod be my calories goal/water and or liquids?

I am down 9 lbs from last week, and that is good. I am eating soft foods and doing ok. The doc removed my drain today. My Mom died yesterday. I have cried so much I feel like I have pulled something loose. My Mom is gone. Not the post I expected to make, but it has opened whole new issues. Keep me in your prayers, please!

Yes, overwhelmed describes it well! My Sister leaves tomorrow, and I can't help biut fee like we sihould have went out and done more. but I know that wasn't really possible. Everything is still getting back to normal - thank you for thinking about me!

Thanks to everyone who responded to my post yesterday. I am home, and there is still pain. I think it has something to do with one of the laparoscopic holes being stitched too - how would I best describe it? tight? It is drawn up and creates a pucker on the side of my tummy, and I FEEL the stitch pulling against the weight of my stomach. It is a sharp, constant tearing feeling that is very difficult to ignore. It almost prevents me from moving in certain directions. I have pain meds and after some initial reluctance I did began to take them as often as I was told, and in the full dose, so that dulls it, but if I have to move much I still feel it. I have been walking a lot, and I can’t help but pull it then, so walking is much more of a chore than I thought it would be right now. I would have to say I am disappointed that my doctor did not look at my tummy more before he discharged me, I feel like he would have caught that. I plan to bring it up to him on Monday. He is going to have to resolve it somehow, I can’t walk around letting tissue heal in the wrong areas - as is it would be deforming. Beyond that it all feels a bit surreal. I have just been focusing on fluids, and walking. I think I have had some head hunger but not too much. No tummy hunger that I can think of. Sipping fluids as much as possible. Very tired, but I was tired before the surgery too. Not to embarrass the guys, but I started my period the day after my surgery, almost 10 days early. I never vary more than about 24 hours off of my calendar, so I was somewhat surprised. I know it has been a pretty intense period, but the meds have totally taken care of that. My little sister flew in on the 3rd and we went and bought a juicer - and a Wii or Xbox or something that has interactive games - and followed it up with a TV (sneaky - she knows I don't allow game systems or more than one TV, but I have been talked into it). Normally I don't allow the systems or TV in my house but she made a good point - the games that keep you active can be very fun for groups of people, and it will be a way for my friends and I to keep entertained and active and away from the kitchen. My sister has to be my biggest advocate, even if she doesn't quite understand how her sister decided to go through with it. She is me, but with a better metabolism, and bigger appetite. She knows the struggles I have had in my life, and we have talked a lot this weekend. I was surprised in some of the things she said. I will touch on it again later, maybe, but she feels very sure that my parents are largely responsible for much of my weight. I don't know if I agree with that - but I will have to look at it long and hard, because I have to resolve all issues, and all bad habits, and embrace the good, and develop better - so much to do! It feels overwhelming. Friends have been so supportive, and caring, and it has made me so proud and thankful to have the people I have. I am also so happy to have found this forum, and to be able to follow my new found friends and do what I can to be supportive. It feels surreal, in a way I feel like it hasn't kicked in mentally that I have had the surgery. Numb, indifferent, tingling and electric, excited and joyful, scared and uncertain, second guessing and reaffirming - so many emotions. To anyone I have not followed up with that I have been talking to personally - please bear with me. This has been more than I anticipated, and I am having a kind of re-evaluation of who I am. The hard-ass that weathers everything seems to have almost disappeared. I don’t want that anymore. I want to be able to be flexible and "feel" my feelings. I want to listen to people more, and I want to be heard. I don't know - I am changing more than I thought I would. I think I want this so bad, that I am literally making myself remove my mask, to shed the parts of me that hid behind a wall of bulk. I want to be the person I think I can be, and oddly enough, it is more than just a smaller, healthier me. Phew! I can't even put it into words. I guess that is all for now, and it is time to walk again!

In a lot of pain but hopeful it will get better. I will post more soon.

Thank you all! I am in the surgery waiting room now. Wish me luck.

Tomorrow is my surgery date! The planning and waiting and all of it doesn't end tomorrow, it starts tomorrow... Wish me luck, and say a prayer for my friends and familys peace of mind tomorrow.

If your medical bills equal over 7.5% of your income you can deduct the overage from your taxes. SO take ALL medical expenses an add them together - out of pocket anything, co pays, spouse, kids, etc....dental and vision too - and you get that back. So if you are single and make 50,000 that is 3500$ that you would start to get a refund, if you dont owe anything else, of course. So you could get a simple interest loan, and pay until you refund paid it off - I am not a tax professional in anyway CHECK IT OUT WITH A CPA!!! Good luck!

That is great! You are going to make a beautiful bride!

My hubby says I am not allowed to date before or after my sleeve, lol!

Responding to those who responded to"tendency for people to have complications" statement. Both in the forum and in messages: I still stand by this statement. The bariatric community does study after study and find that to be the case. "Tendency" does not mean everyone, and it wasn't pointed at anyone. This is an very good forum here, full of support and goodwill. Encouragement is not always a stratightforward pat on the back. She was concerned and I made a very relevant point to stress that complications have reasons. Even if you do nothing wrong, a leak in a sleeve has a reason. It has to have a reason, else it would not be a leak, because nothing would have happened. Whether that was anything from something not being followed, or a stitch out of place to not fully support a row of staples, etc...there is always a chicken before an egg. I plan to post the good and the bad, and I will let you know what I think caused it. Or if nothing caused it that I can figure out. Sorry for any typos but I am out by the fire with some friends about 2 miles from the next group of humans, on a small qwerty, lol.

It has been stressed to me many times (my extremely successful sleevers) that the key is to stay away from the old food alltogether. Some disagree! But "protien first" is a mantra that I will try my best to sick to. Protien has always made me fuller, longer...

Make your surgeon and bariatric coordinator aware of your concerns, and actively discuss what the are going to do to prevent that...request the drainage tube upfront, and if you are super concerned maybe a second barium drink later? Your surgeon should be willing to help you eliminate your fears...plus see what you can find online about percentages of sleeve leaks, I think that would help ease your worries alot. One more thing - I have noticed a tendency to complications more for people who don't follow the rules in one way or another. Be diligent in your preparation, give yourself enough time to heal, promise no one nothing while you are doing so! PS - I will be sleeved 01/04 and I share your concerns. I have also requested a pre-op round of antibiotics because infection is a major concern of mine.

I hope you get information about who could help you, but (going from what you say) it sounds like your doctor may either be too swamped and is putting you off, or may even have a bias against obese people. I have seen that before. Perhaps you should switch doctors. If nothing else, put your request for you PCP into writing, list your reasons for feeling you need at least the opportunuity to begin to explore this as an option. Cite credible sources, and inclue references to her previous denial(s). If you feel she did not listen, or did not seem to have a good concept of what the odds are to loose weight and keep it off without the surgery, etc...and request a response fom her, addressing the letter in a comprehensive way. Give her a reasonable amout of time to respond (there may even be a limit to how long she can put off responding - check you state laws), and send this letter UPS delivery signature required. If she sees you intend to take control of the situation this may assist her agreeing with you. Good luck!

You said "our doctors" - are you the young lady who's husband had his a few weeks ago? Can't give any first hand info on post-op pain, I go in on th 4th!

I will volunteer, and would love a copy of your findings! Students like yourself are in a position to offer great insight into things like this. I read an article that compared the VGS for understanding obesity to what the CAT Scan did for understanding the brain. We have never had a procedure that removed only a part of the stomach and no altering of the intestines, etc. They are finding neurohormonal relationships that they did not know existed.

It was totally OK for you to take a peek, lol...