CowgirlJane

I am 4 years post op and it has been a huge worry that I have been taking children's luliquid IB once a day for nearly 3 weeks due to kidney stone inflammation. Like others are saying, I am shocked you are on IB newly sleeved. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using the BariatricPal App

My sleeve was covered by insurance which was very helpful! In my case, the bariatric center handled everything and it was quite smooth. My insurance assigned a nurse to my case (she consulted via phone). I talked to her 1-2x and once she recognized I had alot of support from my center I felt like she was still available, but not involved. I don't know if she was an advocate but my insurance was approved pretty fast. They covered wls and I was high BMI with many documented weight loss attempts so fairly slam dunk case. Anyway - would you advise patients to call and question the denial or ask the surgeons office to be the liason. I felt like it minimized misunderstandings. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using the BariatricPal App

I would ask for the link to peer reviewed study indicating this. Since when does the stomach manufacture electrolytes? Since when do electrolytes prevent colds etc? I feel as though there is a huge misunderstanding on someone's part. Sent from my KFJWI using the BariatricPal App

They said stone hadn't moved an inch in 3 weeks...it was stuck. It was good to know this was in inevitable since I am in quite some discomfort from the procedure Sent from my KFJWI using the BariatricPal App

I am feeling crappy as the happy drugs wore off. I am positive because I now know that this procedure was absolutely necessary as that stone was STUCK. I am uncomfortable and that stent makes me feel like I need to pee constantly and...it will be a couple of "no fun" days but soon I will be better! Stent should come out Monday. Thanks everyone for your support. This ordeal has made me wonder how people managed in centuries past without modern medicine... Sent from my KFJWI using the BariatricPal App

I was raised by an angry father and had intense anger at times when i was young. The best therapy was a long walk. I also think regular exercise and physical activities ( hiking, riding) are awesome. I have always felt that the screaming, crying, punching pillows actually contributed to and activated the " fight" response so was not helpful to me. I am not sure how it happened, but my anger is way reduced now. I feel much more peace which is such a blessing.

We all have differen thoughts...so FWIW here is my protocol. Since I expect he will be buying, I let him pick the place. Also, I am just not picky and it turns out so many others really are. If he asks me to choose, I do it without argument. That has backfired though because some people have very limited palates and really prefer bland, plain type food and I have messee that up by suggesting sushi or some tasty but less universally loved places. I don't feel the need to offer an explanation for my food/beverage choices..and in my mind a Water with a twist of lime is a "beverage". I do drink and I appreciate it when I date a non drinker and he specifies that he is totally fine with drinking. Since I do enjoy a wine or cocktail, if I don't drink I might make a joke that I love wine, but....and then say something about just being in the mood for something else or another noncommittal reason. For follow on dates, I tend to be very clear of how much I like good (not deepfried crap) happy hour menus. They tend to worry I will think they are cheap...and make a big deal that I should order from the main menu. So, at that point I tell them that I like small portions of really nice food - and alot of guys really get it. I have been dating a man who eats less than I do recently! My whole goal is for us to both feel comfortable and I try to be gracious without being apologetic. We all have differen thoughts...so FWIW here is my protocol. Since I expect he will be buying, I let him pick the place. Also, I am just not picky and it turns out so many others really are. If he asks me to choose, I do it without argument. That has backfired though because some people have very limited palates and really prefer bland, plain type food and I have messee that up by suggesting sushi or some tasty but less universally loved places. I don't feel the need to offer an explanation for my food/beverage choices..and in my mind a water with a twist of lime is a "beverage". I do drink and I appreciate it when I date a non drinker and he specifies that he is totally fine with drinking. Since I do enjoy a wine or cocktail, if I don't drink I might make a joke that I love wine, but....and then say something about just being in the mood for something else or another noncommittal reason. For follow on dates, I tend to be very clear of how much I like good (not deepfried crap) happy hour menus. They tend to worry I will think they are cheap...and make a big deal that I should order from the main menu. So, at that point I tell them that I like small portions of really nice food - and alot of guys really get it. I have been dating a man who eats less than I do recently! My whole goal is for us to both feel comfortable and I try to be gracious without being apologetic.

I am in recovery. ..doing good! Turns out this was a good idea to do this as it hadn't moved at all since the original scan. It was still up just a little ways down the tube exiting the kidney. No wonder I still had intermittent pain. They took really good care of me here... Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using the BariatricPal App

Cathy, which races? How are you doing holding steady? I am anxiously awaiting my procedure this morning. I haven't had pain in about 24 hours...and then I think - do I really need to do this? Even my tummy doesn't seem as bloated...but, I am going through with it. Sent from my KFJWI using the BariatricPal App

Not really...I think attorneys general and better business bureau over newspaper letters. How about small claims count? Sent from my KFJWI using the BariatricPal App

No hurry... I won't be going in for awhile. Essentially I was challenged by a remark made "lots of sleeves stretch, I don't know why you don't acknowledge it" So, I have been thinking about my own experiences and what I have read about this. I have a question for my bariatric practice on the topic...and once I hear the surgeon's input feel it is a good topic for discussion in 2016. I am amazed to think about how time has gone, I'll be 5 years in Dec!!! Sent from my KFJWI using the BariatricPal App

I had a compression garment that was bra and arms together. I assume everyone did.... my arms were not sore -I felt very protected in the garments. I whined and complained about them, but then I didn't want to stop wearing them...haha...they had become my security. The arm lift for me was the hardest decision. I was totally freaked out about the scarring. However, the arm lift made a big difference in my overall appearance! I am top heavy anyway and the extra skin made my arms look big even under clothes -just added bulk. The scars are so faint nobody notices and I am SOOO glad i did that procedure! I am very happy for you!!!

Your surgeon should be able to give you guidelines. I had lifting restrictions for I think 4 weeks and I think restrictions about arms over my head for a short period of time too. for me, the lower body lift was the big deal, the arms and breasts werent too bad, but I wanted to be careful to not mess up results. The LBL restrictions were more like 6 weeks for me so I don't remember the arms/breast specifically. Protect those arm scars from sunlight - my surgeon said for 2 years!

Fears are normal... very normal. In hindsight, i would say most of us worry about the wrong things though. Hang in there, I found looking at success stories and before and after photos very helpful during those nervous times. Speedy recovery!!!

I switched surgeons. Mine told me I would fail with the sleeve because I had done poorly with the lapband....different surgeon, 4 years later and the sleeve has proven to be a great choice for me. My BMI was also 52 (pretty high) and I am maintaining a normal size/weight now. However, RNY is proven to be more effective at reducing diabetes so I can see his point/bias, but clearly losing weight has many life saving benefits.

I am and was a little surprised.

Eating was a chore during that time. My advice is to view it like "taking your medicine" not to be seeking pleasure or even comfort. This is temporary - you return to normal down the road. This timeframe, when eating is a chore, was a great opportunity for me to change my relationship with food. I am 4 years post sleeve now, can eat anything and have to work to make sure i am not "abusing food" but rather continue to focus on health, while still enjoying dining. This has helped me in maintenance as I could never "break the cycle" before the sleeve.

Eating was a chore during that time. My advice is to view it like "taking your medicine" not to be seeking pleasure or even comfort. This is temporary - you return to normal down the road. This timeframe, when eating is a chore, was a great opportunity for me to change my relationship with food. I am 4 years post sleeve now, can eat anything and have to work to make sure i am not "abusing food" but rather continue to focus on health, while still enjoying dining. This has helped me in maintenance as I could never "break the cycle" before the sleeve. Eating was a chore during that time. My advice is to view it like "taking your medicine" not to be seeking pleasure or even comfort. This is temporary - you return to normal down the road. This timeframe, when eating is a chore, was a great opportunity for me to change my relationship with food. I am 4 years post sleeve now, can eat anything and have to work to make sure i am not "abusing food" but rather continue to focus on health, while still enjoying dining. This has helped me in maintenance as I could never "break the cycle" before the sleeve.

Eating was a chore during that time. My advice is to view it like "taking your medicine" not to be seeking pleasure or even comfort. This is temporary - you return to normal down the road. This timeframe, when eating is a chore, was a great opportunity for me to change my relationship with food. I am 4 years post sleeve now, can eat anything and have to work to make sure i am not "abusing food" but rather continue to focus on health, while still enjoying dining. This has helped me in maintenance as I could never "break the cycle" before the sleeve.

I lost some hair, but I saved myself from premature disability and death. My quality of life 4 years post sleeve is so much better!! I haven't needed a wig, but if I did, it would be worth it. BTW, get enough Protein, watch for zinc and other deficiencies, but sometimes you lose hair no matter what. It grows back. i am not a big believer in Biotin because it doesn't prevent loss, just accelerates regrowth. I don't really want accelerated regrowth anywhere else - so I avoided it. Read up on it because there are some who regret their heavy doses of biotin.

I can totally see how this happened to your friend. Silly comparison - but you can't go have your teeth cleaned at the dentist and then fool yourself thinking that you are set for the rest of your life....nope... you need to brush, floss and... keep going back to the dentist! Might need a course correction (like a filling) might need new technology (sonicare), might need more frequent professional cleaning. Maintenance is alot like that. It isn't an end to the the WLS story. It is the key piece of it and for some reason, we have a hard time grasping that (well, I certainly have!). I was so focused on losing weight. At first, the shift to maiintenance was pretty easy because honestly it was just like losing weight, only a little more wiggle room. Over time... it gets harder to sustain that focus and you think "why can't I eat all that too" - well, maybe not consciously, but somewhere deep inside you think those things. Luckily for me I have become quite interested in how I look. Seriously, I dont care what others think - but I enjoy dressing up, being dolled up etc and so I notice the extra belly jelly roll pretty darn fast in those fashionable clothes. So, I maintain because I think about it everyday. I don't get all stressed and anxious... but I deliberately plan to maintain. I recognized behaviors that don't support that plan. For me - #1 indicator of failure is when I stop weighing myself... that is the beginning of my own personal denial cycle. #2 is switching to stretchy clothes... its like you hardly notice it at first if you live in sweats and yoga pants and loose tops. I haven't even hit 5 years yet, so I don't know if this will continue to work... but, I just keep doing what I do. Reminds me, I need to go floss my teeth.

I hope WW works for you - I think they are a very good program, but I just.can't.do.it.again... Right now, I am at 157. A few weeks ago I was down to like 153 - I am am bloated due to the kidney stone. Having the procedure tomorrow and I am sure they will pump me up with an IV and my weight will jump AGAIN. I just hope that after this, I feel more normal and get back down to my comfort zone which is more like upper 140s/low 150s range. I know a few pounds aren't that important, but it impacts how clothes fit and it is just the size I have chosen. What my end goal for this year is to maintain THAT weight range AND build back my muscles. That will make me look more compact. Frankly, i am pretty okay with where I am at, but I like to have goals! I met a gentleman who decided to give himself a present for his 60th which was a certain bodyfat percentage. I liked his mindset - I am not doing this for anyone else, but for me and so I have set some fitness goals for myself. I am not devastated at being a bit heavier than my all time low, but I do want to be fitter and I know it is within reach. It is my other health issues that have interferred and I am just trying to avoid using them as an excuse for gaining.... I guess most of us realize that as time goes on, it becomes less and less about the WLS....

I would like to meet the ones that are 5 years out and don't have any increased capacity.... rules to the game are that they can't be in reflux hell either. I hit 4 years in December, and most definately have an "increased capacity" and I think everyone should expect that to happen eventually - lucky them if it doesn't. I have been contemplating the whole "does the sleeve stretch" debate and thinking about starting a post on that very subject after I discuss it with the bariatric doctor. I would love to engage longer term (longer term than me!) in this discussion. I don't know if the sleeve stretches or not, but I do know that many people experience increased capacity. BTW, i know a lady who had gastric bypass about 10 years ago. She is still quite heavy and she eats more than I do at setting (when we go out) so I don't believe this is a surgery specific thing - i am thinking it is more a time combined with behavior thing (assuming original surgery was done correctly and there is no retained fundus or other error etc)

@@Valentina - good to know - thank you! I have to tell you a funny obedience training story. I did a class with my little Suzy when she was about 8 months old (I got her at bout 6-7 months) and my purpose was socialization. She is a sweetie, sticks with me like glue so we don't have any behavior problems...however... what she learned in that obedience class was just this.... if handler has a treat, she can do ANYTHING. No treat, not so much. Her wiggly butt sees no reason to stay seated if there isn't a high value treat involved. I don't compete in obedience or anything, and she does what I ask her to do (as a practical matter) - she comes when called, waits rather than leaping in and out of the car etc.... but stuff like "sit" "down" she is not so great at... unless there is a delish treat awaiting. Compare that to my big dumb lab who once he understood the request, would do ANYTHING just to please you. He liked his treats too, but his motivation was to obedience. Her motivation is to cuteness, she does not have that inherent desire to please like he did. I am guessing a yorkie type is even less "compliant" ans papillions are known as one of the most trainable small dogs...haha

So, my bloodwork has been excellent for years. Last time (December) it was still good, but not as good and I am just curious of others experienced that. Annoyingly, I I need to go to the doctor AGAIN for something so I will inquire if this is normal/typical. My primary doc thought my results were great, but I want to talk to the bariatric doctor about it because it is the trend of "not as great" as the last several years that concerned me. I am down to annual checks, but the number of surgeries, procedures and general medical mayhem, i seem to have had a lot of tests lately.