mzcoug01

I am new here. I have been approved for the sleeve surgery and will be having it done pretty quick. My original surgery date was July 3rd at the hospital. The called last Friday with a cancellation and the surgery date has been moved up to May 22nd !! I am both excited and scared at the same time! My employer is quite okay with the change and my coworkers are quite supportive. Here is brief history about me. I have only been heavy since I was 25/26. I have a history of brittle asthma. I was exposed to field burning smoke after harvest while at school. I was constantly on prednisone and gained a lot of weight. as a result. I came home from school and lost a little weight. However, I was living in an apartment while sustained a crack in the ceiling and subsequent Water leak (winter 2003). I started having increased asthma trouble shortly afterwards. I suspected trouble with the apartment and a pulse oximeter confirmed them. January 2003 - A lab tested and confirmed that I was being exposed to toxic mold (Stachybotris chartrum). The improperly repaired apartment after major water damage (which I found out after I moved out – March 2005). I have gained over 100 pounds with the prednisone weight gain. Has anyone else experienced this? Anyways, my efforts to lose weight have been futile. I would lose the weight just to gain it all back and more. I tried diets, mild exercise, portion control, diabetes diets, Byetta. None of them had any long lasting positive results. I decided I have had enough dealing with the weight and pursue weight loss surgery Dec 2011. I originally pursued getting the lapband. However after further consultations and research I decided to go with the sleeve. I am doing okay right now despite the pain and the asthma has stabilized. I still have to be on prednisone bursts sometimes but have been off of them for several months. I am looking forward to changing my life for the better. I deal with diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, chronic back/neck/shoulder pain(car accidents), hip pain, foot pain, bad knee, and asthma. I have hope that this will improve the weight loss. I have lost a little weight already from the pre-op diet. 3 out of my 4 meals are Protein shakes and I have one sensible meal a day the dr was okay with this). I work different hours (3am-11am) hence I need the 4th meal. I am quite used to the shift. I work as a telecomm tech that has the responsibility fixing and maintaining 3 room-sized dial tone computers so I have to work these hours. They are quite demanding but I do love my job. Sorry about the long introduction. I just wanted you to know where I was coming from and tell you my unique story. I am looking forward to taking my life back from morbid obesity and the adverse effects. I hope that everyone is doing well. Have a nice day.

Thanks for the replies. I am sorry that the wording was confusing. I have take prednisone quite a bit before the gastric sleeve surgery due to the brittle asthma (including a 14 month burst 2005-2006). I have been prednisone during much of my adult life and usually gain some weight even on the 5 day bursts. The 14 day and month long bursts were much worse. This was the first time since the sleeve surgery that I have had to deal with it. I haven't felt any hunger yet! Just extra energy and insomnia. I do agree about the extra energy and the post burst fatigue. My surgeon has me on extra protonix during any prednisone tapers and bursts. My docs gave me a standing order of 40mg prednisone for 5 days. They got tired of seeing me in bad shape during regular follow up and urgent office visits. This has help the asthma flare management greatly! I carry a pulseox and have a portable spirometer to determine when I need it. I also have 4 nebulizer meds, 3 rescue inhalers, Nasalcrom, and I am on Singular, Advair, Zyrtec, & Rhinocort daily. Any more prednisone tips post-sleeve surgery? Any additional help would be appreciated.

I was exposed to smoke and the asthma flared up. Now I am on the prednisone but just for 5 days. Better safe than sorry. I know that getting fluids in is important. Does anyone else have any other tips since this is the 1st time on the prednisone after surgery? Any help would be appreciated!

I was out for 5 weeks. This was 2 weeks longer than expected. I had to deal with dehydration issues.

I went back to work today. I went okay and I have a lot of work to catch up on. I took a 2 1/2 hour nap after I came home. I am not used to getting up at 2am anymore.

I don't understand why he doesn't want you to get the surgery. Doesn't he want you to be healthier? SBD has a good idea. See if you can get support from other family members. A 401k loan is okay only if your job is stable. I would see if care credit can approve you for a loan.

I just started a new blog today! http://www.mzcougsblog.com/ I am going to try to update it regularly.

Thanks for the advice. Three of my meds were causing trouble and discontinued (Byetta, Lisinopril & Theophylline). Apparently the theophylline was a really big problem since it is a diruetic in addition to being used for asthma treatment. I have brittle asthma type 2 and had to take it instead of the prednisone for the surgery. Yes, toast is on my diet. The nutritionist told me to postpone having it for awhile.

Sorry I haven't been on much like I hoped to be. I have had dehydration issues and have required iv fluids. 5/29 - follow up visit- rehydrated 6/9 & 6/17 - visited ER 2x - rehydrated 6/12 - follow up visit- rehydrated I don't have it as bad as some folks and should be more thankful. I don't want to complain but this is so frustrating!!! I am also off work an additional week and feel bad for my coworkers. The quite tempermental, aging, room size, dial tone computers are giving them an awful time by breaking themselves frequently (especially the large one). Fixing them is my specialty. I feel some guilt from not being there to take care of them. I have learned that toast is quite the challenge for me. I am going to wait awhile to try it again. I don't want to get into trouble again anytime soon. I need to get back to work. I am still learning this process of eating with this new pouch! Thanks for listening to me vent!

moved

I was wondering about the same thing. So far, work has giving me until June 10th and my dr has requested more time.

You look great! Keep up the good work!

Hang in there! Most of the pain subsided in a week. I still have a couple of incisions that are painful.

Congrats!

Hi, Sorry that I haven't been on for a a bit. I am still quite tired after the surgery. I had my 1 week follow up visit last Tuesday. The ARNP found that I was a little dehydrated. She gave me 3 bags of fluids as a result. Has anyone else experienced this? I guess the 2 daily Protein drinks, 33oz of smartwater, and lots of Jello wasn't quite enough. I am doing ok otherwise and the asthma is behaving despite the high levels of allergens in the area. I hope everyone is doing well.

Sorry to hear about your hard time. I am glad that you are feeling better!

Congrats on your revision. I hope that it works out well for you!

Hi Kathy Congrats on the surgery! I use the premier shakes from costco (both vanilla and chocolate). I hope that this helps!

I am using the Premier vanilla and chocolate Protein drinks. Congrats on the surgery date! I hope it goes well for you!

Well it is the day before surgery and I am quite nervous. My parents are taking me shopping to try to get my mind off of surgery. I am nervous any time I have had surgery due to dealing with brittle asthma and now add the sleep apnea to it. I will be staying overnight because of this and really don't like hospitals since I have spent some time in them. I am excited to lose the weight so I am going through this. I hope everyone is doing well. -Rebecca

Thanks for the kind replies!

Hi. I am home recovering from the sleeve surgery. According to the surgeon, the surgery went quite well; much better than expected. I also had an unexpected hiatial hernia repaired also. The asthma is not too bad. I was on O2 all while I was in the hospital so it helped the brittle asthma behave along with the theophylline. Otherwise I am trying to move around to help myself recover. I hope that everyone is doing well. :-)

I hope that you continue to do well!

Sorry to hear about the temporary delay. I hope that you are rescheduled soon.

Sorry to hear about the temporary delay. I hope that you are rescheduled soon.