Saltmistrose

http://news.msn.co.nz/video/?videoid=346f531f-68b5-4198-b8a3-5c763774d85b&src=v5:posterframe:titleBar^link:&from=mpl_en-nz_nz-news_nz^nz-news^home&uuid=346f531f-68b5-4198-b8a3-5c763774d85b I couldn't done this without my sleeve and with the 75 lbs. that I have now lost. I also need the support of friends like you, who I have met in this support chat room. Thanks! Saltmistrose

I had a shock tonight. I was measuring myself for sewing patterns. I have lost a total of 65 lbs. since I 1st saw the dietician and the surgeon in April 2012. I had my sleeve done on November 29, 2012. I feel good and look better. My current clothes are loose, but still wearable. Anyway, according to the size charts, I am still a size 26/28. I was almost ready to cry. I am very good about what I eat, exercise, and water intake. I thought I was on target, but wearing the same large size, makes me doubt myself. Any ideas about why my measurements and size is so much the same as before the weight loss?

cudlyqt: I don't know what is going on with your hair. My hair has always been fine and thin. My surgery was on 11/29/12 and I have had no change in my hair to date. I do take Optisource Vits. which are a post bariatric formula of vits. They do have Biotin in the formulation, which is specifically for hair loss prevention/minimization. I certainly would check with my dietician and/or surgical team about the problem. Funny enough, my nails have always been a splitting, peeling mess. Since surgery, I have not replaced my nail tips that I had always had to fix this longstanding problem. I am now growing my own nails and manicuring them myself, with good results, post surgery. They are much stronger and look pretty good. Good luck in finding a solution to your problem. Karen

I'm not sure if I ever posted anything before in this forum. I am barely a November 2012 sleever! I was sleeved on November 29th, 2012. I am just about 2 months out and feel I am doing well. Funny thing is, I am the last person that seems to notice how well I am doing. I have posted both "before" and "after" photos of myself in the same outfit. You can see changes clearly in the pictures, however, I don't seem to be as aware of the changes as others are. When I had my hair cut, as in my profile picture, I saw the changes much more clearly. My brain keeps painting my image in the mirror, as being fatter than it really is. The brain does play tricks on us I think. Anyway, in total, to date, I have lost a total of around 65 lbs., since I saw the surgeon in April of 2012. Just thought I would share this with all the graduating class of November 2012! All of you keep up the good work! Stay strong and be well! Karen

I am 4 weeks and 4 days past my VGS date. I did very well during and after my surgery. I am sleeping well and have very little discomfort. I am eating well and have no problems with food, fluids, or Vitamins. I just have very little energy. I go to sleep tired and wake up tired. I do have Fibromyalgia and depressive illness, but I am taking my regular medications and have not noticed any change in these conditions, post surgery. What is going on? Anybody got a clue as to what is happening to me? I have started my exercise routine as well, but don't feel any better of or worse from it. Let me know if you have experienced this and/or if you have any ideas as to why I feeling this way. Thanks! Karen

I have already had my surgery, but I thought this video might be informative for anyone who wants to see what is involved in this surgery before they have it. I think it is very complete and very informative. I hope you like it and that it helps you make your decision about the VSG of the WLS options. Stay strong and Be Well. Here is the hyperlink to cut and past in your browser: http://videocenter.s...-gastric-sleeve

I am looking at getting a Fitbit Ultra if I can score one off Ebay at a more reasonable price. I have already enter some information on the various logs they offer online. I hope I can get one before Christmas. I had my surgery on the 29th of November, and I am just about ready to start up the exercise part of my post-op plan. I have a X-trainer and have some hand weights and ankle weights. I hope to fight off the Bingo wings and my apron flap at the age of 56 and being obese for 35+ years. Here's hoping this gadget helps me in my recovery journey.

I am confused about this too. In hospital they gave me a small bowl of puree chicken or beef, plus a yogurt smoothie or just yogurt. So are you saying 1/2 cup of total pureed food per meal is good average amount to be eating? I am 1 week old today. I am doing very well and am not nauseous in the least. The "lump in my gut" is getting better and better by the day. My partner makes my meals for me at present and I find myself with a 3 sectioned baby plate with food in each section for dinner. Maybe too much huh? I will be interested to see what others have to say about this one. Stay strong and be well!

I am one week old today. I have never questioned the wisdom of my decision to have a sleeve done. I have always know that the after part for me would be the challenge. I have had 3 surgeries in less than a year and half and guess I am practiced. I want you to know that the sleeve surgery was by far the easiest for me to recover from. Less pain and post op difficulties. Quite frankly, maybe hung around these rooms too long to hear all the problems and complications people were having. I had none of them. In fact, I have wondered if they really did take out 85% of my stomach last week. I am sure you will do fine. Stay strong and be well! See you on the other side people.

Just a quickie: I just got out of hospital today after being sleeved on the 29th. I am not to drink water with meals. 1/2 hour before or after. Need to save the space for protein. I also had poor lung inhalations and was told to sleep on my side not my back. It was manageable. I am eating puree now and will be for 3 weeks. Then on to the soft diet. I am doing very well I think. Hope everyone else that was sleeved in November with me is doing as well. Stay strong and be well. Saltmistrose

Well on Monday, November 26th, 2012, Federal Blue Cross Blue Shield Overseas, agreed to cover the cost of my gastric sleeve surgery. Surgery was scheduled for Thursday, November 29th, 2012. God is good and wonders never cease! For months I have had to call everyone involved in this process and see what was needed, what was sent, what was recieved, and what still needed to be done. It was like hearding cats! I was sure it would crash and burn, but yet it didn't. On Thursday, I showed up at Ascot Hospital for my surgery as planned! I was delighted. I wasn't worried in the least. I guess was practiced enough at surgeries, but the time I arrived. My last surgery was only about 10 weeks ber fore the gastric sleeve surgery. I had a huge hernia repair down earlier at Auckland City Hospital under the public medical scheme. This surgery had to done under the private pay scheme, because I was too old to be put on the public scheme list (over the age of 50). Thank God I kept my private health insurance, even after I became a New Zealand resident. I came to my WLS through the back door for sure. Less than 2 years ago, I had an emergency removal of my gallbladder and a golf balls sized gallstone. Upon awakening from surgery I sneezed. I felt something pop, like a suture pulling. I was told that I was wrong about what I thought had happened. However, in December, while sitting on the toilet, my resulting hernia made it's first appearance. I named her Helen. Helen developed into a nasty b***h! My bowel was pinching more and more through the ever growing hole in my muscle wall. I did a lot of research into hernia repair surgery. Low and behold, I found out that post operative hernias were very common place. Additionally, I became convinced that I would have a very poor prognosis of having the hernia repaired long term, if I did not loose weight and the pressure behind the repair would reopen the repair. LIght bulb moment went off during this time. I am 56, have been overweight forever, didn't have diabetes "yet" or high blood pressure "yet". Diabetes on both sides of the family, large polycystic ovary syndrome women in my gene pool, and an overweight younger sister (like me). Knew I was unable to do the very hard work it would take to loose even a small amount of weight, and keep it off. Had givien up talking about and thinking about ever being able to loose weight. Had suffered believing that WLS was the easy "cheater's" way out of a problem I had made for myself, because I was lazy. Blamed myself almost to death. Somehow relized that if ever I was going to do this at a time without all the complications that were looking me straight in the face, it was going to be now. It might me my last chance at a good quality remainder of my life. I took the plunge on this "ah ha" moment. I was never more sure that I had made a good decision in my life, than I was when I made this one. However, I had to prove that I was a "good candidate" for this surgery to my surgeon of choice. I have clinical depression as well. I had to improve my very poor mood and make a go at a trial diet (Optifast), develope and exercise plan (cross trainer 5X week for 30 min.) and develope a mental health support plan that worked. I did it. I got the consent of the surgeon to operate on me. He did my hernia repair 1st. 10 weeks later I had my gastric sleeve surgery on November 29th, 2012. I just got home from the hospital today, December 3rd, 2012. I am doing very well. Amazingly well. Decided to start this blog off today. So this is my first entry. I will come back again to tell you about how my first 4 days post op have gone. I have been keeping a diary and some photos too. I have a lot of thoughts about how big a deal ths surgery is going to be for me. Maybe I will process this with blog. Stay strong and be well. Saltmistrose

Still struggling with pre-op diet. Only lost 2.5 lbs. in 2 weeks! Also still struggling with insurance. I am not so happy at the moment. Time is ticking by and surgery is planned for less than 2 weeks away. Having a U.S. Thanksgiving dinner for friends and family here in New Zealand. May be a long hard haul to surgery date. Hope everyone else is doing well and staying strong.

I think my body image has held me back from being intimate with my partner for a long time now. One of my unanswered questions is whether or not I will begin to feel differently enough about myself after surgery, to change how approach this part of my life? I am hoping for the best, in time. At this time I am scheduled for surgery on the 29th of November. Good to hear that you are feeling well, all over You go girl!

Hi there! Did you know that the after effects of your anethesia can make you feel blue/depressed? You are trying to get over major surgery and are facing the unkinown. All these things can make you feel depressed. Even good stress is hard. If you can be more patient and gentle with yourself, it might help. You can only do the best that you can do day to day. I have clinical depression and lived with it for years now. I know that I have bad days and better days. I have very few "high" days. I just try to understand my moods and go with them (not indulge them) and make my way through the day. I am sure the mood will pass. Just remember, you have been and will be going through lots of change. I think reaching out to others, can never hurt you. I wish you the best and be well. Hang in there Sloopy! Karen

Hi there! Did you know that the after effects of your anethesia can make you feel blue/depressed? You are trying to get over major surgery and are facing the unkinown. All these things can make you feel depressed. Even good stress is hard. If you can be more patient and gentle with yourself, it might help. You can only do the best that you can do day to day. I have clinical depression and lived with it for years now. I know that I have bad days and better days. I have very few "high" days. I just try to understand my moods and go with them (not indulge them) and make my way through the day. I am sure the mood will pass. Just remember, you have been and will be going through lots of change. I think reaching out to others, can never hurt you. I wish you the best and be well. Hang in there Sloopy! Karen

Hi there! Did you know that the after effects of your anethesia can make you feel blue/depressed? You are trying to get over major surgery and are facing the unkinown. All these things can make you feel depressed. Even good stress is hard. If you can be more patient and gentle with yourself, it might help. You can only do the best that you can do day to day. I have clinical depression and lived with it for years now. I know that I have bad days and better days. I have very few "high" days. I just try to understand my moods and go with them (not indulge them) and make my way through the day. I am sure the mood will pass. Just remember, you have been and will be going through lots of change. I think reaching out to others, can never hurt you. I wish you the best and be well. Hang in there Sloopy! Karen

Well friends: I am not impressed with my progress with the Optifast diet this time through. Last time I did this I lost almost 25 lbs. 2 weeks into my 4 weeks of pre-op diet I am only down 2.2 lbs. from where I started. I have struggled a lot this time through. I am so hungry! I have resumed my exercise routine on my X-trainer 1/2 hour daily. I am still sore from my hernia repair surgery of almost 6 weeks ago. I am also waiting for the insurance company, hospital, and surgeon's office, to pull it together, in time for me to have my surgery on the 29th of November. Plans are underway for my New Zealand observance of Thanksgiving. Smaller gauge affair this year, with surgery scheduled for 1 week after. I guess I think of it as a new birthday. I am anxious as well as curious as to "who" I will be come after this surgery. I have a little wish that I could return home to the U.S. for my dad's 90th birthday, a much smaller woman. I am not worried about the surgery per se. I am sure there will be lots of spin off effects from having this surgery. Once I get beyond the surgery a bit, I need to return my focus to finding work here in New Zealand. I have been supported by my partner before and during my WLS process. Yesterday my partner told me they would be doing the Optifast thing when I go into hospital. When I get home, they also will be endeavoring to make better food choices in an effort to drop about 40 lbs. too. I am hoping that grocery shopping in the future won't bring home any more Cookies and the really bad things, that I have fed on, for all too long. Well just needed to off load a little and defuse. I am happy to see that those of you have gone before me are doing well. As always, I wish all of those that yet to have your surgery the best. Pretty much all of you will be having your surgeries in November will go before me. I will be watching your experiences and progress with interest. Stay strong and be well all of you. Karen

I got a bullet and ended up giving to my daughter-in-law for my grandaughter's baby food. I then got a moulinex on an auction site here in NZ. It was really cheap so I don't mind. I just want some good eating and living recipes for after I have my surgery on the 29th of November. Are they any recipe books out there?

Dear November Sleevers: Well guys, there seems to a be a trend in here lately. Why is everyone so frightened? You are doing something very positive to preserve the quanity as well as the quality of your life! This decision to have WLS is a proactive one and not one made in the middle of an acute medical crisis. Yes it is major surgery! However, the risks are very low and I would venture to say that most of our surgeons are very experienced and competent. Mine has told me that he, to date, has never lost anyone in surgery, and that he doesn't begin to start now (with me lol) . I am having a struggle getting back to the 4 weeks of the pre-op diet again and getting back into the groove with my exercise routine. I had surgery about 5 weeks ago and am feeling a lot better from my hernia surgery, but I managed to rip the toenail of my big toe. This means I can't wear a shoe to allow me to use my cross-trainer. Nothing is ever simple is it. I hope that I can get myself back on the diet over this weekend. My surgery date will be here soon enough. I need to get my act together quick. The 29th of November will be here soon enough. I am happy that the surgery is sooner rather than later. I have had 4 surgical procedures in the last 2 years. I guess that's why I am not afraid of the surgery. I am happy with my decision, so should all of us be. Stay strong my friends and be well! Karen

I am originally from Baltimore, MD. I have lived in New Zealand for 6+ years now. I am a retired federal employee. I was a clinical social worker in my former life in America. I had a gallbladder surgery in August of 2010. I developed a larger central line hernia that needed repair badly. My research taught me that the hernia could be repaired, but without a massive amount of weight loss, it more than likely would not stay repaired. I am almost 57 yrs. old and I am geneticly loaded for diabetes on both sides of my family. Presently I have a good BP and no diabetes. My cholesterol is borderline. All things considered, I decided now is the hour for the decision to have WLS. I believe the sleeve is right for me. So does my surgeon. I have just returned from hernia repair surgery about 5 weeks ago. I met with the surgeon today post surgery and discussed my next surgery, the gastric sleeve surgery. Being blessed with private health insurance, after working for the U.S. government for 25 yrs., I can have my surgery in the private system of health care here in New Zealand (I am too old for the public medical scheme to cover me here). He has given me the date of November 29th, 2012 for my sleeve surgery. I am axious to get on with it all. It will be my late Thanksgiving day celebration. I may even come to celebrate a 2nd birthday after having my surgery. I want to be well underway to recovery by Christmas time.

Hi Marylanders! I am a Baltimorian who now lives in New Zealand. I just got my date for my surgery that will be done here in Auckland. My surgery date is November 29, 2012. Yahoo!

As if today, I am scheduled for my Gastric Sleeve Surgery, on November 29th, 2012. Ya hoo!

I am now a "Kiwi"! I arrived in NZ a little over 6 years ago. I live on Waiheke Island. I am originally from Baltimore, Maryland in the U.S. Anybody out there from New Zealand that wants to chatter away?

Hi there: I would like an answer to this question as well. I will probably have my surgery in mid November or December. I am a Federal retiree that now lives overseas in New Zealand. I have had to use my private health insurance to get my sleeve surgery covered. I am too old for the public medical scheme to cover me here. I am 56 years old and they think less likely to benefit from the surgery, than someone younger (under the age of 50). I hope someone has an answer for us. Take care and good luck. Karen

This is a reposting of my mini story as to how I reached the point of deciding to have WLS. I hope it helps someone out there. Be welll. Hello there friends! Well I guess I will take this opportunity to tell a little bit of "my story". Ever since high school I have been overweight. My mom was thin but her side of the family, were large childless women. I suspect there was a bit of POS (polycystic ovary syndrome) in the family, which I have. I lost a lot of weight in my early 20ties on the Scarsdale diet. I recall being about 5'6" and weighing about 138 lbs. My family thought I was fat. In a few years the weight came back and more. From there on out it was impossible to loose weight. After years of struggles I finally just stopped talking about my weight and somewhere along the way gave up any hope that I could do anything to change my weight "ever" again. I took on feeling the blame for not being disciplined and/or strong enough to "help" myself back to a healthy weight. I worked like a fiend (3 jobs). I worked full time through university and grad school. I bought a house I traveled. I gave up hope of finding a partner. I settled into life as I believed I was to know it for years. I was busy with my "career" which was as a social worker for the Baltimore VA Medical Center. I thought I was on track for the rest of my working life and had my house in Baltimore to hide in, with the new car in front of that house. Then life took a wicked twist. I was involved in a accident at work and I developed Fibromyalgia. I also developed sleep apnea and had a major clinical depressive episode. I also experienced my 1st panic attacks. After seeking treatment for my Fibromyalgia pain, I went onto an internet chat web site to try to find out more about how I was being treated for my medical and mental health problems. I happened up the web site where I met my current partner. Long story short, I retired early due to the problems that were plaguing me and a change in the management of my job. My partner is a "kiwi" (from New Zealand). They had a job in NZ I did not. They had children in NZ, I did not have children (just aging parents and miserable siblings). I moved to New Zealand about 6 years ago. I worked for a short while in NZ, but eventually was unable to continue to work here. I became financially dependent for the first time in my adult life. I became more depressed and gained more weight of course. My mom had been diagnosed with Alzhiemers disease and a couple of years ago, she became more ill and died in January of 2010, at the age of 88. She was being cared for by my dad at home and I traveled home 2 times that year to care for her and to get her set up in hospice care. Upon returning from her memorial in Spring of 2010, I became very ill. I was airlifted off the island where I live (Waiheke Island) and ended up having surgery for a golf ball size gallstone and the removal of my gallbladder. Upon coming out of recovery after surgery, I sneezed. I felt something pop in my stomach. The medical team said I was wrong about my belief that I had popped my sutures. In December 2011, I was sitting on the toilet and saw the 1st appearance of a ventral, post surgical, hernia. Here begins my "back door" decision making process to have WLS. After reading extensively about hernia repair surgery, I realized there was very little hope that a hernia repair would be successful with me at my weight of 311 lbs. It was then thought about WLS for the 1st time. I did not have diabetes "yet" or high blood pressure "yet". Both sides of my family have diabetes and it was just a matter of time before I developed it, I believed. I set up an appointment with a surgeon here and discussed my thoughts about the WLS that was needed to help me successfully repair my now "growing" hernia. During my initial meeting with the surgeon, I discovered how emotionally sensitive and depressed I really was about my weight. My life quality wasn't really so good and I was very depressed. I was felt so disempowered. I also felt very guilty and totally to blame for my "fat" and "fatty life style". Somewhere along in this meeting, I began to change how I felt about myself and my weight. I was referred to the "public" system for weight loss surgery. The public system here gives free care to qualifying patients here in New Zealand. Well here is where the 1st age related "warning bell" goes off in my story. I was advised by the hospital that I could not be entered on the WLS waiting list, because I was over the age of 50. Public surgery was restricted to people under the age of 50 because they were believed to be the age group that held the most hope for health improvements from this expensive medical procedure. Health care is rationed here under the public scheme. Fortunately, I retained my private health insurance when I retired from U.S. federal system. I had Federal Retiree Blue Cross/Blue Shield (Overseas) coverage. The same surgeon from the public system was now to be my surgeon under my private medical insurance coverage. I met with him several times along with his staff. He also was to be the surgeon that would do the hernia repair surgery for me. After being evaluated by the surgeon, his dietician, and his psychologist, I was advised that I would have to do several things to get the surgeon to consent to do my surgery. I was pissed that after I had finally made "my decision" to have WLS, someone was going to deny me the surgery, because they didn't think I was "fit" enough for the procedure. No ego here, I might suggest. Anyway, I had to go in the pre-surgery diet, get my wake/sleep cycle in order, get an exercise plan in place, get my depression in a better state, get ongoing mental health support in place, and come back to the surgeon's dietician in 5 weeks for another meeting and evaluation. I did this and I lost about 25 lbs., had a daily sleeping/waking schedule, changed my anti-depressant medications, and got a mental health worker/social worker to meet with me on and ongoing basis. The surgeon then met with me again and consented to do both surgeries. The decision was made to do the hernia repair surgery 1st (not simultaneously, as the "great I" had wanted). However, I was returning to the U.S. for a 2 month stay in June of 2012. This being said, I was to return to NZ and have the hernia repaired as soon as possible (under the "public" system). I was to be put on the waiting list for the surgery and my priority adjusted, if my need for the surgery became more urgent along the way. During my stay in the U.S. the hernia grew and painfully pitched me endlessly. The day after I got back to NZ, I had an appointment in the surgeon's clinic at the hospital. After much "hemming and hawing" I had my hernia repaired on Sept. 28th, 2012. It was done laprascopicly. I woke up with 11 incisions and an 8" X 8" piece of mesh having been stitched into me. I felt the pain rip through me, when I tried to walk to the toilet. I felt like I was being napalmed. I felt like I was on fire. Thank God the worst of this was over in about 3 days. I was in hospital for about 7 days. Today is 3 weeks since the surgery and I am almost pain free. I have an appointment with my surgeon on Oct. 30th. I am expecting that I will be having my gastric sleeve done in the private hospital sometime mid November to mid December. When I 1st posted on this forum, I had just been looking on various sites looking at other WLS cases. More specifically, I was looking post operative WLS cases that were having body sculpting surgeries to deal with their various "skin flaps". I couldn't find any cases of people that looked like me, or who were around my age. I noted that "most" of these people were younger than me. It then dawned on me that maybe I had ignored an important factor in making my decision to have the WLS. I guess the facts are the ideas about my health concerns and my desire to change my life in a positive way, are the basis for making this choice to have WLS. I think I still believe that I have made the best decision for my case and my situation(s). I also believe that using the available technology and support I have found online, is a vital part of my support plan and network. Thanks to all for listening and please excuse my typos and English errors. Be well all and stay strong on the journey. Karen