Valentina

Go ahead and cry and wail. Kick something--just not the dog. Cry some more. You deserve a good cry. You've earned it. I believe a good cry helps to cleanse the soul and refresh one's spirit. After you have cried until you have no more tears, try to "refocus". Now is YOUR time. Time just for YOU. Consider this time of solitude to be a gift to yourself, from yourself, love yourself. After surgery, when you are living your new life, maybe you and your husband can work things out, but now is not the time to stress yourself with HIS issues.--and I'm feeling he has plenty. Now is your time to concentrate on YOU! Never said this path of WLS will be easy. I'm just saying that it is sooooooo worth it. Your on my prayer chain now. There are prayers surrounding you from folks you don't even know. Those prayers will keep you safe hopefully from anti-healthy thoughts and worries. Please, post often and let us know how you are doing and feeling. YOU ARE NOT ALONE. --not as long as we are here.

Major, major sliding going on here on the Losers' Bench!!!! Wonderful!!! Welcome, all you, "losers"!!!! Ha! It will be great for you to have each other to walk you new path together. Of course, that is on top of all of us folks here on BP. You've heard the starting pistol fire and you're coming up on the first bend. Go, fillies, go!!!!

I have read all of these posts and can empathize with most of them. I, too am an advocate for having a "good cry".---sometimes a very loud, wailing cry. I feel it cleanses my spirit and actually leaves me feeling better. I also used to have a male best friend who used to enclose me within his arms whenever I needed to feel "protected and safe". I miss him. I'm liking the idea of the weighted blanket. I believe that is the "safe and protected" theory coming through. --especially if it can be warmed. "Comfort food"? I am trying to NOT turn to food when I'm desperate for some comfort. Right now, I am refusing to allow myself to be comforted by food. That's just me and my journey. I still say, "GET A DOG". He/she have the ability to get you soooo much comfort, love, laughter, loyalty, affection. A dog will meet you at the dog every time you come home with such enthusiasm that no matter how crappy your day was, you will smile--even through tears. They will lay in bed with you for hours, even days when you're ill. They will comfort you with nudges, wet nose kisses, waging tails and play. I can not overstate the therapeutic benefits of having a dog in your life. Even if you are unable to get out and walk a dog, get a tiny dog who can use puppy pads until you are strong enough to walk it. Sometimes just having something in our lives that need us. Something who relies solely on you. Something to take our minds off of our troubles--even for just an hour. Something that no matter what we've done, will love us unconditionally--without explanation or consequences. I know. I can talk "dogs" for days. I've trained and owned therapy dogs for years and years, and have seen the benefits for both the person and the dog. Endless---and bountiful. That are the win/win benefits of owning a dog. Comfort??? Now you're talking!!!

Adopt a dog!!! You will never know such loyalty and unconditional love anywhere else.

It didn't occur to me that it could be my gallbladder because I don't have that doubled over pain that worsens when I eat and drives ppl to the ED. but I have learned that is one type of several types of GB disease ....always learning. My pain actually improves when my sleeve is full. In my case, my gallbladder did not have stones and was not "infected". It was full of "sludge". That is the best medical term "they" came up with. Let me know what your final diagnosis is. I'm sure the info will be helpful.

I had most of those symptoms 3years out. It ended up being my gallbladder, which was removed. Keep in touch and feel better,

Welcome to, "The Birds' Nest"!

Beautiful!! You don't love that little one, do you??

One------------------two------------------------------three-----------------GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Don't blood level expectations change as we age? Maybe it's just as simple as that.

Still lik'n the surf fishing idea!

I had my sleeve surgery in 6/11, then immediately ignored it. It has only been since 01/18/2016 that I finally got my head on straight and have decided to acknowledge my sleeve. I first made an appointment with my original surgeon about the viability of my sleeve. He sent my back to my nutritionist, who recommended that I restart at the first week of solid foods as if I had just had my surgery. That was to see if I could retrain myself to feel my sleeve "talking" to me after 4 years. Ya know what? I can!!! I will revisit with my surgeon is a couple o f months. If my weight is not dropping significantly, I will have an endoscopy to take a look at my sleeve. . But since, Jan. 18th, I am down 16#. So, I believe my sleeve and I are finally working together! I should mention that I had spinal surgery a wee bit ago, so exercise is a challenge, but I am having P.T. in a pool. My exercising will increase after P.T. So, what I am saying is don't give up. Maybe the "5 Day Pouch Test" would help you. It is a really good tool to reset your journey. --and also to see if your sleeve is still viable. But, as always, I suggest you revisit your surgeon. That I believe should be your first phone call----ASAP!!! If he finds your sleeve is still viable--get back on track. If he finds your sleeve is not working---have him fix it!! Either way, don't give up on yourself. Your worth the effort. Hell, yes! You are worth the effort and soooo much more.

Exactly!!! Everyone is always so concerned about high blood pressure--as they should, but low blood pressure is concerning as well. Please, take low blood pressure seriously, and keep your PCP up to date. Be healthy.

As much as I can commiserate with you and the environment struggles that you find yourself in, I still believe that there are two sides to every quarrel. Your father (the only one you will ever have) must love you and care about your well being. If not, he would have evicted you long ago. NO parent desires to have an adult child living under their roof with all sorts of mental and physical disabilities interacting with anger, rage, discord on a daily basis, who is secretive, has a history of poor judgement, and decision making without a deep love and concern for that child. There must have been reasons why the courts deemed you unable to manage your own money. Re-examine those issues and work on eliminating them----together. He may have a lack of coping skills of his own, and is just at his wits end on how to help you. I still believe with all my being that you two need to work "life" out between the two of you for BOTH of your sakes. Don't put yourself into a position where someday you are standing over your father's grave with nothing but regret in your heart. ---"if only"... Think about it.

Maybe it's time to have family session with your therapist. Since you are an adult living in your father's house, your options seemed to be limited. It might be time to clear the air. No secrets between father and son. You might just enjoy living without clouds of suspicion over your head and eggshells beneath your feet. Try it. What could it hurt??

Please let us know what you find out. We really do care!

call. It will ease your mind.

8 days or 8wks? Big difference. BUT, anytime you feel like you're "freaking out", it's time to pick up the phone and call your doctor's office. If you can't get through, call your nutritionist. Keep us posted, because we care.

Welcome to the Losers' Bench! It's nice here, isn't it? So wonderful for you that you are now post-op. So it begins...

I would suggest that you read some of the "My Story's", "Testimonials", as well as many other threads that you can. One can never have too much information. Then ask yourself the hard questions: 1. Am I healthy now? 2. Is my weight causing my major health problems? 3. Do I want to live the rest of my days in the state of health that I'm in today? 4. Am I a good candidate for WLS? 5. Have I consulted with my God, clergy, as well as my doctor? 6. If I decide to have WLS, how will I pay for it and where will I go to have it done.(sad to have to include this question, but it is what it is) 7. Do I have family/friend support? a. If not, am I strong enough of conviction to walk this path alone? 8. Am I ready for the life changes that WLS will dictate? If and when you are comfortable with the answers to those questions----GO FOR IT!!! We on this site are here to give you all the support we can muster--and we can muster with the best of them!! Keep us posted as to your decision/concerns/fears/anticipations/expectations-----often.

Wow! That was really a quick pre-op! How did you manage that?? Whatever you did, Welcome to the Losers' Bench! Rest a wee bit, take a deep breath and then--GET UP AND MOVE!!!

It does get better. I promise. Have you tried fresh spinach instead of leaf lettuce? Spinach is softer and milder. I love my salads as long as I have a vinegar based dressing. Anything creamy, or sweet doesn't stay around long! I believe fresh veggies and a salad occasionally help to cleanse one's palate and reset it. It would be a dreary world without freshness.

I don't think you're wrong. God doesn't "create junk". He created you just perfect--a reflection of Himself. However, you (and I) have damaged His perfect creation. I look upon my WLS as me correcting the damage that I have done to His perfection. I hope to stand in front of my God, with a body as close to the body He blessed me with.

Eating fish, fish, and then some fish! I'm going to try to eat fish five days a week and meat the other two. Of course, since I was 7yr, there will be no chocolate for 40llloooonnnggg days and 40 llllooonnngggg nights. I also try to spare some time every day to reflect on "my world"---family, health, community.

I've had low BP for years and the migraines and all of the nasty effects that go along with it. It is nothing to "self medicate" with. Driving can be an issue as well as falls, nausea, black outs, etc. Make appointments with you PCPs. They should be the ones to advise you. Pick up the phone, please. I care!