Valentina

Why not go ahead and have a good cry? You've earned it. Relish it. Then: Put your think'n cap on. Get more professional opinions. If your doctor is stumped this time, seek another. It's not being disloyal. It's enlightenment. And don't give up until you feel better. There is a "cocktail" out there somewhere for you as the unique individual you are. You just have be assertive and insistent long enough until you find it. Don't give up on yourself, my friend. There is a path out of the "med change/weight gain quagmire that you find yourself bogged down in now. You just have to find the correct "GPS" setting to get you on that "right path". Keep posting. Keep calling. Keep asking. The answer is out there. You'll find it. I know you will.

Effexor has been an oldie but a goodie for many years. Were you having difficulties with it? I'm thinking if Effexor was becoming ineffective than why not a "booster" instead of a "replacement"? Just a thought...

I'm here and I'm listening, but I'm NOT hearing anything about a "plan B". Whatcha got????

Under five? I wouldn't "tell" them anything. Too much information would only frighten them. I would "answer" any and all of their questions as they arise. I would answer those questions honestly and factually without getting into too much detail. "Daddy doesn't feel too well right now". "No jumping monkeys on Daddy right now". The doctors fixed Daddy's tummy, so Daddy will feel much better soon." "Who wants a popsicle?"

Ladies, you all just had a major surgery. We all talk about how wonder WLS is, and how we are all going to fee soooo happy and healthy that we forget sometimes that we just had a surgeon cut into our bodies, take out a major portion of a vital organ or rearrange our innards. Yes, you will feel better-----soon, but not right away. Usually one's body is finally fully awake from the anesthia around day 3/4. That is when you feel like you just got run over by a bus. What to do? Stop bemoaning your aches and pains. Yes, it hurts. Yes the pain is real. Yes, it will ease. Take a deep breath and remember the magnitude of the surgery you just had. Do NOT give yourself unreachable goal or expectations for the first week. Now: Put your big girl/boy panties/briefs on and DO WHAT YOU KNOW YOU HAVE TO DO!!! You HAVE to get your fluids in. You HAVE to walk. You HAVE to rest. Start working on getting your Protein in. The protein and everything else will fall into place next week . We are here to support you in anyway we can. We really do care. WLS is NOT easy. BUT, each and every one of you can do this. I know it. I promise you. I'm looking forward to following each of your SUCCESSFUL and joyful journeys. NOW: Get your minds wrapped around your WLS journey and------take one step forward----followed by another-----and another------and... I'm

My hospital gave all of the bariatric patients a "huggy bear" to hold against their abdomen . Nice idea. I took: chap stick cell phone and charger tooth brush/paste my most feminine robe and slippers so I felt "purdy". my favorite lotion so I didn't "smell like hospital" my rosary--can't hurt

If I use milk or almond milk with my Protein shake, I gag. They are way too thick and slimy. Now I use Quest Protein Powder, some ice cubes and diet soda (flattened). It lightens up the shake, making it yummy, yummy, yummy. Sometimes I will add some fresh frozen fruit.

I use Quest Protein powder and Quest protein bars. Walmart is now selling Quest products. GNC sells sample packs of all of the Quest protein shakes. That way you can try several before investing in a tub. Good luck.

The bond between surgeon and patient is sacrosanct. However, it works both ways. If you expect and want your surgeon to be truthful and knowledgeable with you and have your surgery to be a complete success, then YOU have to be 100% honest with her/him. Tell him everything that you ate/drank that you know you should not have. That is how it works. Take responsibility for your actions as you expect your surgeon to do when operating on your body. All will be as it is meant to be. Following your program to the "T" now shows commitment and dedication for the post op life changes to come. I believe in you and your successful choices. Please post back and let us know how you are doing. I'm rooting for YOU.

I had my gallbladder out three years after my sleeve surgery. That is why I mentioned it. WLS can raise havoc with gallbladders as well as our kidneys. Take care of yourself, friend. Feel better.

How does a person eat a cow???? ONE BITE AT A TIME! That's how I recommend you stay on track pre operatively. (no. not by eating a cow.... ) You break down the six months into DAYS. You succeed one day at a time. If you falter one day, you give yourself a virtual slap in the kisser, pull your big girl panties up and do better the next day. Pretty soon you will have built a solid foundation on which to pave your successful WLS journey. With all of the pre op app'tments, documentation and consultations, six months is not an overly long period of time to get everything done AND get your head focused on your life changing eating regime. Start today. Finish today. Start again tomorrow. Finish tomorrow. ----- One day at a time. One step at a time. "Make the most of what you have and the least of what you haven't." I look forward to observing your successful and joyful journey.

Maybe it's time to revisit your bariatric team??? Anytime a WLS person has pain that can be associated directly with eating I would recommend scheduling an app'tment with the good ol' doc. In today's busy times, any pain is distracting from our daily lives and completely unacceptable. One thought: Do you still have your gall bladder? Anyway, my NJ friend. Please go and see what the folks with the alphabet after their name have to say. By all means, come back and post how you made out. We are a very nosy bunch, yes, but we also really care.

You are never going to get away with telling us such few details. We are a nosy bunch of coconuts! However, we are also some of the most caring and compassionate folks you will ever meet. So: Any complaints? Any concerns? Any aches or pains? Any brags? Any bitches? Any new recipes to share? How are the wife and kids? Do you have a wife and any kids? What's the true meaning of life? See what I mean? Tell us-------------------------ALL! Welcome! You are most certainly and warmly welcomed.

Now it's time to take a deep breath, relax until Friday and then Let it happen. Meet you on "The Losers' Bench". Hey Everyone!! Scooch one place over to the left. Bobby's Girl is arriving on Friday!"

I know. I, too miss food and everything that food represents. I miss the social aspect of food as much as the food it self. So, we've both said it out loud. Now what??? We can't undo our sleeves. Speaking for myself, I always have to have a "plan". How to I cope with this unexpected development? This is my viewpoint: I can look upon my WLS as a "wrong" decision that I'm "stuck" with. Or I can turn it all upside down and "make a "wrong" decision "right". I have chosen to do the latter. I've taken a deep breath and have started working with my sleeve. I listen to it. Yes, it will growl and groan when unhappy. It will also giggle and gurgle when happy. I've had to learn the difference. I've learned and am still learning about Herbs--domestic and exotic. I've learned to take ordinary food and make it extraordinary with herbs and spices without adding calories. I now know the difference between OK Protein and high end quality protein. Big difference there. Cooking has become my new challenge/hobby. I go out of my way to speak with restaurant owners/chefs to encourage them to offer "small plates" to their menus--just delicious portions of protein and delicately prepared veggies. And I have yet to be denied a "small plate" of my own design at any restaurant. What am I getting at? I strongly believe that I can either bitch and moan about the surprise of missing/mourning my favorite foods--making myself and my family miserable. OR I can become proactive and accept my new life's menu as a healthy challenge.--not only for myself, but for my family as well. The gauntlet has been thrown. Will you pick it up????

I never gave up caffeine. It was programed into my plan for the very start with my team's knowledge. I have to drink an equal amount of Water for every cup of coffee/tea that I drink. Fair enough. The caffeine/diuretic debate is ongoing. In the end of things, you really must follow YOUR bariatric team's advice. In my case, the migraines were more harmful than the caffeine intake. Good luck. Feel better.

Not bad, friend. Not bad at all. You got this 10# thing. You've lost that much many many times before, right? You aren't losing it for your PCP nor for your surgeon. You are doing it for YOU!!!!! IF you don't have WLS and die long before your time to do so, will your PCP or your surgeon's life be altered forever? Nope. ---But YOU may notice a slight difference in your life's status if you die before your time... This is YOUR time. Do WLS for YOU. Be strong enough to stand by yourself, have WLS alone--for yourself. Love yourself enough to give yourself this gift. To you. From you. Love YOU. Snack ideas: Jerky Pork rinds SF ice pops Cottage cheese and tomatoes or tuna roasted veggies with nutritional yeast smoked meat/fish chicken/turkey breast hard boiled eggs Now, buckle down. Stop fretting about this. You can do it. Just set your head in the right direction and move---forward---always forward. Keep posting on your progress. I'll be watching you.

Why do you think you need/want one?

If you DIDN'T have the jitters the day before a major surgery then YOU, my friend would be a ----wait for it--------wait for it--------------again--wait for it--------------A WEIRDO!!!!! Seriously, my friend, let it go. You have done all of the prep work. You have chosen the best bariatric team you could. You have jumped through every hoop. Now, you need to let it go. Take a deep breath, leave everything about tomorrow in your surgical team's skillful hands, under God's Grace. All will be well. I promise. NOW GO TO BED!!!!! (post when you feel up to it and let us know how wonderfully well you are doing and how WLS was the best decision you've ever made. You may want to wait until a week post op for the feeling wonderfully well part . But, You WILL . )

--how many calories are you consuming a day? May I ask? I try to limit to about 1200. Wondering if that is too much. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App --how many calories are you consuming a day? May I ask? I try to limit to about 1200. Wondering if that is too much. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App I was working up to 1100cal/day. I restarted at 800-900cal/day and over the last few months my Nut has me working on getting to 1100cal/day. However, I am heading for skin surgery next Tues, so my Nut wants me at 1200-1300cal/day for better healing after surgery. Am I happy about the increase in cals? Nope, but I am relying of my Nut's knowledge and foresight, so I will increase my intake through my recovery. Good luck on your revamped journey. You've already done the hardest part. You've recognized your "stumble", taken responsibility for it and are taking action. The rest will all come back to you like a long lost friend coming to the garden gate after a lengthy absence. Take a deep breath and welcome her in.

Poor girl must have something wrong with her eyes. Probably a facial tic. Bless her heart... --and YOU, young lady (melbell2222)-- do NOT make faces!!! Do you want your face to get stuck like that????? (OMG! I'm my mother!!! :0 )

Hmm I didn't think of that. Hopefully they are detailed.. that's the only thing I can think of, is that I was a hard intubation.. but 1 week post op and still having pain?! How rough could it have been? I will def be looking into this more. Sent from my HTC Desire 626s using the BariatricPal App "Report of Operation" documentation is to be detailed--step by step. --Especially if there was a "difficulty" of any kind. Good luck and PLEASE post back and let us know what you found out. Nosy? yep Do I really care? Sure do!!!

I, too had WLS in 2011 and am just get back on track this year. I went back to the very beginning. Like I was just starting my first week of solids. It's worked to help get me focused again. Track EVERYTHING 70g//protein 64oz / Water Exercise small meals with tiny bites chewed well---no drinking with meals. You know the plan. Remember though, you will NOT lose weight like you did in the beginning. Get yourself motivated and get going! You did it once. You can do it again. YOU just have to wanna! Welcome back! You ae very welcomed here.

I would (my opinion) ask to see the "op report"--including the anesthesia/respiratory notes. I would be curious to want to know what happened in the OR that would cause you to have this mysterious pain that no one wants responsibilty for. You may have to pay for the pages that you want, but knowing what happened would be (to me) worth the expense. In the meantime, I hope your pain subsides. Who knew, right??? Feel better, friend.

I'm EXTREMELY allergic to all legumes...