BrickHouse

RIGHT! My daughter wears a small junior size and when I'm shopping for her, I feel the eyes on me, like "They ain't gonna fit you!"

I can't wait to NOT buy a size 5X sweatshirt in order for it to be baggy.

Soy sauce and a dash of sesame oil. YUM.

Could it be from lying down after having a drink? I'm not sleeved yet, but I remember reading that's a no-no. Hope you can get it resolved.

Not to sound harsh, but it's not the sleeve that's not working. 25 pounds in a month is outstanding. Be patient and have faith in your choice.

And I can't wait to NOT freeze my poor husband out. He is wrapped in a jacket, a hat, and a blanket and I am in front of the fan, eating a sugar-free popsicle.

I can't wait to NOT want to avoid going inside my kid's school for assemblies, sports, sign outs, etc. I never wanted to embarrass her.

You both look amazing! Big congratulations!

Just to clarify, they've removed all my cancer. I'm cancer-free, but my family history is very strong (although no other breast cancers), so I had a test to determine the likelihood of distant recurrence. While I'm not high-risk, the number I received wasn't low enough to be considered low-risk, so this chemo should cut my recurrence risk in half. So, while I've beaten the cancer, the chemo is what will postpone my sleeve and reconstruction. Thanks again for all your prayers and support. They are very much appreciated.

Just reading all your well wishes has lifted my spirits tonight. Thank you. While I often say that I can't wait for 2012 to be over, this is still the year that I whooped cancer's a$$.

I began thinking about WLS over a year ago. This past summer, I began the process. I spent many, many hours reading these boards and learning more than I ever thought I'd know about being sleeved and living a sleeved life. I started by attending an information seminar hosted by my surgeon in July. I had my one-on-one consultation with him in September. I began my adventure of hoop-jumping: two psych visits, two nutrition visits, two sleep studies (one with CPAP after OSA dx), EGD, upper GI, pulmonary check, cardio check... I learned I had high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, as well as obstructive sleep apnea. All the more reason to have this procedure. When I was almost finished with all of my clearances, I discovered a lump. I immediately contacted my primary care doctor who sent me to a breast imaging specialist. Everyone could feel the lump, but it didn't show up on the diagnostic mammo, nor the ultrasound. I was then referred to a surgeon under the impression that I had an infected duct. Under his direction, I hot-packed my breast for two days before having the painful area excised. Two days later, I learned the excised area was entirely cancer. Positive margins, more surgery, blah blah blah. The rest was just a bunch of white noise. I had a successful double mastectomy four weeks ago and had my tissue expanders placed for reconstruction. I've been in contact with my bariatric surgeon and his recommendation was to get started with my physical therapy and as long as the plastic surgeon was ok with it, and as long as I didn't need chemo, we could submit to insurance and get started. I am about a week away from beginning physical therapy and I've been getting more and more excited. Today, after OncoType testing, I learned I'll soon begin 8 rounds of chemo, lasting about six months. I will likely need to wait several months after finishing chemo before I move on to step 2 of my reconstruction, let alone even think about being sleeved. My first thought was to put off the chemo for a month or so and try to put a rush on my sleeve. But what if I'm in the small percentage of patient that has a serious complication? The longer I wait on the chemo, the less effective it could be. It's a no brainer. My heart is broken. I have to put on my big girl panties and just suck it up. Do the chemo, regain my strength, then move forward with my reconstruction and sleeve next year. Although I know what I have to do, I just want to cry. I'm so disappointed.

I can't wait to NOT keep my wedding ring and engagement ring in a box.

My questions included: Anesthesia makes me nauseated. Can I have something to help with that? Are the insides of the staples checked, too? Do you sew over the staple line? How many incicions? Size of bougie? Exactly how do you test for leaks? Is the stomach (the part removed) also tested for leaks? Will I need blood thinner injections after surgery? When can I take my prescription meds again without crushing them? And which ones cannot be crushed? What is the biggest factor in failure after this surgery? When is my first follow-up visit and what can I expect? How long will my drain be in? Stitches, staples or glue on incisions? How far out are surgeries being booked?

I had my EGD this past Friday. I also coughed up a bunch of junk that tasted like the spray they used to numb my throat. It's gone now, though.

Thanks for the explanation! It makes perfect sense. It's already a little better today.

I had my EGD yesterday morning and last night I noticed a very sore spot just behind my chin bone. Anyone else experience this? What's it from?

My EGD was pretty uneventful this morning. There was a small hiatal hernia and a little irritation at the bottom of my esophagus, probably from reflux. A biopsy was taken to test for Barrett's. I spoke with the surgeon who did my breast biopsy and he spoke with my bariatric surgeon, who did my EGD. We are going to stay on course for the sleeve surgery until we are advised otherwise. I was so comfortable when I fell asleep on that table! I woke up in the same position with my husband asking me if I was ready to wake up. I remember asking, "Am I done already?" The only bad part was the nasty-tasting stuff they spray in your throat to numb it. But you're asleep about 30 seconds later, so it's nothing to be afraid of.

Thank you, ladies. Yes, when I discovered this lump, my first thought was how it might affect my sleeve surgery and I hoped that it wouldn't take away my hopes of being thinner, healthy and happy. The will of God won't take me where the grace of God cannot keep me.

Okay, I suppose I should have said it LOOKED like periductal mastitis. I just got the call that it was indeed cancer. I need to follow up with an MRI to see what my next course of attack is, The doctor said NOT to cancel my plans and appointments for my sleeve even if I have to put it off for a couple months. The fight continues. No one said it was going to be easy. Cancer has no idea who it's messing with.

I can't wait to NOT use the passenger side arm rest while I'm in the driver's seat.

From what I've learned so far (not sleeved yet, but reading EVERYTHING), pork and beef come along later on since they are harder to digest. Soft fish and poultry should be easier at this point. Of course, your dietician's suggestions should supercede anything you read here, but maybe try some lighter meats.

Thanks, ladies for your replies. I appreciate the well-wishes. I also wanted to mention that the surgery WAS a second opinion. My PCP wanted me to try antibiotics and wait it out. Since I was in pain and, of course, afraid of the worst case scenario, I decided on the surgery which I had today. As it turned out, it was periductal mastitis. I'm a little sore, but a great weight has been lifted from my shoulders. I have a few stitches to have removed next week, then I'm back on the road to SLEEVEDOM! As an aside, I do hope the rest of my pre-sleeve adventure passes quickly. I needed insulin before my surgery today as my fasting glucose was 197. If I'm not sleeved soon, I worry that I may need meds for the diabetes.

Adorable dress! Get out there and rock that frock! Congratulations!

I've jumped through all but a couple of hoops on my way to approval. It was discovered that I'm diabetic and have some pretty high blood pressure to boot, so we're treating the BP and the diabetes will likely be reversed soon after surgery. My last couple of clearance appointments fall over the next three weeks. With 2 comorbidities and a BMI over 40, I should have no trouble. In the middle of all these appointments, I discovered a lump in my breast. I contacted my PCP and she ordered a diagnostic mammo and an ultrasound. Nothing appeared on either of those tests. My doctor and the radiologist both felt the lump, but it just didn't show up on the tests. So they decided to send me to a surgeon since a surgeon would be more likely to have seen something like it. The surgeon seems to think it's a "ductal abnormality" and suggested that I reserve a surgery time. In the meantime, he has me applying moist heat to see if it draws anything out. If not, I will have the area excised in 4 days. I had my pre-admission testing today. He assured me that it won't affect my sleeve plans, unless there is a malignancy. While I trust his opinion, I'm scared to death. There is no history in my family and no precursors to make me a risk. I guess I just need some prayers, vibes, mojo... it's all appreciated.

Amazing! Congratulations!