Sleevedreamz

I'm sorry you are and have gone through so much. Perhaps you will be able to secure a job with insurance that will allow you to have surgery or maybe you can look into self pay outside of the country. I have seen many success stories who have gone that route. Hang in there sweet girl.

Unfortunately, due to a reaction I had to my anesthesia, I am still in the hospital, but aside from that I think everything is going well. My doctor did come in to check on me this morning and was asking me what all I kept down yesterday (liquid diet) and as I was telling him I saw his eyes get wide bc someone had given me apple juice. It says I can have fat free apple juice, but this was no sugar added and I drank two of them yesterday (4 oz each). I had no idea bc the nurses were bringing it so I thought they probably knew what they were giving me. Oops! I know now and won't do that again, but he was afraid of my body dumping bc of it although that didn't happen. Anyways, hope everyone else's surgeries and few days post op are going smoothly! I will hopefully overcome this postoperative myalgia soon and get to go home and see my puppy dogs. I'd love to hear how things are for everyone else. I am interested to get on a scale, but haven't had the chance yet. Best, Rach

I was in your boat also. I went in initially planning on the sleeve bc it seemed "less invasive", but when I looked at the statistics and all of the boards, as well as talke to my surgical staff, I talked myself out of the band and into the sleeve. There are several people I know who have the band and although they have experienced some weight loss, there have been issues and they are constantly having to fill and infill, etc. My surgeon advocated for me to have either the sleeve or RNY simply bc he felt I could be more successful long term. I was sleeved Tuesday and I just know I made rhe right decision. The surgery had no issues (although I did react to the anesthesia which would have happened either way) and I am already feeling somewhat normal if that's possible. I know it seems crazy, but the fact that I can eat a small amount of Soup and become full and satisfied makes me feel more normal than I have in years. I know you have to do what is best for you, but this feels like success already and the complications are just so minimal. Good luck with your decision and your journey! Rach

My doctor only does 1 day of full liquid and then directly to puréed foods. I asked him about this and he said his patients have awesome results and get their energy back much more quickly this way and there has been no evidence that this method causes leaks. Mostly it is people pushing other solids too quickly or not having a good staple line, etc from the get go. If your surgeon is as successful and well known as mine is I would trust him. I am day 2 post op and already on puréed foods and my energy level has not even gone down a tiny bit. If I weren't having side effects from the anesthesia, I could probably walk a couple of miles today.

Everything seems to be a double edged sword, but I have been drinking crystal light today since getting in trouble over the juice. I normally drink unflavored Water just fine, but it has been more difficult than unexpected since my surgery. Diluting the juice also seems like a good option! I'll have to look at what's avialable and pick some things that are low in sugar or consider diluting. Hopefully I'll be able to do the plain water soon enough. Thanks for the great ideas!

I meant sugar free, not fat free...

I had my surgery on Tuesday and I'm still in the hospital. My actual surgery went beautifully according to my surgeon, but the past 24 hours have been hell for me. I had some adverse reactions to the anestheisa (succinocholine) called postoperative myalgia. My entire body aches and I can't move from the pain. It feels like someone has taken a baseball bat to my entire body and beaten me within an inch of my life. So, I am pretty miserable. They are having to give me blood thinners to avoid clots because I can't walk. I have managed (only with the help of my husband, bless him) to get from the bed to the bathroom and back every couple of hours. Not how I envisioned things going, but I am still happy to be sleeved. I was already cleared for puréed foods and have eaten and tolerated about 4oz of lowfat potato/veggie soup and 2 oz of cottage cheese. My biggest concern is not being able to get in all of my water so I'm trying to work on that. I love that I feel satisfied after such a small amount of food! Also, love hearing how everyone else is doing! Rach

Yeah, he said it isn't common for dumping with the sleeve, but says it does happen occasionally. Also, he said he doesn't want me taking in all of that sugar bc it can interfere with weightloss. I have actually not had trouble keeping anything down other than my pain meds which always make me nauseous, even pre-surgery. I have already been cleared for puréed foods today and have had a lowfat potatoe/veggie Soup (2g sugar per 1 cup) and I had only 4 oz, 2 oz cottage cheese and I've been trying to sip Water and skim milk. I have actually had very little all together, but feel very satisfied which is an amazing feeling all together! My main problem is getting on all of my water so I'm trying to focus on that for now. Keep the comments coming. I love hearing about everyone else. Makes me feel like I'm not doing this alone. Of course, my husband has been by my side every step of the way, but it is cool to have people who are actually experiencing this exact thing.

I have never had surgery before this so I didn't really know what to expect. It is natural to have some anxiety, but I really surprised myself by being ok until I woke up with this dreaded pain all over my body. My understanding is that there is 1.5% chance of it happening so perhaps I shouldn't have played the lottery before my surgery. I am sure you will be fine. Maybe I've hogged the 1% chance this time and your safe to go have a complication free surgery. The medication that caused the reaction is the paralytic they use for intubation called "succinocholine". You can look up "postoperative myalgia" online and there is some general info. Basically, all of my muscles contracted so much during surgery that they are pretty much useles for a few days until they have time to repair and heal themselves. Kind of like I worked out every muscle in my body nonstop and they are just fatigued to the point of not working at all. I'll keep everyone posted as to how long this lasts. Hopefully not much longer bc I can't stand being in pain or confined to this bed. :/ When is your surgery?

Thank you all for the kind words. I realize it is just a fluke, but I wasn't expecting it so it definitely threw me for a loop. My nurses were nice at first, but now they make me feel guilty for needing pain meds bc they haven't had this with other patients. So, it is just frustrating for me right now. Fortunately, the anesthesiologist did come back to see me earlier and said I am suffering from "postoperative myalgia". So, of you haven't had your surgery look it up and educate yourself on it so you aren't floored like I was. There is really nothing I can do besides wait for it to pass, but at least it isn't a mystery anymore. I want to be up walking like everyone else and I physically can't so it is just tough for the time being. On another note, although I've not really experienced hunger, I did feel sort of empty (if that makes sense) today and I was on Clear liquids. I have taken in quite a bit, considering. I had 2 (4oz) bowls chicken broth, 2 sugar free Popsicles, 2 small no sugar apple juices, and several ounces of Water throughout the whole day. I had no trouble with any of that, just took it really slow and tried to listen to my body. My doctor is different from most and I'll be able to move on to puréed foods today (day 2 out) which is really amazing. He said there's nothing to show I can't have it and he said his patients do really well nutritionally bc of it. I am definitely looking forward to maybe some type of pureed Soup to see how that goes down. Anyways, thanks for all of the comments and all of the responses. It gives me something to look forward to since I'm stuck in my hospital bed.

I thought about this, but I don't think so. I think it was just bad luck and bad timing. I didn't break out last night so hopefully they will be able to move forward with surgery tomorrow. I am definitely nervous now and feel very out of sorts today knowing this is happening tomorrow. Hard to believe!

My surgery is scheduled for first thing Tuesday as well. I have to be there at 5:30! I am starting to feel anxious, but am also excited!

I am having my surgery Tuesday so I may be in your boat by then, but I doubt you'll always have to worry about throwing up everytime you eat, forever. You will learn what you can and can't have and how much you are able to have. I am guessing this will be 2nd nature. Hang in there young lady! You can get through this scary time. I too suggest seeking therapy to deal with the underlying loss and mourning of something you've done for so long. I know this is something I will have to deal with bc I turn to food for everything whether it be bc I'm bored, sad, mad or celebrating. Those are changes that will just need to be dealt with and I know we can both do it. Please keep posting so you can get the support you need from people who are going through what you are. I hope I don't have a break down, but I am glad to know I can come here if I do.

I have been very curious about sushi as well. My sugery is not until Sept. 4th, but sushi is a HUGE part of my life. We eat sushi at least twice per week and I am very nervous about having to give this up. My hubby also said I could probably eat sashimi, but I typically want my sushi on rice. I am hoping that down the line I will be able to cut a large portion of the rice off by leaving a tiny bit and still enjoying sushi the way I like it. I guess time will tell, but this is definitely something I've given a lot of thought to. I am having it this weekend as my "last meal" and hoping it will not actually be my last time to ever have it. :/

Good for you! My surgery is the 4th and I can't believe it is so close. I am nervous, but also excited to get back to the old me. Just hard to believe it's only a handful of days away! Best of luck to you!

I just posted an entry last night so I'll keep this short and sweet. I am just excited to finally have a date! I was lucky that I didn't have a program to go through first so it happened in a couple of months, but it still felt like forever to me. I have been out of work for some time (in school) and do not want to start back until this surgery is behind me, but I am ready to go back so a surgery date is awesome news! Any other September surgeries should connect so we can share info throughout this process. :wub:

Clothes shopping. That is a crutch I plan to use! I love food, but it made buying clothes much less enjoyable so I am hoping to replace my love of food with my love of shopping. Hoping it works bc there are things I know I'm going to mourn the loss of!

Reading about everyone's pre-op diets make me feel terrible. My doctor only requires a 1 day liquid diet the day before surgery so I feel spoiled. I am trying to eat healthy bc I don't want to go into shock post-op, but I do plan to have sushi one last time this weekend bc I doubt I'll be able to eat it for a long time bc of the rice and sushi is my most favorite food. Hang in there guys. You all seem to be doing good, even with a slip up here or there!

Sounds tough! I feel like I am the luckiest person ever bc my doctor only requires a 1 day liquid diet. I wish I knew what to tell you. One thing I would try is an energy drink that is sugar free or super low in sugar (if those are allowed, but should be). And, make sure it's an energy drink with B vitamins bc this will greatly improve your mood. I drink Spark energy drinks from advocare. My husband and I like the fruit punch and it mixes in water so it has flavor plus gives you amazing energy. If you do order, order the canister bc it is cheaper and lasts longer. I do a spoonful and a half every morning and every afternoon. Add to water bottle, shake, and drink. I did have some samples I could have mailed you, but I've given them all away. I have to order another canister of that and the meal replacement shakes today bc we are out. I use both and love both. The only energy drink that works for me (and is sugar free so my husband can drink bc he is diabetic). Also, these are the only meal replacement shakes I can stomach and are approved by my nutritionist. Weblink below. www.AdvoCare.com/120531202 Sept 25th will be here before you know it. I'll try to keep posting as I go through everything and you can keep me posted as well. Good luck going back to school. I bet it'll be fine!

How scary for you. First of all, I would like to say that at your age, you shouldn't make a dnr decision while you are depressed. I can completely empathize with you and hate this for you. It sounds like a terrible ordeal to endure. But, please consider that aside from how hard this is, making a death decision while depressed is not ideal. I feel confident to tell you that I have faith that you will somehow overcome this. I know that there may seem like not even a flicker of light to look forward to, but that is usually the case when we are facing extremely horrible and depressing things...but, they almost always improve and I'm praying now that this will for you. It is unfortunate that some people have such horrific side effects, but we all go through with this decision anyways in hope of a better quality of life. I know it makes it worse to look forward to only to end up in misery. Please call your doctor's office every day that this is not improving in order to make them fully aware of the seriousness. Don't wait for things to change, call them everytime you have a problem so they can assist you before you become so dehydrated, etc. again. I feel so bad and wish there was more I could do or say. As for food, have you tried nibbling on mashed potatoes? I know they are carbs, which is not ideal after surgery, but this seems to be more about survival at this point and getting over this hump. When I have been sick at my stomach in the past and struggling to eat, these are a few things I have tried: Gatorade, mixed with water in order to dilute. It is full of electrolytes which can help plus you will be mixing with water which can aid in fighting the dehydration, but you don't want to get too much sugar. I'd probably try G2 mixed with water now that it is an option and there are several flavors so maybe you can find one that is tolerable. Mashed potatoes. I was able to nibble on these a little easier than almost anything else when I was severely sick. Another thing you may try is a light yogurt (this may be hard bc it is thicker, but it is full of protein so it's worth a shot.) There are some meal replacement drinks I use bc I can't drink anything thick (as it grosses me out). It is called Advocare meal replacement shake. It mixes with water and doesn't have the after taste or smell of most meal replacements and it's loaded with protein. What I love most is that you can mix it with less water than required so that it isn't so much to drink and it's still relatively thin. It may be worth a shot. It is a little pricey so I had to sign up as a distributor bc I need the discount as I am drinkinig this every day for my protein, but it is well worth it for me. Here's the site: www.AdvoCare.com/120531202 You can just go to shop and type in meal replacement shake in the search bar. I always use the chocolate bc I like that flavor in general, but I have heard the other flavors are good as well. I am so sorry for what you are going through and I am happy to lend an ear to help get you through this. I just have a strong feeling that you can and will get through this. Hang in there sweet girl. Rach

September 4th! How exciting and scary at the same time!

I began this journey 3 years ago and walked away because I wasn't ready. I wanted to try one more time to lose this weight without surgery. I lost 50lbs and as soon as stress returned to my life, I gained it all back plus 10lbs. It was then that I knew surgery was necessary, not because I couldn't lose weight, but because I couldn't lose it and keep it off long term. I am 30 years old, 5'2 and weigh 238lbs which is 10lbs over my highest weight ever. I grew up thin and was thin for half of my twenties and then I hit a road bump in my life that caused some depression and my weight went from a comfortable 110lbs up to 200 over the next year. After that I gained 3-5 lbs here and there until I reached 228. That is where I stayed for the last 4 years until I lost the 50 at the end of the last year and then gained back 60...thus here we are now. I miss my old body (which I feel is permanently ruined due to the loose skin I'm sure to face) and I miss the old me in general. My outgoing personality seemed to die little by little as my weight increased. I no longer felt charismatic and beautiful...I just felt like I was trapped in someone else's body, which is not a fun thing to endure as I'm sure many of you know. All that said, I went back to the surgeon in June and I diligently completed all of the requirements necessary to gain medical approval. Fortunately for me, we have changed insurance and my new insurance does not require a waiting period. As of today, I have been approved for surgery. An array of emotions came over me as I realized this is really going to happen. I have never had any type of surgery, EVER. So, there is certainly some fear involved there as I have no idea what to expect pain wise. The only idea I have about surgery is a recent dream I had where I had been through surgery and woke up feeling so much pain in my abdomen that I couldn't breathe (I woke up physically feeling this which tells me how amazing the mind/body is as a combination)...I am desperately hoping this was just that, a dream, because it was awful. I also worry that I won't be able to lose all of my weight. Even knowing mysef and knowing that I will follow the rules and exercise, I have concerns that it will somehow fail which will in turn make my decision a failure. And, lastly, I worry that something will go wrong and my family will be left without me because I couldn't settle for my current quality of life. Oh, and HAIR LOSS. This terrifies me. I have long pretty hair, although it is very fine) and I can't fathom having to cut it or lose it to the point that it is not pretty anymore. This really bums me out. My plan is to have the surgery next week sometime. I am excited and scared, but ready to get this show on the road. I'd love to hear some positive stories or words of encouragement as I gear up for this day. I have made the choice to only share this decision with my husband and mother as I have heard some of the horror stories from other people regarding reactions, etc. The reality is that this is something I am doing for my physical and mental health and having negativity attached to that in any way by people in my life would grossly take away from my experience and I have decided it is not worth it at this time. Perhaps I'll change my mind later on, but I seriously doubt it. Thanks for stopping by. I hope to post more in the future.

Thank you all for your comments! I just got my surgery date of Sept 4th which I'll most likey blog about before I go in. I am only working part time so fortunately I won't have to worry about that for a little while. I will most likely go back to work full time in November once I get over some hurdles. I was skeptical about joining a board, but I have to say that reading your comments gave me some peace so I'm glad I did. I wish you all the best as well. It is very exciting to take control back!