LinSmargiassi

Hi everyone! I'm sorry it's been so long since I've been on. I had so much surgical prep appointments, work, home, husband. You know the drill... I am now 5 days post op and it is 10 days until Christmas. I am feeling great overall - today I had my first experience with the foamies, but it wasn't that bad. It didn't last long and it didn't spill out of my mouth. It was just sort of a regurgitation in the back of my mouth. But you know - don't let that scare you if you're pre op. It's not a big deal. But it's a learning curve for sure! My RA was quite active going into surgery, because I had to come off of everything in order to get surgery, no NSAIDs, DMARDs, Biologics, NADA!!! So I took a lot of tramadol until the day before surgery. I was kind of lethargic and a waste of space in general because pain was driving my inability to move or accomplish much. I stopped all biologics 2 full months before surgery, NSAIDs 1 full week prior, DMARDs 1 full week prior. My surgery went without a single hitch and I sang part of 'O mio babbino caro' to the OR staff whilst my ass was hanging out and I was hopping up onto the surgical table! of course, when I awoke I felt like SHITE, but that passed quickly, and I started on the pain meds ASAP. I recommend you do the same. And just take the damn things and don't worry about it, ok? Just take them and they make you feel better and after about 3 or 4 days you can stop taking pain meds. I hardly took any of the liquid Rx I filled. I never felt pain from any of the port incisions, and I had very little nausea. Look, you're having stomach surgery, doesn't it stand to reason that a little nausea might happen? just deal and breathe and concentrate on healing and drinking sips of water and crystal light and isopure and you'll be fine. In two days I start on puree. I'm totally ready for that and ready to move more! Snow storm kept me from walking outside yet, but I plan to try tomorrow. Be well! Be strong! You can DO THIS!!!

PB2 is a peanut butter derived powder that you can add to stuff for peanut butter flavor. it is AMAZING!!!!!! I bought mine through Amazon!

I've not had surgery yet, but have they advised you how they want to treat it? Have they further advised you how it occurred? Wishing you lots of luck....!

Like you, I struggle with whether or not I will obsess over food post surgery. I have disordered eating - I will eat nothing and then I'll be famished and over eat. I need to get committed to eating consistently to combat that. I have been on diets like all of us, cutting out carbs, eating low fat, going on a soup diet, you name it. I've tried it. But nothing could ever stick for long because I would feel that depriving myself of things I want isn't natural and I didn't want to make food groups evil. I want to be able to choose without struggling over my decision. That doesn't mean I want to have chocolate cake for breakfast lunch and dinner, either. I really like fruit - not having fruit for ever isn't an option for me. Not ever having bread again isn't an option either. My Nutritionist told me that eventually I will enjoy many of the foods I won't eat for a while, but that I shouldn't worry about that because the goal is to be able to eat a piece of fruit and be full from it. Or to have a NORMAL portion of food and it will be enough. I just keep thinking about those things, and if it means that I have to think about food a lot to get my weight to a reasonable place - then I win!!!! Good luck to you, too!!

I didn't suggest that to check on the bougie size - rather just to make sure the surgeon's actually using one. Some don't (SCARY) and they are bad bariatric surgeons! It's just a way to ask without asking directly... I found two surgeon's I interviewed to be quite offended that I asked. Surprising but true. I also didn't hire them to be my Doctor!

Get a personal trainer who is willing to kick your ass to make you do right. I'm saying this in my most compassionate voice - I'm not trying to be rude or mean. If you want to get the weight off you need to make the right choices and put in the work. Of course, I can say that because I'm pre-op. I may face the same struggle. Just do the right thing for yourself!!!!! The REAL right thing!!!

YAY! Good for you! Congrats!!!

What is his complication rate? How does his team handle complications? Has he ever lost a patient? How can he reach you if you have an emergency or questions to help determine an emergency? Does he over-sew the staples? What size bougie does he use? If there's a hiatal hernia can he repair while he's in there for the sleeve procedure? That's all I can think of this moment...

Are you tall as well? Your weight doesn't sound over the top, but starting where you did would also lead me to believe, "the smaller they are the less they fall" a little.... how about exercise? How much do you do? Is it enough or is it too much, and is that why you're body thinks you're starving? Personally, my most sincere suggestion is that you reach out to Cirangle's team. He's the surgeon, he may or may not have an intervention through surgery, but he has a crackerjack team assembled. The other thing you could do is think about reaching out to a geneticist. There may be a something at a cellular level that is being overlooked or not considered by the other members of your medical team. I really hope you find an answer, or that I had more advice to share. Good luck to you!!!!! xo!!!

I have not seen him personally because I have an equally qualified surgeon in NYC. However, I have done extensive research on surgeons in the United States, and since you're on the west coast, Cirangle makes a more logical choice. Can you give an idea of your current weight and how much you have either gained or lost? Mostly I'm just curious to know.

honestly it sounds like you need an expert. Dr Cirangle with San Francisco Laproscopic Surgeons out in San Francisco is the top whiz on this surgery. He has done more than about 7000 of these surgeries at this point. I think you should pursue getting an evaluation with him using your medical records and an extensive food log. You will have to write down every single thing you put in your mouth to track the way you should. Good luck to you! I hope you find an answer!

ANGER. I was talking to a woman the other day online that expressed that every time she gets through one test, another one is ordered as she tries to get to surgery. She is disgusted after being in the process for over 7 months. I really felt bad for her, so I reached out to her in a private message, because I had the same thing happen to me. I remember that I had spoken with a friend of mine who was telling me how really easy-a-time he had going in to get the surgery and that you just have to do the testing bulls**t and get it over with, but to stay focused on the goal of getting the surgery done. So, I was trying to do that. Then I had an insurance change, and my surgeon wasn't covered. Then I had to have another set of tests because the new surgeon had specific people she wanted to get her information through. All this back and forth in time and gas leaves a patient feeling less than dazzled over the image we have over the end product - ME, in my case. So this made me think about it harder - why am I getting mad over something that has to be done? If a surgeon is requesting certain tests, it isn't for fun or anything - it's because they need those answers. Then it hit me - the reason I got angry was because every time I had to take MORE time to get ANOTHER test done my "DREAM" was farther away. And THAT, ladies and gentlemen, is PRECISELY the point I am coming to. Instead of living in my head (which I admit I do in a lot of areas of my life) I needed to get to the *REALITY* (Oh, how I HATE, LOATHE and DESPISE that word) of what I am about to put my body through. TIME - it took time to get this fat and it will take time to get everything lined up to help me get this weight off. That's life. Too bad. Move forward. And so, with this realization, and a little bit of patience, and total focus on ME - I move forward at a pace over which I have little to no control, and with gratitude of having this opportunity at all to begin with, and with HOPE that when the time finally arrives and I'm about to get an IV placed for surgery, I will finally be ACTUALLY ready in every way that I could before such a huge change with so many personally experienced unknowns. And I encourage everyone to do the same in their own journey. Till next time... (and with less huffing and puffing or frustration) Ciao!

I think you should take time to recognize that not everything goes according to plan. But if you don't go through this process you will never get to the place you want to be. Change is hard for more than one reason - it's all the crap around it that MAKES it so hard!! Preparing yourself for surgery also means facing the things that are the most discouraging and beating them by not allowing those issues to make you quit! You can DO this - do it for showing yourself how committed you truly are!!!! Believe me I felt the SAME way and it has taken me more than a year to get where I am and I will be having my surgery very soon. I had moments EXACTLY like what you are describing so I KNOW!! BE REALLY GOOD to yourself by NOT giving up!!!!

I've heard of this happening, but I haven't experienced it myself. In general though, if water is all you can keep down drink it. Have you tried Gatorade or frozen pops for dehydration? Pediasure pops... something like that. At least they give you some salt to support your electrolytes. Stay away from food for now. Think more about the importance of keeping liquids down until the inflammation passes or gets better. If you are unable to keep down any liquids than you need to be hospitalized until they can figure out what is happening. You may need to be very insistent, so get a family member or friend to go to bat for you. Good luck. Hoping this passes quickly for you!!! Whatever you do, take extremely small sips as you are drinking.

CHANGE I've been asking myself - why is change so scary? What is it about change that makes us worry about it, and even avoid it? Especially if that change could be the best thing that ever happened to us? What I've come to realize, is that it isn't the change itself that is frightening. It's that we aren't sure if we'll like what we get through change. I've been reading a lot of and watching a lot of you tube videos by people who have had various bariatric surgeries. I've been trying to see the perspective of this choice through others eyes. But I've also come to realize that it's impossible for me to gauge their experience, because I don't live their lives. And they aren't me. Some people have never even had surgery of any kind - and then they end up having to get this surgery for their long term health. I have to say goodbye to my incessant need to eat everything on my plate, my need to bake as a form of recreating my childhood before my mom died, my need to depend on my weight to make me feel safe, and my need to control change through food. Instead I need to let change happen and separate it from food and from control. Let's face it: the only choice we really have is to make a choice in the first place.

You're right. I have to be selfish right now. The funny part is that I'm not usually the type of personality who cares about what anyone else thinks or says. I definitely march to my own drummer....! I'm not sure why the negative opinions of my husbands family has bothered me. I guess I care about them even though they piss me off to no end. I told my husband I need some healthy boundaries where they are concerned. So I have put an emotional block up where they are concerned for the time being. I also told him I need to get a psychologist in place for long-term help in dealing with my anger toward them. Actually, I think I'm kind of a hot-head. I am not sure why... I've never felt like I was this way before. Maybe it's the stress from all the realization that change is necessary. Maybe it's that I resent people trying to control me. Actually, that definitely pisses me off. I don't like when someone tries to manipulate me through guilt or whatever. Anyway - thanks for your message!!!

Hi everyone! I feel terrible that I haven't been on in a long while, but you know life just gets in the way when you're doing other things! For me, the waiting has been partially my fault and partially insurance coverage crap. I finally have everything straight with my coverage and I'm ready to try and get this whole thing scheduled and going forward. I have felt trapped and unsupported from the family that is nearby, and that hasn't helped. I'm pretty certain I've gained weight because my eating is just uncontrolled. I feel guilty, which makes me eat more. But now that I can actually move forward I just need to find a surgeon that takes medicare. It's amazing how many do not - and I think that's because they don't get paid a lot and they have to be affiliated with a center of excellence according to medicare standards. Oy... so much to deal with!!!

The process is daunting, isn't it? I can't believe how many people say that having this surgery is the easy way out. It is anything but easy. It is such a big deal - a big decision about time, emotions, and fiscal consideration! And having RA just adds to the burdeon of the process. I hope that you have good luck in your pursuit - and that you keep remembering that it's just necessary stuff to do!

Mobic caused me to have even more swelling than I'd ever had from RA. It was weird. Have you ever tried Tramadol? It is an opioid pain reliever. The drug I miss taking the most is Celebrex. My God that drug was fabulous. If I get this weight off and my heart is less at risk perhaps my Dr will let me go back on it. I couldn't believe how good I felt when I was taking that for my OA. It's hard having OA and RA... some medicines treat some symptoms, and others have a negative impact on the other disease. It's frustrating sometimes... My Rheumatologist is Dr Michael Guma, in North Arlington, NJ. He is amazing! But he also has a PA named Hilary Sugar and she is equally amazing. He has her there because she is most like him in terms of how she approaches treatment. I don't know if you're in NJ, though.... I am sending you a well wish for good medicine, a good doctor and wellness!!

Well I got some interesting information at two appointments I've been to. At Cornell Weill, the surgeon I met with was Gregory Dakin. He said because of my RA the only surgery I would be a candidate for is VSG. By-pass can be in complete conflict with the absorption of oral medications you have to take with RA and you have complications from By-pass surgery or BPD. So, that was something I'd not heard thus far. However, he said the VSG is not contraindicated in any way with RA. Just a side comment: Mobic is kind of a crappy medicine... if you can get on Sulfasalazine, it is much more effective. Ask your Dr about it as an option for you.... well, you don't have to, but I took mobic and was switched to sulfasalazine and it made a huge difference for me. But there could certainly be reasons your Dr has you on it... I'll keep you updated as I go along! Good luck to you, too!

It was voting season, and I had to decide on congressional and presidential candidates. It's also surgeon and facility season for me, and I have to make decisions about where and who will be in the O.R. with me! Well, I'm in the process of making these decisions. One important factor that has come to light is Medicare. I was told that Medicare is now covering the VSG. This is really big news for people who have Medicare, for whatever reason, and especially big for me in my timing because I'm not sure how quickly or slowly this is going to happen. I think I want to get it done when I have the maximum amount of coverage. In the meantime my regular COBRA ran out, and instead of going on the extended COBRA (which I'm eligible for) I am opting for another policy so that I don't have to pay the 150% rate. This makes more decision making! Waiting for the paperwork to come in the mail... more on going drama in my pursuit. I am certain it will be well worth it in the end, but getting there is definitely a journey. Good luck to all reading as well!

I have a friend who was sleeved and within a week he was eating soft but real food and not liquid. I don't know if it is based in the surgical technique and whether you've been sewn in addition to stapled... but he did say that he chews until it is practically liquid in his mouth. He says that he has been able to appreciate the flavor much better and much more vs. being so focused on quantity. Good luck to you!!!

I find it so informing and frankly, so interesting to hear how the stories of us who are overweight/obese are as varied as our lives and challenges. We all got here differently - no matter that the math is the same, you know what I mean? I think I'm an emotional eater, but I'm not sure. You know how people go out and celebrate with a dinner at the close of a successful project or effort? I've certainly participated in that often enough, but not like having a party of one or anything like that. I do often notice though that I fly out the door without thinking about food and then I'm out and it's like, "^%! I forgot to eat"! So I end up grabbing something I shouldn't most often... a chocolate shake or a diet coke and sandwich. I never drink sugary drinks, ironically - but then i'll have a chocolate shake for a meal. That just doesn't work. So, I lack the ability or desire to plan. I don't want to think about food. I don't love to cook and I don't want to be in the kitchen for hours on end. I do, however, want to go parasailing, snow tubing, ATV'ing, and sky-kiting during my lifetime. Last year I had to have a total knee replacement, and within the next year I may need to have the other knee done (in addition to this sleeve surgery) because I have a devastating form of Rheumatoid Arthritis. That surgery was EXTREMELY painful and the pain lasted for months because of the way it had to be done on me. I'm thinking this surgery (VSG) will be easy by comparison, but getting my mind to cooperate is going to be the challenge. Thanks for all your input. Mucho appreciado!

Family. This morning I was on the phone with my sister. We are actually very close, but we live kind of far apart - in nearby, but not neighboring states. However, despite the miles we talk almost every day and we really share openly our emotions and goings-on. So this morning I mentioned that I had a pre-surgery appointment next week and she was asking me how this surgery was going to change my perception of food, in short (no need to provide every detail of the conversation, because it would take too long) and I wondered whether some of what she said doesn't make sense for me. So, if the purpose of this surgery is to help me control portion in order to facilitate weight loss, why can't I do that now? She mentioned eating every couple of hours a small portion of something to keep hunger at bay. And it made me think: how do I eat now? I don't think I even really know the answer to that question. I just know it must be too much or I wouldn't be this fat. So I need to recall what I ate in the past 12-16 hours. This morning I had a bowl of honey nut cheerios with half a banana and 1% milk. It was a pretty big bowl. Probably 1.5 c milk and 2 c cereal. Last night I ate about 1 c homemade baked macaroni, 4 small pork cutlets, 2c salad. Then I had a cup of coffee, three raspberry squares, and before bed a large cheese danish. Not because I needed it. Just because it was there and I wanted it. So, of course I'm fat. No one can eat that many calories and not pay for it. So why did I want it? Texture, taste, sugar... all were part of it, and I remember thinking that if I don't eat it, it could go bad before I can get to it. I also recognize that I have a sweet tooth. How will surgery stop that?! Thanks for reading. As always, comments are welcome!