amw157

"OK...I feel awful but I've sorta been lying to you guys about my surgery..." and fessed up. & they were SUPER supporttive! Way more so than I ever expected.

Thanks mwrarr, that's just what I needed to hear. I'm going to build up the courage to do this.

Thanks everyone for the replies.

Now for the next question:

Now that I'm starting to wonder what's so bad about telling people ... how do I tell people whom I've not told yet? I'm talking about people who, for the last six weeks, think that I've just adopted really good eating habits (finally). The white lie is out there ... how do I correct it? That may take more courage than just outright telling them in the first place.

shrinkydinkme ... your reply was painfully honest, and really made me realize a few things about myself

#1 I am EMBARRASSED I felt I needed to and decided to "not do it the right way" and I am taking the "easy way out".

You know? Despite knowing all the great things about this surgery and all the great things that lie ahead for me, I DO somewhat feel like I am taking the easy way out sometimes. And why do I feel that way? Well, you have uncovered something else for me....

#2 I have judged others for years and wondered why they would have WLS and take that giant risk when they could have just changed the way they ate and exercised more.

Just now, I had to admit to myself (and now to you), that I too have judged others. On the rare case that I wasn't the biggest guy in the room, I was judgemental, even if I never spoke it. That took tremendous courage for you to admit, and I thank you. I have a suspicion now that that is part of the reason I haven't told everyone.

#3 ... when I say I had the sleeve even with an explanation of what it is, they just lump me in the WLS category with everyone else ... I do not want to be considered "One of them" ( see UGLY judgement on my part once again)

And again, you've forced me to admit to myself that I carry this judgement too. Wow. What do you charge per hour for psychoanalysis?

I just saw this other thread on the same topic. Sorry for starting a new one on the same topic.

It would make my arms too tired...

You make-a me smile!

I've only told a select few close friends and family that I had my surgery. There are plenty other friends and family who I have not felt comfortable telling. I may find myself able to tell them someday, or I may not. Some of these friends I consider close friends.

Tonight it struck me .... exactly WHY haven't I told some people?

-- If I had an emergency appendectomy, surely I wouldn't feel embarrassed or vulnerable telling people.

-- If I had an elective surgery like hernia repair, I don't think I'd have a problem telling people about it.

-- If I had my tonsils out, or my son had ear tubes, I would have no problem revealing it.

-- If I had knee replacement surgery ...

-- If I had laser vision correction ...

Are you seeing the pattern here? So I asked myself, why do I feel uncomfortable or vulnerable about telling all my friends and family?

And as of yet ... I don't really know the answer. I'd sure like to know the answer. I have some suspicions, but I'm not certain.

-- Maybe I've bought into some social stigma?

-- Maybe I fear changed attitudes toward me?

-- Maybe I worry about having to defend my choice?

Then again ... these people are friends. Anyone who would criticize me for my choice, isn't someone I'd call a friend in the first place. I listed my friends to myself mentally, I can't think of any of them who would do that.

So I still ask myself ...Why haven't I told some people?

Now I ask you ... why haven't YOU told people?

Glad your able to adjust yours!!

You're probably able to adjust yours too. Just Google the model number and you will find instructions on how to get to the advanced settings.

Whether or not you think it's wise to do that, is up to you. Some people wouldn't dare touch it without a sleep study or at least talking with their doctor. Others, are a little more confident in what their body is telling them. So if you change your pressure, realize you do so at your own risk.

Either way, let me know how it goes.

Thanks for the heads-up, Stephers65. I did see what Dr. Oz recommended (a link to his website).

However, two years ago I talked at length with my primary care physician as well as my psychiatrist, both of whom recommended and gave me the green light for melatonin. My pulmonologist had no concerns either. Maybe it's not for everyone, maybe it's abused by some, but I trust the doctors who know me personally.

I should add that my recommendation of melatonin shouldn't be taken without talking with your own doctor.

Hi. I did not share with my family about my surgery. Thank you.

I totally get it. I haven't shared with any but my inner circle. Hope I didn't offend.

I didnt want to sit with everyone without something I could semi eat in front of them.

Aha! To each his own, but that kind of talk (for me) is a sign that I still have food issues to work through. Ask yourself, what's so wrong about not eating when everyone else is eating? Your needs are different from anyone else's.

Unless your family doesn't know about your surgery, in which case I TOTALLY understand and can sympathize.

Rockafam you said you were 39 days post surgery. That's ... a little over five weeks, same as me.

As for the energy levels, EVERYONE I talk to keeps telling me, "Dude, it's only been five weeks, give yourself more time to adjust".

And every time someone says "It's only been five weeks", my brain responds "Only? It's ALREADY been five weeks, I'm long overdue for the energy to come back".

Turns out I'm alone in that thought, at least among professionals I talk to and other people who have had surgery.

Patience. I'd share mine with you but I don't have enough as it is! LOL.

This is the funniest thing I've seen all week. Thanks for starting this thread.

I've eaten out about five times since surgery, usually at a diner or Ruby Tuesday kind of place. Here's what I've done:

• Get the flounder or the tilapia or the salmon. Hold the sides. The filet is just enough.
  
• Get the "grilled chicken sandwich" and tell them to hold the bun and the sides. Honest, it's just enough, and it's high in Protein.< br />
• More of the same. Find something high in protein, low in fat, and hold everything but the main item.
  

Absolutely play with the humidity. I see that as 100% safe, whereas playing with the pressure may not be. And there's forums just for CPAP users, and if you lurk there you will find a ton of products to help, like mask cleaning stuff that makes it feel fresh. Here's one:

http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/citrus-ii-cpap-mask-cleaner-spray/ID=prod3969566-product

Best sleep aid I've found is something called melatonin. It's a supplement, you find it in the Vitamin section. To me, that makes it less scary than taking an actual medication like NyQuil or Benadryl. Anyway, I take 10mg of melatonin a night and I swear by it. Absolutely swear by it.

What I was unprepared for as a post-op, is that I would forget about food. That I would get to the end of the day and feel crappy, and realize that I had FORGOTTEN to eat for the previous 24hours. That for the first 3 months, the thought of putting anything in my mouth would be repulsive.

Wow. Like, wow. You hit the nail on the head for me. It's not that I had forgotten to eat, but that at no time of the day did I really FEEL like eating. Breakfast? Forget it, can't even consider the thought. Same for lunch. I really had hoped this would go away (I'm 5 weeks post surgery) but it still lingers.

Also, ditto on not being able to drink anything at room temperature. I'm not revelling in your suffering, but I'm glad I'm not the only one.

FYI two new recent threads on this topic. Air in stomach too.

http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/54367-suggested-read-for-c-papbi-pap-users/page__hl__cpap

http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/54365-suggested-read-for-c-papbi-pap-users/page__hl__cpap

I know this is a latecoming post ... but Patrick your photo shows you with a goatee. I can't tolerate any facial hair at all, or else I get leaks around my mask. I wish I could stop shaving and grow my beard back, but not until I get off this CPAP.

I know it's probably blasphemy, but have you considered going clean-shaven?

FYI there are two threads with the same first post. I'm linking to the other thread below, which has different replies. If a moderator is watching, can you merge?

http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/54365-suggested-read-for-c-papbi-pap-users/page__hl__cpap

FYI there are two threads with the same first post. I'm linking to the other thread below, which has different replies. If a moderator is watching, can you merge?

http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/54367-suggested-read-for-c-papbi-pap-users/page__hl__cpap

Well, as if this thread was an omen ... or an early form of support ...

Last night it happened to me. I fell asleep at 11pm. By midnight I was awake again, my upper abdomen was in a good deal of pain. I did the mental assessment (Did I eat too much? Did I twist something? Chest pains?) and concluded that I had swallowed a good deal of air from the CPAP. It felt like I had to belch, but I think my new sleeve didn't know what to do with all that air.

Took me a few hours to get rid of that discomfort. I did a little hoppy dance around the room trying to "dislodge" a burp here and there. I could "drum" on my abdomen and hear the hollow thud sound underneath, the tell-tale sound of air. It was agony for a while.

I'm going to bump the pressure down (I'm at 15 now, going to set it to 12) and see what happens, being very cautious to wear it and monitor how I feel, for an hour before I fall asleep.

Frankly, I forgot to put the machine on a few nights here and there (I'm 5 weeks post-surgery) and I didn't feel exhausted in the morning. My girlfriend also noticed that I wasn't gasping for air. So I think it's safe to try tweaking the pressure.

Thank God today's a Sunday (ha, no pun intended). If it was a workday, I'd be in deep caca.

And remember ... just like not everyone will see the same positive results from a drug, not everyone will see the same side effects either. Do see a psychiatrist, their whole job is knowing what drugs to prescribe for what conditions.

Beware that some drugs are extended release, and my psych said that sleevers don't do well on extended release drugs, because the stomach doesn't do what the drug thinks it's going to do (or something) ... so instead he prescribed the normal-release, more often during the day.

Lastly, have an open mind and you will be fine. Many of us are on antidepressants, and many of us (myself included) credit them with helping quite a bit.

Also PB2 all the Protein of PB w/out the fat

Where can I get a single jar of PB2? I can't seem to order it online except in bulk. What stores carry it?

I'm not going to answer all your questions, but fat is not the big concern.

I think the "everything in moderation" is a good rule to live by. And no doubt, you can get low-fat at the expense of sugar and carbs. It's all a balance. There's few "perfect foods".

But I shuddered when I saw hummus (before I learned of alternative hummus varieties). Anything with 36% of your daily recommended fat intake has got to make you do a double-take, no?

Livestrong.com says pork rinds have 52% of your daily intake of fat! More than half the calories of the snack is fat. It's also crazy high in cholesterol. That has to make you do a double-take, no?

Thanks for starting this thread, IrishEyes. I haven't seen the term CPAP or Bi-PAP on these forums for a while now, and I'm sure many of us use them.

I too have sensed that the pressure I'm at is higher than it needs to be ... but I am astonished that I'm noticing this a mere five weeks after surgery. My gastric doctor recommends sleep study re-evaluations at six months post-surgery. Maybe I need it sooner.

Fellow Hoover-Heads ... stick together on this. What has your experience been?