amw157

I also wanted to point out that going to an AA meeting is NOT A FORM OF WEAKNESS. You will not be seen as weak for asking for help. In fact, it takes an act of COURAGE to do this.
A wise scholar once said, "If I am not for myself, who will be?"

I tried starting this post fifteen different ways. None of them was perfect.
Just get to a meeting. Just one. You don't have to introduce yourself. You can stay silent the entire time. Just go, listen, absorb, watch. Just one meeting. That's all I'm asking. ONE. Please. There are tens of millions of people who have been helped by AA.
Tell me where you live and I will try to find a chapter near you. I'll send you the meeting schedule. That will be one less obstacle to overcome.
I can't stress this enough. If you want to do something about your drinking, AA is the place to start. I guarantee it. Contact me with a private message and I will be happy to share my personal struggle, and success, with you.

Moderator, can we close this thread? LadiWobs hasn't posted for a few pages now, and it's devolving into a total train wreck.
LadiWobs, I hope you find the answers you need, and share them with us in a new thread when you're ready to do so. And ONLY when you're ready to do so.

Moderator, can we close this thread? LadiWobs hasn't posted for a few pages now, and it's devolving into a total train wreck.
LadiWobs, I hope you find the answers you need, and share them with us in a new thread when you're ready to do so. And ONLY when you're ready to do so.

nikiw714, our troop also will send boxes of Cookies to the troops in Iraq or Afghanistan if you tell them to. Just buy a box and say "give it to the troops". We ship a whole pallet over there each year.

I knew this day was coming.
My daughter sells the Cookies. She's been a scout for 10 years now. I've always taken them to work, to sell to coworkers. In prior years, I could easily put away a whole box of Cookies in one sitting.
Now that I'm sleeved, I think I'll be able to refrain ... but it's going to be hard. Especially when I see my coworkers chomping down on THIN MINTS....
Lord give me strength!

I also wanted to point out that going to an AA meeting is NOT A FORM OF WEAKNESS. You will not be seen as weak for asking for help. In fact, it takes an act of COURAGE to do this.
A wise scholar once said, "If I am not for myself, who will be?"

I also wanted to point out that going to an AA meeting is NOT A FORM OF WEAKNESS. You will not be seen as weak for asking for help. In fact, it takes an act of COURAGE to do this.
A wise scholar once said, "If I am not for myself, who will be?"

My name is PDXMan and I am an alcoholic.
One of the toughest phrases I ever uttered, but one that has saved my life. As has been mentioned, AA has been the program I have used to keep me sober. You may wonder, "How does AA keep me from drinking?" It doesn't. It shows you how to live life on life's terms. Once you start doing that, you see that you don't need alcohol or drugs anymore. For me, alcohol isn't my problem. I am my problem. Alcohol was my solution. Until it wasn't anymore. If it is no longer your solution, then try finding one that has worked for millions. All it takes is some willingness to make a change.
That's it.
And showing up ...
BTW, it also works for other drugs of choices, too. It's a scary thought, not having your coping mechanism around, but it just might work.

Oh, I was there. I was where you are. I was MAYOR of that place.
For many weeks, there was zero desire to eat. From sun-up until about 4pm, I didn't want to eat a thing. This went on for a long time. Around 4pm the hunger would peek its head, but it wasn't a monster hunger.
I asked myself (and the message board, and the doctors), "HOW can I get these Protein goals if I just don't feel like eating?"
The answer: patience. It will change. I sympathize, and it will get better.

Oh, I was there. I was where you are. I was MAYOR of that place.
For many weeks, there was zero desire to eat. From sun-up until about 4pm, I didn't want to eat a thing. This went on for a long time. Around 4pm the hunger would peek its head, but it wasn't a monster hunger.
I asked myself (and the message board, and the doctors), "HOW can I get these Protein goals if I just don't feel like eating?"
The answer: patience. It will change. I sympathize, and it will get better.

You illustrate a great point that I have tried to underscore on these message boards.
Too often I hear people use the actual number on the scale as the goal. They get stressed when they lose 4 pounds less than they expected. The number on the scale is TRIVIAL.
You just hit a massive goal, the elimination of the need for diabetic medications. That's a bigger goal than any number on the scale, to me.
My goal is HEALTHY, not a specific weight. Kick the diabetes, kick the high blood pressure, kick the sleep apnea, kick the sore knees ... those are my goals. Not the number on the scale.
Oh, and WAY TO GO!

I can't imagine the courage it took to have the surgery done, and not have health insurance for follow-ups, complications, or concerns. If you made it this far, that courage can surely get you through this too. It does get better. Everyone's pulling for you.

Relax. I'm not disrespecting janitors.
I'm trying to point out that "I work in a hospital" was used to say that she is an authority and that her opinions are not to be questioned.

Can you teach that to my wife? (LOL)

Sannah I spent about three solid weeks in the same hospital room back in 2006. I fully understand how it can be, looking at the same four walls, letting emotions and thoughts take hold, feeling lost or depressed.
Please don't hesitate to ask for a visit from a counselor, therapist, or minister. They have them on staff in hospitals, and it can really make a big difference in your mental well being. You're getting your body taken care of, don't neglect your mind and spirit.
Trust me. Reach out and ask.

I have to agree with what everyone else said, Sannah. Your posts are always delightful and your picture is very sweet. I do wish you the best, and I believe you'll serve as inspiration for others going through tough times. We should all have the same good attitude.
Feel better soon.

Seriously!! The mean, judgmental, sarcastic people need to calm their ass down! Geesh!! I bet ya'll wouldnt run your mouth like that face to face.. smh! Anyways happy bday to you.. as previously posted by the nice and caring people, i would stay away from alcohol. Take care! Enjoy your bday!

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.

Can you teach that to my wife? (LOL)

When you say "alcoholic" do you mean "I liked to drink a lot" or "I really think I need help"?
My life has done a complete 180 for the better since I got into AA and quit drinking back in 2008. It was an even better choice than having the VSG.
If you need help, all you have to do is reach out. Don't hesitate. There's a whole community of folks who only want to help. Look for an AA chapter near you and just go visit.
If you want to talk with me privately, that's fine.

About once a week or two, someone asks "I'm not throwing up, should I be?"
I want to answer, "Yes, now go vomit and report back."
LOL. I'm GLAD you're not having many issues.

About once a week or two, someone asks "I'm not throwing up, should I be?"
I want to answer, "Yes, now go vomit and report back."
LOL. I'm GLAD you're not having many issues.

For me, I had a ruptured colon back in 2006 (due to diverticulitis). They had to do emergency surgery to stop the sepsis, and ended up removing about 15 inches of my large intestine. Because things escalated so rapidly, I woke up with a colostomy bag (and a huge incision). About three months later I had another surgery to reverse the colostomy.
Both those surgeries really complicated the WLS. My surgeon said I was his only patient on the day of surgery, he expected an 8 hour procedure, half of which was to remove internal scar tissue that had developed as a result of the prior surgeries.
The surgeon actually could not be sure WHICH WLS he would be able to do, until he opened me up. So I didn't know whether I had a sleeve or a Roux-en-Y until I woke up. He wanted to see with his eyes how much large intestine was left. If there wasn't enough, then I was not a candidate for Roux-en-Y. There wasn't enough, so now I have a sleeve.
Oh yes it was an extra fee. Heck, there was an extra SURGEON. One guy was the WLS surgeon, but I had a plastic surgeon do the abdominal wall reconstruction. That was his specialty. The WLS guy said it wasn't his kind of work, and that I should have a specialist. The two of them worked together to clear the scar tissue.

Here's what you tell them:
In the Halloween photo you posted, do you see that "air space" between your waist and your elbows?
That's what you lost. It's air now.