bigtigger1010

Some people say you should wait until after mid day. Apparently it's the civilised thing to do
I have to admit, if I'm away camping with my mates I'll crack a beer after Breakfast if we're beach fishing..........

Yesterday was Day 21 and I did much better at work. I stood most of the day again and didn't have near as much pain as when I sat for long periods at a time. The steri strips are still well adhered to the TT incision. Both drain holes have healed over now and I don't have to tape on the gauze pads anymore. I was suppose to have my 3 week check-up yesterday but I cancelled the appointement until next Thursday as I am still trying to catch up at work and just don't need to be taking off another day so soon after taking off 12 days. The nurse said that I can start to wean myself off of wearing the binders. I asked her what she meant...stop for an hour a day or 2 or 3? She said most people don't feel comfortable without wearing them and it takes them awhile before they feel like they don't need them anymore. Not me!!!! It feels so much better without them! Today is the first day that I'm not wearing them and I'm at work and I feel a lot better!!!! I've already had two work associates come up to me this morning and tell me that I look like I've lost weight! One of them said I look like I've lost 20 lbs! OMG! The feeling is just so amazing to get compliments on my body! GETTING THE VSG AND TT WERE THE TWO BEST DECISIONS THAT I HAVE MADE IN MY LIFE THAT WAS JUST FOR "ME" IN A VERY LOOOOOONNNNNGGGGG TIME!

How about advise vs advice... stop asking ppl for ADVISE! if u want ADVICE!!!

Did you get an EOB from your insurance company? If not get one. Also get an itemized bill from the Doctor. If you feel like they are scamming you, let your insurance company know. It is against their contract to balance bill or any other shenanigans
Good luck.

I want to put forth a challenge for anyone that is less than a year out from surgery. Every time you think, "I deserve this (insert food item here), I have lost X lbs" or "I have been good" or whatever your justification is.........STOP and remember this. The first 12 to 18 months are the honeymoon phase where you can likely eat a smaller amount of the same crap that got us to obesity in the first place and still lose some weight.
Rather think, this is my time to take advantage of my surgical tool and start making the changes in my head that I'm going to need to be successful long term. You don't deserve (insert same food item here) to satisfy an immediate need, YOU DESERVE to be healthy for the rest of your life. Realizing that food is not a reward will help go along way in getting you there.

the inability to eat, drink. i urp or vomit fluids, food. regardless of what i et. when my jeujuostomy tube fell out my out my surgeon said the tract closed and since i was eating a bit - lets leave it out. i was so happy about it. in retrospect, thati was a huge mistake to not have it put back in. stupid of me. and my GI doctor emailed this am, i returned it with an update and have not heard from him since. i contacted the ombuddsman to help facilitate this as i will not have the NJ tube placed. i just will not. give me the surgery and i accept the risks of anesthesia, etc. i have 49 bags of impact 1.5 sitting here. my doctor said hang on to it cuz that is what he wants me to use (best stuff - on the market). anyway, i will go to patient relations if i have to........keep your encouragement coming plz, i am wearing down - so much easier to advocate for others than myself.

You got it, Butterthebean! I'll take some more tonight and then I have to get the pics downloaded to my computer so I'll post them tomorrow!

well, since its a NJ tube, not a NG tube, its done in interventional radiology...but i still do not want it.had a NG tube before, but i pulled it out after 12 hours. could not stand it. have placed several as a nurse, i always felt so bad for my patients. i am communicating with my GI MD this am, and not happy with the its going. my symptoms are returning to where they were when i was discharged and i am sooo tired all the time. should know more by the end of the day! thanks for your support!

There is absolutely nothing useful or constructive in this entire thread.
I'm sorry the OP's sister has had a terrible experience, but I also realize this is a post by someone that did not choose to have the sleeve and who has no first hand experience to relate.
I think it's a bit ridiculous to implore strangers on the internet to change their minds entirely about surgery based upon one experience. I think the approach taken was wrong in that respect. Sharing information is one thing. Scare mongering is another. But what's the big deal in the end, really?
Look - I appreciate every single person that comes to VST to report their negative experiences. Because people researching surgery sometimes don't understand what complications can arise, even when they're clearly listed and every surgeon should cover them in detail. Heck, ten minutes of your time on VST could outline every single possible negative experience or side effect you could possibly have if you bother to do the search. Most people don't, but then most people undergoing surgery are so "eyes on the prize" that they completely disregard any risks as things that simply won't happen to them.
So people that are either post op and had a great experience should not take it personally when someone relates their PERSONAL negative experience here. It's not our job to defend the entire surgery. Some surgeons stink and shouldn't operate and sometimes complications happen even with great surgeons. The people doing research have a right to know about the good and the bad.
But much the same way I get peeved when I read an anti-Mexico surgery rant by someone that's never had a surgery in Mexico, I don't weight posts by people that haven't personally undergone surgery as heavily as I would a personal account. Sorry, that's just the way it is.
My sympathies to the OP's family because seeing a family member struggle isn't easy or fun for anyone.
Everyone else should really chill out and stop making this into an argument. There's nothing to argue about. OP says don't have surgery, lots of people love the surgery, whatever. VST is about sharing our vast breadth of experiences and that goes for positive as well as negative. There's nothing to be offended about when someone has a bad experience.
~Cheri

I'm 6'1"
310-at the starting seminar
295-the day of surgery
259-yesterday, 6 weeks postop
So I've lost 51lbs total now and gone down 3 clothing sizes. I feel amazing and have started to feel like my fabulous self again. This is def the best decision I've ever made for myself.

the "wacko" was an emoticon that showed up as text. Happens a lot around here.

Sry, i dont mean ta sound like an ass but calling sumone whacko for no reason seems a little uncalled for...

Thanks guys! To be honest I did have to walk away when she did the pants thing because I didnt want to laugh in front of her. I am prepared to recieve alot more jealousy especially when I surpass her weight, but I figure by then I will have mastered ignoring it.

I am about 9 1/2 months postop and doing great. I started at 330 lbs (im only 5ft 2in). As of today i am at 188. That is 142 lbs lighter! Woooohoooo! I feel amazing. I am wearing a size 13 junior, started in a 28. This surgery was the most amazing thing i have ever done. Only wish i would have done it sooner!!

Not yet but that was such a back sided compliment. And she is probably jealous of your awesomeness!

I have no regrets!!! I was 410 lbs, I was on 18 different medications, I couldn't even walk from my bedroom to the bathroom without gasping for air, and my life was miserable. Now I am 137 lbs down in 4 1/2 months, I'm off of 16 of those medications, I can walk, run, breathe, I feel wonderful and I still have 90 lbs. So no regrets for me, I am living my life like it's golden:)

Day 12 !!! No big change. I'm real sore at the areas where the drain tubes came out. The incision looks real good and I am just so pleased at how low it is. Even with all the complaining that I've been doing over the past 12 days...I've already started looking in to my next procedure. Sound crazy? Maybe...but maybe it means the TT must not have been THAT BAD afterall OR maybe it means the end justifies the means...?

I am sooooo confused. Lost 26 pounds in less than a month and not happy....exactly what were you expecting? Did your doctor promise you you'd wake up from surgery looking like Kate Moss?

Wow, this is just too much, good lord grow up. If you don't want people's opinions don't post. Period.

just wanted to share something I read:
it's no secret that Water is a key ingredient for maxium fat loss. Keeping your body hydreated helps accelrate your metabolism and means you're buring more fat In fact, studies haave shown that drining to little Water can cause fat deposits to increas, while driking more can aturally reduce fat deposits. It all has to do with how your body processes fat.
It starts with the kidneys. The need adequate water to wrk well. If they dont't get it, they dump some of thier workload onto the liver. Tha's where the terouble begins because the liver is one of the key organs involved in metabolizing stored fat inot energy. When the kidneys aren't working to capacity, the liver has to pick up the slack. And when the liver is doing the work for the kidneys should be doing, it can't be doing it's job of geeing rid of stored fat and turning it into energy to the best of its ability. That means it metabolizes less fat into energy and mor fat remains stored in your body. The simple fix: drink more water.
I barely get in the 64 oz, for some reason I cant drink as much water when it's cold. I got tired of cyrstal light, picked up some mio and yes baby I am getting that water intake in now.
i just wanted to share this for those that aren't aware.

My hubby is losing weight with me and he has expressed this concern. He's not tall, but he's built like a linebacker and fast. Anyway, he is focusing on building muscle while keeping his speed because that makes him feel a lot less weak. He liked being intimidating to our teenage daughter's suitors. LOL I think the martial arts classes will be great for you.

I took a tuna stuffed pepper to work for lunch today. Came lunch time and I just wasn't in the mood for tuna or peppers. I went to the cafeteria. Now I haven't bought anything there for over two months, since surgery. There were all new employees. I told the one guy, this may seem strange, but I want two slices of the smoked turkey, two slices of cheese and two cucumber spears. He couldn't believe that I didn't want bread. He had to go find his boss to ask how to price this!! The boss sticks his head out (finally someone I recognize) and says he doesn't want anything from Hajji Cathie (me). I insisted on paying something.
I ended up paying the equivalent of 67 cents for my lunch!! What a bargain!!

Thanks this made me feel better....AND IT FINALLY STOPPED TODAY!!! LOL 10 days!! My personal best. LMAO.