Geminidrive

Give it to me straight. We have all heard the good things the weight loss strories, the before and after pics, the fun trips shopping...but if you could say 1 bad thing anything that came of this what would it be? I am a realist and would like to be prepared for the whole story.

I haven't found any yet, perhaps the expense of having clothing tailored or purchasing new clothing. It's all good.

Right???

I asked him if he could just sign off on my cardiac clearance too, since we know my heart is strong enough. If that didn't give me a heart attack, nothing will!

Hilarious!!! Glad the outcome was a good one!

"i don't feel pessimistic, anxious or scared... "

I love it!!! Keep that positive attitude girl, it goes a long way post surgery.

The surgical group that performed my surgery does not use drains. They have in the past but they no longer feel that it is medically necessary. Some surgeons like mine perform the leak test during the surgery and feel that is enough. I did not have a drain and I was fine after surgery. Every surgeon is different and will have varying schools of thought on this process.

I've been told in most cases Gastric Sleeve surgery is considered non-cosmetic elective surgery, but I would stress the medical necessity. I would check with HR regarding your company policies.

I've never had an Atkins meal, I guess I should try one some time! Isn't it GREAT to be able to throw something away??!!! Before surgery, I'd have made myself finsih whatever I was eating, come hell or high Water. There is no way I'd want to 'waste' food, after all, there are people starving, right??!!! Now though, my new attitude is this, Whether I eat it or put it in the garbage disposal, it's going to the same place eventually. It makes tossing something, much easier!!!!

I know, that surprised me in the early soup/puree stages that I got full so easily. I think of my sleeve as an automatic cut-off feels like my belt is tightening up. LOL When I become full, the rest goes in the garbage, unless I'm dining out. Post sleeve I've only puked twice and that was a horrible experience and not interested in feeling like that again. It truly is a beautiful thing to STOP instead of stuffing oneself.

I was advised by the Nutritionist and Surgeon to stop drinking fluids 30 mins before a meal and resume drinking 1 hour after eating (I do 30 minutes). Drinking fluids immediately before will fill your sleeve with liquid and you have no room for the nutritious food you need. Drinking immediately after will wash the food out of your sleeve too quickly and you won't maintain feeling full and will want to eat again too soon.

I just had an Atkins chicken and Broccoli Alfredo frozen meal .

26 g of Protein

9 g of carbohydrate

330 Calories

I was able to eat 2/3rds of it, then trashed the rest. I like the meal, but I must say that the sodium count is very high.

Relax, relate and release....this too will pass. Change is gonna come.

Hi Emilee,

Here is some info I received from my dermatologist yesterday:

OK, so today I met with my dermatologist. My dermatologist explained that the type of hair loss we are experiencing is called telogen effluvium and is more due to recent shock to your system, ie., weight loss, pain, recent surgery, over or under active thyroid, childbirth, medications and other underlying conditions not just lack of Protein. The dermatologist mentioned that one could lose over 50% of your hair, but that it will grow back in 5-8 months. She suggested using minoxidil, which will stimulate the growth of new hair faster. The less expensive brands are: (both 2%)

* Equate which can be purchased at Walmart

http://www.walmart.c...e&cat_id=976760

* Kirkland Minoxidil which can be purchased at costco.

Important instructions on use:

It is important that if you do use the minoxidil, it is to be placed on your scalp, do not rub it into your hair, it will just make your hair more brittle and susceptible to breakage. Do not let it drip onto your forehead as it will cause headaches. The best application is laying back preferably into a Shampoo sink.

http://www.webmd.com...loss/effluviums

http://www.aocd.org/..._effluvium.html

I hope this helps.

I am nine months out. I have lost more than half of my hair, but it is def growing back!! Keep doing what your doing bc it will work. I cannot believe how quickly it is growing back. My hairdresser said I was a level 3 in nioxin, but I use level 2 it def helps!!!

Yes, the derm did say that it would grow back. I'm definitely going to have my stylist start with the minoxidil.

Since zumba involves a lot of twisting and bending, it might be good to wait until you are cleared for regular exercise. In the meanwhile, walk, walk, walk.

Walking is a very good starter tool. I try to walk 2 miles every day. Next week I start back with my personal trainer. yay!

I was only in bed when I came home the next day because I was tired. You don't rest while you are in the hospital, because every hour (I'm probably exaggerating) the nurses are taking your vitals. I think you will be up and around fairly quickly. I was out and about by Friday.

My colleague bought me the Hungry Girl cookbook. I like the egg mug recipes.< /p>

Does everyone go through mood swings/mental changes after surgery?

No, I didn't and hopefully I won't.

For those who have NOT experienced mood swings/depression, why not you?

I don't know why, just glad I haven't experienced mood thus far. Maybe it's my outlook....or maybe because I'm in such a happy peaceful place in my life.

I have plans to go to dinner and a movie, probably going to see the new Die Hard movie. No chocolates this year, but I would love a piece of jewelry.

I'm not getting dressed, just some jeans and a sweatshirt. The only change is less weight but the same me.

I don't think so. I have mitral valve prolapse and at one point was required to be pre-medicated prior to any dental treatment to prevent infection, the cardiac community has since changed this requirement. All of that is to say I get my teeth cleaned regularly and had them cleaned 3 weeks after surgery, no problem. My dentist was well aware of my surgery.

Never made them, Seapoint Farms is the brand name I buy.

I'm so tried of having to deal with people and their negative reaction to my decision to have the sleeve. I'm 269...5'6...but the first thing people say is "you don't need that surgery!" I feel like I have to justify my decision to everyone. They are always saying things like "all you need to do is diet and exercise," or "you're too young to make a drastic life changing decision like that." (I'm 26.) I try to let it roll off my back and let it go, but I can't help but to let their comments get to me. How did you handle negative feedback?

I haven't had any negative feedback, however, I would respond short and sweet, it's my life and my decision end of discussion.

I love roasted edemame with wasabi sauce, very tasty. I put wasabi sauce on my eggs. Strange but tasty.

Im getting ready to get my vsg not only by getting all the things the doc requires but also what my body need. Basically i got all my four wisdom teeth removed which where bothering me, im also getting a cleaning. Im going to get pampered the week of, im going to get my feet, nails, n hair done. This is mostly to help me relax oh n a nice massage lol. Also i got a scale, a ninja blender, small 2 and 4 oz container, a Water bottle, smart Water bottles. I would suggest that you free yourself of any stress in your life so that you can focus on your challenge. I have found that to be the most helpful of anything else. Surround yourself with positive people and remember that Rome wasn't built in a day. Oh, and continue to pamper yourself. Good Luck!

Please give me some ideas on how else to prepare for this.

Please excuse her, it seems as though her ID has run rampant.

Rather amusing I must say, a nurse (I.e. NA, CNA, RN), who knows what her credentials are, is trying to provide a psychological perspective to the opinion that you provided... a field she has not been formally educated in.

LOL, I love it!!!!

I see. *looks around knowingly* tehehehe.

Tee-hee back atcha. Glad I made you laugh!

If you dedicated your life to something you would care, trust me. But even this rings of some strange interpersonal weirdness. You're so good that you are unaffected by what other people think, or that's what you would have me and everyone else believe. I actually do not seek you out, but we seem to have similar forum interests because we do bump into each other a lot here on this site. That's fine. I'm sure in life you are a perfectly reasonable nice woman, but the way you put things here in this "I don't give a f**k about what anyone thinks" attitude is just not reality for anyone. It's a big game people talk, but it's only true for people with personality disorders and the disturbed, of which I would venture to say you have NEITHER.

Actually it is a reality for me, I really don't care what others say or think of me, takes too much energy, perhaps that is what bothers you about me. Sorry I touched a nerve.

being a psych nurse, I know "delusional" well and what I can say to you is that there is not enough information here to say if someone is having delusions or not. I don't know if you really don't know what that means, if you like to armchair diagnose over the internet because it makes you feel better about yourself, or what this is but not only is it a pet peeve to any ACTUAL professionals when people do that type of thing, its silly.

Maybe I'm touchy about it because I'm actually going to school for my NP so I have diagnosing rights or maybe you just rub me the wrong way every time I see a post from you because it almost always rings of superiority... but that type of thing is just silly to say the least.

The women could be having any number of issues. Do people understand that dumping syndrome is not exclusive to gastric bypass surgery?

ANY type of gastrointestinal operation, and I am not just talking about weight loss surgery. In fact, not a single one of those symptoms listed exclusive to any type of weight loss surgery, and they are all extremely common with LOTS of different procedures, sicknesses, and even psychological issues. These are common, common, COMMON.

That being said, is it likely that maybe she had a WLS procedure? Sure, it is not unreasonable to think that, but if you think for one second its any of your business and this woman should just fess up and tell you, I question how you came to decide you were entitled to this information. She could be feeling shame about failed dieting attempts, she could be experiencing complications that she doesn't want to talk about, she could be upset about her choice, or she may just be a private person. And all of that is assuming that she DID in fact have weight loss surgery.

I just want to say this one last thing before I unsubscribe from this thread, because its crawling with busybody type women (which is supremely unappealing). The more educated you get, the more you realize how much you do not understand about things. My years in the medical field (even though I am young, I've been in medicine since I was 18) have taught me that you really cannot assume anything. You just can't. You.don't.know. ANYTHING. It's laughable to watch all these people here with so little information grasp at straws to make every situation applicable to themselves. Maybe its comforting for people to feel like they are not the only ones who made the choice to do this, but that is what this community is for. You do not need to reach out to UNWILLING participants in your own lives and try to drag something out of them they don't want to share or might not even be true. Only you look stupid in the end for those types of clear boundary issues. Let them be, love them, they probably need it. Maybe if you were not digging for dirt they might share what is really going on with them.

You humor and amaze me. Unlike you I don't let anyone or anything "rub me the wrong way" that takes too much energy. Seems to me you just seek me out to contradict my opinion. If you think my posts have the ring of superiority, that's your opinion, don't read them. Personally, if I don't like someone I ignore them, you are welcome to do that. I know who I am and what I am and I don't worry about what you or anyone else thinks of me, I'm entitled to my opinions and thoughts and I'm going to keep voicing them. My journey is my story, I can't speak for anyone but myself.