ZombiePiper

Hey Frza and Zombie Piper,

I'm less than 2 weeks out until my surgery.

Thats awesome! Let me know how it goes Woobs. Are you having it here in town or abroad?

I couldn't use my cpap post-op, I ripped off my face the poor nurses kind of lost it. I lost over 100lbs pre-surgery so I had my machines presure calibrated before my surgery to reflect the difference. It felt like I had a jet engine on the other end of the hose that was pumping air inro my stamatch. Finally one pretty sharp nurse came over and let the air run acroos her hands from my mask, she looked at me and siad she though the pressure had surley been miss calibrated and ordered them to give me some pain meds.

I took the cpap into the company I deal with about a week post-op. They plugged it in and were all whoops! Sorry. I haven't returned to pick it up yet but I'm sleeping so much better without it I can't see using it at least for now.

I'm with msemma,

I tried some whole grain rice (to get fibre for obvious reasons) de-husked and steamed instead of boiled to make it easier to digest. It was like swallowing lead, I didn't throw up but one bite felt like I was tied to concrete goulashes sinking in the Newark River. One bite well very well chewed, forget about it. I love rice, but it's going to be a while before I try it again.

I have to wonder if all the sex drive is just caused from All of us starting to have more normal size bodies. I wonder if were just feeling normal sex drive of normal size people? I'm all stitched up, I couldn't have sex if I wanted to but I feel like a rabbit in heat Come on week six woo hoo!!! I may never leave the house >:-D

My surgeon had an extended insurance plan For cash pay people Underwritten from an insurance company. I think it costs about $600 to cover me for an entire year post-op. I would ask someone in your surgeons office if they have anything like this available, makes me feel a lot better at night when I go to sleep. I know if I ever have a leak I'm covered it's Good peace of mind and worth every penny.

Yup, me too! I've never been this cold in my entire life, My heating bills going to go through the roof this winter :-) I made two friends at my doctors office that I've been keeping in touch with VA email and they're having the same problem with being cold as well. I guess it's just something that happens, I'm not sure why but I know that we are not the only ones.

I had my sleeve done on November 14 and lost 10 pounds in the first week. The second week I lost 6 pounds in the third week I've lost 0 pounds (But I'm only in the fourth day of my third week ). Honestly I'm not too worried about it, I lost the hundred pounds pre-surgery and I exercised like a mad man. I'm pretty sure my stall is due to the lack of hard physical exercise. I've tried to exercise but my recovery's been a little rough., I'm still having a lot of things growing together inside me and it makes walking on the treadmill for very long pretty Uncomfortable. I think in a couple weeks I'll be much more healed and it'll be a lot easier to get out and really work out hard I'm definitely feeling the lack of endorphins from not exercising, I've had a few blue days because of it but it's all in the head and everybody has to go through The head trips it seems.

If theirs a will theres a way >:-)

I too have a similar situation and have had back surgeries. The reason I picked the VSG was absorption. My first accident was bad I fractured vertebrates and I'm already showing arthritis clearly on x-ray. When I'm retired god willin' and the river don't rise at some point logically I'll be on meds for arthritis or my quality of life could have a really high percentage of being very poor. I don't want to be a burden to anyone epically my children nor do I wish to suffer because I can't absorb anti-inflammatory's.

I wanted to note something for you to think about that I think will be of value. You will have to sleep on your back post op. If your like most people with back injuries you don't sleep on your back, I haven't once since my accident because it's painful. Because you can't sleep on your side after the surgery it's going to be rough on your back. I'm in more pain from sleeping on my back then anything that had to do with my surgery and I'm 19 days (I think I might be off a day) post op. I can't sleep on my side at this time call it 20 days post op, the inside sutures pull way to hard still.

I raised my bed with a 4 x 4 because the information my surgeon provided noted it will help you keep from aspirating while you sleep and keep you from choking. Once your drinking Water and they release you this will make all the sense in the world, you aspirate for a few days just sitting reading a book after the surgery. My Dr. recommended a 30° incline, the 4 x 4 I used does not give that high of a range. When I did the math I think it was 22°-ish degrees. I now wish I would have done the full 30° because the incline I have now is helping so much with my back, another 10 or so degrees would have been even better.

If you plan on raising the head of your bed get it up there as high as you can. I wish mine were higher but I live alone and theirs no way I could lift my bed now, it would rip the sutures. Just food 4 thought, my back is really bothering me and it's keeping me awake. I'm not really getting a lot of sleep and it's slowing my recover a bit.

Good luck with your Surgery!

Hi Woobs! I live in No Po- we're neighbors!

Congrats and keep if II!

Where the heck is No Po?...... joking. You live near good sam then don't you?

LOL you have captured me in my true form Frza. At least this evening I got to go out and play with friends at a local venu. I can't really stand up and play yet but it's so much more fun then staying home another night gah! One of the gals brought along her 12 year old daughter, this kid sang like a pro! She was amazing. It was nice to get out and use my surgery as an excuse to make my friends haul all my gear

So far so good!

Anyone else having trouble with not drinking while eating? I find my mouth is always extremely dry! On my second phase we are allowed to eat watermelon, so I eat watermelon with every meal to keep my mouth wet. How are you keeping your mouth from getting so dry?

I just flat out am drinking Water with food but tiny tiny sips. My esophagus is swollen or something because I can't get anything down without a little liquid to help it along not even cottage cheese. Finally I decided to back to the phase 1 diet for a while. I like the shakes, I love yogurt and now that I had a little solid food I'm kind of over it. The solid food made me feel a little green and a tiny amount sits in my new stomach like lead. I didn't like the feeling and it made me nauseated on and off all day. The two things I seem to be able to tolerate from the phase 2 diet is spinach and celery decimated in my food processor together and Whole grain rice in small amounts.

Mee too, maybe they don't have that functionality which is why we couldn't find it. Now I fee uncomfortable and will probebly deliete my image Thanks for giving it a try though!

Hi Frza, My surgery was Mid November and I'm getting along well IMO. I've made a couple of mistakes along the way but besides that I can't complain. I've dealt with the pain, the head trips and now that 2nd phase hump where all the gas is gone and your insides start healing back into each other. Today I went back to the liquid diet, that about all I've changed. I do well on the liquid and happen to really like Yogurt and Protein Shakes, I feel better at this point when I don't eat solid foods . If I do I can't get enough H20 or Protein because I fill up and I'm totally down with just chillin' on the liquids for a while. I feel so much better today too because I'm nice and hydrated again. I think once I get to where I can exercise again I'll be beyond the hump and just living life again.

There's a couple in this thread who live close but they haven't popped back in for a few days. I know one thing, I'm bored as all can be and am looking forward to going back to work at least part time. What does one do when they've played so much guitar every day they has to stop from painful fingers, has read all 5 books they checked out from the Library the day before surgery and become the first human to watch the entire sci fi catalog on net-flix? They eat! I don't and I won't. Maybe some sidewalk chalk? naa never mind

Hi, is there a way to make your profile so only members with accounts can access the information? My profile is accessible by anyone currently and I couldn't seem to locate any in the privacy controls in my profile settings.

Thanks!

Hello November sleevers!! Surgery in the morning... wish me luck.

Good Luck!

Hi peeps, I've seen a few people ask if anyone was from Eugene. I'm out in the country but get Downtown Every Day on my Normal work schedule. I would dearly enjoy some support, no one really can understand what I'm going through unless you've been there. Peace 2 U!

Hello! I am new to the forum but have been lurking a while. I recently decided to move forward with VSG. I live in the Portland area and am self pay.

Are any of you Patterson patients self pay? If yes, do you what your total costs were? what was the timeframe from 1st appt to surgery with Dr Patterson?

If I can't afford her I may travel to Mexico. Did any of you Oregonians cross the border?

Does anyone have a PDX area WLS friendly PCP you can recommend?

Thanks!

I Was self Pay, contact me @ plygtrloud(at)gmail if you have any questions.

I had my VSG on November 14th

Dr. Patterson is a rock star. Sleeved 7/25. So happy with her and the entire team and hospital experience. She became animated and more personable post-op. i think she is focused and some what detached pre-op. (I do not think this is a bad thing.) You're gonna do great!!!

life is a journey, not a destination; so, stop running -H.D. THEROUX

I could not agree with you more, I am so greatful I fired my old surgon and went with her. It was one of the best decessions I've ever made

Close enough to Eugene to spit and would love the support

I was Sleved on 11.14.12

Heh, well I don't spell so well apairently because it's spelled Reckon Thanks for the Welcome Arcusx

I grew up just north of you about 30 miles, I spent a lot of time in my youth running around RIverside. That VST addiction wouldn't have anything to do with a company called Stienberg would it?

Hi,

I'm 16 days post op and this is my first post here. You can call me piper I'm scootish

I've lurked the forums here pre op looking for answers to questions but I've nenver posted, I'm kind of shy like that I recon. I live in Oregon but I'm from California originally. I wish I had the guts to sit in front of a web cam and pour my heart like so many people I've watched over the last two years on youtube but I think I'm to private of a person (and a big chicken too!). Sadly for myself, I give those people a big Huzzah because they've helped me so much in decision making process of what was the best course of action.

I lost a total of 108 Pre-op because I fired my first surgeon after I lost his required 60 lbs. Believe me, I made the right decision. He quit the practice 6 weeks later and I ended with a most amazing surgon (see my profile) and I couldn't be happier with everything she's done from A to Z. She required me to loose 40 lbs but I passed my mark a bit. I had some minor complications with my surgery, I had a Hiatal hernia fixed which is a common occurrence from what I understand and they found a tumor in my stomach. The tumor tested "low risk" with a very low probability of cancer. I'm glad I dodged that bullet!