nygurl

First day back to work....again...since surgery. I worked Tuesday last week, but ended up in the ER Tuesday night b/c of a major kidney stone/infection- fun times. I'm working a full day today- but only 1/2 tomorrow b/c I need to go back to the hospital to have them take this stent out so I should be good to go after that. I weighed myself this morning, was kinda bummed to see only a few pounds off, since my first week was super successful. I went from 240 pre-op to 238 the day prior to surgery (2/27), first weigh in was on 3/4 and I was already down to 228. Today 226. I'm having a REALLY hard time getting my fluids and any kind of food/protein in- it's not that I can't keep it down or that it hurts or anything like that- I simply have NO desire to eat or drink... :/ I guess that's better than what I was dealing with before...right?

Feeling much better now that they fixed my kidney stone, but feeling very bored with the same food/drink options....protein shakes, water, broth, jello, pudding, yogurt...repeat. So ready for the next puree stage.

Aren't oxylate stones dissolvable?

The Dr said it's usually genetic or am underlying issue that causes them..but hydrating is a key to avoiding large stone buildup. They doubt my surgery waa the cause of this stone he said by the looks if things my left kidney was completely blocked for around 7-10 days. I've always been prone to them. This is must 2nd kidney stone surgery...might just be something I have to deal with for life :/

The surgery yesterday evening went well, they were able to get the kidney stone out, so that's good. I'm still uncomfortable, and running a fever on and off due to the infection it caused. My blood pressure is kind of all over the place, one reading high- the next might be low- the next normal...so between that and the fever, they're keeping me one more night to make sure they get all the antibiotcs on board that they wanted to. (P.S.- these liquid meds TASTE TERRIBLE! lol) As much of a bummer as it is to have kindey stones, I really took a lot of comfort in knowing, I have no remaining issues from surgery. The pain I thought I was having b/c of it turned out to be kidney stone, so I'm completely healed and doing well with my sleeve itself. I've also found now that the stone is out- and the pain is down, I'm much better at getting my fluids in- still working on the protein angle, but it's hard to fill that order at the hospital- I've been using muscle milk for now- just to get something in. Thanks all for the support and well wishes the other day! Best of luck to the rest of you sleevers!

So, I had been running an extremely low grade fever post op....between 99-100, however the doctor said that was okay since my body was healing. Yesterday was my first full day back to work, I work at home at a desk job but was still expecting some discomfort. But it just seemed like as the day wore on I felt worse and worse my pain was more and more intense.... just all in all a crummy day. Finally 530 rolled around and I basically crawl to the couch to spend the rest of my night. Got in about a quarter cup to a half cup of soup.... and started literally shivering and shaking because I was so cold. Took my temp and it was 101.3.... which is high enough that I am supposed to notify my doctor My doctor called me right back and discuss the potential for a leak although was sure to mention that my surgery went extremely well.... but the pain that hadn't seen to subside since surgery, and now with a growing fever he suggested I go to the emergency room to be checked out. I was terrified They ended up doing a barium and IV contrast CT scan, and discovered I have a 7 millimeter kidney stone.... that is not passing on its own :"( So they admitted me last night from the emergency room and I am awaiting surgery for my kidney stone today... the good news is my surgery was a success and there is no issues with a leak or anything along those lines. However I certainly feel the saying, "when it rains it pours" sure is fitting today this is not how I wanted to get 2 weeks off of work :/

Thanks all! I'm going to head to GNC today and try to get some options for unflavored and just adding a scoop or so to my water. I guess, what I was trying to do was add an entire scooper, or an entire packet (to get all 20+ gm in at one time), and I guess that isn't necessary either- I just need to figure out the best way to do this- lol

I've read from a few other posters that after surgery for some reason, they have some emotional unbalance...depression, etc. OMG- I've been the crabbiest, crybaby ever the last solid 24 hours. Yesterday I was EXTREMELY tired...and slept a good part of the day (on an upnote- went in for my first pre-op check...surgery was 2/28, pre-op visit yesterday had me down 10# from Wednesday!!) Today, everything makes me angry, being angry makes me feel overwhelmed, being overwhelmed- makes me cry...so that's fun. Today is also my first full day back to work- have gotten little to nothing done at this point, and frankly- I stopped caring about 4 hours ago. I'm just really cranky and want to crawl into bed and be left the hell alone. IS THAT NORMAL?! lol :wacko:

I have body fortress whey chocolate protein and I had samples of unjury flavorless and unjury vanilla. All 3 options are a TON of powder for the 20ish grams of protein they contain. I'm looking for something I cam use that's still a good amount of protein, but not that huge like 1/3c of powder to get it.

Everything went great with my in hospital recovery. I'm just having a hard time getting my water and protein in. I'm fir sure tired of sweet. I went back to just plain water instead of vitamin water and that went down better. I'm also going to use less protein powder in my stuff...it's just too much volume with the amount I cam take in right now.

Ok so, two days post op. I was discharged yesterday and hone by like 1:30-2:00. Lots of sleep since then. Still getting up and walking on the treadmill for 15-20 minutes at a time. Funky starting to move some gas so that's a relief! I'm having a he'll of a time getting anything in. Liquids and protein are like impossible. I'm just not hungry. Everything I make tastes terrible, I really need to get some recipes or ideas that are low volume but high protein ...not so much luck on that right now. I either end up with what feels like could be 3 days of protein shakes. Or like an ass flovered paste lol. Hopefully this gets easier!

Ok, so I'm officially a 'sleever'! My preop nurses were AWESOME! My anesthesiologist....AMAZING! My surgery took about 30 minutes and I've had an amazing recovery. Up walking for 15 minutes at a time every hour. Have only had to have a few doses of pain meds. Things are going very well. It's amazing to experience this like instant change in my outlook, attitude, and really ....my life. Walking along today slow and steady I couldn't help but smile and congratulate myself for being strong enough to make this choice and I can't wait to share my journey with you all as I go tucking myself in now to get some much needed rest. Nighty Night sleevers!

Thank you!!

As long of a journey I was expecting this to be....I'm on the way to the hospital right now for surgery. I'm excited, nervous, and scared all at the same time....and I'd kill for some breakfast lol. Yesterday was hard, only clear liquids. My Dr didn't provide me with any other preop diet...just to try and lose something and keep walking. I'm not sure how those folks on clear liquids for weeks on end do it! Surgery is scheduled for 9:30, I need to be there at 7:30...of course Michigan is dumping a nasty winter mix on us...so now I get to add worrying about being late to everything else...oh well, it's something else to focus on, right?! See ya on the flip side

I'm sorry i didn't see this post earlier..seriously need a new phone-- lol...anyway- THANK YOU! You are in my head- I swear! It's good to know there is life after beef broth lol. I have the same problem- I'm trying to figure out where my hunger comes from...I think a lot of it is stress and there is a serious lack of self control that has taken over since this whole weight thing has spun so out of control....so I'm happy to hear that this will be a useful TOOL to get my back on track, to get control over my life again. How embarrasing to sit back and say- I have a food addiction- but you are 110% absolutely CORRECT. It's like an alcoholic, but in our world- you'd have to drink a bit of alcohol each day to stay alive..and nobody has ever explained it like that to me before. I seriously couldn't think of a better way to put it. I'm excited for my journey- surgery in 3 days Thank you for the support- I look forward to leaning on you as the rest of this journey unfolds before me!

Ok, so here we are- the week of surgery- three days from now- I'll be in recovery. I had a moment of panic this morning. My son crawled into my bed and I had this sudden flash of "what if you die!?!?" come through my mind. I literally panicked...my heart rate went up- my mouth got dry- my palms got sweaty. I posted on a thread that I'm sort of active in on the site- and thanfully almost immediately two women talked me down realizing that it could happen to anyone, anywhere- obviously surgery has its risks- but I needed to but my rational thinking brain in action...make sure I spoke with hubby about the plans should anything go wrong, but keep in mind- I'm doing this to have a healthier LIFE going forward. SO- protein shake, water, positive outlook...moving foward with today- and ready to start my new life later this week I'll keep you all posted!! :wub:

So, here I am- 9 days from surgery...still excited, but can't shake this nervous gut-feeling I've had lingering in the back of my mind the last few days. I've failed on so many other diets that I've tried...I've only told a select few people about my choice to have surgery- and one of them has already given me the 30 minute run-down about how if I really just TRIED I could lose the same weight this surgery will offer me. She keeps bringing up that it could fail, that I could have serious complications, that I might not lose the weight...or worse, regain it. Now, before you all say- "terrible friend" lol....she's said- I support you in anything you do- I just want to make sure you don't have bliders on to the "what-ifs" of this surgery. I think I'm comfortable in saying I've thought those through- my biggest fear is that I fail. I've never been successful on a diet- so I'm scared about those first few weeks/months. I'm scared my "head hunger" is bigger and stronger than me. I just can't fail at this- and knowing that it's a total lifestyle revamp is exactly what I'm wanting- but I'm also terrified of what a total lifestyle revamp means. I was making my son lunch the other day and thought, are you going to be able to do this when all you're allowed to have is beef broth and protein shakes? I need some support, stories of how you made it through...some inspiration to keep me on the right track and take comfort in knowing I'm making the right choice for myself......anyone....?

Ok! So...it's all set, scheduled 2/28. Now I have one more class to go to, which I'm going on 2/27 just for the last bit of pre-op info, stocking the pantry with the right stuff for post-op, and we wait- 17 days and counting

Just got the call from my bank!! I'm approved!! SURGERY IS OFFICALLY A GO! I never thought this would happen so fast! It's something I just started really investigating in January, and it looks like I'll be signed tomorrow, and can schedule surgery as early as the end of this month... Funny, all those nervous feelings are gone- I'm totally confident in the choice I'm making, and frankly, I'm ready to have my LIFE BACK. I'll keep you posted!!

After some more online research, and a few phone calls- and the prospect of self-pay...I found Dr. Pleatman in Bloomfield, MI. His office staff has been great, super helpful, and very friendly thus far. I had my first meeting with him today, I was a little worried- not exactly sure what a one on one would entail...and had read a few reviews saying he was a bit cold, not very friendly. Hubby came along for info and (as always...) support. They got me right in on time, weighed me without putting my #s up on a flashing billboard on the side of the highway, which I've come to fear at every visit at this point..lol. Dr. Pleatman was a little dry, but I'd hardly call him rude. He answered all of my questions in detail, went over numbers, charts, even photographs of patients that were in my age/bmi range and their results. We disucssed band, sleeve, and bypass- and he was very confident and set on his recommendation to do the sleeve, which made me feel much more comfortable. SO- I guess....onward from here- I'm organizing the last bit of funding, and dr said- he's off next week- but if all is ready when he's back surgery could be as early as the week of February 20th! I guess we'll have to wait and see, I do need to attend one last seminar with his staff as pre-op prep, but they offer them about twice a week when they have surgery scheduled, so that doesn't appear to be much of an issue either...VERY EXCITED!

Thanks everyone! Sorry my phone wasn't notifying me of my messages and comments... :/

LOL Sorry for the lame blog title- but I've been singing the song all day, not sure if it was a subliminal thing, or if I heard it on hold-music while I was working Sounds like my insurance is going to give me the full run-around and after feeling like the wind had been taken out of my sails yesterday, I set out today looking for the next option. I'm excited to say, while I did look into some options in Mexcio- I couldn't shake that ultra-nervous feeling I had about it- so I opted to trust my gut and look here in the US. I figured even if it's not within state, it'll still be closer than Mexico. Luckily- my search led me to two places here in MI. One was the Barix Clinic in Ypsilanti, however, they wanted $25,500 for the surgery- and that is just wayyy to out of the budget for me to self-fund. I did find Pleatman Surgical Center in Bloomfield Hills, called and spoke to the nurse- I'm qualified for their program, and even set up my initial consult...this is really happening!! I'm so excited to move forward on this journey. I'm trying to get the time arranged off work but as of right now, the morning of 2/6 will be my big date to meet my surgeon and schedule my surgery-- fingers crossed! I'd like some feed back on this dr/location if anyone has any- I'm all ears..(and smiles today)

I've done some digging and put some additional reserach into this going to Mexico thing..It scares the heck out of me to be completely honest. I see so many posts on here of people doing it, and the cost is about 1/2 of what you can do here in the states...but I just have this 2nd world image of a run down Mexican hostpital where nobody speaks english and nobody can help me....it's all a mental thing, I know- but it's something weighing heavy on my mind....

As I had said earlier, follow up will be my key to success on this journey. I called my PCP today to make sure they'd gotten the paperwork that the bariatric place said they'd fax over on Thursday- they said they'd check and let me know. I just got a call from my doctor's assistant (I know her on a first name basis, since I've been seeing my PCP for two years now trying to get this situation under control). She said she talked to my bariatric clinic, and they're needing documention of 6 months consecutive follow up with my doctor for weight loss. Well, since I've been on the program for 2 years now, I don't see my PCP every month, she'll refill my script for 2-3 months at a time, since I've never had any complications with the Adipex she had me on. The girl says, I'm sorry - but they want us to document now through June of you seeing us every month...I asked, can't they take into consdieration the total duration of this program? That I've been doing this for TWO YEARS now? She says- I'm sorry- if you find anything out, and if there is anything we can do to help you, please just call us and we'll make sure it's done, but your that's what your insurance company is saying. I guess my next call is to my inusrance company to see if they even look at the last two years of work I've put into this program. I feel so bummed out- like a sucker punch in the gut. I've been so excited and looking forward to what this has to offer for me, and I've read SO many people that have dealt with delay after delay with their insurance...I'm hoping I'm the lucky one that gets through this without a total loss of my sanity Here goes a call to my insurance...wish me luck :/

I'm really scared about going to Mexico- I've read through some of the posts...and I just can't imagine going to another country for medical care, much less surgery. I have thought about it- and will have to deal with that after I get my final insurance review- I'm hoping they'll accept my request, and cover the surgery, if not- Mexico is something I would then have to consider. Just makes me so nervous to go ahead with this surgery that is so invovled, and then doing it in another country :/ I'm not sure I could do it.