Miss Mac

Me too.....63 iis around the corner, so unless it gets to where I scare little children and it's not Halloween, I am not planning on spending my retirement money on plastics. I am hoping to get well enough to travel to Scotland, the homeland of my ancient ones. (Scotland is on my bucket list) If I were younger, I would be saving up for plastics. Other than that, I agree with hydration to being the key to mitigating damage.

You would think that all of this rediculous extra chewing would have made a difference. As for myself, I have developed jowls.

By the end of the first week I was puttering around the house a bit, out of boredom, but it was a month before I felt like officially exercising . Also at one month I got the OK to start strength training with body weight exercises and light hand weights.

Came home third day on full liquids. At week 11/2 I started purees. At 2 1/2 went to soft foods, and at four weeks started cautiously on well-chewed regular foods. My first normal food was Wendy's Chili on the way home from the doctor's office for my one-month visit. There have been no problems.

One product that has not been mentioned here for a while is Smooth Move Herbal Teas, which have a senna laxitive property to them. I just bought some again from Traditional Medicinals at Worldpantry.com. My favorite is the chocolate, although they have three other flavors. Usually at bedtime I have a cup of sugar-free instant hot chocolate with a little sugar-free Herhey's Syrup and sugar-free whip cream. (chemicals, I know, but it's a trade-off) If things have been moving slowly, I just add a Smooth Move chocolate tea bag and leave it there the whole time I am sipping my way cup. In the morning, all is right with the world again.

My gallbladder ruptured when I was 21 (back in 1973 when they still cut you half in two). I am 62 now and have done fine without it for 41 years. If you can get it out with your bariatric surgery, go for it.

Since I have several long-term medical conditions, my insurance company assigns a case manager for me. That way, when something flares up or I need surgery (like with my knee replacements), the case manager gets involved. Since it is in their best interest, too, for things to proceed smoothly and quickly, I get support from their end when my medical providers cause a glitch. She makes calls for me to get providers off their a** and informs me of what I need to do to meet their requirements. She has called me to find out if my physical therapist is doing their job and how thay are treating me and do they keep their appointments with me, etc. etc. Does your insurance provide anybody like that who can help you? The medically supervised diet is not so bad. You will learn how to have a more heathy relationship with food and gain new skills for successful maintenance for the rest of your life. I am so sorry that you have had so many struggles with this process. Just remember that delay is not denial. Hang in there and don't take NO for an answer. I wish you good luck and good health. (I just typed "good lick and good health!") LOL

One of the more remarkable aspects of bariatric surgery is that it not only makes us more of aware of our eating habits, it also exposes areas of our relationships that we have long ignored. My guess is that this is not the first time in seven years that your partner has refused to validate your feelings or opinions. You need to ask yourself two questions: Instead of thinking that you love this person, so why are you treated that way?, you need to think, Why would I love someone who treats me that way? The other question you need to reflect on is Why are you still there? It's rough, I know, but weight loss surgery involves a mental and emotional element as well as how the body relates to the changes surgery brings. You will need all of the support you can get. This is going to be one of those situations where you will have to be selfish. This is about your own health and you need to be in control of it. My mean ol' rotten ex-husband deliberately denied me access to healthcare and caused a severe decline with some issues that could have been resolved with timely attention. You need to stand your ground even if it requires an ultimatum. Your quality of life is at stake. I agree with the others that a good conversation is needed, but beyond that you are in charge of your health whether your partner likes it on not.

It is never too late to do those things you regret not doing. I left a mean ol' rotten abuser in the Spring of 2005, and left that state. By the Fall, I had enrolled in college and went back to school to finish the business degree I left behind in 1972! In January 2009, I graduated with a 3.75 GPA and Bachelor's Degree in Business Management. I was age 57 when I finished. If there is something you would like to do if you were happier and healthier, then you have taken the next right step by scheduling your surgry (I mean your new birthday). You have a cheering section here on the forum, so go for it!!!!!!!

I agree with the others. I am 62 and got my sleeve 8 1/2 months ago, with a textbook recovery. I did not even get the residual "shoulder gas" that you willeventually read about here. The surgeon inflates your abdominal cavity with CO2, to make it easier to see and to manipulate his instruments. Sometimes some of that gas will rise up into the shoulder area with some hang time for a few days. Walking about seems to be the most effective relief. One of the questions I asked my surgeon pre-op was how he manages post-op pain. He said that he extracts as much of the CO2 as possible, and for other pain I had a morphine pump the first day, then hydrocodone for a couple of days, and then I have not needed anything else after that. The overall experience of pain was minimal compared to other surgeries I have had - probably the easiest surgery I have had. One of the things that helped was that I have a lift recliner because of some spine surgeries, and was able to sleep in that for a coupe of nights after I got home. If you do not have one of those, you may want to sleep reclined with extra pillows for a couple of nights, just to keep from pulling up with a tender abdomen. You have certainly come to the right place to hear about other people's experiences with bariatric surgery. Opinions and tact will vary, so just take away what speaks to you. Don't ever be bashful about asking questions. We toss around way too much personal information with complete strangers all the time! Welcome, and I hope to see more posts from you as you progress through the weight loss surgery experience. I wish you good luck and good health.

I had to laugh about the Protein shakes - that thing which I hate!

Well said!

Hopefully your bariatric team is one of those that assured you that you could call if you had any concerns. Other than that, fluids first, then Proteins, then all the other stuff.

It is no big thing that someone can get anxious waiting on this surgery. Shoot, I had to have my axiety med doubled beause all that waiting and going through hoops was such a crazy maker!

One thing else you will find is that you may have to ditch the negative Nancy"s for a while so that you can keep focused on following through with your surgery. This is about YOU, not them.

Mine was set back because I contracted ischemic colitis wwhich had to be dealt with before bariatric surgery. Otherwise, any knick on the bowel would have cause catastrophic infection. I had to wait, but I was alive to wait.

Even if it is a little bit, I tried to work some kind of vegetation in with each meal. With Breakfast, I will have a couple of cherry tomatoes, with lunch I will squeeze in some green Beans, at dinner I may likely add a sprig of broccoli or a spoon of cole slaw. I am allowed one serving of fuit per day, so that will usually be applesauce with my evening meds. Occasionally I will have a small banana at bedtime. For a mid-morning snack I may have something like 1/4 cup tuna sald with cucmber slices instead of crackers. An evening snack may be a thick slice of tomato broiled with melted mozzerella and basil. Yeah, my tastes have greatly changed since surgery, but I force some variety on myself to keep from getting bored.

I had my share of food funerals before I started a ten day pre-op liquid diet. Now that I am 8 1/2 months out, I don't really miss the fatty, greasy, sugary, salty, starchy, junky crap that I used to eat. No wonder I was heavy and sick! I guess I was also saying good-bye to the old me, to make room for new health and improved outlook on life. My body thanks me for the extra protein and nutritious veggies.

Find out which of these common bariatric co-morbidities that your insurance may cover. I never wish for anyone to be sick, but I guess here is where "the more, the merrier" comes into play. When it was time for my bariatric team to submit my packet to my insurance, I had them include a letter I wrote explaining how my obesity was affecting my quality of life and reducing any chance I had at longevity. Obesity Comorbidities To follow is a list of comorbidities (additional conditions or diseases) related to obesity which may help you in qualifying for weight loss surgery. • Family history of heart disease • Family history of stroke • Family history of diabetes • Family history of heart attacks • Hyperinsulinemia • Diabetes • High blood pressure • Coronary-artery disease • Hypertension • Migraines or headaches directly related to obesity or cranial hypertension • Congestive heart failure • Neoplasia • Dyslipidemia • Anemia • Gallbladder disease • Osteoarthritis • Degenerative arthritis • Degenerative disc • Degenerative joint disease • Recommended joint replacement from specialist • Accelerated degenerative joint disease • Asthma • Repeated pneumonia • Repeated pleurisy • Repeated bronchitis • Lung restriction • Gastroesophageal reflex (GERD) • Excess facial & body hair (Hirsutism) • Rashes • Chronic skin infections • Excess sweating • Frequent yeast infections • Urinary stress incontinence • Menstrual irregularity • Hormonal abnormalities • Polycystic ovaries • Infertility • Carcinoma (breast, colon, uterine cancer) • sleep apnea • Pseudotumor cerebri • Depression • Psychological/sexual dysfunction • Social discrimination • Premature death in the immediate family

Hey Nairobi78 in Texas......Good Morning. Since I am up thinkin' when I ought to be sleepin', I will go ahead and say good morning. Welcome to the bariatric forums. I hope you will find us to be an interesting and informative bunch of folks. For sure, opinions and moods vary, but will surely get a passionate response ot two to your questions.

I meant to say BLUEBERRY applesauce.....I need that extra flavor to camoflage the vitamin odor until I can get it down.

I combine 2 oz prune juice and 8 oz of sugar free cran-grape juice to which I add Miralax. Also when I am up around midnight to pee (I am an old lady - it comes with the territory, I crush my bariatric horse-pill stink vitamin and put it in 4 oz of applesauce, or regular applesauce with a packet of sugar-free cider mix in it. I get my vitamin, plus the applesauce helps move things along.

I wouldn't say another word and just go get it done anyway. I agree that this is not about them and their opinions; it is about you and your little girl. Take charge of your own health and go do what you need to do to be healthy and happy.

Stay hydrated especially when you have diarrhea. Three weeks ago, I was having another bout with it and passed out twice in the bathroom, hitting my head on the tub both times. I spent a night in the hospital getting IV fluids. Most unpleasant.

Oh my goodness! I hope you recover soon, and I agree with the others that you need to push for an ultrasound. Better safe than sorry, eh?