Katcloudshepherd

Kandy12, I think people who have not struggled with obesity have no clue just how difficult it is. For goodness sake If I could just "push away from the table" for fracks sake--I wouldn't have had 80% of my stomach cut out!!!!!!!! That's EXACTLY why I'm VERY selective about who I give personal information to. I haven't even told my brothers. They're a few thousand miles away so I don't have to worry about seeing them in person. I just know they're not as supportive--so I didn't tell them. The other reason is when I told them I was joining the Army--the comment I got was "you'll be back in a few weeks." They didn't support that decision so I sure as heck aren't going to tell them about this one. I spent 7 years in the Army by the way and was honorably discharged.

Hello everybody, I've only told a few people I'm closer to at work. I work with some back stabbing people who would only use it against me. It's nobody's business about my personal life. Coming from the midwest, I used to be alot more open to people. I learned the hard way--sometimes it's best if you just keep to yourself and keep your nose to the grindstone. The co-workers I have told have been very supportive. The ones I haven't told--I don't trust them enough to tell them.

I take an herbal combination of melatonin, chamomile and some other herbs. It's called sleep essentials. I get it from Swanson Vitamins online. I take the pill and within a half an hour--I'm out. I sleep throughout the nigtht excpet when my bladder wakes me up. Unfortunately, I have an overactive bladder. I take 4mg. Detrol LA for that. Before I started taking it--I was going to the bathroom up to 20 times a day and several times at night. I even had the problems with it when I was alot thinner and in the military. Didn't take the Detrol until over 10 years after I got out of the Army. I also take 100 mg. Zoloft for depression. Those are my experiences. I wish y'all luck with finding something that works for you. Blessings, Kathleen

Welcome Jenny, I had the surgery because I HAD to. I had no co-morbidities BUT at 48 they weren't far off. My mother died from Type II diabeties, my maternal uncle died from Type I diabeties. My father died of congestive heart failure. Now that I'm a little over month out--my energy level is so much higher AND I don't hurt everytime I move anymore!!! Wishing you the best on your journey and I hope you have a routine surgery and easy recovery. Kathleen

MissyLINY, I went all the way up to the point of scheduling the surgery for the lap band several years ago. Knowing what I know now--I'm so glad I chickened out of the lap band. I had a consult with a surgeon in early 2013 and was left with a dissapointed feeling. The surgeon I saw was not exculsively a weight loss surgeon. His practice was abdominal surgery but not dedicated to WLS. I'm so gratefull I found another sugeon that ONLY does weight loss surgery and the practice he is a member of ONLY does weight loss surgery. I had my first consultation with him in September of 2013 and was so pleasantly surprised to find out my insurance covered the surgery AND I could have it as soon as December 2013. Once I made up my mind in October--there was no turning back. I'm a person who does a whole lot of research and then commits fully to a decision. The surgeon's office I went through is also a Bariatric Center of Excellence and I'm so thankfull they were the ones who performed the surgery. I was very fearful of the unknown factors prior to surgery but after the fact--I worried for nothing. I was so fortunate to NOT have any adverse reactions to the trauma of surgery, anesthesia, drugs etc. I wish you the best on your journey, Kathleen

Welcome, I wish you the best with your surgery and recovery. It's a big step but one that will hopefully lead to better health and happiness. I know I'm glad I did it. I was so forunate as to not have co-morbidities but I had to have the surgery to be able to move without being in terrible pain. Blessings, Kathleen

lapnicky, Congratulations. I can't speak to the lap to sleeve revision but my experience has been positive with my sleeve. I will tell you the gas pain after surgery was probably the most difficult thing for me to deal with. I listened to the advice posted here. Sip, walk, sip, walk, sip, walk........................Before I could sip liquids, in my case, it was get up, pee, walk, pee, rest, get up, pee, walk, pee, rest...........................Then when I had my leak test and could sip it was sip, sip, sip, get up, pee, walk, pee, set back down or lay down, sip, sip, sip, rest, sip, sip, sip, get up, pee, walk, pee, set back down or lay down, sip, sip, sip, rest, get up, pee, walk, pee.................. Glad I did all that sipping, peeing and walking because once the gas pain was gone, with the pain meds I had-it wasn't that bad. I was very fortunate in that the surgeon I had allowed for a patient controlled pain system. I'd push the button and I was good to go ; ) My surgeon also gave me drugs to prevent nausea and I didn't have any. I think I was one of the lucky ones who didn't react to the anesthesia, drugs or strong pain meds they gave me. Everyone is different in their reactions to the trauma of the surgery, anesthesia, drugs, and pain meds. I hope you are one of the lucky ones too and have a smooth surgery and an easy recovery. Blessings, Kathleen

I ate the Atkins frozen dinners pre-op. The serving size is probably just about right now for my tummy. When I ate them pre-op--I was thinking: "This is in no way enough food." Funny how things change after surgery. I loved the crustless chicken pot pie, and the other dinner Entrees. I never tried the Breakfast ones. They were VERY convienent for me but I don't have high blood pressure and don't have to worry about salt intake. THAT BEING SAID--I think the Atkins frozen dinners are higher in fat and like any processed food-way higher in salt. I'd check the label for the fat content and salt to see if your doctor would allow you to eat that much fat and salt.

Wow!!!! I'm so happy for you! I DREAM of seeing that 199 on the scale. I'm 6 feet so it may be a while. You look Fabulous---you go GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Kathleen

Holy Crap! I haven't seen the show but may need to watch it so I will know never to take my new tummy and chance for a healthy life for granted.

Gman, too funny : ) If I didn't have a job that I have to dress up for believe me--I'd live in jeans, jean shorts in summer and t-shirts.

CharlieMom24, Hang in there hon--it will get better. It takes time because your body just went through a heck of a lot of trauma and you have to give it time to recover and YOU need time to rest and recover. Unfortunately, your body needs time to do this and some need more time for theier bodies to recover than others. Is there anything they can give you for the nausea, vomiting and pain? I hope your doctor and nurses can help you. Sending positive thoughts your way, Kathleen

LipstickLady, I'm a newbie so I don't have any advice but I did want to congratulate you on you weight loss. Wow! I sure hope I can do as well as you have. Take care, Kathleen

Water Nazi, What an interesting name you have on this site : ) Congratulations on your date. I wish you an routine surgery and an easy recovery. I'm glad my doc didn't limit my salad size. Maybe they're worried you'll use a lot of higher calorie dressing? When I was on my pre-op-I did the reverse of what I do now. Veggies first then protein. I also drank at least 8 oz. of water before I ate. The water and veggies filled up my stomach and then the protein kept me satiated longer. Kathleen

Congratulations! I met my husband when I was engaged to a man I ALMOST made the awful mistake of marrying. I finally woke up and smelled the coffee,(more like something finally hit me upside the head with a 2x4), and all the while I had known my current husband. We were friends before we ever became intimate. I have a cousin who had the same thing happen. She was friends with her long time husband before they were married. That's just my own experience--friends first, then a serious relationship. I've been married for 22 years and even though my husband is 100% disabled vet--I've stuck with him. Good Luck, Kathleen

Jadeysmiling, I think Arts137 is correct about the scale. You seem to be doing very well and I know how difficult it is. At my highest weight I was 368 pounds and my only saving grace is I am six feet tall. I'm still new but I'm glad I had the surgery it has made just moving around much easier for me. I wish you blessings on your journey. Kathleen

Lark60 and Christian Zaccone, Thank you for your posts. I'm a newbie and I'm so grateful for posts like yours to put the seed in my mind that when I'm in a situation like that--Just Say No.

Pat, I started my pre-op diet--2 shakes and one meal as soon as I got my surgery date. So I was actually on it longer than the normal 2 weeks for my surgeon, (about 4 weeks). The actual 2 weeks of the pre-op I stuck to EXACTLY what I was supposed to eat. I lost 10.5 pounds that way--for a female--not bad at all. The surgeon wants you to drop weight to shrink the liver. The bigger the liver, the harder it is for the surgeon to complete the surgery. They inflate the abdominal cavity with CO2 to be able to move the instruments around and the smaller the liver the easier it is for the surgeon to move the instruments around and complete the surgery. Wishing you sucess in your pre-op diet and a successful surgery and easy recovery.

Congratulations!!!!! Wishing you an good surgery and easy recovery.

I love bacon....how far out are you? Turkey bacon or pork? All bacon is yummy...lol Shel BabySheldon, I'm 5 weeks out. Regular pork bacon. It may have been where I got the eggs, cheese and bacon from. I'm lucky, or unlucky, however you look at it, to have a cafe in the 6 story office building I work in. It probably was cooked in oil and it may have been too much oil. When I'm home and I scramble eggs I use very little of the spray for the non-stick pan. Fortunately, the acid reflux wasn't that bad and it didn't last long. By the way, I love bacon too. Like Homer Simpson would say OOOOOHHHHHHH BAAAAACCCCOOOONNNN!

I was very fortunate that my surgeons office gave me a booklet with sample menus for each of the stages you progress through after the surgery. Ask if she/he has any sample menus so you have an idea of what to eat at the various stages and the amounts of the food. Good luck, Kathleen

I'm on solid food. I had a tiny bit of salsa with my scrambled eggs and cheese this morning and I shouldn't have had the salsa. I've eaten the eggs and bacon before so I don't believe it was them. I've got a bit of acid reflux going on. Living in South Texas I've eaten salsa like ketchup. Oh well. I STILL won't trade salsa for how much better I feel.

I am very sorry for your loss. I hope the memories you and your family of your grandfather will bring you comfort in your time of loss. Don't beat yourself up. The stress hormone Cortisol can wreak havac on someone with a normal stomach let alone someone with a small one. Flying also is so stressful anymore--I detest having to fly. Just get back to doing what you need to do ONE DAY AT A TIME. If I learned anyting from Overeaters Anonymous, (OA)--That was it. It is my new mantra. Sometimes I can only do one meal at a time--that is to say, I can only handle eating what I need to eat one meal at a time. Don't worry about tomorrow, or yeterday--live in the present. I'm still practicing those things on a daily basis that I learned in OA. Once you get back on track and follow your plan--you'll be fine. Kathleen

Unfortunately, there are surgeons interested in money for weight loss surgery and not concerned about the health of their patients. I am sorry for all the pain and suffering you have been through. I was raised a Catholic and even though I didn't get married in the church, I went back to church and started praying big time before my surgery. My faith provides a lot of comfort for me when I am facing a new or unknown situation. I'm not saying run out to a Catholic Mass but if you can find something in the spiritual arena that brings you comfort it might help you get through this. I know reconnecting with my faith helped me. I had my surgery on 12/11/13 and yes it was a challenge and the pain from the CO2 was a beotch! but I'd do it again in a heartbeat. I would never change how i feel now with how I felt BEFORE surgery. I had pain in every step I took, felt exhausted ALL the time and was miserable. A short period of pain in exchange for LIVING my life now was so worth it to me. I wish you blessings, a successful surgery and EASY recovery. Kathleen

Thanks for letting us know how you're doing. Good luck to y'all. You won't believe how much better you will feel in the weeks to come, especially when your stomachs heal. Blessings to you. Kathleen