aBetterRay

Here is a little announcement: Bariatric Patient General Support Group 2012 Monthly patient support group, all meetings are free and Everyone is welcome! Fresno Heart and Surgical Hospital First Floor Conference Room 15 Audubon Drive Fresno, Ca 93720 Date: June 5th, 2012 Time: 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm June 2013 Topic: Vitamins Very informative, and get free Vitamin samples. Fun & prizes. Play 'Vitamin Bingo.' Have fun and learn something new at the same time. Above information from Bariatric Patient Flyer

I am feeling better this morning, back to where I was 24 hrs ago.

It may have been Dumping Syndrome. Many of the symptoms were present. Funny thing was that I have only been on the clear liquid diet, no fats, no sugars, and no excessive fluid intakes. So far I have kept my intakes slow, regular, and light. Perhaps I must go so far as to seperate jello (as more solid) from water & broth to keep one from washing thru the other..,

Well, it was bound to happen. Everything was fantastic, then came the bowel movements that should not have been. Around 2pm, two that had more content than I would have believed. Then about 3:30pm, the chills came, then cramps, and sweats, and some disorientation. This continued for hours. About 5pm, I figured I had become dehydrated. Even though I had been consuming plenty of water, my broth intake for the last few days was only a cup per day, and I think my salt intake became too low, and I failed to retail enough water. I immediately went to more broth, and water, even adding a bit of salt to each. By about 8pm, I could feel it all subsiding. I continue alternating water and broth, putting aside jello and popsicles, and my symptoms eased. It's now about 1am, and I'm back to a stable-feeling condition. Fluids by my side, sipping away as usual. This was my first side effect of the surgery and the recovery, and it wasn't too pleasant, but with Kelly's support, I'm back on track again. Hurray!

Kelly is really limiting her contact with anything. Just after starting here chemo, she caught a bug, got sick, and had to do 6 days of antibiotic infusions at the hospital to clear it up. Plus, when you add a cold or flu to the chemo effects and her battle with Lupus symptoms, she is taking no chances. She really hates this aspect of the treatment, please understand that. She puts on a mask when she is out, and we wipe everything down with antibiotics cloths. This is the routine for at least the next few months. It does not make you a bad mom for keeping illness away from your home this close to your surgery. Very wise decision. You want to avoid ANY possible complications. There will be time later. I was nervous about my decision to have the surgery, right up to the last minute. For me, the bottom line was KNOWING that I needed more than will power and dieticians to make the changes I needed to make. Short of having my jaw wired shut, I needed a tool, something that would force me to make better choices. The threats of increased health problems and early death was not enough to alter my food addiction. It's a radical solution, and it's not a cure, but it's the best chance I have at dealing with the situation, and I feel real good about it now...

Congrats on the June 7th date. Everything goes so smoothly at Fresno Heart & Surgical Hospital. I've stayed in hotels that weren't as nice. Everyone is so friendly and helpful. Kellylynn and I were hoping to see you before you go in, but I understand there is a bit of illness going on over there, and Kelly is super susceptible to anything right now with the chemo treatments...

So, 10 weeks post. You must be eating steak & lobster by now. How are you doing? Any complications?

To continue, Kelly has backed me up and lifted up my spirits and will to make this event come to this point. Sure, the doctors and specialists have done their parts well, and I move forward with my own hopes and desires. Each day is better than the one before. I expect there to me challenges ahead, but I will have the best support structure in my love Kelly. Tomorrow is a new day. I hope all of yours is a bright a I find mine to be...

I am doing great, and I owe much to the support of my fiancé Kellylynn. She has held my hand thru each step, and

Hey there. Finally figuring out this AP. the vitamin thing was: only get calcium citrate, but I couldn't find in chewable. Then I was told the tablet form was ok, do I got 2 bottles on calcium citrate tablets, only to find that the tablets should NOT be used, and the liquid or chewable ( if found) should be used. From that point on, I decided not to buy anything in advance, and only wait until I was approved to take specific vitamins After the surgery, then and only then, get the exact specifics on what to buy. Anyway, I'm not to vitamins yet, so I'm in a holding pattern. Plenty of time to research food, vitamins, etc. I find no need to get things in advance, but to take each approved change as it comes. Much less to worry about, now I just focus on today. I hope that helps.

Hey there. I'm just 5 days into my liquid diet, and my first post-op isn't for another 3 days. The doctor and papers said my liquid diet would be the first week, but I'm sure that will be reevaluated at my post-op. My first day was the worst. I've calmed down and gotten into the swing, but my mind looks forward to the next level of food intake. I am spending time researching possibilities for my future options, including foods, preparations, and nutritional requirements. BUT, because of the pre-purchasing of recommended Vitamins fiasco, I'm not buying anything new for my pantry until I am officially given the go ahead from the doc.

Yep. Actually I just had my surgery on May 29, 2012. I am waiting for my first Post-Op appointment on Junt 6th. So far do good. On the clear liquid right now, well tolerated.

That is one telling story. As I finish my pre-op procedures, these issues weight heavy in my mind. I'll be interested to follow your progress.

Hey all, I'm Ray, and I'm on my way to RNYGB. I've been creeping up the scale from 235lbs in 1995 to a bulging 415 at the beginning of 2011. High BP, borderline diabetic, loving food, life was good. Of course, then life expectancy for males in my family was around 62, and being 52 now, my retirement plan was to work until I literally and actually dropped. However, life puts important people in your life that can change your perspective, and that happened to me: Kellylynn. So I began to get selfish. I decided that I wanted more time on this rock, to lengthen my trip on this rock, and to do that. I needed to care about myself and my health. So, I saw the Docs, got some tests, added meds, and listened to the same old spiel about balancing those food groups and exercising towards the golden prize. However, the deep, dark, recesses of my mind continued to rule the delicious and comforting roost. I needed a tool, something aggressive, something my mind had little say so, so I decided to get radical and choose to pull the rug out from under my thunder. I'm choosing the bypass, gastric style. After tons of input, learning I could reduce or eliminate my current and future obesity-related ailments, I began my journey towards 5 tiny incisions and an even tinier stomach pouch. And, as I knock out the requirements of tests, probes, education, psychoanalysis, and about 23 lbs of initial dietary struggling, I draw nearer to a referral to a surgeon who will alter my digestive system to literally FORCE my mind out of the drivers seat. And, to be honest, I'm more than a little scared. Yeah, I'm pretty heavy, and that weight continues to take its toll, but I work, I'm active, I'm living a very happy existence, and I'm about to toss the biggest monkey wrench into my own biological gears. Fear creeps in, and my mind is trying to talk me out of it. My mind knows quite well what is about to happen, and it wants me to stop, teasing me with visions of many delicious things and countless hours of comfort from the fullness of wonderful flavors and sensations. But, as I write this down, I shall tell my mind to mind it self. I choose me, a better me, a better and healthier life, and I shall risk much, to lose more, and end up in a winning position. I just hope that position is not spent bent over a toilet seat...