JeanZ_RN

VSGAnn2014 said it perfectly: You should NOT worry about your family's lack of support. They get to decide what they think. But the good news is that YOU get to decide what you think. And do. And (to some extent) feel. You and your daughter can be a 2-person support group! Best wishes.

Congratulations on your terrific weight loss! Sounds like HE is the one who is insecure, and he's lashing out, big time! He told you for years that he was embarrassed to be seen with you?? That is NOT how a loving spouse acts! And now he's telling you what to wear and what not to wear? That is very controlling - not a good sign. And he's blaming YOU for HIS weight gain?? Tell him he can cook for himself from now on, or at the very least he can serve his own plate. Do NOT take his sh*&!! Please start going to counseling imMEdiately. My guess is he will refuse to go, but please don't let that stop you.

I was in the hospital just over 24 hours. I had the gastric sleeve, though, and your entry indicates lap band.

The aspect of the pre-op diet that is most important for shrinking the liver is the lack of sugar. So even if there is one aspect you adhere to most carefully, let it be that one - no sugar! In anything! A laceration of the liver can be quite serious, so it behooves you to do all you can to help avoid it.

I started with a lower BMI than most, and want to lose a total of 74 lbs. I was self pay from the get-go, because our company's insurance has a specific exclusion for weight loss surgery.

For me it's still difficult, but not nearly as much so as pre-sleeve. I know the rules sleevers live by, and I follow them 95% of the time (but I was at 85-90% during the holidays). I plan to continue that way at least until I'm at my goal weight. The reasons I don't find it as difficult are: I'm intent on losing the weight now that I have this fantastic tool. I paid $12,500 out of pocket to get here, and I'm DARN sure not going to throw that money away by cheating -- and I would only be cheating myself! I've learned that as long as I don't let myself get TOO hungry it's easier to follow the rules. I don't crave carbs as much as I used to, and I attribute that to staying away from them. It's circular - if I eat carbs, I want more carbs. If I stay away from them almost totally, I don't have the cravings nearly as bad. Although I do get hungry, it's not as intense as it was pre-sleeve and I can satisfy the hunger with just a few bites now. So for me it's a matter of momentum. When I follow the rules I find I'm less hungry and have fewer cravings, which makes it easier to keep following the rules.

Requiring fingernail polish to be removed is a holdover from long ago, before pulse oximeters were in common use. You are correct that back then, the anesthesiologist wanted to be able to see the fingernails to guage oxygenation -- pink nail beds = good, purple = not good. Modern hospitals now use a pulse oximeter (ox SIMM i ter) instead. It's a little device that is gently clipped onto a finger. It reads the O2 saturation through the skin on the pad of the finger, not through the nail, so nail polish is irrelevant. My anesthesiologist said even my acrylic nails would not be a problem. That said, some hospitals still cling to the old ways...

Wow!! Congratulations! You look TERRIFIC!

I tried several -- some powders and some liquids -- and the only one I could tolerate was / is Premier Protein chocolate. It's a pre-mixed drink available at Sam's and costco.

I only lost 12 lbs in the 5 weeks I was on my pre-op diet. Mind you, only 1 week of that time was shakes only, but still... And I agree with all of the above replies.

For working at the computer you might want to get some fingerless gloves. They leave just your fingertips out.

Kathie, how tall are you? My start and goal weights are very similar to yours, and I'm 60 years old also.

I got a Sam's membership just for the Premier shakes.

I'm only about 8 weeks out, and I haven't started exersizing yet. I keep trying to talk myself into it, but I just HATE getting sweaty (unless there's sex involved LOL). As you can see on my ticker, I'm down 31 lbs since the start of my journey 10/7/13. Since I'm 60 years old, I suspect I'm eventually going to have to do some kind of exercise to keep my weight loss going... but I'm dragging my feet about it. And I, like many sleevers, am not nearly so hot all the time since surgery. So maybe it won't be as bad -- maybe I won't sweat buckets and be miserable -- with that change.

Pre-sleeve I took a prescription NSAID (piroxicam, aka Feldene - once a day dosing) for years for OA pain in knees, hips and shoulders. I had to quit taking it a week before surgery because it can prolong bleeding / act as an anticoagulant, and you don't want that in a fresh post op patient! After surgery my doc said not to resume taking it, because he was concerned about erosion of the stomach lining. At my 6 week check-up he said in one more month I can take NSAIDs occasionally, but not every day. The good GREAT news is, I haven't needed it! I am amazed at how little OA pain I've had since surgery. Damp weather used to make me ache nearly all over, even with the daily NSAID, but now I'm fine in any weather. And it's not due to weight loss - or at least not totally, because the change occurred immediately after I was sleeved. Weird, but I'll TAKE it!

I had not heard of it either -- THANK YOU!

What does the doc mean by chemical gastritis? What chemicals have you been ingesting (chuckle)? I mean, gastritis is gastritis, right? It's irritation / inflammation of the gastric mucosa. So once the meds get it resolved, you should be fine.

My surgeon was/is concerned not just about meds being absorbed well, but also about the pill/capsule getting stuck in the suture line. It is is bumpy (not a smooth line), especially in the first weeks after surgery. If a med does get stuck there, it could cause erosion. I have been taking Prilosec for years, and my surgeon said to keep taking it post op. I understand GERD / reflux are common problems for sleevers, so I just keep taking it. I mentioned to my surgeon at one post op visit that I had been tempted to try not taking it, and he just shook his head ... so I'm still taking it. But he did repair a hiatal hernia while he was in there, so I hope to be off the Prilosec some day

I tried a hold-you-in garment some time back, and it was hilarious. I'm only 5'3", and I didn't think to find out what height of a person the garment was designed for when I bought it online. It was obviously meant for someone several inches taller, because the extra material folded over by about 2-3" ... I took it as a sign that I should forget that idea.

If I recall correctly, CelebrateVitamins.com has a multi with Iron (which didn't have as much iron in it as my surgeon recommends) and one without. I chose the one without, and a separate chewable iron tablet. I actually like the grape flavor of their iron tablet. I order mine directly from Celebrate.

You look terRIFic!! Congratulations! My start and goal weights are very similar to yours, and I'm 5'3". How long after surgey did you reach goal? I'm guessing it will take me 6-8 months...

Remembering to take meds takes 1) resolve and 2) a system. I use pill minders... those containers with one or more compartments for each day of the week. There are several different kinds, and the one you select is normally based on the number and size of pills you want to remember to take. The system I use includes one 4-compartment container for each day of the month. The 4 compartments are Breakfast, lunch, dinner and Bedtime. I fill up all the containers at one time, once a month, and I can fit in all my post-sleeve Vitamins and minerals except the Calcium. For that I've purchased 4x4" ziplock baggies, and every Sunday I fill one for each day of the week. Each weekday I carry one 4-compartment container and one little ziplock with me to work, and I take the appropriate meds at the appropriate times. Hope that helps!

My NUT defines "soft food" as anything that can be mashed with a fork.

I'm 60, and was sleeved 11/13. Best thing I've ever done for myself. I'm almost totally off my diabetes meds, and will be off my BP med soon. The only thing I cannot have now -- carbonated beverages, and I do miss my diet root beer sometimes... but that's a small thing to give up for the health advantages. As for a drink once in a while - I had vodka and unsweetened pineapple juice at 5 weeks post op, and had no problems. I could drink any time I want, but I choose to avoid liquor for now because I think it would lower my strength of resolve about staying away from sweets most of the time at least until I reach my goal weight. You ask if one ever feels normal again. I feel mostly normal - just can't eat very much at one time. Best wishes!

What Oregondaisy said goes for me too.