Koofka

You can also hook your Fitbit into MyFitnessPal via their app library. Works pretty well and bidirectionally - so the MFP data feeds back into the Fitbit dashboard. We also added an Aria to the mix which took away the need for manual weight logging on both MFP and Fitbit.

Hey all,
Two weeks out today from a partial cholecystecetomy (gallbladder removal) and wanted to pass along a few words of warning regarding abdominal cramping post VSG.
Around mid June, while on vacation, I made a particularly bad food choice - greasy burger, cheese wizish sauce. A few hours later, I began having an uncomfortable cramping just under my upper right rib cage. Cramping increased in intensity over the course of the next hour and kept it up for about four more hours.
At the time, was thinking that this might have been dumping syndrome but, after returning home and consulting with my bariatric docs, I was told it was more likely a gallbladder issue and that they could help with it if I chose. Being about 6 months post VSG at that time, I was less then enthusiastic about heading down the surgery route again and took the news under advisement but didn't rush to get additional tests. The practitioner I was speaking with at the time did not seem particularly concerned and, taking their lead, I chose not to be.
Three weeks later, the next set of cramping attacks happened consecutively four times over the course of as many days and prompted a call to the doctor and a prescription for an abdominal ultrasound. That scan turned up both gallstones and sludge in my gallbladder and I was advised that removal was the best option and scheduled for removal 2 weeks later.
After a week of waiting, my last gall bladder attack occurred and lasted for over 12 hours and prompted a move up of the surgery date. I was uncomfortable with the thought of doing it on an emergency basis and without the surgery team I was familiar with. Went on a liquid diet over the weekend to avoid additional attacks and went back under the lapro-knife Monday morning.
Post-op I was informed that my gallbladder was in about the worst possible condition - "acute gangrenous" - a life threatening condition that also made a full removal of the gallbladder difficult. It also extended the hospital visit from the expected same day return home to a 3 day stay.
I suppose the moral of the story (and the reason for sharing here) is that several doctors have assured me that rapid weight loss was likely causal as to the poor condition of my gallbladder - though it may have been a undiagnosed issue for years preceding. They also assured me that if I had not acted quickly it would have quite possibly been fatal.
So for all you bariatric pals out there, don't ignore cramping post-op. Particularly if it starts in your upper right abdomen before spreading further. Its a difficult condition to ignore, but I found out the hard way that even waiting the eventual month it took me from first symptoms to surgery could have been longer then I had left.
Hope this helps out someone else who finds themselves in the same boat.

@@KittyChick Yes both procedures were laproscopic. Pretty much resulted in a second set of scars similar to the VSG.
From my experiences, would say getting to a doctor for a checkup post-haste would be suggested.
I read over most of the internet / homeopathic stuff out there. Only one that seemed like it may have took a bit was apple cider vinegar mixed into a glass of apple juice. That was mainly a homeopathic route for calming an attack in progress. One doc also prescribed muscle relaxers for the same purpose. From research and chatting with the doctors throughout the process, the gall bladder "flushes" that a certain segment of the internet pushes are bunk and could cause more trouble then benefit.
Beyond that, avoiding foods with high fat content while you wait to get to a doc may help avoid attacks. Ends up being a pretty boring diet, but better then the attacks.

Hey all,
Two weeks out today from a partial cholecystecetomy (gallbladder removal) and wanted to pass along a few words of warning regarding abdominal cramping post VSG.
Around mid June, while on vacation, I made a particularly bad food choice - greasy burger, cheese wizish sauce. A few hours later, I began having an uncomfortable cramping just under my upper right rib cage. Cramping increased in intensity over the course of the next hour and kept it up for about four more hours.
At the time, was thinking that this might have been dumping syndrome but, after returning home and consulting with my bariatric docs, I was told it was more likely a gallbladder issue and that they could help with it if I chose. Being about 6 months post VSG at that time, I was less then enthusiastic about heading down the surgery route again and took the news under advisement but didn't rush to get additional tests. The practitioner I was speaking with at the time did not seem particularly concerned and, taking their lead, I chose not to be.
Three weeks later, the next set of cramping attacks happened consecutively four times over the course of as many days and prompted a call to the doctor and a prescription for an abdominal ultrasound. That scan turned up both gallstones and sludge in my gallbladder and I was advised that removal was the best option and scheduled for removal 2 weeks later.
After a week of waiting, my last gall bladder attack occurred and lasted for over 12 hours and prompted a move up of the surgery date. I was uncomfortable with the thought of doing it on an emergency basis and without the surgery team I was familiar with. Went on a liquid diet over the weekend to avoid additional attacks and went back under the lapro-knife Monday morning.
Post-op I was informed that my gallbladder was in about the worst possible condition - "acute gangrenous" - a life threatening condition that also made a full removal of the gallbladder difficult. It also extended the hospital visit from the expected same day return home to a 3 day stay.
I suppose the moral of the story (and the reason for sharing here) is that several doctors have assured me that rapid weight loss was likely causal as to the poor condition of my gallbladder - though it may have been a undiagnosed issue for years preceding. They also assured me that if I had not acted quickly it would have quite possibly been fatal.
So for all you bariatric pals out there, don't ignore cramping post-op. Particularly if it starts in your upper right abdomen before spreading further. Its a difficult condition to ignore, but I found out the hard way that even waiting the eventual month it took me from first symptoms to surgery could have been longer then I had left.
Hope this helps out someone else who finds themselves in the same boat.

@@angierue - I passed a stone post the partial gall bladder removal and happened to go in for a blood test the next morning. Levels were 840 / 640 or so where 35 / 44 was normal. Nearly got rushed in for an endoscopic, but chose to wait it out since the attack had passed and my doc thought the levels may have just been related to the attack. Thankfully, its about a month later now and my levels are finally back to normal after doing weekly tests.

Four years ago this November, I went about a week with similar symptoms (I'm still pre-VSG). Drove myself to the ER at 5:30pm the day before Thanksgiving, had an ultrasound and confirmed that I had gallstones. ER doc ran some additional blood work and my liver enzymes came back through the roof. He has me immediately admitted. Was NPO for 3 days to get them under control then went in for surgery that Saturday.
Woke up in recovery with two different drain tubes and still had my gallbladder. The surgeon said when he got in there, it was so inflamed and that I'd been sick a lot longer than I realized because it at attached itself to the liver with scar tissue.
Two days later, discover that a stone had gotten out so had endoscopic surgery to remove it.
Two days after that, went back in to surgery to have the gallbladder removed.
Three surgeries and nine days later, I'm finally released to go home.
Gallbladder issues are no joke. My mom came and stayed with me while I was in the hospital and didn't tell me until I was home, but the doctor said I was extremely lucky. I was very close to organ failure had I waited much longer.
Going into VSG, I'm really happy that I already have my gallbladder out and will have one less worry post-op!!

Excellent post.
Just because we haven't died up to this point in life doesn't mean we won't die.
Strange concept, eh?

What an experience you've had. Gallbladder disease is no joke and can be a real emergency, quite frankly.
My advice is to run from any bariatric surgeon that doesn't do proactive measures before your surgery. Mimimum of a liver function test (LFTs) and an EGD. If either is suspicious for gall disease, an ultrasound should ordered.
Doctors are not doing you a favor by omitting those measures before VSG, they're actually doing you a disservice. Knowledge is power.

@@Koofka I'm glad you're ok.
Scary post though because I think this is what's happening to me right now. My insurance doesn't kick in until Oct 1st though so I am suffering through it until then. It's really upsetting.
Were both your sleeve and gallbladder surgery done laparoscopically?

My husband almost died from a similar experience. He was having gall bladder attacks, and chose to ignore them because we were in the process of moving. He had a very bad attack and went to the emergency room. The doctor said he could choose to go home and wait, or have it done while he was there. He wanted to continue to move furniture back and forth. I told him in a not-so-elegant way, that he was not leaving until it was done. Turns out, he had stones in the tubing coming out of the gall bladder, and the stones had ripped holes through the tube. If he hadn't had the surgery and eaten some food, it would have gone into his abdomen. He would have gotten sepsis and died..

Koofka,
Sorry that you had to experience such pain. Glad to know that it has now been resolved with the removal of the gallbladder. Continue to heal!! Also, "Thank you" for sharing with us.

Hey all,
Two weeks out today from a partial cholecystecetomy (gallbladder removal) and wanted to pass along a few words of warning regarding abdominal cramping post VSG.
Around mid June, while on vacation, I made a particularly bad food choice - greasy burger, cheese wizish sauce. A few hours later, I began having an uncomfortable cramping just under my upper right rib cage. Cramping increased in intensity over the course of the next hour and kept it up for about four more hours.
At the time, was thinking that this might have been dumping syndrome but, after returning home and consulting with my bariatric docs, I was told it was more likely a gallbladder issue and that they could help with it if I chose. Being about 6 months post VSG at that time, I was less then enthusiastic about heading down the surgery route again and took the news under advisement but didn't rush to get additional tests. The practitioner I was speaking with at the time did not seem particularly concerned and, taking their lead, I chose not to be.
Three weeks later, the next set of cramping attacks happened consecutively four times over the course of as many days and prompted a call to the doctor and a prescription for an abdominal ultrasound. That scan turned up both gallstones and sludge in my gallbladder and I was advised that removal was the best option and scheduled for removal 2 weeks later.
After a week of waiting, my last gall bladder attack occurred and lasted for over 12 hours and prompted a move up of the surgery date. I was uncomfortable with the thought of doing it on an emergency basis and without the surgery team I was familiar with. Went on a liquid diet over the weekend to avoid additional attacks and went back under the lapro-knife Monday morning.
Post-op I was informed that my gallbladder was in about the worst possible condition - "acute gangrenous" - a life threatening condition that also made a full removal of the gallbladder difficult. It also extended the hospital visit from the expected same day return home to a 3 day stay.
I suppose the moral of the story (and the reason for sharing here) is that several doctors have assured me that rapid weight loss was likely causal as to the poor condition of my gallbladder - though it may have been a undiagnosed issue for years preceding. They also assured me that if I had not acted quickly it would have quite possibly been fatal.
So for all you bariatric pals out there, don't ignore cramping post-op. Particularly if it starts in your upper right abdomen before spreading further. Its a difficult condition to ignore, but I found out the hard way that even waiting the eventual month it took me from first symptoms to surgery could have been longer then I had left.
Hope this helps out someone else who finds themselves in the same boat.

Hey all,
Two weeks out today from a partial cholecystecetomy (gallbladder removal) and wanted to pass along a few words of warning regarding abdominal cramping post VSG.
Around mid June, while on vacation, I made a particularly bad food choice - greasy burger, cheese wizish sauce. A few hours later, I began having an uncomfortable cramping just under my upper right rib cage. Cramping increased in intensity over the course of the next hour and kept it up for about four more hours.
At the time, was thinking that this might have been dumping syndrome but, after returning home and consulting with my bariatric docs, I was told it was more likely a gallbladder issue and that they could help with it if I chose. Being about 6 months post VSG at that time, I was less then enthusiastic about heading down the surgery route again and took the news under advisement but didn't rush to get additional tests. The practitioner I was speaking with at the time did not seem particularly concerned and, taking their lead, I chose not to be.
Three weeks later, the next set of cramping attacks happened consecutively four times over the course of as many days and prompted a call to the doctor and a prescription for an abdominal ultrasound. That scan turned up both gallstones and sludge in my gallbladder and I was advised that removal was the best option and scheduled for removal 2 weeks later.
After a week of waiting, my last gall bladder attack occurred and lasted for over 12 hours and prompted a move up of the surgery date. I was uncomfortable with the thought of doing it on an emergency basis and without the surgery team I was familiar with. Went on a liquid diet over the weekend to avoid additional attacks and went back under the lapro-knife Monday morning.
Post-op I was informed that my gallbladder was in about the worst possible condition - "acute gangrenous" - a life threatening condition that also made a full removal of the gallbladder difficult. It also extended the hospital visit from the expected same day return home to a 3 day stay.
I suppose the moral of the story (and the reason for sharing here) is that several doctors have assured me that rapid weight loss was likely causal as to the poor condition of my gallbladder - though it may have been a undiagnosed issue for years preceding. They also assured me that if I had not acted quickly it would have quite possibly been fatal.
So for all you bariatric pals out there, don't ignore cramping post-op. Particularly if it starts in your upper right abdomen before spreading further. Its a difficult condition to ignore, but I found out the hard way that even waiting the eventual month it took me from first symptoms to surgery could have been longer then I had left.
Hope this helps out someone else who finds themselves in the same boat.

Hey all,
Two weeks out today from a partial cholecystecetomy (gallbladder removal) and wanted to pass along a few words of warning regarding abdominal cramping post VSG.
Around mid June, while on vacation, I made a particularly bad food choice - greasy burger, cheese wizish sauce. A few hours later, I began having an uncomfortable cramping just under my upper right rib cage. Cramping increased in intensity over the course of the next hour and kept it up for about four more hours.
At the time, was thinking that this might have been dumping syndrome but, after returning home and consulting with my bariatric docs, I was told it was more likely a gallbladder issue and that they could help with it if I chose. Being about 6 months post VSG at that time, I was less then enthusiastic about heading down the surgery route again and took the news under advisement but didn't rush to get additional tests. The practitioner I was speaking with at the time did not seem particularly concerned and, taking their lead, I chose not to be.
Three weeks later, the next set of cramping attacks happened consecutively four times over the course of as many days and prompted a call to the doctor and a prescription for an abdominal ultrasound. That scan turned up both gallstones and sludge in my gallbladder and I was advised that removal was the best option and scheduled for removal 2 weeks later.
After a week of waiting, my last gall bladder attack occurred and lasted for over 12 hours and prompted a move up of the surgery date. I was uncomfortable with the thought of doing it on an emergency basis and without the surgery team I was familiar with. Went on a liquid diet over the weekend to avoid additional attacks and went back under the lapro-knife Monday morning.
Post-op I was informed that my gallbladder was in about the worst possible condition - "acute gangrenous" - a life threatening condition that also made a full removal of the gallbladder difficult. It also extended the hospital visit from the expected same day return home to a 3 day stay.
I suppose the moral of the story (and the reason for sharing here) is that several doctors have assured me that rapid weight loss was likely causal as to the poor condition of my gallbladder - though it may have been a undiagnosed issue for years preceding. They also assured me that if I had not acted quickly it would have quite possibly been fatal.
So for all you bariatric pals out there, don't ignore cramping post-op. Particularly if it starts in your upper right abdomen before spreading further. Its a difficult condition to ignore, but I found out the hard way that even waiting the eventual month it took me from first symptoms to surgery could have been longer then I had left.
Hope this helps out someone else who finds themselves in the same boat.

Hey all,
Two weeks out today from a partial cholecystecetomy (gallbladder removal) and wanted to pass along a few words of warning regarding abdominal cramping post VSG.
Around mid June, while on vacation, I made a particularly bad food choice - greasy burger, cheese wizish sauce. A few hours later, I began having an uncomfortable cramping just under my upper right rib cage. Cramping increased in intensity over the course of the next hour and kept it up for about four more hours.
At the time, was thinking that this might have been dumping syndrome but, after returning home and consulting with my bariatric docs, I was told it was more likely a gallbladder issue and that they could help with it if I chose. Being about 6 months post VSG at that time, I was less then enthusiastic about heading down the surgery route again and took the news under advisement but didn't rush to get additional tests. The practitioner I was speaking with at the time did not seem particularly concerned and, taking their lead, I chose not to be.
Three weeks later, the next set of cramping attacks happened consecutively four times over the course of as many days and prompted a call to the doctor and a prescription for an abdominal ultrasound. That scan turned up both gallstones and sludge in my gallbladder and I was advised that removal was the best option and scheduled for removal 2 weeks later.
After a week of waiting, my last gall bladder attack occurred and lasted for over 12 hours and prompted a move up of the surgery date. I was uncomfortable with the thought of doing it on an emergency basis and without the surgery team I was familiar with. Went on a liquid diet over the weekend to avoid additional attacks and went back under the lapro-knife Monday morning.
Post-op I was informed that my gallbladder was in about the worst possible condition - "acute gangrenous" - a life threatening condition that also made a full removal of the gallbladder difficult. It also extended the hospital visit from the expected same day return home to a 3 day stay.
I suppose the moral of the story (and the reason for sharing here) is that several doctors have assured me that rapid weight loss was likely causal as to the poor condition of my gallbladder - though it may have been a undiagnosed issue for years preceding. They also assured me that if I had not acted quickly it would have quite possibly been fatal.
So for all you bariatric pals out there, don't ignore cramping post-op. Particularly if it starts in your upper right abdomen before spreading further. Its a difficult condition to ignore, but I found out the hard way that even waiting the eventual month it took me from first symptoms to surgery could have been longer then I had left.
Hope this helps out someone else who finds themselves in the same boat.

Thanks you for sharing your experience with the gallstones. I think any discomfort, especially post-op, should not be ignored...

Also I was a lot more comfortable in a recliner versus the bed for the first week. Ok I promise that's it.

I had to have mine out when I was pregnant because I had a stone that was stuck. I didn't realize I had had gall bladder attacks for about 8 years!! I would just suffer throgh them - the last one though - it wouldn't go away for hours and I couldn't sit down - worst pain EVER. Its not a tough laproscopic surgery and they can probably use some of your sleeve scars. You'll get sent home, set your alarm to take your pain meds before they wear off.
Likely it will have to go eventually.... it will be your decision how long you want to deal with getting around the problem before you finally decide just to do it.

Taking it out sooner rather than later sounds like a good plan. I had my gallbladder out-- felt minimal, if any, pain. Then it's done.

Just wanted to say hello! I am 14 months post-op and new to this forum. After being overweight most of my adult life, I decided to have weight loss surgery. It was the best decision ever! On the day of surgery, I weighed 258 pounds. I currently weigh 138 pounds, which is 2 pounds below my final goal weight! I feel happy and healthy where I'm at, and I am trying to maintain my weight. I am pretty disciplined about eating properly and going to the gym, but have been struggling lately with slacking and snacking! Planning on doing a 5 day pouch test to help get back on track! Looking forward to sharing our successes and struggles! Glad to be here!

I have a number of patients in their early 70s over the years go thru WLS in my doc's practice (my wife had a DS 9 years ago, so I've been around this game for a number of years before my own VSG,) who have done well. They have primarly gone with the DS, which is a more significant procedure than the VSG alone, both from the immediate time-on-table and early recovery perspective as well as from the longer term nutrition and compliance standpoint. I have also seen a number of others who, while younger, had significant health issues to the extent that they felt that the WLS was their last hope to make it more than another couple of years, and they have regained basic normalcy in life.
The main issue that I see in your parents' case would be dedication and compliance - they have to want to do it to make it a success, so be the best example that you can be for them.

There are so many complications that come to us due to being overweight. This only increases as we get older. I am 60 and going in for surgery in a few days. My kids are ok with my decision to do this. They want me healthy so that I can be around for many years to come. That is what you want for your parents. Age should not be the issue. As long as they are healthy enough to be cleared for having surgery you should strongly support them in making this decision. They are lucky to have you there by their side should they decide to go on this journey. For me, I only wishI had decided to have this surgery years ago.... But better late than never.

@@lilijo @@chris1142
glad things are going so well
why wouldn't they???
keep up the good work
while you enjoy your healthier, happier, longer life
kathy
congrats on all your success

I'm 71 and 3 1/2 months out. I only regret I didn't have this option years ago. I am down 62 pounds and have more energy than I've had in years. Diabetes is gone and blood pressure meds cut in half. I have some joint issues so go to the pool 5 days a week for Water aerobics and resistance excercise.
If your parents are interested I would say to go for it.
Also research has shown tat us older folks as a whole don't have a higher rate of complications for this surgery than anyone else.

@@Koofka
hey guy
1rst i have to say congrats for losing 125 lbs!!!! OMG
you are officially in the land of twoderville!!!!
maybe/probably been awhile since you've seen the #2 - so how great are you!!!!
i had surgery a couple of weeks before i was 58 years OLD, now i'm 60 years YOUNG
every day is new, wonderful. i am one happy proudgrammy
but i have "seen" on the board others in their "60's" that have had the sleeve
of course i'm sure there are "probably" others in the "world" that have also been sleeved in their 60's
I "think" that being in the 70's MIGHT be pushing it with age but maybe not
parents have lots of comorbities
all of us "heavier" people the benefits would be wonderful having lost a lot of weight
but do the benefits "outweigh" the "possible" issues/side effects from surgery????
its good to get opinions here, butttttt
you and parents should /must/meet/discuss issue with your doc
he will advice strongly one way or the other
good luck
kathy