Dr-Patient

i didn't read all posts, but might I suggest that you simply: 1. Make/Keep an appointment with your psychiatric caregivers--psychiatrist, psychologist, etc. 2.Inform them of your plans for WLS. 3. They'll likely discuss with you the yeahs/nays, i.e., how they feel you're processing the upcoming surgery, etc. Review any medications you're on (or might additionally need, or need cut back); discuss your coping skills with anxiety, trauma, fear, etc. Review/Assure support systems around you--folks who recognize when you're having a moment; then, 4. Your psych professionals should talk with your surgeon and his/her team--including the psychology team at the surgeon's. Then your psych do should write a letter to "clear" you for surgery, from a psychiatric standpoint. 5. Everyone--all your docs [mental and physical] should keep in touch re: your condition, post-op. 6. Also touch base with your spiritual advisor or prayer partner, if you have one. All of that will ease everyone's mind--yours [hopefully], and your surgeon's. Good luck. Do well.

@@VSGAnn2014 My girl...you've got jokes this morning!!!!!!!! Cool. :-) But, in addition, great advice to the original poster.

A sip. Annoying, isn't it!? As a water-lover, I initially felt "why bother. How do you 'sip' water?? I want to drink it!!" But...it gets better. Now I can do relatively good chugs of water/liquids; ~ 3-4 ozs, wait a bit, then another 3-4 ozs more. Hang in there!!!

norcal...find out what size bougie your doctor used. It might be too large and not much of your stomach was removed. Hmm. My recovery went well, too [absolutely no complications at all], but I definitely had indications of 'too much' or 'slow down' to gauge myself. I couldn't handle even a few swallows of Water, never mind gulps. My first post here [12/31/13] was about not being able to gulp/drink water at first. I agree with RJ that your stomach staple line needs to heal. Ingesting too much of anything can put tension and stretching of the swollen tissues. You don't want that. Speak to your doctor. To Ima... I sometimes do a preemptive belch when I drink liquids, even as the liquid is going down, I can (somehow) do that and I don't get that stuck-in-my-chest feeling.

@@CowgirlJane No problem. Actually, I didn't even notice who first wrote that word [and then someone else picked up on it]. I just don't want the original poster to go into an operation already feeing/believing/ingraining herself that recovery is a definite "suck"y experience, because it really may not be. For some, perhaps yes; for others, perhaps not. And I find that mental attitude is important for all things in life. Half-empty/half-full thing. I think for all [or most of us], whatever one's experience post-op, it's been worth it, for sure: Happy, healthy, sexy, smokin' hot, socializing, etc. Lovin' it. [Tonight, I'm going to my 3rd social event this week; even missing '48 Hours' (LOL).]

Yes. I have always weighed more than I look. I'm 5'5" and currently I'm 183, but folks I saw last week think I weigh 160. So when i said I wanted to lose 20 more pounds, they were saying "no," but I'm still in the 180s. I thought I wanted to get to 150, but nah; that'll be too small, especially in my face. I just want to be a comfortable sure size 10-12, so that is my goal now; not the weight. [bMI stuff--eh!] I'm basically good. Last night I wore a size 12 dress, down from a 22 last year this time.

My sense of taste is just fine. No problems here!

I know people have different approaches to things, and different psychological makeup; some are more dramatic-types, others, not. Go into a surgery with your head thinking POSITIVELY. All those negative thoughts, and negative energy, brings negative results, poorer outcomes. Recovery doesn't have to "suck." Yes, some things will feel differently than usual. You'll have incisions (and some pain/tenderness), because yes, you've been cut. Healing occurs. Swelling must go down. There are initial restrictions. You may have a drain which, yes, is uncomfortable for a while. Accept things as what they are and why; don't make it worse than it has to be. Seriously...patients who go into a procedure with all that dread and negativity mostly have more negative results. Some anxiety is normal; but if you're negative and really dreading, then wait until your spirit is more calm and accepting of what you're about to do...and why. Negative patient energy is not a good thing for anyone, especially the patient. Best wishes for a great, successful surgery and an uneventful recovery.

On my computer, all is well. But the new BP "App" has been a no-go on my iPad. I want the app back like it was--when it worked. I even sent Alex screen shots of what I see, which isn't much. I can't see hardly anything of what's on the site; can't open my info, can't like someone's post. can't post something new, or in response. Nothing. SO, I'm with ya!!!

I WISH I'd taken many pictures before surgery, but I only had a few. I'd suggest definitely taking some photos now, before WLS. See post here: http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/310322-are-you-pre-wls-take-pictures-now/. I also wish I'd taken measurements pre-op. My first measurements were 2 weeks post-op. Do it now as a baseline. --I only post and read messages here at BP. --I keep a small [5.5" x 7.5"] notebook on my bathroom countertop and I weigh every day, or every other day, and record numbers in columns: Date/POD#/Wt. At the end of each month's mark (my surgery was Dec 4th), I might tally my weight loss for that month. Oh, that notebook has my SW and date noted somewhere in the beginning. Also, on the back pages of the previous logging page, I sometimes have notations about [whatever--NSVs; potato chips I ate; how much I "danced, and wow, look," etc.] So the notations are opposite the page for the curent weights/dates. --Every month (or two), I measure myself: Neck, breasts, waist, abdomen, hips, rt/lft thigh. And just last week I added measurements of my ankle and a wrist. I want to see the tally of pounds and inches at one year.

I make Parmesan cheese chips --'tuile' [sounds like "tweel"]--I think it's called. I put a recipe in one of my posts, but it's something like this: Easy to make in the oven with the ~ 2 cups of shredded parmesan cheese; parsley, a little garlic/onion powder, a sweet & low. Toss together; spread on parchment paper in flat pan. Bake x 15 min till browned just a bit. Let cool, then crack into pieces.

Wish I could help out. We WLS folks could all be Exhibit A and endorsers of BP. Have fun [i just left Boston last week; my alma maters are there.]

I wish I were having a panni. If I could lose this flap, I'd be two sizes smaller! I'll see how it is when I reach goal. You've gone from 345 to ~180 in ~ 18 months? Good for you!! [Check your stats in your profile; it says current weight is 245; goal weight 175. just an observation.] Good luck, slim goody!! Let us know about the panni pain. Hope it won't be too bad. Rock on!!

Hello, BP friends. I've been ~MIA when traveling (a 10-day solo road trip to Boston and back, from the southeast; stayed at friends' along the way up and back). The new BP app doesn't work in my iPad, so I've been gone from here and I missed checking in!! I find this site so very helpful. Some friends I'd told about the surgery (and who didn't want me to have it)...I showed them the pictures of humongous me before surgery, and then they understood!! "Damn girl....! Whoa!! I would NOT have recognized you. Wait...is that really you? Now I see!" Mind you, I'd not emailed ANY of those worst pics to anyone, so they only envisioned me "a bit heavier" etc., not truly clinically obese as I was (and depressed, which showed in my eyes in the photos). I took pictures with folks, and didn't go through the repositioning, trying to hide this or that fat. Anyway, losing the weight since VSG has given me such wonderful, new confidence--even beyond any that I might have had before. Freedom--in picking clothes; just grab this and that and out the door. Looking good, sexy, shapely, confident. Smiling. Eye contact. Nor more angst, etc. When northbound, I stopped into the Duke Diet & Fitness Center (DFC) where I've spent many weeks/months off and on, and spent goo gobs of cash. Great place; nice people. etc. (though they do need to make some program changes). But I was sooooooo happy that I don't have the daily emotional grind and struggle anymore!!!!!!!!!!!! OMG. I don't have the fight anymore!!!! I wanted to shout out to the clients there "You don't have to do this/don't keep up this fight like this; go get WLS!!", but I held my tongue :-). Overall: my highest weight: 271.2. Surgical weight 257.2 [Dec. 4, 2013]. Left on my trip at 186 pounds; returned the same (when did that ever happen!!?) and today, am 184. Mind you, I could've been less, but I am not an exerciser. [Also I had ~ 3 months of carbohydrate sins, with potato chips and ice cream. I do have a Lay's potato chip thing; they are my traveling snack...still. But at least the big yellow bag lasted the entire 10 days, not 2 days. (That's good, right?)] But, alas, last night, as the light from my nightstand shone on my naked boobs...they are saggy, deflated sacs. My voluptous, full boobies are gone. Damn. But, while in Boston, I had some intimate time with a great guy, and he didn't seem to mind, so... I guess all is well! Anyway, just touching base. Hope my BP app works again soon, though I'm not going anywhere anytime soon. That trip wiped me out. 59 y.o. not the same as 29 y.o.--when I last took such a road trip. Have a good day, all.

woo woo...i won't be a stranger. I actually missed not reading and posting. I hope my iPad app works soon. Now, I need to post some pictures. I love seeing others pics; but I'm shy on public message boards. But we'll see. I think they'd encourage others, as other's pictures have truly encouraged me. My surgeon and I are thinking about writing a book, but we'll see. I was such a reluctant WLS surgery patient at first, but now... I am a bona fide advocate. It has saved and blessed my life. I have found me again...if not for the first time. Woo hoo!!!!!!!! PS: I was reluctant, not because I was afraid of surgery per se. [i love the OR, but then again... I would.] But I was afraid of 1) permanently altering my stomach's capacity because I "love to eat a lot of food!!"; 2) I love to cook and am damn good at it and I didn't want to stop being able to cook great food, etc. But I needed to not eat a lot of food...and I can still cook. I also can still eat pretty much whatever I want, I just can't eat much of it. It's all good. And when I felt like fixing a really huge feast, I did it, and I gave it all away, sans 2-3 spoonfuls, or put some in the freezer.

Just know it ALL gets better and you will be SO THRILLED with the results!! Hang in there and don't eat anything before its time.

I'm amazed at how soon some doctors allow solid foods. The stomach is still healing; edema (swelling) is still present at 8 days (and in that second week), etc. food particles can get trapped in the stapled area, etc. but... Hope you feel better soon. (I need to email Alex screen shots of BP on my iPad. Since the "new" app, I cannot see anything like before and, hence, have been unable to see folks' messages.) hope everyone is doing well and looking good!

I can't find anything I usually see with this new app on my iPad. Go back to how it was, please.

Can't now access BP on my iPad; only on my main computer and laptop. I don't have it on my Samsung yet. Sometimes 'new and improved'...isn't :-) But I'm sure it'll get fixed. Not the end of the world. By time it's up and running properly, we should have all lost a few more pounds and can update our status!

Since the "new app," I have NOT been able to access BP as before. I don't see things I normally see: --I can't see my username link, recent topics, trends, nothing! --I tried to post one time (only AFTER a LOT of trying to get to something where I could post. But the post didn't post. --The one page I finally accessed seemed to "'jump." --When I tap on the BP icon, all I first see is "Browse" at the top; then a list of four BP categories [four basic forums]. I don't see anything else. And clicking one of the forums just shows a list of some comments made there, but it's not at all the usual view. I only use an iPAD for my 'mobile' access to BP (otherwise I'm on this desk computer or my laptop. No problem there; and I have not yet put BP on my wonderful Samsung phone [Android]). But the new mobile app is not working for me at all. I'll be on the road for the next two weeks and am only taking my iPad. Sure would love to be able to see BP (for support!!) while I'm gone. Alex, please...take me back to the ol' time way!!

For the price, it's hard to think about taking it back, but it must work for you. IMHO, as is, it needs something. As others said, it looks a bit matronly. I suggest...(since you don't seem very tall)...the very long hair doesn't go well with the boat neck. You lose your neck. IF you keep it...: 1) Use a good body shaper, with a good bra component to push the boobs up and out. 2) Either get a nice haircut, or have someone curl it and pin it up quite a bit, to give you a longer neckline. Maybe some tendrils can dangle at your nape and to frame your face. 3) Add a black or red satin belt, tied and hanging to the side; or something to cinch in the waist; also add a pop of color with some sexy red pumps, or a strappy sexy high heel. 4) Add some color to the face--nice makeup and a nice red lipstick. Also some drop earrings, etc. You don't look to be an old woman; don't let the dress make you old. [i think a V-neck would work much better for you; and also, the wrap dress suggestion is always a great option for all; it's worked wonders since the 1970s, regardless of size.) Just my opinion, since you asked. Have fun wearing whatever you decide works and looks good on you. Have fun!

"Lay aside every....weight that doth so easily beset us." In other words, get rid of non-supportive, toxic people ("friends who aren't") from your life.

You look great! How was the pain after the plastics...? Congrats! Strut your stuff!

Oh my God! You look fantastic! Great story of self-healing and personal success! Congratulations, and we Celebrate YOU! PS: How old are you, sugar? Or, maybe I can be a cougar :-)

You do feel differently about yourself. You move and act differently--consciously, or unconsciously. To some, that may be uncomfortable beause they've know you as you were before. But also, be mindful and see if you aren't coming off cocky, or making the conversation only about you and how fine you are now :-). A friend of mine had the bypass, dropped 100 pounds [and he looks good in the pic he/his wife sent me]; but he's gotten soooo cocky. We've been friends for 30 years and talk a lot (his wife knows it's purely brotherly/sisterly). But he told me that he went to work the other day and walked in and told his female coworkers, ''Eye candy is here!" LOL. He's said that, in recent months, they've told him they liked him better before because he was more humble. Now he's "annoying," and doesn't even say "good morning." He starts out with something about him. (He has gotten very cocky, and even I have had to often say when we're talking, "uh...can we talk about something other than you!!?") For a while I sent some pictures of the new me to some friends (some of whom I met at a fat farm--the Duke Diet & Fitness Center). They are truly happy for me. But, in sensitivity to them, I won't send anymore pics any time soon, because I know how they struggle with, and are pained by, their weight. Some have even asked for an update, but I've said "I don't want to talk about that now. I'm doing well. Now..how's your... [...dog, kids, crazy cousin, etc]" You're doing the right thing if you're not bringing up your surgery and your weight loss etc, at all conversations. There are other things to talk about. What's going on in their lives? [imho]