Dr-Patient

Have you checked your blood pressure? With the weight loss, your BP might be quite low compared to what was your usual. Also, your sodium might be low. Not advising this, but when I felt that way (around the same time you are) , one day I sucked on potato chips to just give me a bit of salt, to raise my BP a wee bit. It helped. Felt much better. If you feel really woozy, check with your doctor.

Do you mind sharing how old you are? Just curious. [I'm 61] Proud of you! (PS [AlexB]: I don't know why my ticker weight reads Goal Weight 170; it should be 175. It didn't change. Oh well. And I'm holding steady there cuz I don't want my face to get too thin.)

I want to get one so badly, but I won't. But I hate this overhang. But you should do fine...and you'll have that flat abdomen once all healed!! Good for you. Go for it!! Rock it.

Sorry, dude, but that's how it goes! [smile] The hard-working nurses and ancillary staff (respiratory therapists, etc) have many patients to care for all hours of the night. God bless them. You'll survive the sleep interruptions and will have plenty of time when your return to your own bed. Better that they check on you as needed (or ordered), instead of leaving you there unattended, and you were having a complication, fever, bleeding, etc. Be grateful for the process. You'll get more sleep at home. :-)

The only thing I don't like about having lost almost 100 pounds is that my boobs are like empty, deflated sacs. Though not perky, they were bountiful and full. But now, a size 38 DD (and I'm good with that, down from a 44-DD/44-DDD), they are empty, flat and saggy. Oh well. There's still enough to keep me and him happy! (I'm the only one commenting about them sagging, so I think I'll stop mentioning it. Why point out a negative?) If you somehow keep your breasts, and lose most of the rest...ka-pow! Just rock it.

You're looking great. IF your wounds are still open and dry, ask your doctor if he'd prescribe 'DuoDerm' or 'IntraSite hydrocolloid.' Those usually help heal/close those dry wounds post-surgery. Just a thought. Ask him. Seeing the absence of that abdominal flap makes me want to do it, but I won't at my age. Oh well. Congratulations, again!

@1Day1Life4Now...What is your hubby saying now? :-)

If you want to tell only your husband, then stick to that. You don't owe others anything--no info about your personal life decisions. You don't need their (likely uninformed) opininons, judgments, criticisms, discouragements, etc. Granted, some might be positive, but it's none of their business. Own yourself. Despite current societal trends to tell everyone everything--even when going to the bathroom, or what folks ate for lunch, etc--you don't need to divulge your personal affairs...and you should be okay with that. I only told 4 people, one of whom helped get me to surgery, then the other person kept me at his house x 3 days afterwards. That's it. Now, IF someone I know is deeply pained about their weight struggle, and they see my now-body, AND if I feel I can trust them to not discuss MY activities with others, I will tell them how I lost weight in order to comfort them if they are considering wls. Otherwise, nope! Be a careful guardian of your life and personal affairs.

As a woman, I ask, might you allow her to do something for you? Will it kill you? That might be HER way to express her love and care for you. Don't shut it down. Just allow...without huffing, puffing or even internally resenting. Give it a try. I say this because after taking a shower together, I attempted to put lotion on my recent-guy's back (he's White; skin was very dry and ashy. Yes, I could see it.) He nearly cut my head off: "NO!! I don't do lotion!!" (his now-dead wife never applied any, etc. in 35 yrs.) I told him, "it's lotion, not hydrochloric acid." He reluctantly allowed me to do it, and dang if he didn't like it after it had absorbed in, etc. He noticed his skin wasn't itchy, etc. He's very independent, too; but I kindly say...at least periodically just let her help you, do something for you. It's her way of showing you some love. One or two 'yields' on your part won't kill you [right?]; and you just might like it. :-)

Now, three+ years out, I occasionally have some 'white' carbs. But I know that once you get started....it's hard to stop. So it's better to avoid them as much as possible. They can throw off your entire program of losing, and/or maintaining your wieght; plus they take a few days to a week to completely clear the effects of them from your metabolic system; and they increase your cravings. It's not worth it.

My legs/calves got thin, and I miss how they were.. I loved my "pretty brown (and great-shaped) legs." But I'll take it, since all other big stuff is looking nice and thin/medium.

Don't concern yourself with "what others think." Say to yourself what you would do (and be), then do what you have to do... For you. Focus on you. Own yourself. Those others aren't your life.

Only regret is that I didn't do it sooner. You will get through the early restrictions, and whatever they are, it all gets better. And you get healthier, happier, sexier, more confident, foxy and fine.

Uh...does he have a brother? I love men, but they are too often such "*ick'heads." They are often oblivious and non-thinking. Very frustrating. But glad you found a keeper!! :-) And I still believe!!!! But it's getting harder with each passing decade. LOL.

I would advise that you not buy hardly ANY new clothes because you will keep losing and will have wasted your money. Dig through your old clothes that you haven't been able to wear because they were too small, and try to make them work while you're still losing. ['Wow! I can wear this!!?" That is fun! ] I did buy some jeans from Walmart, and even one pair is too large. Two years ago, I bought some dresses in size 14 from Marshall's, but they are now too large. SO don't waste your money buying. I had some skirts and pants taken in last year; now, they are too big on me. I refuse to pay the cleaners/tailor again to alter them, so I'm going to do it myself [whenever]. Re: all my old fat clothes...hmm. In October/November, I sorted through at least 1,000 pieces of clothes. Donated some to the homeless shelter. But so many of them are really nice things that I can't give them away. I also gave some suits and dresses to Dress for Success. I'm going to have a curvy woman clothing yard sale this spring to try to move those items that remain. 4 bins full of really nice stuff in sizes 16-22. Even a St. John suit, some other stuff.

I didn't count anything except the number of pounds I lost, the drop in dress sizes and the every day of feeling confident and happy with how I look. Given the less intake, I didn't worry about calories.

Yes, the weight loss will cause your face to look thinner, get a few lines and look a bit older. But that's a small price to pay when considering how hot, sexy, agile, confident, comfortable and happy you'll be. I thought I wanted to get to 160-165 (from a high of 271). But I've leveled out ~180-185 because I don't want my face to get much thinner. With the really full face, I looked younger, but I was FAT, miserable and in hiding, ashamed to look at myself, etc. But, too, people still don't guess my age because I still look younger than I am. I'm 61; people think I'm in my 40s, so maybe I'm not as sensitive about it. But being obese and all that that means...vs. being thin, happy, with a few wrinkles (and less plump [now, ~saggy] boobs)? I take the latter. [i do miss my plump breasts, but ain't nobody complaining; the nips still work/respond, so...

PS: My decision to not tell whomever is not about what they might think, etc. It's just that I'm a very private person and don't tell folks my business. We live in a day and time where folks share almost everything. I've never been like that and just stick to (I guess my medical code of) patient confidentiality...even when I'm the patient. It works for me. I have seen on here (and elsewhere) that sometimes people tell this one and that, and get hit with all kinds of negativity, judgments and ignorance, just as they are journeying toward, and through, a very personal decision. I try to avoid "vain babblings" of the uninformed or even naysayers, who don't know, nor understand one's personal struggle...with weight or whatever. Just my approach to serenity. It's a personal choice for all, how to handle telling or not. But I think the majority of us are dang sure happy we made this decision!! Looking and feeling so fine, and happy, and sexy, and confident, etc. I should have done this sooner. God Bless the USA...and the VSG.

Only a handful of people know I had surgery. For the others--including the neighbors in front of me, etc.--they don't know anything. IF someone asks, "what are you doing to lose weight?" [present tense]; or "what did you do to lose...?" I say "I really had to let go of the carbs, so I mostly eat high Protein, etc." Fact. I tell them how wonderful it is to have steak, crab, eggs, bacon, etc.; no carbs, no white stuff. Plus the neighbors now see me walking some, so they conclude that has helped, as well. IF it's someone I know very well, and I KNOW they are struggling with their fat (and are depressed, etc), AND I feel I can trust them, if they ask, I will tell them I had wls. Or I may ask "have you thought about wls/the sleeve, etc.?"

I'm sorry to hear this, but it can happen. I once operated on a patient for fibroids. Opened the abdomen, but when I got in there, there was so much fat, we just could not even adequately retract the fat to safely get to the uterus. I had to abort the procedure, close her, etc., and she still had to be home for recovery. The patient later lost weight, and we were then able to do the surgery. I'm sure your doctor was also disappointed, but did the best he could.

Looking good! And the great news is, after you're all healed up--drains, out; incisions healhed/normal color--all of what looks to be "a lot," etc., won't be very noticeable at all. Nice job. Congratulations to you and your surgeon. I want a thigh lift and a panniculectomy; but at 61, I don't think I'll bother. If I did (and especially since I don't look my age; people think I'm 42-45), my, my, my. :-) I think God would rather I not do it. I might turn into something I've never been [smile!!] .

Yeah...that "inny" navel/belly button. You'd be amazed at the flecks of crud we find deep in there. But to everyone, no need to feel embarrassed, for whatever you've got has already been seen in the OR: there's nothing new under the sun. [Though, one time, I had to remove a good size crystal ball from... a woman's 'secret garden'. Yes. That was a first!!] RE: Shaving...mostly now, patients should not do their own shave, to decrease the risk of nicks and infection. Your doctor will advise; but usually, not recommended for the patient to do. Catheters: Since most of the cases don't last that long, urinary catheters are not inserted if they have you urinate just before taking you to the OR. But again, surgeon preference, and what they feel is your specific need. If you might be a complicated case, and/or will take longer, then, yes.

Yes. And, FYI: If you've got an "inny" navel, do yourself a favor and clean it out with Q-tips before your surgery. Dip them in alcohol or something. Then use dry ones to dry the navel. Get the crud out so no one in the OR comments or glances askew. The nurses and staff will be so impressed.

@@LittleBill Actually, this current picture is in a Santa hat and a [nice] Christmas sweater, but with a red camisole, so the top of my cleavage shows . The older picture, was in a Santa hat and in a red teddy with the straps showing [Happy?? ] But the new picture is still better, I think. Too bad I'm so private, I'd show it!!

Uh... A few days out and you want to (even partially) load up on carbs? Stick with what you were told to do...and I'm sure it wasn't Mac and cheese and /or potatoes. Okay... I'm moving on to another thread. Have fun.