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gabby5391

Gastric Sleeve Patients
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  1. Like
    gabby5391 reacted to argente1280 in Drinking Post Op   
    I'm preparing myself for admission to a 45-day rehab for alcohol addiction post RNY gastric bypass. This is not the first round of treatment. I had my gatric bypass 10/1999 in San Diego CA at the facility operated by Drs Clark and Wittgrove. By nine months post op I lost 106 pounds and maintained that loss through 2008. However, during that time I also began experiencing and struggling with a dependence on alcohol.

    Dr Clark explained that once I physically adapted to my new physiology, I could re-introduce various other foods and drinks, determining whether they would compel the infamous "dumping syndrome". Sugar was a definite "no consume", but when I went to my family's traditional Sunday brunch several months post op and slaked my thirst with a flute of champagne, I did not experience dumping syndrome. All I felt was a "super high" from the sip I took. After that, the game was on. My addiction began in earnest. Dumping Syndrome I was warned about. There were no flags waved before me about the possibilities of alcoholism and alcohol addiction. I am waving those flags now!

    I first went into treatment April of 2008. I did not complete the relapse segment of treatment because I had scheduled reconstructive surgery for a work related injury. The surgery schedule overlapped that final stage of rehab. I think God walked with me through those years because I remained sober until my mother began dying in late 2016. It was then I began drinking volumes of wine that increased to the equivalent, on average, of 4 bottles of wine a day. Occasionally, I thought drinking vodka a better alternative than drinking wine. Don't ask me why. The mind of an addict. I returned to wine. Drug of choice. Drug of self-destruction.

    One day I decided to try and find out why and and how my "take it or leave it " attitude toward alcohol became a "can't live without it " condition. On the internet, I discovered that, as gastric bypass patients, we are unique. In the same way that we each do not necessarily experience dumping syndrome, we do not experience the effects of alcohol the same.

    Post gastric bypass, my physiology became hyper receptive to the effects of alcohol, particularly the initial high produced from its consumption. I believe there is no way on this planet that I am unique in this experience. I want others to know, as I now seek treatment a second time on June 13, 2019, that if this is happening to you, don't wait, don't blame yourself, it's your body reacting to the changes made. Be totally honest with those treating you. Only then, hopefully armed with what I'm writing here, can you get the medical help, psychological treatment and ongoing care that will make you whole.

    Sent from my SM-G975U1 using BariatricPal mobile app

  2. Like
    gabby5391 got a reaction from Deleted Account in I regret this surgery   
    I felt the same way after I got mine. I just kept thinking "what did I do?!" But I'm on 3 1/2 years post op and I'm so happy I did this. Every year I am able to eat something new and the stuff I can't eat I don't miss as much. I lost 90lbs and have kept it off! I have trouble with the Protein and Water too and some weeks are harder than others. Just keep trying cause honestly there's no going back.



  3. Like
    gabby5391 got a reaction from Who Dat 70461 in Incorporating "real" foods   
    Thanks everyone for the kind words and advice. Today is already feeling like it's going to be a good day
  4. Like
    gabby5391 got a reaction from BigGirlPanties in My Path To The Real Me   
    I had the laparoscopic sleeve surgery a week ago today. I started at 233lbs and am now 221lbs.
    I wasn't totally prepared for the post op pain so I had a few dark moments where I regretting having the surgery at all. Walking really does help and now I can lay on my side again with minimum discomfort. Going back to work tomorrow and kind of nervous about being up for a whole 8 hrs but excited to finally get out of this house.
    Thrilled to see who I become out of this whole process...ready to meet the me I always wanted to be
  5. Like
    gabby5391 got a reaction from gixxergirl in April 2014 pre-op group   
    Remember everyone to get your fluids! It's hard after the surgery (for me anyway) because you get so full so quickly. Be mindful and good luck to everyone
  6. Like
    gabby5391 got a reaction from gixxergirl in April 2014 pre-op group   
    Remember everyone to get your fluids! It's hard after the surgery (for me anyway) because you get so full so quickly. Be mindful and good luck to everyone
  7. Like
    gabby5391 got a reaction from BigGirlPanties in My Path To The Real Me   
    I had the laparoscopic sleeve surgery a week ago today. I started at 233lbs and am now 221lbs.
    I wasn't totally prepared for the post op pain so I had a few dark moments where I regretting having the surgery at all. Walking really does help and now I can lay on my side again with minimum discomfort. Going back to work tomorrow and kind of nervous about being up for a whole 8 hrs but excited to finally get out of this house.
    Thrilled to see who I become out of this whole process...ready to meet the me I always wanted to be
  8. Like
    gabby5391 got a reaction from BigGirlPanties in My Path To The Real Me   
    I had the laparoscopic sleeve surgery a week ago today. I started at 233lbs and am now 221lbs.
    I wasn't totally prepared for the post op pain so I had a few dark moments where I regretting having the surgery at all. Walking really does help and now I can lay on my side again with minimum discomfort. Going back to work tomorrow and kind of nervous about being up for a whole 8 hrs but excited to finally get out of this house.
    Thrilled to see who I become out of this whole process...ready to meet the me I always wanted to be
  9. Like
    gabby5391 got a reaction from MrsGloMartin in April 2014 pre-op group   
    mine was the 8th. I've a lot of problems with nasuea but it's finally going away. How are you doing?
  10. Like
    gabby5391 got a reaction from BigGirlPanties in My Path To The Real Me   
    I had the laparoscopic sleeve surgery a week ago today. I started at 233lbs and am now 221lbs.
    I wasn't totally prepared for the post op pain so I had a few dark moments where I regretting having the surgery at all. Walking really does help and now I can lay on my side again with minimum discomfort. Going back to work tomorrow and kind of nervous about being up for a whole 8 hrs but excited to finally get out of this house.
    Thrilled to see who I become out of this whole process...ready to meet the me I always wanted to be
  11. Like
    gabby5391 got a reaction from BigGirlPanties in My Path To The Real Me   
    I had the laparoscopic sleeve surgery a week ago today. I started at 233lbs and am now 221lbs.
    I wasn't totally prepared for the post op pain so I had a few dark moments where I regretting having the surgery at all. Walking really does help and now I can lay on my side again with minimum discomfort. Going back to work tomorrow and kind of nervous about being up for a whole 8 hrs but excited to finally get out of this house.
    Thrilled to see who I become out of this whole process...ready to meet the me I always wanted to be
  12. Like
    gabby5391 got a reaction from BigGirlPanties in My Path To The Real Me   
    I had the laparoscopic sleeve surgery a week ago today. I started at 233lbs and am now 221lbs.
    I wasn't totally prepared for the post op pain so I had a few dark moments where I regretting having the surgery at all. Walking really does help and now I can lay on my side again with minimum discomfort. Going back to work tomorrow and kind of nervous about being up for a whole 8 hrs but excited to finally get out of this house.
    Thrilled to see who I become out of this whole process...ready to meet the me I always wanted to be
  13. Like
    gabby5391 got a reaction from Pretty_In_Purple in How are the ones who got sleeved the first week in april?   
    @@Pretty_In_Purple
    I'm one week post op today. Thanks for the kind words. Today I am feeling better and I know I just have to take it one day at a time ☺️
  14. Like
    gabby5391 got a reaction from pquinn181 in April 2014 pre-op group   
  15. Like
    gabby5391 got a reaction from pquinn181 in April 2014 pre-op group   
    Going through the same thing. Walking seems to be the only thing that helps with the gas build up. Also if the liquids are room temp they're easier to go down and you don't get the tight feeling in your chest as much. Feel like I'm sleeping too much tho and not getting all my protein and water in. Remember when eating tons was like nothing and now even a little bit is the hardest thing lol.
  16. Like
    gabby5391 reacted to Bianca J in April 2014 pre-op group   
    It's harder than ever the site of food is making me get nauseous . I sometimes rethink this cuz I don't like the pain I'm feeling and the meds are taking longer than the hospital lol . But anyways I try to get as much Water as I can but I still get scared of feeling nauseated after sips. This is really hard but I won't give up . Just need to heal and rest too
  17. Like
    gabby5391 reacted to Fat2FiveK in Looking for April 9th (or close) buddies.   
    Looking for a few buddies that are getting sleeved around Aprill 9th.
  18. Like
    gabby5391 got a reaction from MrsGloMartin in April 2014 pre-op group   
    mine was the 8th. I've a lot of problems with nasuea but it's finally going away. How are you doing?
  19. Like
    gabby5391 reacted to daisy2356 in My journey begins   
    Today is my third day post-op. On the day of surgery I was in surgery by 8am and I don't remember much until about 1pm when I was already in my room. Anesthesia really knocks me out as well as the morphine. I was so out of it that during my first two walks the nurse kept telling me to open my eyes and to wake up. After that I stopped pressing the morphine button because it made it so hard for me to wake up and walk. After walking I would get pain in my shoulder so I would get the hot compress and it helped so much. The only part that really hurt was getting in and out of the bed it made the whole left side of my belly hurt like hell. Throughout the night I was walking every 2 hours on the dot. The nurses were not playing when they said every two hours. The next morning I was told I had an appointment for an upper GI (swallowing test). I was dreading drinking the liquid but I didn't dwell on it because I knew it was my ticket out of there. Finally around 10:30 was my turn and the liquid was horrible but you only have to drink about a medicine cup full of it in three shots while they take pictures of the process and check for leaks. Once I was done the doctor came to see me. He was a bit concerned because I looked really pale. I told him that I usually get like that after anesthesia. He sent for some blood tests and some lunch and if both were fine I could go home. Blood work was fine and I was able to keep down the lunch so I was sent home around 3pm. The pain so far has been manageable and I only really hurt on my left side of my belly. Once I feel better I will weigh myself and post the statistics so far. Good luck to all April sleevers. We can do this!!!

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