Cody's mom

Coke, never really liked it before surgery, but sure enjoy the odd one now (usually with pizza).

You need to write a letter. Now, while you are one step removed from the situation but while it is still fresh in your mind.
Detail what you've been through, what you advised the providers, the reactions you perceived and how it made you feel.
You deserve an apology and they deserve to be informed of how their reactions affected you. Do this for yourself and for the next patient who comes in with a less than perfect body.
Deliver that letter personally to the office manager so they put a face to it. Seriously.

@@sunshine69 I had surgery Sept 14, I had a hard time walking the pain in my feet would cause me dread to do anything. I'm 53 and was fed up with being out of breath and feet that would hurt. If I did a little activity I could hardly make it to the bathroom in the middle of the night my feet would hurt so bad. Doing the slightest of activities would cause me to pant out of breath like a dog who ran for miles. This past Friday I spent the entire day shopping and went for a hike out to see my horse which was about half a mile, then did several loads of laundry (up and down many flights of stairs), and really didn't notice till I went to bed that night, there was no pain, none! That alone is the biggest Christmas present..

I jumped right into meat ten days after surgery. Sadly I was unable to drink Protein shakes and I was working in a remote location where all food is provided so no choice given. My first meal was prime rib with brussel sprouts, and I did exactly as everyone has stated, I took small bites and chewed, chewed, chewed. I only had a few bites of the beef and two brussel sprouts, but again, I chewed, chewed, chewed, and did put my utensils down so I couldn't be rushed into shoving another piece down before I should. I'm a meet lover, primarily beef, so I knew going into this surgery I would never be able to give that up, so whether it was mind over matter, I have no idea, but I was lucky I never had a problem. One thing I will make note of, I took that little heart burn pill every night for at least two months, so don't know if that helped. I wish you luck!

Wow, my surgery was easy, started eating real foods within ten days, drove after three, went back to work after a week (in a very remote locations far from any towns or my home), carried on with my normal life exactly as before. The only side effect I've encountered is hair loss, and it started around month three and now at month seven, it's still coming out. My weight loss has been slow, 60 pounds in seven months, but I only have another 18 to go. I drink pop when I want one, which isn't often but there are times I crave one, especially with pizza, but I stick mostly to sparkling Water with lemon as my choice of beverages (that and wine and ceasers). I don't eat a lot, but I enjoy what I eat (two yorkshire pudding the other night smothered in gravy was way to fatty and rich, but didn't get sick). I wish the cravings would go away, but I've just got to learn to fight them. I still think this is the best thing I've ever done, dispite the Hair loss. To me, it was inexpensive and easy. I live alone, and went by myself, and never had a problem, never needed any help. Sadly there are others who've suffered a much different experience, but the six of us that all had surgery together have all managed about the same, no depression, no sadness, or anger, just happy to be losing!

Ahhh the dreaded hair loss. I too have suffered greatly, I think so far I've lost about 50-60% of my hair, and can't wait till it stops. It started at about 2 1/2 - 3 months out, and I'm almost seven months out now and it's still coming out in clumps. I constantly watch people walk by wearing my hair on them somewhere. Washing it is the worse. I took Biotin like crazy, Mega red Omega 3, and every type of Vitamin I possibly could, and out it came. Then there's the person who didn't lose any, not sure why. This too shall end (or so I'm told), but until then, I'll just be happy for the weight I've lost and look forward to reaching my goal.

Thank Goodness that you are a grown woman with your own mind and that mom does not have legal power of attorney over your healthcare decisions. You can proceed as planned and set a good example for her. I have strived to be a pleasant and supportive mom for my daughters who are now grown (37 and 39), but there were times that they called me out on a judgemental attitude and straightened me out. I have learned so much more from my daughters than I think I ever taught them.
There seems to come a time when the circle of life reverses and the parent becomes the child; the teacher becomes the student. Be patient with your mom, but maintain a little distance until your are post-op. She might still be snarky, but she will know that you stand up for yourself and won't give your power to anyone....not even her.
I am 63 and had my surgery December 23, 2013. I am 5'4" and weighed 235 at the time of surgery. I had already had both knees replaced (I do not wish joint replacement on anybody) and many gastric issues. I was pre-diabetic and on a cocktail of meds for high blood pressure. My mother died before her time of an abdominal anyeurism at the age of 67. Her mother lived to be 98. Mother weighed 320 pounds and was bigger around than she was tall (5'2").
What convinced me to have the surgery was a stroke - a freakin' stroke. That's when I knew I was done with dieting, the food pyramid, and common wisdom about metabolism. I was clearly becoming my mother. Please stand your ground and don't become your mother. Your children need a mother who is present in their lives and not on the sidelines feeling 80 at the age of 40.
Hang in there. I wish you good luck and good health.

Wow, my surgery was easy, started eating real foods within ten days, drove after three, went back to work after a week (in a very remote locations far from any towns or my home), carried on with my normal life exactly as before. The only side effect I've encountered is hair loss, and it started around month three and now at month seven, it's still coming out. My weight loss has been slow, 60 pounds in seven months, but I only have another 18 to go. I drink pop when I want one, which isn't often but there are times I crave one, especially with pizza, but I stick mostly to sparkling Water with lemon as my choice of beverages (that and wine and ceasers). I don't eat a lot, but I enjoy what I eat (two yorkshire pudding the other night smothered in gravy was way to fatty and rich, but didn't get sick). I wish the cravings would go away, but I've just got to learn to fight them. I still think this is the best thing I've ever done, dispite the Hair loss. To me, it was inexpensive and easy. I live alone, and went by myself, and never had a problem, never needed any help. Sadly there are others who've suffered a much different experience, but the six of us that all had surgery together have all managed about the same, no depression, no sadness, or anger, just happy to be losing!

I started Soup two days after surgery, five days I added pudding and cottage cheese, a week after I added scrambled eggs, baked Beans, and ten days after I started on solid foods (prime rib, veggies, chicken etc, but chewed it very well). I had Pasta, rice, and everything within three weeks (where I work all meals are provided and I'm eight hours from home so I had no choice). I could never stand Protein shakes (sadly), could never find one I could tolerate, after one gulp I'd start dry heaving from the taste and texture, so that was out. I think your body will tell you what you can tolerate, we all went for ice cream two days after surgery (those that had it the same day as I did in Mexico), and it was the greatest thing in the world, and not one of us got sick, and at night we'd meet in the resturant and order the Tomato Soup with cheese in it, and oh what heaven that was. We had our nutritionist with us and she said absolutely. So good luck!

I would be surprised if every person who has gone through WLS did not mourn food. First of all, it is probably because you are in the pureed stage and emotional following surgery which is making it worse.
This surgery is not for the feint of heart. It is very hard work, most of it mental. You have to stay positive and focus on all the reasons you had the surgery in the first place. Do not spend wasted time focusing on the negatives, it will only make you feel worse and that ultimately means you will struggle, like you are.
Keep your eye on the prize whether it was health reasons or simply because you wanted to lose weight. Pull your goals out that you wrote before surgery and remind yourself why you chose to have surgery.
I promise you will make it past this phase and if you stick to the right foods pretty soon you will crave healthy foods and not all the other stuff that made you heavy to begin with.
Also, having WLS does not mean that you will never eat those things again. You will simply have them once in a great while and in very small portions.
I wish you all the best, keep your head up and stay positive, it will help you succeed.

@@Cody's mom I used Dra. Laura Carmina Cadenas of Beauty Enhance. The recovery house is called Beauty Care Recovery House.

I am happy to hear that I am not the only one...and it can grow back! I will be 6 months post surgery on the 8th and have had a lot of Hair loss, but I also started taking a thyroid med after my surgery and thought it was more because of that. I take Biotin but I have not seen a great change in the past 4 months. I will gladly exchange some hair for the 84 lbs weight loss so far! I hope it grows back but if I have thin hair, I can live with that. I would rather have my health any day.

I hate to say it, but there isn't much you can do to prevent it from happening. I started taking Biotin 2 months before surgery, always got plenty of Protein and my hair still thinned. Good news is that is it TEMPORARY! It WILL grow back. I'm almost a year out and I think around the 8 month mark it starting growing back in. In the meantime, go to Amazon and buy a product called Toppik. It is spray on hair fibers that do an awesome job concealing a thinning scalp. A small bottle lasts a long time. Make sure to buy the optional pump applicator.

You should try educating your husband about Mexico as an option. There are many AMAZING surgeons in Mexico. As they say, you get what you pay for. If you go with the cheapest in the US, you aren't going to be getting a world class surgeon. If you are willing to spend about the same amount in Mexico, you WILL be getting a world class surgeon.

Changing habits of a lifetime is hard work and no surgery will do all the work for you, but WLS is a gift that helps to make success obtainable. I worried that I would not succeed, and still am terrified that I will backslide in the coming years, but I am grateful for my surgery, especially because I now get great lab reports and my BMI is in the healthy range for the first time in so many years, I can hardly remember.

I had surgery on Sept 14, 2014 and have NEVER had one drop of artificail sweetner. I can't even chew gum with artificial sweetners, I have always hated the taste. If I want a pop/soda I drink a normal one, I don't drink a lot of pop/soda, but rather enjoy carbonized mineral Water with lemon. I don't use margarine, I use butter, I don't use artificial sweeteners, I use sugar. This is just me, no puddings, popsicles, nothing with fake sugar did I ever eat or will I ever. I had a hard time drinking Water out of surgery so I drank sweetened ice tea and Tang to get some fluids in, but never Crystal light or anything like that. You have to do what works best for you.

@@Mom0f3inOC, it's not risky in Mexico at all. I would choose them over any doctor here as I feel they are at least held accountable for their work, can't say the same for American doctors. I went alone, and met so many wonderful people. I plan to go back for a little renovation work on my giggly parts. There was not one second that I didn't feel safe, and there you get GREAT surgeons, to me peace of mind and to be able to do what I know needs to be done was important, not to have a buch of people decide for me what's important and what I need. Just my thoughts and opinion.
I hope the insurance company comes threw for you as the sleeve is the most important thing I have done for myself EVER.

I had surgery on Sept 14, 2014 and have NEVER had one drop of artificail sweetner. I can't even chew gum with artificial sweetners, I have always hated the taste. If I want a pop/soda I drink a normal one, I don't drink a lot of pop/soda, but rather enjoy carbonized mineral Water with lemon. I don't use margarine, I use butter, I don't use artificial sweeteners, I use sugar. This is just me, no puddings, popsicles, nothing with fake sugar did I ever eat or will I ever. I had a hard time drinking Water out of surgery so I drank sweetened ice tea and Tang to get some fluids in, but never Crystal light or anything like that. You have to do what works best for you.

I had surgery on Sept 14, 2014 and have NEVER had one drop of artificail sweetner. I can't even chew gum with artificial sweetners, I have always hated the taste. If I want a pop/soda I drink a normal one, I don't drink a lot of pop/soda, but rather enjoy carbonized mineral Water with lemon. I don't use margarine, I use butter, I don't use artificial sweeteners, I use sugar. This is just me, no puddings, popsicles, nothing with fake sugar did I ever eat or will I ever. I had a hard time drinking Water out of surgery so I drank sweetened ice tea and Tang to get some fluids in, but never Crystal light or anything like that. You have to do what works best for you.

I had surgery on Sept 14, 2014 and have NEVER had one drop of artificail sweetner. I can't even chew gum with artificial sweetners, I have always hated the taste. If I want a pop/soda I drink a normal one, I don't drink a lot of pop/soda, but rather enjoy carbonized mineral Water with lemon. I don't use margarine, I use butter, I don't use artificial sweeteners, I use sugar. This is just me, no puddings, popsicles, nothing with fake sugar did I ever eat or will I ever. I had a hard time drinking Water out of surgery so I drank sweetened ice tea and Tang to get some fluids in, but never Crystal light or anything like that. You have to do what works best for you.

@@Mom0f3inOC, it's not risky in Mexico at all. I would choose them over any doctor here as I feel they are at least held accountable for their work, can't say the same for American doctors. I went alone, and met so many wonderful people. I plan to go back for a little renovation work on my giggly parts. There was not one second that I didn't feel safe, and there you get GREAT surgeons, to me peace of mind and to be able to do what I know needs to be done was important, not to have a buch of people decide for me what's important and what I need. Just my thoughts and opinion.
I hope the insurance company comes threw for you as the sleeve is the most important thing I have done for myself EVER.

@@Mom0f3inOC, it's not risky in Mexico at all. I would choose them over any doctor here as I feel they are at least held accountable for their work, can't say the same for American doctors. I went alone, and met so many wonderful people. I plan to go back for a little renovation work on my giggly parts. There was not one second that I didn't feel safe, and there you get GREAT surgeons, to me peace of mind and to be able to do what I know needs to be done was important, not to have a buch of people decide for me what's important and what I need. Just my thoughts and opinion.
I hope the insurance company comes threw for you as the sleeve is the most important thing I have done for myself EVER.

@@Mom0f3inOC, it's not risky in Mexico at all. I would choose them over any doctor here as I feel they are at least held accountable for their work, can't say the same for American doctors. I went alone, and met so many wonderful people. I plan to go back for a little renovation work on my giggly parts. There was not one second that I didn't feel safe, and there you get GREAT surgeons, to me peace of mind and to be able to do what I know needs to be done was important, not to have a buch of people decide for me what's important and what I need. Just my thoughts and opinion.
I hope the insurance company comes threw for you as the sleeve is the most important thing I have done for myself EVER.

I was sleeved this past thursday on February 19th 2015. I was up and walking about 3 hours after surgery. I did have some nausea but no vomiting. My nurses were very good at staying on-top of my pain medication and nausea medication. I slept for most of the first day. The second day I had my leak test and after I passed that I was allowed to drink Water then my broth, Jello tray came. It takes a while to get down small amounts of water....be patient. Your not going to be able to drink like you did before surgery. It seems like all I do all day long is sip something to drink. If i drink too much at one time I do feel like I am going to throw up. If this happens I just stop drinking for a short time and start over again. I did have gas pains and they to me are worse than the actually pain from surgery. The only thing that will help that is to walk, walk, walk. Walking will help more than anything. I also had my nurses bring me hot packs to put on my shoulders when they started hurting from the gas pains.
Overall my experience has not been as bad as i thought it would have been. I would do it all over again. Just be patient, take your time and sip on fluids, walk as much as you can, and you will be just fine.
Good Luck!

Not everyone has a difficult time. Perhaps stop reading the horror stories and do what you can to stay positive. I had and continue to have a very easy time of it. I had an easy surgery. Woke up in recovery having to pee and was able to sit up in bed by myself. I was surprised to realize I didn't really have any pain. It felt like I had done a really vigorous workout the day before and my abs were sore, but nothing I would call pain. I was given the option of the bed pan or bathroom and once they wheeled me to the bathroom door I could walk and go in myself. The nurse's laughed at me because they said I practically ran to the toilet! I didn't need any pain meds in the hospital even though they offered the morphine pump. I was given ice chips in recovery and once in my room I was started on liquid Protein and fluids. I was able to slowly sip from the tiny medicine cup. After that things were a breeze. I walked on the floor. In fact I was peeing so much they disconnected the IV once they realized I didn't need to morphine. They left it in until discharge, but at least I didn't have to drag that stupid pole around everywhere. My doctor keeps his patients for 2 days but I was asking to go home after 1.
I had no gas pains, nausea, spasms or anything. Zero pain. I didn't even bother to fill the prescription for pain meds when I got discharged.
So stay positive and believe you will have a successful surgery. If I could make it with an extremely high BMI , you can too.