youknowit

Good info! I wondered about that, as I used to have my nose pierced too. Glad they let you leave in the retainer.

I gotta tell ya, that paper tape has given me problems too. :biggrin2: If I'm at home, I'm keeping a gauze over the wound and rash, letting my big ole booby hold it in place (LOL). If I go out, I strap it down with that paper tape and then take it off when I return home. This blows, but I'll get through it. Down 13 lbs as of today. Crazy, scary, amazing. :smile:

Hi Brenda, I'm glad to know I'm not too crazy, dreamin about food! LOL. I think it's some kind of fear or loss thing? Anyways, I'm not allowed anything but clear liquids for the first 10 days, as I was a higher risk, according Dr. Aceves. I had a lot of scar tissue and such on the upper stomach, close to the esophagus, so even swallowing liquids has been a bit of a trial. They didn't allow me to even drink water until day 3 at the hospital. AH! So... I'm taking this kind of gross supplement of liquid Protein called ProStat 64 http://www.pro-stat.com/pro-stat_64.asp It smells like carmel a little bit, but is icky sweet. I'm sure that's due to the same changes many here have noted, things taste sweeter, almost gross... But it's 15 grams of liquid protein in 1 oz serving. So... I guess I should take some more, it is just BAD it's too sweet (and this is the "flavorless/natural" version). Anyways, thanks for the advice. As of Wednesday, I'll try moving to the full liquids and should be able to take in more Proteins, which is good. I've been sucking on sugar free Jello for the little bit of protein there, the only one that isn't too sweet is strawberry so far. Also, made some beef broth, so I'm really trying. Just getting liquids in is killin me. :thumbup1: Thanks for the tips, and I'll keep you posted on how my transition to full liquids goes on Wed. I have a feeling it will be much much better for me at that point. Even a little sugar free chocolate milk, which I would usually not be too fond of sounds SOOOOO good right now. Am I nuts? And seriously, is it normal for me to feel like I'm totally starving? Or is this in my head? :001_rolleyes:

Glad to hear you're going great, Loser. I'm doing pretty good now, was given the ok to take Prevacid instead of Nexium, as it's a smaller pill and doc says I can swallow it whole. Dissolving the Nexium in the Water before taking it was making me puke. Glad that's over now... So tummy feels a bit better with the Prevacid. Moving on to a very itchy rash that I'm working out... Quick question, are you feeling really hungry or anything? I'm actually feeling hunger pangs like you wouldn't believe. I dreamed that I ate a slice of pizza last night and I woke up in a panic, then realize it wasn't real and fell back asleep. Wondering if this is all in my head? :001_rolleyes:

Thanks for the ideas! My incision at the drain seems to be healing nicely... I haven't had any discharge from it at all today, barely any yesterday. Should this worry me or no? About the area around it, took a shower, washed it with soap and warm water, and haven't put anything over it except a shirt. I'm going to get some kind of bandage on there here in a few, but honestly, it's so itchy and bubbly looking, it's gross and painful. This is the most painful part of this whole thing thus far, minus the feeling that I'm starving. I'll let you all know if it clears up quickly. I did buy some Liquid Benadryl and took that, makes me itch a bit less...

Raising the arms does seem to help. Have you tried the chewable/dissolvable GasX stuff? This kind of helps a bit... I had the same problem for the first day, but then it has started to slowly subside... sip, sip. This means, to me, sip like it's scorching hot coffee and anything other than a drop would burn your mouth. That's the only way I've been able to get in the liquids so far... One "big" sip almost did me in the other day. Hope you're feeling better!

Hi all. Ok, so I'm back home now, got back yesterday afternoon. Slept almost the entire day today, I'm sooooooo worn out. Will be leaving the house here in a few to make sure I don't get back in bed... it's a rare-RAINY day here in Vegas. Ok, so I need a little advice. Did anyone have problems with being allergic to the tapes used over the incisions or the drain? My incision tapes are fine, however, the tape that was holding the drain onto my skin, once off, has becoming very inflamed, gross looking, almost like a blister... Like very severe diaper rash? It itches incessantly, hurts a bit. Chopped up some regular Benadryl last night and that seemed to help a bit. Going to get some liquid today. This rash is ALL around my drain site, and this makes me nervous, cause I tried putting some hydrocortisone on the rash, but I don't want it getting near or into the drain incision, since it's open and still healing. It helped A LITTLE, but not enough. Do you think maybe diaper rash cream would help? Or something else? This problem is making keeping my drain incision covered very difficult, as I still need tape for that. Anyone with thoughts, I'm all ears. Help please! :sad0:

Well, as someone who has gone through the lose, then regain, now heading on my journey to lose again, I got rid of EVERYTHING as I lost the weight before. I did hold on to a few bras, as they were so cute and I loved them, but eventually even they had to go. A cathartic and financially enhancing way to get rid of stuff is through eBay. That's what I did with almost ALL my bigger clothes. I know it's hard for those of us with a bigger booty to find nice, cute, sexy, whatever type of clothes, so I sold them at a really low price to people I knew would want/need/use them. The stuff that didn't sell, or that I just couldn't stand to look at any longer went straight to the Women's Shelter here. I figure, my loss could be someone's gain, and all ladies need something that makes them feel good, regardless of size. Hope this helps! I plan to do this again as I start to lose! :sad0:

Mini, It sounds like you are on "full liquids" which is odd, so soon after surgery. Have you tried the Protein bullets? I just found a Grape Flavored one at Target and some Fruit Punch at WalMart, tastes like Koolaid. They are both considered Clear liquids. I cut them with Water, drink down about 2 oz of a water bottle, then put in the bullet, flavored, high protein water, voila. Hope this might help! :smile:

Perhaps MX is the best bet if you are really trying to get this done. I too could have battled the insurance for who knows how long, only to get UP to $5000 FOR LIFE covered, it wasn't worth it. I say do what you need to do, and don't look back! :smile:

Loser -- SO glad to hear everything came through great for you... I was hoping to hear from you, and here you are, doing GREAT! :thumbup: YAHOO to my sleeve-twin BRO! All... I'm doing pretty well this evening. Last night and early today was pretty tough... Threw up bloody icky 3 times on Monday night, so I've been put on a lot of nausea meds, only have thrown up a couple times since, when trying to drink Water. So, they took me off that for the remainder of today. Now I'm trying warm Chamomile tea, it has stayed down. Drank some Tang, also stayed down... And, have taken Nexium for the first time today. Melted it in a small dose cup and drank it down. Feeling ok with all of this so far. Been walking around like a mad-woman! :w00t: The gentleman who was also sleeved the same day as me, along with his wife, has been walking with me. He keeps telling me to slow down, so I guess that's a good sign. :wink: As for me, due to the vomiting and such, the docs have asked that I stay one extra day, so I won't be flying home until Friday now, not tomorrow. Because of the severe damage my band did to me before, the surgery was a bit more technical and time-intensive, and they are really wanting to make sure everything is 100% before I leave because of that. I think keeping down the liquids, which I've now been able to do, is a key... Getting the Xray tomorrow to look for leaks, and after that, if all is well... Home Friday! YA! Thanks to all for your kindness and support. I cannot express how much you have help me through this, every day of my journey! - :smile::smile::smile:

Hi all! Well, I'm finally able to connect to the internet so I wanted to give you all an update... Made it through surgery. Was a bit more difficult than a straight sleeve, due to my scarring from the previous band. I was under for about 2h 45m. Woke up feeling pretty good. Have been covering since than... didn't start drinking anything until yesterday, wherein I threw up each time, not too. Through up a couple time right after surgery too (later than night in my room). So, they are slowing me down on drinking and such, and I'm going to have to stay for an extra day. I'll be heading home Friday morning now, rather than tomorrow. Feeling so much better today, really, only sore at the sight of the drain, and have a headache... Thanks to all for checking in on me. If I can get back online again tomorrow, I will update you again. Best to all! :thumbup::smile::w00t:

hi all. the wifi has not been working properly here at the hospital so i'm using my phone to let you all i made it through surgery yesterday. today has been a bit rough but i'm hanging in. tomorrow will be better especially if the drain is removed :blushing: anyways if the wifi gets up amd running again will give more details. thanks to all for the prayers and good vibes!!

Thanks so much! I'm in Mexicali now, at the hotel. Had pre-ops earlier today and head back to the hospital at 7am tomorrow morning. Please do keep me in your thoughts and prayers. This being my third abdominal surgery, I know this is a little riskier... I'm not as scared as I was the last times, but am starting to feel it coming on... Nervous. Hope I can sleep tonight, cause I sure didn't sleep last night. :001_rolleyes: Will post again tomorrow from the sleeved side! :smile:

Awesome! Sounds amazing... Keep us all posted on your loss! :thumbup:

Oh sister, I totally understand the "whole family is fat, and yet, they make fun of fat people" thing... It's not making fun in a nice way either... My mom, who I love dearly, will say getting surgery is crazy, while she stuffs food in her mouth, and can barely walk from being so severely obese. I have decided that I MAY tell others once I'm on the other side of this, but right now, I do not need that worry and strife. Thank you for sharing, and here's to all of us doing our own thang! How is your sleeve and weightloss, by the way? Best to you!

Hi Sleeve-Twin, Getting excited? I'm leaving tomorrow morning, 6am, and will be in Mexicali tomorrow afternoon. Scared, excited, all that! Will be with you in spirit as we go under and come back up as sleeve twins on Monday! Here's to a safe and easy trip for you (and me!) xxoo

Thanks so much, Itstime! I really appreciate the well wishes. Getting excited, scared, and just ready... Probably won't sleep much tonight or tomorrow night. Still need to pack all the stuff, but it's in a pile (been makin' the "pile" for a week or so). I do know how awesome everyone is at Dr. Aceves office and the hospital, I feel super comfortable going back there... Thanks again, and look for my posts on Sunday, (and hopefully) Monday, after the sleeve. :thumbup1:

Congrats, AmyJ! You're on the sleeved side... I hope you're doing great, and feeling better every minute! I'll be in Mexicali on Sunday, which it looks like is the same day you're leaving. Sorry if we don't get to meet. Nonetheless, here's to your sleeve, and I hope this is a great experience for you! Best! :thumbup1::smile::thumbup::smile::smile::smile:

Hi Phatman/Rob (love the tag name, BTW!) :smile: Thank you for your kind words and support. I really do appreciate it. I will keep you all posted as best as I can whilst in Mexicali. I'm bringing the laptop, so I should be able to post. :thumbup1: Thank you for the prayers and good vibes, I really believe I need it, with all the madness of this being my third surgery (band in, band out, sleeve). I cannot wait to get to the other side of this sleeve! Here's to you as well, and your journey! I see you're half way across the world, but these "interwebs" (LOL) bring us together. It's very comforting. Lykke Til to you, too! :thumbup:

Never been more ready. I feel really good. Went out for one last tasty drink tonight, before I hit the hay tonight, take dog to the Vet tomorrow, finish packing, and I'm OUT on Sunday morning! Really, knowing where I'm "going" (having been to Mexicali before, been through the whole "process" with Dr. Aceves, etc)... I'm ready. Can't wait, scared, but super excited! I hope we get a chance to meet before I leave, Firefly! :thumbup1:

I'm not ashamed either. I'm private and quite honestly, a secretive person. And, let's be honest, I don't like listening to other people's unsolicited opinions of me. If I want to know what they think, I'll ask... Happy that you feel comfortable telling others, and I wish you the best! We can all kick this problems butt, and we're doing it our way... with the sleeve! :smile:

Most welcome, and I'm hoping all clears up for you quickly! Sending healing vibes your way... I'll be on the sleeved side with you here in three days. AH!

Tonya, I have a LOT of experience with this question, due to my band. First, it is against the LAW (Federal) for a hospital NOT to see you for any reason... not for lack of insurance, not for having surgery out of the country, not for being "illegal", not for ANY reason. Period. You can and will get assistance if you need it, regardless. Sometimes I had to reiterate this to the people at Urgent Care, but they shut it once I let them know the deal... Second, your PCP being at least somewhat objective sounds like a relief. I never told my PCP when I got the band, and I only told ANYONE at my medical group when I had complications. I am NOT recommending you do this. I have told my PCP person I have now that I am getting surgery, about my previous surgery, and he was like "ok". His non-verbals didn't seem to LOVE the idea, but he didn't react badly in the end. As for insurance, I am not an attorney, so don't take my advice as gospel, but I think it depends on what your insurance contract says about what they will and won't cover, for what reasons, etc. MY insurance says they will pay up to $5000 (for LIFE) on complications of Bariatric Surgery, but only in 50% increments (meaning for me, a bill for $100 would only be paid by them at $50, up until the $5000 is exhausted). However, I was lucky in that the PCP and the Urgent Care people never "coded" my problems as Bariatric related, so my $15 copay covered everything when I had complications of my band (I still couldn't get any docs here to help me with removal, they wanted like 10k to do that, WITH the insurance part, so I had to go back to Mexico). At any rate, when I had problems, they HAD to help me. They didn't have to LIKE helping me. On a side note, one guy at the Urgent Care bitched me out so bad, that I told them to put a note in my record that I do not EVER want to be treated by him again, and they said that is my right... When he got all up on my case I asked him, "If I was a foreign-national with this problem, would you tell me I shouldn't have gone to Germany (or France, or Mexico or wherever) for surgery or medical treatment? I mean, if I was from there, you would be saying the same things?" He got really pissed about that... and told me we weren't going to discuss it further, did I want help or not? I said clearly I did, and that I don't want to debate this right now... That was the end. (On a side note, I looked him up on the medical group website AFTER I saw him... guess where he went to medical school? OUT OF THE US. What a jerk!)

Yes, congrats Brenda! Sounds like you're flying right through this! :smile: I'm glad to hear everything is still outstanding down at Dr. Aceves. This makes me feel a bit less nervous, and happy for my decision. Barbara - how is the arm? Hope it's getting better!