lauren8486

What a bunch of wet noodles! Marijuana is technically a drug, yes...but it's a hell of a lot safer than alcohol. Have you ever seen an angry pot head? The worst that can happy with a little pot is you may hug someone a bit longer than socially acceptable, laugh a little louder at a joke or, god forbid, get a great nights sleep! OH, THE HUMANITY!
Personally, I use marijuana as a sleep aid. I've struggled with insomnia for most of my life. Melatonin no longer works for me. I've been on Ambien, Lunesta and (lately) Trazadone. I'd much rather smoke a little organic pot (my uncle grows and uses all organic fertilizers and pesticides) and sleep well than pump myself full of big pharma chemicals.
@@jadama22, I'm interested to hear what you've decided and how it impacted you.

What a bunch of wet noodles! Marijuana is technically a drug, yes...but it's a hell of a lot safer than alcohol. Have you ever seen an angry pot head? The worst that can happy with a little pot is you may hug someone a bit longer than socially acceptable, laugh a little louder at a joke or, god forbid, get a great nights sleep! OH, THE HUMANITY!
Personally, I use marijuana as a sleep aid. I've struggled with insomnia for most of my life. Melatonin no longer works for me. I've been on Ambien, Lunesta and (lately) Trazadone. I'd much rather smoke a little organic pot (my uncle grows and uses all organic fertilizers and pesticides) and sleep well than pump myself full of big pharma chemicals.
@@jadama22, I'm interested to hear what you've decided and how it impacted you.

Hi @@Swampdoggie,
I can really only speak from experience so here goes. Much like with big pharma meds you'll have to spend some time finding the right strain of marijuana for you. Marijuana has varied side effects and those side effects vary from person to person. Some strains will produce a short term high, others a longer high. Some strains will make you sleepy, others will just relax you. Some strains will give you insane munchies, others won't.
For me, I use marijuana recreationally as needed. Lately I've been enjoying half of a small joint before bed. It allows me to focus on sleep and not what's going on at work, what's up with my husband, our home, our families, various social obligations, what's on TV, did I defrost something for dinner tomorrow, etc. I experience very little munchies with what I have right now - I did have half a piece of bacon last night (strange craving, I know). To combat the cotton mouth effect that others touched on, I just drink more Water. If you're well hydrated then you'll be fine (pre & post op).
Good luck!

What a bunch of wet noodles! Marijuana is technically a drug, yes...but it's a hell of a lot safer than alcohol. Have you ever seen an angry pot head? The worst that can happy with a little pot is you may hug someone a bit longer than socially acceptable, laugh a little louder at a joke or, god forbid, get a great nights sleep! OH, THE HUMANITY!
Personally, I use marijuana as a sleep aid. I've struggled with insomnia for most of my life. Melatonin no longer works for me. I've been on Ambien, Lunesta and (lately) Trazadone. I'd much rather smoke a little organic pot (my uncle grows and uses all organic fertilizers and pesticides) and sleep well than pump myself full of big pharma chemicals.
@@jadama22, I'm interested to hear what you've decided and how it impacted you.

What a bunch of wet noodles! Marijuana is technically a drug, yes...but it's a hell of a lot safer than alcohol. Have you ever seen an angry pot head? The worst that can happy with a little pot is you may hug someone a bit longer than socially acceptable, laugh a little louder at a joke or, god forbid, get a great nights sleep! OH, THE HUMANITY!
Personally, I use marijuana as a sleep aid. I've struggled with insomnia for most of my life. Melatonin no longer works for me. I've been on Ambien, Lunesta and (lately) Trazadone. I'd much rather smoke a little organic pot (my uncle grows and uses all organic fertilizers and pesticides) and sleep well than pump myself full of big pharma chemicals.
@@jadama22, I'm interested to hear what you've decided and how it impacted you.

Hi Friends,
I am confused and discouraged...I was sleeved 7/20 (seven weeks ago). Everything went great and I lost about 30 pounds in month 1. Since then (2.5 weeks now) I have lost nothing…that was OK I was just having a stall. We all do, no big deal, stick with the plan etc. But for the past two days I have found that I am GAINING. In the past two days my scale says I am up 3.5 pounds. This seems impossible to me as I have had less than 1600 combined calories for those two days and have been pretty active. My Water intake has remained consistent and I am not having premenstrual Water retention. So how can it be that I am gaining more weight? I’m panicking that my sleeve is too big and that I am on my way to gaining it back just as quick as it dropped off.

@@garbekr0118
What have you "cheated" with? Are we talking entire meals or a small bite here and there? If you're doubting yourself now, it's probably best to seek out a therapist and work through some of the issues and readdress when you're ready.

Hi All
Thank you all for the kind responses and words of encouragement. I am very happy to say that day 8 is much easier than day 1 was. For all on day 1, it's the hardest but it does get easier. I felt like everything smelled 100xs better than I remembered, foods I had never craved before (Vietnamese Pho, corn tortillas and egg rolls - to name a few) I now craved. I did figure out that if I made the shake and left it in the freezer while I blow dry my hair or watered my plants made it go down MUCH easier - dare I say I even enjoyed it. My surgeon has a very strict list of what I'm allowed pre-op: Protein Shakes (from a specific list, most Protein shakes are glorified milkshakes), broth, SF Jello, SF ice pops, SF 0 cal beverages and that's it. It was a rough adjustment phase but I think I'm over the hump and I'm looking forward to the finish line.
Again, thank you all for the kind responses. Best of luck to all heading into surgery in August

Hi All
Thank you all for the kind responses and words of encouragement. I am very happy to say that day 8 is much easier than day 1 was. For all on day 1, it's the hardest but it does get easier. I felt like everything smelled 100xs better than I remembered, foods I had never craved before (Vietnamese Pho, corn tortillas and egg rolls - to name a few) I now craved. I did figure out that if I made the shake and left it in the freezer while I blow dry my hair or watered my plants made it go down MUCH easier - dare I say I even enjoyed it. My surgeon has a very strict list of what I'm allowed pre-op: Protein Shakes (from a specific list, most Protein shakes are glorified milkshakes), broth, SF Jello, SF ice pops, SF 0 cal beverages and that's it. It was a rough adjustment phase but I think I'm over the hump and I'm looking forward to the finish line.
Again, thank you all for the kind responses. Best of luck to all heading into surgery in August

Hi All
I'll be having my surgery on August 5th (the day after my 29th birthday) and I'm on day 1 of my liquid diet.< /p>
This. Is. Not. Easy.
These Protein things are not my cup of tea. I've got GNC Lean 25 in chocolate Peanut Butter and Cookies & cream. I'm finding them to be too sweet, too syrupy in texture and just...not what I like. Can anyone suggest a protein that is maybe not a "shake" or a "smoothie"?
THANK YOU!

Hi All
I'll be having my surgery on August 5th (the day after my 29th birthday) and I'm on day 1 of my liquid diet.< /p>
This. Is. Not. Easy.
These Protein things are not my cup of tea. I've got GNC Lean 25 in chocolate Peanut Butter and Cookies & cream. I'm finding them to be too sweet, too syrupy in texture and just...not what I like. Can anyone suggest a protein that is maybe not a "shake" or a "smoothie"?
THANK YOU!

A coworker was sleeved 5 weeks ago, she says she craves raw veggies and salad like MAD. Our surgeon says no raw for 3 months so I've been eating raw veggies with spinach dip and salads.

Hi @@Swampdoggie,
I can really only speak from experience so here goes. Much like with big pharma meds you'll have to spend some time finding the right strain of marijuana for you. Marijuana has varied side effects and those side effects vary from person to person. Some strains will produce a short term high, others a longer high. Some strains will make you sleepy, others will just relax you. Some strains will give you insane munchies, others won't.
For me, I use marijuana recreationally as needed. Lately I've been enjoying half of a small joint before bed. It allows me to focus on sleep and not what's going on at work, what's up with my husband, our home, our families, various social obligations, what's on TV, did I defrost something for dinner tomorrow, etc. I experience very little munchies with what I have right now - I did have half a piece of bacon last night (strange craving, I know). To combat the cotton mouth effect that others touched on, I just drink more Water. If you're well hydrated then you'll be fine (pre & post op).
Good luck!

What a bunch of wet noodles! Marijuana is technically a drug, yes...but it's a hell of a lot safer than alcohol. Have you ever seen an angry pot head? The worst that can happy with a little pot is you may hug someone a bit longer than socially acceptable, laugh a little louder at a joke or, god forbid, get a great nights sleep! OH, THE HUMANITY!
Personally, I use marijuana as a sleep aid. I've struggled with insomnia for most of my life. Melatonin no longer works for me. I've been on Ambien, Lunesta and (lately) Trazadone. I'd much rather smoke a little organic pot (my uncle grows and uses all organic fertilizers and pesticides) and sleep well than pump myself full of big pharma chemicals.
@@jadama22, I'm interested to hear what you've decided and how it impacted you.

Hi All!
I just wanted to give everyone an update. I called the original office, Dr. Ahmad, and asked for some clarification on a few things...turns out he's not even the surgeon who would be operating! He'll be in the room but won't be the one doing the surgery...WHAT?!? After that revelation and speaking with my insurance company, I've officially switched practices. I just didn't feel comfortable with the way the old office was handling things and I couldn't allow them the chance to rearrange my organs!
As if the universe wasn't pointing me in the right direction already, I reached out to a high school friend to catch up. I haven't really seen her in 11 years but for whatever reason I was compelled to touch base. Turns out she's having the same surgery with the same surgeon TOMORROW! Ok, universe -- I get it!
Thanks for all the support guys!!

After sleeping on it and hashing it out with my husband (who is insanely supportive), I'm 100% going with a different practice. I called my insurance company to go over everything with them and was told that I should be seeing someone I'm comfortable with - they noted my file so that when it comes time for approval there are no hiccups. I've called the new practice and they are going to have their patient advocate call me later today -- they have a patient advocate!
I'm so lucky to have found such a wonderful resource in BariatricPal.com. Last nigh in the "group meeting" I was fuming and all I kept thinking was "I need to go write a post about this and see what others have done!".
Thank you all so much for the support.

I can't believe I'm even writing this. I had heard great things about Dr. Arif Ahmad and Long Island Laparoscopic but after my various interactions with the office, medical staff and the group meeting, I'm seriously considering looking elsewhere. My initial consultation went wonderfully, I felt comfortable and excited for the next step. Then...the other shoe dropped. I scheduled my first battery of tests (blood work, pulmonary, ultrasound, nutrition and psych evaluation) and off the bat something was wrong. I'd speak to one receptionist/scheduler who would tell me my insurance won't allow me to do everything on the same day so she schedules the tests on various days - then I got a call from someone else who asked why I did it this way and when I said someone in the office had told me to do it that way she said "oh, don't listen to her...she doesn't know anything". I scheduled everything for 10:45am (I had planned other things later in the day), I got a call 3 days prior and was asked to come in at 12:15pm as they had a scheduling issue (I rescheduled the rest of my day). I then show up at 12:15pm and was told everyone had been waiting on me! They rush me into the room for blood work, then into another room for the ultrasound then a 3rd room for a pulmonary test. I'm then told due to a scheduling error (again) I have an hour and a half until my next appointment. The nutritionist, bless her, was a fresh faced college grad who clearly had never struggled with food or weight and spent 20 minutes telling me about sugar free Jell-O. I was then rushed into a meeting with the psychologist (who is not a psychologist but a licensed master social worker - not the same). She spent, at max, 30 minutes with me (10 of which were telling me it's her birthday and then she was fielding calls from her mother) asking if I've ever been suicidal, what diets have I tried and have I decided who is going to drive me home from surgery. I was disheartened and confused -- I have friends who had the surgery with other doctors and who had wonderful pre surgical experiences, that's what I was hoping for. But, I thought "hey, you've already spent the $250 program fee and you have the group meeting tomorrow...it could turn around!".
I just left the "support group" and I'm completely disappointed. The "meeting" started with a 30 minute sales pitch from a Bariatric Advantage salesman. We were then "discussed" surgery...by discussed I mean we sat around in a circle, introduced ourselves and talked about how we can't drink after surgery. WHAT? I didn't come here for AA, I came to ask questions and be informed. The "group meeting" was again run by stick thin dietitians, not people who have gone through surgery and could give first hand experiences.
Bottom line...I don't feel comfortable. I don't think this is a competent group of people and I don't want to put my life and future into the hands of a bunch of halfwits. I run a business and had been conducting my meetings/schedules (I perform wedding ceremonies) based on the idea that I'd be having surgery in the middle of July, now I have no idea if that's possible and I could have potentially lost hundreds of dollars from clients.
Has anyone switched surgeons? Is anyone familiar with Dr. Arif Ahmad? I'm thinking of using Dr. Brathwaite at Winthrop - any tips?

@@Butterfly512 - Let's get one thing very clear, the "easy" thing would be to sit on your tush and do nothing. The "easy" thing would be to live a miserable existence instead of embracing this wonderful tool. You are not taking the easy way out -- this isn't easy. Anyone who tells you this is the easy way out can suck a fat one.
It took me years to finally allow myself this gift and I couldn't more excited. I've faced my share of hiccups along the way but I can't wait to begin my new life. Use this forum to air out anything you need to, I do. It's been such a wonderful resource for me.
GOOD LUCK!

Hi All!
I just wanted to give everyone an update. I called the original office, Dr. Ahmad, and asked for some clarification on a few things...turns out he's not even the surgeon who would be operating! He'll be in the room but won't be the one doing the surgery...WHAT?!? After that revelation and speaking with my insurance company, I've officially switched practices. I just didn't feel comfortable with the way the old office was handling things and I couldn't allow them the chance to rearrange my organs!
As if the universe wasn't pointing me in the right direction already, I reached out to a high school friend to catch up. I haven't really seen her in 11 years but for whatever reason I was compelled to touch base. Turns out she's having the same surgery with the same surgeon TOMORROW! Ok, universe -- I get it!
Thanks for all the support guys!!

@@Butterfly512 - Let's get one thing very clear, the "easy" thing would be to sit on your tush and do nothing. The "easy" thing would be to live a miserable existence instead of embracing this wonderful tool. You are not taking the easy way out -- this isn't easy. Anyone who tells you this is the easy way out can suck a fat one.
It took me years to finally allow myself this gift and I couldn't more excited. I've faced my share of hiccups along the way but I can't wait to begin my new life. Use this forum to air out anything you need to, I do. It's been such a wonderful resource for me.
GOOD LUCK!

@@Butterfly512 - Let's get one thing very clear, the "easy" thing would be to sit on your tush and do nothing. The "easy" thing would be to live a miserable existence instead of embracing this wonderful tool. You are not taking the easy way out -- this isn't easy. Anyone who tells you this is the easy way out can suck a fat one.
It took me years to finally allow myself this gift and I couldn't more excited. I've faced my share of hiccups along the way but I can't wait to begin my new life. Use this forum to air out anything you need to, I do. It's been such a wonderful resource for me.
GOOD LUCK!

@@Butterfly512 - Let's get one thing very clear, the "easy" thing would be to sit on your tush and do nothing. The "easy" thing would be to live a miserable existence instead of embracing this wonderful tool. You are not taking the easy way out -- this isn't easy. Anyone who tells you this is the easy way out can suck a fat one.
It took me years to finally allow myself this gift and I couldn't more excited. I've faced my share of hiccups along the way but I can't wait to begin my new life. Use this forum to air out anything you need to, I do. It's been such a wonderful resource for me.
GOOD LUCK!

@@Butterfly512 - Let's get one thing very clear, the "easy" thing would be to sit on your tush and do nothing. The "easy" thing would be to live a miserable existence instead of embracing this wonderful tool. You are not taking the easy way out -- this isn't easy. Anyone who tells you this is the easy way out can suck a fat one.
It took me years to finally allow myself this gift and I couldn't more excited. I've faced my share of hiccups along the way but I can't wait to begin my new life. Use this forum to air out anything you need to, I do. It's been such a wonderful resource for me.
GOOD LUCK!

@@Butterfly512 - Let's get one thing very clear, the "easy" thing would be to sit on your tush and do nothing. The "easy" thing would be to live a miserable existence instead of embracing this wonderful tool. You are not taking the easy way out -- this isn't easy. Anyone who tells you this is the easy way out can suck a fat one.
It took me years to finally allow myself this gift and I couldn't more excited. I've faced my share of hiccups along the way but I can't wait to begin my new life. Use this forum to air out anything you need to, I do. It's been such a wonderful resource for me.
GOOD LUCK!

@@Butterfly512 - Let's get one thing very clear, the "easy" thing would be to sit on your tush and do nothing. The "easy" thing would be to live a miserable existence instead of embracing this wonderful tool. You are not taking the easy way out -- this isn't easy. Anyone who tells you this is the easy way out can suck a fat one.
It took me years to finally allow myself this gift and I couldn't more excited. I've faced my share of hiccups along the way but I can't wait to begin my new life. Use this forum to air out anything you need to, I do. It's been such a wonderful resource for me.
GOOD LUCK!