RoachBug

Might want to check your Blood Sugar. What you describe sounds a lot like what I experience when mine gets too low (hypoglycemic). Break out in a sweat here and then the vision goes tunnel, dizzy, like I am about to pass out. If you know someone with a test kit, might be worth testing for you. If mine drops below 60, I will start feeling it.

One more from today...

When you "really" have to use the restroom and are waiting patiently while doing the happy dance and hear someone playing a game on their cell phone in the stall. Coughing repeatedly didn't seem to help. After 10 minutes I braved a run to another wing of the hospital to find another RR. I swear if I had been in a patient wing, I would have paid an anonymous stranger a visit!

Dealt with this one today, which is one of the things that kills me. When people never have the ringer on, on their cell phone and therefor never answer when you call. This inevitably will be the same person who will blow up your phone and send the cops over to the house if you happen to be in the shower and unable to answer their call. FYI, true story as far as the cops knocking on my door as I am getting out of the shower.

@@Alex Brecher

Luckily (for me at least), the tightness while swallowing after the VGS and hiatal hernia surgery eased up considerably after the first 2-3 days. Be it by the bottle, shaker, or glass, I can pretty much drink as normal. It was a definite relief compared to immediately after surgery.

As for taking in the all the advice and knowledge available and forming your own opinion, I whole heartedly agree!

Bathroom stall doors that open inward...Grinds my gears!

Not yet, Dammitt!

I am accepting applications though.. Just give me a little heads up first, so I can get in a extra Protien drink or two for some energy.

Haven't read the whole thread yet so I don't know if this has been mentioned yet. I stay away from straws because they increase the wrinkles around your lips. The same way smoking does.

I thought my Ex was the only one who used that excuse!

@@CHM LOL, brilliant minds think alike (I swear I was just thinking exactly the same thing)!

In case we actually are all going to implode, for the barbaric use of straws after surgery, I did a little (note little) investigation. Someone allready stole my idea of creating a airless drinking straw. A quick Google search led me to the Amazon page. I personally had planned on naming mine "The Bariatric Siphon". The siphon idea is straight forward, I was still working on the plans for the vacuum attachment, that would suck out all the dangerous air from your mouth/lungs prior to drinkage. Keep having problems with collapsed lungs...

Had the sleeve and hiatal hernia repair on 5/25. Immediately after surgery I was not feeling to great, felt like bad stomache cramps. Once back at my room i was given a couple different meds via the IV for the nausea and also Dilaudin for the pain. Within a few minutes the majority of the stomache cramp pain was gone. I could tell when the meds were wearing off and I was getting ready for another dose of Dilaudin, but nothing unbearable. Have felt a bit better each day since. FYI, the drinking gets a lot easier as each day passes also.

Only been home a few days here. I stocked up on Powerade Zero, Water, nice assortment of Protien packs to try (did pick up a large one of non-flavored at GNC), lowfat Cream of "..." Soup (if your plan allows), and be sure to grab some Sugar- Free Popsicles and Jello. Also picked up some skim milk to add to the shakes and Soup for extra protien.

The nutritionist at the hospital sent me home with a good sized supply of Protein powder and gel packs (could have saved a few bucks there).

Finally had my surgery on 5/25, back home and doing good so far. Had one nice chuckle while I was being poked and prodded during my 3 day hospital stay. Had my surgery at OSU (Go BUCKS!). Due to heart problems and a couple of the meds I was on, my stay was in the heart step down unit, instead of the bariatric wing. My surgeon came to see me each day, along with a cardiology team, and nutritionists. This is where it gave me a chuckle...

After seeing a few different "straw topics" get posted in the past few weeks, I had asked my surgeon about it during my pre op. He said that he has no problem with his patients using a straw, and that excess air would not stretch out the sleeve. As I was taking my meds on Fri (using a straw to sip water), my surgeon and the cardiologist came in. A couple of minutes latter the nutritionist and bariatric counselor came in. She saw me sipping Water to take my meds and immediately told me I could not be using a straw. From there it was a rehash of every post I had read on here, between the 4 of them.

FYI, my surgeon and cardiologist won out.

Had my surgery (Gastric Sleeve and hiatal hernia repair) as scheduled on 5/25. Had a 3 day hospital stay and was released on Sat.. As for the diabetes meds, I was on Metformin, Glyburide, and Insulin (Degludec). I cut back the insulin the night before surgery and did not receive it or the other diabetes meds while at the hospital. With the meds and insulin I was averaging around 95-105, the last month prior to surgery. They checked my blood glucose frequently. After surgery my reading was 185 and dropped down from there. I have not had any diabetes meds since last Tues and have been averaging around 80 (which is somewhat low).

As for my heart meds, directly after surgery I was given them crushed/mixed with Water. The first couple of days were a challenge with such small sips. I had been practicing trying to take smaller drinks but messed up and gulped a couple times (not recommended). My surgeon along with the cardiologist team went over my heart meds and felt that none were "too large" to swallowed. On Friday I was given the meds in pill form. Weirdest thing was it taking 15min. to take my meds, 1pill at a time. I was so used to having em' all go down the hatch at the same time with one big gulp.

They have by far the best commercial I have viewed. Who doesn't love unicorns and "rainbows", lol.

Had my surgery on 5/25 (along with a hiatal hernia repair). I was knotted up pretty bad the fist day but the meds took off the edge. I was definately ready to come home to get some real rest, without being poked and prodded every hour or so. Definately not with the swing of things as of yet, more exhausted than anything. It has been a little better each day though. I was glad to actually be able to get in the 64oz of liquid the last couple of days, one small accomplishment. Seems weird to have to take 15 minutes to take my meds, was used to just chugging em' all down at once. Was pleasantly surprised to see 10lbs dissapear during my 3 days at the hopsital...it's a start.

Headed to OSU now. See all you folks on the other side!

Woot! Less than 24hrs to go. This time tomorrow morning I should be in surgery. Seems like it has been forever since I started (Nov of 15) but as tomorrow approaches it seems like it went fast. A tad nervous but overall I'm excited to start on this new journey. I wanted to thank all the members of the site. Your posts have been a great source of info on what I can expect. All of the pictures posted have been a awesome incentive and inspiration. Thanks~

Doc gave me the norm schedule for post op visits, 2wk/month/2 months ect. He then let me know that due to the meds I am currently on (heart, BP, diabetes), that I would definitely be seeing him more frequently. He said that as the weight starts to drop dramatically, so will the prescription strengths.

He said normally his patients are released the day after surgery, however, he would feel more comfortable planning at least a 3 day stay for me. He said this should give him a little extra time to adjust my meds before sending me home. He said hopefully we will be able to eliminate the diabetes meds and adjust the heart meds as we go along. Surgery is scheduled for next Wed (5/25/16), nervous but excited.

@@Dub out of curiosity, what did your BP drop down to? Luckily when it happened to me, I was at the OSU Pacer Clinic. Had originally thought it was a drop in blood sugar but ended up to be my BP (after a change in meds). My low was 50/40, definitely had me out of it. Ended up getting wheeled over the ER for the night till they got it under control.

Hmm, never saw a sugar free Slushie/Slurpee. Will have to give it a try.

I love Slushies, though it seems to be a one sided love affair. Due to the 1, 2 combo of buldging waistline and diabetes, I had to break up with dear old Slushie. When I started taking insulin (not too long ago), I really began paying close attention to the carb/sugar content of everything. I was shocked to find that a 20oz Slushie has a whopping 76g carbs (all from sugar).

The really frightening thing is the fact that I never would get a "reg" 20oz but the Big Gulp size. Not hard to figure out how the glucose levels were so high, when I was drinking 150g carbs/sugar from one Slushie. During the nutrition classes, one of the slides showed the equivalent in sugar cubes for a large Slushie. After seeing that pic, I could not imagine having one again. Slushie was and is a cruel mistress.

Remember the saying: "Opinions are like --------. Everyone has one, and most of them stink!".

I would definately get ahold of your doc and let him know whats going on. I have dealt with the fainting spells myself over the years, not a good feeling at all. I have had them as a result of dehydration a few times when I was really sick, more often associated with my blood sugar bottoming out, and most recently due to my BP bottoming out ( was due to a increase in a med).

I have had a couple heart attacks. Both times, out of the blue I began to sweat heavily (drenched), dizzy feeling, nausious, tunnel vision. Then came the pain in my left arm/shoulder and or pain bottom of neck. Whenever I have had a fainting spell, it always freaks me out because I have all of the same symptoms as when I had the heart attacks, minus the pain in the arm/neck. Not trying to scare you but the fainting should be cause for concern and followed up on with your doctor.

Did tattoos for a few years here (and had a shop). I would think that any of the artists that have enough skill to get on the show, should be used to dealing with different types of skin. I can see where if a person had lost a ton of weight and was getting ink on sagging skin it would be extremely difficult but I can't see anyone having that done. I agree with your friend, he was likely trying to make excuses to save himself from elimination.

Believe it can be made with any white fish.