Frustr8

Do

Know what you mean, my surgeon is 50 miles from my town. They are thinking of starting a modified Bariatric program at my local hospital, only lap band and VSG so far. Knew I couldn't wait until 2020 and I had to be a Bypass, it would correct all my problems, whereas the Sleeve would not, and I didn't want to try for Revision later. So I went to Ohio State, a Center of Excellence hospital from the word go, my surgeon is the Big ?, the chief of Bariatric Medicine and Metabolic Weight Loss, a Full Professor in COLLEGE of MEDICINE. And a wonderful skilled surgeon, if I have a crush on him, it is for his abilities, he is the kind of doctor I once aspired to be. Of course I doubt I would have wished to become a General Surgeon, let alone a Bariatric one, my chosen dream was Immunology. And I believe I would have been a Good One! But life, love and finances got in my way and all the Woulda- Coulda-Shoulda in the World can't repair that! But I still cry when I see the United Negro College Fund commercial comes on, the one that says "A mind is a terrible thing to waste" and I am white but it still applies to ME so I cry?for the lost opportunities. And now you know something about me that few dom

Tablet, my cheap PartD drug coverer, Silver Scripts, won't pay for liquid, so I dissolve, stir and drink the slurrey down, about as tasty as drinking white flour paste. Dr Noria, my surgeon's partner who does my endoscopies, Dr Needleman my actual Surgeon and one of the Nurse-Practioners, Valerie, all gave, me a script for the same thing, I now have 253 in bottles, Wal-Mart Pharmacy called to remind it was time for a refill of another 120, now where do they expect me to keep these? Now I know why some people sell their meds, these are cluttering up my pill dresser. Yeah I have one of those, top drawer is current meds , second drawer is Miralax, Benfiber and 1 package of Genepro. The Gold Standard 100% whey isolate was going there too, got it on sale at Wal-Mart for $3.00, joke is on me, the individual envelopes are Strawberry, not plain. Imagine what it would have been like if I stirred into soup or broth! And the bottom drawer is inactive meds, nope no opiods, I still have Norco up in the active, but I have to be backed up against the wall in pain, it constipates me so freely. Sometime I will relate the Trek to the Milk and Molasses Enema, really harder to live through than my actual surgery, nobody wants to be entered on records as" Little Old Lady full of S***", pretty darn demeaning in the ER . Hated them knowing I didn't have my act together FECAL-wise!

STRICTURED, my surgeons assure me it is perfectly structured, if so , why does it not work a little better?

Hey No Problem, I'm almost a Bariatric Godmother around here, certainly old enough to be many people's Grandmother or Great-grandmother. 72 was pretty old to have Bariatric Surgery. But I have a new motto to go with my saggy, baggy, but smaller body. The rest of my LIFE will now become the best of my LIFE! And it will, I have paid my dues, my fears were washed away by my tears, now if I can get my pouch not to be structured and all my jejunal ulceration to heal, I will have my Heaven , having already had my He'll on ? Earth.

And it is Good Thing, I could have written your post but I did it even longer, 44 years with late hubby, still appeasing up until my RNY 9 months ago and like you, some want to me to return to the old Status Quo, well it will never happen, I am now Strong, resilient and under new management-ME and Only ME. Oh I still can be nice to other people but it will be on a More Adult Basis. The family Doormat has permanently retired!

And either a hot water bottle or heating pad, warmth helps things release and relax, and that's a Very Good thing!

And it may sound sneaky but I have known of cases that are billed as Hiatal Hernia repair instead of bariatric surgery especially if you have one of the insurance plans reluctant to cover VSG or RNY, and sad to say even in this enlightened age, there are insurance providers that think Bariatrics are only "Vanity Surgeries". Wish they could walk in my moccasins, they would quickly see the error of their ways! Oh I was fortunate that Medicare/Medicaid only asked for need and a BMI over 40, I sure didn't need the co-morb I already had, my presurgery BMI at first consultation was nearly 52. And not to be rotten about it, my current one is 31.1 9 months out. So your could say my life turned around JUST in Time, now at edge of mere overweight, instead of obesity and morbid obesity. ????, as small or smaller than I was in 1967 when I got married. Long Time Ago!

Well an easy answer, and one that was told to me, your duodenum has a natural protection from gastric acid post your surgery, the jejunem , the second part of of your small intestine, does not. Yeah your stomach acid making capacity is greatly reduced but there is still functional gastric tissue left. And like the commercial from my adolescence for Brylcream hair cream " A little dab will do ya!." doesn't take much to start an intestinal wildfire in there. And you may end up like me, on Sucralfate for the foreseeable future! Every 6 hours, 6am, noon, 6pm, midnight so I am lucky to get 5-6 hours sleep nightly.

I had 6, the small under- sternum is the only still visible, because that area was the only place not stretch-marked, 2 on the right, 2 on the left, and one in my navel. 38 years ago they had used my navel as an entry port for my tubal litigation, that was on the bottom, so Dr Needleman used the top, for a while it looked like the scars were kissing. But the 4 abdominal, unless you are a Laprascopic surgery vet and know where to look, they have faded into the multiple stretch marks. And even brand-new they were tiny, believe my surgeon could have been a plastic surgeon had he so desired. Really didn't have to make them so nice, could have done a lot bigger sizes, not like they would ever see the light of day, yee gads, I'm well over 70 after all. So 9 months later it's like I never had abdominal wounds at all. Wish the surgical dude that took my Gall Bladder and Appendix in 1982 had been that meticulous, left me with a big honking Right Paramedian scar from the Open Surgery. So I would have been one of the only people who would not have minded another open incision and the ensuing scar. And I told him so prior to my surgery. I actually had Dr N silent for a couple seconds. Told him I would not mind "open", he said "Do you know how long it takes for an Open Abdominal incision to heal?" I flipped up my shirt, showed him the scar I was left with, he chuckled and said " Point Taken, that's pretty big!" But I received that surgery. in the Bad Old Days when laprascopes were not universally used. And if finally if they do have to do exterior repair of my pouch and ulcerated jejunem,which I think still could happen, only way out is a Sterling report on my June 12th endoscopy. This I don't think it is going to be, still have abiding pain in my pouch and frequent twinging spasms in the right subcostal where Dr Noria said I would feel ulcer pain. And food does not alleviate the pouch pain, only thing that helped other night was sipping on 1% milk. Now I don't mind doing it if it truly is beneficial. But IDK if I am ever going to be quite right, feel discouraged, maybe I will be a Gastrointestinal Cripple for life? Oh I do appreciate the 111 pounds down since surgery and the 164 since my high weight, and Very Close to Onderland, but is the Trade-off worth it, when I have had iron INFUSION, anti- osteoporosis INFUSION which will be yearly, I should be due for another iron in June but nobody has ordered blood labs unless they. go ahead and do them before my endoscopy? Mrs Gamgee and the rest of you, if you have a spare moment for? prayer I think it might be useful.

Well yea you are, that's almost exactly my BMI when I went to Ohio State, thought they might deny me on age. So you got me always in Your Corner, been there, done that, now much smaller, and if I could do it with the Basal Metabolism of a Sick Sea ? Snail, then most anybody canI.. Hey get documentation from each of your specialities, especially the neurologist. If he will state, in writing, it is in his professional opinion that you would benefit from THIS, it should carry a LOT of weight in the decision. Buck up Amelia and do go for it! Your body, your health status, even your joints will thank you for it! Oh I will always have 2 replaced knees, but I don't stagger, can move and walk better and my limp is at the" Does she have one or not" stage, use my cane to pull food items to the edge of the grocery shelf as well as for walking. And there was a time when I couldn't stand up without constant propping up! Come on Babe, join Me!

YEAH I like the once a day facet of my Prenatal vitamins even if I get the Fish Eye when I put a bottle off the shelf at Wally World! So what if I look too old? May just have been a rough day and my 50 year old Daughter has gray hair all through hers and I have Not One! Teach her to take after her Daddy's side of the Family!

Never considered anythi g but RNY bypass, needed to lose quckly, take the pressure of my body before both hips joined my 2 knees, 1 thumb and an upper arm. Had Gerd from Hades and a 1st cousin that died from Esophageal Cancer. Didn't have time at 72 to go through a VSG and then a revision later. Besides I have Medicare/Medicaid, those Dudes got no sense of Humor and I knew, for me, this was the once- in- a--lifetime surgery!

Hope and Pray?It All Goes Well For You! That's what we all want in the end!

Amen Brother Snoopy-Amen!

Thinking of baked non-breaded Tilapia, maybe some Lemon-Pepper Mrs Dash at the end. No problem giving up Tarter Sauce, never cared THAT MUCH for it, and remember mine is the weird hospital that says "No Pickles in Any Form " why is this? Maybe the fear it will stop up my strictured stoma? Otherwise IDK!

Peanut butter Hummus, whoulda Thunk it!?

Yeah, your boy is the Star, doubtful if anyone would even notice what you had on, if they do, Smile and say " Oh THAT was back when I was undergoing Renovation!, just smile and don't sweat the mi-nute stuff!

Oh I do I do! Pale yellow tinkle is a very desirable shade, and I don't have excess time to gossip',it's excuse Me, I will be right back!"

And I think I'll lurk around and listen, these are questions I too want answers to! Been thinking about adding Chia Seeds to things too.

Not a right thing but many company plans try to meet their budgets by excluding things, I have heard there are states where this practice is now illegal, but can't tell you off the top of my head which ones. Do know there is a Non-Fat discrimination,law in Michigan but doubt this pertains. Way back,when I was BAKING my son, the Tomkitten , Conneticut General tried to deny us maternity coverage, their excuse? I shall Quote: "Pregnancy is an avoidable disease, we do not feel we should extend You Coverage for this Condition" Not only did I win the Appeal, the paper is framex and hanging on my wall. Every once in a while, I point it out to TK, "look what Mama went through to get you here healthy and sound!"Is he grateful? Well he does smile a lot. Heard him tell a friend Mama and Daddy has my sister because my paternal grandparents wanted a ? girl, then they had my brother because my maternal grandparents wanted a ? boy, but ME, they had me out of love and that I was just what my family needed!" Thought that sounded cool and I guess it was The Truth!?

I think you are making a good transition from sedentary yo active by walking. Start out sliwly, be kind to youself. I'm sure the trainer will not request something far beyond your capabilities, maybe a little challenge to see "what you are capable of" but they won't hurt you, they went people to continue to come in. Smile a lot, try to be obliging, act,like you are thrilled to he,there and have this chance to get better, get stronger and,more healthy

Well before surgery It was Food, Food, got to find my food, got to eat quick before someone else finds it and takes it away! I am an "only,child" but I acted like I hadv6 starving little brothers. Could eat an entire Family-sized bag of Lays Barbeque Chips at one sitting, watching TV, and not even feel like I had eaten. Now, if I feel hungry and that seldom happens, I heat,up,a 1/4 cup,of something, maybe I finish it, but usually don't. Very cautious what I eat, had too much emesis time. I still rely,on soups , broths, protein shakes, stir protein powder, beneficent or Miralax into everything I can for enrichment, Precious pouch, my bossy co-pilot,,, now through. my life, does not trust,protein sources, refuses to consider,meat, cottage cheese, Greek Yogurt, although,i,may try that again, been a month since last attempt. And what she doesn't care for just spews forth. And I dont,vomit like I did when I was "intact", now it sounds more like a cat with a large hairball. Some people say, that their full signal is hiccups, not me, for me it's Emesis coming within 15-20 minutes. Often you can find me curled into a semi-fetal ball over a wastebasket or Washburn. The blessing, if there is one? Good stays down such a short time, it is undigested and has no objectionable odor. Oh,i do manage to,ingest my vitamins, minerals and Zofran still,drink,out of my 2 ounce cuppies, a couple times when I tried to free-style with a normal juice glass? Up she comes because even fluid can choke me . And I was not a habitual vomiter prior to surgery, oh,if I bent at the waist, I could reflexively urp up but I thought my cardiac valve between my esophagus and stomach was weak from GERD. v So I am praying my blood vitamin levels are good, haven't been checked since late Feb/early March, had to,have an Iron INFUSION then. Should be about due for a repeat, but,nobody has ordered one, not my,PCP , not my Bariatric clinic, if the last N.P . is any indication, they are not overly worried or caring for me. Now I had always had an excellent relationship but the last time I spoke to one, she accused me of being a malingerer or Munchausen syndrome, I called only because I had been sick for 18 hours, having trouble even keeping fluids down. And my personality is not bulimic or even similar. Not scheduled for a clinic visit until August, having feeling this person just don't care. Meanwhile I am still losing 3-5 pounds a week,rare for 9 months out, but I guess I can accept,it. Do I grieve food? Not a bit, few times I come close, I just say That Was A Past Life, nothing significant now!. But perhaps I am an outlier, an exception to the Average person. I don't read the threads with pictures of "Look What I Just made and Ate", part of me,just can't relate to,it, the rest a little jealous that they can handle all that! My emotions were pretty settled, resigned to That's the Way,its got to be. Even close to happy, until that little bundle of Nurse-flesh unloaded on me, oh I do remember her name, if she crosses my,path in August, she will regret it, it will be Her Turn to Cry! I might try to forgive, but I do not forget and I am a natural red-head, and the Celtic were warriors, something she may not have taken,into account! But anything I can help with, I will be honored to do so.

Well today is the End of May, I wonder how many can say they are happy where they are at? I had a very self-assured day yesterday, felt happy and proud in my basic soul, only,one small storm- cloud, someone said she didn't care much for me! But up,iknow what, Green Tealael and company? That's on her, not me, so too bad about her problem. with- out any reason for her attitude. Used to buckle-under, apologize so everyone would LIKE me, finally realized it is much more important that I LIKE Me. I rather like this self-assurance, may keep on "wearing" it. Almost made it to Onderland, on May 1st I had no clue I would be teetering on the brink! So Wowsers for ME! Now to March bravely into June 2019, what will it hold? Not sure but I think I can face it bravely, and that's a Good Bottom Line, isn't it?????

I want, in theory either Chinese or other Asian foodm Maybe even Indiann our last one of those seem to have left town. only exotic we seem to retain are Italian, a Japanese Steakhouse , Mexican and 3 different Chinese ones. Oddl, we have just a few Chinese, Indian Doctors, quite a few, wish one of their wives or another family,member would just -re-open one. Odder yet, they have to speak English to each other , nobody has another language in common. One,even looks Chinese,or what I think someone from Mongolia might look like, maybe from NE India, near the border? All the rest seem to be medium or dark complexion except him, a definite yellow sub-tint. Nice gut, though, seems yo know Urology pretty Good.