nibble

I had a dog who got excited like that to see me. I had to learn to enter the house backwards after a hysterectomy to avoid getting injured in the abdominal area. That, or holding a pillow over my midsection to enter face forward! It was a process. But we managed and got through it, and fortunately I didn't have to leave and return often during recuperation. So will you have to rig up something to work around Wyatt, or does she avoid the critical area?

When you got home from the hospital, did you need someone around for a few days to help you in any way? I live alone and am wondering about that.

Yes, it does mean A LOT to have a supportive community at the ready any time we need it. I'm sorry your world is riddled with TNT at present, but those times surely won't last? Take things one day, one hour, or even one minute at a time and hug yourself for each moment you stay on track. Stay the course, Ernie, in spite of everything.

So glad to hear it, Lets! Baby steps. So, what is your technique for taking your pills?

Geesh, that's crazy. Feelings are not right or wrong, they just ARE. They come and they go. Continue to have your feelings, Kasey. Life is chock full of them. I'm still on track for 7/17 surgery, and find this last ten days - and 10 day pre-op diet, to be zooming by. Cleaning, vacuuming, laundry, kitchen organizing, getting the meds and vitamins ordered, creating place up off the floor for the cat dishes (I doubt I'll be able to lean over to the floor for a while) - leaving notes for my cat sitter friend - I'm busy busy. Also trying to hunt down my "Grab-it" tool. Without that, anything that might fall on the floor will have to stay there! I have one 22# kitty who insists on sleeping on my torso. After surgery that's not going to work! I'm making something lightweight like a bed tray to fit over me to protect the surgical area. He can lie on that and still be close. The things I do for these furballs! Does music help still your "what ifs" or reading? Hang in there, Kasey!

I have 2pr new tennies that I will not wear until a few months after surgery. Most rings I can wear on other fingers. I only got 4 tops in smaller sizes and plan to just be a baggy pants gal for a while (I'm retired - no fashion plate here). I plan to wear stretchy sports bras for a while during the transition.

Ernie, are any support groups available to you? You have made tremendous progress. Have you patted yourself on the back? The receding of diabetes is amazing, at least a minor miracle dontcha think? I do! Perhaps you can think aout new things you will be able to do in summer that weren't realistic before surgery. Look at some of those food favs and explore modifications to the recipes to make them friendly foods. Don't give up now, dude!

I've done my share of avoiding doctors, too. It is stunning to me how misinformed physicians can be, judging from the shared stories here. I guess we all can be ambassadors and try to shine an educational light on things just by being ourselves. I know the surgical practice I'm working with is getting more and more clients -- very busy, and having to hire more coordinators to manage the influx.

Right on, J! Interesting coment about those who disapprove most are themselves overweight. Sometimes people want to pull you down to their level rather than appreciate your success and focus more on themselves.

Ouch. You ARE coping with a lot. I'm missing my Celebrex for arthritis, but I suspect you're dealing with waay more. You've had to be one tough cookie, Wildflower. Are things any better today?

Excellent. So true. Similar to "Nothing happens and nothing happens then everything happens."

Me, too - the 17th. Gosh it's just a few days away, but I am looking forward to it. I expect everything to go well. I expect to have pain. I expect it will subside and get better. But I know I will be a bit nervous the day of. For previous surgeries at some point I've had to stop fretting about it, realize that won't help at all, and just surrender to my medical team to take care of me. Good luck to both of us, and all who had or will have a procedure to help our lives be better!

Thank goodness! And hope you have adequate meds to help you stay on top of the pain. One day at a time. Each day a little better!

You have carved out a great response and I will use it with some people, if you don't mind! You are correct, you can often hear acceptance or judgment in a person's tone.

Wow, I really liked your attitude and response. Thanks for sharing it, Macadamia!

There is no cheating...only choices. For the annoying coworkers, you may have to take the bull by the horns, so to speak, and say "Yes, you have shared your opinion several times, however, you do not know me, If I want your opinion on a topic, I will ask." Then turn around and walk away. It takes courage, and we all have to own our courage at some point. We are COURAGEOUS. If the coworker comes at you again, just say "We must agree to disagree, now not another word about it!" In my own situation, in a small community where I am known and belong to a community group, I decided on the D&A approach: Decide, and Announce. I am writing to explain my upcoming absence with this: I could not attend tonight’s meeting as I am recovering from surgery! The surgery treats a disease I have had all my life. It is not a cure but will greatly assist in managing it and it is the best medical treatment available in 2018. Essentially it involves resizing the stomach, removing a portion of a hormone production center, then recovery with a graduated 10-week transition back to regular food. It's quite a schedule, and will require 100% focus from me without distraction, as well as several post-op appts. Six years ago my insurance would not cover this procedure, but now obesity is recognized as a disease - a chronic disease - a chronic, deadly disease. Not everyone who is overweight has it, because one can be both overweight and healthy. But for those who’s health becomes compromised by enough other problems, it becomes a disease. I call it a "gateway" disease, putting one in the buffet line to pick up an assortment of other diseases, eg. high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, diabetes, endometrial cancer, arthritis, heart and circulation diseases, bad joints, liver and kidney disease, respiratory issues. And more. I have some of those. I didn't want more. I passed all the tests for clearance, my insurance now covers the procedure, and at 70, recognize this is my last chance for some relief and possible remission. Like diabetes, cancers and many other diseases, a single core cause remains elusive, but includes multiple factors like genetics & family predisposition, exposure to pesticides, the food industry, environmental pollution, chemicals, our Western culture, individual metabolism and biology, as well as lifestyle and coping styles. And so, they can arrive at their own "opinions" and I don't give a hoot what they think. Not to be cruel, but their opinion is not something I value when it comes to personal medical decisions. No one's opinion matters more than your own. I imagine some go through this kind of flack in deciding whether or not to have children, an abortion, to adopt, a vasectomy, plastic surgery, and so on. I so agree -- Your. Body. Your. Business.

Boy, we hope so, too! Ugh. Keep us updated when you can.

Wildflower, are you in physical pain? General discomfort? Define "feel like crap" for me. Tried a heating pad? You are right, recovery is different for each person. But you are not quite alone -- there's a big gang of supporters who can relate and sympathize with whatever you're experiencing, and I'm glad you are reaching out!

I'm also on 7/17 and on a similar pre-op diet. It's not bad, and I really don't feel hungry much, even when my stomach growls. I, too, feel groggy and listless a lot. Glad to hear it is the norm. Had the phone appt with a nurse to go over meds to stop or continue and last minute instructions. I still need an EKG and blood work, and get a new C-PAP on Thurs. The time is going by fast for me, and I hope for you, too. Got my GoBag packed last week. I'm looking forward to this with excitement now, but know I will feel nervous the day of. Good luck to you!

I didn't mean you are being negative or toxic, it's just that fears, anxiety, and stress become like toxins in our body that are not healthy to carry around, and I was just offering the method I use to get them out of my system (I always end up laughing at myself) , in the same way that tears flush out emotional "toxins." I'm sorry if I offended you. :-)

That's probably the best approach I've read on this thread! Were I the physician I'd offer something like "If you ever want to talk about some help for weight loss I'd be happy to work with you and outline some options. Just think about it, OK? That's the approach I longed for and never got.

abdominal binder, or compression, or brace. I just got one from braceability.com and it will do the job. I don't expect to need it more than a month, if that, but this one can still be used no matter how small you get. I got the Bariatric Surgery Abdominal Binder after Tummy Tuck, Gastric Bypass & Liposuction on sale at $34.99, but they have several to choose from.

Sometimes the fear of losing something makes us fight all the harder to get it again. Or we give up. But I think you are spending energy on things you cannot control, and that is pointless. Take a deep breath. Think logically. How likely is it that you will lose your job before Aug. 8? If you have clearance for tests and insurance, you have no logical reason to expect a cancellation. Are you in "crazy-making mode?" Take your pillow and do scream therapy - scream all your fears into that pillow until you laugh or cry, or both at once. Get those toxins out of you, girl. I just ran into this quote and instantly thought of you.

Some favs -- • Vision without execution is just hallucination. - Peter Thiel, PayPal founder • on exercise: 1. Shut up and power through. 2. Find your inner Toaster. 3. If you can't get out of it, get into it. • The goal is the road, not the destination. - Dr. Jamie Beckerman • You have all the time there is. - unknown • Faith sees best in the dark. - Kierkegaard • An uneasy conscience is a hair in the mouth. - Mark Twain • Bitterness, like misery, is optional. - Jerry Coffee, Viet Nam POW • There are many intelligent species in the universe - they are all owned by cats. - inknown

As a sister OCD introvert I can relate, but have found it easy to "talk" on this forum. I saw this recently: Life Begins at the End of Your Comfort Zone. Seems appropo at this life juncture as I wait for my Big Day on the 17th. I suspect you have everything so well organized pre and post hospital that it wasn't a hardship to send DH off to his g'mother's funeral. All contingencies covered, yes? That's what we do - plan for the unexpected. So nice to have his support, but you can do this on your own if necessary. My thoughts are with you! You will find all the support you want here.